npr--2020-04-23--Georgia Gov. Disregards Trump Criticism, Moves Ahead With Plans To Reopen Businesses

Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp is undeterred by President Trump 's criticism of his move to reopen some nonessential businesses .
He insists he will forge ahead with plans to jump-start the economy as early as Friday .
The governor said on Wednesday night that he plans to restart `` shuttered businesses for limited operations '' ahead of the state 's shelter-in-place order being lifted on April 30 .
Kemp is set to allow a range of businesses to open Friday on a `` limited basis , '' such as gyms , tattoo shops , and hair salons .
Theaters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some restrictions , and restaurants will be allowed to open to dine-in customers that same day .
Religious institutions can hold services `` in accordance with strict social distancing protocols , '' according to the governor 's office .
`` Our next measured step is driven by data and guided by state public health officials , '' Kemp wrote in a tweet .
`` We will continue with this approach to protect the lives — and livelihoods — of all Georgians . ''
He added : `` Just like the thousands of businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident that business owners who decide to reopen will adhere to Minimum Basic Operations , which prioritize the health and well-being of employees and customers . ''
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he `` strongly disagrees '' with Kemp 's decision to reopen some nonessential businesses on Friday , but added that it 's up to states to determine .
`` I told the governor of Georgia , Brian Kemp , that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities , '' Trump said .
`` But at the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinks is right .
I want him to do what he thinks is right .
But I disagree with him on what he 's doing . ''
These statements marked a reversal from Trump 's position a day earlier , in which he praised Kemp during the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing for forging ahead despite advice to the contrary from the nation 's leading health experts .
A White House official tells NPR 's Tamara Keith that Trump first spoke to Kemp Tuesday night , but that he grew more concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By then , Trump had grown uneasy about Kemp 's plans , and made a second call , the White House official said .
Trump also called other Georgia politicians about the issue , the official added .
White House spokesperson Judd Deere later clarified the president `` disagrees with the Georgia Governor 's decision to open certain facilities which are in violation of the phase one guidelines .
The President cares deeply for the health and safety of the people of Georgia as he does for all Americans . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start to reopen , they demonstrate a downward trajectory of COVID-19 cases over 14 days .
States should also have the capacity to treat all patients and test healthcare workers .
But Georgia has not yet reached either benchmark .
As NPR 's Allison Aubrey reported , infectious disease experts in Georgia agree that the data show the state is moving in the right direction , but the state has not met the criteria outlined in the administration 's guidance .
Experts also say there has n't been enough testing in Georgia to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be determined by looking at the positive rate in tests .
`` The more tests that come back positive , the less likely a state is testing enough , '' Aubrey said .
The World Health Organization has said that a 10 % positive rate is a good benchmark for whether an area is doing enough testing , Aubrey added .
In the United States , the positive test rate is at about 20 % .
In Georgia , the positive rate is about 23 % .
As of Thursday , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia and 871 people have died from the illness , according to a dashboard from Johns Hopkins University .
Kemp 's move to ease restrictions is facing backlash from some state elected leaders and public health experts who say the plan is premature .
However , the governor 's order includes a provision that prevents city and county governments from enacting rules that are tougher or more lax than the state .
Even as some business owners gear up to reopen their doors , many are critical of the plan .
Georgia Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barber shop owner in Macon , is one of them .
He told the station he wo n't be opening up his shop any time soon .
`` I 'm not gon na be used as a guinea pig , '' Hughes said .
`` We already have to be hands-on with the customers .
We 're in close proximity with the customers cutting their hair and talking with them .
It 's just a setup for failure , from my point of view . ''

Georgia Gov. Disregards Trump Criticism, Moves Ahead With Plans To Reopen Businesses
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ron Harris/AP Ron Harris/AP
Updated at 8:40 p.m. ET
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is undeterred by President Trump's criticism of his move to reopen some nonessential businesses. He insists he will forge ahead with plans to jump-start the economy as early as Friday.
The governor said on Wednesday night that he plans to restart "shuttered businesses for limited operations" ahead of the state's shelter-in-place order being lifted on April 30.
Kemp is set to allow a range of businesses to open Friday on a "limited basis," such as gyms, tattoo shops, and hair salons. Theaters are allowed open Monday, subject to some restrictions, and restaurants will be allowed to open to dine-in customers that same day. Religious institutions can hold services "in accordance with strict social distancing protocols," according to the governor's office.
"Our next measured step is driven by data and guided by state public health officials," Kemp wrote in a tweet. "We will continue with this approach to protect the lives — and livelihoods — of all Georgians."
He added: "Just like the thousands of businesses currently operating throughout Georgia, I am confident that business owners who decide to reopen will adhere to Minimum Basic Operations, which prioritize the health and well-being of employees and customers."
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he "strongly disagrees" with Kemp's decision to reopen some nonessential businesses on Friday, but added that it's up to states to determine.
"I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities," Trump said. "But at the same time, he must do what he thinks is right. I want him to do what he thinks is right. But I disagree with him on what he's doing."
These statements marked a reversal from Trump's position a day earlier, in which he praised Kemp during the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing for forging ahead despite advice to the contrary from the nation's leading health experts.
A White House official tells NPR's Tamara Keith that Trump first spoke to Kemp Tuesday night, but that he grew more concerned and spoke to governor again on Wednesday.
By then, Trump had grown uneasy about Kemp's plans, and made a second call, the White House official said. Trump also called other Georgia politicians about the issue, the official added.
White House spokesperson Judd Deere later clarified the president "disagrees with the Georgia Governor's decision to open certain facilities which are in violation of the phase one guidelines. The President cares deeply for the health and safety of the people of Georgia as he does for all Americans."
The White House has recommended that before states start to reopen, they demonstrate a downward trajectory of COVID-19 cases over 14 days. States should also have the capacity to treat all patients and test healthcare workers.
But Georgia has not yet reached either benchmark.
As NPR's Allison Aubrey reported, infectious disease experts in Georgia agree that the data show the state is moving in the right direction, but the state has not met the criteria outlined in the administration's guidance.
Experts also say there hasn't been enough testing in Georgia to show a decline in cases, which can be determined by looking at the positive rate in tests.
"The more tests that come back positive, the less likely a state is testing enough," Aubrey said.
The World Health Organization has said that a 10% positive rate is a good benchmark for whether an area is doing enough testing, Aubrey added. In the United States, the positive test rate is at about 20%. In Georgia, the positive rate is about 23%.
As of Thursday, there are 21,571 reported cases of COVID-19 in Georgia and 871 people have died from the illness, according to a dashboard from Johns Hopkins University.
Kemp's move to ease restrictions is facing backlash from some state elected leaders and public health experts who say the plan is premature. However, the governor's order includes a provision that prevents city and county governments from enacting rules that are tougher or more lax than the state.
Even as some business owners gear up to reopen their doors, many are critical of the plan.
Georgia Public Broadcasting reported that Marshall Hughes, a barber shop owner in Macon, is one of them. He told the station he won't be opening up his shop any time soon.
"I'm not gonna be used as a guinea pig," Hughes said. "We already have to be hands-on with the customers. We're in close proximity with the customers cutting their hair and talking with them. It's just a setup for failure, from my point of view."


npr--2020-04-23--He Was 'Zoombombed' In Front Of His Family While Defending His Dissertation

He Was 'Zoombombed ' In Front Of His Family While Defending His Dissertation Dennis Johnson was just trying to defend his dissertation — the last step in getting his doctorate in education — in front of a virtual audience of friends and family .
Instead , he became the face of `` Zoombombing , '' a new form of online harassment , when an unknown intruder interrupted his Zoom video conference by drawing genitalia and writing racial slurs on screen .
Johnson finished his presentation , and quickly launched a petition urging Zoom to do more to protect its users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are relying on video chat in their daily lives and reports of targeted Zoom attacks are on the rise .
Johnson hopes his experience will lead to change .
`` This is not an isolated incident .
This is a systemic issue , '' he said .
His question to Zoom : `` What are you all going to do from a systemic level to deal with this issue ?
Let me help you .
My moment has already been stolen . ''
Zoom has made several changes to security and privacy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ default .
He 's now Dr. Johnson .
He plans to celebrate once the lockdown is lifted by going to Disneyland .
`` It 'll be like I just won a sports championship , '' he said .
But he also misses talking with students and sharing his knowledge .
`` I miss interacting with people in person , '' he said .

He Was 'Zoombombed' In Front Of His Family While Defending His Dissertation
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Dennis Johnson Courtesy of Dennis Johnson
Updated at 5:30 p.m. ET
Dennis Johnson was just trying to defend his dissertation — the last step in getting his doctorate in education — in front of a virtual audience of friends and family.
Instead, he became the face of "Zoombombing," a new form of online harassment, when an unknown intruder interrupted his Zoom video conference by drawing genitalia and writing racial slurs on screen.
Johnson finished his presentation, and quickly launched a petition urging Zoom to do more to protect its users — especially now that so many people are relying on video chat in their daily lives and reports of targeted Zoom attacks are on the rise.
FACES OF THE CORONAVIRUS RECESSION Jobs lost. Businesses in peril. Meetings gone virtual. Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession offers snapshots of working Americans whose lives have been upended by the pandemic.
Johnson hopes his experience will lead to change. "This is not an isolated incident. This is a systemic issue," he said. His question to Zoom: "What are you all going to do from a systemic level to deal with this issue? Let me help you. My moment has already been stolen."
Zoom has made several changes to security and privacy, including requiring passwords for all meetings by default.
He's now Dr. Johnson. He plans to celebrate once the lockdown is lifted by going to Disneyland.
"It'll be like I just won a sports championship," he said.
But he also misses talking with students and sharing his knowledge. "I miss interacting with people in person," he said.
Read more stories in Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession.


npr--2020-04-23--Pandemic Shutdown Is Speeding Up The Collapse Of Coal

Pandemic Shutdown Is Speeding Up The Collapse Of Coal Since the coronavirus hit the U.S. , coal mines across the country have begun shutting down , laying off workers and slowing production .
Bankruptcies loom everywhere in the industry .
`` Just about everything that can go wrong , has gone wrong for the coal industry , '' says Matthew Preston , a coal analyst at the firm Wood Mackenzie .
He says coal demand this year is down between 35 and 40 % from last year , `` and last year was n't a great year . ''
Coal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now there 's a drop in demand because of the economic shutdown ( as well as warmer weather ) , but coal is being pummeled more than other sources of energy .
Preston says that right now , coal is more expensive than natural gas , wind or solar in many parts of the country .
So when demand slows , coal plants are the first to shut down .
In fact , over three days earlier this month , wind and solar actually produced more electricity than coal in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a new research note from the Rhodium Group .
Rhodium found that coal accounted for just 16.4 % of the U.S. electric power from mid-March to mid-April , compared with 22.5 % for a similar period last year .
All of this means that — just as with the oil glut — there 's too much coal sitting around .
`` We 're seeing coal stockpiles run up to some historically high levels , '' says Joe Aldina , a coal industry analyst with S & P Global Platts .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical constraints of the coal fired generation system . ''
Andrew Blumenfeld , an IHS Markit research analyst , says coal stockpiles at power plants were `` basically double what it should be at this time of year . ''
He also suspects excess inventory is forcing some mining companies to shut down .
Blumenfeld has been in the coal industry for three decades and says he has never seen such a sudden and severe downturn .
`` We 're seeing coal production numbers and power generation numbers from coal going back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he says .
Joe Aldina with S & P Global Platts says coal plants could decide to run at a loss this summer , just to burn off excess stock .
He sees a potential rebound for coal next year if natural gas prices rise as expected .
But Manan Ahuja , another S & P Global Platts analyst , says utilities could also just decide to retire coal-fired power plants .
`` If you lose some of that capacity permanently , '' Ahuja says , `` it 's not going to @ @ @ @

Pandemic Shutdown Is Speeding Up The Collapse Of Coal
Enlarge this image toggle caption Reid Frazier/The Allegheny Front Reid Frazier/The Allegheny Front
Since the coronavirus hit the U.S., coal mines across the country have begun shutting down, laying off workers and slowing production. Bankruptcies loom everywhere in the industry.
"Just about everything that can go wrong, has gone wrong for the coal industry," says Matthew Preston, a coal analyst at the firm Wood Mackenzie. He says coal demand this year is down between 35 and 40% from last year, "and last year wasn't a great year."
Coal has been struggling for many years. Now there's a drop in demand because of the economic shutdown (as well as warmer weather), but coal is being pummeled more than other sources of energy.
Preston says that right now, coal is more expensive than natural gas, wind or solar in many parts of the country. So when demand slows, coal plants are the first to shut down.
In fact, over three days earlier this month, wind and solar actually produced more electricity than coal in the U.S., the first time that has happened, according to a new research note from the Rhodium Group.
Rhodium found that coal accounted for just 16.4% of the U.S. electric power from mid-March to mid-April, compared with 22.5% for a similar period last year.
All of this means that — just as with the oil glut — there's too much coal sitting around.
"We're seeing coal stockpiles run up to some historically high levels," says Joe Aldina, a coal industry analyst with S&P Global Platts. He says it's "actually pushing the physical constraints of the coal fired generation system."
Andrew Blumenfeld, an IHS Markit research analyst, says coal stockpiles at power plants were "basically double what it should be at this time of year." He also suspects excess inventory is forcing some mining companies to shut down.
Blumenfeld has been in the coal industry for three decades and says he has never seen such a sudden and severe downturn.
"We're seeing coal production numbers and power generation numbers from coal going back to roughly late 1960s, mid-1970s levels," he says.
Joe Aldina with S&P Global Platts says coal plants could decide to run at a loss this summer, just to burn off excess stock. He sees a potential rebound for coal next year if natural gas prices rise as expected.
But Manan Ahuja, another S&P Global Platts analyst, says utilities could also just decide to retire coal-fired power plants.
"If you lose some of that capacity permanently," Ahuja says, "it's not going to come back."


npr--2020-04-24--Job Cuts Hit 2 Members Of My Family In Orlando: No Tourists, No Work

Job Cuts Hit 2 Members Of My Family In Orlando : No Tourists , No Work Perla Pimentel lives in Orlando , Fla. , home to Disney World and other popular resorts .
She was an event coordinator , who suddenly found herself with no events to coordinate in March .
The tourist mecca has been especially hard hit .
`` We could tell that the company was hurting because we were watching all of our clients cancel , '' she says .
`` You do n't really expect it to happen to you . ''
Her employers said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business picks up again .
`` But I ca n't count on when that would happen , '' she says .
`` I 've got bills to pay ... student loans . ''
For Pimentel , the layoffs are a family affair .
Two weeks after she was laid off , Pimentel 's father lost his job as a transportation contractor for Disney World .
The warehouse where her mom works has also begun to furlough employees .
`` A few days a week they are sending her home early .
She 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
For now , only her brother has a dependable paycheck .
`` My brother actually works as a pizza delivery person , '' Pimentel said .
`` He 's doing pretty well , as you can imagine .
A lot of people are ordering out . ''

Job Cuts Hit 2 Members Of My Family In Orlando: No Tourists, No Work
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Perla Pimentel Courtesy of Perla Pimentel
Perla Pimentel lives in Orlando, Fla., home to Disney World and other popular resorts. She was an event coordinator who suddenly found herself with no events to coordinate in March. The tourist mecca has been especially hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
"We could tell that the company was hurting because we were watching all of our clients cancel," she says. "You don't really expect it to happen to you."
Her employers said they would be happy to rehire her when business picks up again. "But I can't count on when that would happen," she says. "I've got bills to pay ... student loans."
FACES OF THE CORONAVIRUS RECESSION Jobs lost. Businesses in peril. Meetings gone virtual. Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession offers snapshots of working Americans whose lives have been upended by the pandemic.
For Pimentel, the layoffs are a family affair. Two weeks after she was laid off, Pimentel's father lost his job as a transportation contractor for Disney World. The warehouse where her mom works has begun to furlough employees.
"A few days a week they are sending her home early. She's getting a little worried," Pimentel says.
For now, only her brother has a dependable paycheck.
"My brother actually works as a pizza delivery person," Pimentel said. "He's doing pretty well, as you can imagine. A lot of people are ordering out."
Read more stories in Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession.


npr--2020-04-24--What It Might Look Like To Safely Reopen Schools

What It Might Look Like To Safely Reopen Schools Three quarters of U.S. states have now officially closed their schools for the rest of the academic year .
While remote learning continues , summer is a question mark , and attention is already starting to turn to next fall .
Recently , governors including California 's Gavin Newsom and New York 's Andrew Cuomo have started to talk about what school reopening might look like .
And a federal government plan for reopening , according to the Washington Post , says that getting kids back in classrooms or other group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to normal .
But there are still many more unknowns in that process than guarantees .
Among the biggest , says Lily Eskelsen Garcia , president of the National Education Association , the nation 's largest teachers union is this : `` Is safe and healthy for my kids to pack them into that classroom ? ''
Here are nine key ideas — drawn from interviews with public health experts , education officials and educators around the country — for what the reopening might look like .
`` A school building is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in the middle of a pandemic , '' says Michael Mulgrew , the head of the New York City teachers ' union , the United Federation of Teachers .
So the first order of business , he says , is `` How do you make sure there 's a plan in place to make sure the people walking in are not spreading anything ? ''
Ideally , he says , this is accomplished by widespread and frequent testing for the coronavirus .
But Mulgrew also points to the safety measures being taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` regional enrichment centers '' that provide child care for front-line workers .
These include the wearing of masks , temperature checks , handwashing , frequent sanitization and social distancing rules enforced even for very small children .
Other countries that are already moving to reopen schools may offer lessons for U.S. educators .
Denmark re-opened schools , for lower grades only , on April 15 after a four-week shutdown .
At the Copenhagen International School there , children line up in the morning next to traffic cones spaced six feet apart .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ classroom , with just one teacher .
Specialists , like the art teacher , offer their lessons remotely via video chat .
And just five children are allowed on the playground at a time .
Ida Storm Jansen , the school 's communication director , says they have made up a new game to play while staying six feet apart : `` Shadow tag .
Tagging each other 's shadow so they 're not touching . ''
Kids are creative , she says .
`` They figure out ways to do things .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Institute for Scientific Interchange in Turin , Italy , has modeled how school closures reduce the spread of illness .
She argues that without treatments or a vaccine , `` there is no such thing as 'safe ' reopening . ''
Still , in an attempt to balance safety with the impact on families and the economy , she also recommends reducing social contact by putting children in groups as small as possible .
Assuming there is sufficient testing and contact-tracing to reduce the spread of infection , `` it 's better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one group of 15 students versus 100 students . ''
Based on the typical size of a classroom in New York City , 12 would be the most children you could accommodate while maintaining social distancing , says the UFT 's Mulgrew .
At the International School in Denmark , they are grouping kids in classes of 10 .
Lily Eskelsen Garcia points out that her membership has been asking for smaller classes for a long time .
`` The doctors say 39 sweaty bodies in a classroom is not healthy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never was .
But in this case , it might spread an infection that kills people . ''
Serious cases of coronavirus among children are rare .
Eskelsen Garcia says she 's concerned not only for the health of children , but also for the health of her members , which include teachers , custodians , food service workers and school support staff .
In New York City alone more than 60 educators have reportedly died from coronavirus , and NPR has found accounts of educator deaths in 13 other states .
Reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staggering schedules .
By way of example , Mulgrew suggests that one group of kids might attend school on Monday , Wednesday and Friday one week , then Tuesday and Thursday the following week .
Others have discussed morning and afternoon shifts .
Denmark reopened its day cares and primary schools first .
Norway started with kindergartens and Israel with special education kindergartens .
Mulgrew says opening New York City 's elementary schools first might make sense , because they are more likely to be within walking distance for families , and because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classroom teacher , meaning less changes to existing scheduling and staffing .
On the other hand , the researcher , Litvinova , points out that the younger children are more likely to be `` putting their hands and their mouths on their face , '' and therefore , potentially , spreading infection .
In order to make up for the learning lost while schools are closed , there have been suggestions of starting school sooner , or continuing through next summer , or both .
`` This situation is going to be like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but on steroids , '' Virginia 's superintendent of public instruction , James Lane , told NPR .
`` I think there will be opportunities for us to discuss different ways to approach calendars . ''
This means , among other things , renegotiating union contracts .
And while districts are rewriting calendars , Litvinova says , they should probably prepare for having to close schools again when and if outbreaks rcur , until there is a vaccine .
Schools can open up , but some parents might still choose to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Facebook group called 'my kid is not going to be a guinea pig ' reportedly has 40,000 members .
Melissa Thomasson , a health care economist at the Farmer School of Business at Miami University in Oxford , Ohio , recently published a paper on the educational impacts of the 1916 polio epidemic in New York City .
The start of school was delayed by weeks to slow the spread of what was called `` infantile paralysis . ''
According to Thomasson 's research , even when schools did reopen , around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students stayed home for fear of the disease 's spread .
And the city announced a policy of `` leniency '' for absences during this time .
Students ca n't mix in large groups ; and parents probably wo n't be let into school buildings either .
With staggered schedules , schools prepared to close again for future waves of infection , and many students needing remediation , every expert NPR spoke with predicted that the need for remote learning would continue .
And that means training and support for teachers , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NEA says the equity issue is acute .
`` What we 've been telling [ political leaders ] for years is the digital divide is hurting children .
It 's hurting entire communities .
To have broadband , a tablet or a laptop is not to play video games .
It is as essential as indoor plumbing .
It is what you need to succeed .
And now it 's been laid bare . ''
9 .
Social , emotional and practical help for kids .
Developmental experts say the disruption of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience '' for every American child .
When schools reopen , says Virginia 's James Lane , ameliorating this trauma will be at the core of their mission .
`` I also think that there is a need for us to focus on social and emotional learning for students and not only how we can provide the academic support , but how can we provide the mental health support and the wraparound supports for students when they come back , to help them recover and bring back that safety net of schools .
@

9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen
Enlarge this image toggle caption Olafur Steinar Gestsson/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images Olafur Steinar Gestsson/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Three-quarters of U.S. states have now officially closed their schools for the rest of the academic year. While remote learning continues, summer is a question mark, and attention is already starting to turn to next fall.
Recently, governors including California's Gavin Newsom and New York's Andrew Cuomo have started to talk about what school reopening might look like. And a federal government plan for reopening, according to The Washington Post, says that getting kids back in classrooms or other group care is the first priority for getting back to normal.
But there are still many more unknowns than guarantees. Among the biggest, says Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president of the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, is this: "Is it safe and healthy for my kids to pack them into that classroom?"
Here are nine key ideas — drawn from interviews with public health experts, education officials and educators around the country — for what reopening might look like.
1. Stepped-up health and hygiene measures
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
"A school building is not what you would call an ideal place in the middle of a pandemic," says Michael Mulgrew, the head of the New York City teachers union, the United Federation of Teachers. So the first order of business, he says, is "How do you make sure there's a plan in place to make sure the people walking in are not spreading anything?"
Ideally, he says, this is accomplished by widespread and frequent testing for the coronavirus. But Mulgrew also points to the safety measures being taken right now at the city's 100 "regional enrichment centers" that provide child care for front-line workers. These include wearing masks, temperature checks, hand-washing, frequent sanitization and social distancing rules enforced even for very small children.
Other countries that are already moving to reopen schools may offer lessons for U.S. educators.
Denmark reopened schools, for lower grades only, on April 15 after a four-week shutdown. At the Copenhagen International School, children line up in the morning next to traffic cones spaced 6 feet apart. There are only 10 students to a classroom, with just one teacher. Specialists, such as the art teacher, offer their lessons remotely via video chat. And just five children are allowed on the playground at a time. Ida Storm Jansen, the school's communications director, says they have made up a new game called shadow tag to play while staying 6 feet apart — "tagging each other's shadow so they're not touching."
Kids are creative, she says: "They figure out ways to do things."
2. Class sizes of 12 or fewer
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Maria Litvinova, a researcher at the Institute for Scientific Interchange in Turin, Italy, has modeled how school closures reduce the spread of illness. She argues that without treatments or a vaccine, "there is no such thing as 'safe' reopening."
Still, in an attempt to balance safety with the impact on families and the economy, she also recommends reducing social contact by putting children in the smallest groups possible. Assuming there is sufficient testing and contact tracing to reduce the spread of infection, "it's better if that student's been in contact with one group of 15 students versus 100 students."
Based on the typical size of a classroom in New York City, 12 would be the most children you could accommodate while maintaining social distancing, says the UFT's Mulgrew. At the International School in Denmark, they are grouping kids in classes of 10.
Lily Eskelsen Garcia points out that her membership has been asking for smaller classes for a long time. "The doctors say 39 sweaty bodies in a classroom is not healthy and safe — by the way, it never was. But in this case, it might spread an infection that kills people."
Serious cases of coronavirus among children are rare. Eskelsen Garcia says she's concerned not only for the health of children, but also for the health of her members, which include teachers, custodians, food service workers and school support staff. In New York City alone more than 60 educators have reportedly died from the coronavirus, and NPR has found accounts of educator deaths in 13 other states.
3. Staggered schedules
Reducing class size this drastically would probably mean staggering schedules. By way of example, Mulgrew suggests that one group of kids might attend school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday one week, then Tuesday and Thursday the following week. Others have discussed morning and afternoon shifts.
4. Younger kids first?
Denmark reopened its day cares and primary schools first. Norway started with kindergartens, and Israel with special education kindergartens. Mulgrew says opening New York City's elementary schools first might make sense, because they are more likely to be within walking distance for families, and because those students are normally with one main classroom teacher, meaning fewer changes to existing scheduling and staffing. On the other hand, the researcher, Litvinova, points out that the younger children are more likely to be "putting their hands and their mouths on their face" and, therefore, potentially spreading infection.
5. New calendars
Enlarge this image toggle caption Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Image Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Image
To make up for the learning lost while schools are closed, there have been suggestions of starting school sooner, or continuing through next summer, or both.
"This situation is going to be like what is often called the summer slide, but on steroids," Virginia's superintendent of public instruction, James Lane, told NPR. "I think there will be opportunities for us to discuss different ways to approach calendars." This means, among other things, renegotiating union contracts. And while districts are rewriting calendars, Litvinova says, they should probably prepare for having to close schools again when and if outbreaks recur, until there is a vaccine.
6. Different attendance policies
Schools can open up, but some parents might still choose to keep their children at home. In Denmark, a Facebook group called "my kid is not going to be a guinea pig" reportedly has 40,000 members.
Melissa Thomasson, a health care economist at the Farmer School of Business at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, recently published a paper on the educational effects of the 1916 polio epidemic in New York City. The start of school was delayed by weeks to slow the spread of what was called "infantile paralysis." According to Thomasson's research, even when schools did reopen, about 200,000 of the city's 829,000 registered students stayed home out of fear of spreading the disease. And the city announced a policy of "leniency" for absences during this time.
7. No assemblies, sports games or parent-teacher conferences
Students can't mix in large groups, and parents probably won't be allowed in school buildings either.
8. Remote learning continues
Every expert NPR spoke with predicted that the need for remote learning would continue because of staggered schedules, schools prepared to close again for future waves of infection, and many students needing remediation. And that means training and support for teachers, and equipment for children.
Eskelsen Garcia of the NEA says the equity issue is acute: "What we've been telling [political leaders] for years is the digital divide is hurting children. It's hurting entire communities. To have broadband, a tablet or a laptop is not to play video games. It is as essential as indoor plumbing. It is what you need to succeed. And now it's been laid bare."
9. Social, emotional and practical help for kids
Developmental experts say disruption from the pandemic constitutes an "adverse childhood experience" for every American child. When schools reopen, says Virginia's James Lane, ameliorating this trauma will be at the core of their mission.
"I also think that there is a need for us to focus on social and emotional learning for students," Lane says, "and not only how we can provide the academic support, but how can we provide the mental health support and the wraparound supports for students when they come back, to help them recover and bring back that safety net of schools."


npr--2020-04-24--Now Playing On Broadway: Uncertainty, Unemployment And Displays Of Unity

Now Playing On Broadway : Uncertainty , Unemployment And Displays Of Unity Before everything shut down , there were already jitters .
An usher tested positive for coronavirus , actors were no longer taking selfies at stage doors and on March 12 , one hour before a matinee of Moulin Rouge : The Musical !
, the company held an emergency meeting , says actor Danny Burstein .
`` They said that somebody in our cast was currently at the doctor 's suffering symptoms of COVID-19 and that they were canceling the show , '' he recalls .
Later that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down Broadway theaters , concert halls and arenas .
Broadway was part of the first wave of COVID-19 closings around the county , and it has been hit especially hard .
With its 41 theaters shuttered indefinitely , thousands of people are out of work , millions of dollars have been lost and some members of the community have been infected by the coronavirus .
The financial impact has been huge .
Charlotte St. Martin is president of The Broadway League , an association which represents producers and theater owners .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it loses $ 33 million in ticket sales alone .
`` On an annual basis , Broadway contributes over $ 14.9 billion dollars to the economic impact of New York City , '' she explains .
`` And we are responsible for almost 95,000 jobs . ''
Brittney Mack has one of those jobs on indefinite hold .
She was about to make her Broadway debut in the musical Six , when she found out opening night was canceled .
`` Man , it kind of hits you like a ton of bricks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she says .
Mack says she has daily chats with her fellow cast members .
Her unemployment application has yet to come through , so she has no income .
Still , you can find her singing on Instagram .
Burstein , from Moulin Rouge , is waiting for unemployment insurance as well , but he says : `` I 'm just happy to be alive . ''
In the week after his show closed , he developed all the symptoms of COVID-19 .
`` I had the fever , the chills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend of mine described the headaches as a hammer being inside your head , trying to chip its way out . ''
He collapsed in his bathroom , and ended up spending five days in the ICU at Mt .
Sinai Hospital .
`` I just kept telling myself : ' I 'm going to get better .
I 'm going to get better ... ' `` he says .
`` I started literally doing dances from Moulin Rouge in my bed with my legs , trying to , you know , mimic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just to keep thinking forward . ''
It 's been three and a half weeks since he left the hospital and , though he still does n't have his singing voice back , he is getting better .
But there have been deaths on Broadway : playwright Terrence McNally , actor Mark Blum .
Another actor , Nick Cordero , who 's on a ventilator , had his leg amputated .
Everyone I spoke with told me Broadway will probably be one of the last places to get up and running .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broadway will look like when theaters reopen , says Charlotte St. Martin .
For example , the shows Hangmen , Who 's Afraid of Virginia Woolf ?
and Beetlejuice have all announced they will not return , she says , and two others have been postponed to the fall .
`` How many shows come back either from the new ones or the long running shows ?
We do n't know , '' St. Martin says .
`` It depends on how long the pandemic lasts . ''
She estimates it may cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a show rehearsed and back on the boards .
She warns that some of Broadway 's favorite , long-running shows may not survive the pandemic .
People in the Broadway community say they 're pulling together and supporting each other , but they worry that the theater-going experience itself may change .
`` Will we see people 's temperature being taken before they come back into the theater ? ''
St. Martin asks .
`` Will people wear masks ?
Will people have certificates or cards that say they 've been tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals , like Brian Stokes Mitchell -- a COVID-19 survivor himself — are finding ways to give people a sense of community .
Every evening , after people in New York City applaud health care workers , he stands at his apartment window and sings `` The Impossible Dream '' from Man of La Mancha .
`` When I sing this song , I 'm singing it for the healthcare workers , '' he says .
`` I 'm not singing it as a performance .
... At the end , when people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those first responders and the health care workers ... and kind of just remind everybody : This is why we 're doing this .
This is why we 're here .
This is who we 're applauding . ''

Now Playing On Broadway: Uncertainty, Unemployment And Displays Of Unity
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rob Kim/Getty Images Rob Kim/Getty Images
Before everything shut down, there were already jitters. An usher tested positive for coronavirus, actors were no longer taking selfies at stage doors and on March 12, one hour before a matinee of Moulin Rouge: The Musical!, the company held an emergency meeting, says actor Danny Burstein.
"They said that somebody in our cast was currently at the doctor's suffering symptoms of COVID-19 and that they were canceling the show," he recalls.
Later that afternoon, New York governor Andrew Cuomo shut down Broadway theaters, concert halls and arenas. Broadway was part of the first wave of COVID-19 closings around the county, and it has been hit especially hard. With its 41 theaters shuttered indefinitely, thousands of people are out of work, millions of dollars have been lost and some members of the community have been infected by the coronavirus.
The financial impact has been huge. Charlotte St. Martin is president of The Broadway League, an association which represents producers and theater owners. She says every week Broadway is closed, it loses $33 million in ticket sales alone.
"On an annual basis, Broadway contributes over $14.9 billion dollars to the economic impact of New York City," she explains. "And we are responsible for almost 95,000 jobs."
Brittney Mack has one of those jobs on indefinite hold. She was about to make her Broadway debut in the musical Six, when she found out opening night was canceled. "Man, it kind of hits you like a ton of bricks and a crane and a truck," she says.
Mack says she has daily chats with her fellow cast members. Her unemployment application has yet to come through, so she has no income. Still, you can find her singing on Instagram.
Burstein, from Moulin Rouge, is waiting for unemployment insurance as well, but he says: "I'm just happy to be alive." In the week after his show closed, he developed all the symptoms of COVID-19. "I had the fever, the chills, body aches, headaches. A friend of mine described the headaches as a hammer being inside your head, trying to chip its way out."
He collapsed in his bathroom, and ended up spending five days in the ICU at Mt. Sinai Hospital. "I just kept telling myself: 'I'm going to get better. I'm going to get better...' " he says. "I started literally doing dances from Moulin Rouge in my bed with my legs, trying to, you know, mimic what I did in the show, just to keep thinking forward."
It's been three and a half weeks since he left the hospital and, though he still doesn't have his singing voice back, he is getting better. But there have been deaths on Broadway: playwright Terrence McNally, actor Mark Blum. Another actor, Nick Cordero, who's on a ventilator, had his leg amputated. Everyone I spoke with told me Broadway will probably be one of the last places to get up and running.
There's a lot of uncertainty about what Broadway will look like when theaters reopen, says Charlotte St. Martin. For example, the shows Hangmen, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Beetlejuice have all announced they will not return, she says, and two others have been postponed to the fall.
"How many shows come back either from the new ones or the long running shows? We don't know," St. Martin says. "It depends on how long the pandemic lasts."
She estimates it may cost as much as $1 million to get a show rehearsed and back on the boards. She warns that some of Broadway's favorite, long-running shows may not survive the pandemic. People in the Broadway community say they're pulling together and supporting each other, but they worry that the theater-going experience itself may change.
"Will we see people's temperature being taken before they come back into the theater?" St. Martin asks. "Will people wear masks? Will people have certificates or cards that say they've been tested?"
In the meantime, industry professionals, like Brian Stokes Mitchell-- a COVID-19 survivor himself — are finding ways to give people a sense of community. Every evening, after people in New York City applaud health care workers, he stands at his apartment window and sings "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha.
"When I sing this song, I'm singing it for the healthcare workers," he says. "I'm not singing it as a performance. ... At the end, when people clap, I always throw their applause to those first responders and the health care workers ... and kind of just remind everybody: This is why we're doing this. This is why we're here. This is who we're applauding."


npr--2020-04-24--The Office As We Knew It Isn't Coming Back Anytime Soon. Maybe It's Changed Forever

The Office As We Knew It Is n't Coming Back Anytime Soon .
Maybe It 's Changed Forever Offices around the world are shut during the pandemic , making work from home the new normal for millions of white-collar employees .
In the United States , remote work is still being encouraged under guidelines outlined by the federal government .
But in webinars and conference calls , business leaders and management strategists are discussing what steps must be taken to bring workers back to America 's offices .
The bar is likely to be very high , says David Lewis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those calls as CEO of OperationsInc , a human resources consulting company .
`` The whole return-to-work thing presents so many different challenges , '' Lewis says .
Some involve retrofitting the workplace .
Others involve judgment calls — from deciding about temperature checks and contact tracing to social distancing rules , workplace layouts , tweaking HVAC systems , monitoring school shutdowns and openings , adjusting work shifts and more .
Companies will need to adapt significantly , he says , to make `` employees confident that coming to work is something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel safe about . ''
Can we be ready by May 1 ?
Meeting that safety threshold by May 1 , the date floated for reopening sections of the economy by President Trump and some other politicians , is not realistic , say business leaders and workplace experts interviewed for this story .
More testing will be a critical step .
But testing is just part of the picture .
Employers are waiting to see if states and the federal government establish coronavirus-era rules for workplace safety .
In the meantime , pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some grocery stores and factories could provide a glimpse of the future for office workers .
Masked office workers might start each workday with a temperature check .
They may be assigned to staggered shifts — an A team and a B team — to reduce density in the office .
Coffee breaks might turn into hand-washing breaks .
Four-seat break-room tables might be converted to single seaters .
The water cooler could be off-limits for office gossip .
And corridors where co-workers normally congregate and chat may become one-way traffic zones where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Penny Bailey , a tech recruiter from San Francisco , frets about how her company or any company can maintain social distancing in an open floor plan .
`` I worry about having people being packed closely together . ''
She has questions : Are the elevators going to be voice activated ?
Why should workers able to do their jobs remotely return to the office if they could be asymptomatic carriers ?
Maybe automatic doors instead of doors with handles Organizations will need to identify risk points in the workplace and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a professor of business administration at the University of California , Berkeley 's Haas School of Business .
In many grocery stores , for example , plastic shields have been installed to stop the spread of germs between cashiers and customers .
`` In an office it might mean putting in an automatic door instead of a door with a handle , '' he says .
Or ditching physical files altogether and using digital files instead .
`` If we 're serious about preventing the spread of pathogens in the workplace , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can say , 'Hey , this is n't working , ' `` Levine says .
`` This is n't working '' could mean inadequate social distancing or a lack of disinfectant or protections in common areas such as break rooms and cafeterias .
That kind of problem-solving approach would be reassuring to Jamie Ridenhour , a statistician for a research institute who lives in Apex , N.C. She has been working remotely since the middle of March .
She says a part of her misses the office life and the time spent in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am concerned that we wo n't have a good handle on transmission within buildings , '' Ridenhour says .
Specifically , she worries it would be hard to prevent the spread of viruses unknowingly by asymptomatic employees .
No school for kids means no office for parents Even if companies are scrupulous about workplace safety precautions , they face other big obstacles to reopening .
`` When I talk to business leaders , often the first place they go is schools , '' says Rich Lesser , CEO of Boston Consulting Group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a lot of their workers have real challenges if there 's no place for their children to go during the day . ''
To accommodate parents , companies `` will have to be a lot more flexible about shifts and when employees can come in , '' says Peter Cappelli , a professor of management and the director of the Wharton School 's Center for Human Resources .
With so many complex moving parts , no one should expect an instant restart , where companies suddenly announce that the old status quo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the office .
`` I do think it will be highly conservative for a while in many , many places , '' Lesser says .
Being conservative is likely to mean companies continuing to ask employees to stay home if they can do their jobs remotely .
According to a University of Chicago analysis , 34 % of jobs in the U.S. can plausibly be done from home .
`` Figure out who those people are who really have to come into the office , '' Lewis says .
`` Focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't seem to be a safe option or reasonable path to take . ''
He does n't expect the workplace to return to anything resembling the old normal for a year or longer , until a coronavirus vaccine is produced and is widely distributed .
That would mean a much longer spell of work from home for millions of Americans , with Zoom calls and refrigerator runs and everything that comes with it .

The Office As We Knew It Isn't Coming Back Anytime Soon. Maybe It's Changed Forever
Enlarge this image Thomas Barwick/Getty Images Thomas Barwick/Getty Images
Cubicle culture has gone dark. Open floor plans stand empty.
Offices around the world are shut during the pandemic, making work from home the new normal for millions of white-collar employees.
In the United States, remote work is still being encouraged under guidelines outlined by the federal government.
But in webinars and conference calls, business leaders and management strategists are discussing what steps must be taken to bring workers back to America's offices.
The bar is likely to be very high, says David Lewis, who has been on a lot of those calls as CEO of OperationsInc, a human resources consulting company.
"The whole return-to-work thing presents so many different challenges," Lewis says. Some involve retrofitting the workplace. Others involve judgment calls — from deciding about temperature checks and contact tracing to social distancing rules, workplace layouts, tweaking HVAC systems, monitoring school shutdowns and openings, adjusting work shifts and more.
Companies will need to adapt significantly, he says, to make "employees confident that coming to work is something that they can and should do and feel safe about."
Can we be ready by May 1?
Meeting that safety threshold by May 1, the date floated for reopening sections of the economy by President Trump and some other politicians, is not realistic, say business leaders and workplace experts interviewed for this story. More testing will be a critical step.
But testing is just part of the picture. Employers are waiting to see if states and the federal government establish coronavirus-era rules for workplace safety. In the meantime, pandemic procedures adopted in other countries and at some grocery stores and factories could provide a glimpse of the future for office workers.
Masked office workers might start each workday with a temperature check. They may be assigned to staggered shifts — an A team and a B team — to reduce density in the office. Coffee breaks might turn into hand-washing breaks. Four-seat break-room tables might be converted to single seaters. The water cooler could be off-limits for office gossip. And corridors where co-workers normally congregate and chat may become one-way traffic zones where employees pass briskly to limit face-to-face interactions.
Penny Bailey, a tech recruiter from San Francisco, frets about how her company or any company can maintain social distancing in an open floor plan. "I worry about having people being packed closely together."
She has questions: Are the elevators going to be voice activated? Why should workers able to do their jobs remotely return to the office if they could be asymptomatic carriers?
Maybe automatic doors instead of doors with handles
Organizations will need to identify risk points in the workplace and think of solutions, says David Levine, a professor of business administration at the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business. In many grocery stores, for example, plastic shields have been installed to stop the spread of germs between cashiers and customers. "In an office it might mean putting in an automatic door instead of a door with a handle," he says. Or ditching physical files altogether and using digital files instead.
"If we're serious about preventing the spread of pathogens in the workplace, we need to make sure any worker can say, 'Hey, this isn't working,' " Levine says. "This isn't working" could mean inadequate social distancing or a lack of disinfectant or protections in common areas such as break rooms and cafeterias.
That kind of problem-solving approach would be reassuring to Jamie Ridenhour, a statistician for a research institute who lives in Apex, N.C. She has been working remotely since the middle of March. She says a part of her misses the office life and the time spent in person with colleagues.
"But I am concerned that we won't have a good handle on transmission within buildings," Ridenhour says. Specifically, she worries it would be hard to prevent the spread of viruses unknowingly by asymptomatic employees.
No school for kids means no office for parents
Even if companies are scrupulous about workplace safety precautions, they face other big obstacles to reopening. "When I talk to business leaders, often the first place they go is schools," says Rich Lesser, CEO of Boston Consulting Group. "Because if schools aren't open, a lot of their workers have real challenges if there's no place for their children to go during the day."
To accommodate parents, companies "will have to be a lot more flexible about shifts and when employees can come in," says Peter Cappelli, a professor of management and the director of the Wharton School's Center for Human Resources.
With so many complex moving parts, no one should expect an instant restart, where companies suddenly announce that the old status quo has been restored and everyone should get to the office.
"I do think it will be highly conservative for a while in many, many places," Lesser says.
Being conservative is likely to mean companies continuing to ask employees to stay home if they can do their jobs remotely. According to a University of Chicago analysis, 34% of jobs in the U.S. can plausibly be done from home.
"Figure out who those people are who really have to come into the office," Lewis says. "Focus on them ... because getting everyone back in doesn't seem to be a safe option or reasonable path to take."
He doesn't expect the workplace to return to anything resembling the old normal for a year or longer, until a coronavirus vaccine is produced and is widely distributed. That would mean a much longer spell of work from home for millions of Americans, with Zoom calls and refrigerator runs and everything that comes with it.


npr--2020-04-24--Sun Rays, Disinfectants And False Hopes: Misinformation Litters The Road To Reopening

Sun Rays , Disinfectants And False Hopes : Misinformation Litters The Road To Reopening Georgia is set to open up lots of businesses statewide Friday — despite not meeting the benchmarks to move into Phase One of the White House 's reopening guidelines .
Even President Trump , who said at the White House coronavirus task force briefing Thursday that it 's `` awe-inspiring '' to see states opening up , thinks Kemp is moving too fast .
`` I did n't like to see spas opening , frankly , '' Trump said .
`` I did n't like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I was n't happy with it .
And I was n't happy with Brian Kemp .
I was n't at all happy . ''
Here 's why — Georgia 's confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths from COVID-19 are still steadily rising , and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( which happens to be based in Atlanta ) describes community spread coronavirus as `` widespread '' in the state .
That goes against all the principles laid out in the guidelines .
Measured against other states , Georgia is nowhere near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually had the 12th most over the past three weeks .
Let 's take a look at those guidelines point by point and see how Georgia stacks up : • No .
Georgia has not yet reported a two-week decline in flu-like illnesses .
• No .
Georgia has not shown a 14-day downward trend of new cases reported .
• No .
The state continues to see an increase in cases .
Downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period : • No .
Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 22 % positive rate .
Experts say 10 % positive is a good benchmark to indicate enough testing is being done .
And the state has seen a relatively steady number of new coronavirus cases reported over the past two weeks .
• No .
There is no evidence that the state has been able to treat all hospital patients without crisis care .
Atlanta 's mayor has warned of the strain the city 's hospitals are facing in attempting to treat the disease .
• Unclear .
The reliability of early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question .
On March 31 , Kemp 's office announced it was trying to rapidly ramp up COVID-19 testing .
But , as of Wednesday , Georgia Tech , for example , said it was `` burning the midnight oil to produce key components for tests in the state of Georgia . ''
Trump said he told Kemp `` you 're not in guidelines , '' but also that `` I 'm letting you make your own decision , but I want people to be safe , and I want the people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't want this thing to flare up , because you 're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines . '
'' As of Thursday evening , there were almost 22,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia , according to the state 's daily status report .
At least 881 people have died from the virus .
And both of those are on the rise .
That 's part of why the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations , or IMHE , at the University of Washington , on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees when Georgia could start a careful reopening .
That date is n't April 24 , it was June 22 .
According to the model , it has not passed its peak for projected deaths or hospital use .
Trump is giving Kemp and other governors the space — for now — to proceed as they want , but it 's a risky experiment with people 's lives at stake .
President Trump took the old saying that `` sunlight is the best disinfectant '' to a whole new level at Thursday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the science and technology adviser to the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security , give a presentation about admittedly `` emerging '' results that coronavirus could slow with direct sunlight and humidity .
Now , there is some evidence , as NPR has reported , that respiratory viruses are slowed when there 's more water vapor in the air .
It makes it harder for the droplets to spread .
Cold , dry air makes it easier .
But instead of sticking to that reasonable explanation , and despite Bryan 's caveat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say `` summer is going to totally kill the virus , '' Trump waded into speculation of the potential of powerful lights and disinfectants to clean the lungs .
Here 's what the president said : '' Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous whether it 's ultraviolet or very powerful light .
And I think you said that has n't been checked , but you 're going to test it .
And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body , which you could do either through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I think you said you were going to test that , too .
Sounds interesting .
`` And then I see the disinfectant , where it knocks it out in a minute , one minute , and is there a way we can do something like that , by injection inside or almost a cleaning , because you see it gets in the lungs , and it does a tremendous number on the lungs , so it 'd be interesting to check that , so that you 're going to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sounds -- , it sounds interesting to me .
So we 'll see , but the whole concept of the light , the way it goes , the way it kills it in one minute , that 's , uh , that 's pretty powerful .
He went on to ask Dr. Deborah Birx , response coordinator of the coronavirus task force if she 's heard using `` the heat and the light '' to treat coronavirus .
`` Not as a treatment , '' she responded .
Trump boasted at one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the sun '' and that `` I think a lot of people are going to go outside all of a sudden . ''
One reporter asked why there 'd been a hotspot then in a hot and humid place , like New Orleans .
When another reporter pointed out that people are tuning in for information about what to do to stay safe , Trump fired back .
`` I 'm the president , and you are fake news , '' he said , adding what he 's saying about heat and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're here to present ideas . ''
But when leaders throw out unvetted and unproven suggestions , it just creates more chaos and confusion .
The briefing in brief : Here are other highlights from Thursday 's White House coronavirus task force 's daily briefing : • Another testing flap : Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci told Time before the briefing Thursday that the U.S. needs to `` significantly ramp up not only the number of tests but the capacity to perform them , '' and that `` I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we have what it takes to do that .
We are doing better , and I think we are going to get there , but we are not there yet . ''
Trump he disagreed with him .
`` No , I do n't agree with him on that , '' he said .
• Testing , testing , is this thing on ?
Vice President Pence said the U.S. has now done the most tests in the world .
He added that said states are engaging commercial labs at a higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most tests it has in a single day Wednesday .
But Trump again took it too far .
There were about 24 million tests conducted worldwide , as of Thursday afternoon .
The U.S. had conducted about 4.5 million by that point .
That means the rest of the world combined has conducted more than 19 million .
That 's substantially more .
And yet Trump continues to make this false claim .
• Biden wants to debate Trump , but Trump claims he does n't : Trump attacked presumptive Democratic nominee Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said Biden was hiding out in his basement and claimed Biden did n't want to debate him .
Biden , however , has said the very same day before the briefing that he is open to debating Trump , even under current mitigation standards .
`` Zoom or Skype or Slack or Hangouts or in person , anytime , anywhere he wants , '' Biden reportedly told supporters during an online fundraiser on Thursday .
• Reopening plans submitted and elective surgeries may restart : Pence said 16 states have released formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own phased approaches based on the federal guidelines .
Pence also said that he 's encouraging states to restart elective surgeries — they have already begun in Indiana and will begin again soon in Arizona .
Quote of the briefing : '' We 'll see what happens .
We 've had a lot of very good results , and we had some results that perhaps are n't so good .
I do n't know .
I just read about one , but I also read many times good , so I have n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's a great — for malaria , for lupus for other things , and we 'll see what it is , but I guess , Deborah , they have many studies going on on that .
So we 'll be able to learn . ''
-- Trump on why he 's scaled back his promotion of hydroxcholorquine to treat coronavirus .
Deborah , at the end of his remark , is Dr. Birx .
Coronavirus Has Infected A Fifth Of New York City , Testing Suggests : Some 2.7 million New Yorkers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , highlighting the extreme reach of the virus .
Scientists Probe How Coronavirus Might Travel Through The Air : Researchers are investigating exactly how COVID-19 could spread , including examining the possibility of the virus traveling through the air a person expels when breathing or speaking .
Virus Researchers Cast Doubt On Theory Of Coronavirus Lab Accident : The Trump administration has advanced a theory that the coronavirus may have released as a result of a lab accident in Wuhan , China , but virus researchers interviewed by NPR say that it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have emerged under such circumstances .

Sun Rays, Disinfectants And False Hopes: Misinformation Litters The Road To Reopening
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tami Chappell/AFP via Getty Images Tami Chappell/AFP via Getty Images
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Updated at 1:50 p.m. ET
Georgia is set to open up lots of businesses Friday — despite not meeting the benchmarks to move into phase one of the White House's reopening guidelines.
Even President Trump, who said at the White House coronavirus task force briefing Thursday that it's "awe-inspiring" to see states opening up, thinks Kemp is moving too fast.
"I didn't like to see spas opening, frankly," Trump said. "I didn't like to see a lot of things happening. And I wasn't happy with it. And I wasn't happy with Brian Kemp. I wasn't at all happy."
Here's why — Georgia's confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths are still steadily rising, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (which happens to be based in Atlanta) describes community spread of the coronavirus as "widespread" in the state. That goes against all the principles laid out in the guidelines.
Measured against other states, Georgia is nowhere near the bottom for cases — it has actually had the 12th-most over the past three weeks.
Let's take a look at those guidelines point by point and see how Georgia stacks up:
On Symptoms:
Downward trajectory of flu-like illnesses reported within a 14-day period:
No. Georgia has not yet reported a two-week decline in flu-like illnesses.
Or ...
Downward trajectory of COVID-like syndromic cases reported within a 14-day period:
No. Georgia has not shown a 14-day downward trend of new cases reported.
On Cases:
Downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period:
No. The state continues to see an increase in cases.
Or ...
Downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period:
No. Georgia reported more than 100,000 tests with a 22% positive rate. Experts say 10% positive is a good benchmark to indicate enough testing is being done. And the state has seen a relatively steady number of new coronavirus cases reported over the past two weeks.
On Hospitals:
Treat all patients without crisis care:
No. There is no evidence that the state has been able to treat all hospital patients without crisis care. Atlanta's mayor has warned of the strain the city's hospitals are facing in attempting to treat the disease.
And ...
Robust testing program in place for at-risk health care workers, including emerging antibody testing.
Unclear. The reliability of early antibody testing nationally has been called into question. On March 31, Kemp's office announced it was trying to rapidly ramp up COVID-19 testing. But as of Wednesday, Georgia Tech, for example, said it was "burning the midnight oil to produce key components for tests in the state of Georgia."
Trump said he told Kemp "you're not in guidelines," but also that "I'm letting you make your own decision, but I want people to be safe, and I want the people in Georgia to be safe. And I don't want this thing to flare up, because you're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines."
As of Thursday evening, there were almost 22,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia, according to the state's daily status report. At least 881 people have died from the virus. And both of those are on the rise.
That's part of why the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington on Thursday pushed its projected date for when Georgia could start a careful reopening.
That date isn't April 24; it's June 22. According to the IHME's model, the state has not passed its peak for projected deaths or hospital use.
Trump is giving Kemp and other governors the space — for now — to proceed as they want, but it's a risky experiment with people's lives at stake.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
Fact check: Let the sun shine?
President Trump took the old saying that "sunlight is the best disinfectant" to a whole new level at Thursday's briefing. He had William Bryan, the science and technology adviser to the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, give a presentation about admittedly "emerging" results that the spread of coronavirus could slow with direct sunlight and humidity.
Now, there is some evidence, as NPR has reported, that respiratory viruses are slowed when there's more water vapor in the air. It makes it harder for the droplets to spread. Cold, dry air makes it easier.
But instead of sticking to that reasonable explanation, and despite Bryan's caveat that "it would be irresponsible" to say "summer is going to totally kill the virus," Trump waded into speculation on the potential of powerful lights and disinfectants to clean the lungs.
Here's what the president said:
"Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous whether it's ultraviolet or very powerful light. And I think you said that hasn't been checked, but you're going to test it. And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you could do either through the skin or in some other way, and I think you said you were going to test that, too. Sounds interesting. "And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning, because you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it'd be interesting to check that, so that you're going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds — it sounds interesting to me. So we'll see, but the whole concept of the light, the way it goes, the way it kills it in one minute, that's, uh, that's pretty powerful.
He went on to ask Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator of the coronavirus task force, if she'd heard of using "the heat and the light" to treat coronavirus.
"Not as a treatment," she responded.
A reporter followed up later and asked Bryan about the president's "idea of cleaners, like bleach and isopropyl alcohol you mentioned. There's no scenario that that could be injected into a person, is there?"
Bryan responded, "No, I'm here to talk about the findings that we had in the study. We won't do that within that lab."
After Bryan's response, the president interjected and said, "It wouldn't be through injection. We're talking about through almost a cleaning, sterilization of an area. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't work."
The word "inject" or "injection" appears six times in the White House's briefing transcript. It's used three times by Bryan, about injecting "summer," "UV rays," or "the sun."
Trump boasted at one point: "It dies very quickly with the sun" and that "I think a lot of people are going to go outside all of a sudden."
One reporter asked Bryan why there'd been a hot spot in a hot and humid place like New Orleans?
When another reporter pointed out that people are tuning in for information not "rumors," Trump fired back.
"I'm the president, and you are fake news," he said, adding that what he's saying about heat and light is "just a suggestion. We're here to present ideas."
In a statement on Friday, the White House insisted, "President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday's briefing."
Trump said later Friday that he was asking the question "sarcastically."
The briefing in brief:
Here are other highlights from Thursday's White House coronavirus task force's daily briefing:
Another testing flap: Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci told Time before the briefing Thursday that the U.S. needs to "significantly ramp up not only the number of tests but the capacity to perform them," and that "I am not overly confident right now at all that we have what it takes to do that. We are doing better, and I think we are going to get there, but we are not there yet." Trump disagreed with him. "No, I don't agree with him on that," he said.
Testing, testing, is this thing on? Vice President Pence said the U.S. has now done about 4.9 million tests, the most tests in the world. He added that states are engaging commercial labs at higher levels and that the U.S. conducted the most tests it has in a single day on Wednesday. But Trump again took it too far, saying the U.S. had done more tests than all other countries combined. That's not true. There were about 24 million tests conducted worldwide as of Thursday afternoon. That means the rest of the world put together has conducted substantially more. And yet Trump continues to make this false claim.
Biden wants to debate Trump, but Trump claims he doesn't: Trump attacked presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in an odd way Thursday. He claimed Biden was hiding out in his basement and didn't want to debate him. Biden, however, said the very same day before the briefing that he is open to debating Trump, even under current mitigation standards. "Zoom or Skype or Slack or Hangouts or in person, anytime, anywhere he wants," Biden reportedly told supporters during an online fundraiser on Thursday.
Reopening plans submitted and elective surgeries may restart: Pence said 16 states have released formal reopening plans and are submitting their own phased approaches based on the federal guidelines. Pence also said that he's encouraging states to restart elective surgeries — they have already begun in Indiana and will begin again soon in Arizona.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
Quote of the briefing:
"We'll see what happens. We've had a lot of very good results, and we had some results that perhaps aren't so good. I don't know. I just read about one, but I also read many times good, so I haven't at all, and I'd say it's a great — for malaria, for lupus for other things, and we'll see what it is, but I guess, Deborah, they have many studies going on on that. So we'll be able to learn."
—Trump on why he's scaled back his promotion of hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus. Deborah, at the end of his remark, is Dr. Birx.
Other key coronavirus stories from NPR:
Coronavirus Has Infected A Fifth Of New York City, Testing Suggests: Some 2.7 million New Yorkers may have already been infected with COVID-19, highlighting the extreme reach of the virus.
Scientists Probe How Coronavirus Might Travel Through The Air: Researchers are investigating exactly how COVID-19 could spread, including examining the possibility of the virus traveling through the air a person expels when breathing or speaking.
Virus Researchers Cast Doubt On Theory Of Coronavirus Lab Accident: The Trump administration has advanced a theory that the coronavirus may have been released as a result of a lab accident in Wuhan, China, but virus researchers interviewed by NPR say it would be nearly impossible for the virus to have emerged under such circumstances.


npr--2020-04-24--Navajo Nation Sees High Rate Of COVID-19 And Contact Tracing Is A Challenge

Navajo Nation Sees High Rate Of COVID-19 And Contact Tracing Is A Challenge After New York and New Jersey , the place with the highest coronavirus infection rate in the U.S. is the Navajo Nation .
Dr. Deborah Birx of the national task force told the White House press corps the tribe is using strike teams to address the issue .
`` They 're really doing amazing work at their public health institutions with their governors and their mayors , '' Birx says .
`` They are in full contact tracing . ''
But contact tracing — or tracking all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected — has been a challenge on the Navajo Nation .
`` We are doing the best we can , '' says Shawnell Damon , the Navajo epidemiology chief for the COVID-19 strikeforce .
`` There are some cases where a number of people have been exposed to some people , and so we 're trying to find those people and yeah , that 's where the shortcomings come from . ''
Damon says the tribe has about 80 contact tracers .
And they are working hard to do their job .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make such tracing difficult .
Not everybody has a phone , and it takes hours to drive to one home .
Damon is currently trying to train more contact tracers to cover the vast geography and lack of telecommunication infrastructure .
Other longstanding problems have contributed to the rapid spread of the disease on the Navajo Nation .
Many households lack clean , running water , which makes frequent hand washing difficult .
Some homes do not have reliable electricity .
And hospitals are few and far apart for a reservation the size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own government' All these issues the tribe says can be traced to broken promises .
`` We are United States citizens but we 're not treated like that , '' says Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez .
`` You can hear the frustration , the tone of my voice .
We once again have been forgotten by our own government . ''
More than 150 years ago the Navajo and many other tribes signed treaties with the federal government giving up their land in exchange for funding of things like housing , infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has n't happened .
Now , the Navajo Nation is suing the federal government for what it calls , its fair share of federal COVID relief money .
On March 25 , Congress passed the $ 2 trillion Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act or CARES Act , which includes $ 8 billion to help tribes fight the coronavirus .
The Navajo Nation and 10 other tribes are suing the federal government , arguing they should n't have to share these relief funds with for-profit Alaska Native corporations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is responsible for providing medical and other health-related services to enrolled Native American tribal members .
But tribes and watchdog groups often point out the money allocated to the IHS is insufficient for the size of the the population it serves and the scope of health conditions , such as obesity , diabetes and asthma , prevalent in that population .
`` Native American communities are often invisible in terms of their health inequities .
When you look at IHS per capita spending it is much lower than we see for veterans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Dr. Laura Hammit , the director of Infectious Disease Prevention at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health .
`` IHS is chronically underfunded . ''
The federal government spends $ 2,834 per person on health care in Indian Country while it spends $ 9,404 on veteran health and $ 12,744 on Medicare , according to the most recent data .
The IHS works off the motto : make the best of what you 've got , even in a crisis .
So that 's meant converting offices to patient rooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff facilities in some cases .
But there 's still an acute nursing shortage on the Navajo Nation , and the tribe is desperately lacking in equipment .
So IHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Loretta Christensen says they 're forced to fly COVID-19 patients to hospitals in Albuquerque , Flagstaff and Phoenix , which comes at an extremely high cost .
`` Our goal is to get our patients to a higher level of care as quickly as possible so that we can get them stabilized , '' Christensen says .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that 's why we 've made plans that we may have to manage many of these patients here on Navajo and we have ramped up that service . ''
Christensen says the tribe is putting together a critical care strike team .
But up until now strike teams have only been used to deliver food and supplies to people who have been exposed to the virus .
`` We need this administration to consult with tribes to listen with tribes to work in understanding them far more than they do , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The congresswoman is a member of the Laguna Pueblo Tribe , which has also seen deficiencies in federal health care funding .
As sovereign nations , tribes do have the ability to work government to government .
For example , the Navajo president is working with New York 's governor to get some of that state 's unused equipment .
`` The big disadvantage , of course , is they do n't have a big public health infrastructure themselves , '' says Hu .
`` And they 've had to learn real quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steep . ''
And Hu , also a member of the tribe 's epidemiology response team , says there are not enough strike teams or contact tracers to get a complete picture of how far COVID-19 has spread on the Navajo Nation .

Navajo Nation Sees High Rate Of COVID-19 And Contact Tracing Is A Challenge
Enlarge this image toggle caption Aurelia Yazzie/Courtesy Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation Aurelia Yazzie/Courtesy Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation
After New York and New Jersey, the place with the highest coronavirus infection rate in the U.S. is the Navajo Nation. Dr. Deborah Birx of the national coronavirus task force told the White House press corps the tribe is using strike teams to address the issue.
"They're really doing amazing work at their public health institutions with their governors and their mayors," Birx says. "They are in full contact tracing."
But contact tracing — or tracking all the people that COVID-positive patients may have infected — has been a challenge on the Navajo Nation.
"We are doing the best we can," says Shawnell Damon, the Navajo epidemiology chief for the COVID-19 strike force. "There are some cases where a number of people have been exposed to some people, and so we're trying to find those people and yeah, that's where the shortcomings come from."
Damon says the tribe has about 80 contact tracers. And they are working hard to do their job. But some realities of life on the reservation make such tracing difficult. Not everybody has a phone, and it takes hours to drive to one home. Damon is trying to train more contact tracers to cover the vast geography and lack of telecommunication infrastructure.
Other long-standing problems have contributed to the rapid spread of the disease on the Navajo Nation. Many households lack clean, running water, which makes frequent hand-washing difficult. Some homes do not have reliable electricity. And hospitals are few and far apart for a reservation the size of West Virginia.
'Forgotten by our own government'
All these issues, the tribe says, can be traced to broken promises.
"We are United States citizens but we're not treated like that," says Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. "You can hear the frustration, the tone of my voice. We once again have been forgotten by our own government."
More than 150 years ago, the Navajo and many other tribes signed treaties with the federal government giving up their land in exchange for funding of things like housing, infrastructure and health care. But for decades that hasn't happened.
Now, the Navajo Nation is suing the federal government for what it calls its fair share of federal COVID relief money. On March 25, Congress passed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, which includes $8 billion to help tribes fight the coronavirus. The Navajo Nation and 10 other tribes are suing the federal government, arguing they shouldn't have to share these relief funds with for-profit Alaska Native corporations.
Health Indian Health Service Doctor Details Heavy COVID-19 Impact On Navajo Nation Indian Health Service Doctor Details Heavy COVID-19 Impact On Navajo Nation Listen · 4:25 4:25
The Indian Health Service, or IHS, is responsible for providing medical and other health-related services to enrolled Native American tribal members. But tribes and watchdog groups often point out the money allocated to the IHS is insufficient for the size of the population it serves and the scope of health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and asthma, prevalent in that population.
"Native American communities are often invisible in terms of their health inequities. When you look at IHS per capita spending, it is much lower than we see for veterans medical spending or Medicare spending," says Dr. Laura Hammitt, the director of Infectious Disease Programs at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health. "IHS is chronically underfunded."
The federal government spends $2,834 per person on health care in Indian Country, while it spends $9,404 per person on veterans health and $12,744 per person on Medicare, according to the most recent data.
Limited scope for 'strike teams'
The IHS works off the motto: Make the best of what you've got, even in a crisis. That's meant converting offices to patient rooms and relying on the National Guard to staff facilities in some cases. But there's still an acute nursing shortage on the Navajo Nation, and the tribe is desperately lacking in equipment. IHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Loretta Christensen says they're forced to fly COVID-19 patients to hospitals in Albuquerque, N.M.; Flagstaff, Ariz., and Phoenix, which comes at an extremely high cost.
"Our goal is to get our patients to a higher level of care as quickly as possible so that we can get them stabilized," Christensen says. "We do realize there's finite capacity, and that's why we've made plans that we may have to manage many of these patients here on Navajo and we have ramped up that service."
Christensen says the tribe is putting together a critical care strike team. But up until now strike teams have only been used to deliver food and supplies to people who have been exposed to the virus.
"We need this administration to consult with tribes, to listen with tribes, to work in understanding them far more than they do," says Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M. The congresswoman is a member of the Laguna Pueblo Tribe, which has also seen deficiencies in federal health care funding.
As sovereign nations, tribes do have the ability to work government to government. For example, the Navajo president is working with New York's governor to get some of that state's unused equipment.
Diana Hu, a Tuba City, Ariz., pediatrician, says that's a huge advantage.
"The big disadvantage, of course, is they don't have a big public health infrastructure themselves," says Hu. "And they've had to learn real quickly. Their learning curve has been quite steep."
And Hu, also a member of the tribe's epidemiology response team, says there are not enough strike teams or contact tracers to get a complete picture of how far COVID-19 has spread on the Navajo Nation.