npr--2020-09-13--Coronavirus Maps: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Maps : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 6 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 190,000 have died .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily .
Some state outbreaks are worse than others .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on new daily cases per capita .
These color-coded risk levels were developed by a consortium of researchers and public health experts .
The group advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
Orange states may need to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and both yellow and green states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totals to date .
This type of visualization highlights a state 's daily growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
Since then , new cases have fallen from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to under 600 per day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see totals and per capita figures around the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid August , California , Florida and Texas have surpassed New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends state by state , the table below shows the change in average new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over week for the last 28 days .
States marked in shades of red are showing growth , those in shades of green , are showing declines .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
In early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state 's daily numbers until the JHU team was able to reconcile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn contributed to and Carmel Wroth edited this story .

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


npr--2020-09-13--California Camp Fire Survivors Face The Horror All Over Again In 2020

California Camp Fire Survivors Face The Horror All Over Again In 2020 Linda Oslin and her husband lost everything when the Camp Fire raced into their neighborhood in Paradise , Calif. , in the fall of 2018 .
She 's in her 70s — he in his 80s — and they decided they did n't have it in them to try to rebuild .
That could take years .
So they found a place for sale out of the woods and farther down the mountain near Oroville , Calif. , where they 've started to rebuild their lives .
Except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to evacuate from three more wildfires , including this past week when the Bear Fire exploded near the town , burning an untold number of structures and claiming at least 10 lives .
`` And every incident I organize a little more , '' Oslin says .
When she heard reports that the Bear Fire was burning into the village of Berry Creek , they did n't wait for the official evacuation call .
They left , knowing that some of their neighbors died in 2018 because they could n't get out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic can go , we were stuck in it in the Camp Fire , I said let 's finish packing the vehicles , secure everything and just leave , '' Oslin says .
This time the Oslins are pretty sure their house is still standing — for now .
They 're not sure when they 'll be able to go home though .
They 're staying again with the same friends who took them in after their harrowing Camp Fire escape .
Anything from just the slight smell of smoke to the evacuation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Well we 're doing OK , '' Oslin says , trying to stay upbeat .
`` We do have our share of PTSD at times . ''
Researchers were only just starting to get a handle on the cumulative effects of trauma on California wildfire survivors from previous bad fire years like 2017 and 2018 .
And now , 2020 .
`` It 's hard to imagine another fire not being a trigger for a lot of people , '' says Irva Hertz-Picciotto , professor of public health at the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the university 's Environmental Health Sciences Center , has spent much of the past two years interviewing Camp Fire survivors .
She hopes to give policymakers better tools to help people recovering from disasters .
And she 's researched plenty of them in her career .
But wildfires are starting to distinguish themselves even in this era of disasters such as hurricanes that can seem overwhelming in scale .
Wildfires are proving to no longer be just once in a lifetime , big , traumatic events for a particular place .
`` Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can now expect this on an annual basis , that strikes me as an even bigger problem than other disasters , like the earthquake happened , or the volcano , and we had to rebuild , '' Hertz-Piccioto says .
She says we need to build back up our infrastructure so that wildfire survivors know they 'll have things like safe , temporary housing and mental health support , which was lacking after the 2018 California fires .
Researchers also say bad wildfires like these on the West Coast are the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be rebuilding or encouraging more development in places we know will burn .
In the libertarian-leaning West , loose building codes and other factors have been attributed to an explosion in development in wild lands that are prone to fire .
Yet therein lies one of the biggest and thorniest issues facing the West , and many other parts of the country in this era of climate change .
Many people are living in high fire risk areas in California and Oregon in particular because it 's the only place they can afford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oslin 's mind all the time .
She and her husband intentionally found a new place to live and rebuild their lives that was n't in the woods .
They have three acres of open pasture .
They cleared out all the trees around their house and even rebuilt the driveway so emergency vehicles can get in .
Still , here they are evacuated and they could lose their home again .
`` It appears that if you live in California you really have no choice in the matter , '' Oslin says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer where you live . ''
So Oslin and her husband focus on what they believe they can control : being prepared and ready to evacuate to safety at all times .
`` Just have a go bag , '' she says .
`` The one thing that saved our bacon was having all of our important papers . ''
Those important papers were about all they left with when fleeing the 2018 Camp Fire .
It made things a lot easier in the aftermath , something they 're prepared to do again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fire .

California Camp Fire Survivors Face The Horror All Over Again In 2020
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Linda Oslin and her husband lost everything when the Camp Fire raced into their neighborhood in Paradise, Calif., in the fall of 2018.
She's in her 70s — he in his 80s — and they decided they didn't have it in them to try to rebuild. That could take years. So they found a place for sale out of the woods and farther down the mountain near Oroville, Calif., where they've started to rebuild their lives.
Except for one thing.
They've since had to evacuate from three more wildfires, including this past week when the Bear Fire exploded near the town, burning an untold number of structures and claiming at least 10 lives.
"And every incident I organize a little more," Oslin says.
When she heard reports that the Bear Fire was burning into the village of Berry Creek, they didn't wait for the official evacuation call. They left, knowing that some of their neighbors died in 2018 because they couldn't get out of Paradise.
"Knowing how evacuation traffic can go, we were stuck in it in the Camp Fire, I said let's finish packing the vehicles, secure everything and just leave," Oslin says.
This time the Oslins are pretty sure their house is still standing — for now. They're not sure when they'll be able to go home though. They're staying again with the same friends who took them in after their harrowing Camp Fire escape. Anything from just the slight smell of smoke to the evacuation itself has triggered trauma for them.
"Well we're doing OK," Oslin says, trying to stay upbeat. "We do have our share of PTSD at times."
Researchers were only just starting to get a handle on the cumulative effects of trauma on California wildfire survivors from previous bad fire years like 2017 and 2018. And now, 2020.
"It's hard to imagine another fire not being a trigger for a lot of people," says Irva Hertz-Picciotto, professor of public health at the University of California-Davis.
Hertz-Picciotto, who also directs the university's Environmental Health Sciences Center, has spent much of the past two years interviewing Camp Fire survivors. She hopes to give policymakers better tools to help people recovering from disasters.
And she's researched plenty of them in her career.
But wildfires are starting to distinguish themselves even in this era of disasters such as hurricanes that can seem overwhelming in scale. Wildfires are proving to no longer be just once in a lifetime, big, traumatic events for a particular place.
"Now that we're in a situation where we can now expect this on an annual basis, that strikes me as an even bigger problem than other disasters, like the earthquake happened, or the volcano, and we had to rebuild," Hertz-Piccioto says.
She says we need to build back up our infrastructure so that wildfire survivors know they'll have things like safe, temporary housing and mental health support, which was lacking after the 2018 California fires.
Researchers also say bad wildfires like these on the West Coast are the latest signal that we shouldn't necessarily even be rebuilding or encouraging more development in places we know will burn. In the libertarian-leaning West, loose building codes and other factors have been attributed to an explosion in development in wild lands that are prone to fire.
Yet therein lies one of the biggest and thorniest issues facing the West, and many other parts of the country in this era of climate change. Many people are living in high fire risk areas in California and Oregon in particular because it's the only place they can afford to.
This quandary weighs on Linda Oslin's mind all the time. She and her husband intentionally found a new place to live and rebuild their lives that wasn't in the woods. They have three acres of open pasture. They cleared out all the trees around their house and even rebuilt the driveway so emergency vehicles can get in.
Still, here they are evacuated and they could lose their home again.
"It appears that if you live in California you really have no choice in the matter," Oslin says. "It does not matter any longer where you live."
So Oslin and her husband focus on what they believe they can control: being prepared and ready to evacuate to safety at all times.
"Just have a go bag," she says. "The one thing that saved our bacon was having all of our important papers."
Those important papers were about all they left with when fleeing the 2018 Camp Fire. It made things a lot easier in the aftermath, something they're prepared to do again should the worst happen with the Bear Fire.


npr--2020-09-13--2 Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies Shot In Apparent 'Ambush' Near Train Station

Two Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Department deputies were shot Saturday near a train station .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva called the incident an `` ambush . ''
The department tweeted that a man and a woman were `` ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle . ''
Both suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were transported to St. Francis Medical Center , according to homicide captain Kent Wegener .
Villanueva said in a news conference that both deputies were out of surgery and remain in critical condition .
The suspect , who was seen in a security video taken from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains at large .
The two deputies were both recent graduates of Class 437 .
Villanueva said he had sworn them in about 14 months earlier .
He described the deputies as a `` 31-year-old mother of a 6-year-old boy '' and a `` 24-year-old . ''
`` This is just a sober reminder it 's a dangerous job .
Actions , words have consequence , '' Villanueva said .
`` And our job does not get any easier because people do n't like law enforcement , '' he added , referencing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been taking place since May , following the police killing of George Floyd .
The attack was reported at about 7 p.m. Pacific time at the Compton terminal of the Metro 's blue line .
According to Wegener , the deputies were able to radio for help .
California State Assembly Member Mike Gipson said he was praying for both of the officers and their families and hoped for a speedy recovery for the two .
Fellow Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer urged the community to `` condemn the act of the perpetrators , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI in Los Angeles said in a tweet that it would offer resources and stand ready to assist the Sheriff 's Department 's investigation .
Villanueva noted the attack came at a time when the department was stretched thin .
Citing the protests in South LA and the Bobcat Fire , Villanueva said deputies had been working `` very long hours these days . ''
President Trump responded to the incident , saying in a tweet that whoever shot the deputies were `` Animals that must be hit hard ! ''

2 Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies Shot In Apparent 'Ambush' Near Train Station
Enlarge this image toggle caption Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department via AP Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department via AP
Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies were shot Saturday near a train station. Sheriff Alex Villanueva called the incident an "ambush."
The department tweeted that a man and a woman were "ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle." Both suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were transported to St. Francis Medical Center, according to homicide captain Kent Wegener. Villanueva said in a news conference that both deputies were out of surgery and remain in critical condition.
The suspect, who was seen in a security video taken from a nearby Metropolitan Transportation Authority camera, remains at large.
The two deputies were both recent graduates of Class 437. Villanueva said he had sworn them in about 14 months earlier. He described the deputies as a "31-year-old mother of a 6-year-old boy" and a "24-year-old."
"This is just a sober reminder it's a dangerous job. Actions, words have consequence," Villanueva said. "And our job does not get any easier because people don't like law enforcement," he added, referencing the nationwide protests against police violence that have been taking place since May, following the police killing of George Floyd.
The attack was reported at about 7 p.m. Pacific time at the Compton terminal of the Metro's blue line. According to Wegener, the deputies were able to radio for help.
California State Assembly Member Mike Gipson said he was praying for both of the officers and their families and hoped for a speedy recovery for the two. Fellow Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer urged the community to "condemn the act of the perpetrators," calling the deputies heroes.
The FBI in Los Angeles said in a tweet that it would offer resources and stand ready to assist the Sheriff's Department's investigation.
Villanueva noted the attack came at a time when the department was stretched thin. Citing the protests in South LA and the Bobcat Fire, Villanueva said deputies had been working "very long hours these days."
President Trump responded to the incident, saying in a tweet that whoever shot the deputies were "Animals that must be hit hard!"


npr--2020-09-14--In Florida, Schools Under Pressure To Get Rid Of Police Officers

In Florida , Schools Under Pressure To Get Rid Of Police Officers After a school shooting left 17 people dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland , Fla. , the county sheriff 's office decided to arm its school-based deputies with automatic rifles .
It was nine days after the Feb. 14 , 2018 shooting , and Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said issuing the weapons was `` a stopgap measure to create a heightened sense of security around the district . ''
Olivia , who was a freshman at the time at another Broward County school , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye contact with one of several police officers with AR-15s in their hands .
`` I looked over , and he looked right at me .
And the way he stared at me was terrifying , '' she said .
`` He looked like I was a threat .
I did n't feel like a person anymore , like all he was seeing was my skin .
It just hurt so much ... .
to be seen like this , just because I 'm Black . ''
Olivia , who is now 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her given name , because she has been threatened on social media after participating in Black Lives Matter protests this spring .
She is just one of many Black students who say the presence of armed law enforcement officers in Florida schools makes them feel less safe .
Since a white police officer killed George Floyd in Minneapolis , and protesters filled the streets in historic uprisings , major school districts throughout the country have voted to get police out of schools , including Minneapolis , St. Paul , San Francisco , Oakland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some schools in Chicago .
Student activists in South Florida want the same thing to happen here .
But they face what could be an insurmountable challenge : widespread security fears in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting .
Shortly after the massacre two and half years ago , Florida passed a law requiring a police officer or armed guard on every campus .
A report earlier this month from the University of Florida found the number of police on school campuses statewide nearly doubled since then — and with that big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in arrests at school .
Civil rights groups are working to get the law repealed .
In the meantime , students here are pushing for whatever they can get — even if it 's just pulling some funding away from police and using it instead to hire more teachers , social workers and counselors .
The study conducted by a top education researcher at UF found that the increase in police stationed at Florida schools was driven largely by new officers at elementary schools .
Arrests at schools jumped by up to 82 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher presence of police officers at schools also resulted in more student disciplinary infractions being reported to law enforcement , `` particularly for less severe infractions and among middle schoolers , '' according to the report .
`` There was little consistent evidence that the presence of law enforcement decreased the number of behavioral incidents occurring , indicating that school-based law enforcement were not necessarily making schools safer , '' wrote the report 's author , F. Chris Curran , director of UF 's Education Policy Research Center .
`` We should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that come with putting law enforcement in schools , '' particularly the risk of exacerbating the school-to-prison pipeline , Curran said during an interview .
Several incidents involving South Florida police and Black children in recent years illustrate student activists ' and researchers ' concerns .
Earlier this year , a cell phone video surfaced showing a Miami-Dade school resource officer threatening to shoot a group of Black students while placing her hand on her gun .
Also , in Orlando , a cop stationed at a charter school was fired after arresting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that went viral nationally and sparked an unsuccessful effort to pass a state law setting a minimum age for arrest .
Olivia and her fellow student activists in Broward County pointed to another arrest of a Black teenager last year to demonstrate why Black kids see police as threatening rather than protective .
Broward Sheriff 's Office deputies were caught on video violently arresting DeLucca Rolle , a then-15-year-old Black student at a high school in Coral Springs , Fla. Police had been called to break up a fight in the parking lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where students often hang out in the afternoons waiting to get picked up .
Officers pepper sprayed Rolle , punched him and repeatedly slammed his head into the pavement , fracturing his nose .
Two deputies now face misdemeanor battery charges .
`` That 's why we do n't want police in schools , because they 're just another way of white supremacy sneaking into the schools and breaking our students down , '' Olivia said .
Joy , another Black 17-year-old high school senior in Broward County , also asked not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she has faced online harassment .
`` They feel like because we are children , they can continue to abuse their power , '' Joy said , referring to police .
`` That is why removing cops from schools is to protect the Black community , because when cops are in schools , they 're not here to protect us . ''
Broward County Public Schools spent $ 50.6 million on safety and security in 2019-20 , with a total budget of about $ 4.7 billion .
Gregory Tony , Broward 's first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear that Black students feel threatened and intimidated by his deputies , and he said he 's trying to improve that .
He argued schools need police to protect students from serious threats like shooters , and he said he wants Black kids to feel protected , too .
`` As a Black man , I live the injustices , '' Tony said .
`` I felt it as a young kid in the street .
I was George Floyd .
At 16 , I got slammed against the ground .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philadelphia by a bunch of overly aggressive and abusive officers .
Fortunately , I was n't choked to death for eight minutes and 46 seconds .
But I have never forgotten that experience .
He recently allocated $ 1 million of the agency 's budget toward racial equity and implicit bias training .
Tony was appointed sheriff last year after Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis suspended the previous sheriff , Scott Israel , over the agency 's mistakes in responding to the Parkland shooting .
Tony , who was re-elected last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including AR-15s , on campuses , like Olivia remembered seeing shortly after the Parkland shooting .
But now they 're instructed to store them rather than carry them around , according to Tony .
Just south in Miami-Dade County , student activists have long fought to get rid of police in public schools .
Power U , a youth empowerment group that supports student activists in Miami-Dade , hosted virtual webinars and phone bank events throughout the summer to mobilize a renewed push for reallocating funding spent on police to mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going above and beyond the state mandate .
The district has its own police agency , which student activists believe is an unnecessary duplication of the county 's department .
Miami-Dade Schools Police is the largest school district police force in the country , with nearly 500 officers .
There 's a canine unit , a bicycle unit , a high-tech surveillance infrastructure and a team of investigators .
Schools have other security staff , as well .
The district 's $ 5.4 billion budget in 2019-20 included about $ 53.4 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health was $ 8.4 million .
That will jump to $ 11.3 million for the current school year because of an increase in state funding .
`` For the past 15 to 16 years , we 've been asking to defund police officers .
We 've been asking to have mental health .
We 've been asking for that , '' said Keno Walker , a Black staff organizer for Power U who started with the group when he was 13 , and was himself a student in the district .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world is asking for it , '' he said .
`` Do n't be left behind . ''
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho did not agree to an interview for this story .
His office sent a statement from the district 's police chief , Edwin Lopez .
`` Miami Dade Schools Police Department School Resource Officers are trained to provide the necessary support for children in an effort to guide them as needed , always utilizing arrest as an ultimate last resort , '' the statement said .
The ACLU of Florida and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed increasing the police presence in Florida schools and allowing some teachers and other staff to be armed , arguing the changes imposed after the Parkland shooting would hurt students of color in particular .
The ACLU says it will lobby state lawmakers to repeal the law requiring a police officer or armed guard on every school campus .
But short of that , it wants an amendment to allow school districts more flexibility .
`` For instance , a school district could just increase patrols around the school ... to make sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens on campus , but not integrated into the schools , '' said Michelle Morton , research coordinator and policy counsel for the ACLU of Florida .
But mass shootings happen fast .
Ryan Petty 's 14-year-old daughter Alaina was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School , and he worries if officers are n't on campus , dozens of students could be injured or killed while waiting for them to arrive and confront a shooter .
Petty , who is white , now sits on the Florida Board of Education .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging school districts not to abandon their relationships with police departments .
`` Look , I 'm a father that lost a daughter .
And I can say the words : these are low probability events .
But they 're high impact , '' Petty said .
`` And so we want to prevent those , and we want to mitigate those as much as possible . ''
He said police are the ones to do that — even though , he acknowledged , the officer assigned to the Parkland high school did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That , Petty said , is n't an argument for no police officers in schools — but for better ones .

In Florida, Schools Under Pressure To Get Rid Of Police Officers
Enlarge this image toggle caption Wilfredo Lee/AP Wilfredo Lee/AP
After a school shooting left 17 people dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., the county sheriff's office decided to arm its school-based deputies with automatic rifles.
It was nine days after the Feb. 14, 2018 shooting, and Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said issuing the weapons was "a stopgap measure to create a heightened sense of security around the district."
Olivia, who was a freshman at the time at another Broward County school, remembers getting off the bus and making eye contact with one of several police officers with AR-15s in their hands.
"I looked over, and he looked right at me. And the way he stared at me was terrifying," she said.
"He looked like I was a threat. I didn't feel like a person anymore, like all he was seeing was my skin. It just hurt so much .... to be seen like this, just because I'm Black."
Olivia, who is now 17, asked to be identified only by her given name, because she has been threatened on social media after participating in Black Lives Matter protests this spring.
She is just one of many Black students who say the presence of armed law enforcement officers in Florida schools makes them feel less safe.
Since a white police officer killed George Floyd in Minneapolis, and protesters filled the streets in historic uprisings, major school districts throughout the country have voted to get police out of schools, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Portland, Denver, and some schools in Chicago.
Student activists in South Florida want the same thing to happen here. But they face what could be an insurmountable challenge: widespread security fears in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting. Shortly after the massacre two and half years ago, Florida passed a law requiring a police officer or armed guard on every campus.
A report earlier this month from the University of Florida found the number of police on school campuses statewide nearly doubled since then — and with that big jump in officers came a big jump in arrests at school.
Civil rights groups are working to get the law repealed. In the meantime, students here are pushing for whatever they can get — even if it's just pulling some funding away from police and using it instead to hire more teachers, social workers and counselors.
Big jump in arrests
The study conducted by a top education researcher at UF found that the increase in police stationed at Florida schools was driven largely by new officers at elementary schools. Arrests at schools jumped by up to 82 percent, the report found.
The higher presence of police officers at schools also resulted in more student disciplinary infractions being reported to law enforcement, "particularly for less severe infractions and among middle schoolers," according to the report.
"There was little consistent evidence that the presence of law enforcement decreased the number of behavioral incidents occurring, indicating that school-based law enforcement were not necessarily making schools safer," wrote the report's author, F. Chris Curran, director of UF's Education Policy Research Center.
"We should have some real concerns about the potential tradeoffs that come with putting law enforcement in schools," particularly the risk of exacerbating the school-to-prison pipeline, Curran said during an interview.
Several incidents involving South Florida police and Black children in recent years illustrate student activists' and researchers' concerns.
Earlier this year, a cell phone video surfaced showing a Miami-Dade school resource officer threatening to shoot a group of Black students while placing her hand on her gun. Also, in Orlando, a cop stationed at a charter school was fired after arresting a 6-year-old Black girl — an incident that went viral nationally and sparked an unsuccessful effort to pass a state law setting a minimum age for arrest.
Olivia and her fellow student activists in Broward County pointed to another arrest of a Black teenager last year to demonstrate why Black kids see police as threatening rather than protective.
Broward Sheriff's Office deputies were caught on video violently arresting DeLucca Rolle, a then-15-year-old Black student at a high school in Coral Springs, Fla. Police had been called to break up a fight in the parking lot of a McDonald's near the school where students often hang out in the afternoons waiting to get picked up.
Officers pepper sprayed Rolle, punched him and repeatedly slammed his head into the pavement, fracturing his nose. Two deputies now face misdemeanor battery charges.
"That's why we don't want police in schools, because they're just another way of white supremacy sneaking into the schools and breaking our students down," Olivia said.
Joy, another Black 17-year-old high school senior in Broward County, also asked not to be identified by her full name because she has faced online harassment.
"They feel like because we are children, they can continue to abuse their power," Joy said, referring to police. "That is why removing cops from schools is to protect the Black community, because when cops are in schools, they're not here to protect us."
Broward County Public Schools spent $50.6 million on safety and security in 2019-20, with a total budget of about $4.7 billion.
Gregory Tony, Broward's first Black sheriff, said he is disappointed to hear that Black students feel threatened and intimidated by his deputies, and he said he's trying to improve that. He argued schools need police to protect students from serious threats like shooters, and he said he wants Black kids to feel protected, too.
"As a Black man, I live the injustices," Tony said. "I felt it as a young kid in the street. I was George Floyd. At 16, I got slammed against the ground. I had a knee on my neck in Philadelphia by a bunch of overly aggressive and abusive officers. Fortunately, I wasn't choked to death for eight minutes and 46 seconds. But I have never forgotten that experience.
He recently allocated $1 million of the agency's budget toward racial equity and implicit bias training.
Tony was appointed sheriff last year after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended the previous sheriff, Scott Israel, over the agency's mistakes in responding to the Parkland shooting.
Tony, who was re-elected last month, said school police still carry long rifles, including AR-15s, on campuses, like Olivia remembered seeing shortly after the Parkland shooting. But now they're instructed to store them rather than carry them around, according to Tony.
Just south in Miami-Dade County, student activists have long fought to get rid of police in public schools.
Power U, a youth empowerment group that supports student activists in Miami-Dade, hosted virtual webinars and phone bank events throughout the summer to mobilize a renewed push for reallocating funding spent on police to mental health care.
Power U argues the district is going above and beyond the state mandate.
The district has its own police agency, which student activists believe is an unnecessary duplication of the county's department. Miami-Dade Schools Police is the largest school district police force in the country, with nearly 500 officers. There's a canine unit, a bicycle unit, a high-tech surveillance infrastructure and a team of investigators. Schools have other security staff, as well.
The district's $5.4 billion budget in 2019-20 included about $53.4 million for police and security. Spending on mental health was $8.4 million. That will jump to $11.3 million for the current school year because of an increase in state funding.
"For the past 15 to 16 years, we've been asking to defund police officers. We've been asking to have mental health. We've been asking for that," said Keno Walker, a Black staff organizer for Power U who started with the group when he was 13, and was himself a student in the district.
"And now, in this moment, the world is asking for it," he said. "Don't be left behind."
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho did not agree to an interview for this story. His office sent a statement from the district's police chief, Edwin Lopez.
"Miami Dade Schools Police Department School Resource Officers are trained to provide the necessary support for children in an effort to guide them as needed, always utilizing arrest as an ultimate last resort," the statement said.
Civil rights groups pressure Florida legislature to repeal law
The ACLU of Florida and the Southern Poverty Law Center have consistently opposed increasing the police presence in Florida schools and allowing some teachers and other staff to be armed, arguing the changes imposed after the Parkland shooting would hurt students of color in particular.
The ACLU says it will lobby state lawmakers to repeal the law requiring a police officer or armed guard on every school campus. But short of that, it wants an amendment to allow school districts more flexibility.
"For instance, a school district could just increase patrols around the school ... to make sure that police are close by if something happens on campus, but not integrated into the schools," said Michelle Morton, research coordinator and policy counsel for the ACLU of Florida.
But mass shootings happen fast. Ryan Petty's 14-year-old daughter Alaina was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and he worries if officers aren't on campus, dozens of students could be injured or killed while waiting for them to arrive and confront a shooter.
Petty, who is white, now sits on the Florida Board of Education. He recently wrote op-eds for Newsweek and CNN urging school districts not to abandon their relationships with police departments.
"Look, I'm a father that lost a daughter. And I can say the words: these are low probability events. But they're high impact," Petty said. "And so we want to prevent those, and we want to mitigate those as much as possible."
He said police are the ones to do that — even though, he acknowledged, the officer assigned to the Parkland high school didn't go in during the shooting there.
That, Petty said, isn't an argument for no police officers in schools — but for better ones.


npr--2020-09-14--Microsoft, Oracle Lose Bids For TikTok, According To China State TV

Microsoft , Oracle Lose Bids For TikTok , According To China State TV With its deadline to sell or be banned in the U.S. fast-approaching , Chinese tech giant ByteDance said it will not be selling its video-sharing app TikTok to either Microsoft or Oracle , according to China state TV .
Before that report , Microsoft said in a statement that ByteDance informed the company its bid for TikTok 's U.S. operations had been rejected .
Microsoft , a $ 1.5 trillion company , had been seen as the most likely buyer because of its vast resources and long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government .
`` We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok 's users , while protecting national security interests , '' a Microsoft spokesman said .
`` To do this , we would have made significant changes to ensure the service met the highest standards for security , privacy , online safety , and combating disinformation ... We look forward to seeing how the service evolves in these important areas . ''
The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Oracle was in negotiations to be TikTok 's `` trusted tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not involve an outright sale of the platform , according to the Journal .
Oracle , a software company that sells database products and cloud computing services to businesses , did not return a request for comment .
Any potential sale of the app , known for short viral videos of lip-syncing and dance challenges , has been complicated by China 's recent decision to restrict how artificial intelligence technology can be exported from the country .
The move means that any deal for TikTok might not include the app 's sophisticated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to its success .
Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives says Microsoft likely was only interested in acquiring TikTok with its algorithm , which ByteDance may have resisted .
`` Given the need now to get a green light from Beijing after its export rules were changed a few weeks ago , TikTok 's days in the U.S. likely are numbered with a shutdown now the next step , '' Ives said .
`` Unless there are some last minute changes , ByteDance heads into the White House deadline this week with some dark days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulled on the TikTok app within the U.S. '' For months , the Trump administration has been pressuring TikTok to divorce itself from its Beijing parent company , ByteDance , as officials in Washington fear the Chinese government could use the video app as a tool to spy on Americans .
Trump signed an executive order last month that makes it illegal for U.S. citizens to do business with ByteDance or any of its subsidiaries starting on Sept. 20 .
In a separate action , Trump ordered that TikTok sell off its U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said several times that TikTok must be purchased by Sept. 15 , though it is unclear how that date would be enforced .
Lawyers for TikTok have filed a legal challenge to block Trump 's executive order outlawing transactions between ByteDance subsidiaries and U.S. businesses , saying the move is unconstitutional and is rooted in speculation .
TikTok , which has became a super hit during the pandemic , has been downloaded in the U.S. more than 100 million times .
The company says it has taken steps to protect the data of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stored mostly in the U.S. Worries that the Chinese government can access such data is unfounded , TikTok has long said , claiming that government officials in Beijing have never asked for data on Americans and if such a request were made , the company would deny it .

Oracle's Deal For TikTok May Not Include A Purchase
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ng Han Guan/AP Ng Han Guan/AP
Updated at 1:04 p.m. ET
A deal with Oracle for TikTok's U.S. operations may end up including a partnership instead of an outright purchase.
With its deadline to sell or be banned in the U.S. fast approaching, Chinese tech giant ByteDance said it will not be selling its video-sharing app TikTok to either Microsoft or Oracle, according to China state TV.
Separately, Oracle said in a statement that it is "part of the proposal submitted by ByteDance to the Treasury Department over the weekend in which Oracle will serve as the trusted technology provider."
In a statement of its own, TikTok confirmed the talks with the U.S. government.
"We can confirm that we've submitted a proposal to the Treasury Department which we believe would resolve the Administration's security concerns," a TikTok spokesperson told NPR. "This proposal would enable us to continue supporting our community of 100 million people in the US who love TikTok for connection and entertainment, as well as the hundreds of thousands of small business owners and creators who rely upon TikTok to grow their livelihoods and build meaningful careers."
Microsoft said Sunday that ByteDance informed the company that its bid for TikTok's U.S. operations had been rejected.
Microsoft, a $1.5 trillion company, had been seen as the most likely buyer because of its vast resources and long history of doing business with the federal government.
"We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok's users, while protecting national security interests," a Microsoft spokesman said. "To do this, we would have made significant changes to ensure the service met the highest standards for security, privacy, online safety, and combating disinformation. ... We look forward to seeing how the service evolves in these important areas."
Walmart, which had proposed teaming up with Microsoft in a TikTok bid, said the giant retailer "continues to have an interest in a TikTok investment and continues discussions with ByteDance leadership and other interested parties."
The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Oracle was in negotiations to be TikTok's "trusted tech partner," an ambiguous relationship that did not involve an outright sale of the platform, according to the Journal.
Reuters, citing unidentified sources, reported that Oracle would "assume management of TikTok's U.S. user data. Oracle is also negotiating taking a stake in TikTok's U.S. operations."
Oracle, a software company that sells database products and cloud computing services to businesses, did not return a request for comment.
Any potential sale of the app, known for short viral videos of lip-syncing and dance challenges, has been complicated by China's recent decision to restrict how artificial intelligence technology can be exported from the country.
The move means that any deal for TikTok might not include the app's sophisticated algorithm, seen as the secret ingredient to its success.
Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said Microsoft likely was only interested in acquiring TikTok with its algorithm, which ByteDance may have resisted.
"Given the need now to get a green light from Beijing after its export rules were changed a few weeks ago, TikTok's days in the U.S. likely are numbered with a shutdown now the next step," Ives said. "Unless there are some last minute changes, ByteDance heads into the White House deadline this week with some dark days ahead as the plug now likely gets pulled on the TikTok app within the U.S."
For months, the Trump administration has been pressuring TikTok to divorce itself from its Beijing parent company, ByteDance, as officials in Washington fear the Chinese government could use the video app as a tool to spy on Americans.
Trump signed an executive order last month that makes it illegal for U.S. citizens to do business with ByteDance or any of its subsidiaries starting on Sept. 20. In a separate action, Trump ordered that TikTok sell off its U.S. operations by Nov. 12. Trump has said several times that TikTok must be purchased by Sept. 15, though it is unclear how that date would be enforced.
Lawyers for TikTok have filed a legal challenge to block Trump's executive order outlawing transactions between ByteDance subsidiaries and U.S. businesses, saying the move is unconstitutional and is rooted in speculation.
TikTok, which has became a super hit during the pandemic, has been downloaded in the U.S. more than 100 million times. The company says it has taken steps to protect the data of Americans, which the company said is stored mostly in the U.S.
Worries that the Chinese government can access such data is unfounded, TikTok has long said, claiming that government officials in Beijing have never asked for data on Americans and if such a request were made, the company would deny it.
NPR's Avie Schneider and NPR's Shannon Bond contributed to this report.


npr--2020-09-14--As Auto Industry Roars Back, Worker Shortages Throw Up Roadblocks

Orbital Insight CEO Jimmy Crawford has , quite literally , a birds-eye view of the U.S. auto industry Using satellite images , as well as anonymous cell phone location data , Orbital Insight tracks a wide range of human behavior — including key economic indicators like how many people report to work at auto plants .
`` We can just look at the number of cars in the parking lot , '' he said .
This spring , when the industry entered its unprecedented shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic , `` there was just nobody there , '' Crawford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Production of cars stopped completely .
But sales continued , draining the inventory at auto dealerships .
Now plants are working overtime to catch up with that pent-up demand .
In fact , Wards Intelligence , an automotive research and analytics firm , found that vehicle production in North America has returned nearly to pre-virus levels — a remarkable recovery .
But staffing levels within most plants , according to Orbital Insight 's data , have not fully recovered .
One challenge is absenteeism — a word that might bring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually covers all the reasons someone might not show up for work .
And during a pandemic , there are lots of reasons workers might not show up , from not having child care to waiting for a COVID-19 test result , or even being quarantined after a positive result .
`` Based on the number of COVID quarantines that we 've had , we 've hired a little over 200 additional team members to support that quarantine absenteeism , '' said Emily Lauder , the vice president of administration at Toyota Mississippi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Miss.
, where about 2,000 workers assemble Corolla sedans .
By late August the plant had confirmed nearly 100 positive cases .
Most of those employees had been exposed to the virus outside the plant , Lauder said , a sign that safety measures inside the plant were working .
But in order to keep the virus from spreading inside the plant , all those positive cases meant a lot of quarantines .
That 's created gaps on the production line that have n't been easy to fill , despite the high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for example , says Toyota has `` struggled somewhat '' finding temporary workers , or what the company refers to as `` variable workforce . ''
Like some other automakers , Toyota Mississippi is sending a few white-collar salaried workers to help with production .
Some of those employees had worked in a plant before making the switch to an office job .
But in other cases , staff with no manufacturing experience have been trained in what Lauder calls `` freshman processes '' — production tasks that are a little bit easier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the line like this — at least , not usually .
But these are n't usual times .
One General Motors plant , in Wentzville , Mo.
, has recently deployed white-collar workers to the line over the strenuous objections of the auto workers ' union .
Meanwhile , as NPR member station WOSU first reported , office workers at a Honda plant in Ohio were startled to be deployed to the line .
But Lauder says using white-collar workers is n't so unusual at Toyota .
Twenty years ago she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help build transmissions in a pinch .
Still , this is obviously not plan A for how to build cars .
`` Nobody wants to do this , '' said Kristin Dziczek , Vice President of Industry , Labor and Economics at the Center for Automotive Research .
`` This is not the optimal way to run production , to be running with salaried workers .
Dziczek said staffing shortages are partly because auto plant jobs can be difficult in the best of times , and particularly intimidating during a contagious pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ go into a plant , '' she said .
`` There 's 2,000 people on an assembly plant shift and , you know , if you 've been locked down and self isolating ... .
the thought of going to work with 1,999 other people , it 's a big challenge . ''
And while auto manufacturing used to pay very attractive wages , that 's no longer automatically true for new hires .
In some areas , they can make more money at other kinds of plants .
Lauder says in northeastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factories for manufacturing workers .
She also says the plant will be announcing a raise this fall .

As Auto Industry Roars Back, Worker Shortages Throw Up Roadblocks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul Sancya/AP Paul Sancya/AP
Orbital Insight CEO Jimmy Crawford has, quite literally, a bird's-eye view of the U.S. auto industry
Using satellite images as well as anonymous cellphone location data, Orbital Insight tracks a wide range of human behavior — including key economic indicators such as how many people report to work at auto plants.
"We can just look at the number of cars in the parking lot," he said.
This spring, when the industry entered an unprecedented shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, "there was just nobody there," Crawford said. "Just really skeleton crews."
Loading...
Production of cars stopped completely. But sales continued, draining the inventory at auto dealerships. Now plants are working overtime to catch up with that pent-up demand.
In fact, Wards Intelligence, an automotive research and analytics firm, found that vehicle production in North America has returned nearly to pre-virus levels — a remarkable recovery.
But staffing levels within most plants, according to Orbital Insight's data, have not fully recovered.
One challenge is absenteeism — a word that might bring to mind people playing hooky, but which actually covers all the reasons someone might not show up for work.
And during a pandemic, there are lots of reasons workers might not show up, from not having child care to waiting for a coronavirus test result, or even being quarantined after a positive result.
"Based on the number of COVID quarantines that we've had, we've hired a little over 200 additional team members to support that quarantine absenteeism," said Emily Lauder, vice president of administration at Toyota Mississippi, a nonunionized plant in Blue Springs, Miss., where about 2,000 workers assemble Corolla sedans.
By late August, the plant had confirmed nearly 100 positive cases. Most of those employees had been exposed to the virus outside the plant, Lauder said, a sign that safety measures inside the plant were working.
But to keep the virus from spreading inside the plant, all those positive cases meant a lot of quarantines. That's created gaps on the production line that haven't been easy to fill despite the high rate of national unemployment.
Lauder, for example, said Toyota has "struggled somewhat" finding temporary workers, or what the company refers to as "variable workforce."
Like some other automakers, Toyota Mississippi is sending a few white-collar salaried workers to help with production.
Some of those employees had worked in a plant before making the switch to an office job. But in other cases, staff with no manufacturing experience have been trained in what Lauder calls "freshman processes" — production tasks that are a little bit easier.
Not all automakers put salaried workers on the line like this — at least, not usually. But these aren't usual times. One General Motors plant, in Wentzville, Mo., has recently deployed white-collar workers to the line over the strenuous objections of the autoworkers union. Meanwhile, as NPR member station WOSU first reported, office workers at a Honda plant in Ohio were startled to be deployed to the line.
But Lauder said using white-collar workers isn't so unusual at Toyota. Twenty years ago she was in accounting and was trained to help build transmissions in a pinch.
Still, this is obviously not plan A for how to build cars.
"Nobody wants to do this," said Kristin Dziczek, vice president of industry, labor and economics at the Center for Automotive Research. "This is not the optimal way to run production, to be running with salaried workers.
Dziczek said staffing shortages are partly because auto plant jobs can be difficult in the best of times, and particularly intimidating during a contagious pandemic.
"It's a daunting prospect to go into a plant," she said. "There's 2,000 people on an assembly plant shift and, you know, if you've been locked down and self-isolating .... the thought of going to work with 1,999 other people, it's a big challenge."
And while auto manufacturing used to pay attractive wages, that's no longer automatically true for new hires. In some areas, they can make more money at other kinds of plants.
Lauder said in northeastern Mississippi, Toyota is competing with furniture factories for manufacturing workers. She also said the plant will be announcing a raise this fall.


npr--2020-09-14--Army Marshals Resources To Aid In Race For Coronavirus Vaccine

Army Marshals Resources To Aid In Race For Coronavirus Vaccine Agi Hajduczki , a research scientist at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Infectious Diseases , opens a large freezer and takes out boxes of DNA .
She is part of a team making a COVID-19 vaccine .
Hajduczki places a small , clear plastic tray under a piece of white paper on the table of her lab .
The tray is dimpled .
Pale yellow fluid can be seen under the dozens of dimples .
Some of the dimples are clearly more yellow than others .
`` More yellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` So we 're basically trying to get mammalian cells to generate this protein for us , which would then eventually be used as the vaccine in a clinical trial so it kind of looks like the spike , the way it does in the real virus . ''
The idea is that the immune system would get to know this protein — through the vaccine — and when the real virus hits , the immune system would know how to fight it .
Hajduczki became fascinated with viruses as a young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother work on AIDS victims back in the early 1980s .
`` So even , you know , when the world did n't necessarily know about that this virus is happening like that was our dinner table conversation , '' she says .
Now she has a young daughter , and has brought her to the lab during this pandemic , because like many parents around the country , Hajduczki and her husband are scrambling between work and childcare duties .
Her voice breaks when she talks about the effect the virus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's hard because like our whole lives have been upside down , '' Hajduczki says .
`` We work in shifts , crazy hours , super amount of stress .
But then , you know , when I go home , then dealing with the whole thing , like going to Trader Joe 's is like a two-hour excursion now , and I have a kid who has been at home from school ...
I have to kind of explain to her what 's going on . ''
The vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , and wo n't just target the current coronavirus .
Human trials are n't expected to start until later in the fall .
`` The most cost effective and impactful public health tool '' A supply cart rolls down the long corridors at the institute just outside Washington , D.C , past labs and displays picturing nineteenth century scientists , letters and artifacts .
There are closed doors with small signs on the wall .
One says `` Viral diseases . ''
Another simply , `` Malaria . ''
Inside one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to aid in the race for a vaccine for the current pandemic : Kayvon Modjarrad , a civilian doctor .
He 's a large man , with wireless glasses and an easygoing manner .
His parents came from Iran to New York City back in the 1970s .
He became interested in vaccines after taking a class as a medical student .
`` I decided that I wanted to work on vaccines , '' he says , `` because it is the most cost effective and impactful public health tool that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says he knew he was interested in medicine early on , `` I got my first Fisher-Price doctor 's kit when I was four for the Persian New Year . ''
Modjarrad is developing the Army 's coronavirus vaccines , but is also part of Operation Warp Speed , the government 's efforts to help private companies in the U.S. and internationally create coronavirus vaccines .
`` So our institution and our network of sites here in the US and internationally are involved with many different companies , '' he says .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labs .
Research animals .
Locations for human trials , in Washington , D.C. , San Diego and San Antonio .
The Army also has partners and labs in Europe , Asia and Africa .
Modjarrad and other officials liken the vaccine effort to a horse race , with multiple companies coming out of the gate at the same time .
`` Sort of whole of government approach has been putting our bets on multiple horses because we 're not interested in one particular horse , '' he says .
`` We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one horse , making it across the finish line as fast as possible and being safe and effective and accessible for our entire public and population . ''
Right now , several companies are working on the final phase three of human trials in developing a vaccine .
`` It 's not like after the Phase three trial , 'Hey , the vaccine is ready for everyone , ' '' Modjarrad says .
`` We start to phase it into the population and we still collect information on how people are responding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point where it becomes broadly available to the entire population . ''
Modjarrad says that what keeps him up at night `` is that we go back to business as usual after this . ''
He says that this pandemic will pass , there will be multiple vaccines and people will be protected from this going on in the future , `` but we have to be prepared '' for future pandemics , he says , `` these emerging infectious threats , Zika , Ebola coronavirus , a new strain of influenza .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Army has a long history of producing vaccines .
Modjarrad worked on vaccines for Zika and MERs .
And one recently approved for Ebola .
And then there 's Walter Reed , the namesake .
He was an Army major in the early 1900s who discovered that yellow fever was spread by mosquitos , not poor sanitation as some believed at the time .
The virus had a devastating effect on soldiers and those working in tropical climates .
`` So we sprayed and killed all mosquitoes , '' Modjarrad says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ built the Panama Canal . ''
Modjarrad 's boss , Nelson Michael , director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research , is in a nearby office .
There are colored maps of Africa and the world in Michael 's office .
A picture of him in his uniform , when he was an Army colonel .
He 's often on the phone talking with participants of Operation Warp Speed , a name that has caused some to worry the speed has more to do with politics than science .
President Trump himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine could be ready before Election Day , a view scientists say is unlikely .
`` There 's been a lot of concern about what 's being sacrificed by moving so quickly , '' he acknowledges .
`` And I can tell you , one thing is very clear it 's being sacrificed and it 's money . ''
Michael says in the past vaccine development would take so long — often years — in part because companies and governments were wary of making an investment .
A vaccine would be manufactured only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus changed all that .
`` Now , everyone 's throwing financial caution to the winds and billions of dollars are in play , '' Michael says .
`` But now you have , of course , a worldwide pandemic that 's costing trillions of dollars and impacting , you know , millions of people 's lives . ''
Michael is also concerned about another controversy : Are human trials getting to a good cross section of the population , especially by race ?
`` If you look at the impact of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , COVID-19 , there is a disproportional impact on people of color in the United States , '' he says .
`` So you are at much greater risk if you 're over 65 , if you have comorbidities , hypertension , obesity . ''
Many of the comorbidities that are particularly present in minority segments of society .
`` Blacks and Latin and Native populations in our country are at substantially higher risk , '' he says .
`` So it 's more important than ever that we have diversity and inclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working on the vaccine , whether private or government efforts `` want to do better .
I can tell you that . ''
Michael acknowledges the suspicions especially in the Black community , who have been victims of government studies .
The most horrific was the Tuskegee Experiment , which from the 1930s in the 1970s followed hundreds of Black men with syphilis over the course of their lives , failing to tell them about the diagnosis and refusing to treat them .
For this vaccine , says Michael , the government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to African American and Native Americans in particular .
`` I 'd say Native populations are also very mistrustful because of the history , '' Michael adds .
`` And you know there are lots of issues , of course , that are hitting our country right now all at the same time , systemic racism . ''
But he says there likely to be an even greater challenge once a vaccine is approved .
`` I am more concerned about how we 're going to execute a vaccine campaign than I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this vaccine , '' he says .
`` How are we going to convince Americans that they should sign up for their vaccine ? ''
Some polls show at least 30 % of Americans say they wo n't take the vaccine .
There are scientists who say at least 40 % of Americans must take the vaccine .
Michael puts that percentage even higher .
`` What we really need is to have somewhere between 70 % and 90 % of Americans that either have been vaccinated and have immunity that way or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity because of natural infection , '' he says .
A vaccine from at least one of the private companies is expected earlier next year .
The Army also continues to work on its own vaccine that can target future coronaviruses .
No matter what , a strong public health campaign will be needed , Michael says , to convince Americans the vaccine is safe and effective .
One part of that is to reach out to those people Americans tend to trust most : Their family doctor .

Army Marshals Resources To Aid In Race For Coronavirus Vaccine
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mike Walters/U.S. Army Mike Walters/U.S. Army
Agi Hajduczki, a research scientist at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, opens a large freezer and takes out boxes of DNA. She is part of a team making a COVID-19 vaccine.
Hajduczki places a small, clear plastic tray under a piece of white paper on the table of her lab. The tray is dimpled. Pale yellow fluid can be seen under the dozens of dimples.
Some of the dimples are clearly more yellow than others.
"More yellow means more protein," she explains. "So we're basically trying to get mammalian cells to generate this protein for us, which would then eventually be used as the vaccine in a clinical trial so it kind of looks like the spike, the way it does in the real virus."
The idea is that the immune system would get to know this protein — through the vaccine — and when the real virus hits, the immune system would know how to fight it.
Hajduczki became fascinated with viruses as a young girl in Hungary, watching her pathologist mother work on AIDS victims back in the early 1980s.
"So even, you know, when the world didn't necessarily know about that this virus is happening like that was our dinner table conversation," she says.
Now she has a young daughter, and has brought her to the lab during this pandemic, because like many parents around the country, Hajduczki and her husband are scrambling between work and childcare duties. Her voice breaks when she talks about the effect the virus is having on her work and family life.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tom Bowman/NPR Tom Bowman/NPR
"It's hard because like our whole lives have been upside down," Hajduczki says. "We work in shifts, crazy hours, super amount of stress. But then, you know, when I go home, then dealing with the whole thing, like going to Trader Joe's is like a two-hour excursion now, and I have a kid who has been at home from school...I have to kind of explain to her what's going on."
The vaccine Hajduczki's working on will take some time, and won't just target the current coronavirus. Human trials aren't expected to start until later in the fall.
"The most cost effective and impactful public health tool"
A supply cart rolls down the long corridors at the institute just outside Washington, D.C, past labs and displays picturing nineteenth century scientists, letters and artifacts. There are closed doors with small signs on the wall. One says "Viral diseases." Another simply, "Malaria."
Inside one of these offices is the scientist heading Army efforts to aid in the race for a vaccine for the current pandemic: Kayvon Modjarrad, a civilian doctor. He's a large man, with wireless glasses and an easygoing manner. His parents came from Iran to New York City back in the 1970s. He became interested in vaccines after taking a class as a medical student.
"I decided that I wanted to work on vaccines," he says, "because it is the most cost effective and impactful public health tool that we have to saving lives."
Health Operation Warp Speed Top Adviser On The Status Of A Coronavirus Vaccine Operation Warp Speed Top Adviser On The Status Of A Coronavirus Vaccine 7:09
Modjarrad says he knew he was interested in medicine early on, "I got my first Fisher-Price doctor's kit when I was four for the Persian New Year."
Modjarrad is developing the Army's coronavirus vaccines, but is also part of Operation Warp Speed, the government's efforts to help private companies in the U.S. and internationally create coronavirus vaccines.
"So our institution and our network of sites here in the US and internationally are involved with many different companies," he says.
That means sharing the Army's expertise. Labs. Research animals. Locations for human trials, in Washington, D.C., San Diego and San Antonio. The Army also has partners and labs in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Modjarrad and other officials liken the vaccine effort to a horse race, with multiple companies coming out of the gate at the same time.
"Sort of whole of government approach has been putting our bets on multiple horses because we're not interested in one particular horse," he says. "We're interested in a horse, at least one horse, making it across the finish line as fast as possible and being safe and effective and accessible for our entire public and population."
Right now, several companies are working on the final phase three of human trials in developing a vaccine.
"It's not like after the Phase three trial, 'Hey, the vaccine is ready for everyone,'" Modjarrad says. "We start to phase it into the population and we still collect information on how people are responding to that vaccine until we get to a point where it becomes broadly available to the entire population."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Samir Deshpande/Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Samir Deshpande/Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Modjarrad says that what keeps him up at night "is that we go back to business as usual after this." He says that this pandemic will pass, there will be multiple vaccines and people will be protected from this going on in the future, "but we have to be prepared" for future pandemics, he says, "these emerging infectious threats, Zika, Ebola coronavirus, a new strain of influenza. It's not going away."
The Army has a long history of producing vaccines. Modjarrad worked on vaccines for Zika and MERs. And one recently approved for Ebola.
And then there's Walter Reed, the namesake. He was an Army major in the early 1900s who discovered that yellow fever was spread by mosquitos, not poor sanitation as some believed at the time. The virus had a devastating effect on soldiers and those working in tropical climates.
"So we sprayed and killed all mosquitoes," Modjarrad says. "People weren't dying. They built the Panama Canal."
Diversity and inclusion
Modjarrad's boss, Nelson Michael, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research, is in a nearby office.
There are colored maps of Africa and the world in Michael's office. A picture of him in his uniform, when he was an Army colonel. He's often on the phone talking with participants of Operation Warp Speed, a name that has caused some to worry the speed has more to do with politics than science.
President Trump himself has fed that perception by suggesting a vaccine could be ready before Election Day, a view scientists say is unlikely.
"There's been a lot of concern about what's being sacrificed by moving so quickly," he acknowledges. "And I can tell you, one thing is very clear it's being sacrificed and it's money."
Michael says in the past vaccine development would take so long — often years — in part because companies and governments were wary of making an investment. A vaccine would be manufactured only after all approvals were done. The coronavirus changed all that.
"Now, everyone's throwing financial caution to the winds and billions of dollars are in play," Michael says. "But now you have, of course, a worldwide pandemic that's costing trillions of dollars and impacting, you know, millions of people's lives."
Michael is also concerned about another controversy: Are human trials getting to a good cross section of the population, especially by race?
"If you look at the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the disease it causes, COVID-19, there is a disproportional impact on people of color in the United States," he says. "So you are at much greater risk if you're over 65, if you have comorbidities, hypertension, obesity."
Many of the comorbidities that are particularly present in minority segments of society.
"Blacks and Latin and Native populations in our country are at substantially higher risk," he says. "So it's more important than ever that we have diversity and inclusion in these studies."
All those working on the vaccine, whether private or government efforts "want to do better. I can tell you that."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tom Bowman/NPR Tom Bowman/NPR
Michael acknowledges the suspicions especially in the Black community, who have been victims of government studies. The most horrific was the Tuskegee Experiment, which from the 1930s in the 1970s followed hundreds of Black men with syphilis over the course of their lives, failing to tell them about the diagnosis and refusing to treat them.
For this vaccine, says Michael, the government has created community engagement groups to reach out to African American and Native Americans in particular.
"I'd say Native populations are also very mistrustful because of the history," Michael adds. "And you know there are lots of issues, of course, that are hitting our country right now all at the same time, systemic racism."
But he says there likely to be an even greater challenge once a vaccine is approved.
"I am more concerned about how we're going to execute a vaccine campaign than I am about how we're going to test this vaccine," he says. "How are we going to convince Americans that they should sign up for their vaccine?"
Some polls show at least 30% of Americans say they won't take the vaccine. There are scientists who say at least 40% of Americans must take the vaccine. Michael puts that percentage even higher.
"What we really need is to have somewhere between 70% and 90% of Americans that either have been vaccinated and have immunity that way or have been exposed and survived and have immunity because of natural infection," he says.
A vaccine from at least one of the private companies is expected earlier next year. The Army also continues to work on its own vaccine that can target future coronaviruses.
No matter what, a strong public health campaign will be needed, Michael says, to convince Americans the vaccine is safe and effective. One part of that is to reach out to those people Americans tend to trust most: Their family doctor.


npr--2020-09-14--Redesigning The Office To Maximize Health

Office designers are scrambling now to try to get more members of the workforce safely back to their desks .
Clear plastic sneeze guards have become familiar , as have floors taped off at 6-foot increments .
But by 2025 or so , after the immediate threat of the coronavirus has likely passed , which short-term fixes will be part of the new normal ?
And what other design changes could be coming our way ?
While the scale of the current pandemic is new , the need for architects to prioritize human health is not , says Kevin Van @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Health in the Built Environment .
`` We 've designed buildings for 100-year floods , '' he says .
`` Now we have to learn to design for the 100-year flu . ''
`` There will be another epidemic or another pandemic — or there might just be another flu season , '' says Eve Edelstein , co-founder of the research-based design consultancy Clinicians for Design .
`` Let 's go ahead and design for that reality . ''
NPR spoke with five experts on workplace design to hear what they think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look like in five years .
Public health officials agree that one of the simplest ways to prevent the indoor spread of any contagious respiratory virus is to increase the volume of outside air that comes into our buildings .
The simple act of cracking a window can meaningfully dilute the concentration of infectious particles in the air .
But in many current American office buildings , the windows are n't operable — and for good reason .
Creating a tight air seal in a building is one of the main strategies used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So architects looking ahead are now grappling with how to increase outdoor ventilation without accelerating energy consumption .
One solution , according to Van Den Wymelenberg , is a different type of window design , already on the market in Europe , that has a mechanical heat-exchange system concealed inside the sill .
This allows outside air to be warmed or cooled , as needed , as it enters the building .
He adds the caveat that any design that allows fresh air to enter a building needs to have the ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality is worse than the indoor air — as it is right now , for example , in Western regions inundated with smoke from wildfires — the building 's occupants should have the ability to keep the bad air out .
`` The name of the game is flexibility , '' Van Den Wymelenberg says .
`` This is where creativity and engineering can come together . ''
Frequent hand-washing is one of the biggest ways to mitigate disease transmission , notes Reena Agarwal , chief operating officer at the Center for Active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the only sinks are inside bathrooms , which tend to be out of the way .
By introducing self-contained hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer dispensers in high-traffic areas , designers can help make the healthy choice the easy choice .
Many of the solutions to pandemic proofing the office have been promoted by proponents of healthy building design for a decade or more , she says .
`` The difference is that now we 're not just talking about comfort , but safety . ''
`` Building owners , managers and developers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject or did n't think they had control over it — the pandemic has forced them to think about it and the multitude of ways they do have control over it , '' she says .
Open plan is here to stay — with more nature Some designers think the pandemic will bring about the end of the open-plan office , which eliminated many inside walls and partitions and reduced the amount of private space for each worker .
Critics of the open-plan office say that the large volume of shared air and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilitate disease transmission .
`` That 's a knee-jerk reaction and one we should avoid , '' says Van Den Wymelenberg .
`` There 's a lot of benefit to spending time near daylight and fresh air , and an open plan facilitates that . ''
He points out that while tall plexiglass dividers can keep employees from getting sprayed by someone else 's cough or sneeze , any exhaled air that hits the divider still ends up dispersing into the rest of the room .
Rather than seal employees into individual hard-walled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can preserve the benefits of open-plan offices by installing airflow systems that filter and reduce the amount of exhaled air from other people that employees inhale .
Imagine a traditional air-handling system , where fans push filtered air into a room via large overhead ducts .
The problem with this scenario , Van Den Wymelenberg says , is that the warm air we exhale typically rises and accumulates at the top of a room .
So before any newly filtered air can reach your desk , it has to fight its way through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone sitting nearby .
A more intelligent system , Van Den Wymelenberg says , is for the vents at the top of the room to pull out the cloud of exhaled air and for filtered air to be delivered in vents along the floor .
This design , known as displacement ventilation , is more complex to set up , but he says it can significantly lower the amount of viral material circulating in shared air .
Let the outside in Each expert we spoke to for this story told us that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings is to provide opportunities for employees to come in contact with the natural world .
This type of `` biophilic design '' can boost productivity and physical health .
Our panel cited strategies such as installing `` living walls '' instead of bland partitions and incorporating circadian-friendly lighting that brightens and dims across the workday .
Asheshh Saheba , managing partner at the San Francisco office of the architecture firm Steinberg Hart , advises using high-performance natural construction materials , such as cross-laminated timber , rather than concrete , to create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable .
Saheba also says that more thoughtfully carving up a building 's footprint can , quite literally , brighten up the workday .
People who sit toward the center of large buildings can feel like they work inside a cave , Saheba says .
His firm recently completed the design of an upcoming office tower in San Jose , Calif. , that incorporates a large central light well to maximize the amount of natural light that will reach all parts of each floor .
To reduce opportunities for surface-to-person transmission of disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to eliminate shared touch points wherever possible .
Agarwal says she is aware of several buildings that have already installed `` touchless switches , '' where doors are opened by waving at a sensor rather than by pushing a button , specifically to mitigate viral transmission .
Other touch points can be eliminated by reimagining thresholds .
Agarwal says doorless bathroom entry systems — similar to the labyrinth of privacy walls commonly seen at the entrances to public bathrooms in airports and stadiums — may work for some office buildings too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopt this approach , '' she says .
While some employers are eager to get employees back to an on-site , 9-to-6 workday , others are imagining a future where employees go into the office only as needed .
It turns out that some employees are happier working from home and are just as productive or even more productive there .
Saheba says shifting to a hybrid model of in-person and at-home work for each employee could push companies to dedicate more square footage to collaborative spaces and less to individual workstations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is giving employers a look at which tasks can be done well from home and which are better accomplished in person .
Edelstein says her research suggests that individual work has always suffered in the traditional workplace , with its abundant distractions .
`` Let 's let offices become team spaces , '' she says .
`` Take those rows and rows of desks and turn them into carefully controlled spaces that people feel comfortable being in . ''
This might take some creativity with the calendar , and it might not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says employers ca n't expect workers who have accomplished most of their work well and comfortably at home for the duration of the pandemic to return to full-time office work without a good reason .
Organizational psychologist Cristina Banks says that workers will be drawn to in-person work only to the extent that the office addresses psychological needs that the pandemic undercut .
Banks is the director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces , a global research center at the University of California , Berkeley .
Safety , belonging and autonomy are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual 's sense of well-being , she says , and all three have been `` obliterated '' by the pandemic .
An employer can contribute to workers ' sense of autonomy , Banks says , by giving them control over when , where and how they perform their key tasks .
As for safety , she says it 's crucial for employers to visibly indicate that their employees ' health and well-being are a primary indicator of success .
`` Employers have to make investments in a healthy workplace in a holistic manner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean everything from offering paid sick leave and flexible work arrangements for employees who are also caregivers , to ensuring that the workplace is free from toxic materials .
What all these changes have in common is that they 'll happen only if the public continues to prioritize indoor health after the acute crisis of the pandemic has passed .
As Van Den Wymelenberg notes , America has faced public health scares before .
While interventions that kill pathogens are crucial , he says , that 's only one piece of the puzzle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what 's perhaps even more important is making holistic environments that support human immune function . ''
The real question for 2025 , he says , is , `` is our collective memory going to be better this time ?
I 'll look back at the end of my career and be able to better tell .
I hope so . ''

Redesigning The Office For The Next 100-Year Flu (Yes, It's Coming)
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
Office designers are scrambling now to try to get more members of the workforce safely back to their desks. Clear plastic sneeze guards have become familiar, as have floors taped off at 6-foot increments. But by 2025 or so, after the immediate threat of the coronavirus has likely passed, which short-term fixes will be part of the new normal? And what other design changes could be coming our way?
While the scale of the current pandemic is new, the need for architects to prioritize human health is not, says Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg, director of the Institute for Health in the Built Environment. "We've designed buildings for 100-year floods," he says. "Now we have to learn to design for the 100-year flu."
"There will be another epidemic or another pandemic — or there might just be another flu season," says Eve Edelstein, co-founder of the research-based design consultancy Clinicians for Design. "Let's go ahead and design for that reality."
NPR spoke with five experts on workplace design to hear what they think small offices as well as high-rises will look like in five years.
Easy and breezy is beautiful
Public health officials agree that one of the simplest ways to prevent the indoor spread of any contagious respiratory virus is to increase the volume of outside air that comes into our buildings. The simple act of cracking a window can meaningfully dilute the concentration of infectious particles in the air.
But in many current American office buildings, the windows aren't operable — and for good reason. Creating a tight air seal in a building is one of the main strategies used to make buildings more energy efficient. So architects looking ahead are now grappling with how to increase outdoor ventilation without accelerating energy consumption.
One solution, according to Van Den Wymelenberg, is a different type of window design, already on the market in Europe, that has a mechanical heat-exchange system concealed inside the sill. This allows outside air to be warmed or cooled, as needed, as it enters the building.
He adds the caveat that any design that allows fresh air to enter a building needs to have the ability to be manually overridden. When outdoor air quality is worse than the indoor air — as it is right now, for example, in Western regions inundated with smoke from wildfires — the building's occupants should have the ability to keep the bad air out. "The name of the game is flexibility," Van Den Wymelenberg says. "This is where creativity and engineering can come together."
More water stations
Frequent hand-washing is one of the biggest ways to mitigate disease transmission, notes Reena Agarwal, chief operating officer at the Center for Active Design. But in many office buildings, the only sinks are inside bathrooms, which tend to be out of the way. By introducing self-contained hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer dispensers in high-traffic areas, designers can help make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Many of the solutions to pandemic proofing the office have been promoted by proponents of healthy building design for a decade or more, she says. "The difference is that now we're not just talking about comfort, but safety."
"Building owners, managers and developers who considered health more of a touchy-feely subject or didn't think they had control over it — the pandemic has forced them to think about it and the multitude of ways they do have control over it," she says.
Open plan is here to stay — with more nature
Some designers think the pandemic will bring about the end of the open-plan office, which eliminated many inside walls and partitions and reduced the amount of private space for each worker. Critics of the open-plan office say that the large volume of shared air and the lack of physical barriers between desks facilitate disease transmission.
"That's a knee-jerk reaction and one we should avoid," says Van Den Wymelenberg. "There's a lot of benefit to spending time near daylight and fresh air, and an open plan facilitates that." He points out that while tall plexiglass dividers can keep employees from getting sprayed by someone else's cough or sneeze, any exhaled air that hits the divider still ends up dispersing into the rest of the room.
Rather than seal employees into individual hard-walled rooms, he says, office designers can preserve the benefits of open-plan offices by installing airflow systems that filter and reduce the amount of exhaled air from other people that employees inhale.
Imagine a traditional air-handling system, where fans push filtered air into a room via large overhead ducts. The problem with this scenario, Van Den Wymelenberg says, is that the warm air we exhale typically rises and accumulates at the top of a room. So before any newly filtered air can reach your desk, it has to fight its way through the cloud of virus particles exhaled by everyone sitting nearby.
A more intelligent system, Van Den Wymelenberg says, is for the vents at the top of the room to pull out the cloud of exhaled air and for filtered air to be delivered in vents along the floor. This design, known as displacement ventilation, is more complex to set up, but he says it can significantly lower the amount of viral material circulating in shared air.
Let the outside in
toggle caption Steinberg Hart
Each expert we spoke to for this story told us that a key strategy for promoting health in office buildings is to provide opportunities for employees to come in contact with the natural world. This type of "biophilic design" can boost productivity and physical health. Our panel cited strategies such as installing "living walls" instead of bland partitions and incorporating circadian-friendly lighting that brightens and dims across the workday. Asheshh Saheba, managing partner at the San Francisco office of the architecture firm Steinberg Hart, advises using high-performance natural construction materials, such as cross-laminated timber, rather than concrete, to create a more inviting office that is also environmentally sustainable.
Saheba also says that more thoughtfully carving up a building's footprint can, quite literally, brighten up the workday. People who sit toward the center of large buildings can feel like they work inside a cave, Saheba says. His firm recently completed the design of an upcoming office tower in San Jose, Calif., that incorporates a large central light well to maximize the amount of natural light that will reach all parts of each floor.
Take a hands-off approach
To reduce opportunities for surface-to-person transmission of disease going forward, office designers will likely try to eliminate shared touch points wherever possible. Agarwal says she is aware of several buildings that have already installed "touchless switches," where doors are opened by waving at a sensor rather than by pushing a button, specifically to mitigate viral transmission.
Other touch points can be eliminated by reimagining thresholds. Agarwal says doorless bathroom entry systems — similar to the labyrinth of privacy walls commonly seen at the entrances to public bathrooms in airports and stadiums — may work for some office buildings too. "I imagine new high-occupancy buildings may adopt this approach," she says.
Design for flexibility
While some employers are eager to get employees back to an on-site, 9-to-6 workday, others are imagining a future where employees go into the office only as needed. It turns out that some employees are happier working from home and are just as productive or even more productive there. Saheba says shifting to a hybrid model of in-person and at-home work for each employee could push companies to dedicate more square footage to collaborative spaces and less to individual workstations.
The shift to home-based work in 2020 is giving employers a look at which tasks can be done well from home and which are better accomplished in person. Edelstein says her research suggests that individual work has always suffered in the traditional workplace, with its abundant distractions.
"Let's let offices become team spaces," she says. "Take those rows and rows of desks and turn them into carefully controlled spaces that people feel comfortable being in."
This might take some creativity with the calendar, and it might not be feasible for all industries. But Edelstein says employers can't expect workers who have accomplished most of their work well and comfortably at home for the duration of the pandemic to return to full-time office work without a good reason.
Organizational psychologist Cristina Banks says that workers will be drawn to in-person work only to the extent that the office addresses psychological needs that the pandemic undercut. Banks is the director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces, a global research center at the University of California, Berkeley. Safety, belonging and autonomy are three of the primary drivers of an individual's sense of well-being, she says, and all three have been "obliterated" by the pandemic.
An employer can contribute to workers' sense of autonomy, Banks says, by giving them control over when, where and how they perform their key tasks. As for safety, she says it's crucial for employers to visibly indicate that their employees' health and well-being are a primary indicator of success.
"Employers have to make investments in a healthy workplace in a holistic manner," she says. That can mean everything from offering paid sick leave and flexible work arrangements for employees who are also caregivers, to ensuring that the workplace is free from toxic materials.
Prioritize public health
What all these changes have in common is that they'll happen only if the public continues to prioritize indoor health after the acute crisis of the pandemic has passed.
As Van Den Wymelenberg notes, America has faced public health scares before. While interventions that kill pathogens are crucial, he says, that's only one piece of the puzzle. "In the long run, what's perhaps even more important is making holistic environments that support human immune function."
The real question for 2025, he says, is, "is our collective memory going to be better this time? I'll look back at the end of my career and be able to better tell. I hope so."