npr--2020-08-06--As More Lawmakers Test Positive, Congress Gets A Tough Reminder Of Coronavirus Risk

As More Lawmakers Test Positive , Congress Gets A Tough Reminder Of Coronavirus Risk Last week , the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee tested positive for COVID-19 in the latest outbreak on Capitol Hill .
And although Grijalva is asymptomatic , he 's worried because he 's 72 years old and an admitted on-and-off smoker .
`` You get scared , your family gets scared , '' he said from his D.C. home , where he is now quarantining .
`` If you 're not afraid of this disease , there 's something fundamentally wrong . ''
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus illness : Grijalva , Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert and Illinois Republican Rep. Rodney Davis .
Gohmert and Davis also said they are asymptomatic .
The latest outbreak is a reminder of the risks for Capitol Hill , as members continue to meet in an attempt to negotiate a new wave of aid to address the coronavirus .
Unlike regular , widespread testing programs at workplaces from the White House to the NBA , Congress is going without .
`` It 's unbelievable that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't have a testing infrastructure that lets us protect members of Congress , '' said Dr. Ashish Jha , director of Harvard Global Health Institute .
So far , Congress has seen about 100 cases among its members and workers , including more than a dozen lawmakers .
And last month , Florida Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan said his longtime staffer , Gary Tibbetts , had succumbed to the illness .
Davis , a key advocate who has called for widespread COVID-19 testing on Capitol Hill , said on Wednesday he sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly elevated temperature .
His wife , a cancer survivor , and staff , have since tested negative .
`` My staff and I take COVID-19 very seriously .
My wife is a nurse and a cancer survivor , which puts her in an at-risk category like so many Americans , '' Davis said .
`` My office and I have always followed and will continue to follow CDC guidelines , use social distancing , and wear masks or face coverings when social distancing can not be maintained . ''
Grijalva himself tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gohmert , a member of his Natural Resources committee did as well .
A White House screening caught Gohmert 's diagnosis a week ago Wednesday — a day after he sat by Grijalva during a committee hearing .
Gohmert , who has been known to dismiss masks and other precautions for the pandemic , returned to his Capitol office after his test .
He was attempting to travel with President Trump for a trip to Texas , but that was cancelled as a result .
The Capitol 's Office of the Attending Physician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , has advised a series of precautions for members and workers , including mask wearing and social distancing .
However , in light of Gohmert 's case , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi instituted a new mask mandate that will allow the forcible removal of a member by U.S. Capitol Police if they do n't comply .
Pelosi says the Capitol still is n't in a position to institute widespread testing because there 's still equipment shortages making it difficult to test its more than 500 lawmakers and workforce of 20,000 .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place , such as pro sports organizations , face their own controversy for gaining access .
Some experts including Jha say national testing levels of about 5 million tests per week now should be closer to 30 million .
`` There are many people in the country who should be tested , should have access in order to quantify the problem , but also to trace and to treat so that people do n't die , '' Pelosi recently told reporters .
`` And I do n't think it 's a good idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 'we should have it but maybe not necessarily the people who work here at the expense of others . '
'' In May , Pelosi and the Senate 's top Republican , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , issued a joint statement turning down the Trump administration 's one-time offer of 1,000 Abbott Laboratories rapid tests -- - which was considered a small drop in the bucket , many say .
At the time , Pelosi and McConnell said Congress should n't cut ahead of frontline workers and others in dire need of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
Also , the Abbott tests remain a challenge to scale up for larger workforces like the Capitol and are more suitable for smaller groups such as the White House , experts say .
However , Jha says Congress should instead be testing its members and employees weekly or more through other options .
`` If they do n't , to me , that , to be perfectly honest , is a travesty , '' Jha says .
Jha said the Capitol could use newer , so-called antigen tests .
Preferably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , since antigen tests are more accessible today , can be scaled for larger workforces and can provide results within minutes .
Such antigen tests have lower sensitivity levels than the more traditional polymerase chain reaction , or PCR , tests , Jha notes .
However , when used regularly and frequently to test a certain population , there 's better odds of catching an active case , he argues .
In some cases , PCR tests , while more accurate , can also face longer delays for results .
A congressional aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Capitol 's Office of the Attending Physician could only conduct about a dozen or so PCR tests a week .
And that falls woefully short of the Capitol 's needs , experts argue .
In May , House Republicans , led in part by Davis , also pitched another plan to partner with the military to test about 6,000 or so a week on Capitol Hill .
But that also may not be enough , experts say .
However , Jha says a larger testing plan is also a matter of prioritizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher level now than just a few months ago , the Capitol is in a better position to install such a program , Jha argues .
`` I just think Congress needs to be a priority , '' he said .
`` A lot of older members , it 's high risk and , also , they are the U.S. Congress .
This is a really important moment for Congress to be able to be protected . ''
When Grijalva first learned of his results , he admits he was angry , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
And while he says he ca n't blame Gohmert directly , he is sure he caught the illness at the Capitol .
`` I 've been doing everything right .
I got masks , I got shields , I got gloves , which goes to the point of how insidious this this virus is , '' Grijalva said .
The father of three daughters , and grandfather to five children , says his family reacted with their own fear — and anger .
From Arizona , his family has sent him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a new thermometer and a blood oxygen sensor .
And they 're checking on him frequently .
`` I said , ' I 'm not supposed to stress .
Quit calling me every 20 minutes , ' '' he says laughingly .
But he says he is continuing to do well .
And he 's hoping he clears this week without symptoms , which he was told is the critical window to escape any serious concerns of the illness .
Meanwhile , he 's re-learning a lesson , and he hopes any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have at times dismissed precautions , will as well .
`` This pandemic does n't care what your party affiliation or your political ideology might be , '' Grijalva said .
`` It does not care . ''

As More Lawmakers Test Positive, Congress Gets A Tough Reminder Of Coronavirus Risk
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bill Clark/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Bill Clark/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva is nervous.
Last week, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee tested positive for COVID-19 in the latest outbreak on Capitol Hill.
And although Grijalva is asymptomatic, he's worried because he's 72 years old and an admitted on-and-off smoker.
"You get scared; your family gets scared," he said from his Washington, D.C., home, where he is now quarantining. "If you're not afraid of this disease, there's something fundamentally wrong."
In a matter of one week, three members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus: Grijalva, Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert and Illinois Republican Rep. Rodney Davis. Gohmert and Davis also said they are asymptomatic.
The latest outbreak is a reminder of the risks for Capitol Hill as members continue to meet in an attempt to negotiate a new wave of aid to address the coronavirus. Unlike regular, widespread testing programs at workplaces from the White House to the NBA, Congress is going without.
"It's unbelievable that six months into a pandemic, we don't have a testing infrastructure that lets us protect members of Congress," said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard Global Health Institute.
So far, Congress has seen about 100 cases among its members and workers, including more than a dozen lawmakers. And last month, Florida Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan said his longtime staffer, Gary Tibbetts, had died after contracting COVID-19.
Davis, a key advocate who has called for widespread coronavirus testing on Capitol Hill, said Wednesday he sought a test after noticing he had a slightly elevated temperature. His wife, a cancer survivor, and staff have since tested negative.
"My staff and I take COVID-19 very seriously. My wife is a nurse and a cancer survivor, which puts her in an at-risk category like so many Americans," Davis said. "My office and I have always followed and will continue to follow CDC guidelines, use social distancing, and wear masks or face coverings when social distancing cannot be maintained."
Grijalva tested positive last Friday, just days after Gohmert, a member of Grijalva's natural resources committee, did as well. A White House screening caught Gohmert's diagnosis a week ago Wednesday — a day after he sat by Grijalva during a committee hearing.
Gohmert, who has been known to dismiss masks and other precautions for the pandemic, returned to his Capitol office after his test. He was attempting to travel with President Trump for a trip to Texas but that was canceled as a result.
The Capitol's Office of the Attending Physician, a small, on-campus doctor's office, has advised a series of precautions for members and workers, including mask wearing and social distancing. However, in light of Gohmert's case, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi instituted a new mask mandate that will allow the forcible removal of a member by U.S. Capitol Police if they don't comply.
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Pelosi says the Capitol still isn't in a position to institute widespread testing because there's still equipment shortages making it difficult to test its more than 500 lawmakers and workforce of 20,000. Those that do have widespread testing programs in place, such as pro sports organizations, face their own controversy for gaining access. Some experts including Jha say national testing levels of about 5 million tests per week now should be closer to 30 million.
"There are many people in the country who should be tested, should have access in order to quantify the problem, but also to trace and to treat so that people don't die," Pelosi recently told reporters. "And I don't think it's a good idea for members of the Congress to say, 'We should have it but maybe not necessarily the people who work here at the expense of others.' "
In May, Pelosi and the Senate's top Republican, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, issued a joint statement turning down the Trump administration's onetime offer of 1,000 Abbott Laboratories rapid tests — which was considered a small drop in the bucket, many say. At the time, Pelosi and McConnell said Congress shouldn't cut ahead of front-line workers and others in dire need of tests, which were more scarce at the time.
Also, the Abbott tests remain a challenge to scale up for larger workforces like the Capitol and are more suitable for smaller groups such as the White House, experts say.
However, Jha says Congress should instead be testing its members and employees weekly or more through other options.
"If they don't, to me, that — to be perfectly honest — is a travesty," Jha says.
Jha said the Capitol could use newer so-called antigen tests. Preferably, about 6,000 could be tested daily since antigen tests are more accessible today, can be scaled for larger workforces and can provide results within minutes.
Such antigen tests have lower sensitivity levels than the more traditional polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests, Jha notes. However, when used regularly and frequently to test a certain population, there are better odds of catching an active case, he argues. In some cases, PCR tests, while more accurate, can also face longer delays for results.
A congressional aide told NPR that by this summer, the Capitol's Office of the Attending Physician could only conduct about a dozen or so PCR tests a week. And that falls woefully short of the Capitol's needs, experts argue.
In May, House Republicans, led in part by Davis, also pitched another plan to partner with the military to test about 6,000 or so a week on Capitol Hill. But that also may not be enough, experts say.
However, Jha says a larger testing plan is also a matter of prioritizing Congress. With national tests at a higher level now than just a few months ago, the Capitol is in a better position to install such a program, Jha argues.
"I just think Congress needs to be a priority," he said. "A lot of older members, it's high risk and, also, they are the U.S. Congress. This is a really important moment for Congress to be able to be protected."
When Grijalva first learned of his results, he admits he was angry and then asked questions of "why me?" And while he says he can't blame Gohmert directly, he is sure he caught the illness at the Capitol.
"I've been doing everything right. I got masks, I got shields, I got gloves, which goes to the point of how insidious this virus is," Grijalva said.
The father of three daughters and grandfather to five children says his family reacted with their own fear — and anger. From Arizona, his family has sent him a round of herbal treatments, vitamins, a new thermometer and a blood oxygen sensor.
And they're checking on him frequently.
"I said, 'I'm not supposed to stress. Quit calling me every 20 minutes,' " he says, laughing.
He says he is continuing to do well. And he's hoping he clears this week without symptoms, which he was told is the critical window to escape serious concerns of the illness.
Meanwhile, he's relearning a lesson and he hopes any of his colleagues like Gohmert, who have at times dismissed precautions, will as well.
"This pandemic doesn't care what your party affiliation or your political ideology might be," Grijalva said. "It does not care."


npr--2020-08-06--For Colorado 4-H Kids The Livestock Show Goes On Despite The Pandemic

For Colorado 4-H Kids The Livestock Show Goes On Despite The Pandemic The sheep and goats , pigs and cows lounging in the shade of the covered , outdoor arena had no idea about the strange times we 're living through .
They did n't know that just beyond their pens — more spaced-out than normal — there were n't the typical carnival rides , funnel cake stands or crowds at this year 's Mesa County Fair in Grand Junction , Colo .
Even though 9-year-old Harold Stafford had been planning for the fair for months , he still seemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't think they were going to have one , you know because of coronavirus and stuff , '' said the fresh-faced kid , in jeans and a red T-shirt .
But officials in this high-desert swath of western Colorado made sure the revamped fair did go on , for the sake of Stafford and other young livestock raisers .
He brought his two sheep , Bullet and Jack , to compete for ribbons and be auctioned off .
Though the fair was n't open to the public , children like him — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with their families .
It was all possible because Colorado 's Agriculture commissioner deems livestock shows and sales essential , explained Melissa Wonnenberg , who runs the county 's 4-H program .
`` We were very aware that when we were given the okay to do this , if we had a huge spike in cases that we would get shut down , '' she said .
Mesa County , like many rural areas in Colorado , has a coronavirus infection rate that 's much lower than the state 's big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Future Farmers of America did n't have to miss out on a tradition generations old .
Wonnenberg explained that kids use the money from selling their livestock to buy next year 's animals .
Some even save for college or go into business for themselves with their earnings .
Without this summer 's competitions and sales , `` I think it would have been a huge hole in an already kind of tough year , '' she said .
Across the county , even fairs in areas hardest-hit by coronavirus are doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows , with permission from local health departments .
For some , that means shows completely online .
At the Mesa County Fair , however , the animal competitions were pretty much the same , just with about 20 % fewer kids — and without the public .
Sitting with Rocco , her white-and-black lamb , 12-year-old Danielle Long said she was mostly glad to be here .
At the same time , she was also kind of sad .
`` Because we 've just became really close friends , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school out since March , they 'd spent so much time together .
That would be over when the fair ended .
`` It 's going to be really hard when he leaves , '' she said , sounding a bit resigned , `` but I will get over it when I get my next lamb . ''
Nearby , in a cavernous barn filled with bellowing cattle and giant fans keeping them cool , 18-year-old Antonio Treto Alvarez was cleaning out the hooves of his final 4-H steer .
`` He weighs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treto declared , adding that he thought the big , nameless guy would go far in his competition .
It would be a good end to Treto 's 11 years in 4-H , starting with lambs .
`` I 've probably hand-raised more sheep than math assignments I 've turned in , '' he said , with a smirk .
All around him was that earthy , pungent smell of manure .
Treto called it `` homey , '' though he could bet some folks might think that was weird .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're taking care of their animals .
They 're getting stuff done , '' he said .
`` It 's a nice feeling , and it 's a nice smell . ''
It was a whiff of something normal , in a time so alien .

For Colorado 4-H Kids, The Livestock Show Goes On Despite The Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stina Sieg/CPR News Stina Sieg/CPR News
The sheep and goats, pigs and cows lounging in the shade of the covered, outdoor arena had no idea about the strange times we're living through. They didn't know that just beyond their pens — more spaced-out than normal — there weren't the typical carnival rides, funnel cake stands or crowds at this year's Mesa County Fair in Grand Junction, Colo.
Even though 9-year-old Harold Stafford had been planning for the fair for months, he still seemed surprised to be there.
"I didn't think they were going to have one, you know, because of coronavirus and stuff," said the fresh-faced kid wearing jeans and a red T-shirt.
But officials in this high-desert swath of western Colorado made sure the revamped fair did go on, for the sake of Stafford and other young livestock raisers. He brought his two sheep, Bullet and Jack, to compete for ribbons and be auctioned off. Though the fair wasn't open to the public, children like him — some still in kindergarten — were welcome, along with their families.
It was all possible because Colorado's agriculture commissioner deems livestock shows and sales essential, explained Melissa Wonnenberg, who runs the county's 4-H program.
"We were very aware that when we were given the OK to do this, if we had a huge spike in cases that we would get shut down," she said.
Mesa County, like many rural areas in Colorado, has a coronavirus infection rate that's much lower than the state's big cities, so young people in 4-H and Future Farmers of America didn't have to miss out on a tradition generations old. Wonnenberg explained that kids use the money from selling their livestock to buy next year's animals. Some even save for college or go into business for themselves with their earnings.
Animals Zoos Are Reopening, But Some Animals Are More Excited For Visitors Than Others Zoos Are Reopening, But Some Animals Are More Excited For Visitors Than Others Listen · 4:07 4:07
Without this summer's competitions and sales, "I think it would have been a huge hole in an already kind of tough year," she said.
Across the county, even fairs in areas hardest-hit by the coronavirus are doing their best to still hold youth livestock shows, with permission from local health departments. For some, that means shows completely online. At the Mesa County Fair, however, the animal competitions were pretty much the same, just with about 20% fewer kids — and without the public.
Sitting with Rocco, her white-and-black lamb, 12-year-old Danielle Long said she was mostly glad to be here. At the same time, she was also kind of sad.
"Because we've just became really close friends," she said, patting Rocco's head.
With school out since March, they'd spent so much time together. That would be over when the fair ended.
"It's going to be really hard when he leaves," she said, sounding a bit resigned. "But I will get over it when I get my next lamb."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stina Sieg/CPR News Stina Sieg/CPR News
Nearby, in a cavernous barn filled with bellowing cattle and giant fans keeping them cool, 18-year-old Antonio Treto Alvarez was cleaning out the hooves of his final 4-H steer.
"He weighs as much as a truck!" Treto declared, adding that he thought the big nameless guy would go far in his competition. It would be a good end to Treto's 11 years in 4-H, starting with lambs.
"I've probably hand-raised more sheep than math assignments I've turned in," he said with a smirk.
All around him was that earthy, pungent smell of manure. Treto called it "homey," though he could bet some folks might think that was weird.
"There's people out and about. They're taking care of their animals. They're getting stuff done," he said. "It's a nice feeling, and it's a nice smell."
It was a whiff of something normal in a time so alien.


npr--2020-08-06--How Safe Is Your School's Reopening Plan? Here's What To Look For

How Safe Is Your School 's Reopening Plan ?
Here 's What To Look For As schools across the country grapple with bringing kids back into the classroom , parents — and teachers — are worried about safety .
We asked pediatricians , infectious disease specialists and education experts for help evaluating school district plans .
What we learned : There 's no such thing as zero risk , but certain practices can lower the risk of an outbreak at school and keep kids , teachers and families safer .
If you 're considering sending your child back to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , start with assessing both your own family 's personal risk and the level of spread in your community .
The American Federation of Teachers says it does n't consider in-person school to be safe unless fewer than 5 % of coronavirus tests in an area are positive .
As of late July , that one benchmark disqualified eight of the 10 largest public school districts in the country .
If your family is relatively healthy , and local numbers look good , here 's how to weigh the key elements of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To School : Riding The Bus Look for : Limited capacity and physical distancing .
Plus masks !
Buses combine several risk factors for spread : Kids are in a closed space , for an extended period of time , often with poor ventilation .
`` The best option for children getting to school would be for their parents to drop them off , '' says Dr. Tina Tan , pediatrics infectious disease specialist at Northwestern University in Chicago .
Or walk or bike to school .
But that 's not an option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ busing safer , limit capacity to 50 % , says Dr. Ravina Kullar , an epidemiologist and spokesperson for the Infectious Disease Society of America .
The children and the driver should be physically distanced by at least six feet and everyone should wear masks .
Ideally there 's assigned seating , and tape marks designating where kids should sit , she says .
If possible , keep the bus windows open to improve ventilation , says Dr. Judith Guzman-Cottrill , a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Oregon Health & Science University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the risk of infection .
`` Students ' hands should be sanitized before they enter the bus , '' says Laurie Combe , president of the National Association of School Nurses .
Combe suggests mounting a sanitizer dispenser at the entrance of the bus for children to use as they board .
Look for : Clear policies requiring sick kids and teachers to stay home Our experts agree : Plans should drive home the message that staff and kids must stay home if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 at all .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to learn that if we 're sick , we stay home — always , '' says Dr. William Miller , an epidemiologist at Ohio State University .
It 's a big cultural shift , he says , because many of us are used to `` powering through illness and sometimes we expect the same of our children . ''
There is no one perfect way to enforce this .
Some experts suggest schools rely on messaging , while others prefer schools screen for symptoms .
Symptom checks at school may not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that parents should keep kids home if they 're sick , says Laurie Combe .
`` If there was optimal staffing for this situation , then the best practice would be to be able to screen as people enter the building , '' she says .
The CDC currently does not recommend schools conduct widespread symptom screenings .
It suggests parents check their children at home before coming to school .
Kids should stay home even if they have only very mild symptoms , `` just a headache or stomach ache , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease specialist and chief health officer at the University of Michigan .
And when parents are sick , children should stay home too , adds Miller .
This may be difficult for economic reasons for many families .
If teachers or staff have to miss work , then , Malani says school `` policies have to support it , whether it 's paid time off or making sure that there 's not a penalty for missing work . ''
To encourage symptomatic kids to stay home , some school districts may need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing up consistently and penalize them for missing days .
Several experts argue for schools conducting daily temperature checks .
A good rule of thumb is that any child with a fever exceeding 100.4 F `` should be sent home or to the doctor 's office for evaluation , '' says Dr .
Dial Hewlett , an infectious disease specialist who has consulted with schools in Westchester County , N.Y. Others , like Malani , are skeptical .
She says children infected with the coronavirus may show no symptoms , including fever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases and could be a waste of resources .
And Combe questions the accuracy of infrared temperature screening devices and worries about student privacy .
Look for : Consistent , mandatory mask usage for kids and adults All our experts agree that masks are a vital part of a school 's reopening plan .
Especially `` in those situations where they can not physically distance six feet or more from each other , '' says Tan .
This advice is in line with the CDC 's school reopening guidelines .
Miller adds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear masks , because `` the distance that airborne particles are dispersed is greater for adults than children . ''
Some studies suggest adults are more likely to infect children than the other way around .
But masks are n't optimal for everyone , including anyone with health problems that affect breathing , those interacting with people who are hard of hearing and very young children .
The CDC suggests schools consider using masks with a see-through covering over the mouth for young students or students with disabilities .
For younger kids especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students can `` take off their masks and have a breather , '' says Hewlett .
These mask breaks would preferably be outdoors , he says .
Under debate : Face shields Some educators like the idea of a clear , plastic face shield as a stand alone face covering for younger children .
They 're more comfortable , make it harder to touch the face and easier to see expressions .
But there 's no strong evidence that face shields reduce infection rates , says Miller .
And the CDC does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
Face shields or goggles could be used in addition to masks , especially for teachers as a way to protect their eyes .
In a virtual town hall with the American Federation of Teachers , Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked what teachers should wear in class .
`` The minimum would be the mask , eye shield if you can have it and possibly gloves , '' he replied .
Look for : 6 feet between desks , small class sizes and cohorts Physical distancing is a cornerstone of coronavirus protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the grocery store or at a White House briefing .
Ideally desks need to be placed at least six feet apart , space allowing .
Some schools are considering moving traditional classes into larger rooms like auditoriums , music rooms or gyms , says Hewlett .
Tan advises holding classes outdoors when possible .
`` There really is no one right way to do this , '' says Tan .
Schools have to adapt their space as best they can .
One solution many experts recommend is a system of cohorts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-contained pod that does n't interact with other children .
The goal , says Miller , is to reduce the number of people any individual is exposed to and `` reduce the density of people in any given space . ''
Malani suggests bringing special teachers , like art and music teachers , to the pod 's classroom .
This way , students do n't have to rub elbows traveling through hallways .
`` If the bubble stays safe then everyone within it stays safe , '' Miller says .
As part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opting to set up a staggered schedule , with one group of students going on Wednesday and Friday for example , while another group goes Tuesday , Thursday and each group alternates Mondays .
Another option is to have one group of students go in the mornings and another in the afternoons .
Plexiglass dividers have been used in schools in Europe and Asia .
But `` the data for plexiglass are limited , '' says Miller , explaining that unless dividers go to the ceiling , `` the air currents will simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plexiglass barriers are most useful in front offices , for greeters or security guards sitting in high traffic areas .
5 ) What To Do When Someone Gets Sick Look for : Requirement for anyone with symptoms to self-isolate — and collaboration with the local health department Schools need to have a plan in place before opening for what to do when kids develop symptoms .
It 's critical this is communicated clearly , says Hewlett , so that `` everyone understands what 's going to happen if a child develops infection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that any student or staff with symptoms should be tested or evaluated by a doctor .
But few school plans we reviewed specify this as a requirement for students ; instead they simply ask that anyone with concerning symptoms or a known exposure stay home .
( Some districts , like Detroit , are asking all staff to get tested prior to the start of school ) .
With or without test results , anyone with symptoms needs to stay home for at least 10 days after symptom onset and schools should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to quarantine .
This would be best done in consultation with the local health department , says Malani , and will be based on the severity of the symptoms , and how much interaction the child had with others .
If anyone does test positive , schools need to collaborate with local health departments Hewlett says , so they can provide contact tracing and guidance for when to shut down a school if needed .
Establishing a stable pod or cohort of students could help prevent school shutdowns , says Guzman-Cottrill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests positive , exposure is limited to the cohort and only those students need to quarantine .
Several experts said regular testing of asymptomatic students and staff is not feasible , with current testing shortages and delays .
But if it were , it could help schools open safely .
`` Weekly testing would be ideal , as it would identify asymptomatic infections , '' says Dr. Danielle Zerr , pediatric infectious disease specialist at Seattle Children 's Hospital .
Once new technologies are approved and rapid tests are available , schools should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mina , an immunologist and epidemiologist at Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health .
`` Short of vaccines , daily cheap rapid tests performed at home or at school are a clear avenue to keep cases low and prevent outbreaks from growing , '' he says .
Look for : Focus on hand hygiene and cleaning high-touch surfaces The CDC says the major route of COVID-19 transmission is through droplets that are expelled when we cough , sneeze , or talk .
But the virus can live on surfaces for hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worry about constantly cleaning every part of the school , says Zerr , `` focus on frequent hand hygiene and wiping down frequently-touched surfaces . ''
To promote hand hygiene schools could have sanitzer dispensers in classrooms and hallways , says Malani and keep bathrooms are well stocked with paper towels and soap .
Combe wants to see a dispenser on the school bus as well .
Schools should focus cleaning efforts on high-touch surfaces like door knobs , bathroom doors and sink areas multiple times a day .
And some opportunities for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Classroom doors can be left open until class starts so that each student does not need to open the door , '' Tan says .
Cleaning desks is less of a worry , Miller says , because students do n't touch each other 's desks that often .
It 's important to thoroughly clean bathrooms which children routinely use , says Hewlett .
These are high-touch areas and can get crowded .
Miller recommends `` bathrooms must have strong exhaust fans , '' as airflow dilutes virus that may accumulate in the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not be worth it , says school nurse Laurie Combe , because spraying disinfectant willy-nilly might create its own hazards .
`` I do n't know that we have enough data that tells us that that is safe , '' she says .
Look for : As much airflow as possible While person-to-person spread is the greater risk , scientists are also concerned about the virus accumulating in indoor air .
So the guiding principle is to bring in as much fresh air as possible to dilute and disperse viral particles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange with the outside , '' says Miller .
Joshua Santarpia , a microbiologist who studies biological aerosols at the University of Nebraska Medical Center , says that schools should assess their ventilation systems to see if they can be modified to optimize air flow in each classroom .
`` The more air changes the better , '' he says .
Newer school buildings with modern systems typically are set up to recirculate indoor air because this saves energy , says Peter Fehl , president of building management systems for Honeywell .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to get `` seven or eight times more fresh air , '' says Fehl .
In addition , schools can replace their system 's HEPA filters — which remove most very fine particles — more frequently , probably once a month , Fehl says .
But many schools have older systems that do n't have the option of increasing fresh air .
For schools that ca n't afford to update their systems , Santarpia recommends free-standing HEPA filters .
He says the size of the room and noise impact need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if used correctly , these filters `` could dramatically reduce airborne contaminants . ''
Unfortunately , the quality of air in classrooms may come down to resources .
Wealthier districts will likely have more modern facilities and systems .
There are newer technologies such UV light systems that are garnering attention as well , but `` the jury is still out on more novel interventions , like UV light and ionizers , '' Santarpia says .
One challenge : When air is moving through a duct system , it can be difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure time necessary to kill viruses .
Look for : Staggered cafeteria times or in-classroom dining Eating lunch and snacks requires removing face masks , so social distancing is the key to reducing transmission .
Schools should avoid having kids eat in a crowded cafeteria .
`` This may mean eating in classrooms , '' says Zerr , adding that kids should stick with their designated pod , and `` remove masks only to eat . ''
Other experts suggest staggering lunch times to reduce the number of students who are in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep students in their social bubbles at lunch time , whether they are eating in their classrooms or the cafeteria .
`` Purchasing lunches should be OK if students are spaced out and classes do not intermingle , '' Miller says .
Many schools are planning to serve a bag lunch which students can carry back to their classroom , although there are concerns these lunches may not be as nutritious .
Look for : Outdoor recess in small supervised groups Kids need to run , play and take breaks , says Kullar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time is less risky than indoor time , '' she says .
Most of our experts agree — recess should take place outside , ideally with enough room for kids to socially distance , so they can remove their masks .
If kids ca n't stay six feet apart while on recess , our experts agreed they should not remove their masks , especially if they are inside .
Kullar advises staggering recess times , sending kids out in `` small , supervised groups . ''
And everyone should immediately wash hands when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of our experts recommended not just a single recess , but multiple `` mask breaks '' during the day .
This could increase chances that kids comply with mask use the rest of the time , says Miller .
Look for : Outdoor activities and no contact sports Games should be outside and spaced as much as possible , says Miller , adding that kickball is `` relatively safe . ''
Modified forms of no-contact tag , hide-and-go seek , or anything where kids are running around and generally staying away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
`` If you ca n't go outside , use the gym or the cafeteria as a larger play space , '' Miller says .
Avoid sports that involve physical contact , cautioned several of our experts .
`` Contact sports should be suspended until we see a decrease in cases , '' says Kullar .
This means no team sports like basketball , football , baseball , wrestling , cheerleading , Tan added .
Cross-country running and tennis are safer bets than other sports , says Malani .
`` With tennis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with singles play , that other than making sure that you keep your hands clean , there 's not a lot of additional precautions that would be needed . ''
Malani says .
Masks can come off if students are breathing hard , as long as they are well distanced , Zerr says .
Look for : A boost in funding We also asked our experts for other ideas that should be the components of any good back-to-school plan .
Lily Eskelsen García , president of the National Education Association , says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and healthy — from face masks to hand sanitizer — `` everything costs money . ''
While recently lobbying for school funding , she recalls one politician complained , `` Money , money money , all you guys want is money . ''
What schools really needed , the politician said , was plexiglass dividers .
And Eskelsen Garcia said , `` Oh , I had no idea they were giving those away !
Put me down for 52 million ! ''
National education organizations have estimated that schools need as much as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plug holes in state budgets caused by the pandemic-induced recession .
The White House has recommended allocating $ 105 billion in current negotiations , but wants to tie much of that money to schools physically reopening .
And of course , some schools have more resources to start with .
The bottom line is , wealthier school districts will have an easier time implementing some of these safety measures .
Without an influx of funding `` inequities that exist now will likely be increased , '' Malani says .

How Safe Is Your School's Reopening Plan? Here's What To Look For
Enlarge this image Rose Wong for NPR Rose Wong for NPR
As schools across the country grapple with bringing kids back into the classroom, parents — and teachers — are worried about safety. We asked pediatricians, infectious disease specialists and education experts for help evaluating school district plans.
What we learned: There's no such thing as zero risk, but certain practices can lower the risk of an outbreak at school and keep kids, teachers and families safer.
If you're considering sending your child back to school this fall or in the coming months, start with assessing both your own family's personal risk and the level of spread in your community. The American Federation of Teachers says it doesn't consider in-person school to be safe unless fewer than 5% of coronavirus tests in an area are positive. As of late July, that one benchmark disqualified eight of the 10 largest public school districts in the country.
If your family is relatively healthy and local numbers look good, here's how to weigh the key elements of a school reopening plan.
1) Getting to school: Riding the bus
Look for: Limited capacity and physical distancing. Plus masks
Enlarge this image Rose Wong for NPR Rose Wong for NPR
Buses combine several risk factors for spread: Kids are in a closed space, for an extended period of time, often with poor ventilation.
"The best option for children getting to school would be for their parents to drop them off," says Dr. Tina Tan, pediatrics infectious disease specialist at Northwestern University in Chicago. Or walk or bike to school.
But that's not an option for many families, so to make busing safer, limit capacity to 50%, says Ravina Kullar, an epidemiologist and spokesperson for the Infectious Disease Society of America. The children and the driver should be physically distanced by at least 6 feet, and everyone should wear masks. Ideally there's assigned seating, and tape marks designating where kids should sit, she says.
If possible, keep the bus windows open to improve ventilation, says Dr. Judith Guzman-Cottrill, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Oregon Health & Science University. Airflow helps dilute the virus, thus reducing the risk of infection.
"Students' hands should be sanitized before they enter the bus," says Laurie Combe, president of the National Association of School Nurses. Combe suggests mounting a sanitizer dispenser at the entrance of the bus.
2) Entry-to-school guidelines
Look for: Clear policies requiring sick kids and teachers to stay home
Our experts agree: Plans should drive home the message that staff and kids must stay home if they have any symptoms of COVID-19.
"As a society, we are going to have to learn that if we're sick, we stay home — always," says Dr. William Miller, an epidemiologist at Ohio State University. It's a big cultural shift, he says, because many of us are used to "powering through illness, and sometimes, we expect the same of our children."
There is no one perfect way to enforce this. Some experts suggest schools rely on messaging, while others prefer schools screening for symptoms.
Symptom checks at school may not be foolproof, but they reinforce the message that parents should keep kids home if they're sick, says Laurie Combe. "If there was optimal staffing for this situation, then the best practice would be to be able to screen as people enter the building."
The CDC currently does not recommend schools conduct widespread symptom screenings. It suggests parents check their children at home before coming to school.
Kids should stay home even if they have only very mild symptoms, "just a headache or stomachache," says Dr. Preeti Malani, an infectious disease specialist and chief health officer at the University of Michigan. And when parents are sick, children should stay home too, adds Miller. This may be difficult for economic reasons for many families.
If teachers or staff have to miss work, then, Malani says, school "policies have to support it, whether it's paid time off or making sure that there's not a penalty for missing work."
To encourage symptomatic kids to stay home, some school districts may need to revisit attendance policies that reward students for showing up consistently and penalize them for missing days.
Under debate: Temperature checks
Several experts argue for schools conducting daily temperature checks. A good rule of thumb is that any child with a fever exceeding 100.4 F "should be sent home or to the doctor's office for evaluation," says Dr. Dial Hewlett, an infectious disease specialist who has consulted with schools in Westchester County, N.Y.
Others, like Malani, are skeptical. She says children infected with the coronavirus may show no symptoms, including fever, so temperature screenings can miss the real cases and could be a waste of resources. And Combe questions the accuracy of infrared temperature screening devices and worries about student privacy.
3) Masking policies
Look for: Consistent, mandatory mask usage for kids and adults
Enlarge this image Rose Wong for NPR Rose Wong for NPR
All our experts agree that masks are a vital part of a school's reopening plan.
Especially "in those situations where they cannot physically distance 6 feet or more from each other," says Tan. This advice is in line with the CDC's school reopening guidelines.
Miller adds that it's critical that teachers and staff wear masks because "the distance that airborne particles are dispersed is greater for adults than children." Some studies suggest adults are more likely to infect children than the other way around.
But masks aren't optimal for everyone, including anyone with health problems that affect breathing, those interacting with people who are hard of hearing and very young children. The CDC suggests schools consider using masks with a see-through covering over the mouth for young students or students with disabilities.
For younger kids especially, schools should structure in times when students can "take off their masks and have a breather," says Hewlett. These mask breaks would preferably be outdoors, he says.
Under debate: Face shields Some educators like the idea of a clear, plastic face shield as a stand-alone face covering for younger children. They're more comfortable, make it harder to touch the face and easier to see expressions. But there's no strong evidence that face shields reduce infection rates, says Miller. And the CDC does not recommend them as a substitute for face masks.
Face shields or goggles could be used in addition to masks, especially for teachers as a way to protect their eyes. In a virtual town hall with the American Federation of Teachers, Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked what teachers should wear in class. "The minimum would be the mask, eye shield if you can have it and possibly gloves," he replied.
4) In Class: Social distancing and cohorts
Look for: 6 feet between desks, small class sizes and cohorts
Enlarge this image Rose Wong for NPR Rose Wong for NPR
Physical distancing is a cornerstone of coronavirus protection in school, just as it is in the grocery store or at a White House briefing.
Ideally, desks need to be placed at least 6 feet apart. Some schools are considering moving traditional classes into larger rooms like auditoriums, music rooms or gyms, says Hewlett. Tan advises holding classes outdoors when possible.
"There really is no one right way to do this," says Tan. Schools have to adapt their space as best they can.
One solution many experts recommend is a system of cohorts and staggered schedules. Each class forms a self-contained pod that doesn't interact with other children. The goal, says Miller, is to reduce the number of people any individual is exposed to and to "reduce the density of people in any given space."
Malani suggests bringing special-topic teachers, like art and music teachers, to the pod's classroom. This way, students don't have to rub elbows traveling through hallways.
"If the bubble stays safe, then everyone within it stays safe," Miller says.
As part of a cohort system, many schools are opting to set up a staggered schedule, in which one group of students goes on Wednesday and Friday for example, while another group goes Tuesday and Thursday, and each group alternates Mondays. Another option is to have one group of students go in the mornings and another in the afternoons.
Under debate: Plexiglass dividers
Plexiglass dividers have been used in schools in Europe and Asia. But "the data for plexiglass are limited," says Miller, explaining that unless dividers go to the ceiling, "the air currents will simply flow around them." Malani says plexiglass barriers are most useful in front offices, for greeters or security guards sitting in high-traffic areas.
5) What to do when someone gets sick
Look for: Requirement for anyone with symptoms to self-isolate — and collaboration with the local health department
Schools need to have a plan in place for what to do when kids develop symptoms. It's critical this is communicated clearly, says Hewlett, so that "everyone understands what's going to happen if a child develops infection."
Most scientists we spoke to agreed that any student or staff with symptoms should be tested or evaluated by a doctor. But few school plans we reviewed specify this as a requirement for students; instead they simply ask that anyone with concerning symptoms or a known exposure stay home. (Some districts, like Detroit, are asking all staff to get tested prior to the start of school.)
With or without test results, anyone with symptoms needs to stay home for at least 10 days after symptom onset, and schools should have a protocol for deciding whether others exposed need to quarantine. This would be best done in consultation with the local health department, says Malani, and will be based on the severity of the symptoms and how much interaction the child had with others.
If anyone does test positive, schools need to collaborate with local health departments, Hewlett says, so they can provide contact tracing and guidance for when to shut down a school if needed.
Establishing a stable pod or cohort of students could help prevent school shutdowns, says Guzman-Cottrill, because if a person in the cohort tests positive, exposure is limited to the cohort and only those students need to quarantine.
Future goal: Routine testing
Several experts said regular testing of asymptomatic students and staff is not feasible, with current testing shortages and delays. But if it were, it could help schools open safely.
"Weekly testing would be ideal, as it would identify asymptomatic infections," says Dr. Danielle Zerr, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Seattle Children's Hospital.
Once new technologies are approved and rapid tests are available, schools should do routine testing, says Dr. Michael Mina, an immunologist and epidemiologist at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "Short of vaccines, daily cheap rapid tests performed at home or at school are a clear avenue to keep cases low and prevent outbreaks from growing," he says.
6) Sanitizing surfaces
Look for: Focus on hand hygiene and cleaning high-touch surfaces
Enlarge this image Rose Wong for NPR Rose Wong for NPR
The CDC says the major route of COVID-19 transmission is through droplets that are expelled when we cough, sneeze or talk. But the virus can live on surfaces for hours and possibly days.
But rather than worry about constantly cleaning every part of the school, says Zerr, "focus on frequent hand hygiene and wiping down frequently touched surfaces."
To promote hand hygiene, schools could have sanitizer dispensers in classrooms and hallways, says Malani, and keep bathrooms well-stocked with paper towels and soap.
Schools should focus cleaning efforts on high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, bathroom doors and sink areas multiple times a day. And some opportunities for touching surfaces could be eliminated. "Classroom doors can be left open until class starts so that each student does not need to open the door," Tan says. Cleaning desks is less of a worry, Miller says, because students don't touch one another's desks that often.
It's important to thoroughly clean bathrooms that children routinely use, says Hewlett. These are high-touch areas and can get crowded. Miller says, "Bathrooms must have strong exhaust fans," as airflow dilutes virus that may accumulate in the air.
Open for debate: Disinfectant misters may not be worth it, says school nurse Laurie Combe, because spraying disinfectant willy-nilly might create its own hazards. "I don't know that we have enough data that tells us that that is safe," she says.
7) Air circulation
Look for: As much airflow as possible
While person-to-person spread is the greater risk, scientists are also concerned about the virus accumulating in indoor air. So the guiding principle is to bring in as much fresh air as possible to dilute and disperse viral particles. "We simply want lots of air exchange with the outside," says Miller.
Joshua Santarpia, a microbiologist who studies biological aerosols at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, says that schools should assess their ventilation systems to see if they can be modified to optimize airflow in each classroom. "The more air changes, the better," he says.
Newer school buildings with modern systems typically are set up to recirculate indoor air because this saves energy, says Peter Fehl, president of building management systems for Honeywell. But by adjusting those settings, it's possible to get "seven or eight times more fresh air," says Fehl.
In addition, schools can replace their system's HEPA filters — which remove most very fine particles — more frequently, probably once a month, Fehl says.
But many schools have older systems that don't have the option of increasing fresh air.
For schools that can't afford to update their systems, Santarpia recommends free-standing HEPA filters. He says the size of the room and how much noise will be made need to be considered when choosing a device, but if used correctly, these filters "could dramatically reduce airborne contaminants."
Unfortunately, the quality of air in classrooms may come down to resources. Wealthier districts will likely have more modern facilities and systems.
Open to debate: UV light systems
There are newer technologies such UV light systems that are garnering attention as well, but "the jury is still out on more novel interventions, like UV light and ionizers," Santarpia says. One challenge: When air is moving through a duct system, it can be difficult to get the kind of UV intensity and exposure time necessary to kill viruses.
8) Lunch and snacks
Look for: Staggered cafeteria times or in-classroom dining
Enlarge this image Rose Wong for NPR Rose Wong for NPR
Eating lunch and snacks requires removing face masks, so social distancing is the key here.
Schools should avoid having kids eat in a crowded cafeteria. "This may mean eating in classrooms," says Zerr, adding that kids should stick with their designated pod and "remove masks only to eat."
Other experts suggest staggering lunchtimes to reduce the number of students who are in the cafeteria so they can socially distance and keep students in their social bubbles, whether they are eating in their classrooms or the cafeteria.
"Purchasing lunches should be OK if students are spaced out and classes do not intermingle," Miller says. Many schools are planning to serve a bag lunch which students can carry back to their classroom, although there are concerns these lunches may not be as nutritious.
9) Recess
Look for: Outdoor recess in small supervised groups
Enlarge this image Rose Wong for NPR Rose Wong for NPR
Kids need to run, play and take breaks, says Kullar. And "we know outdoor time is less risky than indoor time," she says. Most of our experts agree — recess should take place outside, ideally with enough room for kids to socially distance, so they can remove their masks.
If kids can't stay 6 feet apart while at recess, our experts agreed they should not remove their masks, especially if inside.
Kullar advises staggering recess times, sending kids out in "small, supervised groups." And everyone should immediately wash hands when reentering the building, she adds.
Some of our experts recommended not just a single recess, but multiple "mask breaks" during the day. This could increase chances that kids comply with mask use the rest of the time, says Miller.
10) Gym and sports
Look for: Outdoor activities and no contact sports
Games should be outside and spaced as much as possible, says Miller, adding that kickball is "relatively safe." Modified forms of no-contact tag, hide-and-go-seek or anything where kids are running around and generally staying away from one another also work, he says. "If you can't go outside, use the gym or the cafeteria as a larger play space," Miller says.
Avoid sports that involve physical contact, cautioned several of our experts. "Contact sports should be suspended until we see a decrease in cases," says Kullar. This means no team sports like basketball, football, baseball, wrestling and cheerleading, Tan added.
Cross-country running and tennis are safer bets than other sports, says Malani. "With tennis, there's enough distance, particularly with singles play, that other than making sure that you keep your hands clean, there's not a lot of additional precautions that would be needed." Malani says.
Masks can come off if students are breathing hard, as long as they are well-distanced, Zerr says.
11) The missing ingredient
Look for: A boost in funding
We also asked our experts for other ideas that should be the components of any good back-to-school plan.
The No. 1 answer? Money.
Lily Eskelsen García, president of the National Education Association, says of the things schools need to keep students safe and healthy — from face masks to hand sanitizer — "everything costs money." While recently lobbying for school funding, she recalls one politician complained, "Money, money money, all you guys want is money." What schools really needed, the politician said, was plexiglass dividers. And Eskelsen García said, "Oh, I had no idea they were giving those away! Put me down for 52 million!"
The Council of Chief State School Officers has estimated that schools need as much as $245 billion to reopen safely and to plug holes in state budgets caused by the pandemic-induced recession. The White House has recommended allocating $105 billion in current negotiations but wants to tie much of that money to schools physically reopening.
And of course, some schools have more resources to start with. The bottom line is wealthier school districts will have an easier time implementing some of these safety measures. Without an influx of funding "inequities that exist now will likely be increased," Malani says.


npr--2020-08-06--U.S. Economy On High Alert Over Shaky Future Of Extra Jobless Benefits

U.S. Economy On High Alert Over Shaky Future Of Extra Jobless Benefits Ordinarily when people lose their job , they spend less money .
But something unusual happened this spring , when tens of millions of people were suddenly thrown out of work by the coronavirus pandemic .
At first , their spending did go down , just as you would expect .
But it quickly rebounded , once people started to receive unemployment benefits , which the federal government had boosted by $ 600 per week .
Jobless people who received those benefits wound up spending more on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Unemployment benefits have been absolutely transformative for the households that have been able to receive them during this crisis , '' said Peter Ganong , who studied the spending patterns along with colleagues from the University of Chicago and the JPMorgan Chase Institute .
`` It actually turns out that they 're helping to sustain the U.S. economy as a whole . ''
That could be an important consideration as Congress debates whether to renew some form of extra aid for the unemployed as part of a new coronavirus relief package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a metal fabrication plant in upstate New York in March .
He went about two months with no income , and fell behind on his rent .
But once his unemployment benefits finally started flowing , Mancuso suddenly had more money to spend than he did when he was working .
`` You just have a little bit more security , '' Mancuso said .
`` You feel a little bit more comfortable .
You can pay your bills and still have money .
If you needed a pair of sneakers , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
That extra spending power is not only good for sneaker salesmen , but landlords and grocers as well .
Consumer spending is a key driver of the broader U.S. economy .
As of last week , though , the extra $ 600 in federal help for the unemployed has run out .
Mancuso 's weekly benefit dropped from $ 873 to $ 273 .
He used the last of his extra federal money to pay this month 's rent .
`` If I had a $ 500 emergency right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mancuso said .
`` If something happened to my car , I would n't be able to fix it . ''
Multiply that uncertainty by the tens of millions of people who are still unemployed , and you could be left with a big hole in the U.S. economy .
Ganong warns that unless lawmakers agree to replace at least some of extra $ 600 a week , aggregate spending in the U.S. could drop by an additional 4.3 % — a steeper decline than the country experienced during the Great Recession more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world of no supplement is the world where on top of the pandemic we experience the Great Recession all over again , in terms of what happens to total spending in the economy , '' Ganong said .
Unemployment benefits have also helped to keep families from sinking into debt .
Forecasters expected to see a spike in credit card borrowing and delinquencies this spring , but in fact , the opposite happened .
Peter Maynard , senior vice president of data and analytics at the credit reporting firm Equifax , says overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card payments fell nearly 40 % .
`` If you told me in mid-March that we 'd have a decrease in consumer delinquencies , I would have looked at you in a weird way , because that 's not exactly what we expected , '' Maynard said .
Jobless benefits are n't the only factor behind the surprising improvement in household finances , Maynard says .
There were also those $ 1,200 relief payments , which acted like an extra tax refund .
And many people got a temporary break on their mortgage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to refinance at super-low interest rates .
Still , the extra unemployment benefits have been an important crutch for people like Nina Wurz , an apprentice carpenter in Seattle .
Wurz was out of work for most of the spring .
And while construction is picking up , she still wants to be careful and find a job site that feels safe .
`` Are they cleaning the bathrooms enough ? ''
she asked .
`` Because we only have port-a-potties to use .
I do n't want to see people get sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect myself . ''
Wurz said when the extra jobless benefits were available , she did n't have to stress about paying her bills or drowning in debt .
`` People are n't being lazy , '' she said .
`` It 's not an incentive to blow off any responsibilities .
It 's what people need .
People need it to survive . ''
And that extra spending power may be what the U.S. economy needs to avoid tumbling into an even deeper recession .

U.S. Economy On High Alert Over Shaky Future Of Extra Jobless Benefits
Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Updated at 9 a.m ET
Ordinarily when people lose their job, they spend less money. But something unusual happened this spring when tens of millions of people were suddenly thrown out of work by the coronavirus pandemic.
At first, their spending did go down, just as you would expect. But it quickly rebounded, once people started to receive unemployment benefits, which the federal government had boosted by $600 per week. Jobless people who received those benefits wound up spending more on the whole than they had before the pandemic.
"Unemployment benefits have been absolutely transformative for the households that have been able to receive them during this crisis," said Peter Ganong, who studied the spending patterns along with colleagues from the University of Chicago and the JPMorgan Chase Institute. "It actually turns out that they're helping to sustain the U.S. economy as a whole."
That could be an important consideration as Congress debates whether to renew some form of extra aid for the unemployed as part of a new coronavirus relief package.
The Labor Department reported nearly 1.2 million additional claims for state unemployment last week, plus another 656,000 claims under a special federal program for gig workers and the self-employed who are ordinarily not eligible for benefits. As of mid-July, more than 31 million people were receiving some form of unemployment insurance.
Nicholas Mancuso lost his job at a metal fabrication plant in upstate New York in March. He went about two months with no income and fell behind on his rent. But once his unemployment benefits finally started flowing, Mancuso suddenly had more money to spend than he did when he was working.
"You just have a little bit more security," Mancuso said. "You feel a little bit more comfortable. You can pay your bills and still have money. If you needed a pair of sneakers, you can go buy a pair of sneakers."
That extra spending power is not only good for sneaker salesmen, but for landlords and grocers as well. Consumer spending is a key driver of the broader U.S. economy.
As of last week, though, the extra $600 in federal help for the unemployed has run out. Mancuso's weekly benefit dropped from $873 to $273. He used the last of his extra federal money to pay this month's rent.
"If I had a $500 emergency right now, I'd be in trouble," Mancuso said. "If something happened to my car, I wouldn't be able to fix it."
Multiply that uncertainty by the tens of millions of people who are still unemployed, and you could be left with a big hole in the U.S. economy.
Ganong warns that unless lawmakers agree to replace at least some of extra $600 a week, aggregate spending in the U.S. could drop by an additional 4.3% — a steeper decline than the country experienced during the Great Recession more than a decade ago.
"The world of no supplement is the world where on top of the pandemic, we experience the Great Recession all over again, in terms of what happens to total spending in the economy," Ganong said.
Unemployment benefits have also helped to keep families from sinking into debt. Forecasters expected to see a spike in credit card borrowing and delinquencies this spring, but the opposite happened. Peter Maynard, senior vice president of data and analytics at the credit reporting firm Equifax, says overall borrowing went down. And late credit card payments fell nearly 40%.
"If you told me in mid-March that we'd have a decrease in consumer delinquencies, I would have looked at you in a weird way, because that's not exactly what we expected," Maynard said.
Jobless benefits aren't the only factor behind the surprising improvement in household finances, Maynard says. There were also those $1,200 relief payments, which acted like an extra tax refund. And many people got a temporary break on their mortgage or student loan or were able to refinance at super-low interest rates.
Still, the extra unemployment benefits have been an important aid for people like Nina Wurz, an apprentice carpenter in Seattle.
Wurz was out of work for most of the spring. And while construction is picking up, she still wants to be careful and find a job site that feels safe.
"Are they cleaning the bathrooms enough?" she asked. "Because we only have port-a-potties to use. I don't want to see people get sick and I guess I'm just trying to protect myself."
Wurz said when the extra jobless benefits were available, she didn't have to stress about paying her bills or drowning in debt.
"People aren't being lazy," she said. "It's not an incentive to blow off any responsibilities. It's what people need. People need it to survive."
And that extra spending power may be what the U.S. economy needs to avoid tumbling into an even deeper recession.


npr--2020-08-06--This Audio Portrait Of The 2020 Census Asks: Whose Voices Really Count?

This Audio Portrait Of The 2020 Census Asks : Whose Voices Really Count ?
When conceptual artist Ekene Ijeoma decided to deconstruct a monument , he picked a song , not a statue .
Like a bronze general in a park , `` The Star-Spangled Banner '' written in 1814 , is intended to evoke a sense of national identity and pride .
But Ijeoma , an artist who uses data to explore social justice in his work , created an algorithm that erases a certain percentage of notes as the song is being performed .
He wanted the revamped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incarceration .
The familiar music sounds strange and haunting .
( You can see a 2018 Kennedy Center performance of `` Deconstructed Anthems '' online , as well as a 2017 performance at the Day For Night Festival in Houston . )
`` The removing of notes from `` The Star-Spangled Banner '' represents every black person who was systematically removed from their families and communities that year , '' Ijeoma explained during a speech at the 2019 Creative Capital Artist Retreat .
Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers worked with Ijeoma on the arrangement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , different iterations of `` Deconstructed Anthems '' might remove all sharps or flats , or accidentals , he says .
Because `` The Star-Spangled Banner '' was written by a slaveholder , performing the piece has affected him , Bowers says , in surprising and emotional ways .
`` It almost illuminated in me a feeling I 've had since childhood , '' he told NPR .
`` This feeling that something rings a little false about the words we 're saying because of how my community 's been treated since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little more representative of what 's been happening to our country and the Black community in our country . ''
Ekene Ijeoma is a first-generation Nigerian American who grew up in Fort Worth , Texas .
At 36 , he 's lean and bespectacled , with a flat , dry affect that 's occasionally punctuated by a surprisingly explosive laugh .
Now a professor at MIT , Ijeoma describes himself as drawn to art and science since childhood .
He attended Rochester Institute of Technology because , as he explained to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college to be closer to New York City than it actually is .
In most of his work , Ijeoma combines design , architecture and performance with technology and data .
The artist worked with an epidemiologist to create a 2018 sculptural work called `` Pan-African AIDS , '' in which he uses etched plexiglass panels to sharply contrast rates of infection in Africa and the United States .
That same year , Ijeoma re-imagined a former Robert E. Lee monument in New Orleans for The New York Times .
An early internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project '' breaks down data to explain the ongoing crisis of more than 20 million displaced people around the world .
`` I 've always been trying to bridge the gap between facts and feelings , '' Ijeoma told NPR .
Right now , Ijeoma 's A Counting invites Americans to participate in an audio portrait of the United States by calling a number he 's set up and counting to 100 in the languages they grew up speaking .
It 's intended , in part , to reflect upon the 2020 census @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undercounted marginalized communities .
`` Not everyone was counted as a whole in the census , '' Ijeoma observes .
He 's tailored some versions of A Counting to specific U.S. cities , like New York , where the first number is always spoken by a member of an indigenous tribe , such as the Lenape .
Recent news about the census deadline moving to Sept. 30 has concerned some critics who worry it will adversely affect a process already disrupted by the pandemic , at the expense of those who would benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who we are , Ijoma says .
He makes that picture art .

This Audio Portrait Of The 2020 Census Asks: Whose Voices Really Count?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Katrina Barber /Resnicow and Associates Katrina Barber /Resnicow and Associates
When conceptual artist Ekene Ijeoma decided to deconstruct a monument, he picked a song, not a statue.
Like a bronze general in a park, "The Star-Spangled Banner" written in 1814, is intended to evoke a sense of national identity and pride. But Ijeoma, an artist who uses data to explore social justice in his work, created an algorithm that erases a certain percentage of notes as the song is being performed. He wanted the revamped anthem to reflect current rates of mass incarceration.
The familiar music sounds strange and haunting. (You can see a 2018 Kennedy Center performance of "Deconstructed Anthems" online, as well as a 2017 performance at the Day For Night Festival in Houston.)
YouTube
"The removing of notes from "The Star-Spangled Banner" represents every black person who was systematically removed from their families and communities that year," Ijeoma explained during a speech at the 2019 Creative Capital Artist Retreat.
Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers worked with Ijeoma on the arrangement. He says depending on the year, different iterations of "Deconstructed Anthems" might remove all sharps or flats, or accidentals, he says. Because "The Star-Spangled Banner" was written by a slaveholder, performing the piece has affected him, Bowers says, in surprising and emotional ways.
"It almost illuminated in me a feeling I've had since childhood," he told NPR. "This feeling that something rings a little false about the words we're saying because of how my community's been treated since the beginning. This way, it felt a little more representative of what's been happening to our country and the Black community in our country."
I've always been trying to bridge the gap between facts and feelings.
Ekene Ijeoma is a first-generation Nigerian American who grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. At 36, he's lean and bespectacled, with a flat, dry affect that's occasionally punctuated by a surprisingly explosive laugh. Now a professor at MIT, Ijeoma describes himself as drawn to art and science since childhood. He attended Rochester Institute of Technology because, as he explained to the online magazine Dazed, he believed the college to be closer to New York City than it actually is. In most of his work, Ijeoma combines design, architecture and performance with technology and data.
The artist worked with an epidemiologist to create a 2018 sculptural work called "Pan-African AIDS," in which he uses etched plexiglass panels to sharply contrast rates of infection in Africa and the United States.
That same year, Ijeoma re-imagined a former Robert E. Lee monument in New Orleans for The New York Times. An early internet work, 2014's "The Refugee Project" breaks down data to explain the ongoing crisis of more than 20 million displaced people around the world.
"I've always been trying to bridge the gap between facts and feelings," Ijeoma told NPR.
Right now, Ijeoma's A Counting invites Americans to participate in an audio portrait of the United States by calling a number he's set up and counting to 100 in the languages they grew up speaking. It's intended, in part, to reflect upon the 2020 census — and how the census historically has undercounted marginalized communities.
"Not everyone was counted as a whole in the census," Ijeoma observes. He's tailored some versions of A Counting to specific U.S. cities, like New York, where the first number is always spoken by a member of an indigenous tribe, such as the Lenape.
Recent news about the census deadline moving to Sept. 30 has concerned some critics who worry it will adversely affect a process already disrupted by the pandemic, at the expense of those who would benefit most.
Data paints a picture of who we are, Ijoma says. He makes that picture art.


npr--2020-08-06--Philippine Journalist Maria Ressa: 'Journalism Is Activism'

`` In a battle for facts , in a battle for truth , journalism is activism , '' says Philippine journalist Maria Ressa .
Ressa , who is internationally known and lauded for standing up to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte 's escalating attacks on the press , tells NPR that circumstances in the Philippines have forced her to evolve as a journalist .
Her news organization 's battles against online disinformation and Duterte 's administration are the focus of A Thousand Cuts , a documentary that debuted in January at the Sundance Film Festival and will be released virtually in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film focuses on the Philippines , the issues it touches on are n't unique to that country .
`` Obviously this disinformation is happening everywhere , '' says filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz .
Ressa and Rappler , the Manila-based news site she runs , first drew the ire of the Duterte administration soon after he took office in 2016 .
Rappler started critically covering the president 's brutal war against drugs and has remained in Duterte 's crosshairs as his crackdown on the press has intensified .
Over the years , Ressa has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ palace , endured near-constant attacks by pro-Duterte trolls and navigated a slew of lawsuits .
She tells NPR it was her arrest on charges of cyber libel in February 2019 that changed her thinking about her role .
Ressa realized her detention was an abuse of power .
On posting bail , she says , `` I just started speaking in a way that I would probably not have done , '' given her traditional journalistic training .
Almost immediately after her release , Ressa began to speak more openly against abuse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philippine law against journalists and government critics , and appealed for others to do the same .
Becoming part of the story has been a `` challenge , '' she tells NPR .
But `` When your own rights have been abused and you have evidence of that abuse of power , why should you not speak , especially if the data backs it ? ''
she says .
Ressa , 56 , was convicted in June .
The verdict came against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic , another battlefield on which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration — over disinformation on the government 's handling of the crisis as well as the right to criticize its response .
The Philippines has now crossed into its 20th week of strict lockdown , and virus cases continue to soar .
And while a lot has happened since A Thousand Cuts wrapped last year and Ressa still faces the possibility of jail , she says she wo n't be deterred from doing her job .
Highlights of NPR 's interview with Ressa follow , edited and condensed for clarity .
On hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I did n't want to be physically in that court because we were still in the middle of a lockdown , but the court decided that we all had to show up .
So there we were with our masks , with our shields .
And I had to listen to the clerk of court read out the the verdict .
So I took out my notebook and I just started taking notes , and then within two minutes ...
I just shut my notebook and I stopped taking notes because I knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonization of journalists Journalist equals criminal , which is the alternate reality .
This is how you transform a democracy .
This is death by a thousand cuts .
The same thing is happening in the United States .
I think the goal of influence operations or information operations is to seed it , repeat it , incite hate and ... change the way real people think , and that impacts the real world .
This is happening all around the world .
That 's what the research has shown us , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the role of social media in spreading disinformation What we call social media is a behavioral modification system ... And there are many [ platforms ] and they 're all American , the ones that are here in the Philippines .
That platform has your data , knows you better than you know yourselves .
And to the highest bidder , with micro-targeting , will sell your most vulnerable moment to a message , whether it is to an advertiser or to a government .
And when you 're given that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way you think and ultimately , the way you act .
... And the first step really is to demand accountability from the social media platforms .
They 've got to stop impunity of these information operations or these influence operations .
They have to stop manipulation at mass scale .
On navigating the pandemic in addition to legal cases You know what Nietzsche said about what does n't kill you makes you stronger ?
That 's precisely where I am and where Rappler is .
We 've been under attack for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the runway to jail is shorter , but at the same time , I refuse to let it get in the way of doing our jobs .

Philippine Journalist Maria Ressa: 'Journalism Is Activism'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ezra Acayan/Getty Images Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
"In a battle for facts, in a battle for truth, journalism is activism," says Philippine journalist Maria Ressa.
Ressa, who is internationally known and lauded for standing up to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's escalating attacks on the press, tells NPR that circumstances in the Philippines have forced her to evolve as a journalist.
Her news organization's battles against online disinformation and Duterte's administration are the focus of A Thousand Cuts, a documentary that debuted in January at the Sundance Film Festival and will be released virtually in the U.S. this Friday.
Though the film focuses on the Philippines, the issues it touches on aren't unique to that country. "Obviously this disinformation is happening everywhere," says filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz.
Ressa and Rappler, the Manila-based news site she runs, first drew the ire of the Duterte administration soon after he took office in 2016. Rappler started critically covering the president's brutal war against drugs and has remained in Duterte's crosshairs as his crackdown on the press has intensified.
Over the years, Ressa has seen her reporters expelled from the presidential palace, endured near-constant attacks by pro-Duterte trolls and navigated a slew of lawsuits.
She tells NPR it was her arrest on charges of cyber libel in February 2019 that changed her thinking about her role. Ressa realized her detention was an abuse of power. On posting bail, she says, "I just started speaking in a way that I would probably not have done," given her traditional journalistic training.
Almost immediately after her release, Ressa began to speak more openly against abuse of power and the "weaponization" of Philippine law against journalists and government critics, and appealed for others to do the same.
Becoming part of the story has been a "challenge," she tells NPR. But "When your own rights have been abused and you have evidence of that abuse of power, why should you not speak, especially if the data backs it?" she says.
Ressa, 56, was convicted in June. The verdict came against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, another battlefield on which she and Rappler have combated the Duterte administration — over disinformation on the government's handling of the crisis as well as the right to criticize its response.
The Philippines has now crossed into its 20th week of strict lockdown, and virus cases continue to soar.
And while a lot has happened since A Thousand Cuts wrapped last year and Ressa still faces the possibility of jail, she says she won't be deterred from doing her job.
Highlights of NPR's interview with Ressa follow, edited and condensed for clarity.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
On hearing the verdict in her cyber libel case
I didn't want to be physically in that court because we were still in the middle of a lockdown, but the court decided that we all had to show up. So there we were with our masks, with our shields. And I had to listen to the clerk of court read out the the verdict.
So I took out my notebook and I just started taking notes, and then within two minutes... I just shut my notebook and I stopped taking notes because I knew where it was headed.
On the demonization of journalists
Journalist equals criminal, which is the alternate reality.
This is how you transform a democracy. This is death by a thousand cuts.
The same thing is happening in the United States.
I think the goal of influence operations or information operations is to seed it, repeat it, incite hate and ... change the way real people think, and that impacts the real world. This is happening all around the world. That's what the research has shown us, that's what the data shows us.
On the role of social media in spreading disinformation
What we call social media is a behavioral modification system... And there are many [platforms] and they're all American, the ones that are here in the Philippines. That platform has your data, knows you better than you know yourselves. And to the highest bidder, with micro-targeting, will sell your most vulnerable moment to a message, whether it is to an advertiser or to a government.
And when you're given that, it will change, can change, the way you think and ultimately, the way you act. ... And the first step really is to demand accountability from the social media platforms. They've got to stop impunity of these information operations or these influence operations. They have to stop manipulation at mass scale.
On navigating the pandemic in addition to legal cases
You know what Nietzsche said about what doesn't kill you makes you stronger? That's precisely where I am and where Rappler is. We've been under attack for four years. The conviction shows me the runway to jail is shorter, but at the same time, I refuse to let it get in the way of doing our jobs.