npr--2020-10-19--South Korea Eases Coronavirus Restrictions, Touts 'Exceptional' Success

In South Korea , churches resumed in-person services and stadiums welcomed sports fans over the weekend as the country once again manages to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus .
The government eased social distancing restrictions after the country apparently dodged a surge in cases that was feared to follow the Chuseok national holiday in early October .
South Korea 's daily new infection numbers peaked in late February at more than 900 before coming down to single digits in April .
Then in mid-August , hundreds of daily cases emerged , linked to church groups and political rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and stayed in the double digits for most of the past month .
More than 31 million South Koreans traveled for family reunions and vacations between Sept. 29 and Oct. 4 , but just 44 infections linked to holiday travel have been confirmed , according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency .
President Moon Jae-in a week ago noted South Korea 's `` exceptional '' success in overcoming `` what could have been the biggest threat yet , '' in contrast to other countries struggling with a continuing upsurge .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cases , the second wave of infections that peaked in late August dampened the national economy and public sentiment .
In September , the unemployment rate climbed back up to 3.6 % after inching down for three months .
The Bank of Korea 's consumer confidence index plunged to May levels .
`` The level of fatigue rose quite high during the two months of second-level social distancing , '' Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said on Oct. 11 , referring to tougher restrictions enforced in mid-August to tackle second-wave infections .
Announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added , `` If this state continues , social receptiveness [ to pandemic measures ] is expected to drop significantly , hindering efficacy . ''
To ensure its pandemic response is effective and sustainable , he said , South Korea will `` minimize extreme measures , '' such as shutting down businesses , and will reinforce `` precision prevention '' tailored to individual risks .
South Korea lifted its assembly ban on large groups , reopened buffet restaurants , nightclubs and karaokes — venues categorized as high risk — and expanded in-person attendance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines for each facility .
The South Korean government can now enforce mask-wearing in public transportation , hospitals and rallies , and more quickly punish business owners and citizens who flout the rules , thanks to the revised disease control laws that took effect on Tuesday .
Even with the updated toolbox , though , health officials seem torn between confidence and concerns .
`` It feels like taking an exam every single day , '' Kwon Jun-wook , deputy director of Central Disease Control Headquarters , said last week .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , `` a different path based on mutual trust , evidence and agreement . ''

South Korea Eases Coronavirus Restrictions, Touts 'Exceptional' Success
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images
In South Korea, churches resumed in-person services and stadiums welcomed sports fans over the weekend as the country once again manages to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The government eased social distancing restrictions after the country apparently dodged a surge in cases that was feared to follow the Chuseok national holiday in early October.
South Korea's daily new infection numbers peaked in late February at more than 900 before coming down to single digits in April. Then in mid-August, hundreds of daily cases emerged, linked to church groups and political rallies.
The daily caseload has since declined and stayed in the double digits for most of the past month. More than 31 million South Koreans traveled for family reunions and vacations between Sept. 29 and Oct. 4, but just 44 infections linked to holiday travel have been confirmed, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
President Moon Jae-in a week ago noted South Korea's "exceptional" success in overcoming "what could have been the biggest threat yet," in contrast to other countries struggling with a continuing upsurge.
Despite South Korea's quickly flattening the curve of cases, the second wave of infections that peaked in late August dampened the national economy and public sentiment. In September, the unemployment rate climbed back up to 3.6% after inching down for three months. The Bank of Korea's consumer confidence index plunged to May levels.
"The level of fatigue rose quite high during the two months of second-level social distancing," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said on Oct. 11, referring to tougher restrictions enforced in mid-August to tackle second-wave infections. Announcing an easing of those restrictions, Park added, "If this state continues, social receptiveness [to pandemic measures] is expected to drop significantly, hindering efficacy."
To ensure its pandemic response is effective and sustainable, he said, South Korea will "minimize extreme measures," such as shutting down businesses, and will reinforce "precision prevention" tailored to individual risks.
South Korea lifted its assembly ban on large groups, reopened buffet restaurants, nightclubs and karaokes — venues categorized as high risk — and expanded in-person attendance at schools while upgrading detailed disease prevention guidelines for each facility.
The South Korean government can now enforce mask-wearing in public transportation, hospitals and rallies, and more quickly punish business owners and citizens who flout the rules, thanks to the revised disease control laws that took effect on Tuesday.
Even with the updated toolbox, though, health officials seem torn between confidence and concerns.
"It feels like taking an exam every single day," Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of Central Disease Control Headquarters, said last week.
"We are opening a new path," he said, "a different path based on mutual trust, evidence and agreement."


npr--2020-10-20--U.K. Preparing COVID-19 Vaccine Trials That Deliberately Infect Study Subjects

Researchers in Britain are preparing to start a controversial COVID-19 `` human challenge '' study in which dozens of healthy volunteers will be exposed to live coronavirus in an effort to speed up vaccine development .
The Human Challenge Programme will be conducted by Imperial College London , which said Tuesday in a statement that it would be working in cooperation with the Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy , the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust , and hVIVO , a clinical company that has worked on viral human challenge models .
The U.K. government is preparing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million pounds ) in the study .
The study , the first of its kind involving the coronavirus , will recruit healthy people between the ages of 18 and 30 with no prior history of COVID-19 symptoms and no known risk factors for the disease .
Researchers would inoculate them with a candidate vaccine , then test its effectiveness by deliberately exposing them to live coronavirus .
Such studies are controversial because they raise ethical concerns .
However , proponents say they can speed up vaccine development and , ultimately , save lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free , but the Human Challenge Program partners will be working hard to ensure we make the risks as low as we possibly can , '' lead researcher Dr. Chris Chiu from Imperial College London said in the statement .
`` The UK 's experience and expertise in human challenge trials as well as in wider COVID-19 science will help us tackle the pandemic , benefiting people in the UK and worldwide , '' he said .
`` Participants in the initial study will be carefully selected to exclude anyone with a characteristic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity of COVID-19 infection , '' hVIVO said in a statement .
Similar trials are being investigated in Belgium .
The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) is funding the development of two SARS-CoV-2 challenge strains at a lab at Colorado State University in Fort Collins , according to Nature , and NIAID is reportedly awaiting data from phase III vaccine studies before making decisions on COVID-19 challenge trials .
In the first part of the U.K. study , researchers will try to determine the smallest amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 and illicit an immune response .
That phase is scheduled to be wrap up sometime next year .
`` The proportion of participants becoming infected and the amount of virus that they subsequently shed will be tracked to better understand the course of infection , '' Imperial College London said in the statement .
Vaccine taskforce chair Kate Bingham said the research will boost knowledge of the virus and aid further research .
`` There is much we can learn in terms of immunity , the length of vaccine protection , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement , according to The Associated Press .
A non-profit group called 1Day Sooner has already attracted more than 38,500 volunteers in more than 165 countries to take part in such studies .
`` I would be lying if I said there 's not like an underlying worry there or fear there because this virus is less than a year old , '' Chris Holdsworth , 25 , who is studying for a PhD at the University of Edinburgh and says he would be willing to participate , told The Guardian .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to contextualise the risk , without trivialising it . ''

U.K. Preparing COVID-19 Vaccine Trials That Deliberately Expose Study Subjects
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirsty O'Connor/PA Images via Getty Images Kirsty O'Connor/PA Images via Getty Images
Updated at 9:00 a.m. ET
Researchers in Britain are preparing to start a controversial COVID-19 "human challenge" study in which dozens of healthy volunteers will be exposed to live coronavirus in an effort to speed up vaccine development.
The Human Challenge Programme will be conducted by Imperial College London, which said Tuesday in a statement that it would be working in cooperation with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, and hVIVO, a clinical company that has worked on viral human challenge models.
The U.K. government is preparing to invest $43.4 million (33.6 million pounds) in the study, which is the first of its kind involving the coronavirus.
The plan is to recruit healthy people between the ages of 18 and 30 with no prior history of COVID-19 symptoms and no known risk factors for the disease. Researchers would inoculate them with a candidate vaccine, then test its effectiveness by deliberately exposing them to live coronavirus.
The study is still awaiting final regulatory approval. If it is given the green light, it will begin in January at a biosecure unit at London's Royal Free Hospital. Volunteers will be quarantined in the facility and receive a laboratory-grown SARS-CoV-2 strain as part of the trial. They will be monitored around the clock for a few weeks.
Such studies are controversial because they raise ethical concerns. However, proponents say they can speed up vaccine development and, ultimately, save lives.
"No study is completely risk free, but the Human Challenge Program partners will be working hard to ensure we make the risks as low as we possibly can," lead researcher Dr. Chris Chiu from Imperial College London said in the statement.
"The UK's experience and expertise in human challenge trials as well as in wider COVID-19 science will help us tackle the pandemic, benefiting people in the UK and worldwide," he said.
"Participants in the initial study will be carefully selected to exclude anyone with a characteristic that has been shown to increase the severity of COVID-19 infection," hVIVO said in a statement.
Many vaccines have been tested in fast-tracked human challenge studies, ranging from seasonal flu to cholera and typhoid. The World Health Organization has issued guidelines for such research.
Belgium is looking into conducting similar trials involving coronavirus. The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is funding the development of two SARS-CoV-2 challenge strains at a lab at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, according to Nature, and NIAID is reportedly awaiting data from Phase III vaccine studies before making decisions on COVID-19 challenge trials.
In the first part of the U.K. study, researchers will try to determine the smallest amount of virus required for a person to develop COVID-19 and elicit an immune response. That phase is scheduled to be wrap up sometime next year.
"The proportion of participants becoming infected and the amount of virus that they subsequently shed will be tracked to better understand the course of infection," Imperial College London said in the statement.
Vaccine task force chair Kate Bingham said the research will boost knowledge of the virus and aid further research.
"There is much we can learn in terms of immunity, the length of vaccine protection, and reinfection,'' she said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.
A nonprofit group called 1Day Sooner has already attracted more than 38,500 volunteers in more than 165 countries to take part in such studies.
"I would be lying if I said there's not like an underlying worry there or fear there because this virus is less than a year old," Chris Holdsworth, 25, who is seeking a doctorate at the University of Edinburgh and says he would be willing to participate, told The Guardian. "But at the same time I just try to contextualize the risk, without trivializing it."


npr--2020-10-20--Actor Jeff Bridges Tweets That He Has Been Diagnosed With Lymphoma

Actor Jeff Bridges Tweets That He Has Been Diagnosed With Lymphoma Jeff Bridges announced Monday night that he is battling a possibly life-threatening illness .
He broke the news on Twitter , with a reference to the iconically laid-back character with whom he 's long been identified .
`` As the Dude would say..New S**T has come to light , '' the 70-year-old actor tweeted .
`` I have been diagnosed with Lymphoma .
Although it is a serious disease , I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good . ''
Lymphoma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , affects `` tissues and organs that produce , store and carry white blood cells that fight infections . ''
Bridges ' tweet went on to say : `` I 'm starting treatment and will keep you posted on my recovery . ''
He has not announced publicly whether it is Hodgkin 's or non-Hodgkin 's lymphoma — or at what stage the cancer was diagnosed .
The Oscar-winning Crazy Heart actor has been a fixture in Hollywood since he first appeared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV series Sea Hunt in the 1950s .
Nominated seven times for an Academy Award , he 's had starring roles in such films as True Grit , Starman , Thunderbolt and Lightfoot , and The Last Picture Show .
And he is indelibly identified with the unflappable L.A. slacker , The Dude Lebowski in The Big Lebowski .
He is now in production on the drama series The Old Man , in which he stars and is executive producer .
The series will debut on FX and Hulu in 2021 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Productions .
Those organizations issued a statement : The actor used that phrase in a second tweet , to draw attention to an issue he has championed : `` Thank you for your prayers and well wishes .
And while I have you , please remember to go vote .
Because we are all in this together .
Vote.org .
Love , Jeff . ''

Actor Jeff Bridges Tweets That He Has Been Diagnosed With Lymphoma
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
Jeff Bridges announced Monday night that he has a possibly life-threatening illness. He broke the news on Twitter with a reference to the iconically laid-back character with whom he's long been identified.
"As the Dude would say..New S**T has come to light," the 70-year-old actor tweeted. "I have been diagnosed with Lymphoma. Although it is a serious disease, I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good."
Lymphoma is a form of cancer that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affects "tissues and organs that produce, store and carry white blood cells that fight infections."
Bridges' tweet went on to say: "I'm starting treatment and will keep you posted on my recovery." He has not announced publicly whether it is Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma — or at what stage the cancer was diagnosed.
The Oscar-winning Crazy Heart actor has been a fixture in Hollywood since he first appeared with his father, Lloyd Bridges, in the TV series Sea Hunt in the 1950s. Nominated seven times for an Academy Award, he's had starring roles in such films as True Grit, Starman, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and The Last Picture Show. And he is indelibly identified with the unflappable LA slacker, The Dude Lebowski in The Big Lebowski.
He is now in production on the drama series The Old Man, in which he stars and is executive producer. The series will debut on FX and Hulu in 2021 and is produced by Touchstone Pictures and FX Productions. Those organizations issued a statement:
"Our thoughts go out to Jeff and his family during this challenging time and they have our love and support. We wish him a safe and full recovery. And, as Jeff always says, 'We are all in this together.' Jeff, we are all in this together with you."
The actor used that phrase in a second tweet to draw attention to an issue he has championed: "Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. And while I have you, please remember to go vote. Because we are all in this together. Vote.org. Love, Jeff."


npr--2020-10-20--Coronavirus Maps: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Maps : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 8 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 215,000 have died .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily nationwide .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the risk of infection in each state based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These color-coded risk levels were developed by a consortium of researchers and public health experts .
The group advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
Orange states may need to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and both yellow and green states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visualization highlights a state 's daily growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
Since then , new cases have fallen from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to over 1,000 per day in mid October .
Explore the map above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid October , California , Florida and Texas surpass New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends , the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state , week over week for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shades of red have growing outbreaks ; those in shades of green , are declining .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies .
This may result in occasional data discrepancies on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anomalies and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases and or update their methodologies .
For example , in early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state 's daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reconcile the historical data .
On June 25 , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
On Sept. 2 , Massachusetts changed its methodology for counting probable cases , which lowered its overall case and death numbers .
The JHU team maintains a list of such changes .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn contributed to and Carmel Wroth edited @ @ @

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
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Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-10-20--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

Coronavirus World Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak On Sept. 28 , the world marked a tragic milestone : 1 million deaths from COVID-19 .
That 's according to a tally maintained by Johns Hopkins University .
And public health experts believe the actual toll – the recorded deaths plus the unrecorded deaths – is much higher .
While the number of cases has slowed in many countries that were hit hard early on by coronavirus , the number of new cases continues to increase .
Since early July , new daily cases averaged over 200,000 worldwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January .
At over 8 million cases , the United States leads the world 's COVID-19 crisis .
In late spring and early summer , new COVID-19 cases were largely driven by cases in the Americas .
While the U.S. has consistently had the most new daily cases of coronavirus in the region , Brazil 's new daily cases increased rapidly between May and August .
However , in September , several countries that had previously flattened their curve saw a resurgence in cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , daily case counts have risen swiftly since June , without signs of slowing down .
Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time .
The first chart compares each continent to each other , while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region .
To compare country outbreaks , the chart below graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each country 's totals to date .
This type of visualization highlights a state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In countries like Israel , which is seeing a second wave of case growth after an initial wave in April , the line forms a V-shape , as the initially bent curve spikes upwards again .
Click here to see the state-by-state breakdown of cases in the United States .
This story was originally published on @ @ @ @ @

Coronavirus world map: We've now passed the 600 million mark for infections
Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated. The last update was Sept. 5, 2022. For current data about COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data are useful resources.
In late January 2020 only a few dozen COVID-19 infections had been identified outside of China. A year later, the world tallied its first 100 million cases. It took the globe just 7 more months to pass the 200 million mark— then another 5 months to hit 300 million, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Now the virus has spread to every corner of the globe and has been blamed for more than 6 million deaths.
The United States, India and Brazil in that order have had the most COVID cases and the three nations collectively account for almost half of all recorded infections so far in the pandemic.
Explore the chart below to find a country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January 2020.
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Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time. The first chart compares each continent to each other, while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region.
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This story was originally published on March 30, 2020.


npr--2020-10-20--The Affordable Care Act's Fate Is In Flux But 2021 Health Plan Prices Are Stable

The Affordable Care Act 's Fate Is In Flux But 2021 Health Plan Prices Are Stable Facing a pandemic , record unemployment and unknown future costs for COVID-19 treatments , health insurers selling Affordable Care Act plans to individuals reacted by lowering rates in some areas and , overall , issuing only modest premium increases for 2021 .
`` What 's been fascinating is that carriers in general are not projecting much impact from the pandemic for their 2021 premium rates , '' said Sabrina Corlette , a research professor at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates have yet to be analyzed in all states , those who study the market say the premium increases they have seen to date will be in the low single digits — and decreases are not uncommon .
That 's good news for the more than 10 million Americans who purchase their own ACA health insurance through federal and state marketplaces .
The federal market , which serves 36 states , opens for 2021 enrollment Nov. 1 , with sign-up season ending Dec. 15 .
Some of the 14 states and the District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have longer enrollment periods .
The flip side of flat or declining premiums is that some consumers who qualify for subsidies to help them purchase coverage may also see a reduction in that aid .
Subsidies are determined by a mix of a consumer 's income and the cost of a benchmark plan .
Here are a few things to know about 2021 coverage : It might cost about the same this year — or even less .
Despite the ongoing debate about the ACA — compounded by a Supreme Court challenge brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration — enrollment and premium prices are not forecast to shift much .
`` It 's the third year in a row with premiums staying pretty stable , '' said Louise Norris , an insurance broker in Colorado who follows rates nationwide and writes about insurance trends .
`` We 've seen modest rate changes and influx of new insurers . ''
That relative stability followed ups and downs , with the last big increases coming in 2018 , partly in response to the Trump administration cutting some payments to insurers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly people who do n't qualify for subsidies , which are tied both to income and the cost of premiums .
ACA enrollment has fallen since its peak in 2016 .
Charles Gaba , a web developer who has since late 2013 tracked enrollment data in the ACA on his ACASignups.net website , follows premium changes based on filings with state regulators .
Each summer , insurers must file their proposed rates for the following year with states , which have varying oversight powers .
Gaba said the average requested increase next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he looked at 18 states for which regulators have approved insurers ' requested rates , the percentage is lower at 0.4 % .
Another study , by KFF , of preliminary premiums filed this summer had similar findings : Premium changes in 2021 would be modest , only a few percentage points up or down .
( KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF . )
It 's still worth it to shop around .
Actuaries and other experts say premiums vary by state or region — even by insurer — for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number and relative market power of insurers or hospitals in an area , which affects the ability of insurers to negotiate rates with providers .
For consumers who rely on subsidies to help cover premium costs , be aware : subsidies are tied to each region 's benchmark plan – that 's the second-lowest-priced silver plan in a region – and since those premium costs may have gone down , subsidies also could decrease .
Switching to the benchmark plan can help consumers maintain how much they spend in premiums .
Enrollees should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year when many are affected by work reduction or job losses .
`` They might be eligible for a bigger subsidy , '' said Myra Simon , executive director of commercial policies for America 's Health Insurance Plans , the industry lobbying group .
Enrollees can update their information online , or call their federal or state marketplace for assistance .
Insurance brokers , too , can aid people in signing up for ACA plans .
When shopping , consumers should check whether the doctors and hospitals they want to use are included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are just one part of the equation .
Consumers should also look closely at annual deductibles , because the trade-off of going with a lower-cost premium may well be higher annual deductibles that must be met before much of the coverage kicks in .
`` We encourage people to consider all their options , '' said Simon .
Your choice of insurers may have widened .
More insurers , including UnitedHealth Group , either stepped back into that individual market or expanded into new counties .
`` Insurers are seeing a profit or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dodd , an insurance broker in Columbus and past president of the Ohio Association of Health Underwriters .
Rates are down in general across his state for ACA plans , he said , and he expects agents to be busier than ever , simply because there are more plan offerings and choices to make and people want help .
Insurers , he said , like the way the ACA is working .
`` People on TV who say it 's not working , they do n't know what they 're talking about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working well [ for insurers ] and every year it gets better . ''
What 's behind the premium changes ?
Enrollees in some states next year will see premium decreases , according to Gaba 's website : Maine , for example , shows a 13 % drop in weighted average premium prices , while Maryland 's is down almost 12 % .
At the same time , Indiana 's average is up 10 % .
And Kentucky is up 5 % .
Both Maine and Maryland attribute the decrease to state programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help offset high-cost medical claims .
In Florida , regulators say insurance premiums will rise about 3 % , while the state exchange in California is reporting just over a half-percent increase , its lowest average increase since opening in 2014 .
Officials in California cite factors that include an influx of healthier enrollees and a reduction in fees that insurers pay .
Other factors affecting rates include how much state regulators step in to alter initial rate filings , along with a provision of the ACA that requires insurers to spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct medical care .
If insurers do n't meet that standard , they must issue rebates to policyholders .
Many insurers were already on the hook to return money in 2020 for previous years .
Most insurers did not cite additional COVID treatment or testing costs as factors in their requested rate increase , Gaba said .
Even those that did , however , mainly found them unnecessary because of reduced expenditures resulting from patients delaying elective care during the spring and summer .
Indeed , many insurers in the second quarter posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought , 'We 're going to make more than we thought this year in profits , so let 's not be aggressive with pricing next year , ' '' said Donna Novak , a member of the American Academy of Actuaries ' Individual and Small Group Markets Committee .
A smaller factor may be the repeal of a fee paid by insurers on premiums .
Part of the ACA , the fee was permanently eliminated by the Trump administration effective for 2021 .
New marketplaces in some states , and a public option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will buy coverage from new state-based marketplaces for 2021 , after those states pulled out of the federal healthcare.gov , which now covers 36 states .
Lawmakers in those states said running their own marketplaces gives them more control and may save them money over time .
In 19 Washington state counties , insurers are offering `` public option plans , '' which have all the standard benefits , including lower deductibles , and must meet additional quality standards .
As envisioned , the public option plans aimed to be less expensive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare .
Insurers offering a public option must stick to an aggregate cap of paying doctors , hospitals and other medical providers an average of 160 % of what Medicare would pay for the same services .
When the premium rates came in , however , the five insurers offering the plans had varying prices .
Not all parts of the state have the option , but where they do , two of the public option insurers have premiums that are either lower than other plans in the area or are the lowest-cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are more expensive .
The state 's marketplace staff said the higher prices may reflect a number of things , from difficulty getting the program started during COVID-19 , to a lack of incentives to get providers to participate .
It could also just be normal first-year jitters .
`` It 's Year One .
As with any market entry strategy , people are pretty conservative , '' said Michael Marchand , chief marketing officer of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange .
KHN ( Kaiser Health News ) is a nonprofit news service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editorially independent program of KFF ( Kaiser Family Foundation ) that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

The Affordable Care Act's Fate Is In Flux But 2021 Health Plan Prices Are Stable
Enlarge this image toggle caption PhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou/Getty Images PhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou/Getty Images
Facing a pandemic, record unemployment and unknown future costs for COVID-19 treatments, health insurers selling Affordable Care Act plans to individuals reacted by lowering rates in some areas and, overall, issuing only modest premium increases for 2021.
"What's been fascinating is that carriers in general are not projecting much impact from the pandemic for their 2021 premium rates," said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Although final rates have yet to be analyzed in all states, those who study the market say the premium increases they have seen to date will be in the low single digits — and decreases are not uncommon.
That's good news for the more than 10 million Americans who purchase their own ACA health insurance through federal and state marketplaces. The federal market, which serves 36 states, opens for 2021 enrollment Nov. 1, with sign-up season ending Dec. 15. Some of the 14 states and the District of Columbia that operate their own markets have longer enrollment periods.
The flip side of flat or declining premiums is that some consumers who qualify for subsidies to help them purchase coverage may also see a reduction in that aid. Subsidies are determined by a mix of a consumer's income and the cost of a benchmark plan.
Here are a few things to know about 2021 coverage:
It might cost about the same this year — or even less.
Despite the ongoing debate about the ACA — compounded by a Supreme Court challenge brought by 20 states and supported by the Trump administration — enrollment and premium prices are not forecast to shift much.
"It's the third year in a row with premiums staying pretty stable," said Louise Norris, an insurance broker in Colorado who follows rates nationwide and writes about insurance trends. "We've seen modest rate changes and influx of new insurers."
That relative stability followed ups and downs, with the last big increases coming in 2018, partly in response to the Trump administration cutting some payments to insurers.
Those increases priced out some enrollees, particularly people who don't qualify for subsidies, which are tied both to income and the cost of premiums. ACA enrollment has fallen since its peak in 2016.
Charles Gaba, a web developer who has since late 2013 tracked enrollment data in the ACA on his ACASignups.net website, follows premium changes based on filings with state regulators. Each summer, insurers must file their proposed rates for the following year with states, which have varying oversight powers.
Gaba said the average requested increase next year nationwide is 2.1%. When he looked at 18 states for which regulators have approved insurers' requested rates, the percentage is lower at 0.4%.
A study by KFF, of preliminary premiums filed this summer, had similar findings: Premium changes in 2021 would be modest, only a few percentage points up or down. (KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF.)
It's still worth it to shop around.
Actuaries and other experts say premiums vary by state or region — even by insurer — for a number of reasons, including the number and relative market power of insurers or hospitals in an area, which affects the ability of insurers to negotiate rates with providers.
For consumers who rely on subsidies to help cover premium costs, be aware: subsidies are tied to each region's benchmark plan — that's the second-lowest-priced silver plan in a region — and since those premium costs may have gone down, subsidies also could decrease.
Switching to the benchmark plan can help consumers maintain how much they spend in premiums.
Enrollees should update their financial information, particularly this year when many are affected by work reduction or job losses. "They might be eligible for a bigger subsidy," said Myra Simon, executive director of commercial policies for America's Health Insurance Plans, the industry lobbying group.
Enrollees can update their information online or call their federal or state marketplace for assistance. Insurance brokers, too, can aid people in signing up for ACA plans. When shopping, consumers should check whether the doctors and hospitals they want to use are included in the plan's network.
Premiums are just one part of the equation. Consumers should also look closely at annual deductibles, because the trade-off of going with a lower-cost premium may well be higher annual deductibles that must be met before much of the coverage kicks in.
"We encourage people to consider all their options," said Simon.
Your choice of insurers may have widened.
More insurers, including UnitedHealth Group, either stepped back into that individual market or expanded into new counties.
"Insurers are seeing a profit or potential for it," said John Dodd, an insurance broker in Columbus and past president of the Ohio Association of Health Underwriters.
Rates are down in general across his state for ACA plans, he said, and he expects agents to be busier than ever, simply because there are more plan offerings and choices to make and people want help.
Insurers, he said, like the way the ACA is working.
"People on TV who say it's not working, they don't know what they're talking about," said Dodd. "It's working well [for insurers] and every year it gets better."
What's behind the premium changes?
Enrollees in some states next year will see premium decreases, according to Gaba's website: Maine, for example, shows a 13% drop in weighted average premium prices, while Maryland's is down almost 12%. At the same time, Indiana's average is up 10%. And Kentucky is up 5%.
Both Maine and Maryland attribute the decrease to state programs that provide reinsurance payments to health insurers to help offset high-cost medical claims.
In Florida, regulators say insurance premiums will rise about 3%, while the state exchange in California is reporting just over a half-percent increase, its lowest average increase since opening in 2014. Officials in California cite factors that include an influx of healthier enrollees and a reduction in fees that insurers pay.
Other factors affecting rates include how much state regulators step in to alter initial rate filings, along with a provision of the ACA that requires insurers to spend at least 80% of revenue on direct medical care. If insurers don't meet that standard, they must issue rebates to policyholders. Many insurers were already on the hook to return money in 2020 for previous years.
Most insurers did not cite additional COVID treatment or testing costs as factors in their requested rate increase, Gaba said. Even those that did, however, mainly found them unnecessary because of reduced expenditures resulting from patients delaying elective care during the spring and summer.
Indeed, many insurers in the second quarter posted record profits.
"Some of them thought, 'We're going to make more than we thought this year in profits, so let's not be aggressive with pricing next year,'" said Donna Novak, a member of the American Academy of Actuaries' Individual and Small Group Markets Committee.
A smaller factor may be the repeal of a fee paid by insurers on premiums. Part of the ACA, the fee was permanently eliminated by the Trump administration effective for 2021.
New marketplaces in some states, and a public option.
Residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania will buy coverage from new state-based marketplaces for 2021, after those states pulled out of the federal healthcare.gov, which now covers 36 states.
Lawmakers in those states said running their own marketplaces gives them more control and may save them money over time.
In 19 Washington state counties, insurers are offering "public option plans," which have all the standard benefits, including lower deductibles, and must meet additional quality standards.
As envisioned, the public option plans aimed to be less expensive, with the legislation tying payment rates to Medicare. Insurers offering a public option must stick to an aggregate cap of paying doctors, hospitals and other medical providers an average of 160% of what Medicare would pay for the same services.
When the premium rates came in, however, the five insurers offering the plans had varying prices. Not all parts of the state have the option, but where they do, two of the public option insurers have premiums that are either lower than other plans in the area or are the lowest-cost plan the insurer offers.
But three are more expensive.
The state's marketplace staff said the higher prices may reflect a number of things, from difficulty getting the program started during COVID-19, to a lack of incentives to get providers to participate.
It could also just be normal first-year jitters.
"It's Year 1. As with any market entry strategy, people are pretty conservative," said Michael Marchand, chief marketing officer of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange.
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


npr--2020-10-20--A Big Alzheimer's Drug Study Is Proceeding Cautiously, Despite The Pandemic

A Big Alzheimer 's Drug Study Is Proceeding Cautiously , Despite The Pandemic Medical research was an early casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic .
After cases began emerging worldwide , thousands of clinical trials unrelated to COVID-19 were paused or canceled amid fears that participants would be infected .
But now , some researchers are finding ways to carry on in spite of the coronavirus .
`` It 's been a struggle of course , '' says Joshua Grill , who directs the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders at the University of California , Irvine .
`` But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to find ways to move forward . ''
Grill got a close-up view of the challenge in July , when COVID-19 cases were spiking nationwide just as he was trying to launch a study .
UC Irvine and dozens of other research centers had just begun enrolling participants in the AHEAD study , a global effort that will test whether an investigational drug can slow down the earliest brain changes associated with Alzheimer 's disease .
Finding individuals willing and able to sign up for this sort of research is difficult even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also co-directs recruitment for the Alzheimer 's Clinical Trial Consortium , funded by the National Institute on Aging .
`` We 're asking people do a lot , including enroll in long studies that require numerous visits , '' he says , `` and in the AHEAD study , taking an investigational drug or placebo that 's injected into a vein . ''
Participants will receive either a placebo or a drug called BAN2401 , which is meant to reduce levels of amyloid , a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer 's .
People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scans of their brains to measure changes in amyloid and another toxic protein called tau .
Researchers know that for participants , every visit represents a potential exposure to the coronavirus .
That 's a sobering thought , given that some of those participants are as old as 80 , Grill says .
So , like most research centers , UC Irvine has implemented a long list of safety measures .
Medical staff get daily screenings , patient visits are spaced out to avoid overlaps , exam rooms get extra cleaning , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We think we can minimize that risk to an extent necessary to move these studies forward , and that it 's urgent that we do that , '' Grill says .
So far , Grill says , the measures appear to be working .
Participants are n't getting infected and they are signing up .
`` I 've just been completely , totally inspired by the people enrolled in these studies , the majority of whom really want us to push ahead , '' he says .
Of course , some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infection is too great .
Also , recruiting has become very difficult in African-American and Latino communities , which have been especially hard hit by COVID-19 , Grill says .
The fear in these communities became obvious early in the pandemic , says Crystal Glover , a social psychologist who is in charge of community outreach at the Rush Alzheimer 's Disease Center in Chicago .
`` They had heard about COVID , they heard that we had patients there that were being treated for COVID , '' she says .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to come to our institution . ''
So Glover has been focusing on solutions , and advising recruitment efforts at other centers , including those involved in the AHEAD study .
Her message is straightforward : `` If we are looking to enroll folks now , we need to reach back out to the communities in which we already have relationships , '' she says .
For Rush , that has meant offering support and services to minority communities before asking for participation in research .
`` We 've had town halls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment ] drives , we 've had webinars on the proper use of PPE , food delivery , food drives , '' Glover says .
When fears are high , she says , researchers also need to explain why a particular study matters to a specific community .
`` We know that these chronic diseases of aging are really impacting Blacks and Latinos at higher rates than non-Latino whites , '' Glover says .
`` I lead in with that . ''
Then she goes on to explain `` why this is relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you but also to your family and future generations . ''
Rush is also trying some new tactics to reach minority communities during the pandemic .
One involves staging health and wellness events at laundromats that are owned by women and people of color and that serve essential workers .
Glover says people who show up can wash their clothes for free in a place where social distancing is strictly maintained .
And they may also learn a bit about research on Alzheimer 's disease .
`` We have that information for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` But they get to wash their clothes and stay safe during COVID 19 . ''
Efforts like that are crucial right now , Grill says .
`` The hope is that a year from now COVID is a thing of the past , '' he says .
`` We know that Alzheimer 's disease is going to continue to get worse . ''

A Big Alzheimer's Drug Study Is Proceeding Cautiously Despite The Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Getty Images Getty Images
Medical research was an early casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After cases began emerging worldwide, thousands of clinical trials unrelated to COVID-19 were paused or canceled amid fears that participants would be infected. But now some researchers are finding ways to carry on in spite of the coronavirus.
"It's been a struggle of course," says Joshua Grill, who directs the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders at the University of California, Irvine. "But I think there's an imperative for us to find ways to move forward."
Grill got a close-up view of the challenge in July when COVID-19 cases were spiking nationwide as he was trying to launch a study.
UC Irvine and dozens of other research centers had just begun enrolling participants in the AHEAD study, a global effort that will test whether an investigational drug can slow down the earliest brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Finding individuals willing and able to sign up for this sort of research is difficult even without a pandemic, says Grill, who also co-directs recruitment for the Alzheimer's Clinicals Trial Consortium, funded by the National Institute on Aging.
"We're asking people do a lot, including enroll in long studies that require numerous visits," he says, "and in the AHEAD study, taking an investigational drug or placebo that's injected into a vein."
Participants will receive either a placebo or a drug called BAN2401, made by Eisai, which is meant to reduce levels of amyloid, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer's. People in the study will also have positron emission tomography, or PET, scans of their brains to measure changes in amyloid and another toxic protein called tau.
Researchers know that for participants, every visit represents a potential exposure to the coronavirus. That's a sobering thought, given that some of those participants are as old as 80, Grill says.
So, like most research centers, UC Irvine has implemented a long list of safety measures.
Medical staff get daily screenings, patient visits are spaced out to avoid overlaps, exam rooms get extra cleaning, and personal protective equipment is the norm.
"We think we can minimize that risk to an extent necessary to move these studies forward, and that it's urgent that we do that," Grill says.
So far, Grill says, the measures appear to be working. Participants aren't getting infected, and they are signing up.
"I've just been completely, totally inspired by the people enrolled in these studies, the majority of whom really want us to push ahead," he says.
Of course, some people have dropped out, saying the risk of infection is too great. Also, recruiting has become difficult in African American and Latino communities, which have been especially hard hit by COVID-19, Grill says.
The fear in these communities became obvious early in the pandemic, says Crystal Glover, a social psychologist who is in charge of community outreach at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago.
"They had heard about COVID; they heard that we had patients there that were being treated for COVID," she says. "And they indicated that they did not want to come to our institution."
So Glover has been focusing on solutions and advising recruitment efforts at other centers, including those involved in the AHEAD study.
Her message is straightforward: "If we are looking to enroll folks now, we need to reach back out to the communities in which we already have relationships," she says.
For Rush, that has meant offering support and services to minority communities before asking for participation in research.
"We've had town halls, we've had [personal protective equipment] drives, we've had webinars on the proper use of PPE, food delivery, food drives," Glover says.
When fears are high, she says, researchers also need to explain why a particular study matters to a specific community.
"We know that these chronic diseases of aging are really impacting Blacks and Latinos at higher rates than non-Latino whites," Glover says. "I lead in with that."
Then she goes on to explain "why this is relevant, it's not only relevant to you but also to your family and future generations."
Rush is also trying some new tactics to reach minority communities during the pandemic. One involves staging health and wellness events at laundromats that are owned by women and people of color and that serve essential workers.
Glover says people who show up can wash their clothes for free in a place where social distancing is strictly maintained. And they may also learn a bit about research on Alzheimer's disease.
"We have that information for them at the laundromat," She says. "But they get to wash their clothes and stay safe during COVID-19."
Such efforts are crucial right now, Grill says.
"The hope is that a year from now COVID is a thing of the past," he says. "We know that Alzheimer's disease is going to continue to get worse."


npr--2020-10-20--From 'Saving Suburbs' To Raising Hopes On Pandemic, Trump Makes His Closing Pitch

From 'Saving Suburbs ' To Raising Hopes On Pandemic , Trump Makes His Closing Pitch President Trump is racing from tarmac to tarmac in the final weeks of the campaign , holding large rallies to blast out an array of closing arguments — buckshot style — for a second term in office .
So far , most of the stops have been in swing states — Florida , Pennsylvania , North Carolina , Arizona , Wisconsin , Michigan and Nevada .
But he has also held rallies in Iowa and Georgia , states he won easily in 2016 — signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Down in the polls , and with millions of people having already voted , Trump is trying to make up for lost time .
He was off the trail for 10 days earlier this month when he caught the coronavirus and was hospitalized .
His rally performances post-COVID-19 have been spirited and confident , as Trump seeks to show voters he was not felled by the virus that has grounded the country and perhaps his re-election .
And he says he plans to keep up the breakneck pace through the final two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make as many as five stops a day when the calendar turns to November .
Here are a few of the president 's final arguments .
Rounding the corner on the coronavirus Polls show voters think Democratic challenger Joe Biden would do a better job handling the pandemic , the biggest test of Trump 's leadership during his first term .
But Trump is holding up his own experience with the disease as an asset , brandishing his recovery as a sign that treatments are improving , vaccines are on their way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's rounding the turn .
You 'll see that .
Normal life — that 's all we want .
We want normal life .
Right ? ''
he said in Carson City , Nev. , on Sunday .
While critics and medical experts have panned the White House for letting a `` super-spreader event '' threaten the health of the president , his wife and more than a dozen close aides and associates , Trump has bragged about it , calling now-recovered aides like Hope Hicks and Kayleigh McEnany up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teenage son Barron 's experience catching the virus without developing significant symptoms as fuel to argue schools should reopen .
Even as coronavirus cases surge , only once in his travels has Trump reflected on the pain and loss caused by the pandemic , and that was in a speech to seniors in Florida .
`` I 'm working as hard as I can so you can kiss and hug your children and grandchildren very soon , '' Trump told seniors — an acknowledgement that showed he knows this key voting bloc is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less about his promises or vision for a second term , and more about his first three years in office .
He rattles through a lengthy list of highlights , ranging from criminal justice reform , the opening of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain , establishing the Space Force , hikes in military spending , his conservative picks for the Supreme Court , trade deals , and progress on the signature issue of his first run for office — the wall on the southern U.S. border with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend more time talking about the economy , an area of strength for the president until the pandemic shut down businesses and schools , throwing millions out of work .
Voters are split on who they think would do a better job on the economy .
`` We had the best employment numbers we ever had .
We had 160 million people working , '' Trump said in Muskegon , Mich. `` It 's called , Make America Great Again .
Now I say , 'Make America Great Again , Again . '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes while Biden will raise taxes and harm the economy with regulations on fracking for natural gas , among other things .
`` This election is a choice between a Trump super-recovery — which we 're in right now — or a Biden depression , '' Trump said in Carson City .
Trump is using a variety of attacks on Biden 's years in the Senate and as vice president to try to paint himself as the come-from-behind upstart , even though he is the incumbent candidate with a record of his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the establishment .
`` He 's a servant of the wealthy donors , globalists and special interests who got rich bleeding America dry and putting America last , '' Trump said in Carson City .
Part of this line of attack involves lengthy diatribes against the business activities of Biden 's son Hunter .
But Trump also says Biden would give control to the left wing of his party , which is hardly sympathetic with the rich .
Suburban women : ' I 've saved your way of life' Trump is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a group of voters who supported him last time , but have been turned off by his bombast : suburban women .
He explains in his rallies that he has been in too big a hurry to be politically correct , and says his actions on issues like supporting police , curbing protests and ending a policy to fight housing segregation have `` saved your way of life . ''
`` So can I ask you to do me a favor suburban women : would you please like me ?
No ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Okay , '' he said in Johnstown , Penn .
Trump also brags that he thinks women voters like him more than polls show , as seen in his 2016 victory .
`` Last time they said the same thing .
It was even worse .
They said I had a problem with women , period .
And then the night , that beautiful , night four years ago — was that the greatest of all time ? ''
he said in Janesville , Wis .

From 'Saving Suburbs' To Raising Hopes On Pandemic, Trump Makes His Closing Pitch
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump is racing from tarmac to tarmac in the final weeks of the campaign, holding large rallies to blast out an array of closing arguments — buckshot style — for a second term in office.
So far, most of the stops have been in swing states — Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan and Nevada. But he has also held rallies in Iowa and Georgia, states he won easily in 2016 in a sign the electoral map has shifted on him.
Down in the polls, and with millions of people having already voted, Trump is trying to make up for lost time. He was off the trail for 10 days earlier this month when he caught the coronavirus and was hospitalized.
His rally performances post-COVID-19 have been spirited and confident, as Trump seeks to show voters he was not felled by the virus that has grounded the country and perhaps his reelection. And he says he plans to keep up the breakneck pace through the final two weeks of the campaign, including plans to make as many as five stops a day when the calendar turns to November.
Here are a few of the president's final arguments.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Caitlin O'Hara/Getty Images Caitlin O'Hara/Getty Images
Rounding the corner on the coronavirus
Polls show voters think Democratic challenger Joe Biden would do a better job handling the pandemic, the biggest test of Trump's leadership during his first term. But Trump is holding up his own experience with the disease as an asset, brandishing his recovery as a sign that treatments are improving, vaccines are on their way and better times are coming soon. "It's rounding the turn. You'll see that. Normal life — that's all we want. We want normal life. Right?" he said in Carson City, Nev., on Sunday.
While critics and medical experts have panned the White House for letting a "super-spreader event" threaten the health of the president, his wife and more than a dozen close aides and associates, Trump has bragged about it, calling now-recovered aides like Hope Hicks and Kayleigh McEnany up to the stage. He has used his teenage son Barron's experience catching the virus without developing significant symptoms as fuel to argue schools should reopen.
Even as coronavirus cases surge, only once in his travels has Trump reflected on the pain and loss caused by the pandemic — in a speech to seniors in Florida. "I'm working as hard as I can so you can kiss and hug your children and grandchildren very soon," Trump told seniors — an acknowledgement that showed he knows this key voting bloc is angry.
Make America great again, again
Trump's stump speech is less about his promises or vision for a second term, and more about his first three years in office. He rattles through a lengthy list of highlights, ranging from criminal justice reform, the opening of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, establishing the Space Force, hikes in military spending, his conservative picks for the Supreme Court, trade deals and progress on the signature issue of his first run for office — the wall on the Southern U.S. border with Mexico.
Republican strategists wish Trump would spend more time talking about the economy, an area of strength for the president until the pandemic shut down businesses and schools, throwing millions out of work. Voters are split on who they think would do a better job on the economy. "We had the best employment numbers we ever had. We had 160 million people working," Trump said in Muskegon, Mich. "It's called, Make America Great Again. Now I say, 'Make America Great Again, Again.' "
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Trump argues he will keep cutting taxes while Biden will raise taxes and harm the economy with regulations on fracking for natural gas, among other things. "This election is a choice between a Trump super-recovery — which we're in right now — or a Biden depression," Trump said in Carson City.
47 years vs. 47 months
Trump is using a variety of attacks on Biden's years in the Senate and as vice president to try to paint himself as the come-from-behind upstart, even though he is the incumbent candidate with a record of his own.
He argues that Biden is part of the establishment. "He's a servant of the wealthy donors, globalists and special interests who got rich bleeding America dry and putting America last," Trump said in Carson City. Part of this line of attack involves lengthy diatribes against the business activities of Biden's son Hunter. But Trump also says Biden would give control to the left wing of his party, which is hardly sympathetic with the rich.
Suburban women: 'I've saved your way of life'
Trump is also spending a lot of time speaking directly to a group of voters who supported him last time, but have been turned off by his bombast: suburban women. He explains in his rallies that he has been in too big a hurry to be politically correct and says his actions on issues like supporting police, curbing protests and ending a policy to fight housing segregation have "saved your way of life."
"So can I ask you to do me a favor suburban women: Would you please like me? No? Hey, I saved your damn neighborhood. OK," he said in Johnstown, Pa. Trump also brags that he thinks female voters like him more than polls show, as seen in his 2016 victory. "Last time, they said the same thing. It was even worse. They said I had a problem with women, period. And then the night, that beautiful, night four years ago — was that the greatest of all time?" he said in Janesville, Wis.


npr--2020-10-20--It Pays To Be An Apprentice: 63% More

It Pays To Be An Apprentice: 63% More

It Pays To Be An Apprentice : 63 % More An apprenticeship program that matches employers with community colleges has launched graduates into middle class careers and could be a way to address the flagging fortunes of Americans lacking four-year degrees , according to a study published Monday .
The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education targets the widespread need for `` middle-skill workers '' who are capable of operating advanced manufacturing technology .
Students in the program combine two days a week of community college study with three days a week of hands-on training on the factory floor while receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Opportunity America and the Brookings Institution , found that graduates of the program earned salaries far exceeding their peers at community colleges .
FAME graduates earn about $ 59,164 one year after completing the program — 63 % more than non-FAME graduates ( others from similar backgrounds who had chosen similar careers ) , who earn around $ 36,379 .
After five years , FAME graduates were earning about $ 98,000 , 86 % more than non-FAME participants , who earned about $ 52,783 .
The program , which started in 2010 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoping to find new workers to operate new technology .
It now works with 400 companies in 13 states .
The study followed 389 students who started a FAME program between 2010 and 2016 .
The students learn to repair machinery while being taught traditional subjects such as English and math .
Apprenticeships have usually been known for trade work — welding , plumbing , electrical — but are still a route to high-paying jobs without the high cost of a four-year degree .
This program focuses on advanced manufacturing where technical skills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work ethic are required .
Apprenticeships have long played a key role in career development .
Some high schools work with local career centers where students can enroll in courses such as agriculture , welding and nursing while still working toward their diploma .
After completing some of these courses , students can go straight into the workforce .
`` European-style apprenticeship that combines classroom instruction with paid on-the-job experience , teaching skills in demand across an industry , is increasingly recognized as one of the most effective forms of career preparation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an intern on the NPR Business Desk .

It Pays To Be An Apprentice: 63% More
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Young/AFP via Getty Images Jim Young/AFP via Getty Images
An apprenticeship program that matches employers with community colleges has launched graduates into middle class careers and could be a way to address the flagging fortunes of Americans lacking four-year degrees, according to a study published Monday.
The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education targets the widespread need for "middle-skill workers" who are capable of operating advanced manufacturing technology. Students in the program combine two days a week of community college study with three days a week of hands-on training on the factory floor while receiving part-time wages.
The study, released by Opportunity America and the Brookings Institution, found that graduates of the program earned salaries far exceeding their peers at community colleges.
FAME graduates earn about $59,164 one year after completing the program — 63% more than non-FAME graduates (others from similar backgrounds who had chosen similar careers), who earn around $36,379. After five years, FAME graduates were earning about $98,000, 86% more than non-FAME participants, who earned about $52,783.
The program, which started in 2010, was an experiment among several companies hoping to find new workers to operate new technology. It now works with 400 companies in 13 states.
The study followed 389 students who started a FAME program between 2010 and 2016. The students learn to repair machinery while being taught traditional subjects such as English and math.
Apprenticeships have usually been known for trade work — welding, plumbing, electrical — but are still a route to high-paying jobs without the high cost of a four-year degree. This program focuses on advanced manufacturing where technical skills, literacy, teamwork and a strong work ethic are required.
Apprenticeships have long played a key role in career development. Some high schools work with local career centers where students can enroll in courses such as agriculture, welding and nursing while still working toward their diploma. After completing some of these courses, students can go straight into the workforce.
"European-style apprenticeship that combines classroom instruction with paid on-the-job experience, teaching skills in demand across an industry, is increasingly recognized as one of the most effective forms of career preparation," the study says.
Adedayo Akala is an intern on the NPR Business Desk.


npr--2020-10-20--Universities Rethink Building Names In The Wake Of Racial Justice Protests

Universities Rethink Building Names In The Wake Of Racial Justice Protests In the early 1980s , Mary Ann Tellas was majoring in biology at Indiana University , and for the first time , she had a class taught by a Black professor .
As a young Black woman , Tellas says having a professor of her own race gave her the confidence to speak up in class and pursue a career in science .
Now , she 's a high school biology teacher in Indianapolis .
`` I always felt as though , gosh , you know , there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nobody looks like me , '' Tellas says .
`` I do n't want to say it changed my life , but it did give me some perspective . ''
But what troubled Tellas was the name of the building her biology class was in : Jordan Hall .
The large limestone building on IU 's Bloomington campus is named for David Starr Jordan , the university 's seventh president .
Jordan is remembered for growing the university and pushing it toward research .
But there 's a darker side to his legacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a leader of the eugenics movement , '' says University of Michigan professor Alexandra Minna Stern , who has studied the history of eugenics for 20 years .
`` He also was involved in some of the key organizations that put eugenics on the scientific and professional map . ''
Eugenics is a discredited theory that selective breeding of humans is good for society .
The Nazis used eugenics to help justify the Holocaust .
And eugenics led to sterilization laws in more than half of U.S. states — Indiana passed the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his role in the U.S. eugenics movement , Indiana University 's board of trustees voted earlier this month to strip Jordan 's name from the building where Tellas had her biology class .
It was also removed from a parking garage , and the Jordan River — really a creek that runs through the university — is now called Campus River .
`` It was felt by a large , by a good portion of the community that this was celebrating a person who was at the head of something that really was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' says IU spokesman Chuck Carney .
No one should feel the way Tellas did when she was studying in Jordan Hall , Carney says .
`` Really when you start to think about what it means for somebody to walk into a building carrying the name of a person who is considered a leader in the eugenics movement , well , if that 's something that you feel like diminishes your role on this campus , that 's something that really ca n't stand , '' he adds .
And Jordan 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving Indiana , he became the first president of Stanford University , which followed IU 's lead recently and is renaming its own Jordan Hall .
Jordan still has his supporters , who point to his positive legacy at Stanford – his accomplishments as a scientist and his 20 years at the head of the university .
`` He shaped the whole future of Stanford , which is no mild accomplishment , '' says Diana Diamond , a journalist in Paolo Alto who also worked at Stanford for a decade .
`` And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me , really pales , when you think he got the whole university going and started in the right direction . ''
Diamond in no way supports eugenics .
But she says it 's unfair to judge someone like Jordan on one belief , which was widely accepted by many prominent scientists in the early 20th century .
`` And to remove his name from everything now is , to me , the biggest insult to the first president , '' she says .
`` I 'm glad he 's not alive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the only historical figure from the world of science proving problematic for universities .
The University of South Carolina is trying to get an exemption to state law that would allow it to remove J. Marion Sim 's name from a residence hall .
Sims developed gynecological tools and procedures through experiments on enslaved Black women in the mid-1800s .
Columbia University is renaming a dorm for medical students that was named for Samuel Bard .
He was George Washington 's doctor and founded the medical school .
But Bard was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper ad in 1776 offering a reward for the capture of an enslaved man .
Increasingly across the country , there are universities that are finding that the legacy of scientists and doctors they have honored is sometimes at odds with their commitments to diversity and inclusivity .

Universities Rethink Building Names In The Wake Of Racial Justice Protests
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lauren Bavis/WFYI Lauren Bavis/WFYI
In the early 1980s, Mary Ann Tellas was majoring in biology at Indiana University, and for the first time, she had a class taught by a Black professor.
As a young Black woman, Tellas says having a professor of her own race gave her the confidence to speak up in class and pursue a career in science. Now, she's a high school biology teacher in Indianapolis.
"I always felt as though, gosh, you know, there's nobody like me in my classes. Nobody looks like me," Tellas says. "I don't want to say it changed my life, but it did give me some perspective."
But what troubled Tellas was the name of the building her biology class was in: Jordan Hall. The large limestone building on IU's Bloomington campus is named for David Starr Jordan, the university's seventh president. Jordan is remembered for growing the university and pushing it toward research. But there's a darker side to his legacy.
"David Starr Jordan was... a leader of the eugenics movement," says University of Michigan professor Alexandra Minna Stern, who has studied the history of eugenics for 20 years. "He also was involved in some of the key organizations that put eugenics on the scientific and professional map."
Eugenics is a discredited theory that selective breeding of humans is good for society. The Nazis used eugenics to help justify the Holocaust. And eugenics led to sterilization laws in more than half of U.S. states — Indiana passed the nation's first in 1907.
Because of his role in the U.S. eugenics movement, Indiana University's board of trustees voted earlier this month to strip Jordan's name from the building where Tellas had her biology class. It was also removed from a parking garage, and the Jordan River — really a creek that runs through the university — is now called Campus River.
"It was felt by a large, by a good portion of the community that this was celebrating a person who was at the head of something that really was counter to what IU stands for," says IU spokesman Chuck Carney.
No one should feel the way Tellas did when she was studying in Jordan Hall, Carney says.
"Really when you start to think about what it means for somebody to walk into a building carrying the name of a person who is considered a leader in the eugenics movement, well, if that's something that you feel like diminishes your role on this campus, that's something that really can't stand," he adds.
And Jordan's name is being challenged elsewhere. After leaving Indiana, he became the first president of Stanford University, which followed IU's lead recently and is renaming its own Jordan Hall.
Jordan still has his supporters, who point to his positive legacy at Stanford – his accomplishments as a scientist and his 20 years at the head of the university.
"He shaped the whole future of Stanford, which is no mild accomplishment," says Diana Diamond, a journalist in Palo Alto who also worked at Stanford for a decade. "And his belief in [eugenics], to me, really pales, when you think he got the whole university going and started in the right direction."
Diamond in no way supports eugenics. But she says it's unfair to judge someone like Jordan on one belief, which was widely accepted by many prominent scientists in the early 20th century.
"And to remove his name from everything now is, to me, the biggest insult to the first president," she says. "I'm glad he's not alive to see it."
Jordan is not the only historical figure from the world of science proving problematic for universities.
The University of South Carolina is trying to get an exemption to state law that would allow it to remove J. Marion Sim's name from a residence hall. Sims developed gynecological tools and procedures through experiments on enslaved Black women in the mid-1800s.
Columbia University is renaming a dorm for medical students that was named for Samuel Bard. He was George Washington's doctor and founded the medical school. But Bard was also a slave owner, and placed a newspaper ad in 1776 offering a reward for the capture of an enslaved man.
Increasingly across the country, there are universities that are finding that the legacy of scientists and doctors they have honored is sometimes at odds with their commitments to diversity and inclusivity.