npr--2020-11-11--Biden Names Longtime Aide Ron Klain As White House Chief Of Staff

President-elect Joe Biden has named his longtime aide Ron Klain to be White House chief of staff , the campaign announced Wednesday evening .
The chief of staff is one of the most significant White House appointments .
An alumnus of the Obama-Biden administration , Klain had previously served as Biden 's chief of staff when he was vice president .
`` Ron has been invaluable to me over the many years that we have worked together , including as we rescued the American economy from one of the worst downturns in our history in 2009 and later overcame a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Biden said in a statement .
Biden 's choice of Klain , who served as President Barack Obama 's Ebola czar , points to the Biden administration 's focus on addressing the coronavirus pandemic , which has killed approximately 240,000 Americans so far .
Biden added : `` His deep , varied experience and capacity to work with people all across the political spectrum is precisely what I need in a White House chief of staff as we confront this moment of crisis and bring our country together again . ''
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation 's pandemic response and has vowed to lead the country with a scientific approach to slowing the virus 's spread .
Klain worked for Hillary Clinton 's 2016 presidential campaign and , most recently , as a senior adviser to the Biden campaign .
Klain also worked as an adviser on Biden 's unsuccessful 1988 and 2008 presidential campaigns .
In a statement , Klain described his appointment as `` the honor of a lifetime . ''
He continued : `` I look forward to helping [ Biden ] and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team to work in the White House , as we tackle their ambitious agenda for change , and seek to heal the divides in our country . ''

Biden Names Longtime Aide Ron Klain As White House Chief Of Staff
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Wilson/Getty Images Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Updated at 1:30 p.m. ET Thursday
President-elect Joe Biden has named his longtime aide Ron Klain to be White House chief of staff, the campaign announced Wednesday evening.
The chief of staff is one of the most significant White House appointments.
An alumnus of the Obama-Biden administration, Klain had previously been Biden's chief of staff when he was vice president.
"Ron has been invaluable to me over the many years that we have worked together, including as we rescued the American economy from one of the worst downturns in our history in 2009 and later overcame a daunting public health emergency in 2014," Biden said in a statement.
Biden's choice of Klain points to the team's focus on immediately trying to tackle dual crises: the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed about 240,000 people in the United States so far, as well as the economic recovery. Klain helped shepherd the 2009 Recovery Act as Biden's chief of staff, and then in 2014 he was appointed the Obama administration's Ebola czar.
"His deep, varied experience and capacity to work with people all across the political spectrum is precisely what I need in a White House chief of staff as we confront this moment of crisis and bring our country together again," Biden added in the statement.
Biden has repeatedly accused President Trump of fumbling the nation's pandemic response and has vowed to lead the country with a scientific approach to slowing the virus's spread.
Klain, as a senior adviser to the Biden campaign, was particularly instrumental in its coronavirus messaging. He recorded an explanatory video in front of a white board that ended up being one of the campaign's most popular videos on social media platforms as it transitioned to a mostly digital operation during the early days of the pandemic.
Klain also worked as an adviser on Biden's unsuccessful 1988 and 2008 presidential campaigns, and as a top aide to Biden in the '80s and '90s on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In a statement, Klain described his appointment as White House chief of staff as "the honor of a lifetime."
He continued: "I look forward to helping [Biden] and the Vice President-elect assemble a talented and diverse team to work in the White House, as we tackle their ambitious agenda for change, and seek to heal the divides in our country."
"He knows Ron and Ron knows him," said Rahm Emanuel, a former chief of staff to former President Barack Obama. "That trust level is essential. When Ron Klain goes up to [Capitol] Hill, everybody knows he's speaking for Joe Biden."
But Emanuel said Klain brings more than trust to the job; he brings experience and familiarity in navigating the White House and various agencies.
"From the day you get elected, the sand starts running through the sundial," Emanuel said. "And you can't afford ... to lose any days in on-the-job training, especially with all the crises."
When Emanuel was Obama's chief of staff, the administration had to deal with the financial crisis and the auto bailout. But now, he says, the country is dealing with multiple simultaneous crises.
Added Denis McDonough, who served as Obama's chief of staff from 2013 to 2017: "None of these decisions is easy, but the way you make hard decisions is that you tee them up transparently, and that really falls on the chief of staff. That happens to play to one of Ron's real strengths."
NPR political correspondent Scott Detrow contributed reporting.


npr--2020-11-11--Pfizer CEO Sold Millions In Stock After Coronavirus Vaccine News, Raising Questions

The chairman and CEO of Pfizer , Albert Bourla , sold $ 5.6 million worth of stock in the pharmaceutical company on Monday .
The sale took place on the same day Pfizer announced that its experimental coronavirus vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90 % effective .
The company 's stock soared on the news .
Bourla sold the stock as part of a stock-trading plan that aims to shield corporate executives from allegations of illegal insider trading .
But these plans have become increasingly controversial , and the issue has taken on added urgency given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer if its vaccine meets the approval of federal regulators .
Bourla 's sale of Pfizer stock was part of a trading plan set months in advance .
Known as 10b5-1 plans , they essentially put stock trades on autopilot .
Executives are supposed to adopt these plans only when they are not in possession of inside information that can affect a company 's stock price — what 's known as material nonpublic information .
The timing of the implementation of Bourla 's plan , however , has raised questions about what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether that may invite further scrutiny from federal regulators .
On Aug. 19 , Bourla implemented his stock-trading plan , according to his disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission .
The next day , Aug. 20 , Pfizer issued a press release featuring `` additional Phase 1 safety and immunogenicity data '' and confirming that Pfizer and its German partner , BioNTech , were `` on track to seek regulatory review '' for its vaccine candidate by October .
The financial news channels Fox Business , CNBC and Bloomberg all covered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stock appeared to be `` moving sharply higher today on an optimistic vaccine timeline . ''
Daniel Taylor , an expert in insider trading and an associate professor of accounting at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania , has closely monitored stock trades by executives at companies developing coronavirus vaccines .
He told NPR that the close timing between the adoption of Bourla 's stock plan and the press release looked `` very suspicious . ''
`` It 's wholly inappropriate for executives at pharmaceutical companies to be implementing or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they announce data or results from drug trials , '' Taylor said .
A spokesperson for Pfizer told NPR that the company did not believe the company 's Aug. 20 press release contained material nonpublic information and that a stock plan administrator had previously vetted the implementation of the CEO 's 10b5-1 plan .
The spokesperson noted that the company had previously announced it expected to seek regulatory approval for its coronavirus vaccine candidate by October and that the August press release merely confirmed that timeline .
In addition , the press release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer 's vaccine , the spokesperson said , and the company did not control the timing or the content of that study .
`` The sale of these shares is part of Dr. Bourla 's personal financial planning and a pre-established ( 10b5-1 ) plan , '' Pfizer said in a statement .
`` Through our stock plan administrator , Dr. Bourla authorized the sale of these shares in February and renewed that authorization in August with the same price and volume terms . ''
The company spokesperson said Bourla 's plan authorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a certain target .
Though Bourla 's stock sale on Monday was significant , the company stated that he still held `` approximately nine times his salary in Pfizer stock . ''
Taylor , of the Wharton business school , said the stock sales by Pfizer 's CEO brought to mind similar concerns with another coronavirus vaccine-maker , Moderna .
As NPR reported in September , multiple executives at Moderna adopted or modified their stock-trading plans just before key announcements about the company 's vaccine .
Those executives have sold tens of millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though the company has not completed its vaccine trials .
`` It 's troubling to me that the general counsel or the internal controls of these companies would consider it legitimate to adopt a 10b5-1 plan one day before a major vaccine announcement , '' said Taylor .
`` If this is n't a wake-up call for the SEC and a wake-up call that we need to reform these 10b5-1 plans , I do n't know what it is . ''
Billions of dollars in taxpayer funding are at stake in the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available coronavirus vaccine .
The U.S. government has guaranteed roughly $ 2.5 billion to the development and manufacture of Moderna 's vaccine , for example , and has promised to buy nearly $ 2 billion worth of Pfizer 's vaccine , if it receives regulatory approval .

Pfizer CEO Sold Millions In Stock After Coronavirus Vaccine News, Raising Questions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Zach Gibson/Bloomberg via Getty Images Zach Gibson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The chairman and CEO of Pfizer, Albert Bourla, sold $5.6 million worth of stock in the pharmaceutical company on Monday. The sale took place on the same day Pfizer announced that its experimental coronavirus vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90% effective. The company's stock soared on the news.
Bourla sold the stock as part of a stock-trading plan that aims to shield corporate executives from allegations of illegal insider trading. But these plans have become increasingly controversial, and the issue has taken on added urgency given the billions of dollars the government has promised Pfizer if its vaccine meets the approval of federal regulators.
Bourla's sale of Pfizer stock was part of a trading plan set months in advance. Known as 10b5-1 plans, they essentially put stock trades on autopilot. Executives are supposed to adopt these plans only when they are not in possession of inside information that can affect a company's stock price — what's known as material nonpublic information.
The timing of the implementation of Bourla's plan, however, has raised questions about what the Pfizer CEO knew and when, and whether that may invite further scrutiny from federal regulators.
On Aug. 19, Bourla implemented his stock-trading plan, according to his disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The next day, Aug. 20, Pfizer issued a press release featuring "additional Phase 1 safety and immunogenicity data" and confirming that Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, were "on track to seek regulatory review" for its vaccine candidate by October.
The financial news channels Fox Business, CNBC and Bloomberg all covered the August news, with CNBC noting that the stock appeared to be "moving sharply higher today on an optimistic vaccine timeline."
Daniel Taylor, an expert in insider trading and an associate professor of accounting at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, has closely monitored stock trades by executives at companies developing coronavirus vaccines. He told NPR that the close timing between the adoption of Bourla's stock plan and the press release looked "very suspicious."
"It's wholly inappropriate for executives at pharmaceutical companies to be implementing or modifying 10b5-1 plans the business day before they announce data or results from drug trials," Taylor said.
A spokesperson for Pfizer told NPR that the company did not believe the company's Aug. 20 press release contained material nonpublic information and that a stock plan administrator had previously vetted the implementation of the CEO's 10b5-1 plan. The spokesperson noted that the company had previously announced it expected to seek regulatory approval for its coronavirus vaccine candidate by October and that the August press release merely confirmed that timeline. In addition, the press release contained information from an academic study of Pfizer's vaccine, the spokesperson said, and the company did not control the timing or the content of that study.
"The sale of these shares is part of Dr. Bourla's personal financial planning and a pre-established (10b5-1) plan," Pfizer said in a statement. "Through our stock plan administrator, Dr. Bourla authorized the sale of these shares in February and renewed that authorization in August with the same price and volume terms."
The company spokesperson said Bourla's plan authorized stock sales when the share price hit a certain target.
Though Bourla's stock sale on Monday was significant, the company stated that he still held "approximately nine times his salary in Pfizer stock."
Taylor, of the Wharton business school, said the stock sales by Pfizer's CEO brought to mind similar concerns with another coronavirus vaccine-maker, Moderna. As NPR reported in September, multiple executives at Moderna adopted or modified their stock-trading plans just before key announcements about the company's vaccine. Those executives have sold tens of millions of dollars in Moderna stock, even though the company has not completed its vaccine trials.
"It's troubling to me that the general counsel or the internal controls of these companies would consider it legitimate to adopt a 10b5-1 plan one day before a major vaccine announcement," said Taylor. "If this isn't a wake-up call for the SEC and a wake-up call that we need to reform these 10b5-1 plans, I don't know what it is."
Billions of dollars in taxpayer funding are at stake in the race for a safe, effective and widely available coronavirus vaccine. The U.S. government has guaranteed roughly $2.5 billion to the development and manufacture of Moderna's vaccine, for example, and has promised to buy nearly $2 billion worth of Pfizer's vaccine, if it receives regulatory approval.


npr--2020-11-11--After COVID Diagnosis, Nearly 1 In 5 Are Diagnosed With Mental Disorder

After COVID Diagnosis , Nearly 1 In 5 Are Diagnosed With Mental Disorder New research has found that nearly 1 person in 5 diagnosed with COVID-19 is diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder like anxiety , depression or insomnia within three months .
The analysis was conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford , using electronic health records for 69.8 million patients in the U.S. — including more than 62,000 diagnosed with COVID-19 .
Compared with patients who 'd experienced certain other health events this year — including influenza , kidney stones , or a major bone fracture – those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a subsequent psychiatric diagnosis in the following 14 to 90 days .
`` The incidence of any psychiatric diagnosis in the 14 to 90 days after COVID-19 diagnosis was 18.1 % , '' the study found , including 5.8 % that was a first diagnosis .
The research which was published Monday in Lancet Psychiatry .
People recovering from COVID-19 were about twice as likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder as compared with someone who had the flu , says Paul Harrison , professor of psychiatry at Oxford and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` That was within just the first three months , '' he says .
`` We of course do n't know , in longer term follow-ups , whether these risks will go on increasing — or whether once you get to three months , then the risks after you 've had COVID really go back to the baseline risks that all of us experience . ''
The study found that the relationship between mental illness and COVID is actually bidirectional : people with psychiatric diagnosis were about 65 % more likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's unclear exactly why .
The study controlled for certain factors , including physical risk factors and those who were having serious housing and economic difficulties – but the risk persisted .
That 's consistent with another recent large study using data from a different U.S. electronic health network , which found increased risk of COVID-19 infection and mortality in people with mental disorders .
But are n't most of us experiencing some level of anxiety right now , given the global pandemic ?
What the study is talking about here is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` To get a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder , assuming the diagnostic tests were done correctly — this is more than simply the anxiety we 're all feeling very , very reasonably because of the circumstances many people have lived through over the last few months . ''
He also points to the design of the study , which compared mental health diagnoses in people recovering from COVID with people recovering from other medical events during the same time period : `` They 're all comparisons made between January and August this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , regardless of the illness that had taken them to see their doctor in the first place . ''
The researchers were able to differentiate somewhat for severity of COVID cases — for instance , they found that someone hospitalized for COVID had a higher risk of getting a psychiatric diagnosis than someone who did not need hospitalization .
But the data did not offer enough granularity to say whether someone who was in the ICU for COVID-19 was more likely to get a psychiatric diagnosis than someone who was in the ICU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest for anxiety disorders , insomnia and dementia .
Researchers also found an increased risk of dementia in those recovering from COVID-19 .
Harrison says it 's yet not clear why that is – but it may be that some people were already developing dementia , and it was n't recognized until the patients saw a doctor for their COVID symptoms .
Lauri Pasch is a clinical psychologist at University of California , San Francisco , where she has been working with patients at a special rehabilitation clinic for those who 've been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing a lot of anxiety , a lot of fear , a lot of sadness , a lot of sense of isolation , '' she says .
She says some post-COVID patients describe sleep problems and distressing dreams : `` Like waking up and feeling like you 're back into the hospital .
Waking up remembering really difficult aspects of having COVID , where you felt like you could n't breathe .
You felt like you were going to die . ''
Many patients say that during their illness and recovery , their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They think about losing family members , and grapple with things undone in their lives .
And some COVID `` long-haulers '' describe persistent foggy minds and memory problems .
'We 're Seeing A Lot Of Gratefulness' But while some patients are diagnosed with anxiety disorders in the three months after having COVID , the large majority are not .
And Pasch says some patients describe entirely the opposite .
`` We 're seeing a lot of gratefulness — that feeling that friends and family were there for them in a way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really grateful for that .
Feeling like celebrating life . ''
She says some patients who had really difficult hospital stays say things like `` I feel like I get a second chance at life '' and `` I 'm going to make myself a better person , '' now that they have survived .
Pasch and her clinic colleagues call this `` post-traumatic growth '' – the inverse of post-traumatic stress .
She speculates , however , that people hospitalized for the disease in more overwhelmed hospital systems may be more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oxford , UCSF and elsewhere are still gathering data on post-COVID mental health over the longer term .
But Pasch says that she expects that in most cases , the post-traumatic stress symptoms of COVID will subside .
`` What I 've been telling patients [ is ] it 's going to be a slow and gradual improvement , '' she says , noting that younger patients often feel the frustration of a long recovery most acutely .
`` It 's extremely frustrat [ ing ] to have a condition that 's so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just feel like I 'm not getting back to my normal and wondering , is that the new me ? ''
To which Pasch and her colleagues can only say : We have to wait and see .
`` We do n't expect it to be .
But that 's a very scary experience . ''

After COVID-19 Diagnosis, Nearly 1 In 5 Are Diagnosed With Mental Disorder
Enlarge this image toggle caption Basak Gurbuz Derma/Getty Images Basak Gurbuz Derma/Getty Images
New research has found that nearly 1 person in 5 diagnosed with COVID-19 is diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder like anxiety, depression or insomnia within three months.
The analysis was conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford, using electronic health records for 69.8 million patients in the U.S. — including more than 62,000 diagnosed with COVID-19.
Compared with patients who had experienced certain other health events this year — such as influenza, kidney stones or a major bone fracture – those diagnosed with COVID-19 were more likely to have a subsequent psychiatric diagnosis in the following 14 to 90 days.
"The incidence of any psychiatric diagnosis in the 14 to 90 days after COVID-19 diagnosis was 18.1%," the study found, including 5.8% that was a first diagnosis. The research was published Monday in Lancet Psychiatry.
People recovering from COVID-19 were about twice as likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder as compared with someone who had the flu, says Paul Harrison, professor of psychiatry at Oxford and one of the study's authors.
"That was within just the first three months," he says. "We of course don't know, in longer-term follow-ups, whether these risks will go on increasing — or whether once you get to three months, then the risks after you've had COVID really go back to the baseline risks that all of us experience."
The study found that the relationship between mental illness and COVID-19 is actually bidirectional: People with psychiatric diagnosis were about 65% more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than people without.
It's unclear exactly why. The study controlled for certain factors, including physical risk factors and those who were having serious housing and economic difficulties – but the risk persisted. That's consistent with another recent large study using data from a different U.S. electronic health network that found increased risk of COVID-19 infection and mortality in people with mental disorders.
Risk of anxiety disorders increase post-COVID-19
But aren't most of us experiencing some level of anxiety right now, given the global pandemic?
What the study is talking about here is something more severe, says Harrison. "To get a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, assuming the diagnostic tests were done correctly — this is more than simply the anxiety we're all feeling very, very reasonably because of the circumstances many people have lived through over the last few months."
He also points to the design of the study, which compared mental health diagnoses in people recovering from COVID-19 with those in people recovering from other medical events during the same time period: "They're all comparisons made between January and August this year when everybody was living through COVID, regardless of the illness that had taken them to see their doctor in the first place."
The researchers were able to differentiate somewhat for severity of COVID-19 cases — for instance, they found that someone hospitalized for COVID-19 had a higher risk of getting a psychiatric diagnosis than someone who did not need hospitalization. But the data did not offer enough granularity to say whether someone who was in an intensive care unit for COVID-19 was more likely to get a psychiatric diagnosis than someone who was in the ICU for something else.
Researchers also found an increased risk of dementia in those recovering from COVID-19. Harrison says it's yet not clear why that is, but it may be that some people were already developing dementia and it wasn't recognized until the patients saw a doctor for their COVID-19 symptoms.
Lauri Pasch is a clinical psychologist at University of California, San Francisco, where she has been working with patients at a special rehabilitation clinic for those who've been hospitalized for COVID-19.
"We're seeing a lot of anxiety, a lot of fear, a lot of sadness, a lot of sense of isolation," she says.
She says some post-COVID-19 patients describe sleep problems and distressing dreams: "Like waking up and feeling like you're back into the hospital. Waking up remembering really difficult aspects of having COVID, where you felt like you couldn't breathe. You felt like you were going to die."
Many patients say that during their illness and recovery, their thoughts have often turned to death. They think about losing family members and grapple with things undone in their lives. And some COVID-19 "long-haulers" describe persistent foggy minds and memory problems.
'We're seeing a lot of gratefulness'
But while some patients are diagnosed with anxiety disorders in the three months after having COVID-19, the large majority are not.
And Pasch says some patients describe the entirely opposite experience.
"We're seeing a lot of gratefulness — that feeling that friends and family were there for them in a way that they didn't expect, and feeling really grateful for that. Feeling like celebrating life."
She says some patients who had really difficult hospital stays say things like "I feel like I get a second chance at life" and "I'm going to make myself a better person," now that they have survived.
Pasch and her clinic colleagues call this "post-traumatic growth" – the inverse of post-traumatic stress.
She speculates, however, that people hospitalized for the disease in more overwhelmed hospital systems may be more likely to experience post-traumatic stress.
Researchers at Oxford, UCSF and elsewhere are still gathering data on post-COVID-19 mental health over the longer term. But Pasch says that she expects that in most cases, the post-traumatic stress symptoms of COVID-19 will subside.
"What I've been telling patients [is] it's going to be a slow and gradual improvement," she says, noting that younger patients often feel the frustration of a long recovery most acutely. "It's extremely frustrat[ing] to have a condition that's so scary, so much unknown, and just feel like I'm not getting back to my normal and wondering, is that the new me?"
To which Pasch and her colleagues can only say: We have to wait and see. "We don't expect it to be. But that's a very scary experience."


npr--2020-11-11--Texas Surpasses 1 Million Coronavirus Cases, According To Johns Hopkins University

If Texas was a country instead of a state , it would rank in the top 10 nations with the most overall coronavirus cases .
That 's according to data from Johns Hopkins University , which also revealed that the state , the second-most populous in the U.S. , surpassed 1 million cases on Tuesday .
Texas is the first U.S. state to record this number of cases .
California is not far behind with 991,162 cases ; Florida has 852,174 .
The rest of the states have each recorded under 600,000 .
As of Wednesday , 6,779 patients were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to state data .
More than 18,800 people in the state have died from the coronavirus .
The record number comes as the nation is battling its most widespread surge since the pandemic began .
The U.S. recently recorded 10 million cases , meaning the Lone Star state accounts for about 10 % of all U.S. cases .
It 's also worth noting that Texas ' own case dashboard has not yet exceeded 1 million .
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services there have been 985,380 recorded as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is among the hardest hit areas in the U.S .
Hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients , and the county has summoned 10 mobile morgues to hold dead bodies , according to The Texas Tribune .
The Department of Defense sent medical teams to help in early November .
The El Paso region , which is near the border between west Texas and Mexico , recorded 40 % of people in hospitals were positive for the virus , the most in Texas , according to state data .
`` Hospitals have been overwhelmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And local officials there have had to bring in four mobile morgues to deal with deaths , '' Texas Public Republic health reporter Bonnie Petrie told NPR on Tuesday .
`` But it 's not just an urban problem .
Smaller towns and communities all across Texas are getting hit hard , too . ''
More people have contracted the coronavirus in Texas prisons than any other prison system , according to a new report from the University of Texas at Austin .
The report notes the `` prison death curve in Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus-related deaths occurring in prisons .
Most of the people who died did not have a life sentence and were eligible for parole .
About 80 % who died were n't convicted of a crime .
`` COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on prisons and jails across the country , and especially in Texas , '' said Michele Deitch , the study 's lead author and criminal justice policy expert , in a statement .
The data `` shows the urgency of taking steps to reduce the risks of additional COVID deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The death count is likely higher than found in the report , researchers say .
Some people in jails died without testing for the coronavirus or from a `` pre-existing medical condition worsened by COVID . ''
The report also says some could have died after being released .
`` Because of high levels of 'churn ' in the jail population , it is possible that individuals contracted the virus in jail , were released , and then died on the outside , '' the report stated .
`` Some jails may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that the death would not be recorded as a jail death . ''
On Tuesday , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the importance of masks in one of its strongest endorsements of their effectiveness .
Wearing masks can both prevent asymptomatic carries from spreading coronavirus , but it also offers protection against the infection , the organization stressed .
Yet as Petrie of Texas Public Radio explains , there 's resistance to mask wearing especially in rural areas .
`` For instance , in a rural place like Kerr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pushback on mask mandates .
It 's often framed in these areas as an issue of freedom and liberty , '' she explained .
As the pandemic has stretched along , many people have experienced pandemic fatigue and relaxed precautions .
`` In July , everybody 's wearing masks .
It was 100 % .
If somebody was n't wearing a mask , you could just feel the stares at them — and you 'd see people like picking up their shirts and covering their noses with it , '' said Galveston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a late October interview , according to The Texas Tribune .
But now , some people wear masks , some pull it under their nose or chin , he said , which renders them ineffective .
And occasionally , there 's open defiance , he said .
`` There are many instances where our personal liberties have been impugned because of greater good .
Wearing a seat belt is one .
Driving the speed limit is one .
Placing a child in a child carrier in a vehicle , '' said Will Rector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Those are all things that are against our personal liberties , but we do them because we realize that they save lives .

Texas Surpasses 1 Million Coronavirus Cases, According To Johns Hopkins University
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images
If Texas was a country instead of a state, it would rank in the top 10 nations with the most overall coronavirus cases.
That's according to data from Johns Hopkins University, which also revealed that the state, the second-most populous in the U.S., surpassed 1 million cases on Tuesday.
Texas is the first U.S. state to record this number of cases. California is not far behind with 991,162 cases; Florida has 852,174. The rest of the states have each recorded under 600,000.
As of Wednesday, 6,779 patients were in Texas hospitals with the coronavirus, according to state data. More than 18,800 people in the state have died from the coronavirus.
The record number comes as the nation is battling its most widespread surge since the pandemic began. The U.S. recently recorded 10 million cases, meaning the Lone Star state accounts for about 10% of all U.S. cases.
It's also worth noting that Texas' own case dashboard has not yet exceeded 1 million. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services there have been 985,380 recorded as of Wednesday.
Mobile morgues in El Paso
El Paso County in Texas is among the hardest hit areas in the U.S.
Hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, and the county has summoned 10 mobile morgues to hold dead bodies, according to The Texas Tribune. The Department of Defense sent medical teams to help in early November.
The El Paso region, which is near the border between west Texas and Mexico, recorded 40% of people in hospitals were positive for the virus, the most in Texas, according to state data.
"Hospitals have been overwhelmed by sick patients pouring into ERs. And local officials there have had to bring in four mobile morgues to deal with deaths," Texas Public Radio health reporter Bonnie Petrie told NPR on Tuesday. "But it's not just an urban problem. Smaller towns and communities all across Texas are getting hit hard, too."
Texas jails
More people have contracted the coronavirus in Texas prisons than any other prison system, according to a new report from the University of Texas at Austin.
The report notes the "prison death curve in Texas has remained stubbornly high" with 231 coronavirus-related deaths occurring in prisons. Most of the people who died did not have a life sentence and were eligible for parole. About 80% who died weren't convicted of a crime.
"COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on prisons and jails across the country, and especially in Texas," said Michele Deitch, the study's lead author and criminal justice policy expert, in a statement.
The data "shows the urgency of taking steps to reduce the risks of additional COVID deaths in Texas prisons and jails."
The death count is likely higher than found in the report, researchers say. Some people in jails died without testing for the coronavirus or from a "pre-existing medical condition worsened by COVID." The report also says some could have died after being released.
"Because of high levels of 'churn' in the jail population, it is possible that individuals contracted the virus in jail, were released, and then died on the outside," the report stated. "Some jails may have intentionally released people at risk of dying so that the death would not be recorded as a jail death."
Mask wearing
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the importance of masks in one of its strongest endorsements of their effectiveness. Wearing masks can both prevent asymptomatic carries from spreading coronavirus, but it also offers protection against the infection, the organization stressed.
Yet as Petrie of Texas Public Radio explains, there's resistance to mask wearing especially in rural areas.
"For instance, in a rural place like Kerr County, there's been a lot of pushback on mask mandates. It's often framed in these areas as an issue of freedom and liberty," she explained.
As the pandemic has stretched along, many people have experienced pandemic fatigue and relaxed precautions.
"In July, everybody's wearing masks. It was 100%. If somebody wasn't wearing a mask, you could just feel the stares at them — and you'd see people like picking up their shirts and covering their noses with it," said Galveston County health authority Dr. Philip Keiser in a late October interview, according to The Texas Tribune.
But now, some people wear masks, some pull it under their nose or chin, he said, which renders them ineffective. And occasionally, there's open defiance, he said.
"There are many instances where our personal liberties have been impugned because of greater good. Wearing a seat belt is one. Driving the speed limit is one. Placing a child in a child carrier in a vehicle," said Will Rector, a doctor in Kerr County. "Those are all things that are against our personal liberties, but we do them because we realize that they save lives.


npr--2020-11-11--Why Poorer Countries Aren't Likely To Get The Pfizer Vaccine Any Time Soon

Why Poorer Countries Are n't Likely To Get The Pfizer Vaccine Any Time Soon This week , the world heard encouraging news about a vaccine for COVID-19 .
On Monday , the pharmaceutical company Pfizer , and its partner BioNTech , said their experimental vaccine appears to work – and work quite well .
A preliminary analysis suggests the vaccine is more than 90 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 symptoms .
Health officials hope to start vaccinating some Americans in a few months .
`` The vaccine is on its way , folks , '' Dr. Anthony Fauci told a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside Brooklyn Borough Hall .
But what about the rest of world , especially people in poorer counties .
Is the vaccine `` on its way for them ? ''
Probably not , says Rachel Silverman , at the nonprofit Center for Global Development in Washington , D.C. For starters , Pfizer can manufacture only a limited quantity of the vaccine next year – about 1.3 billion doses .
`` That sounds like a lot , '' Silverman says , `` but quite a lot of that supply is already spoken for .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Canada and Japan have already claimed , through advanced purchase agreement , about 1.1 billion doses , or more than 80 % of the supply .
`` What 's left in that pie is not a lot , '' Silverman says .
`` For most people in low- and middle-income countries , this vaccine is not likely to be available , at least , by the end of next year . ''
And even if Pfizer could manufacture more doses , its vaccine probably wo n't work in many parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintained , stored and transported at extraordinarily low temperatures , '' Silverman says .
`` And when I say extraordinarily low I mean , minus 80 degrees Celsius . ''
That 's equivalent to minus 176 degrees Fahrenheit – and much , much colder than a typical freezer , which runs at about 0 degrees Fahrenheit .
The Pfizer vaccine requires a special ultra-cold freezer that most hospitals and clinics in the U.S. currently do n't have .
`` In the U.S. they 're projecting it 's going to be very difficult for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a normal doctor 's office , '' Silverman says .
`` So the vaccine is probably not going to be a great option for most low- and middle-income countries . ''
Nevertheless , the announcement from Pfizer does offer some good news for developing countries .
Many other vaccines currently under development use the same mechanism as the Pfizer vaccine .
They target the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus .
`` So the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine is good sign that other vaccines will also be effective , '' Silverman says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those vaccines will be easy to store and transport as well .

Why Poorer Countries Aren't Likely To Get The Pfizer Vaccine Any Time Soon
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Stone/MediaNews Group via Getty Images Matt Stone/MediaNews Group via Getty Images
This week, the world heard encouraging news about a vaccine for COVID-19.
On Monday, the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, and its partner BioNTech, said their experimental vaccine appears to work – and work quite well. A preliminary analysis suggests the vaccine is more than 90 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 symptoms.
Health officials hope to start vaccinating some Americans in a few months.
"The vaccine is on its way, folks," Dr. Anthony Fauci told a crowd Tuesday, via video link, outside Brooklyn Borough Hall.
But what about the rest of world, especially people in poorer counties. Is the vaccine "on its way for them?"
Probably not, says Rachel Silverman, at the nonprofit Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C.
For starters, Pfizer can manufacture only a limited quantity of the vaccine next year – about 1.3 billion doses. "That sounds like a lot," Silverman says, "but quite a lot of that supply is already spoken for."
The U.S., U.K., E.U., Canada and Japan have already claimed, through advanced purchase agreement, about 1.1 billion doses, or more than 80% of the supply.
"What's left in that pie is not a lot," Silverman says. "For most people in low- and middle-income countries, this vaccine is not likely to be available, at least, by the end of next year."
And even if Pfizer could manufacture more doses, its vaccine probably won't work in many parts of the world. "It needs to be maintained, stored and transported at extraordinarily low temperatures," Silverman says. "And when I say extraordinarily low I mean, minus 80 degrees Celsius."
That's equivalent to minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit – and much, much colder than a typical freezer, which runs at about 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Pfizer vaccine requires a special ultra-cold freezer that most hospitals and clinics in the U.S. currently don't have.
"In the U.S. they're projecting it's going to be very difficult for this vaccine to be administered in just a normal doctor's office," Silverman says. "So the vaccine is probably not going to be a great option for most low- and middle-income countries."
Nevertheless, the announcement from Pfizer does offer some good news for developing countries. Many other vaccines currently under development use the same mechanism as the Pfizer vaccine. They target the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
"So the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine is good sign that other vaccines will also be effective," Silverman says. And hopefully, a few of those vaccines will be easy to store and transport as well.


npr--2020-11-11--Let Them Grow Beards: UPS Relaxes Rules On Drivers' Facial Hair

Let Them Grow Beards : UPS Relaxes Rules On Drivers ' Facial Hair After years of strict rules surrounding its delivery drivers ' personal appearance , UPS is loosening up and letting them grow beards .
Previously , the delivery company regulated employees ' facial hair ( no beards for the majority of workers and mustaches limited to above the crease of the lip ) and hairstyles ( Afros and braids were n't allowed ) .
Piercings were largely restricted to earrings , and tattoos had to be hidden .
Now these clear-cut rules have been removed , but styles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workplace .
`` These changes reflect our values and desire to have all UPS employees feel comfortable , genuine and authentic while providing service to our customers and interacting with the general public , '' the company said in a statement .
UPS told employees the changes were part of part of an effort to `` celebrate diversity rather than corporate restrictions , '' The Wall Street Journal reported .
The policy change comes after the delivery giant hired its first woman chief executive officer , Carol Tomé , and as companies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues .
The company said that Tomé `` listened to feedback from employees and heard that changes in this area would make them more likely to recommend UPS as an employer . ''
The road to eliminating these peculiar limitations was a long one .
Some employees even started a petition , which gathered over 9,000 signatures .
`` Many United Parcel Service drivers desire to have a beard , '' the petition said , `` but it is strictly against the dress code because those in leadership positions at UPS believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Times have changed since the guidelines against facial hair were established .
It 's the 21st century and it 's time for a change in the dress code ! ''
In 2015 , the U.S .
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the shipping company for discriminating against employees who have to wear beards or hair below their collar for religious reasons .
The EEOC also alleged that UPS did not hire or promote employees who failed to meet the appearance requirements .
In 2018 , the company paid $ 4.9 million to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which represents UPS drivers and other employees , welcomed the new policy on employees ' appearance .
`` We are very pleased about it .
The union contested the previous guidelines as too strict numerous times over the years through the grievance/arbitration process and contract negotiations , '' the union said in a statement .
`` We have proposed neatly trimmed beards during several previous national negotiations . ''
The company 's fixation around appearances began with its founder James Casey , who was known for always wearing suits .
The high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his employees .
Adedayo Akala is an intern on the NPR Business Desk .

Let Them Grow Beards: UPS Relaxes Rules On Drivers' Facial Hair
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Roberson/AP Jeff Roberson/AP
After years of strict rules surrounding its delivery drivers' personal appearance, UPS is loosening up and letting them grow beards.
Previously, the delivery company regulated employees' facial hair (no beards for the majority of workers and mustaches limited to above the crease of the lip) and hairstyles (Afros and braids weren't allowed). Piercings were largely restricted to earrings, and tattoos had to be hidden. Now these clear-cut rules have been removed, but styles still have to be suitable for the workplace.
"These changes reflect our values and desire to have all UPS employees feel comfortable, genuine and authentic while providing service to our customers and interacting with the general public," the company said in a statement.
UPS told employees the changes were part of part of an effort to "celebrate diversity rather than corporate restrictions," The Wall Street Journal reported. The policy change comes after the delivery giant hired its first woman chief executive officer, Carol Tomé, and as companies are more focused on racial and other social issues.
The company said that Tomé "listened to feedback from employees and heard that changes in this area would make them more likely to recommend UPS as an employer."
The road to eliminating these peculiar limitations was a long one. Some employees even started a petition, which gathered over 9,000 signatures.
"Many United Parcel Service drivers desire to have a beard," the petition said, "but it is strictly against the dress code because those in leadership positions at UPS believe that beards may be offensive to the public. Times have changed since the guidelines against facial hair were established. It's the 21st century and it's time for a change in the dress code!"
In 2015, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the shipping company for discriminating against employees who have to wear beards or hair below their collar for religious reasons. The EEOC also alleged that UPS did not hire or promote employees who failed to meet the appearance requirements. In 2018, the company paid $4.9 million to settle the lawsuit.
The Teamsters union, which represents UPS drivers and other employees, welcomed the new policy on employees' appearance.
"We are very pleased about it. The union contested the previous guidelines as too strict numerous times over the years through the grievance/arbitration process and contract negotiations," the union said in a statement. "We have proposed neatly trimmed beards during several previous national negotiations."
The company's fixation around appearances began with its founder James Casey, who was known for always wearing suits. The high expectations he had for himself were enforced on his employees.
Adedayo Akala is an intern on the NPR Business Desk.


npr--2020-11-11--The Census Is Not Over: What's Ahead During The Biden Transition

The Census Is Not Over : What 's Ahead During The Biden Transition Counting has ended , but the 2020 census is not over yet — and it 's likely to get tangled in the fraught transition to President-elect Joe Biden 's administration .
Some major final steps for this year 's national head count are set to take place while President Trump is still in office .
That includes the release of the first set of results , legally due by Dec. 31 , that are used to reapportion congressional seats among states and reset the Electoral College map @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law , the president is required by Jan. 10 to hand off those numbers to Congress for certification .
And the census continues to be mired in legal fights over the Trump administration 's push to alter the apportionment numbers , as well as last-minute decisions to shorten the schedule for the constitutionally mandated count of every person living in the United States .
A federal judge in California , plus Census Bureau employees themselves , said those changes risked serious data inaccuracies .
Once in office , the Biden administration is poised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could reverse some of the Trump administration 's census-related moves .
Perhaps most notably , Biden could stop the bureau from producing citizenship data the Trump administration requested that could be used to radically change state-level redistricting in a way that a prominent Republican strategist concluded would benefit Republicans and non-Hispanic white people .
`` It 's probably no secret that the census is not top of mind for every administration on an ongoing basis , '' says Terri Ann Lowenthal , a former staff director of the House Oversight subcommittee for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2008 .
`` But this time is really different because this census faced unprecedented challenges and then disruptions . ''
In a statement to NPR before the election , Jamal Brown , the Biden campaign 's national press secretary , said that Biden `` knows the critical importance of the census and how it touches every aspect of American life , from federal investments around health care , housing , and education , to how states redistrict and draw their congressional boundaries . ''
Among the members of Biden 's transition agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which oversees the Census Bureau , are two census watchers who have been calling for more transparency as the bureau prepares to release the 2020 census results .
They include Nancy Potok — who , during the Obama administration , served as a deputy director at the bureau and was later appointed to be the chief statistician within the White House Office of Management and Budget — and Denice Ross , a senior fellow with the National Conference on Citizenship who worked on data projects and policy in the Obama administration as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OMB .
But before Biden officials can make any changes , there are some key questions about the census for the courts and Congress to answer in the final weeks of the Trump administration .
Can Trump change who is counted in numbers that determine House seats and the next Electoral College map ?
The Supreme Court is expected to weigh in with its answer to that question after hearing oral arguments on Nov. 30 .
So far , three lower courts have rejected the presidential memo Trump issued in July that calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of unauthorized immigrants from the census numbers used for determining each state 's share of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives , as well as each state 's Electoral College votes .
All of those three-judge panels unanimously found that carrying out the memo would violate a federal law requiring the president to deliver a report to Congress of `` the whole number of persons in each State '' as determined by the census .
One of those panels also ruled that it would go against the 14th Amendment .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court to rule before Dec. 31 .
That 's the legal deadline for the commerce secretary , who oversees the bureau , to give the president the first set of census results , which Trump wants to alter .
But it remains unclear , given all of the schedule changes the Trump administration has made , whether the Census Bureau can meet the Dec. 31 deadline and how that would affect the president 's ability to report numbers to Congress by Jan. 10 .
Any delays that push key steps in the congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could strip Trump of control over the count .
Last month , the bureau 's top career official in charge of the census , Al Fontenot , said the agency has n't committed to when it will wrap up processing and checking all of the information it has collected .
`` We are trying to maintain the flexibility to get the job done in a quality way , '' Fontenot said during a news briefing .
Justice Department attorneys say the administration has n't finalized how to accurately count unauthorized immigrants , aside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detention centers , in order to exclude them from the apportionment numbers .
In July , Biden condemned Trump 's memo in a tweet , writing : `` We wo n't let him deny communities the funding and representation they deserve .
Because in America , everyone counts . ''
But Brown , the Biden campaign spokesperson , has not responded to NPR 's question about what the Biden administration would do if , before leaving office , Trump attempted to remove unauthorized immigrants from the apportionment numbers before giving them to Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also unclear whether the clerk of the House , which will remain under Democratic control , would certify those numbers .
Will Congress extend legal deadlines for reporting census results to allow for more quality checks ?
That question has been hanging over the census since April , when the Trump administration first proposed four-month extensions to the legal deadlines for reporting the apportionment counts and redistricting data , which are due to the states by March 31 .
Publicly backed at the time by Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials at the bureau said that because of delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic , they needed more time to tally the country 's residents and run quality checks on the results .
But the administration made an about-face in July and began pushing to end counting early , sticking with the original reporting schedule .
The Supreme Court ultimately allowed the administration to cut counting short , leaving open the possibility for Trump to control the apportionment numbers even without winning reelection .
Faced with a shortened window for counting in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began publicly supporting the Democratic-led push for deadline extensions .
But now that counting has stopped , it 's unclear if there 's enough bipartisan support for deadline extensions to be passed .
The bureau has already scaled back some quality checks , risking `` serious errors , '' career officials warned , that they may not have time to fix .
Some census advocates — including Vanita Gupta , president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights — are calling for Congress to pass deadline extensions during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bureau has enough time to address any major errors it finds in the census results before they 're used to reapportion House seats .
`` I think waiting until a new administration and new Congress to act would be too late for the census , '' Gupta , a former Obama administration official , says .
`` A new administration and new Congress really would be in uncharted territory that would take time to navigate , conceivably creating a constitutional crisis that could be avoided if Congress gives the Census Bureau the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it asked for . ''

The Census Is Not Over: What's Ahead During The Biden Transition
Enlarge this image toggle caption Photo illustration by Pavlo Conchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Photo illustration by Pavlo Conchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Counting has ended, but the 2020 census is not over yet — and it's likely to get tangled in the fraught transition to President-elect Joe Biden's administration.
Some major final steps for this year's national head count are set to take place while President Trump is still in office. That includes the release of the first set of results, legally due by Dec. 31, that are used to reapportion congressional seats among states and reset the Electoral College map for the next decade. Under federal law, the president is required by Jan. 10 to hand off those numbers to Congress for certification.
And the census continues to be mired in legal fights over the Trump administration's push to alter the apportionment numbers, as well as last-minute decisions to shorten the schedule for the constitutionally mandated count of every person living in the United States. A federal judge in California, plus Census Bureau employees themselves, said those changes risked serious data inaccuracies.
Key Census Dates During the last weeks of the Trump administration, there are two key legal deadlines for the 2020 census. Dec. 31: The commerce secretary reports to the president the numbers used to reapportion House seats and Electoral College votes. Jan. 10: The president reports the apportionment counts to Congress.
Once in office, the Biden administration is poised to start shaping the 2030 count and could reverse some of the Trump administration's census-related moves. Perhaps most notably, Biden could stop the bureau from producing citizenship data the Trump administration requested that could be used to radically change state-level redistricting in a way that a prominent Republican strategist concluded would benefit Republicans and non-Hispanic white people.
"It's probably no secret that the census is not top of mind for every administration on an ongoing basis," says Terri Ann Lowenthal, a former staff director of the House Oversight subcommittee for the census who advised the Obama-Biden transition team in 2008. "But this time is really different because this census faced unprecedented challenges and then disruptions."
In a statement to NPR before the election, Jamal Brown, the Biden campaign's national press secretary, said that Biden "knows the critical importance of the census and how it touches every aspect of American life, from federal investments around health care, housing, and education, to how states redistrict and draw their congressional boundaries."
Among the members of Biden's transition agency review team for the Commerce Department, which oversees the Census Bureau, are two census watchers who have been calling for more transparency as the bureau prepares to release the 2020 census results. They include Nancy Potok — who, during the Obama administration, served as a deputy director at the bureau and was later appointed to be the chief statistician within the White House Office of Management and Budget — and Denice Ross, a senior fellow with the National Conference on Citizenship who worked on data projects and policy in the Obama administration as a presidential innovation fellow and an adviser at OMB.
But before Biden officials can make any changes, there are some key questions about the census for the courts and Congress to answer in the final weeks of the Trump administration.
Can Trump change who is counted in numbers that determine House seats and the next Electoral College map?
The Supreme Court is expected to weigh in with its answer to that question after hearing oral arguments on Nov. 30.
So far, three lower courts have rejected the presidential memo Trump issued in July that calls for an unprecedented change — the exclusion of unauthorized immigrants from the census numbers used for determining each state's share of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives, as well as each state's Electoral College votes.
All of those three-judge panels unanimously found that carrying out the memo would violate a federal law requiring the president to deliver a report to Congress of "the whole number of persons in each State" as determined by the census. One of those panels also ruled that it would go against the 14th Amendment.
The Trump administration has been pushing the high court to rule before Dec. 31. That's the legal deadline for the commerce secretary, who oversees the bureau, to give the president the first set of census results, which Trump wants to alter.
But it remains unclear, given all of the schedule changes the Trump administration has made, whether the Census Bureau can meet the Dec. 31 deadline and how that would affect the president's ability to report numbers to Congress by Jan. 10. Any delays that push key steps in the congressional reapportionment process past the Jan. 20 inauguration could strip Trump of control over the count.
Last month, the bureau's top career official in charge of the census, Al Fontenot, said the agency hasn't committed to when it will wrap up processing and checking all of the information it has collected.
"We are trying to maintain the flexibility to get the job done in a quality way," Fontenot said during a news briefing.
Justice Department attorneys say the administration hasn't finalized how to accurately count unauthorized immigrants, aside from those in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, in order to exclude them from the apportionment numbers.
In July, Biden condemned Trump's memo in a tweet, writing: "We won't let him deny communities the funding and representation they deserve. Because in America, everyone counts."
But Brown, the Biden campaign spokesperson, has not responded to NPR's question about what the Biden administration would do if, before leaving office, Trump attempted to remove unauthorized immigrants from the apportionment numbers before giving them to Congress.
If Trump did that, it is also unclear whether the clerk of the House, which will remain under Democratic control, would certify those numbers.
Will Congress extend legal deadlines for reporting census results to allow for more quality checks?
That question has been hanging over the census since April, when the Trump administration first proposed four-month extensions to the legal deadlines for reporting the apportionment counts and redistricting data, which are due to the states by March 31.
Publicly backed at the time by Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who oversees the Census Bureau, career officials at the bureau said that because of delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic, they needed more time to tally the country's residents and run quality checks on the results.
But the administration made an about-face in July and began pushing to end counting early, sticking with the original reporting schedule. The Supreme Court ultimately allowed the administration to cut counting short, leaving open the possibility for Trump to control the apportionment numbers even without winning reelection.
Faced with a shortened window for counting in their states, some Republican lawmakers in Congress began publicly supporting the Democratic-led push for deadline extensions.
But now that counting has stopped, it's unclear if there's enough bipartisan support for deadline extensions to be passed.
The bureau has already scaled back some quality checks, risking "serious errors," career officials warned, that they may not have time to fix.
Some census advocates — including Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights — are calling for Congress to pass deadline extensions during the lame-duck session to help ensure that the bureau has enough time to address any major errors it finds in the census results before they're used to reapportion House seats.
"I think waiting until a new administration and new Congress to act would be too late for the census," Gupta, a former Obama administration official, says. "A new administration and new Congress really would be in uncharted territory that would take time to navigate, conceivably creating a constitutional crisis that could be avoided if Congress gives the Census Bureau the time that it needs and the time that it asked for."


npr--2020-11-11--Wear Masks To Protect Yourself From The Coronavirus, Not Only Others, CDC Stresses

Wear Masks To Protect Yourself From The Coronavirus , Not Only Others , CDC Stresses Wearing a mask protects the wearer , and not just other people , from the coronavirus , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized in an updated scientific brief issued Tuesday .
And the protective benefits of masks are stronger the more people wear masks consistently and correctly , the agency says .
When the CDC first recommended that Americans wear cloth face coverings back in April , it cited evidence that the coronavirus could be transmitted by asymptomatic people who might not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated to account for more than 50 % of transmissions .
The agency said masks were intended to block virus-laden particles that might be emitted by an infected person .
In a report updated Tuesday , the CDC says that is still the primary intention of wearing masks .
But it also cites growing evidence that even cloth masks can also reduce the amount of infectious droplets inhaled by the wearer .
`` This messaging is key to increase adherence and interest in mask wearing .
I am thrilled ! ''
Dr. Monica @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of California , San Francisco , said in a tweet Tuesday .
Ghandi argued in a recently published paper that wearing masks can reduce the severity of illness with COVID-19 , even if the wearer does become infected .
As for which mask to choose ?
The CDC notes that when it comes to cloth masks , multiple layers made of higher thread counts do a better job of protecting the wearer than single layers of cloth with lower thread counts .
Dr. Scott Segal , a professor and chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has been putting various cloth masks to the test since March .
He shared this rule of thumb with NPR earlier this year : Hold up the fabric to a bright light or to the sun .
He says if you can `` see the light outlining the individual fibers in the fabric , it 's probably not a good filter .
And if you ca n't , it 's probably going to filter better . ''
He and other researchers say a tight-weave 100 % cotton material is a good bet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC reviews the epidemiological and observational evidence on the use of masking and the spread of the coronavirus .
That includes a study of 124 Beijing households where at least one person had a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 .
As we 've reported , when everyone in the household wore masks as a preventative measure before the infected person started showing symptoms , the risk of transmission was cut by 79 % .
Another study highlighted by the CDC found that among 1,000 people contact-traced in Thailand , those who reported always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a greater than 70 % reduced risk of becoming infected compared with those who did n't wear masks under those circumstances .
The CDC also pointed to research that found that when mask wearing was strictly enforced onboard long flights , infected passengers did not transmit the virus to anyone else on the plane .
What 's more , the CDC notes , `` seven studies have confirmed the benefit of universal masking in community level analyses . ''
That includes research on masking in a hospital system , a German city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. and Canada nationwide .
`` Each analysis demonstrated that , following directives from organizational and political leadership for universal masking , new infections fell significantly , '' the CDC writes .
Two of those studies , as well as other analyses , showed that universal masking policies reduced mortality , the CDC says .
Interestingly , the CDC 's scientific brief also cites an economic argument for masks , noting an analysis using U.S. data that found that `` increasing universal masking by 15 % could prevent the need for lockdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 trillion or about 5 % of gross domestic product . ''

Wear Masks To Protect Yourself From The Coronavirus, Not Only Others, CDC Stresses
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Stewart/GC Images Michael Stewart/GC Images
Wearing a mask protects the wearer, and not just other people, from the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized in an updated scientific brief issued Tuesday. And the protective benefits of masks are stronger the more people wear masks consistently and correctly, the agency says.
When the CDC first recommended that Americans wear cloth face coverings back in April, it cited evidence that the coronavirus could be transmitted by asymptomatic people who might not be aware of their infectiousness – a group estimated to account for more than 50% of transmissions. The agency said masks were intended to block virus-laden particles that might be emitted by an infected person.
In a report updated Tuesday, the CDC says that is still the primary intention of wearing masks. But it also cites growing evidence that even cloth masks can also reduce the amount of infectious droplets inhaled by the wearer.
"This messaging is key to increase adherence and interest in mask wearing. I am thrilled!" Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease physician with the University of California, San Francisco, said in a tweet Tuesday.
Ghandi argued in a recently published paper that wearing masks can reduce the severity of illness with COVID-19, even if the wearer does become infected.
As for which mask to choose? The CDC notes that when it comes to cloth masks, multiple layers made of higher thread counts do a better job of protecting the wearer than single layers of cloth with lower thread counts.
Dr. Scott Segal, a professor and chair of anesthesiology at Wake Forest School of Medicine, has been putting various cloth masks to the test since March. He shared this rule of thumb with NPR earlier this year: Hold up the fabric to a bright light or to the sun. He says if you can "see the light outlining the individual fibers in the fabric, it's probably not a good filter. And if you can't, it's probably going to filter better." He and other researchers say a tight-weave 100% cotton material is a good bet.
(If you want more advice on choosing a mask, here's our guide.)
In its new scientific brief, the CDC reviews the epidemiological and observational evidence on the use of masking and the spread of the coronavirus. That includes a study of 124 Beijing households where at least one person had a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19. As we've reported, when everyone in the household wore masks as a preventative measure before the infected person started showing symptoms, the risk of transmission was cut by 79%.
Another study highlighted by the CDC found that among 1,000 people contact-traced in Thailand, those who reported always wearing a mask during high-risk exposures had a greater than 70% reduced risk of becoming infected compared with those who didn't wear masks under those circumstances.
The CDC also pointed to research that found that when mask wearing was strictly enforced onboard long flights, infected passengers did not transmit the virus to anyone else on the plane.
What's more, the CDC notes, "seven studies have confirmed the benefit of universal masking in community level analyses." That includes research on masking in a hospital system, a German city, as well as several U.S. states and the U.S. and Canada nationwide.
"Each analysis demonstrated that, following directives from organizational and political leadership for universal masking, new infections fell significantly," the CDC writes. Two of those studies, as well as other analyses, showed that universal masking policies reduced mortality, the CDC says.
Interestingly, the CDC's scientific brief also cites an economic argument for masks, noting an analysis using U.S. data that found that "increasing universal masking by 15% could prevent the need for lockdowns and reduce associated losses of up to $1 trillion or about 5% of gross domestic product."


npr--2020-11-11--Lucille Bridges, Mother Of Anti-Segregation Icon Ruby Bridges, Dies At 86

Lucille Bridges , who in 1960 braved a gauntlet of threats and racist slurs to escort her daughter to a formerly all-white school in New Orleans in what became a symbol of opposition to segregation , has died at age 86 .
Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges , who walked up the stairs of William Frantz Elementary School six decades ago to become its first Black student , announced her mother 's death on Instagram late Tuesday .
She included a photo showing mother and daughter holding hands as they exited the school , flanked by U.S. marshals .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brave , progressive , a champion for change .
She helped alter the course of so many lives by setting me out on my path as a six year old little girl .
Our nation lost a Mother of the Civil Rights Movement today .
And I lost my mom .
I love you and am grateful for you .
May you Rest In Peace , '' wrote Ruby Bridges , who was memorialized in an iconic painting by Norman Rockwell depicting her , notebook and ruler in hand and accompanied by burly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a racial epithet .
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in a statement Tuesday night that Lucille Bridges is `` one of the mothers of the Civil Rights Movement in New Orleans . ''
She said the city mourns her loss .
`` Lucille insisted , seeing the action as an opportunity to help all Black children , and walked Ruby , with federal marshals , past chanting and taunting white protesters and to the schoolhouse , '' Cantrell said .
`` Mother and daughter both revealed their character and courage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a time when Black children rarely went beyond the 3rd grade , according to WGNO .
Her family later moved to New Orleans .
She gave birth to Ruby in 1954 , the same year as the landmark Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education , which struck down the decades-old `` separate but equal '' doctrine , ending segregation in the schools .
But Louisiana was one of several southern states that defied Brown until a federal court ordered them to integrate in 1960 .
Even so , the school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students to take an exam to determine if they could compete with white classmates .
Out of 165 students taking the exam , Ruby was one of five to pass and the only one to decide to attend William Frantz Elementary .
In an interview several years ago , Lucille explained that before her daughter 's first day of classes on Nov. 14 , 1960 , the Orleans Parish school superintendent `` explained to me and my husband that ... we had to pray because things were going to get really worse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ drove up right by the school , they had so many United States marshals , so many people just standing , screaming and hollering 'Two , four , six , eight , we do n't want to integrate . '
'' She said the crowd tossed eggs and tomatoes at them and even followed them home .
`` And when they followed us home , they started pitching bottles and things . ''
The families of many of the white students subsequently pulled their children out of the school .
Lucille said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from federal marshals for the whole school year .
According to the National Women 's History Museum , Ruby 's father , Abon , was reluctant to have her attend an all-white school — it was Lucille who insisted .
`` I wanted it better for my kids than it was for us , so that my kids could go to school and learn , '' Lucille explained in the interview .
The museum says the Bridges suffered for Ruby 's right to attend the school : her father lost his job , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lucille , and Ruby 's grandparents were evicted from the farm where they had lived for years .

Lucille Bridges, Mother Of Anti-Segregation Icon Ruby Bridges, Dies At 86
Enlarge this image toggle caption Uncredited/AP Uncredited/AP
Lucille Bridges, who in 1960 braved a gauntlet of threats and racist slurs to escort her daughter to a formerly all-white school in New Orleans in what became a symbol of opposition to segregation, has died at age 86.
Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, who walked up the stairs of William Frantz Elementary School six decades ago to become its first Black student, announced her mother's death on Instagram late Tuesday. She included a photo showing mother and daughter holding hands as they exited the school, flanked by U.S. marshals.
"Today our country lost a hero. Brave, progressive, a champion for change. She helped alter the course of so many lives by setting me out on my path as a six year old little girl. Our nation lost a Mother of the Civil Rights Movement today. And I lost my mom. I love you and am grateful for you. May you Rest In Peace," wrote Ruby Bridges, who was memorialized in an iconic painting by Norman Rockwell depicting her, notebook and ruler in hand and accompanied by burly marshals, walking past a wall scrawled with a racial epithet.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in a statement Tuesday night that Lucille Bridges is "one of the mothers of the Civil Rights Movement in New Orleans." She said the city mourns her loss.
"Lucille insisted, seeing the action as an opportunity to help all Black children, and walked Ruby, with federal marshals, past chanting and taunting white protesters and to the schoolhouse," Cantrell said. "Mother and daughter both revealed their character and courage."
Lucille was born to Mississippi sharecroppers at a time when Black children rarely went beyond the 3rd grade, according to WGNO. Her family later moved to New Orleans.
She gave birth to Ruby in 1954, the same year as the landmark Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education, which struck down the decades-old "separate but equal" doctrine, ending segregation in the schools.
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
But Louisiana was one of several southern states that defied Brown until a federal court ordered them to integrate in 1960. Even so, the school district where the Bridges lived required Black students to take an exam to determine if they could compete with white classmates. Out of 165 students taking the exam, Ruby was one of five to pass and the only one to decide to attend William Frantz Elementary.
YouTube
In an interview several years ago, Lucille explained that before her daughter's first day of classes on Nov. 14, 1960, the Orleans Parish school superintendent "explained to me and my husband that ... we had to pray because things were going to get really worse."
She said that when they "drove up right by the school, they had so many United States marshals, so many people just standing, screaming and hollering 'Two, four, six, eight, we don't want to integrate.'"
She said the crowd tossed eggs and tomatoes at them and even followed them home. "And when they followed us home, they started pitching bottles and things."
The families of many of the white students subsequently pulled their children out of the school.
Lucille said she and her family lived under armed guard from federal marshals for the whole school year.
According to the National Women's History Museum, Ruby's father, Abon, was reluctant to have her attend an all-white school — it was Lucille who insisted.
"I wanted it better for my kids than it was for us, so that my kids could go to school and learn," Lucille explained in the interview.
The museum says the Bridges suffered for Ruby's right to attend the school: her father lost his job, local grocery stores refused to sell to Lucille, and Ruby's grandparents were evicted from the farm where they had lived for years.


npr--2020-11-11--Biden Plans To Reopen America To Refugees After Trump Slashed Admissions

Biden Plans To Reopen America To Refugees After Trump Slashed Admissions President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to reassert America 's commitment to refugees after the Trump White House 's slashing of the resettlement program , part of the current president 's anti-immigration drive .
In 2016 , President Barack Obama aimed to admit 110,000 refugees .
President Trump lowered the cap on refugee admissions every year of his presidency .
For fiscal year 2021 , he set the cap at 15,000 , the lowest on record .
Biden promises to take a starkly different approach from his predecessor : to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cap to 125,000 , and seek to raise it over time . ''
For decades , the United States led the world in offering protection to people fleeing persecution in other countries .
Now the Biden presidency will mark a return to the political consensus that the U.S. should continue to do so , refugee policy experts say .
But while the president has the authority to set refugee admissions numbers , it will take time to rebuild the nation 's resettlement program after four years of the Trump administration largely dismantling it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the International Refugee Assistance Project .
`` The point is not to hit 125,000 — the point is to signal both to the rest of the world and also to the domestic population in our own government that this is a priority again , '' Heller says .
`` It 's less relevant if we hit the exact number and more relevant that we say , 'Admitting refugees is really important .
We are going to aim at this high number and invest in infrastructure and get as close as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at some of the main challenges ahead for the Biden presidency as it seeks to roll back the sweeping changes to the refugee program .
Budget cuts have gutted the infrastructure for resettling refugees Nine religious or community-based organizations known as resettlement agencies have contracts with the State Department to resettle refugees .
The agencies ' budgets are based on the number of refugees admitted .
Low admission levels reduced government funding , which decimated programs supporting newly arrived refugees .
After the State Department told them to pare their operations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back offices and lay off workers .
`` We 're looking at a very big ramp-up because over the last four years , there 's been an 85 % cut and an effective demolition of the refugee resettlement program , '' says David Miliband , president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee , the largest of the nine resettlement agencies .
More than 120,000 refugees are in the pipeline , passing rigorous security and medical checks , waiting in line , sometimes for years .
In addition , thousands of Iraqis who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now at risk are waiting too .
In 2020 , there were 4,000 slots for Iraqis who aided the U.S. military , but only 123 were resettled .
Those seeking refuge in the U.S. have to submit to interviews with immigration officers and security officers .
In Iraq , interviews slowed to a trickle last year with the withdrawal of nonessential employees from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad .
Refugees are scrutinized more thoroughly than any group that comes to the United States .
The Trump administration added new `` extreme vetting '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backlog of applicants , says Heller , of IRAP .
`` Extreme vetting is really inefficient .
It 's not better vetting by redundancies that are unnecessary or busy work for the intelligence community , '' Heller says .
The new vetting rules were kept secret until IRAP sued to force a disclosure .
`` Now , you have to be able to provide every address you 've lived at for the last 15 years and every passport number you had for the last 15 years , every social media handle that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' says Heller .
`` There 's no indication that it does anything for anybody 's safety . ''
A divided Congress has to set the budget for refugee resettlement amid a pandemic The Refugee Act of 1980 established the mechanism for resettlement , including the president 's annual determination on refugee arrivals and a provision for consultations with Congress that sets the annual budget for the resettlement program .
That 's the way it 's supposed to work — but the Trump administration consistently ignored the provision to confer with lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , the election has produced a divided Congress .
Members may not have the appetite to take on immigration policy amid the coronavirus pandemic and an economic recession , says Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute .
The Biden administration will also be consumed by the COVID-19 crisis .
`` For the first 100 days , there will be very little bandwidth for a Biden administration to deal with anything other than COVID .
We have never faced a crisis like this before , '' Chishti says .
`` We ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy .
If people expect that this is going to happen tomorrow , they will be in for a big disappointment . ''

Biden Plans To Reopen America To Refugees After Trump Slashed Admissions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gokhan Sahin/Getty Images Gokhan Sahin/Getty Images
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to reassert America's commitment to refugees after the Trump White House's slashing of the resettlement program, part of the current president's anti-immigration drive.
In 2016, President Barack Obama aimed to admit 110,000 refugees. President Trump lowered the cap on refugee admissions every year of his presidency. For fiscal year 2021, he set the cap at 15,000, the lowest on record.
Biden promises to take a starkly different approach from his predecessor: to "set the annual global refugee admissions cap to 125,000, and seek to raise it over time."
For decades, the United States led the world in offering protection to people fleeing persecution in other countries. Now the Biden presidency will mark a return to the political consensus that the U.S. should continue to do so, refugee policy experts say.
But while the president has the authority to set refugee admissions numbers, it will take time to rebuild the nation's resettlement program after four years of the Trump administration largely dismantling it, according to Becca Heller, executive director of the International Refugee Assistance Project.
"The point is not to hit 125,000 — the point is to signal both to the rest of the world and also to the domestic population in our own government that this is a priority again," Heller says. "It's less relevant if we hit the exact number and more relevant that we say, 'Admitting refugees is really important. We are going to aim at this high number and invest in infrastructure and get as close as we can.' "
Here's a look at some of the main challenges ahead for the Biden presidency as it seeks to roll back the sweeping changes to the refugee program.
Budget cuts have gutted the infrastructure for resettling refugees
Nine religious or community-based organizations known as resettlement agencies have contracts with the State Department to resettle refugees.
The agencies' budgets are based on the number of refugees admitted. Low admission levels reduced government funding, which decimated programs supporting newly arrived refugees. After the State Department told them to pare their operations, many agencies had to shutter or scale back offices and lay off workers.
"We're looking at a very big ramp-up because over the last four years, there's been an 85% cut and an effective demolition of the refugee resettlement program," says David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, the largest of the nine resettlement agencies.
The backlog is huge
More than 120,000 refugees are in the pipeline, passing rigorous security and medical checks, waiting in line, sometimes for years. In addition, thousands of Iraqis who worked for the U.S. military and are now at risk are waiting too. In 2020, there were 4,000 slots for Iraqis who aided the U.S. military, but only 123 were resettled.
Those seeking refuge in the U.S. have to submit to interviews with immigration officers and security officers. In Iraq, interviews slowed to a trickle last year with the withdrawal of nonessential employees from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Refugees are scrutinized more thoroughly than any group that comes to the U.S.
The Trump administration added new "extreme vetting" requirements, and that is swelling the backlog of applicants, says Heller, of IRAP.
"Extreme vetting is really inefficient. It's not better vetting by redundancies that are unnecessary or busy work for the intelligence community," Heller says. The new vetting rules were kept secret until IRAP sued to force a disclosure.
"Now, you have to be able to provide every address you've lived at for the last 15 years and every passport number you had for the last 15 years, every social media handle that you've had for the last 15 years," says Heller. "There's no indication that it does anything for anybody's safety."
A divided Congress has to set the budget for refugee resettlement amid a pandemic
The Refugee Act of 1980 established the mechanism for resettlement, including the president's annual determination on refugee arrivals and a provision for consultations with Congress that sets the annual budget for the resettlement program.
That's the way it's supposed to work — but the Trump administration consistently ignored the provision to confer with lawmakers, according to refugee advocates.
So far, the election has produced a divided Congress. Members may not have the appetite to take on immigration policy amid the coronavirus pandemic and an economic recession, says Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute. The Biden administration will also be consumed by the COVID-19 crisis.
"For the first 100 days, there will be very little bandwidth for a Biden administration to deal with anything other than COVID. We have never faced a crisis like this before," Chishti says. "We can't expect a huge leap on immigration policy. If people expect that this is going to happen tomorrow, they will be in for a big disappointment."