npr--2020-05-04--Gov. Newsom Announces California Will Begin Easing Coronavirus Closures This Week

Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced that California will allow some retail businesses to reopen with modifications as early as Friday , amid encouraging coronavirus benchmarks .
`` We are entering into the next phase this week , '' Newsom said in his daily press briefing Monday .
`` This is a very positive sign and it 's happened only for one reason : The data says it can happen . ''
The businesses will include places such as book , clothing , toy , and sporting goods stores as well as music shops and florists , the governor said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not include malls , offices or sit-down service in restaurants .
Those businesses that can reopen Friday will have to abide to restrictions , such as physical distancing and delivering orders at the curbside .
Detailed guidelines about the Phase 2 reopening will be released on Thursday , according to Newsom .
As part of the easing of restrictions , Newsom announced Phase 2 includes giving local officials more flexibility to move further into reopening .
But those regional plans will have to be certified and meet `` criteria that includes the capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the capacity on physical distancing and sanitation , and their capacity to protect the most vulnerable residents in their community , '' including seniors , the homeless and those incarcerated .
The announcement comes after a rocky couple of weeks in the state : unemployment reached record levels , Newsom chided beachgoers for not heeding distancing orders , local officials expressed frustration about stay-at-home and beach closure orders , and protests broke .
In the last couple of days , three rural counties in Northern California went ahead with reopening parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom stuck to the message he 's stressed since stay-at-home orders went into effect six weeks ago : Any policy decisions made regarding the pandemic are guided by data and science .
During Monday 's announcement the governor said the state met key health metrics , and that 's what drove the focused easing of the stay-at-home orders .
The number of Californians hospitalized for coronavirus has stabilized , the state is `` progressing '' in its personal protective gear inventory ; testing capacity has increased , as have the number of hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sonia Angell , the director of the California Department of Public Health .
Newsom also announced a partnership with the University of California San Francisco and Los Angeles to amp up contact tracing .
The goal is to bolster public health systems across the state with 3,000 new tracers a week , Newsom said .
The governor stressed a major strategy in California 's battle in the pandemic is to test , trace and quarantine people with COVID-19 .
That tracing component has lagged behind ; only 23 of 58 counties are currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the modifications announced Monday were not one-size-fit all ; as the pandemic continues , some counties may need restrictions and other regions may be able to move forward , he said .
`` We are not telling locals that feel it 's too soon , too fast to modify , '' he said .
`` We believe those local communities that have separate timelines should be afforded the capacity to advance those timelines . ''
The governor also warned that if coronavirus cases tick up , the state could rein in the gradual @ @

Gov. Newsom Announces California Will Begin Easing Coronavirus Closures This Week
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rich Pedroncelli/AP Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California will allow some retail businesses to reopen with modifications as early as Friday, amid encouraging coronavirus benchmarks.
"We are entering into the next phase this week," Newsom said in his daily press briefing Monday. "This is a very positive sign and it's happened only for one reason: The data says it can happen."
The businesses will include places such as book, clothing, toy and sporting goods stores, as well as music shops and florists, the governor said.
This phase of California's reopening will not include malls, offices or sit-down service in restaurants.
Those businesses that can reopen Friday will have to abide by restrictions, such as physical distancing and delivering orders curbside. Detailed guidelines about the Phase 2 reopening will be released on Thursday, according to Newsom.
As part of easing restrictions, Newsom announced Phase 2 includes giving local officials more flexibility to move further into reopening. But those regional plans will have to be certified and meet "criteria that includes the capacity on testing, their capacity on tracing, the capacity on physical distancing and sanitation, and their capacity to protect the most vulnerable residents in their community," including seniors, the homeless and those incarcerated.
The announcement comes after a rocky couple of weeks in the state: unemployment reached record levels, Newsom chided beachgoers for not heeding distancing orders, local officials expressed frustration about stay-at-home and beach closure orders, and protests broke out. In the past couple of days, three rural counties in Northern California went ahead with reopening parts of their economies without Newsom's approval.
Newsom stuck to the message he has stressed since stay-at-home orders went into effect six weeks ago: Any policy decisions made regarding the pandemic are guided by data and science.
During Monday's announcement the governor said the state met key health metrics and that's what drove the focused easing of the stay-at-home orders.
The number of Californians hospitalized for the coronavirus has stabilized, the state is "progressing" in its personal protective gear inventory; and testing capacity has increased, as have the number of hospital beds and ventilators, according to Dr. Sonia Angell, the director of the California Department of Public Health.
Newsom also announced a partnership with the University of California, San Francisco and Los Angeles to amp up contact tracing. The goal is to bolster public health systems across the state with 3,000 new tracers a week, Newsom said.
The governor stressed a major strategy in California's battle in the pandemic is to test, trace and quarantine people with COVID-19. That tracing component has lagged behind; only 23 of 58 counties are currently conducting contact tracing.
Newsom emphasized that the modifications announced Monday were not one size fits all; as the pandemic continues, some counties may need restrictions and other regions may be able to move forward, he said.
"We are not telling locals that feel it's too soon, too fast to modify," he said. "We believe those local communities that have separate timelines should be afforded the capacity to advance those timelines."
The governor also warned that if coronavirus cases tick up, the state could rein in the gradual reopening.


npr--2020-05-04--U.S. Treasury To Borrow $3 Trillion In 3 Months To Pay For Pandemic

U.S. Treasury To Borrow $ 3 Trillion In 3 Months To Pay For Pandemic The U.S. Treasury Department plans to borrow nearly $ 3 trillion between April and June to bankroll the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic .
It 's an unprecedented level of deficit financing to match the historic economic hit caused by the virus .
In a single quarter , the government will borrow more than twice as much as it did all of last year .
`` The increase in privately-held net marketable borrowing is primarily driven by the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The government had expected an influx of cash during the April to June quarter , as businesses and families paid their income taxes .
But the tax filing deadline was pushed back until July .
Meanwhile , with the economy cratering and unemployment climbing to levels not seen since the Great Depression , Congress has authorized trillions of dollars in relief payments , unemployment benefits and loans to small businesses , as well as money for vaccine research and coronavirus testing .
The Treasury Department said it expects to borrow another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite the surge in federal debt , the government 's borrowing costs remain low .
The Federal Reserve has promised to buy as much Treasury debt as necessary to weather the pandemic .
`` This is the time to use the great fiscal power of the United States to do what we can to support the economy and try to get through this with as little damage to the longer run productive capacity of the economy as possible , '' Fed chairman Jerome Powell said last week .
Powell described himself as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal deficits .
`` But this is not the time , '' he said , `` to let that get in the way of us winning this battle . ''

U.S. Treasury To Borrow $3 Trillion In 3 Months To Pay For Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
The U.S. Treasury Department plans to borrow nearly $3 trillion between April and June to bankroll the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic.
It's an unprecedented level of deficit financing to match the historic economic hit caused by the virus. In a single quarter, the government will borrow more than twice as much as it did all of last year.
"The increase in privately-held net marketable borrowing is primarily driven by the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak," the Treasury Department said in a statement."
The government had expected an influx of cash during the April to June quarter, as businesses and families paid their income taxes. But the tax filing deadline was pushed back until July.
Meanwhile, with the economy cratering and unemployment climbing to levels not seen since the Great Depression, Congress has authorized trillions of dollars in relief payments, unemployment benefits and loans to small businesses, as well as money for vaccine research and coronavirus testing.
The Treasury Department said it expects to borrow another $677 billion between July and September.
Despite the surge in federal debt, the government's borrowing costs remain low. The Federal Reserve has promised to buy as much Treasury debt as necessary to weather the pandemic.
"This is the time to use the great fiscal power of the United States to do what we can to support the economy and try to get through this with as little damage to the longer run productive capacity of the economy as possible," Fed chairman Jerome Powell said last week.
Powell described himself as someone who has long argued against runaway federal deficits.
"But this is not the time," he said, "to let that get in the way of us winning this battle."


npr--2020-05-04--Not-So-Small Businesses Continue To Benefit From PPP Loans

The Paycheck Protection Program has caused public outcry , suffered technical difficulties , and frustrated small business owners .
But where , exactly , is the money going ?
Over the weekend , the Small Business Administration gave another glimpse into this with a report on PPP activity through May 1 .
It showed that $ 175.7 billion in loans had been approved just five days into the program 's second round of funding .
That 's on top of the $ 349 billion loaned out in just 13 days during the program 's first round .
The data suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be going to smaller businesses , and that there is still high demand .
However , there are still big questions about how well the loans are reaching the businesses that need them most .
1 ) Average loan size has gone down .
The average PPP loan in this second round of funding was $ 79,000 as of Friday .
That 's substantially lower than at the end of the first round , when the average loan was around $ 206,000 .
In creating this round of funding , lawmakers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get better access .
They set aside $ 30 billion for lending institutions with less than $ 10 billion in assets .
In addition , the SBA set aside one eight-hour period last week during which the agency only allowed small lenders to access the system .
And smaller lenders have tended to give out smaller loans .
SBA data show that the average PPP loan at banks with over $ 50 billion in assets is just over $ 90,000 this round .
At banks with less than $ 1 billion , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Still , large loans have eaten up a good chunk of the money In the first round of PPP funding , loans of more than $ 2 million accounted for around 1.5 % of total loans , but around one-quarter of the total pool of money .
This time , those loans are 0.35 % of all loans , but they account for just over 16 % of the total pool of second-round money .
Those largest loans will be getting extra scrutiny .
The SBA has announced that it will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 million .
There were more than 25,000 such loans in the first round , and just over 7,500 thus far in the second round .
In light of the limited funds , there have been calls to simply better limit the maximum loan size , currently set at $ 10 million .
`` Had Congress set a maximum limit of $ 1 million it would have freed up over $ 150 billion — enough money to more than double the number of truly small businesses that received aid , '' Brookings Institution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Politico .
Then again , there 's also an argument that all the anger over large loans is misplaced .
Those businesses also have plenty of employees to try to keep on payroll , as Matthew Zeitlin argued at Business Insider — the real problem , he thinks , is adequate funding .
`` It 's not a failing of the PPP that some larger companies got money — the program was designed to include them and , if the purpose of it was to protect employment , then letting a wider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies participate could be helpful , '' he wrote .
3 ) There still wo n't be enough money in this round to meet demand .
Businesses have been quickly snapping up this second round of funding .
The SBA has announced nearly $ 176 billion in loan approvals in five days thus far — an even faster clip than the first round 's $ 349 billion in 13 days .
And there 's good reason to think that plenty of small businesses could be in need of funds after this round runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a survey from the National Federation of Independent Business found that three-quarters of small businesses had applied for the first-round PPP loans , but only 20 % had gotten the money .
4 ) PPP funds do n't appear to have gone to places that needed it most .
These reports from SBA are n't the only sources of information on what PPP is doing .
Economists at the University of Chicago and MIT have taken a first stab at figuring out how well the program might be boosting local economies .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employment data to PPP data as of April 15 — just before the first round of funding ran out .
What they found : `` Fifteen percent of establishments in the regions most affected by declines in hours worked and business shutdowns received PPP funding ; in contrast , thirty percent of all establishments received PPP funding in the least affected regions , '' the authors wrote .
This paper is just one early look at the program ; further data on loan forgiveness , employment , and business survival , will better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an indication that the aid is n't targeting the places that need it most .
5 ) There 's still a lot we do n't know .
There 's still other data that would help show how well PPP is achieving what lawmakers intended .
For example , leading into the second round of funding , Democratic lawmakers in particular voiced worries that women-owned businesses and businesses owned by people of color had n't yet been able to easily access the PPP loans .
The SBA has n't yet put out any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or race , so it 's not clear to what degree these businesses have been shut out , and whether it is improving .
In addition , SBA released some detailed data in the first round of lending that it has n't released yet about the second round .
For example , we do n't know which industries are receiving that second pot of money .
In the first round , hotels and restaurants — which were among the hardest hit by layoffs — received only around 9 % of the money .

Not-So-Small Businesses Continue To Benefit From PPP Loans
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Gay/AP Eric Gay/AP
The Paycheck Protection Program has caused public outcry, suffered technical difficulties, and frustrated small business owners. But where, exactly, is the money going?
Over the weekend, the Small Business Administration gave another glimpse into this with a report on PPP activity through May 1. It showed that $175.7 billion in loans had been approved just five days into the program's second round of funding. That's on top of the $349 billion loaned out in just 13 days during the program's first round.
The data suggest that this time around, the loans may be going to smaller businesses, and that there is still high demand. However, there are still big questions about how well the loans are reaching the businesses that need them most.
1) Average loan size has gone down.
The average PPP loan in this second round of funding was $79,000 as of Friday. That's substantially lower than at the end of the first round, when the average loan was around $206,000.
In creating this round of funding, lawmakers were concerned with making sure smaller lenders could get better access. They set aside $30 billion for lending institutions with less than $10 billion in assets. In addition, the SBA set aside one eight-hour period last week during which the agency only allowed small lenders to access the system.
And smaller lenders have tended to give out smaller loans. SBA data show that the average PPP loan at banks with over $50 billion in assets is just over $90,000 this round. At banks with less than $1 billion, that average is around $58,000.
2) Still, large loans have eaten up a good chunk of the money
In the first round of PPP funding, loans of more than $2 million accounted for around 1.5% of total loans, but around one-quarter of the total pool of money.
This time, those loans are 0.35% of all loans, but they account for just over 16% of the total pool of second-round money.
Those largest loans will be getting extra scrutiny. The SBA has announced that it will be auditing all loan applications for over $2 million. There were more than 25,000 such loans in the first round, and just over 7,500 thus far in the second round.
In light of the limited funds, there have been calls to simply better limit the maximum loan size, currently set at $10 million.
"Had Congress set a maximum limit of $1 million it would have freed up over $150 billion — enough money to more than double the number of truly small businesses that received aid," Brookings Institution Fellow in Economic Studies Aaron Klein wrote at Politico.
Then again, there's also an argument that all the anger over large loans is misplaced. Those businesses also have plenty of employees to try to keep on payroll, as Matthew Zeitlin argued at Business Insider — the real problem, he thinks, is adequate funding.
"It's not a failing of the PPP that some larger companies got money — the program was designed to include them and, if the purpose of it was to protect employment, then letting a wider as opposed to a narrower range of companies participate could be helpful," he wrote.
3) There still won't be enough money in this round to meet demand.
Businesses have been quickly snapping up this second round of funding. The SBA has announced nearly $176 billion in loan approvals in five days thus far — an even faster clip than the first round's $349 billion in 13 days.
And there's good reason to think that plenty of small businesses could be in need of funds after this round runs out. After the first round, a survey from the National Federation of Independent Business found that three-quarters of small businesses had applied for the first-round PPP loans, but only 20% had gotten the money.
4) PPP funds don't appear to have gone to places that needed it most.
These reports from SBA aren't the only sources of information on what PPP is doing. Economists at the University of Chicago and MIT have taken a first stab at figuring out how well the program might be boosting local economies. In a new working paper, they compared employment data to PPP data as of April 15 — just before the first round of funding ran out.
What they found: "Fifteen percent of establishments in the regions most affected by declines in hours worked and business shutdowns received PPP funding; in contrast, thirty percent of all establishments received PPP funding in the least affected regions," the authors wrote.
This paper is just one early look at the program; further data on loan forgiveness, employment, and business survival, will better show PPP's effects. But it is an indication that the aid isn't targeting the places that need it most.
5) There's still a lot we don't know.
There's still other data that would help show how well PPP is achieving what lawmakers intended.
For example, leading into the second round of funding, Democratic lawmakers in particular voiced worries that women-owned businesses and businesses owned by people of color hadn't yet been able to easily access the PPP loans. The SBA hasn't yet put out any data broken out by owners' gender or race, so it's not clear to what degree these businesses have been shut out, and whether it is improving.
In addition, SBA released some detailed data in the first round of lending that it hasn't released yet about the second round. For example, we don't know which industries are receiving that second pot of money. In the first round, hotels and restaurants — which were among the hardest hit by layoffs — received only around 9% of the money.


npr--2020-05-04--U.S. Automakers Are Slowly Rolling Toward A Restart

U.S. Automakers Are Slowly Rolling Toward A Restart Cars did n't change much between March and May .
But the factories where they 're assembled are shifting dramatically .
Auto plants are starting back up — much more slowly than they shut down — with new extensive health precautions meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus : Plastic sheeting and clear shields installed on assembly lines .
Mandatory temperature checks and symptom questionnaires .
Solitary chairs in break rooms .
Cycles of sanitizing , again and again .
Fabric face masks and , in some cases , clear plastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all going to take some getting used to , says Todd Dunn , president of the United Auto Workers Local 862 in Louisville , Ky .
He calls the new protocols a `` paradigm change , '' and says workers are divided on whether they 're eager to return to work or wary of the risks .
Or both .
`` I think a lot of a lot of Americans are ready to get our country back on target , '' he says .
`` But ... we 've got to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we did n't have before . ''
`` There 's a lot of high anxiety , '' says Ralph Morris Jr. , president of UAW Local 163 near Detroit .
`` I mean , you read about the meat processing plants .
...
In a factory setting , unless precautionary measures are taken , it could spread through the whole facility . ''
Non-unionized Kia , Hyundai and BMW plants in the South , where states were allowing operations to resume , restarted their lines on Monday .
Toyota is eyeing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , General Motors and Fiat Chrysler have n't confirmed a start date , they 're looking at mid-May as a possibility .
One challenge is that the auto industry is deeply interconnected across North America .
Suppliers in different states and countries — covered by different lockdown orders — must return at roughly the same time for supply chains to operate smoothly .
Mexico is under a stay-at-home order through May .
And Michigan , the heart of the U.S. auto industry , has been particularly hard-hit by the virus and continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ auto suppliers have chafed at Michigan 's stay-at-home order .
But the UAW , which represents employees at Ford , GM and Fiat Chrysler and a number of suppliers , welcomed the recent extension of the order and said that early May was too soon to restart operations .
The union called for more COVID-19 tests .
While temperature checks or symptom questionnaires are increasingly common safety procedures , they ca n't catch people who are asymptomatic but spreading the disease .
`` I think the bottom line is , based on all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will not have a reliable and scalable testing solution for several weeks — and it may even be months , '' Kiersten Robinson , the chief human resources officer for Ford , told reporters last week .
Robinson said widespread testing will be critical in the long term .
But for the short term , Ford plans to send employees with symptoms to be tested at local hospitals or clinics , without offering testing to all employees .
There 's pressure on car companies to figure this out quickly .
Plant closures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and affecting hundreds of thousands of workers .
And while car sales have plummeted because of the pandemic , they 've already started to recover , causing executives to worry about just how long they can remain closed before dealerships start to feel a pinch .
Sean Suggs , the president of a plant in Blue Springs , Miss.
, where Toyota builds Corollas , says dealers are n't yet running out of the sedan .
But the uptick in sales is one reason Toyota is eyeing a May 11 restart date for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasized that the reopening will be gradual .
`` We 're not going to just flip a switch and everything 's going to be back to normal , '' he says .
`` There is no going back to the normal way .
We simply ca n't operate the way we operated before COVID-19 . ''
`` Day One , we probably wo n't even produce a vehicle , '' he says .
`` We 're gon na get our team members back and get them acclimated to the new way of life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandatory face masks , it might be a long time before that new way of life feels normal .

U.S. Automakers Are Slowly Rolling Toward A Restart
Enlarge this image toggle caption Laurel Chor/Bloomberg via Getty Images Laurel Chor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Updated at 9:45 a.m. ET on Tuesday
Cars didn't change much between March and May. But the factories where they're assembled are shifting dramatically.
Auto plants are starting back up — much more slowly than they shut down — with new extensive health precautions meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus: plastic sheeting and clear shields installed on assembly lines; mandatory temperature checks and symptom questionnaires; solitary chairs in break rooms; cycles of sanitizing, again and again; fabric face masks; and, in some cases, clear plastic face shields on workers.
It's all going to take some getting used to, says Todd Dunn, president of the United Auto Workers Local 862 in Louisville, Ky. He calls the new protocols a "paradigm change" and says workers are divided on whether they're eager to return to work or wary of the risks. Or both.
Business GM Makes Ventilators Now — Which Means Safely Reopening A Factory GM Makes Ventilators Now — Which Means Safely Reopening A Factory Listen · 4:26 4:26
"I think a lot of a lot of Americans are ready to get our country back on target," he says. "But ... we've got to be able to put in some levels of precaution that we didn't have before."
"There's a lot of high anxiety," says Ralph Morris Jr., president of UAW Local 163 near Detroit. "I mean, you read about the meat processing plants. ... In a factory setting, unless precautionary measures are taken, it could spread through the whole facility."
National Meatpacking Plant Working Conditions Stoke Spread Of Coronavirus Meatpacking Plant Working Conditions Stoke Spread Of Coronavirus Listen · 3:54 3:54
Nonunionized Kia, Hyundai and BMW plants in the South, where states were allowing operations to resume, restarted their lines on Monday. Toyota is eyeing a May 11 restart. Fiat Chrysler announced Tuesday it plans to reopen the week of May 18, and Ford and General Motors are also looking at mid-May as a possibility.
One challenge is that the auto industry is deeply interconnected across North America. Suppliers in different states and countries — covered by different lockdown orders — must return at roughly the same time for supply chains to operate smoothly.
Mexico is under a stay-at-home order through May. And Michigan, the heart of the U.S. auto industry, has been particularly hard-hit by the virus and continues to block nonessential businesses from operating.
Some auto suppliers have chafed at Michigan's stay-at-home order. But the UAW, which represents employees at Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler and a number of suppliers, welcomed the recent extension of the order and said that early May was too soon to restart operations. The union called for more COVID-19 tests. While temperature checks or symptom questionnaires are increasingly common safety procedures, they can't catch people who are asymptomatic but spreading the disease.
"I think the bottom line is, based on all the information we have access to, we will not have a reliable and scalable testing solution for several weeks — and it may even be months," Kiersten Robinson, the chief human resources officer for Ford, told reporters last week.
Robinson said widespread testing will be critical in the long term. But for the short term, Ford plans to send employees with symptoms to be tested at local hospitals or clinics, without offering testing to all employees.
There's pressure on car companies to figure this out quickly. Plant closures are costing the industry billions of dollars and affecting hundreds of thousands of workers. And while car sales have plummeted because of the pandemic, they've already started to recover, causing executives to worry about just how long they can remain closed before dealerships start to feel a pinch.
Sean Suggs, the president of a plant in Blue Springs, Miss., where Toyota builds Corollas, says dealers aren't yet running out of the sedan. But the uptick in sales is one reason Toyota is eyeing a May 11 restart date for his plant, he says.
He emphasized that the reopening will be gradual.
"We're not going to just flip a switch and everything's going to be back to normal," he says. "There is no going back to the normal way. We simply can't operate the way we operated before COVID-19."
"Day 1, we probably won't even produce a vehicle," he says. "We're gonna get our team members back and get them acclimated to the new way of life."
And with temperature checks and mandatory face masks, it might be a long time before that new way of life feels normal.


npr--2020-05-04--FDA Cracks Down On Antibody Tests For Coronavirus

FDA Cracks Down On Antibody Tests For Coronavirus The Food and Drug Administration is stiffening its rules to counteract what some have called a Wild West of antibody testing for the coronavirus .
These tests are designed to identify people who have been previously exposed to the virus .
The FDA said more than 250 developers have been bringing products to the market in the past few weeks .
In a rush to make antibody tests available as quickly as possible , the FDA had set a low standard for these tests .
Manufacturers were supposed to submit their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the agency had no standards for what would be acceptable .
Companies were n't allowed to claim the tests were authorized by the FDA , under initial guidance issued in mid-March .
Now the FDA is telling manufacturers that if they want their tests to remain on the market , they must meet minimum quality standards and submit a request for emergency use authorization , a temporary route to market for unapproved products when others are n't available .
The EUA involves a lower standard than the usual FDA clearance or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have already opted to request EUA 's for their products .
More than 100 other producers have been talking to the agency about using this process , said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn .
He spoke on a press call Monday .
Companies have 10 days to submit that request .
`` Our expectation is that those who ca n't [ meet the new standard ] will withdraw their products from the market and we will be working with them to help them do that , '' he said .
These tests are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from lab giants Quest or LabCorp .
The tests can cost more than $ 100 .
Though the FDA 's original guidance calls for these tests to be run by a certified lab , the kits themselves are simple to use and have been readily available .
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding these tests , they have substantial limitations .
Though people who test positive for antibodies have in most cases been exposed to the coronavirus , scientists do n't know whether that means those people are actually immune from the coronavirus , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whether this is the ticket for someone to go back to work [ based solely on an antibody test result ] , my opinion on that would be no , '' Hahn said .
The tests may be more useful when combined with information from a standard coronavirus diagnostic test , or in someone who has symptoms , or if the results have been confirmed with a different antibody test .
That `` would dramatically increase the accuracy of those tests , '' said Jeffrey Shuren , director of the FDA 's Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a potentially valuable research tool , and can be used to determine the prevalence of a disease in a population .
In that circumstance , individual false results are less important .
New York State used antibody tests to determine that about 20 percent of people in New York City have already been exposed to the coronavirus .
In California , researchers have attempted to measure the prevalence of the coronavirus in Los Angeles County and Santa Clara County in the Bay Area .
Those unpublished results have garnered criticism because even a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accurate can produce many false positive results when used to survey hundreds or thousands of people .
In the face of this criticism , the authors of the Santa Clara study have posted revised results acknowledging the high degree of uncertainty in their findings .
Those findings have n't been peer-reviewed .
The emergency use authorization is only valid during the time of the national emergency .
`` Once the national emergency ends , the EUA authorizations end as well , '' Shuren said .
Companies that want to keep marketing these tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the regular , more stringent FDA process .
FDA officials say they will continue to crack down on companies that falsely claim their tests are approved by the FDA , or that market them for home use , which is n't currently allowed .
You can contact NPR Science Correspondent Richard Harris at rharris @ npr.org .

FDA Cracks Down On Antibody Tests For Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Seth Wenig/AP Seth Wenig/AP
The Food and Drug Administration is stiffening its rules to counteract what some have called a Wild West of antibody testing for the coronavirus.
These tests are designed to identify people who have been previously exposed to the virus. The FDA said more than 250 developers have been bringing products to the market in the past few weeks.
In a rush to make antibody tests available as quickly as possible, the FDA had set a low standard for these tests. Manufacturers were supposed to submit their own information about the accuracy of their wares, but the agency had no standards for what would be acceptable. Companies weren't allowed to claim the tests were authorized by the FDA, under initial guidance issued in mid-March.
Now the FDA is telling manufacturers that if they want their tests to remain on the market, they must meet minimum quality standards and submit a request for emergency use authorization, a temporary route to market for unapproved products when others aren't available. The EUA involves a lower standard than the usual FDA clearance or approval.
The FDA said 12 manufacturers have already opted to request EUA's for their products. More than 100 other producers have been talking to the agency about using this process, said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn. He spoke on a press call Monday. Companies have 10 days to submit that request.
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"Our expectation is that those who can't [meet the new standard] will withdraw their products from the market and we will be working with them to help them do that," he said.
These tests are now so widespread that people can order them from lab giants Quest or LabCorp. The tests can cost more than $100. Though the FDA's original guidance calls for these tests to be run by a certified lab, the kits themselves are simple to use and have been readily available.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding these tests, they have substantial limitations. Though people who test positive for antibodies have in most cases been exposed to the coronavirus, scientists don't know whether that means those people are actually immune from the coronavirus, and if so for how long.
"Whether this is the ticket for someone to go back to work [based solely on an antibody test result], my opinion on that would be no," Hahn said.
The tests may be more useful when combined with information from a standard coronavirus diagnostic test, or in someone who has symptoms, or if the results have been confirmed with a different antibody test. That "would dramatically increase the accuracy of those tests," said Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Antibodies are a potentially valuable research tool, and can be used to determine the prevalence of a disease in a population. In that circumstance, individual false results are less important. New York State used antibody tests to determine that about 20 percent of people in New York City have already been exposed to the coronavirus.
In California, researchers have attempted to measure the prevalence of the coronavirus in Los Angeles County and Santa Clara County in the Bay Area. Those unpublished results have garnered criticism because even a test that's more than 99 percent accurate can produce many false positive results when used to survey hundreds or thousands of people.
In the face of this criticism, the authors of the Santa Clara study have posted revised results acknowledging the high degree of uncertainty in their findings. Those findings haven't been peer-reviewed.
The emergency use authorization is only valid during the time of the national emergency. "Once the national emergency ends, the EUA authorizations end as well," Shuren said. Companies that want to keep marketing these tests will need to get them approved through the regular, more stringent FDA process.
FDA officials say they will continue to crack down on companies that falsely claim their tests are approved by the FDA, or that market them for home use, which isn't currently allowed.
You can contact NPR Science Correspondent Richard Harris at rharris@npr.org.


npr--2020-05-04--Graduation Ceremony Postponed, Dream Internship Cut Short: 'I Have No Direction'

Allie Clancy is technically still a college student .
She 's a senior at Lasell University in Massachusetts .
But she does n't really feel like she goes to school anymore .
She 's graduating in May , but the ceremony is postponed .
Maybe until the fall .
Maybe until next year .
`` You kind of just dream of [ graduation ] since your freshman year because ... [ you see ] people take their senior pictures around campus and picking out their dresses and getting to celebrate with their family and friends , '' Clancy says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't feel like you get any closure on your college experience . ''
Clancy is used to being busy , often up at 6:30 a.m. and in bed by midnight .
She used to have back-to-back internships , activities , track .
But because of the coronavirus pandemic , the aspiring network TV producer had to cut short her dream internship at Boston 's TD Garden arena , where she filmed footage for the jumbotron and helped out in the control room .
She recently applied to a minimum-wage job to do video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 've read up on what it was like for the class of 2009 or 2008 to graduate into a recession , '' Clancy says .
`` I feel like I was thrown into an intersection with a bunch of ways to go — and then I have no direction .
`` I 'm extremely passionate about what I do , but ...
I 'm trying to get used to the idea that I might not get a job in my field for a little while . ''

Graduation Ceremony Postponed, Dream Internship Cut Short: 'I Have No Direction'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jonas Spencer Jonas Spencer
Allie Clancy is technically still a college student. She's a senior at Lasell University in Massachusetts. But she doesn't really feel like she goes to school anymore.
She's graduating in May, but the ceremony is postponed. Maybe until the fall. Maybe until next year.
"You kind of just dream of [graduation] since your freshman year because ...[you see] people take their senior pictures around campus and picking out their dresses and getting to celebrate with their family and friends," Clancy says.
"Without that, it just doesn't feel like you get any closure on your college experience."
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.
Clancy is used to being busy, often up at 6:30 a.m. and in bed by midnight. She used to have back-to-back internships, activities, track.
But because of the coronavirus pandemic, the aspiring network TV producer had to cut short her dream internship at Boston's TD Garden arena, where she filmed footage for the Jumbotron and helped out in the control room. She recently applied to a minimum-wage job to do video work for a realty business.
"I've read up on what it was like for the class of 2009 or 2008 to graduate into a recession," Clancy says. "I feel like I was thrown into an intersection with a bunch of ways to go — and then I have no direction.
"I'm extremely passionate about what I do, but ... I'm trying to get used to the idea that I might not get a job in my field for a little while."
Read more stories in Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession.


npr--2020-05-05--Virologist Spends His Days 'Hunting The Thing That Wants To Hunt Us'

Virologist Spends His Days 'Hunting The Thing That Wants To Hunt Us' As the novel coronavirus continues its global rampage , scientists around the world are racing to stop its spread .
Dozens of projects have been launched under great pressure to deliver a vaccine as quickly as possible .
Among the virologists trying to unlock the pathogen 's secrets is Christopher Mores , the director of a brand new lab devoted to the research of highly infectious diseases .
It 's part of the George Washington University 's Milken Institute School of Public Health , in Washington , D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hunting the thing that wants to hunt us , '' Mores says .
He got hooked on the study of infectious disease by happenstance when he was a sophomore at Rutgers University .
He could n't get into a class he wanted to take , so a buddy suggested he sign up for microbiology instead .
The course was taught by the late Douglas Eveleigh — `` a totally electric professor , '' Mores recalls .
`` He just got into me and totally excited me about the world of microbes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was like , 'that 's what I 'm doing . '
And I 've done it ever since . ''
Mores 's work over the decades since has brought him up close to a lot of dangerous viruses : Eastern equine encephalitis .
West Nile .
Dengue .
Chikungunya .
Zika .
Ebola .
Now , his attention is entirely focused on this latest microbe of mystery : the new coronavirus .
`` The speed with which this thing wrapped itself around the world has just been remarkable to behold , '' Mores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , to see how fast it went . ''
Mores 's lab opened up for research on March 24 , when COVID-19 cases were spreading quickly throughout the U.S .
The urgency of the epidemic made it clear that he and his team should scrap the chikungunya research they had originally planned .
Now , they devote all of their time to figuring out this new virus .
`` There 's a tempo and a challenge there , '' Mores says , `` with stakes that you can sense , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compelling and it 's cool to be in that fight . ''
Mores typically works 14-hour days , fueled by a constant infusion of coffee .
He leads a team of six research associates and graduate students who are throwing everything they can think of at the coronavirus .
Mores is in talks with biotech companies to help test the effectiveness of eventual vaccine candidates .
In addition , his team is working on diagnostic and antibody tests .
The way he describes this work , it sounds like a chess match : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ the virus ] is gon na do , and your best move against it , in real time ? ''
he says .
`` That 's what an outbreak gives you . ''
Mores says he 's always looking for the virus to screw up , to show him something that he needs to defeat it .
He gives this pathogen credit : it 's proved itself to be a wily adversary .
`` There 's plenty of viruses that are far deadlier , '' Mores says .
`` But it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's wildly transmissible .
Wildly transmissible .
And so , this thing 's pretty darn good . ''
What 's stunning to think about , he says , is that something so genetically simple has managed to bring the planet to its knees .
`` It 's such a tiny piece of nucleic acid .
It 's infinitesimal compared to the size of the human genome , and yet it can just totally unravel us , '' he says .
`` Those are the things that really give me pause sometimes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing with so few genes , and so little room to move , figure us out so well ?
I do n't know .
I think that 's worth respecting . ''
Every day in his work , Mores is reminded of the urgency of this fight .
The virus , he says , `` does n't care .
It 's just doing its thing .
It 's just replicating its RNA . ''
The challenge for scientists , he says , is this : `` Can we be smart enough to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is this going to do to us , before it just goes full bore and takes full advantage of every one of the people on earth it can get into ?
It 's up to us to figure it out .
It 's a puzzle . ''
It 's not the pandemic itself that 's surprising , Mores says .
After all , experts have predicted an outbreak like this one for years .
What is surprising , and really depressing , is our response .
`` A complete failure , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ putting lipstick on that . ''
`` We see ourselves trying to confront this global threat in probably the most fragmented way ever , '' he explains .
`` Every country for itself .
And in this country , it 's every state for itself , quite clearly .
That 's all very sad .
It 's very sad to see .
And all that does is , it turns up the mayhem and death dial to maximum , and why every day I go into work and try and dial it back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our way forward , Mores says , it 's crucial that we remember the hard lessons learned along the way .
`` We want to get back to normal .
Absolutely , '' he says .
`` Everybody needs to go back to school , back to work , back to whatever the hell they did before this .
But it ca n't be to the point of amnesia .
We have to still hold some of these scars close , and say , 'let 's not have this happen again . '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do know , Mores warns , it 's that this wo n't be the last outbreak we 're going to have to confront .

Virologist Spends His Days 'Hunting The Thing That Wants To Hunt Us'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Melissa Block/NPR Melissa Block/NPR
As the novel coronavirus continues its global rampage, scientists around the world are racing to stop its spread.
Dozens of projects have been launched under great pressure to deliver a vaccine as quickly as possible.
Among the virologists trying to unlock the pathogen's secrets is Christopher Mores, the director of a new lab devoted to the research of highly infectious diseases. It's part of George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health in Washington, D.C.
"I've always liked the idea of hunting the thing that wants to hunt us," Mores says.
He got hooked on the study of infectious disease by happenstance when he was a sophomore at Rutgers University. He couldn't get into a class he wanted to take, so a buddy suggested he sign up for microbiology instead. The course was taught by the late Douglas Eveleigh — "a totally electric professor," Mores recalls. "He just got into me and totally excited me about the world of microbes. Within a couple of classes, I was like, 'that's what I'm doing.' And I've done it ever since."
Mores' work over the decades since has brought him up close to a lot of dangerous viruses: Eastern equine encephalitis. West Nile. Dengue. Chikungunya. Zika. Ebola.
Now, his attention is entirely focused on this latest microbe of mystery: the new coronavirus.
"The speed with which this thing wrapped itself around the world has just been remarkable to behold," Mores says. "That was shocking for me, to see how fast it went."
toggle caption Melissa Block/NPR
Mores' lab opened up for research on March 24, when COVID-19 cases were spreading quickly throughout the U.S. The urgency of the epidemic made it clear that he and his team should scrap the chikungunya research they had originally planned. Now they devote all of their time to figuring out this new virus.
"There's a tempo and a challenge there," Mores says, "with stakes that you can sense, at least, if not see. It's compelling and it's cool to be in that fight."
Mores typically works 14-hour days, fueled by a constant infusion of coffee. He leads a team of six research associates and graduate students who are throwing everything they can think of at the coronavirus.
What It's Like To Volunteer For An Experimental Coronavirus Vaccine What It's Like To Volunteer For An Experimental Coronavirus Vaccine Listen · 5:26 5:26
Mores is in talks with biotech companies to help test the effectiveness of eventual vaccine candidates. In addition, his team is working on diagnostic and antibody tests.
The way he describes this work, it sounds like a chess match: "How do you figure out what [the virus] is gonna do, and your best move against it, in real time?" he says. "That's what an outbreak gives you."
Mores says he's always looking for the virus to screw up, to show him something that he needs to defeat it. He gives this pathogen credit: It has proved itself to be a wily adversary.
"There's plenty of viruses that are far deadlier," Mores says. "But it's still a very dangerous virus, and it's wildly transmissible. Wildly transmissible. And so, this thing's pretty darn good."
toggle caption Melissa Block/NPR
What's stunning to think about, he says, is that something so genetically simple has managed to bring the planet to its knees.
"It's such a tiny piece of nucleic acid. It's infinitesimal compared to the size of the human genome, and yet it can just totally unravel us," he says. "Those are the things that really give me pause sometimes. Like, wow, how could this thing with so few genes, and so little room to move, figure us out so well? I don't know. I think that's worth respecting."
Every day in his work, Mores is reminded of the urgency of this fight.
The virus, he says, "doesn't care. It's just doing its thing. It's just replicating its RNA."
The challenge for scientists, he says, is this: "Can we be smart enough to see what it's made of, and what is this going to do to us, before it just goes full bore and takes full advantage of every one of the people on earth it can get into? It's up to us to figure it out. It's a puzzle."
It's not the pandemic itself that's surprising, Mores says. After all, experts have predicted an outbreak like this one for years.
What is surprising, and really depressing, is our response.
"A complete failure," Mores says. "There's no putting lipstick on that."
toggle caption Melissa Block/NPR
"We see ourselves trying to confront this global threat in probably the most fragmented way ever," he explains. "Every country for itself. And in this country, it's every state for itself, quite clearly. That's all very sad. It's very sad to see. And all that does is, it turns up the mayhem and death dial to maximum, and why every day I go into work and try and dial it back a bit."
As we plot our way forward, Mores says, it's crucial that we remember the hard lessons learned along the way.
"We want to get back to normal. Absolutely," he says. "Everybody needs to go back to school, back to work, back to whatever the hell they did before this. But it can't be to the point of amnesia. We have to still hold some of these scars close and say, 'Let's not have this happen again.'"
Because if there's one thing we do know, Mores warns, it's that this won't be the last outbreak we're going to have to confront.


npr--2020-05-05--6 Ways College Might Look Different In The Fall

6 Ways College Might Look Different In The Fall What will happen on college campuses in the fall ?
It 's a big question for families , students and the schools themselves .
A lot of what happens depends on factors outside the control of individual schools : Will there be more testing ?
Contact tracing ?
Enough physical space for distancing ?
Will the coronavirus have a second wave ?
Will any given state allow campuses to reopen ?
For all of these questions , it 's really too early to know the answers .
But one thing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation 's 20 million students in higher education , will be different .
`` I do n't think there 's any scenario under which it 's business as usual on American college campuses in the fall , '' says Nicholas Christakis , a sociologist and physician at Yale University .
So why are so many colleges announcing they will be back on campus in the fall ?
In many cases , it 's because they 're still trying to woo students .
A survey of college presidents found their most pressing concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even elite schools , typically more stable when it comes to enrollment , have reportedly been tapping their waitlists .
In the midst of all this uncertainty , it 's worth looking at some of the ideas out there .
With the help of Joshua Kim and Edward J. Maloney , professors and authors of the book Learning Innovation and the Future of Higher Education , here are some potential scenarios for reopening colleges and universities : Perhaps the most obvious option for the fall is to continue doing what they 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signaled that they 're planning for this option — even if it 's a last resort .
California State University , Fullerton , was one of the first to announce publicly it was planning for a fall semester online .
`` Obviously we want to resume in-person teaching as soon as possible , but we also need to make sure that we 're safe , '' says Ellen Treanor , who helps lead strategic communication at the school .
Treanor says it made a lot of sense to assume the school would start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easier way to transition ?
It would be easier to transition beginning virtually and then transitioning in person , '' she said .
`` The faculty [ needs ] to be prepared . ''
With virtual classes , students can remain at home , although some colleges are exploring bringing them back to campus , where they could use the school 's Wi-Fi to take online classes .
A delay in the semester would allow a school to wait it out until it was safer to reopen .
One option is to push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in October or November .
Another idea is to push a normal start to January .
In that case , the spring semester would become the fall semester , and potentially students could stay on campus through next summer to make up the spring semester .
Boston University floated a version of this January start date when it announced a number of plans it was exploring .
One downside to a late start is what students will do in the meantime , especially those who do n't have financial stability and rely on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe and stable home .
This would be a hybrid model , with a combination of virtual and in-person classes .
It may be a good choice for campuses that do n't have enough classrooms to allow adjusting face-to-face teaching to the requirements of social distancing .
`` You might have some of the larger classes being taught online simply because it 's harder to imagine a 150- or 350-person classroom , '' says Maloney , who leads the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship at Georgetown University .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into multiple sections . ''
For large , entry-level classes , colleges may have a lecture component online and then meet in smaller groups in person .
`` The hybrid model does n't have to just be about modality , '' Maloney says .
`` It can be , but it could also be about fundamentally rethinking what the core structure has been for those large classes . ''
Of course , shifting larger classes online may not be enough , by itself , to alleviate the health concerns of having students on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that eliminating such classes did n't lessen student interactions with each other .
In block scheduling , students take just one course at a time for a shorter duration , typically three or four weeks .
Colorado College , a liberal arts school south of Denver , has been using this model for 50 years .
The college adopted this style of classes because `` it allows [ students ] to take a deep dive and really focus in unique ways on the single subject , '' says Alan Townsend , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the school offers eight blocks .
In addition to its intensity , block scheduling is attractive right now because it allows flexibility .
Colleges that use it have the opportunity to change the way classes look every three weeks — since there are multiple start and stop points .
( With a semester , you have only a single start and then , often 16 weeks later , an end . )
`` It 's easier for us to now think creatively for next year , '' Townsend says .
`` Different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's really hard to do with a semester-based system , but the blocks allow us to do that a little bit more flexibly . ''
The school is also entertaining the idea of sending faculty abroad to teach a block for international students who might not be able to enter the U.S , or adding summer blocks to give students even more opportunities to take classes .
Only some on campus Some colleges have suggested bringing only freshmen back to campus and having upperclassmen either delay their start , or be online and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that shows just how important a student 's first year of college is as a predictor of graduation .
Adapting to campus can be a challenge , so this would allow first-year students to get comfortable and have extra support on campus .
Since upperclassmen are already familiar with how campus and classes work , the theory goes , they can more easily adapt to an online environment .
Other versions of this approach would have students who have housing needs come back to campus first , and then , over time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All these options seek to keep the population density of the campus lower while still maintaining some face-to-face interactions .
On campus , with some changes Social distancing , improved testing and contact tracing could help colleges reopen their campuses .
`` Every school is trying to figure out a way to have students come back and do whatever we can while also protecting public health , '' says Learning Innovation co-author Joshua Kim , director of online programs and strategy at Dartmouth College .
`` At the same time , we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be different .
It 's probably unlikely that we 'll be able to cram students together in large , packed lecture halls or put doubles and triples in residence halls or have big events . ''
To follow social distancing , professors are measuring their classrooms , calculating how many students could fit in the space if they were 6 feet apart .
Deans are planning out how students could enter and exit the classrooms safely .
But it 's not just the classrooms that pose a challenge .
For residential colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whether or not students are actually learning in the classroom , it 's incredibly important for them to have an on-campus experience , '' Maloney says .
So schools are thinking about how they can spread their students out , putting them in places where they normally would n't go .
Some ideas include housing students in offices that are n't being used , local hotel rooms or off-campus housing .
Institutions are also reimagining campus events , like freshman orientation , since it 's unlikely hundreds of students will be in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do everything we do at a university is part of the process , '' Maloney says .

6 Ways College Might Look Different In The Fall
Enlarge this image Hanna Barczyk for NPR Hanna Barczyk for NPR
What will happen on college campuses in the fall? It's a big question for families, students and the schools themselves.
A lot of what happens depends on factors outside the control of individual schools: Will there be more testing? Contact tracing? Enough physical space for distancing? Will the coronavirus have a second wave? Will any given state allow campuses to reopen?
For all of these questions, it's really too early to know the answers. But one thing is clear: Life, and learning for the nation's 20 million students in higher education, will be different.
"I don't think there's any scenario under which it's business as usual on American college campuses in the fall," says Nicholas Christakis, a sociologist and physician at Yale University.
So why are so many colleges announcing they will be back on campus in the fall?
In many cases, it's because they're still trying to woo students. A survey of college presidents found their most pressing concern right now is summer and fall enrollment. Even elite schools, typically more stable when it comes to enrollment, have reportedly been tapping their waitlists.
In the midst of all this uncertainty, it's worth looking at some of the ideas out there. With the help of Joshua Kim and Edward J. Maloney, professors and authors of the book Learning Innovation and the Future of Higher Education, here are some potential scenarios for reopening colleges and universities:
All virtual
Perhaps the most obvious option for the fall is to continue doing what they've been doing this spring. Colleges have signaled that they're planning for this option — even if it's a last resort. California State University, Fullerton, was one of the first to announce publicly it was planning for a fall semester online.
"Obviously we want to resume in-person teaching as soon as possible, but we also need to make sure that we're safe," says Ellen Treanor, who helps lead strategic communication at the school. Treanor says it made a lot of sense to assume the school would start online. "What would be the easier way to transition? It would be easier to transition beginning virtually and then transitioning in person," she said. "The faculty [needs] to be prepared."
With virtual classes, students can remain at home, although some colleges are exploring bringing them back to campus, where they could use the school's Wi-Fi to take online classes.
Delayed start
A delay in the semester would allow a school to wait it out until it was safer to reopen. One option is to push back a month or two, starting in October or November. Another idea is to push a normal start to January. In that case, the spring semester would become the fall semester, and potentially students could stay on campus through next summer to make up the spring semester. Boston University floated a version of this January start date when it announced a number of plans it was exploring.
One downside to a late start is what students will do in the meantime, especially those who don't have financial stability and rely on campus or the university to be a safe and stable home.
Some online, some face-to-face
This would be a hybrid model, with a combination of virtual and in-person classes. It may be a good choice for campuses that don't have enough classrooms to allow adjusting face-to-face teaching to the requirements of social distancing.
"You might have some of the larger classes being taught online simply because it's harder to imagine a 150- or 350-person classroom," says Maloney, who leads the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship at Georgetown University. "So you might see that class split up into multiple sections." For large, entry-level classes, colleges may have a lecture component online and then meet in smaller groups in person.
"The hybrid model doesn't have to just be about modality," Maloney says. "It can be, but it could also be about fundamentally rethinking what the core structure has been for those large classes."
Of course, shifting larger classes online may not be enough, by itself, to alleviate the health concerns of having students on campus. Early research from Cornell University found that eliminating very large classes still left the small world network of the campus intact.
Shortened blocks
In block scheduling, students take just one course at a time for a shorter duration, typically three or four weeks. Colorado College, a liberal arts school south of Denver, has been using this model for 50 years. The college adopted this style of classes because "it allows [students] to take a deep dive and really focus in unique ways on the single subject," says Alan Townsend, the provost there. In a typical year, the school offers eight blocks.
In addition to its intensity, block scheduling is attractive right now because it allows flexibility. Colleges that use it have the opportunity to change the way classes look every three weeks — since there are multiple start and stop points. (With a semester, you have only a single start and then, often 16 weeks later, an end.)
"It's easier for us to now think creatively for next year," Townsend says. "Different students can make different choices. That's really hard to do with a semester-based system, but the blocks allow us to do that a little bit more flexibly."
The school is also entertaining the idea of sending faculty abroad to teach a block for international students who might not be able to enter the U.S, or adding summer blocks to give students even more opportunities to take classes.
Only some on campus
Some colleges have suggested bringing only freshmen back to campus and having upperclassmen either delay their start, or be online and remote.
The idea centers on research that shows just how important a student's first year of college is as a predictor of graduation. Adapting to campus can be a challenge, so this would allow first-year students to get comfortable and have extra support on campus.
Since upperclassmen are already familiar with how campus and classes work, the theory goes, they can more easily adapt to an online environment. Other versions of this approach would have students who have housing needs come back to campus first, and then, over time, phase in other groups of students.
All these options seek to keep the population density of the campus lower while still maintaining some face-to-face interactions.
On campus, with some changes
Social distancing, improved testing and contact tracing could help colleges reopen their campuses.
"Every school is trying to figure out a way to have students come back and do whatever we can while also protecting public health," says Learning Innovation co-author Joshua Kim, director of online programs and strategy at Dartmouth College.
"At the same time, we know that, however that works, things will be different. It's probably unlikely that we'll be able to cram students together in large, packed lecture halls or put doubles and triples in residence halls or have big events."
To follow social distancing, professors are measuring their classrooms, calculating how many students could fit in the space if they were 6 feet apart. Deans are planning out how students could enter and exit the classrooms safely.
But it's not just the classrooms that pose a challenge. For residential colleges, it's the dorms.
"Whether or not students are actually learning in the classroom, it's incredibly important for them to have an on-campus experience," Maloney says. So schools are thinking about how they can spread their students out, putting them in places where they normally wouldn't go.
Some ideas include housing students in offices that aren't being used, local hotel rooms or off-campus housing. Institutions are also reimagining campus events, like freshman orientation, since it's unlikely hundreds of students will be in a packed auditorium.
"Rethinking how we do everything we do at a university is part of the process," Maloney says.


npr--2020-05-05--Trump Returns To The Road With Arizona Trip To Mask-Maker

Trump Returns To The Road With Arizona Trip To Mask-Maker As President Trump attempts to project an image of America rising out of quarantine and beginning to reopen , he 's set to travel to an Arizona factory that 's expanded into production of N95 face masks to respond to the coronavirus pandemic .
And while the trip is in part meant to tell a positive story about the Trump administration 's response , it also highlights the challenges of the current moment .
Arizona remains under a modified stay-at-home order until May 15 , though Republican Gov .
Doug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to open voluntarily Monday .
The state has n't yet notched the two consecutive weeks of reduced COVID-19 cases called for as a first step in the White House guidelines for reopening .
In fact , the number of confirmed cases in the state is on the rise .
And Trump 's trip itself will be anything but normal .
Those traveling with the president or coming in close proximity to him in Arizona are being tested for the coronavirus .
Social distancing measures are expected .
`` The President takes the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of himself and all White House operations very seriously , '' White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement provided to NPR .
`` When preparing for and carrying out any travel , the White House 's operational teams work together to ensure plans to incorporate current CDC guidance and best practices for limiting COVID-19 exposure are followed to the greatest extent possible . ''
Asked last week if he would wear a mask on the trip , Trump was noncommittal .
`` I 'm going to have to look at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing a mask .
I do n't know , '' Trump said at the White House .
`` I 'm supposed to make a speech .
I just do n't know : Should I speak in a mask ?
You 're going to have to tell me if that 's politically correct .
I do n't know .
If it is , I 'll speak in a mask . ''
Vice President Mike Pence faced criticism for not wearing a mask while visiting the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota last week , in apparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sitting next to Trump at a televised town hall Sunday night , Pence said he `` should have worn a mask at the Mayo Clinic . ''
Pence has left Washington , D.C. , a few times recently — a series of trips the White House used in part as test runs for Trump to get back on the road .
Different than the big rallies Tuesday 's travel is a far cry from Trump 's last trip to Arizona , for a campaign rally on Feb. 19 .
He did n't mention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and when asked about it in an interview with a local TV reporter , he downplayed the risk .
`` I think it 's going to work out fine , '' Trump told Fox 10 Phoenix .
`` I think when we get into April , in the warmer weather , that has a very negative effect on that and that type of a virus .
So let 's see what happens , but I think it 's going to work out fine . ''
As of Monday morning , more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Arizona , according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University , with about 68,000 deaths nationwide .
Trump still yearns for those big rallies of the not-so-distant past , musing about the day when he can pack arenas again and not have to have people spaced 6 feet apart .
But for now , he 's relishing the idea of escaping the confines of the White House .
Aside from a trip to the presidential retreat at Camp David last weekend , this will be Trump 's first trip away from the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent off the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort in Norfolk , Va .
While it 's been a little more than a month , Trump has described himself as stuck at the White House `` for many months . ''
In Phoenix , Trump will tour a Honeywell aerospace manufacturing facility that freed up space to start making N95 respirator masks .
According to a company spokesman , the first masks rolled off the line on April 30 , ahead of schedule .
Once up to full capacity , it will make 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The company said it would be adding 500 employees to make the masks .
Another Honeywell factory in Rhode Island also started making masks last month .
Most of them are headed to the federal government , which is distributing the protective equipment .
Mask shortages have been a major concern for health care workers treating patients with the highly contagious coronavirus .
Although there is n't officially a political component to the trip , Arizona is a state Trump won in 2016 , but that Democrats expect to be competitive in 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is n't taking anything for granted in the state in 2020 .
His goal is to remind voters how the Arizona economy was booming before the pandemic .
`` Arizona is a state where President Trump 's campaign will be aggressive , where we have had a presence since 2015 , '' said Erin Perrine , principal deputy communications director for the reelection campaign .
`` We will reach voters where ever they are — sharing the message that only President Trump can bring back the booming Trump economy and highlighting his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For several election cycles , Democrats have been eyeing Arizona as a state they might put in the presidential win column .
Analysts say Democrats challenge will will be to win in the suburbs and get a solid turnout from Hispanics , even as the pandemic 's effect on campaigning and on the actual process of voting is yet to be known .
No Democratic nominee had carried the state since Bill Clinton in 1996 .
In 2016 , there was talk of a late play for the state by Hillary Clinton 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as overconfidence than her actually have a real shot at winning there .
Then , when the votes were counted , Trump won the presidency , including a victory in Arizona , but his margin in the state was only 3.5 % .
Four years earlier , GOP nominee Mitt Romney carried the state over President Obama by more than 9 percentage points .
Democrats took Trump winning so narrowly in the state as a sign that maybe the future was closer than people realized .
Longtime GOP strategist Chuck Coughlin says Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later by winning four statewide offices , including an open U.S. Senate seat and secretary of state .
Now strategist Coughlin says , `` There is a trend line going on , Republicans have had to acknowledge that , and the swing voters have become more important — independents and Republican suburban women . ''
He says those are the keys to a Democratic victory in the state .
An average of recent polls shows former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , leading in head-to-head matchups .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and especially in the middle of an unprecedented crisis , is n't necessarily predictive , it 's one of a few causes for alarm for Republicans .
In 2018 , Democrat Kyrsten Sinema won an open U.S. Senate seat in Arizona .
Another Senate seat is up in 2020 , and the latest campaign finance reports show Democratic challenger Mark Kelly with nearly twice as much cash on hand as incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally .
Kelly has also led in recent polls .
McSally portrays herself as a strong ally of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative campaigning .
Here 's how she began her remarks when Trump called her up to speak at that big rally in February , `` I just want to say I have a message for the liberal hack media in the back , '' she told the noisy crowd , `` Arizona is going to vote in November to keep America great and send President Trump back to the White House .
In April McSally tweeted that she was able to secure ventilators for her state after talking to Trump .
`` Huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I spoke with @ realDonaldTrump on Wednesday afternoon to request additional ventilators from the Strategic National Stockpile .
Today , POTUS delivers with 100 ventilators headed to AZ .
Thank you to President Trump and @ VP for hearing our call . ''

Trump Returns To The Road With Arizona Trip To Mask-Maker
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 7:00 p.m. ET
As President Trump attempts to project an image of America rising out of quarantine and beginning to reopen, he traveled on Tuesday to an Arizona factory that's expanded into production of N95 face masks to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
And while the trip was in part meant to tell a positive story about the Trump administration's response, it also highlights the challenges of the moment.
Arizona remains under a modified stay-at-home order until May 15, though Republican Gov. Doug Ducey allowed some retail establishments to begin to open voluntarily Monday. The state hasn't yet notched the two consecutive weeks of reduced COVID-19 cases called for as a first step in the White House guidelines for reopening. In fact, the number of confirmed cases in the state is on the rise.
And Trump's trip itself was anything but normal. Those traveling with the president or coming in close proximity to him in Arizona were tested for the coronavirus.
Attendees to the president's remarks, about 70 or so people, wore masks and were seated spaced apart from one another.
During his speech, largely read from prepared remarks, Trump praised the "patriotic and hardworking men and women" of Honeywell.
"You're making high quality N95 respirators, and they are made to perfection. There's no bad masks. Like various countries have been sent some very bad masks from other places. There's nothing like that at Honeywell," Trump told workers at the facility.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
"You're part of this incredible industrial mobilization-- the biggest since World War II," he said. "You make America proud."
Asked last week if he would wear a mask on the trip, Trump was noncommittal.
"I'm going to have to look at the climate. I'd have no problem wearing a mask. I don't know," Trump said at the White House. "I'm supposed to make a speech. I just don't know: Should I speak in a mask? You're going to have to tell me if that's politically correct. I don't know. If it is, I'll speak in a mask."
He ultimately opted against the mask, though some other speakers at the event wore them and stood distanced from the president.
Vice President Mike Pence faced criticism for not wearing a mask while visiting the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota last week, in apparent violation of the center's policy. Sitting next to Trump at a televised town hall Sunday night, Pence said he "should have worn a mask at the Mayo Clinic."
Pence has left Washington, D.C., a few times recently — a series of trips the White House used in part as test runs for Trump to get back on the road.
Different than the big rallies
Tuesday's travel is a far cry from Trump's last trip to Arizona, for a campaign rally on Feb. 19. He didn't mention the coronavirus in his speech that night, and when asked about it in an interview with a local TV reporter, he downplayed the risk.
"I think it's going to work out fine," Trump told Fox 10 Phoenix. "I think when we get into April, in the warmer weather, that has a very negative effect on that and that type of a virus. So let's see what happens, but I think it's going to work out fine."
As of Monday morning, more than 350 deaths had been attributed to COVID-19 in Arizona, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, with about 68,000 deaths nationwide.
Trump still yearns for those big rallies of the not-so-distant past, musing about the day when he can pack arenas again and not have to have people spaced 6 feet apart. But for now, he's relishing the idea of escaping the confines of the White House. Aside from a trip to the presidential retreat at Camp David last weekend, this will be Trump's first trip away from the White House since March 28, when he sent off the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort in Norfolk, Va. While it's been a little more than a month, Trump has described himself as stuck at the White House "for many months."
In Phoenix, Trump toured a Honeywell aerospace manufacturing facility that freed up space to start making N95 respirator masks. According to a company spokesman, the first masks rolled off the line on April 30, ahead of schedule. Once up to full capacity, it will make 10 million of the masks per month. The company said it would be adding 500 employees to make the masks. A Honeywell factory in Rhode Island also started making masks last month. Most of them are headed to the federal government, which is distributing the protective equipment. Mask shortages have been a major concern for health care workers treating patients with the highly contagious coronavirus.
Battleground state
Although there isn't officially a political component to the trip, Arizona is a state Trump won in 2016, but that Democrats expect to be competitive in 2020. During his Tuesday remarks, Trump made sure to mention his earlier success in the state.
"I'm thrilled to be in the fantastic state of Arizona. I love Arizona," Trump said to cheers.
"I had some good moments here. Especially on Election Day. It was a good moment, right?"
Trump's visit clearly underscores how he isn't taking anything for granted in the state in 2020. His goal is to remind voters how the Arizona economy was booming before the pandemic.
"Arizona is a state where President Trump's campaign will be aggressive, where we have had a presence since 2015," said Erin Perrine, principal deputy communications director for the reelection campaign. "We will reach voters where ever they are — sharing the message that only President Trump can bring back the booming Trump economy and highlighting his strong leadership during the coronavirus."
For several election cycles, Democrats have been eyeing Arizona as a state they might put in the presidential win column. Analysts say Democrats challenge will be to win in the suburbs and get a solid turnout from Hispanics, even as the pandemic's effect on campaigning and on the actual process of voting is yet to be known. No Democratic nominee had carried the state since Bill Clinton in 1996. In 2016, there was talk of a late play for the state by Hillary Clinton's campaign, but that was seen more as overconfidence than her actually have a real shot at winning there. Then, when the votes were counted, Trump won the presidency, including a victory in Arizona, but his margin in the state was only 3.5%.
Four years earlier, GOP nominee Mitt Romney carried the state over President Obama by more than 9 percentage points. Democrats took Trump winning so narrowly in the state as a sign that maybe the future was closer than people realized. Longtime GOP strategist Chuck Coughlin says Democrats kept the storyline going two years later by winning four statewide offices, including an open U.S. Senate seat and secretary of state. Now, Coughlin says, "There is a trend line going on, Republicans have had to acknowledge that, and the swing voters have become more important — independents and Republican suburban women." He says those are the keys to a Democratic victory in the state.
An average of recent polls shows former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, leading in head-to-head matchups. Although horse race polling this far out, and especially in the middle of an unprecedented crisis, isn't necessarily predictive, it's one of a few causes for alarm for Republicans.
In 2018, Democrat Kyrsten Sinema won an open U.S. Senate seat in Arizona. Another Senate seat is up in 2020, and the latest campaign finance reports show Democratic challenger Mark Kelly with nearly twice as much cash on hand as incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally. Kelly has also led in recent polls.
McSally portrays herself as a strong ally of Trump's, even echoing his style of negative campaigning. Here's how she began her remarks when Trump called her up to speak at that big rally in February: "I just want to say I have a message for the liberal hack media in the back," she told the noisy crowd. "Arizona is going to vote in November to keep America great and send President Trump back to the White House."
In April McSally tweeted that she was able to secure ventilators for her state after talking to Trump.
"Huge news for Arizona!" McSally tweeted. "I spoke with @realDonaldTrump on Wednesday afternoon to request additional ventilators from the Strategic National Stockpile. Today, POTUS delivers with 100 ventilators headed to AZ. Thank you to President Trump and @VP for hearing our call."
The affection was returned to McSally during Trump's speech at the Honeywell facility, with the president calling the junior senator a "fantastic person."
"She's fighting to uncover the full truth about the China situation and how the World Health Organization handled the outbreak and what happened. There must be transparency and accountability," he said.


npr--2020-05-05--Policing Is Changing In The Age of Social Distancing

Policing Is Changing In The Age of Social Distancing One of the few silver linings to this pandemic is that in most places , there 's been less crime .
`` Calls for service are certainly down , '' says Sgt .
Adam Plantinga of the San Francisco Police Department .
`` No open bars means there 's fewer late-night brawls , and people are home more , so burglars are having a tougher time of it . ''
Police departments across the country are facing a new reality in the era of coronavirus .
As familiar categories of crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable new assignments .
In some cities , police are being asked to start enforcing social distancing rules .
Over the weekend , Chicago police located and broke up house parties , while the New York Police Department sent 1,000 officers out on `` social distancing patrols . ''
This mostly means having officers walk through public spaces , reminding people to stay 6 feet apart .
But there have been some complaints about inequitable enforcement , especially after an arrest related to social distancing in the East Village @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was investigating the incident .
Police generally dislike doing social distancing duty .
`` That 's not why we got into this profession , '' says Capt .
Tom Shaffer of the Omaha Police Department .
`` I can speak for all nearly thousand sworn law enforcement officers here : Nobody became a cop so they could go to a bar and grill and say 'You 've got 11 people here , you 've got to send one home . '
'' He 's more focused on holding the lid down on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of detected gunshots in a higher-crime part of the city , which coincided with March social distancing orders .
He thinks the `` criminal element '' must have noticed police were doing fewer traffic stops because of precautions against potential coronavirus contamination .
`` It 's just one piece , but I think that that , over time , is kinda like , 'Hey , we got a better chance to from point A to point B and not get pulled over , ' '' he says .
Shaffer says the department has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and with improved supplies of protective gear , he thinks officers are becoming more `` proactive '' again and interact more with the public .
In Seattle , Natasha Moore works with at-risk youth , and is a member of the city 's Community Police Commission .
People tell her they 're seeing more patrols , though it may just seem that way because the streets are so empty .
`` Some people do like the fact that more police are out , '' she says , `` just making sure there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She says the commission has lobbied for more relaxed enforcement of things like parking enforcement , during this crisis .
It 's also developing webinar training to help police and others better respond to people who are feeling traumatized .
`` I could assume that people are n't in their right mind right now , with everything that 's going on , '' she says .
The pandemic is making things harder for those who try to practice `` community policing . ''
Max Geron , a veteran of the Dallas Police Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of police for the Dallas suburb of Rockwall .
He says social distancing took hold just as he was starting his new job , and it was more difficult to establish the personal connections he believes are vital for effective law enforcement .
`` It has made it remarkably challenging for someone like me , '' Geron says .
`` I would have very quickly into my tenure would have set up community meeting to get out and shake hands ... there 's only so far you can go with a Zoom meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for patrol officers , too , Geron says , in the form of the masks that they and members of the public are wearing .
It 's especially difficult when officers are trying to deal with someone having an emotional crisis .
`` When you 're used to seeing and responding to those non-verbal cues and you suddenly take some of those away , '' Geron says , `` it 's like you 've lose one of your senses .
`` I 'm really looking forward to when this is hopefully behind us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` And in some way , even if it 's a little different , we can go back at least to face-to-face human interaction . ''

Policing Is Changing In The Age of Social Distancing
One of the few silver linings to this pandemic is that in most places, there's been less crime.
"Calls for service are certainly down," says Sgt. Adam Plantinga of the San Francisco Police Department. "No open bars means there's fewer late-night brawls, and people are home more, so burglars are having a tougher time of it."
Police departments across the country are facing a new reality in the era of coronavirus. As familiar categories of crime fade, officers are being asked to handle unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable new assignments.
In some cities, police are being asked to start enforcing social distancing rules. Over the weekend, Chicago police located and broke up house parties, while the New York Police Department sent 1,000 officers out on "social distancing patrols."
This mostly means having officers walk through public spaces, reminding people to stay 6 feet apart. But there have been some complaints about inequitable enforcement, especially after an arrest related to social distancing in the East Village became violent. The NYPD said it was investigating the incident.
Police generally dislike doing social distancing duty. "That's not why we got into this profession," says Capt. Tom Shaffer of the Omaha Police Department. "I can speak for all nearly thousand sworn law enforcement officers here: Nobody became a cop so they could go to a bar and grill and say 'You've got 11 people here, you've got to send one home.'"
He's more focused on holding the lid down on an increase in felony assaults and a near-doubling of detected gunshots in a higher-crime part of the city, which coincided with March social distancing orders. He thinks the "criminal element" must have noticed police were doing fewer traffic stops because of precautions against potential coronavirus contamination.
"It's just one piece, but I think that that, over time, is kinda like, 'Hey, we got a better chance to go from point A to point B and not get pulled over,'" he says.
Shaffer says the department has now reassigned more officers to gang enforcement, and with improved supplies of protective gear, he thinks officers are becoming more "proactive" again and interact more with the public.
In Seattle, Natasha Moore works with at-risk youth, and is a member of the city's Community Police Commission. People tell her they're seeing more patrols, though it may just seem that way because the streets are so empty.
"Some people do like the fact that more police are out," she says, "just making sure there's no issues going on."
She says the commission has lobbied for more relaxed enforcement of things like parking enforcement, during this crisis. It's also developing webinar training to help police and others better respond to people who are feeling traumatized.
"I could assume that people aren't in their right mind right now, with everything that's going on," she says.
The pandemic is making things harder for those who try to practice "community policing." Max Geron, a veteran of the Dallas Police Department, was recently hired as the chief of police for the Dallas suburb of Rockwall. He says social distancing took hold just as he was starting his new job, and it was more difficult to establish the personal connections he believes are vital for effective law enforcement.
"It has made it remarkably challenging for someone like me," Geron says. "I would have very quickly into my tenure would have set up community meeting to get out and shake hands... there's only so far you can go with a Zoom meeting."
There are new communications barriers for patrol officers, too, Geron says, in the form of the masks that they and members of the public are wearing. It's especially difficult when officers are trying to deal with someone having an emotional crisis.
"When you're used to seeing and responding to those non-verbal cues and you suddenly take some of those away," Geron says, "it's like you've lost one of your senses.
"I'm really looking forward to when this is hopefully behind us," the new chief says. "And in some way, even if it's a little different, we can go back at least to face-to-face human interaction."