一个武汉人的心声——"我正活在地狱中"

This is a Chinese language version of the story published this week on NPR 's website : `` Personal Essay @ @ @ @ @ 'Living Hell '

一个武汉人的心声——"我正活在地狱中"
This is a Chinese language version of the story published this week on NPR's website: "Personal Essay: Coronavirus Lockdown Is A 'Living Hell'
编者注：出于担心中国政府会因为其批评而实施报复，本篇文章的作者要求匿名投稿。
Enlarge this image toggle caption 为NPR拍摄 为NPR拍摄
作为一名武汉人，我和我的家人正活在地狱中。
马上封城接近一个月，每天晚上睡觉之前，我还是有一种不真实感，现在的这个人间地狱到底是怎么造成的？
我在中国生活了快30年，我和我的家人一直努力想要拥有更好的生活，我们告诉自己再努力一点就能成为中产阶级。
可是随后的生活并没有如我的愿。从小我就努力的学习，考上了中国最棒的新闻专业，我的梦想是当一名记者。可是当我发现我因为政府管制实现我梦想的时候，我选择了放弃，我以为这样就能换来安稳的生活。
因为我不断的告诉自己，我通过辛勤的工作为为他们缴纳高昂的税款并且不发表任何关于政治的言论，那么我就是安全的，我不会成为少数的倒霉蛋，直到今天我发现，这是幻梦。原来成为倒霉蛋是不需要理由的。 在目前的政治体制以内，没有言论自由，就没有安稳生活。
在封城的那一刻，我也满怀希望这个号称"集中办大事"的极端政体能够在故意隐瞒导致错过防控最佳期对武汉人民进行补救，可惜我又一次感到了绝望。 早在12月初就已经有患者到医院就诊，不知出于何种理由他们一直没有对外公布，也没有采取任何的有效措施。最后因为他们掩饰真相而错过了前期疫情防御宝贵的时间。
从凌晨2:00突如其来的"封城令"，没有任何预兆和补充说明，900万人在那一刻开始感到慌张，于是出现了凌晨3:00大家抢购24小时便利店，一大早去超市抢购的景象。包括我在内，我们想尽一切办法想要离开武汉，但是我们发现这个笼子早已经被上了锁。
新年第一天，那天我看着春节联欢晚会上的盛景，看着朋友从医院传回的景象，看着桌上因为食材短缺凑出了4个菜，我逼着我自己记住他们如何把我的新年变成了一场噩梦。
在新年的第二天，又是突如其来的一道禁令，通知我们所有的武汉人不允许开车上街。结果这道政令只存活了不到6个小时，甚至都没有实施，原因很简单，他们需要保证医务工作人员的出行，老人孕妇的看病，居民的采买需求，以及运送病人。这些车辆全部是需要市民自发组织， 已必须得取得证明。在大家的声讨声中，他们才放弃了这套愚蠢的政策。
政府下达的其他政策反应出来则是工作上的混乱。甚至传出来了武汉市第一医院医务人员的饭都没有办法保证，需要我们捐大米和油。他们一方面宣扬我们的人民是多么善良，另外一方面如往常一样绝口不提我们是纳税人。如此的政府还有什么存在的必要呢？
我朋友是一名共产党员，他加入这个党唯一的目的就是希望能够得到好处，成为特权阶级。他的母亲被要求必须得去医院的一线，于是在除夕夜的当天，他哭着跟我说，他一定要离开这个地方，因为这个地方对他母亲太差了，不给防护要医生们去送死。很多人可能不能理解为什么医生不会罢工？是因为他们被通知，如果敢罢工，会被取消执照并且影响家人的工作，于是这帮医生们在没有任何防护的情况下工作。
这件事之前，我一直觉得牺牲部分民主和自由，如果能换来更加优越的生活条件是OK的。但是这件事之后，我必须得改变我的态度，民主和自由是绝对不能做交换的东西。因为没有 民族 民主和自由，所以没有人知道武汉正在爆发流行病的真实情况.
武汉的经历就像当你的家着火的时候，周围所有的邻居都看到了，然而却要求你不要从窗户逃出来。只有当大火失去控制，当整个城市被烈焰覆盖，他们才会慢慢地为自己的行为负责，并且一边帮忙一边要让世人知道自己的壮举。
并不是所有人都生来拥有平等的待遇和权利。 我之所以能够保留下来口罩，只是因为我会翻墙。
95、00后年轻一代对举国体. 制和集体主义有着与生俱来的好感，因为他们亲历了大国崛起的红利时期，也还没机会吃过任何瘪。
这几天的事情，让有些小孩子大吃一鲸。
有个男生最早在微博上骂别人造谣，不相信国家还能相信什么。结果自己的亲人感染后没法入院，事不关己才变成了咒骂和求救。
有学生昨天刚在李文亮的浪潮中表态"害死他的只是病毒，一切要以疫情为重"，但后来发现自己的宿舍被无条件无通知征用做隔离房，马上心态就崩掉了。
这是社会给年轻人的第一课，当有人说出我们可以为了某个目标"不惜一切代价"这句话时，别急着鼓掌，也许有一天，你就是代价之一。
在当下这个新冠肺炎横行的时代，这一句老话被赋予了新的含义："当棍子打到自己头上时，知道了疼，也终于理解了当年别人为什么会喊疼"
在中国我们才可以10天修起医院，我们才可以动员这么多人投入到防治事业里，我们才可以立马封掉一座900万的城市。
这群人类已经丧失了最基本的思考，因为他们不明白，如果有人权民主和自由，早在一个月之前，我们就会知道武汉发生了什么。不会让第一个吹哨人白白的送死。


npr--2020-03-05--Coronavirus Spreads Recession Fears Around The World

As odds of a global recession rise , governments and central banks around the world are racing to fend off the economic damage from the spread of the coronavirus .
The toll has already landed hard on jittery financial markets .
Stocks continued to sell off on Thursday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 969 points , or about 3.6 % , as investors fled stocks .
Companies have shut factories , canceled conferences and drastically scaled back employee travel .
In countries where the virus is most lethal , such as China and northern Italy , business activity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with entire cities under quarantine and whole industries forced to lay off workers .
But in a global economy , even countries that have been relatively unscathed by the virus so far , such as the United States , face growing risks from the `` still-evolving corrosive shock from the virus , '' says Bob Schwartz , senior economist at Oxford Economics .
How well the U.S. economy holds up `` remains to be seen , '' he adds .
`` The outcome will probably determine if the economy stays out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , the Federal Reserve unanimously agreed to an emergency interest rate cut of half a percentage point in an effort to keep the wobbly economy on track .
Central banks in Japan and the United Kingdom are also signaling they 're willing to cut rates .
Meanwhile , the U.S. Senate on Thursday gave final passage to a roughly $ 8 billion spending package to provide medical supplies in hard-hit areas and pay for vaccine research .
President Trump has said he will sign the bill .
Despite such measures , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow considerably this year — if not contract altogether .
Goldman Sachs projected on Sunday that because of the coronavirus , the U.S. economy would grow by an anemic 0.9 % during the first three months of 2020 and would flatline during the second quarter .
The epidemic has already cut into growth this year and may slow the global economy even further , depending on how long it lasts , the International Monetary Fund said this week .
The uncertain outlook has sent the stock market onto a tumultuous roller-coaster ride not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with turbulent drops followed by wild swings upward .
Even the Fed 's interest rate cut has done little to ease the market 's volatility .
After Tuesday 's 1,300-point drop in the Dow , stocks soared again Wednesday .
But stock indexes were down sharply on Thursday .
The tumult in the U.S. economy still pales in comparison to the damage being felt in other countries .
In China , auto sales cratered 80 % last month , while a plunge in tourism is expected to push Italy and perhaps France into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of U.S. companies that say they 're feeling the epidemic 's impact grows longer every day .
Procter & Gamble and Ralph Lauren are among numerous companies warning that the epidemic will hurt sales because shoppers are staying home , especially in the booming consumer market of China .
Others , such as Medtronic , Microsoft and Best Buy , say the virus has disrupted their supply chains in Asia and forced them to shut down production , at least temporarily .
Even when factories are reopened , many companies in China report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a survey of manufacturers by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai .
Apple has warned that it wo n't meet its sales estimates for the current quarter , in part because its major suppliers , including Foxconn and Flex , remain understaffed .
The industries hardest hit have been tourism and travel , with many airlines canceling flights and companies such as JPMorgan Chase banning all but essential employee travel .
The U.S. Travel Association predicts that international travel to the United States will fall by 6 % over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a lot of uncertainty around coronavirus , and it is pretty clear that it is having an effect on travel demand — not just from China , and not just internationally , but for domestic business and leisure travel as well , '' the association 's president , Roger Dow , said in a statement .
As more and more companies feel the pain of the epidemic , the odds of a prolonged downturn grow .
`` It is not just spending on restaurants and travel that is suffering , but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the uncertainty to be resolved , '' Eswar Prasad , a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution , wrote in the New York Times this weekend .
`` This will have long-term effects on growth even if the outbreak proves short-lived . ''
But epidemics like this one do n't come along very often , and economists do n't have any good models to figure out what might happen .
For now , the picture remains murky , says Bernard Baumohl , chief global economist at the Economic Outlook Group .
`` No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much harm the virus will ultimately do to people or damage to the global economy , '' he says .

Coronavirus Spreads Recession Fears Around The World
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 4:10 p.m. ET
As odds of a global recession rise, governments and central banks around the world are racing to fend off the economic damage from the spread of the coronavirus.
The toll has already landed hard on jittery financial markets. Stocks continued to sell off on Thursday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 969 points, or about 3.6%, as investors fled stocks. Companies have shut factories, canceled conferences and drastically scaled back employee travel.
In countries where the virus is most lethal, such as China and northern Italy, business activity has all but ground to a halt, with entire cities under quarantine and whole industries forced to lay off workers.
But in a global economy, even countries that have been relatively unscathed by the virus so far, such as the United States, face growing risks from the "still-evolving corrosive shock from the virus," says Bob Schwartz, senior economist at Oxford Economics.
How well the U.S. economy holds up "remains to be seen," he adds. "The outcome will probably determine if the economy stays out of a recession this year."
On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve unanimously agreed to an emergency interest rate cut of half a percentage point in an effort to keep the wobbly economy on track. Central banks in Japan and the United Kingdom are also signaling they're willing to cut rates.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate on Thursday gave final passage to a roughly $8 billion spending package to provide medical supplies in hard-hit areas and pay for vaccine research. President Trump has said he will sign the bill.
Despite such measures, many economists now say growth is likely to slow considerably this year — if not contract altogether.
Goldman Sachs projected on Sunday that because of the coronavirus, the U.S. economy would grow by an anemic 0.9% during the first three months of 2020 and would flatline during the second quarter.
The epidemic has already cut into growth this year and may slow the global economy even further, depending on how long it lasts, the International Monetary Fund said this week.
The uncertain outlook has sent the stock market onto a tumultuous roller-coaster ride not seen since the 2008 financial crisis, with turbulent drops followed by wild swings upward.
Even the Fed's interest rate cut has done little to ease the market's volatility. After Tuesday's 1,300-point drop in the Dow, stocks soared again Wednesday. But stock indexes were down sharply on Thursday.
The tumult in the U.S. economy still pales in comparison to the damage being felt in other countries. In China, auto sales cratered 80% last month, while a plunge in tourism is expected to push Italy and perhaps France into a recession.
Still, the list of U.S. companies that say they're feeling the epidemic's impact grows longer every day.
Procter & Gamble and Ralph Lauren are among numerous companies warning that the epidemic will hurt sales because shoppers are staying home, especially in the booming consumer market of China.
Others, such as Medtronic, Microsoft and Best Buy, say the virus has disrupted their supply chains in Asia and forced them to shut down production, at least temporarily.
Even when factories are reopened, many companies in China report difficulty finding enough workers to staff them, according to a survey of manufacturers by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
Apple has warned that it won't meet its sales estimates for the current quarter, in part because its major suppliers, including Foxconn and Flex, remain understaffed.
The industries hardest hit have been tourism and travel, with many airlines canceling flights and companies such as JPMorgan Chase banning all but essential employee travel.
The U.S. Travel Association predicts that international travel to the United States will fall by 6% over the next three months.
"There is a lot of uncertainty around coronavirus, and it is pretty clear that it is having an effect on travel demand — not just from China, and not just internationally, but for domestic business and leisure travel as well," the association's president, Roger Dow, said in a statement.
As more and more companies feel the pain of the epidemic, the odds of a prolonged downturn grow.
"It is not just spending on restaurants and travel that is suffering, but also investment by businesses while they wait for the uncertainty to be resolved," Eswar Prasad, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, wrote in the New York Times this weekend. "This will have long-term effects on growth even if the outbreak proves short-lived."
But epidemics like this one don't come along very often, and economists don't have any good models to figure out what might happen. For now, the picture remains murky, says Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist at the Economic Outlook Group.
"No one can say with much confidence how much harm the virus will ultimately do to people or damage to the global economy," he says.


npr--2020-03-06--6 Ways Universities Are Responding To Coronavirus

So far just a few U.S. higher education students have confirmed exposure to COVID-19 , mainly through contact with patients in hospitals .
There are no outbreaks centered on campuses , and young people as a group appear less susceptible to the disease .
But higher education in the United States is more of an international community than ever , and that means the impacts of the coronavirus have been felt broadly across the country already .
On Sunday , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said colleges should `` consider '' canceling both study-abroad and foreign-exchange programs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of students .
Almost 1 million of the nation 's more than 19 million higher education students come from overseas , according to the Institute of International Education .
China is the largest point of origin for those students , with about 370,000 students currently enrolled .
Of the other highly affected countries , South Korea is No .
3 , Japan is No.8 , and Iran is No .
13 in sending students to the U.S. At the same time , 342,000 students from the U.S. study abroad each year , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Italy , which , because of widespread community transmission there , now carries a CDC travel warning .
Here are the top ways colleges and universities are coping with the spread of coronavirus : Amy DeCillis , a senior at NYU Shanghai , chose to stay in-country to finish out her last semester .
She says she 's been largely confined to her apartment complex , getting groceries delivered and taking classes online with classmates across several time zones .
When she ventured out to a restaurant recently , she had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And she 's temporarily adopted the cat of an absent classmate .
`` I 'm a dog lover , but I have a COVID-cat now , '' she says .
U.S.-based institutions with operations on the ground in China and Japan — including Temple University , NYU , Fort Hays State University and Sam Houston State University — had just a few weeks to migrate all their classes online after cities came under quarantine .
And colleges and universities around the United States are now asking professors to prepare to do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video conferencing programs like Zoom , in the event that an outbreak keeps students confined at home .
In China , some schools are making courses accessible over mobile phone , because students may be stuck at home without laptops .
And taking classes online can mean using a VPN to get around China 's firewall .
Heather Lee , a professor of history at NYU Shanghai , says , `` The VPN makes things really difficult . ''
Because of bandwidth issues , she often resorts to using the popular Chinese messaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during online lectures .
Jeff Bourgeois , a leadership professor at Fort Hays State , has gone from teaching students on their partner campus in Henan Province , China , to teaching them from 16 time zones away in San Diego .
He says he ca n't travel to China ; meanwhile , his China-based students are quarantined at home .
`` I asked one of my students the other day , 'What have you been up to ? '
And his response was , 'Today , I took a shower .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took a nap .
Tomorrow I 'll probably do the same thing . '
'' Bourgeois says as the semester gets going , `` I 'm hoping they fill their time with lots of homework and writing beautiful papers . ''
Jeff Lehman , vice chancellor at NYU Shanghai , says there has been one silver lining : `` We have , as a faculty , been thinking more seriously about pedagogy in the last month than we have in the prior eight years . ''
He says lecturing over video chat is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other reasons , so professors are figuring out how to engage students by posting videos and over chat threads .
He and leaders at other colleges say that lessons learned , and plans created , for their Chinese operations may become applicable stateside if the coronavirus continues to spread .
Even before the CDC 's advisory about study abroad , many colleges and state university systems began canceling both ongoing and upcoming travel programs .
Among them : the University of California system , Arizona State University , University of Pittsburgh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Connecticut , Trinity College and Texas A & M University .
Those cancellations have meant scrambling to find new spots for students on crowded campuses .
Lehman at NYU says after the school 's Chinese New Year break , with coronavirus looming , hundreds of Shanghai students chose to go study on different campuses : `` The No .
1 destination , ironically , was Florence .
And so actually , a number of those students have had a double bump experience .
But they 're troupers . ''
Faculty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of major meetings and academic conferences like Educause in Bellevue , Wash. , and a meeting of the American Physical Society in Denver .
Science magazine reported that researchers as far away as Berkeley , Calif. , are feeling the loss of ability to collaborate with colleagues in China .
On Thursday , the Institute of International Education released a survey of 234 U.S. institutions which together enroll about half of all Chinese students in the United States .
Of those , 37 % said some of their students were forced to remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holidays because of travel restrictions due to the virus .
The universities have been offering these students the chance to do independent study , take a semester off or enroll online .
For Chinese students currently on American campuses , the problem is the reverse : They ca n't go home for spring break , or possibly for the summer .
The survey found institutions are offering special counseling services and in some cases hotlines to report instances of discrimination .
In addition , three-fourths of institutions surveyed said travel restrictions are affecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for upcoming years .
Across the country , universities are trying to calm students , faculty and parents ; 96 % told IIE in their survey that they have released community-wide communications and basic health information .
Students and staff coming back from overseas — and sometimes , anyone with symptoms — are being urged to self-quarantine for two weeks .
Campus health centers are asking for a heads up if a student with symptoms believes they need to be tested for COVID-19 .
And professors are being reminded to encourage students to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not to require a doctor 's note .
In addition to health warnings , hand-washing reminders and cleaning tips , a common thread in campus communications about coronavirus has been to `` take an active role in rejecting xenophobia , bigotry and racism associated with COVID-19 , '' as the University of California , Davis put it .
For Ruth Chisum , executive director of online operations at Sam Houston State University in Texas , the coronavirus threat has meant dusting off their `` academic continuity plan '' from Hurricane Harvey in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of higher education today : The public college near Houston serves around 20,000 students and has 51 online programs .
It also happens to run a dual-degree program with Zhejiang Police College in Hangzhou , China .
The program swiftly converted to online-only after the coronavirus began to spread .
When it comes to their main campus , Chisum says , `` We 're going to wait and see what the CDC says — what sort of mandate we receive from our federal agencies .
However , it 's not a passive posture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves for the possible transition of moving all of our campus-based operations to an online modality . ''
During Harvey , Chisum says the school closed the main campus for only one week .
However , knowing that its online students , often working parents , were facing significant life disruptions , SHSU delayed the start of the online semester until October , crunching its usual 15-week courses into 7.5-week intensives .
Chisum says they 'd probably do something similar in the case of coronavirus closures , since students mostly stayed on track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as expected .
A global health crisis can also be a learning opportunity .
In mid-February , the Imperial College London debuted a free class on the online learning platform Coursera , titled `` Science Matters : Let 's Talk About COVID-19 . ''
The course already has more than 7,000 enrollments , making it the second most popular Coursera offering so far in 2020 .
As for Amy DeCillis at NYU Shanghai , she 's shifted her capstone senior project to be about coronavirus and her own quarantine experience .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the quarantine : `` I 'm content with my decision .
It sounds cheesy , but I 'm learning so much about life , and friendship , and the world , and myself in the process . ''

6 Ways Universities Are Responding To Coronavirus
Enlarge this image LA Johnson/NPR LA Johnson/NPR
So far just a few U.S. higher education students have confirmed exposure to COVID-19, mainly through contact with patients in hospitals. There are no outbreaks centered on campuses, and young people as a group appear less susceptible to the disease.
But higher education in the United States is more of an international community than ever, and that means the effects of the coronavirus have been felt broadly across the country already. On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said colleges should "consider" canceling both study-abroad and foreign-exchange programs, which could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of students.
Almost 1 million of the nation's more than 19 million higher education students come from overseas, according to the Institute of International Education. China is the largest point of origin for those students, with about 370,000 students currently enrolled. Of the other highly affected countries, South Korea is No. 3 , Japan is No.8, and Iran is No. 13 in sending students to the U.S.
At the same time, 342,000 students from the U.S. study abroad each year, according to IIE. The second-most popular destination is Italy, which, because of widespread community transmission there, now carries a CDC travel warning.
Here are the top ways colleges and universities are coping with the spread of coronavirus:
1. Moving classes online
Amy DeCillis, a senior at NYU Shanghai, chose to stay in-country to finish out her last semester. She says she's been largely confined to her apartment complex, getting groceries delivered and taking classes online with classmates across several time zones. When she ventured out to a restaurant recently, she had to get her temperature checked at the door. And she has temporarily adopted the cat of an absent classmate.
"I'm a dog lover, but I have a COVID-cat now," she says.
U.S.-based institutions with operations on the ground in China and Japan — including Temple University, NYU, Fort Hays State University and Sam Houston State University — had just a few weeks to migrate all their classes online after cities came under quarantine. And colleges and universities around the United States are now asking professors to prepare to do the same, and to familiarize themselves with video conferencing programs like Zoom, in the event that an outbreak keeps students confined at home.
In China, some schools are making courses accessible over mobile phone, because students may be stuck at home without laptops. And taking classes online can mean using a VPN to get around China's firewall. Heather Lee, a professor of history at NYU Shanghai, says, "The VPN makes things really difficult." Because of bandwidth issues, she often resorts to using the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat to communicate with her students during online lectures.
Jeff Bourgeois, a leadership professor at Fort Hays State, has gone from teaching students on their partner campus in Henan Province, China, to teaching them from 16 time zones away in San Diego. He says he can't travel to China; meanwhile, his China-based students are quarantined at home.
"I asked one of my students the other day, 'What have you been up to?' And his response was, 'Today, I took a shower. I watched a movie. And then I took a nap. Tomorrow I'll probably do the same thing.'" Bourgeois says as the semester gets going, "I'm hoping they fill their time with lots of homework and writing beautiful papers."
Jeff Lehman, vice chancellor at NYU Shanghai, says there has been one silver lining: "We have, as a faculty, been thinking more seriously about pedagogy in the last month than we have in the prior eight years." He says lecturing over video chat isn't always feasible because of bandwidth issues and other reasons, so professors are figuring out how to engage students by posting videos and over chat threads.
He and leaders at other colleges say that lessons learned, and plans created, for their Chinese operations may become applicable stateside if the coronavirus continues to spread.
2. Canceling travel
Even before the CDC's advisory about study abroad, many colleges and state university systems began canceling both ongoing and upcoming travel programs. Among them: the University of California system, Arizona State University, University of Pittsburgh, Edinboro University, James Madison University, University of Connecticut, Trinity College and Texas A&M University. Those cancellations have meant scrambling to find new spots for students on crowded campuses.
Lehman at NYU says that after the school's Chinese New Year break, with coronavirus looming, hundreds of Shanghai students chose to go study on different campuses: "The No. 1 destination, ironically, was Florence. And so actually, a number of those students have had a double bump experience. But they're troupers."
Faculty, meanwhile, have been affected by cancellations of major meetings and academic conferences like Educause in Bellevue, Wash., and a meeting of the American Physical Society in Denver. Science magazine reported that researchers as far away as Berkeley, Calif., are feeling the loss of ability to collaborate with colleagues in China.
3. Helping Chinese students
On Thursday, the Institute of International Education released a survey of 234 U.S. institutions that together enroll about half of all Chinese students in the United States. Of those, 37% said some of their students were forced to remain in China after traveling home for the holidays because of virus-related travel restrictions. The universities have been offering these students the chance to do independent study, take a semester off or enroll online.
For Chinese students currently on American campuses, the problem is the reverse: They can't go home for spring break, or possibly for the summer. The survey found institutions are offering special counseling services and, in some cases, hotlines to report instances of discrimination.
In addition, three-fourths of institutions surveyed said travel restrictions are affecting their ability to recruit students in China for upcoming years.
4. Issuing warnings and guidelines
Across the country, universities are trying to calm students, faculty and parents; 96% told IIE in their survey that they have released communitywide communications and basic health information. Students and staff coming back from overseas — and sometimes, anyone with symptoms — are being urged to self-quarantine for two weeks. Campus health centers are asking for a heads up if a student with symptoms believes they need to be tested for COVID-19. And professors are being reminded to encourage students to stay home if they feel sick, and not to require a doctor's note.
In addition to health warnings, hand-washing reminders and cleaning tips, a common thread in campus communications about coronavirus has been to "take an active role in rejecting xenophobia, bigotry and racism associated with COVID-19," as the University of California, Davis put it.
5. Planning for bigger disruptions
For Ruth Chisum, executive director of online operations at Sam Houston State University in Texas, the coronavirus threat has meant dusting off their "academic continuity plan" from Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
SHSU exemplifies the complex nature of higher education today: The public college near Houston serves about 20,000 students and has 51 online programs. It also happens to run a dual-degree program with Zhejiang Police College in Hangzhou, China. The program swiftly converted to online-only after the coronavirus began to spread.
When it comes to their main campus, Chisum says, "We're going to wait and see what the CDC says — what sort of mandate we receive from our federal agencies. However, it's not a passive posture in the sense that we are preparing ourselves for the possible transition of moving all of our campus-based operations to an online modality."
During Harvey, Chisum says the school closed the main campus for only one week. However, knowing that its online students, often working parents, were facing significant life disruptions, SHSU delayed the start of the online semester until October, crunching its usual 15-week courses into 7.5-week intensives. Chisum says they'd probably do something similar in the case of coronavirus closures, since students mostly stayed on track after Harvey and revenue didn't drop as much as expected.
6. Teaching and learning about coronavirus
A global health crisis can also be a learning opportunity. In mid-February, the Imperial College London debuted a free class on the online learning platform Coursera, titled "Science Matters: Let's Talk About COVID-19." The course already has more than 7,000 enrollments, making it the second most popular Coursera offering so far in 2020.
As for Amy DeCillis at NYU Shanghai, she has shifted her capstone senior project to be about coronavirus and her own quarantine experience. She says she's not sorry she stayed through the quarantine: "I'm content with my decision. It sounds cheesy, but I'm learning so much about life, and friendship, and the world, and myself in the process."


npr--2020-03-06--She Was Focused And Full Of Plans, But Unable To Break Through

She Was Focused And Full Of Plans , But Unable To Break Through To the very end , Elizabeth Warren had a plan for that .
In her last days as a candidate , she was still releasing new plans — including a coronavirus plan she outlined in Houston on Saturday night , even as disappointing results came in from South Carolina .
That focus on laying out proposals inspired devotion in her legions of supporters , like Maryanne Schuessler — who was a volunteer in Warren 's Columbia , S.C. , office .
`` She 's so well planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharply .
`` God !
It 's — I do n't think she 's going to do very well in this primary .
And it breaks my heart . ''
In her final week on the trail , before dropping out on Thursday , it was clear that Warren 's plans -- not just what was in them , but the fact that they existed — inspired deep trust among her supporters even as her path to the nomination looked narrow .
Amber Schafer works in health insurance sales for a living , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event in Columbia , S.C. , the day of that state 's primary .
She said she was definitely voting for Warren — despite the fact that Medicare for All , which Warren backs , would virtually eliminate private insurers ( bad news for an insurance saleswoman ) .
But Schafer had faith that a President Warren would be able to help deal with job losses .
`` Would it mean that lots of people have to look for different kinds of jobs ?
Absolutely , '' she said .
`` But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that that 's the thing that 's gon na happen . ''
And yet , plans ended up at one point being a major weakness for Warren .
She cosponsored Bernie Sanders ' Medicare for All plan — which did n't contain a detailed way to raise revenues — and ran on it .
So as people awaited her plan to pay for it , she became a target of opponents like Pete Buttigieg in debates .
`` Your signature , senator , is to have a plan for everything — except this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September debate .
Those were n't the only reasons she failed to win over a broader coalition of voters .
In addition , her progressive politics were simply too far left for some Democrats .
And she was never able to gain the traction she needed among African Americans and Latinos .
Warren supporters like Yvie Siferd , who saw her in Detroit Tuesday , had other ideas why they thought she came up short .
She listed those factors as she saw them : `` Misogyny .
Name recognition .
A battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think that 's kind of where people have been focused . ''
Figuring out exactly how much her gender in particular affected her run will be the stuff of months — or years — of study .
There is already some analysis showing that sexism hurt women candidates in this Democratic field .
But for now , it is abundantly clear that gender played a role in this election in part in the form of fear among Democrats .
One thing that came up on the trail was concern among some voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Standing in line to vote this week , UCLA student Brooke Rosenberg said that she had that fear .
`` I really like Elizabeth Warren but I just do n't think a woman is going to win this election , unfortunately , '' she said .
`` Also , I do n't want Trump to tear her down . ''
Rosenberg added that Warren was her first pick and that she also liked Sanders , but was instead voting for Biden .
Warren called out this kind of strategizing in her final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night , telling voters to stop trying to think like pundits .
`` What I see happening is a lot of folks trying to turn voting into some complicated strategy , '' she told the crowd .
`` But prediction has been a terrible business and the pundits have gotten it wrong over and over . ''
`` So here 's my advice .
Cast a vote that will make you proud .
Cast a vote from your heart .
And vote for the person you think will make the best president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to roaring applause .
Warren occupied an awkward place in the field .
She was popular enough to draw those big , loud crowds — she pulled in 3,000 people in Los Angeles Monday night and 2,200 in Detroit on Tuesday .
She was also effective on the stump — her campaign speeches convinced people like Tamika Thompson to vote for her .
She went to a Greenville , S.C. stop undecided .
Afterward , she knew .
`` A lot of the candidates have been just kind of reaching grabbing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about black people , '' she said .
`` So it was important to me that she seemed genuine .
She seemed serious .
So I think I 've made up my mind . ''
Warren was the only candidate to present a prolonged challenge to Sanders and Biden in national polls .
And she was an acceptable second choice to many Democratic voters .
But that does n't help much in the end .
When voting rolled around , she was never able to mount a challenge to her more popular opponents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same way : with the so-called selfie line .
I spoke to Genevieve Chavez right after she got a photo in Houston , as she was inspecting it on her phone .
`` Alright !
I 'm so excited ! ''
she yelled .
`` Vote for blue , no matter who , but I wanted to meet Senator Warren . ''
Even as Warren 's campaign faltered a few states away , that line stretched around the park .
But Chavez was fine with the experience .
`` Actually I did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long .
I was fortunate to come early today , '' she said .
`` I did n't know I 'd be able to take a photo with her , '' she added , her voice quavering .
Warren 's campaign reports that she took more than 100,000 photos with voters .

She Was Focused And Full Of Plans But Unable To Break Through
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
To the very end, Elizabeth Warren had a plan for that. In her last days as a candidate, she was still releasing new plans — including a coronavirus plan she outlined in Houston on Saturday night, even as disappointing results came in from South Carolina.
That focus on laying out proposals inspired devotion in her legions of supporters, like Maryanne Schuessler — who was a volunteer in Warren's Columbia, S.C., office.
"She's so well-planned," she said, sighing sharply. "God! It's — I don't think she's going to do very well in this primary. And it breaks my heart."
In her final week on the trail, before dropping out on Thursday, it was clear that Warren's plans — not just what was in them, but the fact that they existed — inspired deep trust among her supporters even as her path to the nomination looked narrow.
Amber Schafer works in health insurance sales for a living, and she showed up at a Warren event in Columbia, S.C., the day of that state's primary. She said she was definitely voting for Warren — even though "Medicare for All," which Warren backs, would virtually eliminate private insurers (bad news for an insurance saleswoman). But Schafer had faith that a President Warren would be able to help deal with job losses.
"Would it mean that lots of people have to look for different kinds of jobs? Absolutely," she said. "But I think that she definitely has an idea that that's the thing that's gonna happen."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
And yet, plans ended up at one point being a major weakness for Warren. She co-sponsored Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All plan — which didn't contain a detailed way to raise revenue — and ran on it. So as people awaited her plan to pay for it, she became a target of opponents like Pete Buttigieg in debates.
"Your signature, Senator, is to have a plan for everything — except this," he chided her at a September debate.
Those weren't the only reasons she failed to win over a broader coalition of voters. In addition, her progressive politics were simply too far left for some Democrats. And she was never able to gain the traction she needed among African Americans and Latinos.
Warren supporter Yvie Siferd, who saw her in Detroit on Tuesday, had other ideas why she thought Warren came up short. She listed those factors as she saw them: "Misogyny. Name recognition. A battle for the middle right now, and I think that's kind of where people have been focused."
Figuring out exactly how much her gender, in particular, affected her run will be the stuff of months — or years — of study. There is already some analysis showing that sexism hurt female candidates in this Democratic field.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
But for now, it is abundantly clear that gender played a role in this election, in part, in the form of fear among Democrats. One thing that came up on the trail was concern among some voters that other voters would prefer a man.
Standing in line to vote this week, UCLA student Brooke Rosenberg said she had that fear.
"I really like Elizabeth Warren but I just don't think a woman is going to win this election, unfortunately," she said. "Also, I don't want Trump to tear her down."
Rosenberg added that Warren was her first pick and that she also liked Sanders, but was instead voting for Joe Biden.
Warren called out this kind of strategizing in her final campaign trail appearance, in Detroit on Tuesday night, telling voters to stop trying to think like pundits.
"What I see happening is a lot of folks trying to turn voting into some complicated strategy," she told the crowd. "But prediction has been a terrible business, and the pundits have gotten it wrong over and over."
"So here's my advice. Cast a vote that will make you proud. Cast a vote from your heart. And vote for the person you think will make the best president of the United States," she added, to roaring applause.
Warren occupied an awkward place in the field. She was popular enough to draw those big, loud crowds — she pulled in 3,000 people in Los Angeles on Monday night and 2,200 in Detroit on Tuesday. She was also effective on the stump — her campaign speeches persuaded people like Tamika Thompson to vote for her. Thompson went to a Greenville, S.C., stop undecided. Afterward, she knew.
"A lot of the candidates have been just kind of reaching, grabbing for black votes, but not really talking about black people," she said. "So it was important to me that she seemed genuine. She seemed serious. So I think I've made up my mind."
Warren was the only candidate to present a prolonged challenge to Sanders and Biden in national polls. And she was an acceptable second choice to many Democratic voters.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Felix/AFP /AFP via Getty Images Mark Felix/AFP /AFP via Getty Images
But that doesn't help much in the end. When voting rolled around, she was never able to mount a challenge to her more popular opponents.
Most of Warren's events ended the same way: with the so-called selfie line.
Genevieve Chavez got a photo in Houston. "All right! I'm so excited!" she yelled. "Vote for blue, no matter who, but I wanted to meet Sen. Warren."
Even as Warren's campaign faltered a few states away, that line stretched around the park. But Chavez was fine with the experience.
"Actually, I didn't have to wait in line too long. I was fortunate to come early today," she said.
"I didn't know I'd be able to take a photo with her," she added, her voice quavering.
Warren's campaign reports that she took more than 100,000 photos with voters.


npr--2020-03-06--Bernie Sanders' Call For Young Voters Isn't Working Out The Way He Planned

Bernie Sanders ' Call For Young Voters Is n't Working Out The Way He Planned The revolution that Bernie Sanders is promising depends on a new wave of young voters showing up at the polls to propel his campaign .
But this week , the Vermont senator acknowledged that those voters , on which his success to some degree hinges , have not shown up in the way he 'd hoped .
After 14 states held primary contests on Super Tuesday , Sanders acknowledged to reporters that he 'd been `` disappointed '' with the results .
`` Have we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in bringing young people in ?
The answer is no , '' Sanders told reporters at a news conference at his Burlington , Vt. , headquarters .
Sanders went on to acknowledge the undeniable challenge that any candidate banking on the support of younger voters face : They do not vote in high numbers , compared with other groups .
`` I think that will change in the general election , but I will be honest with you , we have not done as well with bringing young people into the process , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not easy . ''
While young voters were part of the coalition that propelled Sanders to victory in California , those under age 30 made up just 11 % of the electorate , according to exit polls .
Another 35 % were between the ages of 45 and 64 , and 30 % were 65 or older .
In Texas , a state that Biden won though the demographics were supposed to favor Sanders , just 16 % of voters were younger than 30 , while 38 % were between the ages of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were 65 and older .
Even in Sanders ' home state of Vermont , voters younger than 30 made up just 11 % of Super Tuesday voters , according to exit polls .
Roughly 70 % of voters were over age 45 .
Of the 14 states that held primary contests on Tuesday , participation by voters younger than 30 did n't exceed 20 % in any state , according to an analysis of exit polls .
Given the huge turnout , including youth turnout , in the 2018 midterms , many had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trend would continue during the 2020 Democratic primaries .
But so far , at least , there is no clear evidence of greater participation by the young people that Sanders has said he can motivate to get out to the polls .
`` When I look at the collection of data , from multiple sources , there is no evidence of an increase or surge in the youth vote , '' John Della Volpe , the polling director of Harvard University 's Institute of Politics , said .
`` In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the youth vote is flat or declining relative to the previous election cycles . ''
He used the state of North Carolina as an example , noting that while turnout statewide was up 17 % , youth turnout was down 9 % .
Other experts have been looking at the youth vote this year using different benchmarks .
The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University argues that it 's more relevant to compare youth turnout this year with 2012 turnout , the most recent election cycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitive primary , rather than 2016 .
`` If we compare to the 2016 primaries we 're comparing to a primary where there was a huge Republican field , there were tons of Republican campaigns doing outreach , there was so much media.
, '' said CIRCLE 's Director of Impact Abby Kiesa .
`` The environment and the levers and the things that we know effect youth turnout are n't fully maximized when it 's only one competitive primary . ''
Kiesa said that when comparing Super Tuesday turnout this year with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates either on par or above 2012 levels .
Experts have a variety of theories on why young voters are n't turning out as campaigns hope they will .
Della Volpe said that unlike during the 2018 midterms when President Trump 's policies ( though not the candidate himself ) were on the ballot , the primaries have been about the distinctions among the Democratic candidates .
`` When we 're talking about engaging young people , one of the biggest things you have to do is register them , '' said Sarah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Youth Action who ran Hillary Clinton 's millennial outreach efforts in 2016 .
`` They 're not just young voters , they 're new voters . ''
She also made the point that this is work that campaigns need to be weaving into to all parts of their apparatus .
`` It 's a sign of not good things to come when you have to start from scratch , '' she said .
`` Young people should be invested in like any other voter group . ''
Ben Wessel , the executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steyer-backed group that works on mobilizing young voters , said that in many youth-dense precincts , youth turnout was up — and in some cases by volumes .
`` Young people are turning out , but they do n't view voting as the end all , be all , '' Wessel said .
`` They see voting as a tool in their tool box , and they 'd be foolish not to use it , but that 's not how they are going to stop clamoring for change .
They 've seen that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have stasis and still we have a system that 's not working for young folks . ''
Wessel and others agreed that youth turnout in the primary is not necessarily a strong indicator of youth turnout in the general election .
But he also said that candidates need to take young voter outreach seriously early on .
`` As we move towards the general election , we 're going to need to see candidates talking about the issues that young people care about in an authentic and consistent way , '' Wessel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can show up with just two weeks to go and say , 'Yeah , yeah I 'm with you , and what are you going to do , vote for Trump ? '
It 's not enough , and it 's certainly not enough in an election year like this year where we know the other side is going to come out in record numbers . ''
Della Volpe agreed with this sentiment , and thinks some of the non-Sanders candidates have missed an opportunity .
Sanders has centered young people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates have n't had the same focus .
`` It seems to me that they made strategic decisions not to focus on younger voters , '' he said .
Perhaps they thought they were all going to be with Bernie . ''

Bernie Sanders' Call For Young Voters Isn't Working Out The Way He Planned
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charles Krupa/AP Charles Krupa/AP
The revolution that Bernie Sanders is promising depends on a new wave of young voters showing up at the polls to propel his campaign. But this week, the Vermont senator acknowledged that those voters, on which his success to some degree hinges, have not shown up in the way he'd hoped.
After 14 states held primary contests on Super Tuesday, Sanders acknowledged to reporters that he'd been "disappointed" with the results.
"Have we been as successful as I would hope in bringing young people in? The answer is no," Sanders told reporters at a news conference at his Burlington, Vt., headquarters. Sanders went on to acknowledge the undeniable challenge that any candidate banking on the support of younger voters faces: They do not vote in high numbers, compared with other groups.
"I think that will change in the general election, but I will be honest with you, we have not done as well with bringing young people into the process," Sanders said. "It is not easy."
While young voters were part of the coalition that propelled Sanders to victory in California, those under age 30 made up just 11% of the electorate, according to exit polls. Another 35% were between the ages of 45 and 64, and 30% were 65 or older.
In Texas, a state that Biden won though the demographics were supposed to favor Sanders, just 16% of voters were younger than 30, while 38% were between the ages of 45 and 64, and 24% were 65 and older.
Even in Sanders' home state of Vermont, voters younger than 30 made up just 11% of Super Tuesday voters, according to exit polls. Roughly 70% of voters were over age 45.
Of the 14 states that held primary contests on Tuesday, participation by voters younger than 30 didn't exceed 20% in any state, according to an analysis of exit polls.
Given the huge turnout, including youth turnout, in the 2018 midterms, many had predicted, or at least hoped, that the trend would continue during the 2020 Democratic primaries. But so far, at least, there is no clear evidence of greater participation by the young people that Sanders has said he can motivate to get out to the polls.
"When I look at the collection of data, from multiple sources, there is no evidence of an increase or surge in the youth vote," John Della Volpe, the polling director of Harvard University's Institute of Politics, said. "In fact, there is considerable evidence to suggest that the youth vote is flat or declining relative to the previous election cycles."
He used North Carolina as an example, noting that while turnout statewide was up 17%, youth turnout was down 9%.
Other experts have been looking at the youth vote this year using different benchmarks.
The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University argues that it's more relevant to compare youth turnout this year with 2012 turnout, the most recent election cycle in which there was only a single competitive primary, rather than 2016.
"If we compare to the 2016 primaries we're comparing to a primary where there was a huge Republican field, there were tons of Republican campaigns doing outreach, there was so much media.," said CIRCLE's Director of Impact Abby Kiesa. "The environment and the levers and the things that we know affect youth turnout aren't fully maximized when it's only one competitive primary."
Kiesa said that when comparing Super Tuesday turnout this year with 2012, young people turned out at rates either on par or above 2012 levels.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Humphrey/AP Mark Humphrey/AP
Experts have a variety of theories on why young voters aren't turning out as campaigns hope they will.
Della Volpe said that unlike during the 2018 midterms, when President Trump's policies (though not the candidate himself) were on the ballot, the primaries have been about the distinctions among the Democratic candidates.
"When we're talking about engaging young people, one of the biggest things you have to do is register them," said Sarah Audelo, the executive director of Alliance for Youth Action who ran Hillary Clinton's millennial outreach efforts in 2016. "They're not just young voters, they're new voters."
She also made the point that this is work that campaigns need to be weaving into all parts of their apparatus.
"It's a sign of not good things to come when you have to start from scratch," she said. "Young people should be invested, like any other voter group."
Ben Wessel, the executive director of NextGen America, the Tom Steyer-backed group that works on mobilizing young voters, said that in many youth-dense precincts, youth turnout was up — and in some cases by volumes.
"Young people are turning out, but they don't view voting as the end all, be all," Wessel said. "They see voting as a tool in their tool box, and they'd be foolish not to use it, but that's not how they are going to stop clamoring for change. They've seen that we elect awesome people, and still we have stasis and still we have a system that's not working for young folks."
Wessel and others agreed that youth turnout in the primary is not necessarily a strong indicator of youth turnout in the general election. But he also said that candidates need to take young voter outreach seriously early on.
"As we move towards the general election, we're going to need to see candidates talking about the issues that young people care about in an authentic and consistent way," Wessel warned. "Because if you think you can show up with just two weeks to go and say, 'Yeah, yeah I'm with you, and what are you going to do, vote for Trump?' It's not enough, and it's certainly not enough in an election year like this year where we know the other side is going to come out in record numbers."
Della Volpe agreed with this sentiment and thinks some of the non-Sanders candidates have missed an opportunity. Sanders has centered young people in his movement from Day 1. Other candidates haven't had the same focus.
"It seems to me that they made strategic decisions not to focus on younger voters," he said. "Perhaps they thought they were all going to be with Bernie."


npr--2020-03-06--Paid Family Leave Bill Faces An Uphill Fight In Colorado

When Brittany Pettersen , a Colorado state senator , gave birth to a boy in January , she became only the second lawmaker in the state to have a baby during a legislative season .
The first , Sen. Barbara Holme , delivered just two days before lawmakers adjourned nearly 30 years ago .
But because she was part of a Democratic minority at the time , no one worried much about the votes Holme was missing , much less her need for paid maternity leave .
`` That was the year I was born , '' says Pettersen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have n't come very far from 1981 . ''
Despite the inroads women have made entering the workforce and politics , paid family and medical leave remains a heavy lift in Colorado and across much of the country .
For each of the past six years , the Colorado legislature has considered bills to establish a statewide paid leave program , but none have passed .
Yet this year , with a Democratic governor , Democratic control of both the state House and Senate , plus more female legislators than ever before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best chance for a paid leave bill in the 30 years since Holme had her baby .
Pettersen has become something of a poster child — perhaps , a poster mom — for this year 's legislative push .
While undoubtedly many male lawmakers have had children while serving , her fellow senators may find Pettersen 's example hard to ignore if a paid leave bill comes to the floor .
`` This is our opportunity to help Coloradans .
And we 're going through it , even in our workplace , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of paid leave from her legislative work .
( Colorado legislators are allowed to take up to 40 days of fully compensated leave , but their salary is reduced if they 're out longer for anything other than a medical illness . )
Still , even after a bipartisan task force came to broad consensus this year for a mandatory paid family leave benefit run by the state and funded through payroll taxes , Coloradans may have to settle for something far less ambitious if anything passes at all .
The fight illustrates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be when determining how to pay for it .
Under federal law , employers with 50 or more employees are required to grant workers time off to deal with family or medical issues , including the birth of a child or the care of an aging parent .
But companies are not required to pay workers for that time off .
Many of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have backed paid leave and President Donald Trump 's budget envisioned a paid family leave program .
Congress is now considering the Family and Medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 12 weeks of partial income for family leave regardless of the company 's size , funded through a payroll tax of 2 cents per $ 10 in wages .
Congress passed a bill last year that will grant 12 weeks of paid family leave to federal employees , beginning in October .
Some states have sought to fill the gaps and , so far , eight states — California , Connecticut , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York , Oregon , Rhode Island and Washington — along with the District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs , funded through payroll taxes .
For a while , at least , Colorado looked poised to join them .
Colorado Republicans have killed paid leave bills in years past .
But last year , when Democrats took control , paid leave looked like a possibility .
`` That 's also when all the details really started to matter , '' says Kathy White , deputy director of the Colorado Fiscal Institute , a nonprofit research and policy advocacy organization , which backed a paid leave benefit .
As a result , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most lobbied legislation in Colorado that session , according to backers , with more than 200 lobbyists registered as working on it .
But , ultimately , lawmakers were unable to come to an agreement and instead established a task force to study the issue .
The 13-member bipartisan panel spent months poring through examples from other states and studies that looked at the costs and benefits of providing family and medical leave .
They reviewed more than 1,000 public comments submitted in just 30 days .
In January , the task force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among its members .
It backed what 's called a state-run social insurance model to levy a small payroll tax to cover the paychecks of those taking paid leave .
`` This has become a really big issue because the research is becoming so clear , '' White says .
`` We can see the difference between those who have leave and those who do n't have leave or have to take unpaid leave for caregiving needs . ''
A state-commissioned review found strong evidence that paid leave decreased infant mortality by 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months , increased childhood immunization rates and improved maternal mental health .
But the task force recommendations were met with objections from various lawmakers , as well as Gov .
Jared Polis .
He had asked the task force to consider paid leave models other than a state-run program .
Some opposed the new payroll taxes , while others were concerned about the state 's potential costs if payroll taxes do n't collect enough .
Critics have argued that paid leave mandates offer employers little flexibility to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and can create an economic burden for businesses .
By February , the bill 's sponsors had shifted to a compromise that would require companies to offer paid family and medical time off , but would leave it up to employers to determine how to provide that .
It 's not nearly the benefit that paid-leave advocates had hoped for .
`` I would have preferred a social insurance plan , '' says Democratic Sen .
Faith Winter , the bill 's lead sponsor .
`` Ultimately , you could have a perfect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you could have a good bill that passes . ''
Now it 's unclear whether the compromise bill has given up too much ground to pass .
Already , two of Winter 's Democratic co-sponsors have dropped their names from the revised bill , calling into question whether it will have enough votes .
`` It 's a big program with lots of details , and it impacts every person in the state , '' Winter says .
`` When you start moving things that affect everyone and every business , that means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofits and advocacy groups pushing for paid family and medical leave does have a backstop .
Early this year , proponents registered two paid leave ballot measures for the November elections .
`` Colorado families overwhelmingly want and expect the legislature to move forward with a plan to provide family and medical leave this year , '' says Lynea Hansen , a spokesperson for Colorado Families First , a nonprofit that has been lobbying in favor of a paid leave bill .
`` If the legislature is unsuccessful at passing a comprehensive policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the voters . ''
It 's unknown whether the backers of the ballot measure would continue to press the issue if the legislature passes the compromise bill instead of the full state-run benefit advocates sought .
`` What happens if the legislature does do something and it 's still not good enough for the advocates ? ''
asks Loren Furman , senior vice president of state and federal relations for the Colorado Chamber of Commerce , which has been supportive of a paid leave bill .
`` Are they then going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiative ? ''
If nothing else , the additional time it took to rework the bill has allowed Pettersen to be back from her one-month maternity leave in time for debate on the bill .
The Democrats hold a slim 19-16 margin in the Senate and can not count on a strict party-line vote , because some party members are wavering in their support for the new approach .
Pettersen has pledged to bring her infant son , Davis , to the chamber floor for the crucial vote — a tangible display of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's just another reminder , '' she says .
`` There are numerous moms that have been elected .
But absolutely , having the experience of someone going through it right now is going to impact what we 're talking about . ''
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit , editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation .
KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

Paid Family Leave Bill Faces An Uphill Fight In Colorado
Enlarge this image toggle caption Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/Denver Post via Getty Images Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/Denver Post via Getty Images
When Brittany Pettersen, a Colorado state senator, gave birth to a boy in January, she became only the second lawmaker in the state to have a baby during a legislative season.
The first, Sen. Barbara Holme, delivered just two days before lawmakers adjourned nearly 40 years ago. But because she was part of a Democratic minority at the time, no one worried much about the votes Holme was missing, much less her need for paid maternity leave.
"That was the year I was born," says Pettersen, also a Democrat. "Unfortunately, we haven't come very far from 1981."
Despite the inroads women have made entering the workforce and politics, paid family and medical leave remains a heavy lift in Colorado and across much of the country. For each of the past six years, the Colorado legislature has considered bills to establish a statewide paid leave program, but none have passed.
Yet this year, with a Democratic governor, Democratic control of both the state House and Senate, plus more female legislators than ever before, many thought it would be the best chance for a paid leave bill in the 30 years since Holme had her baby.
Pettersen has become something of a poster child — perhaps, a poster mom — for this year's legislative push. While undoubtedly many male lawmakers have had children while serving, her fellow senators may find Pettersen's example hard to ignore if a paid leave bill comes to the floor.
"This is our opportunity to help Coloradans. And we're going through it, even in our workplace," says Pettersen, who took one month of paid leave from her legislative work. (Colorado legislators are allowed to take up to 40 days of fully compensated leave, but their salary is reduced if they're out longer for anything other than a medical illness.)
Still, even after a bipartisan task force came to broad consensus this year for a mandatory paid family leave benefit run by the state and funded through payroll taxes, Coloradans may have to settle for something far less ambitious if anything passes at all. The fight illustrates just how divisive paid family leave can be when determining how to pay for it.
Legislative hurdles
Under federal law, employers with 50 or more employees are required to grant workers time off to deal with family or medical issues, including the birth of a child or the care of an aging parent. But companies are not required to pay workers for that time off.
Many of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have backed paid leave and President Donald Trump's budget envisioned a paid family leave program. Congress is now considering the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act that would provide workers up to 12 weeks of partial income for family leave regardless of the company's size, funded through a payroll tax of 2 cents per $10 in wages. Congress passed a bill last year that will grant 12 weeks of paid family leave to federal employees, beginning in October.
Some states have sought to fill the gaps and, so far, eight states — California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington — along with the District of Columbia have established paid family leave programs, funded through payroll taxes. For a while, at least, Colorado looked poised to join them.
Colorado Republicans have killed paid leave bills in years past. But last year, when Democrats took control, paid leave looked like a possibility.
"That's also when all the details really started to matter," says Kathy White, deputy director of the Colorado Fiscal Institute, a nonprofit research and policy advocacy organization, which backed a paid leave benefit.
As a result, the 2019 paid leave bill was the most lobbied legislation in Colorado that session, according to backers, with more than 200 lobbyists registered as working on it. But, ultimately, lawmakers were unable to come to an agreement and instead established a task force to study the issue.
A broad consensus
The 13-member bipartisan panel spent months poring through examples from other states and studies that looked at the costs and benefits of providing family and medical leave. They reviewed more than 1,000 public comments submitted in just 30 days.
In January, the task force issued its final recommendations with broad consensus among its members. It backed what's called a state-run social insurance model to levy a small payroll tax to cover the paychecks of those taking paid leave.
"This has become a really big issue because the research is becoming so clear," White says. "We can see the difference between those who have leave and those who don't have leave or have to take unpaid leave for caregiving needs."
A state-commissioned review found strong evidence that paid leave decreased infant mortality by 10% to 13%, increased the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months, increased childhood immunization rates and improved maternal mental health.
But the task force recommendations were met with objections from various lawmakers, as well as Gov. Jared Polis. He had asked the task force to consider paid leave models other than a state-run program.
Some opposed the new payroll taxes, while others were concerned about the state's potential costs if payroll taxes don't collect enough. Critics have argued that paid leave mandates offer employers little flexibility to meet an employee's specific needs — and can create an economic burden for businesses.
By February, the bill's sponsors had shifted to a compromise that would require companies to offer paid family and medical time off, but would leave it up to employers to determine how to provide that.
It's not nearly the benefit that paid-leave advocates had hoped for.
"I would have preferred a social insurance plan," says Democratic Sen. Faith Winter, the bill's lead sponsor. "Ultimately, you could have a perfect bill that doesn't pass, or you could have a good bill that passes."
Waning support
Now it's unclear whether the compromise bill has given up too much ground to pass. Already, two of Winter's Democratic co-sponsors have dropped their names from the revised bill, calling into question whether it will have enough votes.
"It's a big program with lots of details, and it impacts every person in the state," Winter says. "When you start moving things that affect everyone and every business, that means everyone cares."
The coalition of nonprofits and advocacy groups pushing for paid family and medical leave does have a backstop. Early this year, proponents registered two paid leave ballot measures for the November elections.
"Colorado families overwhelmingly want and expect the legislature to move forward with a plan to provide family and medical leave this year," says Lynea Hansen, a spokesperson for Colorado Families First, a nonprofit that has been lobbying in favor of a paid leave bill. "If the legislature is unsuccessful at passing a comprehensive policy, we plan to take this initiative to the voters."
It's unknown whether the backers of the ballot measure would continue to press the issue if the legislature passes the compromise bill instead of the full state-run benefit advocates sought.
"What happens if the legislature does do something and it's still not good enough for the advocates?" asks Loren Furman, senior vice president of state and federal relations for the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, which has been supportive of a paid leave bill. "Are they then going to continue down the path of the ballot initiative?"
If nothing else, the additional time it took to rework the bill has allowed Pettersen to be back from her one-month maternity leave in time for debate on the bill. The Democrats hold a slim 19-16 margin in the Senate and cannot count on a strict party-line vote, because some party members are wavering in their support for the new approach.
Pettersen has pledged to bring her infant son, Davis, to the chamber floor for the crucial vote — a tangible display of what's at stake.
"It's just another reminder," she says. "There are numerous moms that have been elected. But absolutely, having the experience of someone going through it right now is going to impact what we're talking about."
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit, editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


npr--2020-03-05--Alabama Executes Man Convicted As Accomplice In Slaying Of Police Officers

Alabama Executes Man Convicted As Accomplice In Slaying Of Police Officers Nathaniel Woods , who was convicted in the 2004 killings of three Birmingham , Ala. , police officers , was put to death by a lethal cocktail of drugs late Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court denied him reprieve .
Woods , 43 , reportedly had no last words as the drugs flowed into his body .
He was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m. CST .
The three officers , Harley A. Chisholm III , Carlos `` Curly '' Owen and Charles R. Bennett , were killed in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest Woods and another man , Kerry Spencer , at a suspected drug house in Birmingham .
Although prosecutors said Spencer was the gunman , Woods was convicted as an accomplice on capital murder charges .
Immediately after Woods ' death , Gov .
Kay Ivey released a statement saying no argument was made during his trial that he had `` tried to stop the gunman from committing these heinous acts . ''
`` A jury of Mr. Woods ' peers convicted him of four counts of capital murder .
In the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviewed at least nine times , and no court has found any reason to overturn the jury 's decision , '' Ivey said .
The case garnered national attention and advocates for Woods , including Martin Luther King III , the son of the late civil rights leader , fought to block the execution , arguing that Spencer was solely responsible for the slayings .
In a letter to Ivey , King said Woods ' case `` appears to have been strongly mishandled by the courts '' and could result in `` an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to allow a potentially innocent man to be executed ? ''
he asked the governor .
Hours before the lethal injection , the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary stay to consider final appeals in the case — but ultimately denied the inmate 's petitions .
In a letter late Thursday to Woods ' attorney , Lauren Faraino , before the execution was carried out , the governor 's general counsel , William G. Parker , Jr. , said Ivey did not `` intend to exercise her powers of commutation or reprieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seventh among states with the most executions since 1976 , having put to death 67 inmates in that period .
Texas tops the list , with 566 executions , followed by Virginia , with 113 .

Alabama Executes Man Convicted As Accomplice In Slaying Of Police Officers
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
Nathaniel Woods, who was convicted in the 2004 killings of three Birmingham, Ala., police officers, was put to death using a lethal cocktail of drugs late Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court denied him reprieve.
Woods, 43, reportedly had no last words as the drugs flowed into his body. He was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m. CST.
The three officers, Harley A. Chisholm III, Carlos "Curly" Owen and Charles R. Bennett, were killed in a hail of bullets as they sought to arrest Woods and another man, Kerry Spencer, at a suspected drug house in Birmingham.
Although prosecutors said Spencer was the gunman, Woods was convicted as an accomplice on capital murder charges.
Immediately after Woods' death, Gov. Kay Ivey released a statement saying no argument was made during his trial that he had "tried to stop the gunman from committing these heinous acts."
"A jury of Mr. Woods' peers convicted him of four counts of capital murder. In the past 15 years, his conviction has been reviewed at least nine times, and no court has found any reason to overturn the jury's decision," Ivey said.
The case garnered national attention, and advocates for Woods, including Martin Luther King III, the son of the late civil rights leader, fought to block the execution, arguing that Spencer was solely responsible for the slayings.
In a letter to Ivey, King said Woods' case "appears to have been strongly mishandled by the courts" and could result in "an irreversible injustice."
"Are you willing to allow a potentially innocent man to be executed?" he asked the governor.
Hours before the lethal injection, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary stay to consider final appeals in the case but ultimately denied the inmate's petitions.
In a letter late Thursday to Woods' attorney, Lauren Faraino, before the execution was carried out, the governor's general counsel, William G. Parker Jr., said Ivey did not "intend to exercise her powers of commutation or reprieve in this case."
Alabama ranks seventh among states with the most executions since 1976, having put to death 67 inmates in that period. Texas tops the list with 566 executions, followed by Virginia with 113.


npr--2020-03-05--JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Recovering From Heart Surgery

Jamie Dimon , the head of JPMorgan Chase & Co. , is `` recovering well '' from emergency heart surgery , the bank announced on Thursday .
Dimon , 63 , who is the longest-serving head of a major U.S. bank , experienced `` an acute aortic dissection , '' and underwent surgery to repair it on Thursday morning , JPMorgan co-Presidents Daniel Pinto and Gordon Smith said in a company memo .
`` The good news is that it was caught early and the surgery was successful , '' the memo said , adding that Dimon is `` awake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dimon was a key financial industry figure during the 2008 financial crisis in which numerous banks were bailed out by the government .
JPMorgan accepted $ 25 billion under the Troubled Asset Relief Program ( TARP ) and brokered a weekend deal to purchase the ailing Bear Stearns .
In 2012 , JPMorgan lost $ 5.8 billion after a London-based trader nicknamed the `` London whale '' took risky positions in credit derivatives .
At the time , Dimon said `` I should have caught it ...
I did n't . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington .
`` We screwed up . ''
In 2014 , Dimon was diagnosed with throat cancer .
He reduced travel and made fewer public appearances during treatment , but recovered .

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Recovering From Heart Surgery
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP Mark Lennihan/AP
Jamie Dimon, the head of JPMorgan Chase & Co., is "recovering well" from emergency heart surgery, the bank announced on Thursday.
Dimon, 63, who is the longest-serving head of a major U.S. bank, experienced "an acute aortic dissection," and underwent surgery to repair it on Thursday morning, JPMorgan co-Presidents Daniel Pinto and Gordon Smith said in a company memo.
"The good news is that it was caught early and the surgery was successful," the memo said, adding that Dimon is "awake, alert and recovering well."
Dimon was a key financial industry figure during the 2008 financial crisis in which numerous banks were bailed out by the government. JPMorgan accepted $25 billion under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and brokered a weekend deal to purchase the ailing Bear Stearns.
In 2012, JPMorgan lost $5.8 billion after a London-based trader nicknamed the "London whale" took risky positions in credit derivatives. At the time, Dimon said "I should have caught it ... I didn't."
"We made a stupid error," he said in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. "We screwed up."
In 2014, Dimon was diagnosed with throat cancer. He reduced travel and made fewer public appearances during treatment, but recovered.


npr--2020-03-05--Maryland Confirms 3 Coronavirus Cases, As COVID-19 Spreads In Other States

Maryland Confirms 3 Coronavirus Cases , As COVID-19 Spreads In Other States As COVID-19 spreads in the U.S. , Maryland health officials are the latest to announce that a handful of Montgomery County residents have tested positive for the virus that causes it .
Gov .
Larry Hogan on Thursday said the state 's Public Health Laboratory in Baltimore confirmed three cases of patients who tested positive for the coronavirus .
`` They include a married couple in their 70s and another individual in their 50s , '' Hogan said in a news conference .
In all three of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseas travel .
`` They 're in good condition .
They 're in quarantine and a thorough investigation is underway to fully determine any of their potential recent interactions with the public , '' Hogan explained .
`` We have been actively preparing for this situation over the last several weeks across all levels of government , '' he added .
On Wednesday , three girls from a Jewish school in Baltimore were sent home early `` because they may have come in contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the school is taking precautionary steps to keep children safe by disinfecting the school .
Hogan urged residents `` not to panic , but to take this seriously and to stay informed as we continue to provide updates . ''
Tennessee 's health department also confirmed its first coronavirus case on Thursday : `` A 44-year-old man who recently traveled on a nonstop flight to Boston through Nashville 's airport , '' the Tennessean reported .
The man is quarantined in his Williamson County home with mild symptoms , officials said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ local schools on Friday and Monday to allow a deep clean of the campuses .
Two `` presumptive positive '' cases in Colorado have also been confirmed as positive .
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment , one patient is an out-of-state man in his 30s who had recently traveled to Italy .
No details were given about the second patient .
In all there are about 230 coronavirus cases in the U.S. , according to a a dashboard created by the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to coronavirus — 11 in Washington and one in California .
Meanwhile , authorities have been struggling with a shortage of test kits to detect the coronavirus infection in patients .
Speaking to NPR 's All Things Considered , Dr. Nancy Messonnier , the director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , said authorities were `` in the process of ramping up '' the deployment of more test kits .
Later , Vice President Mike Pence , who is heading the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus crisis , said more than a million new kits would be distributed to state and local health officials by the end of next week .
`` [ The ] CDC 's test supplier , a company called IDT [ Integrated DNA Technologies ] , will distribute kits across the country that will enable roughly 1.2 million Americans to be tested for the coronavirus , '' the vice president said .

Maryland Confirms 3 Coronavirus Cases, As COVID-19 Spreads In Other States
Enlarge this image toggle caption Steve Ruark/AP Steve Ruark/AP
Updated at 10:15 p.m. ET
As COVID-19 spreads in the U.S., Maryland health officials are the latest to announce that a handful of Montgomery County residents have tested positive for the virus that causes it.
Gov. Larry Hogan on Thursday said the state's Public Health Laboratory in Baltimore confirmed three cases of patients who tested positive for the coronavirus.
"They include a married couple in their 70s and another individual in their 50s," Hogan said in a news conference.
In all three of the cases, the disease was contracted in overseas travel. "They're in good condition. They're in quarantine and a thorough investigation is underway to fully determine any of their potential recent interactions with the public," Hogan explained.
"We have been actively preparing for this situation over the last several weeks across all levels of government," he added.
On Wednesday, three girls from a Jewish school in Baltimore were sent home early "because they may have come in contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus," The Baltimore Sun reported.
Officials said the school is taking precautionary steps to keep children safe by disinfecting the school.
Hogan urged residents "not to panic, but to take this seriously and to stay informed as we continue to provide updates."
Tennessee's health department also confirmed its first coronavirus case on Thursday: "A 44-year-old man who recently traveled on a nonstop flight to Boston through Nashville's airport," the Tennessean reported.
The man is quarantined in his Williamson County home with mild symptoms, officials said.
The case has triggered the closure of local schools on Friday and Monday to allow a deep clean of the campuses.
Two "presumptive positive" cases in Colorado have also been confirmed as positive.
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, one patient is an out-of-state man in his 30s who had recently traveled to Italy. No details were given about the second patient.
In all there are about 230 coronavirus cases in the U.S., according to a a dashboard created by the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering.
A dozen people have died of complications related to coronavirus — 11 in Washington and one in California.
Meanwhile, authorities have been struggling with a shortage of test kits to detect the coronavirus infection in patients.
Speaking to NPR's All Things Considered, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said authorities were "in the process of ramping up" the deployment of more test kits.
Later, Vice President Mike Pence, who is heading the White House task force dealing with the response to the coronavirus crisis, said more than a million new kits would be distributed to state and local health officials by the end of next week.
"[The] CDC's test supplier, a company called IDT [Integrated DNA Technologies], will distribute kits across the country that will enable roughly 1.2 million Americans to be tested for the coronavirus," the vice president said.


npr--2020-03-05--Trump Says He Still Has To Shake Hands, Despite Coronavirus Concerns

Trump Says He Still Has To Shake Hands , Despite Coronavirus Concerns President Trump , a self-professed germophobe , said Thursday night that despite concerns over transmitting the coronavirus , he will continue to shake hands with people .
At a town hall meeting in Scranton , Penn.
, televised by Fox , Trump was asked if he has made any changes to his habits since the outbreak .
Trump responded that `` if there was ever a time where you convince people not to shake hands this could be it . ''
But Trump went on , `` you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shake hands . ''
In fact , health experts say shaking hands is a practice best avoided as it can easily transmit viruses from one person to the next .
Trump said people `` want to shake your hand , they want to say hello , they want to hug you , they want to kiss you . ''
Vice President Mike Pence , who is leading the Trump administrations response to the coronavirus did follow the recommended procedures as he was met by Gov .
Jay Inslee of Washington on a trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two men were seen bumping elbows rather than the shaking hands .
But Trump said that he shakes everybody 's hand .
`` They 're people that I love and people that I want to take care of . ''
The president 's mixed message on coronavirus protocols Thursday evening was not the first time his breezy communications style has run up against messaging from public health experts .
On Wednesday , he sought to explain what he called a `` hunch '' that the World Health Organization has overestimated the fatality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high estimates did n't take into `` thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by , you know , sitting around and even going to work — some of them go to work , but they get better . ''
After an outcry that his upbeat tone made it seem as though he was suggesting it was a good thing that people with coronavirus could go to work , he and the White House said that was n't what he meant .
Trump repeated his assertion that his administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` rave reviews , '' citing a Gallup Poll taken early last month before the extent of the outbreak was clear .
More recent polling has shown higher disapproval of Trump 's response .
And as he exited the Scranton town hall , Trump posed for selfies , and shook numerous hands .

Trump Says He Still Has To Shake Hands, Despite Coronavirus Concerns
Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images
President Trump, a self-professed germophobe, said Thursday night that despite concerns over transmitting the coronavirus, he will continue to shake hands with people.
At a town hall meeting in Scranton, Penn., televised by Fox, Trump was asked if he has made any changes to his habits since the outbreak.
Trump responded that "if there was ever a time where you convince people not to shake hands this could be it." But Trump went on, "you can't be a politician and not shake hands."
In fact, health experts say shaking hands is a practice best avoided as it can easily transmit viruses from one person to the next.
Trump said people "want to shake your hand, they want to say hello, they want to hug you, they want to kiss you."
Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the Trump administrations response to the coronavirus did follow the recommended procedures as he was met by Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington on a trip there Thursday. At the airport, the two men were seen bumping elbows rather than the shaking hands.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP Ted S. Warren/AP
But Trump said that he shakes everybody's hand. "They're people that I love and people that I want to take care of."
The president's mixed message on coronavirus protocols Thursday evening was not the first time his breezy communications style has run up against messaging from public health experts. On Wednesday, he sought to explain what he called a "hunch" that the World Health Organization has overestimated the fatality rate of the disease, saying that high estimates didn't take into "thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work — some of them go to work, but they get better." After an outcry that his upbeat tone made it seem as though he was suggesting it was a good thing that people with coronavirus could go to work, he and the White House said that wasn't what he meant.
Trump repeated his assertion that his administration's response to the outbreak has gotten "rave reviews," citing a Gallup Poll taken early last month before the extent of the outbreak was clear. More recent polling has shown higher disapproval of Trump's response.
And as he exited the Scranton town hall, Trump posed for selfies, and shook numerous hands.


npr--2020-03-05--After Woody Allen's Memoir Was Signed, Book Publisher's Employees Walk Out

After Woody Allen 's Memoir Was Signed , Book Publisher 's Employees Walk Out On Thursday afternoon , dozens of employees of the publishing imprints Grand Central Publishing and Little , Brown staged a walkout to protest Grand Central 's decision to publish Woody Allen 's memoir , Apropos of Nothing , next month .
Both imprints are owned by Hachette Book Group ( HBG ) , the same house that published journalist Ronan Farrow 's Catch and Kill .
The walkout comes after Farrow announced on Tuesday that he felt he could no longer work with HBG after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son with actress Mia Farrow ; his sister , Dylan Farrow , has accused Allen of having sexually abused her as a child .
Allen has long denied her allegations .
In his statement , Farrow wrote in part that HBG `` concealed the decision from me and its own employees while we were working on Catch and Kill — a book about how powerful men , including Woody Allen , avoid accountability for sexual abuse . ''
Dylan Farrow also released a statement on Monday evening , in which she said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woody Allen 's memoir is deeply upsetting to me personally and an utter betrayal of my brother whose brave reporting , capitalized on by Hachette , gave voice to numerous survivors of sexual assault by powerful men .
...
This provides yet another example of the profound privilege that power , money and notoriety affords .
Hachette 's complicity in this should be called out for what it is and they should have to answer for it . ''
Employees at both HBG 's New York and Boston offices participated in the Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ auto-reply email that read in part : `` We stand in solidarity with Ronan Farrow , Dylan Farrow and survivors of sexual assault . ''
Those include Little , Brown executive editor Vanessa Mobley , who was the editor of Catch and Kill .
In a statement sent to NPR Thursday afternoon , HBG CEO Michael Pietsch said : `` We respect and understand the perspective of our employees who have decided to express their concern over the publication of this book .
We will engage our staff in a fuller discussion about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NPR reached out for comment to Allen 's agent , who did not respond as of publication time .
The New York Post reported that HBG employees approached the company 's human resources department on Thursday afternoon to complain about the planned publication of Allen 's book .
A Hachette employee told NPR that HBG 's CEO , Michael Pietch , attempted to hold a town hall meeting on Thursday to discuss the issue , but the employees walked out before the meeting was held .
Farrow 's agent , Lynn Nesbit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel moved almost to tears by the walkout .
It was such a brave gesture to management who , in my opinion , made such a misguided decision . ''
Signing Allen , she said , was `` a betrayal of Ronan , of the women in his book , of the issues in the book and of the staff of this publisher . ''
She added that Farrow is `` grateful for the support of his colleagues at Little , Brown . ''
Last year , The New York Times reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to several major publishing houses , `` only to be met with indifference or hard passes '' ; one source told NPR on Thursday afternoon that the title had been considered `` radioactive '' in the publishing world .
Farrow also said in his Tuesday statement that HBG had not fact-checked Allen 's memoir , nor did it contact Dylan Farrow for any response .
`` It also shows a lack of ethics and compassion for victims of sexual abuse , regardless of any personal connection or breach of trust here .
... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publisher that would conduct itself in this way is one I ca n't work with in good conscience . ''

Publisher Drops Woody Allen's Book After Ronan Farrow Objects, Employees Walk Out
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Updated Friday at 6:23 p.m. ET
On Friday afternoon, Hachette Book Group announced publicly and to its employees that it will not publish Woody Allen's memoir, Apropos of Nothing, as planned next month.
In a statement to NPR, the publisher said: "Hachette Book Group has decided that it will not publish Woody Allen's memoir A Propos of Nothing, originally scheduled for sale in April 2020, and will return all rights to the author."
"The decision to cancel Mr. Allen's book was a difficult one. At HBG we take our relationships with authors very seriously, and do not cancel books lightly. We have published and will continue to publish many challenging books. As publishers, we make sure every day in our work that different voices and conflicting points of views can be heard."
"Also, as a company, we are committed to offering a stimulating, supportive and open work environment for all our staff. Over the past few days, HBG leadership had extensive conversations with our staff and others. After listening, we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG."
The decision was announced to HBG's employees as well at a brief town-hall meeting on Friday afternoon.
On Thursday afternoon, dozens of employees of the publishing imprints Grand Central Publishing and Little, Brown staged a walkout in both New York and Boston to protest Grand Central's decision to publish Allen's book.
Both imprints are owned by Hachette Book Group, the same house that published journalist Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill. The walkout comes after Farrow announced on Tuesday that he felt he could no longer work with HBG after the Allen acquisition.
On Friday evening, Farrow tweeted of the decision: "Grateful to all the Hachette employees who spoke up and to the company for listening."
Farrow is Allen's son with actress Mia Farrow; his sister, Dylan Farrow, has accused Allen of having sexually abused her as a child. Allen has long denied her allegations.
In his statement, Farrow wrote in part that HBG "concealed the decision from me and its own employees while we were working on Catch and Kill — a book about how powerful men, including Woody Allen, avoid accountability for sexual abuse."
Dylan Farrow also released a statement on Monday evening, in which she said in part: "Hachette's publishing of Woody Allen's memoir is deeply upsetting to me personally and an utter betrayal of my brother whose brave reporting, capitalized on by Hachette, gave voice to numerous survivors of sexual assault by powerful men. ... This provides yet another example of the profound privilege that power, money and notoriety affords. Hachette's complicity in this should be called out for what it is and they should have to answer for it."
Employees at both HBG's New York and Boston offices participated in Thursday's walkout. Many also sent out an auto-reply email that read in part: "We stand in solidarity with Ronan Farrow, Dylan Farrow and survivors of sexual assault." Those include Little, Brown executive editor Vanessa Mobley, who was the editor of Catch and Kill.
In a statement sent to NPR Thursday afternoon, HBG CEO Michael Pietsch said: "We respect and understand the perspective of our employees who have decided to express their concern over the publication of this book. We will engage our staff in a fuller discussion about this at the earliest opportunity."
NPR reached out for comment to Allen's agent, who did not respond as of publication time.
The New York Post reported that HBG employees approached the company's human resources department on Thursday afternoon to complain about the planned publication of Allen's book. A Hachette employee told NPR that Pietsch attempted to hold a town hall meeting on Thursday to discuss the issue, but the employees walked out before the meeting was held.
Farrow's agent, Lynn Nesbit, told NPR on Thursday, "I feel moved almost to tears by the walkout. It was such a brave gesture to management who, in my opinion, made such a misguided decision."
Signing Allen, she said, was "a betrayal of Ronan, of the women in his book, of the issues in the book and of the staff of this publisher." She added that Farrow is "grateful for the support of his colleagues at Little, Brown."
Last year, The New York Times reported that Allen had tried to sell the memoir to several major publishing houses, "only to be met with indifference or hard passes"; one source told NPR on Thursday afternoon that the title had been considered "radioactive" in the publishing world.
Farrow also said in his Tuesday statement that HBG had not fact-checked Allen's memoir nor did it contact Dylan Farrow for any response. "It also shows a lack of ethics and compassion for victims of sexual abuse, regardless of any personal connection or breach of trust here. ... I've also told Hachette that a publisher that would conduct itself in this way is one I can't work with in good conscience."