npr--2020-05-24--Teaching Kids To Hide From Gunfire: Safety Drills At Day Care And At Home

Teaching Kids To Hide From Gunfire : Safety Drills At Day Care And At Home Champale Greene-Anderson keeps the volume up on her television when she watches 5-year-old granddaughter Amor Robinson while the girl 's mom is at work .
`` So we wo n't hear the gunshots , '' says Greene-Anderson .
`` I have little bitty grandbabies , and I do n't want them to be afraid to be here . ''
As a preschooler , Amor already knows and fears the sounds that occurred with regularity in their St. Louis neighborhood before the pandemic — and continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world has slowed down .
`` I do n't like the pop , pop noises , '' Amor explains , swinging the beads in her hair .
`` I ca n't hear my tablet when I watch something . ''
And when the television or her hot-pink headphones and matching tablet ca n't mask the noise of a shooting ?
`` She usually stops everything , '' says her mother , Satin White .
`` Sometimes she cries , sometimes she covers her ears . ''
Her grandmother has even watched Amor hide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and recliner .
In communities across the United States this spring , families are dealing with more than just the threat of the coronavirus outside their homes .
In the midst of violence that does not stop even during a pandemic , children like Amor continually search for safety , peace and a quiet place .
`` Safer at Home '' slogans do n't guarantee safety for them .
More than two dozen parents and caregivers we spoke with attested that the kids hide underneath beds , in basements and dry bathtubs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents pray that a bullet never finds them .
In St. Louis , which has the nation 's highest murder rate among cities with at least 100,000 people , the reasons are especially stark .
More than 20 children in the St. Louis area were killed by gunfire last year , and this year at least 10 children have died already .
While some of the children 's deaths were caused by accidental shootings inside a home , regular gunfire outside is a hurtful reminder that adults have to find ways to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their kids grow into healthy adults , evidence shows that children who grow up around violence or witness it frequently are more likely to have health problems later in life .
Although the mental health of children around the world has been taxed these past few months , for some children the stress has been going on far longer .
Regularly hearing shootings is one example of what 's called an `` adverse childhood experience . ''
Americans who have adverse childhood experiences that remain unaddressed are more likely to suffer heart disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stroke , according to a 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report .
St. Louis mental health counselor Lekesha Davis says children and their parents can become desensitized to the violence around them — where even one 's home does n't feel safe .
And , research shows , black parents and children in the U.S. , especially , often can not get the mental health treatment they may need because of bias or lack of cultural understanding from providers .
`` Can you imagine as a child , you are sleeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world as you sleep and being jarred out of your sleep to get under the bed and hide ? ''
Davis asks .
`` We have to look at this , not just , you know , emotionally , but what does that do to our body ? ''
she adds .
`` Our brain is impacted by this fight-or-flight response .
That 's supposed to happen in rare instances , but when you 're having them happen every single day , you 're having these chemicals released in the brain on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect you as you get older ? ''
Still , future health problems are hard to think about when you 're trying to survive .
The children at Little Explorers Learning Center are getting reacquainted with their daily routine now that the day care facility has reopened for families of essential workers as the COVID pandemic stay-at-home orders loosen .
And there 's a lot to remember .
Teachers at the center remind the children of their hand-washing , meal time and academic routines .
They also make sure the kids remember what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assistant director Tawanda Brand runs a gunfire safety drill once a month .
First , she tells the children to get ready .
Then , she shouts : `` Dora the Explorer ! ''
`` Dora '' is a code word , Brand explains , signaling the kids to drop to the floor — the safest place — in case gunfire erupts nearby .
During a drill one morning before the pandemic , most of the children got down .
Others walked around , sending Brand on a chase as she tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The drill may sound playful , but sometimes the danger is real .
The Little Explorers protocol is n't like the `` active shooter '' drills that took place in schools around the country on the rare chance someone would come inside to shoot — as at Columbine , Parkland or Sandy Hook .
The day care program performs these drills because nearby shootings are an ongoing threat .
Day care director Tess Trice says a bullet pierced the window in November while the children were inside .
Then , the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We heard gunshots , we got on the floor , '' Trice says .
`` Eventually , when we got up and looked out the window , we saw a body out there . ''
Trice called parents that day to see if they wanted to pick up their children early .
Nicollette Mayo was one of the parents who received a call from the teachers .
She knows the neighborhood faces challenges , but ca n't see her 4-year-old daughter , Justice , and infant son , Marquis , going anywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Mayo says .
`` And I know that , God forbid , if there is an incident that I 'm going to be contacted immediately .
They 're gon na do what they need to do to keep my children safe . ''
Trice considered bulletproof glass for the day care center but could not afford it .
A local company estimated it would cost $ 8,000 to $ 10,000 per window .
So she relies on the `` Dora '' drills and newly installed cameras .
'You live better if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with such an alarming homicide rate , such drills are n't happening only at the few day care facilities that have reopened .
They also happen at home .
Long before the coronavirus pandemic pushed the world to isolate at home , the Hicks family had their own version of sheltering in place .
But it was from gun violence .
When they hear gunshots outside their home in East St. Louis , Ill. , everyone hides in the dark .
The goal is to keep the family out of sight , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them at a different kind of risk , mom Kianna Hicks says .
So when trouble erupts , they do their best to remain unseen and unheard .
`` We turn the TV down , '' says 13-year-old Anajah Hicks , the oldest of four .
`` We turn the lights off , and we hurry up and get down on the ground . ''
A few times each month , the family practices what to do when they hear gunshots .
Hicks tells the kids to get ready .
Then , their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simulate the sound of gunfire .
`` I need them to know exactly what to do , because in too many instances , where we 've been sitting around , and gunshots , you know , people start shooting , and they 'll just be up walking around or trying to run , '' Kianna Hicks says .
`` I 'll tell 'em , 'Naw , that 's not what you do .
You hear gunshots , you hear gunshots .
No matter where you at , you stop — you get on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's over with and then you move around . '
`` And this summer , Hicks wants to make sure the kids are ready .
At least twice a week in past years when the weather warmed up , the family got on the floor in response to real gunfire .
Violence spikes in summer months , according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence .
And she knows they could be spending more time in the house if football camp for her boys is canceled because of coronavirus fears .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the floor more often , even amid moments of relative quiet .
The first time Gloria Hicks saw a family sitting on the floor , she was visiting her godson in Chicago decades ago .
It was hot that summer , Hicks recalls , so families kept their apartment doors open to stay cool .
`` They were sitting on the floor watching TV and I wondered , Why is it like that ? ''
Hicks recalls .
`` Then I learned that you live better if you sit on the floor than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't know when the bullets gon ' fly . ''
Although 16-year-old Mariah knows what to do when bullets fly , she says , she still has a difficult time processing the sound of violence .
The honor student was babysitting her little cousins at her St. Louis home last winter when she heard gunshots .
`` It could n't have been no further than , like , my doorstep , '' says Mariah , whose mother asked that the teen 's last name not be printed so the discussion of the trauma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I immediately dropped to the floor , and then in a split second the second thing that ran through my head is like , 'Oh , my God , the kids . '
'' When Mariah walked into the next room , she saw her two younger cousins on the floor doing exactly what their mother had taught them to do when gunfire erupts .
Get down and do n't move .
`` I was so worried , '' Mariah recalls .
`` They 're 6 and 3 .
Imagine that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ OK that day .
But later that night , Mariah says , she pulled out strands of her hair , a behavior associated with stress .
`` Pulling my hair got really bad , '' she says .
`` I had to oil my hair again , because when I oil it , it makes it hard to pull out . ''
Davis , the mental health counselor who has worked for 20 years with children experiencing trauma , encourages parents to comfort their kids after a traumatic event and for the kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even months after the fact .
She says getting on the floor explains only how families are maintaining their physical safety .
`` But no one 's addressing the emotional and the mental toll that this takes on individuals , '' says Davis , vice president of the Hopewell Center , one of the few mental health agencies for kids in the city of St. Louis .
`` We get children that were playing in their backyard and they witnessed someone being shot right in front of them , '' Davis says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our children .
And that 's not normal . ''
This story comes to NPR as part of a partnership with Kaiser Health News .
Carolina Hidalgo contributed to this report as a journalist at St. Louis Public Radio .
Cara Anthony is on Twitter @ CaraRAnthony

Where children hide when gunfire is all too common
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio
This story was first published in the Shots blog and heard on Weekend Edition Sunday on May 24, 2020.
Champale Greene-Anderson keeps the volume up on her television when she watches 5-year-old granddaughter Amor Robinson while the girl's mom is at work.
"So we won't hear the gunshots," says Greene-Anderson. "I have little bitty grandbabies, and I don't want them to be afraid to be here."
As a preschooler, Amor already knows and fears the sounds that occurred with regularity in their St. Louis neighborhood before the pandemic — and continue even now as the rest of the world has slowed down.
"I don't like the pop, pop noises," Amor explains, swinging the beads in her hair. "I can't hear my tablet when I watch something."
And when the television or her hot-pink headphones and matching tablet can't mask the noise of a shooting? "She usually stops everything," says her mother, Satin White. "Sometimes she cries, sometimes she covers her ears."
Her grandmother has even watched Amor hide inside a narrow gap between the couch and recliner.
toggle caption Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio
In communities across the United States this spring, families are dealing with more than just the threat of the coronavirus outside their homes. In the midst of violence that does not stop even during a pandemic, children like Amor continually search for safety, peace and a quiet place. "Safer at Home" slogans don't guarantee safety for them.
More than two dozen parents and caregivers we spoke with attested that the kids hide underneath beds, in basements and dry bathtubs, waiting for gunfire to stop while their parents pray that a bullet never finds them.
In St. Louis, which has the nation's highest murder rate among cities with at least 100,000 people, the reasons are especially stark. More than 20 children in the St. Louis area were killed by gunfire last year, and this year at least 10 children have died already.
While some of the children's deaths were caused by accidental shootings inside a home, regular gunfire outside is a hurtful reminder that adults have to find ways to keep children safe. And while parents hope their kids grow into healthy adults, evidence shows that children who grow up around violence or witness it frequently are more likely to have health problems later in life.
Although the mental health of children around the world has been taxed these past few months, for some children the stress has been going on far longer. Regularly hearing shootings is one example of what's called an "adverse childhood experience." Americans who have adverse childhood experiences that remain unaddressed are more likely to suffer heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and stroke, according to a 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
St. Louis mental health counselor Lekesha Davis says children and their parents can become desensitized to the violence around them — where even one's home doesn't feel safe. And, research shows, black parents and children in the U.S., especially, often cannot get the mental health treatment they may need because of bias or lack of cultural understanding from providers.
Can you imagine as a child, you are sleeping, you know, no care in the world as you sleep and being jarred out of your sleep to get under the bed and hide?
"Can you imagine as a child, you are sleeping, you know, no care in the world as you sleep and being jarred out of your sleep to get under the bed and hide?" Davis asks.
"We have to look at this, not just, you know, emotionally, but what does that do to our body?" she adds. "Our brain is impacted by this fight-or-flight response. That's supposed to happen in rare instances, but when you're having them happen every single day, you're having these chemicals released in the brain on a daily basis. How does that affect you as you get older?"
Still, future health problems are hard to think about when you're trying to survive.
toggle caption Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio
At this day care center, 'Dora' means drop
The children at Little Explorers Learning Center are getting reacquainted with their daily routine now that the day care facility has reopened for families of essential workers as the COVID pandemic stay-at-home orders loosen. And there's a lot to remember.
Teachers at the center remind the children of their hand-washing, meal time and academic routines. They also make sure the kids remember what to do when they hear gunfire. Assistant director Tawanda Brand runs a gunfire safety drill once a month. First, she tells the children to get ready. Then, she shouts: "Dora the Explorer!"
toggle caption Carolina Hidalgo/Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio
"Dora" is a code word, Brand explains, signaling the kids to drop to the floor — the safest place — in case gunfire erupts nearby.
During a drill one morning before the pandemic, most of the children got down. Others walked around, sending Brand on a chase as she tried to corral the group of 3- to 5-year-olds.
The drill may sound playful, but sometimes the danger is real.
The Little Explorers protocol isn't like the "active shooter" drills that took place in schools around the country on the chance someone would come inside to shoot — as at Columbine, Parkland or Sandy Hook. The day care program performs these drills because nearby shootings are an ongoing threat.
Day care director Tess Trice says a bullet pierced the window in November while the children were inside. Then, the very next day, bullets flew again.
"We heard gunshots, we got on the floor," Trice says. "Eventually, when we got up and looked out the window, we saw a body out there."
toggle caption Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio
Trice called parents that day to see if they wanted to pick up their children early. Nicollette Mayo was one of the parents who received a call from the teachers. She knows the neighborhood faces challenges, but can't see her 4-year-old daughter, Justice, and infant son, Marquis, going anywhere else.
"I trust them," Mayo says. "And I know that, God forbid, if there is an incident that I'm going to be contacted immediately. They're gonna do what they need to do to keep my children safe."
Trice considered bulletproof glass for the day care center but could not afford it. A local company estimated it would cost $8,000 to $10,000 per window. So she relies on the "Dora" drills and newly installed cameras.
'You live better if you sit on the floor'
In a city with such an alarming homicide rate, such drills aren't happening only at the day care facilities that have reopened. They also happen at home.
Long before the coronavirus pandemic pushed the world to isolate at home, the Hicks family had their own version of sheltering in place. But it was from gun violence. When they hear gunshots outside their home in East St. Louis, Ill., everyone hides in the dark.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio
The goal is to keep the family out of sight, because bearing witness to a shooting could put them at a different kind of risk, mom Kianna Hicks says.
So when trouble erupts, they do their best to remain unseen and unheard.
"We turn the TV down," says 13-year-old Anajah Hicks, the oldest of four. "We turn the lights off, and we hurry up and get down on the ground."
A few times each month, the family practices what to do when they hear gunshots. Hicks tells the kids to get ready. Then, their grandmother Gloria Hicks claps her hands to simulate the sound of gunfire.
"I need them to know exactly what to do, because in too many instances, where we've been sitting around, and gunshots, you know, people start shooting, and they'll just be up walking around or trying to run," Kianna Hicks says. "I'll tell 'em, 'Naw, that's not what you do. You hear gunshots, you hear gunshots. No matter where you at, you stop — you get on the ground and you wait until it's over with and then you move around.' "
And this summer, Hicks wants to make sure the kids are ready. At least twice a week in past years when the weather warmed up, the family got on the floor in response to real gunfire. Violence spikes in summer months, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. And she knows they could be spending more time in the house if football camp for her boys is canceled because of coronavirus fears.
Other families in tough neighborhoods sit on the floor more often, even amid moments of relative quiet. The first time Gloria Hicks saw a family sitting on the floor, she was visiting her godson in Chicago decades ago. It was hot that summer, Hicks recalls, so families kept their apartment doors open to stay cool.
This story was produced in partnership with Kaiser Health News.
"They were sitting on the floor watching TV and I wondered, 'Why is it like that?'" Hicks recalls. "Then I learned that you live better if you sit on the floor than on the couch, because you don't know when the bullets gon' fly."
'I immediately dropped to the floor'
Although 16-year-old Mariah knows what to do when bullets fly, she says, she still has a difficult time processing the sound of violence. The honor student was babysitting her little cousins at her St. Louis home last winter when she heard gunshots.
"It couldn't have been no further than, like, my doorstep," says Mariah, whose mother asked that the teen's last name not be printed so the discussion of the trauma doesn't follow her into adulthood. "I immediately dropped to the floor, and then in a split second the second thing that ran through my head is like, 'Oh, my God, the kids.'"
When Mariah walked into the next room, she saw her two younger cousins on the floor doing exactly what their mother had taught them to do when gunfire erupts.
Get down and don't move.
"I was so worried," Mariah recalls. "They're 6 and 3. Imagine that."
The three kids walked away physically OK that day. But later that night, Mariah says, she pulled out strands of her hair, a behavior associated with stress.
"Pulling my hair got really bad," she says. "I had to oil my hair again, because when I oil it, it makes it hard to pull out."
toggle caption Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio
Davis, the mental health counselor who has worked for 20 years with children experiencing trauma, encourages parents to comfort their kids after a traumatic event and for the kids to fully explore and discuss their emotions, even months after the fact.
She says getting on the floor explains only how families are maintaining their physical safety.
"But no one's addressing the emotional and the mental toll that this takes on individuals," says Davis, vice president of the Hopewell Center, one of the few mental health agencies for kids in the city of St. Louis.
"We get children that were playing in their backyard and they witnessed someone being shot right in front of them," Davis says. "These are the daily experiences of our children. And that's not normal."
This story comes to NPR as part of a partnership with Kaiser Health News. Carolina Hidalgo contributed to this report as a journalist at St. Louis Public Radio. Cara Anthony is on Twitter @CaraRAnthony


npr--2020-05-24--PHOTOS: Brazilian Farmers Hatch A Plan To Send Healthy Food To The Favelas

PHOTOS : Brazilian Farmers Hatch A Plan To Send Healthy Food To The Favelas In Brazil 's favelas , poor urban neighborhoods where residents live in crowded homes and lack basic sanitation , the toll of the coronavirus is expected to be brutal .
The informal jobs that sustain 39 million Brazilians , such as selling street food or working temporary construction gigs , are also victims of the stay-at-home order , which started in mid-March .
For some in these sprawling settlements , hunger is a threat as real as COVID-19 .
Sao Paulo city ( Sao Paulo is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is reporting roughly more than 3,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and another 3,000 suspected fatalities .
The favela Brasilândia is the city district with the most deaths , 156 confirmed or suspected , at last count .
`` As COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on our food systems , we are seeing a rollback in progress , not only in Brazil , but across the world , '' says Agnes Kalibata , special envoy , U.N. Food Systems Summit .
`` The already undernourished will become even more so as healthy food becomes more expensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be severely damaged by the quarantine , '' says Rafael Duckur , an organic food producer who grows broccoli , peppers , lemons and other produce on his small , 6.2-acre farm in Morungaba , a town in Sao Paulo state .
Small producers like Duckur mostly rely on the community-supported agriculture ( CSA ) model , selling directly to consumers on a small scale .
The pandemic has meant the loss of some business — sales to public schools and restaurants , for instance — but their customer base is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , as a matter of course .
Duckur wants to bring that surplus to those who need it , while supporting his fellow growers .
So in mid-March , as Duckur put out a call on Instagram for help creating boxes of free food and finding those who needed them most .
`` We , organic producers , know the healing power of good food , '' he wrote .
Flavia Altenfelder , an organic farmer in a neighboring town , saw the post and reached out to Duckur .
Together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of farmers working to help families in the favelas in need of food — and to provide support for local agriculture .
Pertim is Portuguese for `` close , '' because the group wants to bring farmers and families closer .
Since launching Pertim , Duckur and Altenfelder have helped three other groups form .
The four groups say they have distributed more than 400 boxes of food in four favelas .
Pertim buys food from the growers to fill the boxes sent to the favelas .
`` The same basket that goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' says Duckur .
Each box contains fruits , eggs , vegetables , coffee and other organic products — even cloth face masks made locally .
Pertim is supported by cash donations and by selling what Duckur calls `` Robin Hood '' baskets to those who can afford them .
The idea is that the cost of buying two such baskets will also provide funds that enable the farmers to give away one free box of food to the favelas .
Brasilandia , with 280,000 people , is the fourth-most populous district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There , Pertim is aided by Dimas Reis , a favela resident who is cofounder of a collective working to improve the lives of residents and by a health agent ( kind of like a social worker ) who finds families who need the boxes .
`` It 's great to make that link from the farm to the city and reestablish people 's connection to food , '' Reis says .
The logistics of collecting , preparing and distributing the baskets is complex and time-consuming , and Pertim is improving procedures as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be picked up from the producers in a roughly 25-mile range , and cleaned .
Then it 's trucked to the favela , where volunteers sort the goods into individual boxes .
On a recent trip , 50 boxes were distributed in Brasilandia , delivered directly to people like Rodrigo Gonçalves in Brasilandia .
The 19-year-old is the sole provider in his household , which he shares with his mother , two daughters and a niece .
`` We survive out of my work and with the help of Bolsa Família [ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Gonçalves is a construction auxiliary , which means his jobs are always temporary .
He 's waiting for the next one .
Duckur hopes that the network of farms in Pertim will expand beyond the four that have signed on in the past two months .
As Reis , Pertim 's collaborator in Brasilandia , notes , with little government support in the favelas , `` we have to act for ourselves . ''
Patrícia Monteiro is a documentary photographer based in São Paulo , Brazil .
A member of Women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social and gender-based issues in Latin America through photos and , more recently , video .
Her instagram handle is @ patriciapmonteiro

PHOTOS: Brazilian Farmers Hatch A Plan To Send Healthy Food To The Favelas
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
In Brazil's favelas, poor urban neighborhoods where residents live in crowded homes and lack basic sanitation, the toll of the coronavirus is expected to be brutal. The informal jobs that sustain 39 million Brazilians, such as selling street food or working temporary construction gigs, are also victims of the stay-at-home order, which started in mid-March. For some in these sprawling settlements, hunger is a threat as real as COVID-19.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
Sao Paulo city (Sao Paulo is also the name of the state) is reporting roughly more than 3,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and another 3,000 suspected fatalities. The favela Brasilândia is the city district with the most deaths, 156 confirmed or suspected, at last count.
"As COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on our food systems, we are seeing a rollback in progress, not only in Brazil, but across the world," says Agnes Kalibata, special envoy, U.N. Food Systems Summit. "The already undernourished will become even more so as healthy food becomes more expensive."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
"People in Brazil are going to be severely damaged by the quarantine," says Rafael Duckur, an organic food producer who grows broccoli, peppers, lemons and other produce on his small, 6.2-acre farm in Morungaba, a town in Sao Paulo state.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
Small producers like Duckur mostly rely on the community-supported agriculture (CSA) model, selling directly to consumers on a small scale. The pandemic has meant the loss of some business — sales to public schools and restaurants, for instance — but their customer base is solid. Unsold produce goes to waste, however, as a matter of course.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
Duckur wants to bring that surplus to those who need it, while supporting his fellow growers. So in mid-March, as Duckur put out a call on Instagram for help creating boxes of free food and finding those who needed them most. "We, organic producers, know the healing power of good food," he wrote.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
Flavia Altenfelder, an organic farmer in a neighboring town, saw the post and reached out to Duckur. Together, they started Pertim, a network of farmers working to help families in the favelas in need of food — and to provide support for local agriculture. Pertim is Portuguese for "close," because the group wants to bring farmers and families closer.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
Since launching Pertim, Duckur and Altenfelder have helped three other groups form. The four groups say they have distributed more than 400 boxes of food in four favelas.
Pertim buys food from the growers to fill the boxes sent to the favelas. "The same basket that goes for payers, goes out as donations," says Duckur. Each box contains fruits, eggs, vegetables, coffee and other organic products — even cloth face masks made locally.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
Pertim is supported by cash donations and by selling what Duckur calls "Robin Hood" baskets to those who can afford them. The idea is that the cost of buying two such baskets will also provide funds that enable the farmers to give away one free box of food to the favelas.
Brasilandia, with 280,000 people, is the fourth-most populous district in the outskirts of Sao Paulo. There, Pertim is aided by Dimas Reis, a favela resident who is cofounder of a collective working to improve the lives of residents and by a health agent (kind of like a social worker) who finds families who need the boxes.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
"It's great to make that link from the farm to the city and reestablish people's connection to food," Reis says.
The logistics of collecting, preparing and distributing the baskets is complex and time-consuming, and Pertim is improving procedures as they go. The food has to be picked up from the producers in a roughly 25-mile range, and cleaned. Then it's trucked to the favela, where volunteers sort the goods into individual boxes.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
On a recent trip, 50 boxes were distributed in Brasilandia, delivered directly to people like Rodrigo Gonçalves in Brasilandia. The 19-year-old is the sole provider in his household, which he shares with his mother, two daughters and a niece. "We survive out of my work and with the help of Bolsa Família [a government welfare program]," he says. Gonçalves is a construction auxiliary, which means his jobs are always temporary. He's waiting for the next one.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
Duckur hopes that the network of farms in Pertim will expand beyond the four that have signed on in the past two months.
As Reis, Pertim's collaborator in Brasilandia, notes, with little government support in the favelas, "we have to act for ourselves."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrícia Monteiro for NPR Patrícia Monteiro for NPR
Patrícia Monteiro is a documentary photographer based in São Paulo, Brazil. A member of Women Photograph and Girl Gaze, she documents social and gender-based issues in Latin America through photos and, more recently, video. Her instagram handle is @patriciapmonteiro


npr--2020-05-24--White House Restricts Travel From Brazil, Where Coronavirus Cases Near 350,000

White House Restricts Travel From Brazil , Where Coronavirus Cases Near 350,000 President Trump is barring the entry of non-U.S. citizens who have been in Brazil within the past 14 days , the White House announced on Sunday , citing concerns over the country 's rapidly worsening coronavirus crisis .
`` Today 's action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country , '' White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement .
The new restrictions take effect beginning Thursday , but according to McEnany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not `` the flow of commerce between the United States and Brazil . ''
Brazil has the world 's second-highest number of confirmed coronavirus infections , behind only the United States , according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University .
As of Sunday , the country had reported more than 347,000 cases of the virus and at least 22,000 deaths .
Despite the country 's growing infection rate , President Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the risks of the pandemic .
He has dismissed the virus as `` a little flu '' and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of social isolation measures .
The Trump administration has already suspended travel from China , Iran and parts of Europe .

White House Restricts Travel From Brazil, Where Coronavirus Cases Near 350,000
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andressa Anholete/Getty Images Andressa Anholete/Getty Images
President Trump is barring the entry of most non-U.S. citizens who have been in Brazil within the past 14 days, the White House announced on Sunday, citing concerns over Brazil's rapidly worsening coronavirus crisis.
"Today's action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country," White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement.
The president's proclamation exempts green card holders and some other categories of foreign nationals, primarily family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
The new restrictions take effect beginning Thursday, but according to McEnany, they only apply to travel, not "the flow of commerce between the United States and Brazil."
Brazil has the world's second-highest number of confirmed coronavirus infections, behind only the United States, according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University. As of Sunday, the country had reported more than 347,000 cases of COVID-19 and at least 22,000 deaths.
Despite the country's growing infection rate, President Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the risks of the pandemic. He has dismissed the virus as "a little flu" and in April joined protesters calling for the lifting of social isolation measures.
The Trump administration has already suspended travel from China, Iran and parts of Europe.


npr--2020-05-24--Cuomo Says New York Is Now 'Decidedly In The Reopening Phase'

Cuomo Says New York Is Now 'Decidedly In The Reopening Phase' New York is `` decidedly in the reopening phase , '' Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday , as the state hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic gave sports leagues , campgrounds and veterinarian offices the green light to start up again , with modifications .
Professional sports leagues in the state are now able to begin training camps , Cuomo said during his daily press conference , adding that having teams come back , even without spectators , would mark a `` return to normalcy . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , without having people in the stadium , without having people in the arena , do it , '' Cuomo said .
`` Do it .
Work out the economics if you can , we want you up . ''
The Yankees and Mets were reported to be considering resuming spring training in Florida , but the Democratic governor 's announcement would offer a path for them to do so at their stadiums in the Bronx and Queens , respectively .
The NBA said Saturday it 's in talks with Disney to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida .
While New York has made substantial progress in its fight against the pandemic in the last month — deaths have fallen on average to around 100 a day in the last week — Cuomo said Sunday that number rose slightly over the weekend .
On Saturday , 109 people in New York died from the virus , up from 84 on Friday .
The overall downward trend in New York COVID-19 related deaths stands in stark contrast to numbers from March and April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the state .
To date , New York has recorded nearly 360,000 cases and more than 28,000 deaths .
Cuomo 's remarks followed his signing of an order Friday permitting state beaches to open for Memorial Day weekend at 50 % capacity but with social distancing and other safety precautions in place .
A day ahead of Memorial Day , Cuomo also announced all campgrounds and RV parks would be able to reopen on Monday .
New York veterinarian practices will be allowed to open up on Tuesday , Cuomo said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not let up on social distancing or mask wearing , recalling the deadly second wave of the 1918 flu pandemic .
`` You look back and look at the places that opened in an uncontrolled way , and you see that the virus came back , and came back with a fury , '' Cuomo said .

Cuomo Says New York Is Now 'Decidedly In The Reopening Phase'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kathy Willens/AP Kathy Willens/AP
New York is "decidedly in the reopening phase," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday, as the state hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic gave sports leagues, campgrounds and veterinarian offices the green light to start up again, with modifications.
Professional sports leagues in the state are now able to begin training camps, Cuomo said during his daily press conference, adding that having teams come back, even without spectators, would mark a "return to normalcy."
"I believe that sports that can come back, without having people in the stadium, without having people in the arena, do it," Cuomo said. "Do it. Work out the economics if you can, we want you up."
The Yankees and Mets were reported to be considering resuming spring training in Florida, but the Democratic governor's announcement would offer a path for them to do so at their stadiums in the Bronx and Queens, respectively. The NBA said Saturday it's in talks with Disney to restart its season in late July at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida.
While New York has made substantial progress in its fight against the pandemic in the last month — deaths have fallen on average to around 100 a day in the last week — Cuomo said Sunday that number rose slightly over the weekend.
On Saturday, 109 people in New York died from the virus, up from 84 on Friday.
The overall downward trend in New York COVID-19 related deaths stands in stark contrast to numbers from March and April, when the coronavirus pandemic was raging across the state. To date, New York has recorded nearly 360,000 cases and more than 28,000 deaths.
Cuomo's remarks followed his signing of an order Friday permitting state beaches to open for Memorial Day weekend at 50% capacity but with social distancing and other safety precautions in place.
A day ahead of Memorial Day, Cuomo also announced all campgrounds and RV parks would be able to reopen on Monday.
New York veterinarian practices will be allowed to open up on Tuesday, Cuomo said.
The governor also warned the state to not let up on social distancing or mask wearing, recalling the deadly second wave of the 1918 flu pandemic.
"You look back and look at the places that opened in an uncontrolled way, and you see that the virus came back, and came back with a fury," Cuomo said.


npr--2020-05-24--In Los Angeles, Relief And Caution As Locals Return To Venice Beach

In Los Angeles , Relief And Caution As Locals Return To Venice Beach Can Americans return to fun in the sand and in the water while keeping themselves safe from the coronavirus ?
That 's a question being put to the test this Memorial Day weekend as many Americans flock to newly reopened beaches , like Los Angeles ' famed Venice Beach .
Except for still-closed stores that usually sell souvenirs to tourists and signs reminding people to wear masks , Venice Beach looked much like its normally eclectic self this weekend .
Skateboarders , cyclists and pedestrians passed each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of marijuana smoke wafted through the air .
There were even some street performers here and there , like juggler Michael Dorfman .
Dorfman is concerned about the pandemic , but not enough to stay away from Venice Beach , where he enjoys performing for locals and tourists .
`` Everyone who comes to Venice Beach needs to see a juggler , so I want to be that juggler , '' said Dorfman .
`` So when someone asks them , 'Did you see a Venice Beach juggler ? '
they can say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can be that guy . ''
Dorfman thinks the reopening of Los Angeles-area beaches is helping people deal with pent-up coronavirus cabin fever .
`` I think there 's a lot of tension now , in Los Angeles especially , '' said Dorfman .
`` And I think getting outside will ease some of that tension . ''
Along with local hiking trails , L.A. closed its beaches in March to enforce social distancing .
Authorities began reopening the beaches two weeks ago , although many beach parking lots remain closed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picnicking at Venice and other Southern California beaches are prohibited , people are allowed to surf , jog or walk along the shore , but most people were n't wearing masks that the City of Los Angeles requires for outdoor activities .
Despite some lingering concerns about coronavirus contagion , Corina Avalos and her family were so eager to stroll on the sand , they left their home in Bakersfield , roughly 120 miles away , at four in the morning to get to Venice Beach .
But Avalos said she was ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large and social distancing was ignored .
`` If we start seeing a lot of people we are going to head out , '' said Avalos .
She said she packed plenty of face masks and sanitizer for the trip as an extra precaution .
One person who said he was n't worried about packed beaches was surfer and Venice local Eric Britton .
His thoughts were on surfing conditions , not the coronavirus .
`` More likely I 'll be in the water , so I 'll feel even better if a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Britton .
With that , Britton grabbed his surfboard and headed for the water , leaving pandemic worries behind on the shore .

In Los Angeles, Relief And Caution As Locals Return To Venice Beach
toggle caption Saul Gonzalez/KQED
Can Americans return to fun in the sand and in the water while keeping themselves safe from the coronavirus? That's a question being put to the test this Memorial Day weekend as many Americans flock to newly reopened beaches, like Los Angeles' famed Venice Beach.
Except for still-closed stores that usually sell souvenirs to tourists and signs reminding people to wear masks, Venice Beach looked much like its normally eclectic self this weekend.
Skateboarders, cyclists and pedestrians passed each other on the boardwalk as the scent of marijuana smoke wafted through the air. There were even some street performers here and there, like juggler Michael Dorfman.
Dorfman is concerned about the pandemic, but not enough to stay away from Venice Beach, where he enjoys performing for locals and tourists.
"Everyone who comes to Venice Beach needs to see a juggler, so I want to be that juggler," said Dorfman. "So when someone asks them, 'Did you see a Venice Beach juggler?' they can say 'Yeah, I did,' and I can be that guy."
Dorfman thinks the reopening of Los Angeles-area beaches is helping people deal with pent-up coronavirus cabin fever.
"I think there's a lot of tension now, in Los Angeles especially," said Dorfman. "And I think getting outside will ease some of that tension."
Along with local hiking trails, L.A. closed its beaches in March to enforce social distancing. Authorities began reopening the beaches two weeks ago, although many beach parking lots remain closed to help limit crowds.
Although sun-bathing and picnicking at Venice and other Southern California beaches are prohibited, people are allowed to surf, jog or walk along the shore, but most people weren't wearing masks that the City of Los Angeles requires for outdoor activities.
Despite some lingering concerns about coronavirus contagion, Corina Avalos and her family were so eager to stroll on the sand, they left their home in Bakersfield, roughly 120 miles away, at four in the morning to get to Venice Beach.
But Avalos said she was ready to leave early if crowds got too large and social distancing was ignored.
"If we start seeing a lot of people we are going to head out," said Avalos. She said she packed plenty of face masks and sanitizer for the trip as an extra precaution.
One person who said he wasn't worried about packed beaches was surfer and Venice local Eric Britton. His thoughts were on surfing conditions, not the coronavirus.
"More likely I'll be in the water, so I'll feel even better if a swell comes and the waves are good," said Britton.
With that, Britton grabbed his surfboard and headed for the water, leaving pandemic worries behind on the shore.


npr--2020-05-24--Hong Kong Police Fire Tear Gas As Thousands Protest Planned Security Law

Hong Kong police fired tear gas , pepper spray and water cannons as thousands of protesters rallied against proposed security measures aimed at tightening Beijing 's grip on the semi-autonomous territory .
Protesters amassed in some of Hong Kong 's busiest retail districts Sunday afternoon , just days after China 's parliament began working on a new anti-sedition and security laws , which have drawn criticism from pro-democracy activists .
The protest was unauthorized and in defiance of social distancing rules .
Not long after demonstrators rallied in the city 's Causeway Bay and Wan Chai , riot police began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crowd .
Media reports citing video of demonstrators say at one point , some protesters began throwing objects at police .
Police accounts say demonstrators started fires and destroyed traffic lights. ''
A large number of community facilities were damaged , multiple traffic lights were destroyed , road rail fences removed , and a large number of drainage covers and bricks on the road were crowded , '' Hong Kong police said in a statement .
At least 180 people were arrested , according to police , for unlawful and illegal assembly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller demonstrations have broken out in recent weeks , Sunday 's was the largest since protests over a now-suspended extradition law roiled the city last year .
Those protests culminated in a standoff at a major university and sit-in that led to flight cancellations at the Hong Kong International Airport .
Sunday 's rally came just days after Beijing proposed security measures that `` could make any secessionist activity seen as critical and subversive illegal , effectively ending Hong Kong 's limited autonomy , '' NPR 's Emily Feng reports .
Reuters reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bill criminalizing disrespect of China 's national anthem .
On Sunday , Trump 's National Security Adviser , Robert O'Brien said the proposed security measures could jeopardize Hong Kong 's future as a financial hub — due in part to its special trade status with the U.S. — and lead to sanctions .
`` It looks like , with this national security law , they 're going to basically take over Hong Kong , '' O'Brien told NBC 's Meet the Press .
`` And if they do , Secretary [ of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to certify that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy and if that happens there will be sanctions that will be imposed on Hong Kong and China . ''
Legislation passed last year requires the state department to annually certify that Hong Kong is `` upholding the rule of law and protecting rights '' and `` sufficiently autonomous '' for the city to maintain its special status under U.S. law .
Hong Kong 's semi-autonomy from China was established in 1997 as part of the city 's handover from the United @ @

Hong Kong Police Fire Tear Gas As Thousands Protest Planned Security Law
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images
Hong Kong police fired tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons as thousands of protesters rallied against proposed security measures aimed at tightening Beijing's grip on the semi-autonomous territory.
Protesters amassed in some of Hong Kong's busiest retail districts Sunday afternoon, just days after China's parliament began working on a new anti-sedition and security laws, which have drawn criticism from pro-democracy activists. The protest was unauthorized and in defiance of social distancing rules.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images
Not long after demonstrators rallied in the city's Causeway Bay and Wan Chai, riot police began turning tear gas and water cannons on the crowd. Media reports citing video of demonstrators say at one point, some protesters began throwing objects at police. Police accounts say demonstrators started fires and destroyed traffic lights.
" A large number of community facilities were damaged, multiple traffic lights were destroyed, road rail fences removed, and a large number of drainage covers and bricks on the road were crowded," Hong Kong police said in a statement.
At least 180 people were arrested, according to police, for unlawful and illegal assembly and misconduct in public places.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kin Cheung/AP Kin Cheung/AP
Though smaller demonstrations have broken out in recent weeks, Sunday's was the largest since protests over a now-suspended extradition law roiled the city last year. Those protests culminated in a standoff at a major university and sit-in that led to flight cancellations at the Hong Kong International Airport.
Sunday's rally came just days after Beijing proposed security measures that "could make any secessionist activity seen as critical and subversive illegal, effectively ending Hong Kong's limited autonomy," NPR's Emily Feng reports.
Reuters reports that the rally was initially planned over a bill criminalizing disrespect of China's national anthem.
On Sunday, Trump's National Security Adviser, Robert O'Brien said the proposed security measures could jeopardize Hong Kong's future as a financial hub — due in part to its special trade status with the U.S. — and lead to sanctions.
"It looks like, with this national security law, they're going to basically take over Hong Kong," O'Brien told NBC's Meet the Press. "And if they do, Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo will likely be unable to certify that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy and if that happens there will be sanctions that will be imposed on Hong Kong and China."
Legislation passed last year requires the state department to annually certify that Hong Kong is "upholding the rule of law and protecting rights" and "sufficiently autonomous" for the city to maintain its special status under U.S. law.
Hong Kong's semi-autonomy from China was established in 1997 as part of the city's handover from the United Kingdom.


npr--2020-05-24--Scenes Of Isolation Amid Pandemic In The Vermont Countryside

Scenes Of Isolation Amid Pandemic In The Vermont Countryside Vermont is a state of vast beauty , yet for all its idyllic Green Mountain landscapes , living there takes a certain amount of grit .
The state 's bitter winters can last as long as six months , only to be followed by `` mud season '' – the character-building preamble to spring that turns the ground to sludge and makes dirt roads impassable .
In the best of times , a healthy portion of the year in rural Vermont requires a type of isolation and self-sufficiency unknown in many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus has tested Vermonters like never before .
The virus can be particularly dangerous for the elderly , and Vermont 's population is the third oldest by median age in the nation .
In March , Governor Phil Scott issued state-of-emergency orders designed to keep people in their homes .
Thinking it an essential moment to document , photographer Tara Wray , a Vermont transplant from Kansas by way of New York City , traveled through her community to take portraits — through windows and from a safe distance — of her older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how they 're coping in the age of social distancing .
Here is what they shared .
Dwight Cabot Camp , 84 , still works two jobs , but is on leave from one of his jobs during the lockdown .
Camp is also caregiver to his wife , Kay , 82 , a licensed funeral director who suffered a brain injury seven years ago .
Camp is a fourth generation Vermonter and active at the Thompson Senior Center in the town of Woodstock , where he calls fellow seniors to check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , among other duties .
`` People are much more talkative lately , '' he says , attributing it to the loneliness that comes with living in lockdown .
At 96 years old , Sarah Foss can still be seen behind the wheel of her Ford , which she drives all throughout Vermont 's Upper Valley — a region along the Connecticut River that runs the state 's border with New Hampshire .
Foss regularly does volunteer work to help other seniors and members of the community , including grocery shopping and errands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She recently helped serve meals to more than 90 people at LISTEN Community Services , a non-profit in White River Junction that supports individuals and families in need .
Foss has lived in Vermont for 60 years and says that despite the easing of certain restrictions , her life wo n't be any different until there 's a vaccine .
`` The disease is all around , '' she says .
`` You ca n't see it , hear it , smell it .
So I 'll maintain lockdown . ''
A retired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Woodstock says that social distancing has made her much more aware of how fortunate she is to live in Vermont and to appreciate the kindness of her neighbors .
The lockdown helped her get her spring cleaning done earlier than usual , and has allowed her more time to enjoy the coming of spring .
`` I do miss seeing my family , but we have been able to meet ( six feet apart ) in the yard for a picnic or two , '' she says .
`` I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pandemic .
It is just so different than anything most of us have had to experience .
Realizing that there are so many people suffering and dying is hard to bear , but we will get through this together . ''
Marjorie Van Alstyne , 92 , and her husband , 100-year-old Floyd Van Alstyne , live on a 256 acre farm in East Barnard .
Floyd , a veteran of World War II , was an infant when the 1918 flu pandemic ended .
The Van Alstynes say that during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their usual spring routine , including tending to their lumber mill , sugaring and canning .
They say the lockdown has n't affected them very much .
East Barnard resident Abner J. Schlabach , 85 , worked professionally as a virologist and has a deep understanding of infectious diseases and the nature of epidemics .
He 's lived in Vermont for the past 17 years and says staying more than six feet away from other people is not a problem for people in the state .
`` Stay-at-home makes sense , as does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I do n't think anybody can be quite prepared for a situation like we 're in right now , but coping with it is certainly possible .
I do see this situation lasting a long time ... so I 'm sure that it will get old .
Which means that we have to deal with the attendant problems now , psychological or otherwise . ''
Woodstock resident Barbara Folk , 97 , is a veteran of World War II , where she was a member of WAVES , the women 's branch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been inside since the lockdown went into effect , minus the occasional car ride with her daughter , Jill , with whom she lives .
She says she has been busy knitting and sewing face masks , which she donates to a local hospital .
`` Out of all of this , people may realize what one can do without , '' she says .
`` I am a WWII survivor and we all made large sacrifices for our country . ''
Don and Betty Munro , 79 and 75 respectively , live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their children and grandchildren — who live in Ohio — social distancing has not been difficult for them .
Don says they sometimes forget the restrictions and have to catch themselves from going in for a handshake or a hug if they run into friends at the nearby general store .
The Munros came to Vermont years ago as seasonal visitors and say they are fortunate to have been able to retire there .
`` The Barnard community is very tight knit , and are here to help us when we need them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barnard General Store is a great asset to the community , and we have very good neighbors . ''
Gina Moore , 98 , has lived in Woodstock since 1970 .
A retired language teacher , she has been keeping busy during the stay at home order by studying French , Spanish , Italian and philosophy .
To complement her studies , Moore attends French and Italian classes on Zoom and talks regularly to friends on the telephone .
`` I enjoy solitude , but I am gregarious , too , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Her studies have provided her with a perspective on the pandemic .
`` History repeats itself and I think people are resilient and try to do the best they can under the circumstances , '' says Moore .
`` What else can we do ? ''
Sophia Stone , 79 , a widow who now lives alone , has called Barnard home for the past 15 years .
Since the lockdown , she has n't seen friends , but has talked with her children much more often .
`` Knowing I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me much quieter and more contemplative , more conscious of living simply and with discipline , '' she says .
`` I have been able to watch spring arrive and the birds come back just the way they always do . ''
John Dibble , 85 , first came to Vermont in the late 1940s and lives in a house that he built himself .
Though he speaks with his four children every night , the most difficult aspect of the lockdown for him is being alone .
Dibble has been unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in a nursing facility due to advanced Alzheimer 's , but was able to see her through the glass on their 64th wedding anniversary in April .
It 's been nine weeks since his last in-person visit .
`` I hope to see her shortly in person .
I look forward to it every day .
I still have her pillow on the bed with me and say goodnight to her every night . ''

Scenes Of Isolation Amid Pandemic In The Vermont Countryside
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
Vermont is a state of vast beauty, yet for all its idyllic Green Mountain landscapes, living there takes a certain amount of grit. The state's bitter winters can last as long as six months, only to be followed by "mud season" – the character-building preamble to spring that turns the ground to sludge and makes dirt roads impassable.
In the best of times, a healthy portion of the year in rural Vermont requires a type of isolation and self-sufficiency unknown in many parts of the country. But the coronavirus has tested Vermonters like never before. The virus can be particularly dangerous for the elderly, and Vermont's population is the third oldest by median age in the nation.
In March, Governor Phil Scott issued state-of-emergency orders designed to keep people in their homes. Thinking it an essential moment to document, photographer Tara Wray, a Vermont transplant from Kansas by way of New York City, traveled through her community to take portraits — through windows and from a safe distance — of her older neighbors. She also spoke with them about how they're coping in the age of social distancing.
Here is what they shared.
Dwight Cabot Camp
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
Dwight Cabot Camp, 84, still works two jobs, but is on leave from one of his jobs during the lockdown. Camp is also caregiver to his wife, Kay, 82, a licensed funeral director who suffered a brain injury seven years ago.
Camp is a fourth generation Vermonter and active at the Thompson Senior Center in the town of Woodstock, where he calls fellow seniors to check up on them during the COVID-19 pandemic, among other duties. "People are much more talkative lately," he says, attributing it to the loneliness that comes with living in lockdown.
Sarah Foss
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
At 96 years old, Sarah Foss can still be seen behind the wheel of her Ford, which she drives all throughout Vermont's Upper Valley — a region along the Connecticut River that runs the state's border with New Hampshire.
Foss regularly does volunteer work to help other seniors and members of the community, including grocery shopping and errands for people who can't drive. She recently helped serve meals to more than 90 people at LISTEN Community Services, a non-profit in White River Junction that supports individuals and families in need.
Foss has lived in Vermont for 60 years and says that despite the easing of certain restrictions, her life won't be any different until there's a vaccine. "The disease is all around," she says. "You can't see it, hear it, smell it. So I'll maintain lockdown."
Anne Herz
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
A retired nurse, Anne Herz, 84, of Woodstock says that social distancing has made her much more aware of how fortunate she is to live in Vermont and to appreciate the kindness of her neighbors. The lockdown helped her get her spring cleaning done earlier than usual, and has allowed her more time to enjoy the coming of spring.
"I do miss seeing my family, but we have been able to meet (six feet apart) in the yard for a picnic or two," she says. "I don't think anything could have prepared us for this pandemic. It is just so different than anything most of us have had to experience. Realizing that there are so many people suffering and dying is hard to bear, but we will get through this together."
Marjorie and Floyd Van Alstyne
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
Marjorie Van Alstyne, 92, and her husband, 100-year-old Floyd Van Alstyne, live on a 256 acre farm in East Barnard. Floyd, a veteran of World War II, was an infant when the 1918 flu pandemic ended.
The Van Alstynes say that during the stay-at-home order, they've kept to their usual spring routine, including tending to their lumber mill, sugaring and canning. They say the lockdown hasn't affected them very much.
Abner J. Schlabach
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
East Barnard resident Abner J. Schlabach, 85, worked professionally as a virologist and has a deep understanding of infectious diseases and the nature of epidemics. He's lived in Vermont for the past 17 years and says staying more than six feet away from other people is not a problem for people in the state.
"Stay-at-home makes sense, as does social distancing," he says. "I don't think anybody can be quite prepared for a situation like we're in right now, but coping with it is certainly possible. I do see this situation lasting a long time ... so I'm sure that it will get old. Which means that we have to deal with the attendant problems now, psychological or otherwise."
Barbara Folk
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
Woodstock resident Barbara Folk, 97, is a veteran of World War II, where she was a member of WAVES, the women's branch of the Naval Reserves. Folk has been inside since the lockdown went into effect, minus the occasional car ride with her daughter, Jill, with whom she lives. She says she has been busy knitting and sewing face masks, which she donates to a local hospital.
"Out of all of this, people may realize what one can do without," she says. "I am a WWII survivor and we all made large sacrifices for our country."
Don Munro and Betty Munro
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
Don and Betty Munro, 79 and 75 respectively, live in Barnard, and apart from missing their children and grandchildren — who live in Ohio — social distancing has not been difficult for them. Don says they sometimes forget the restrictions and have to catch themselves from going in for a handshake or a hug if they run into friends at the nearby general store.
The Munros came to Vermont years ago as seasonal visitors and say they are fortunate to have been able to retire there. "The Barnard community is very tight knit, and are here to help us when we need them," Don says. "The Barnard General Store is a great asset to the community, and we have very good neighbors."
Gina Moore
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
Gina Moore, 98, has lived in Woodstock since 1970. A retired language teacher, she has been keeping busy during the stay at home order by studying French, Spanish, Italian and philosophy.
To complement her studies, Moore attends French and Italian classes on Zoom and talks regularly to friends on the telephone.
"I enjoy solitude, but I am gregarious, too," she says. "I need both."
Her studies have provided her with a perspective on the pandemic.
"History repeats itself and I think people are resilient and try to do the best they can under the circumstances," says Moore. "What else can we do?"
Sophia Stone
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR Tara Wray for NPR
Sophia Stone, 79, a widow who now lives alone, has called Barnard home for the past 15 years. Since the lockdown, she hasn't seen friends, but has talked with her children much more often.
"Knowing I will be by myself every day has made me much quieter and more contemplative, more conscious of living simply and with discipline," she says. "I have been able to watch spring arrive and the birds come back just the way they always do."
John Dibble
toggle caption Tara Wray for NPR
John Dibble, 85, first came to Vermont in the late 1940s and lives in a house that he built himself. Though he speaks with his four children every night, the most difficult aspect of the lockdown for him is being alone.
Dibble has been unable to visit his wife, Claire, who is in a nursing facility due to advanced Alzheimer's, but was able to see her through the glass on their 64th wedding anniversary in April. It's been nine weeks since his last in-person visit.
"I hope to see her shortly in person. I look forward to it every day. I still have her pillow on the bed with me and say goodnight to her every night."


npr--2020-05-24--Tracking The Pandemic: How Quickly Is The Coronavirus Spreading State By State?

Tracking The Pandemic : How Quickly Is The Coronavirus Spreading State By State ?
Since the first coronavirus case was confirmed in the United States on Jan. 21 , more than 1 million people in the U.S. have confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
On April 12 , the U.S. became the nation with the most deaths globally , but there are early signs that the U.S. case and death counts may be leveling off , as the growth of new cases and deaths plateaus .
The pattern is n't consistent across the country , as new hot spots emerge and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your state 's case count is growing , click here .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
In response to mounting cases , state and federal authorities have emphasized a social distancing strategy , widely seen as the best available means to slow the spread of the virus .
Most states have put in place measures such as closing schools and nonessential businesses and ordering citizens to stay home as much as possible .
It 's not clear how long such measures need to be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Wuhan , the city in China where the virus originated , a strictly enforced lockdown and widespread testing have slowed the outbreak dramatically , enough to bring an end to the 76-day lockdown .
A large portion of U.S. cases are centered on New York City .
Since March 20 , New York state , Connecticut and New Jersey have accounted for about 50 % of all U.S. cases .
As of April 9 , nearly 60 % of all deaths from COVID-19 have been in these three states .
While New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plateau , as seen below , it notched between 8,000 and 10,000 new cases each day between March 31 and April 12 .
To understand how one state 's outbreak compares with another 's , it 's helpful to look at not just the daily counts but the rate of change day over day .
In the following chart , we display cases on a logarithmic scale , meaning that every axis line is 10 times greater than the previous one .
This type of scale emphasizes the rate of change .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's curve trends sharply upward , as New York 's does over the first 15 days past 100 cases .
Generally , this is evidence of unbridled community transmission of the disease .
As new cases slow , the curve bends toward horizontal , showing that the state 's outbreak may be leveling off .
This does n't mean the number of cases has stopped growing , but the rate of growth has slowed , which could signify that social distancing measures are having an effect .
In some areas , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the earliest outbreaks — such as California and Washington — seem to be having success at suppressing the disease .
The outlook in Washington has improved to the point that the state has returned unused Army hospital beds it had received in preparation for a peak in cases .
Elsewhere , limited access to testing may make the number of cases look smaller than it really is .
As testing becomes more readily available , we are likely to see the number of confirmed cases continue to grow , even if not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data used here are 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 .
State-by-state testing and hospitalization data are still being assessed for reliability .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your local health department 's website .
Stephanie Adeline , Alyson Hurt , Connie Hanzhang Jin , Ruth Talbot and Thomas Wilburn contributed to 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--2020-05-24--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

Coronavirus World Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak Since the new coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan , China , in December , the infectious respiratory disease COVID-19 has spread rapidly within China and to neighboring countries and beyond .
The first confirmed coronavirus cases outside China occurred on Jan. 20 , in Japan , Thailand and South Korea .
On Jan. 21 , the first case in the U.S. was identified in Washington state .
On Jan. 24 , the first two European cases were confirmed in France .
By Feb. 1 , eight European nations had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month later that count had risen to 24 countries with at least 2,200 cases , most of them in Italy .
On March 11 , Italy eclipsed 10,000 cases and the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic — the first since H1N1 in 2009 .
That 's also when China , the original epicenter , began seeing drops in daily counts of new cases .
March also saw exponential spread of the virus throughout the U.S. , with all 50 states reporting cases by March 17 .
This particular virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third strain of coronavirus known to frequently cause severe symptoms in humans .
The other two strains cause Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome .
Click here to see the state-by-state breakdown of cases in the United States .
This story was originally published on March 30 , 2020 .

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


npr--2020-05-23--North Carolina Reports Highest 1-Day Spike Of COVID-19 Cases

North Carolina has reported its highest one-day spike in new COVID-19 cases , a development that comes a day after the state entered its second phase of reopening .
In a statement on Saturday , the state 's Department of Health and Human Services reported 1,107 infections — around 250 more cases than the state 's last highest daily tally .
`` This is a notable and concerning increase , '' said the department 's secretary , Mandy Cohen , in a statement .
`` As we head into a holiday weekend , please practice the three Ws – wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apart , and wash your hands frequently .
When it comes to our health , we need to work together to protect our families , friends and neighbors . ''
The spike in new cases underscores the challenge that states across the U.S. are facing as they weigh when to ease restrictions designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus outbreak .
North Carolina had spent two weeks in Phase 1 of its reopening before entering the second phase on Friday .
Phase 2 lifted the state 's stay-at-home order and allowed certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a limited capacity .
In announcing the easing of restrictions , authorities noted that although `` overall key indicators remain stable , '' there remained `` continued increases in daily case counts . ''
A statement accompanying Gov .
Roy Cooper 's executive order , issued on Wednesday , said reopening would be a more modest endeavor than initially envisioned .
`` North Carolina is using the data to guide our decisions about when to lift COVID-19 restrictions , and overall our key indicators remain stable , '' Cooper , a Democrat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 is another careful step forward , and we have to continue taking this virus seriously to prevent a dangerous spike in infections . ''
The executive order allows businesses such as restaurants , salons and barbershops to be open at 50 % capacity with social distancing and cleaning requirements in place .
Bars , gyms and movie theaters are to remain closed .
The order also caps gatherings at 25 people for outdoor venues , while indoor events are limited to 10 .
The announcement came as many parts of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections and as other areas — such as Los Angeles , Chicago and Washington , D.C. — are reporting plateaus .
As of Saturday , North Carolina has reported at least 22,725 coronavirus infections .

North Carolina Reports Highest 1-Day Spike Of COVID-19 Cases
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gerry Broome/AP Gerry Broome/AP
North Carolina has reported its highest one-day spike in new COVID-19 cases, a development that comes a day after the state entered its second phase of reopening.
In a statement on Saturday, the state's Department of Health and Human Services reported 1,107 infections — around 250 more cases than the state's last highest daily tally.
"This is a notable and concerning increase," said the department's secretary, Mandy Cohen, in a statement. "As we head into a holiday weekend, please practice the three Ws – wear a face covering, wait six feet apart, and wash your hands frequently. When it comes to our health, we need to work together to protect our families, friends and neighbors."
The spike in new cases underscores the challenge that states across the U.S. are facing as they weigh when to ease restrictions designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
North Carolina had spent two weeks in Phase 1 of its reopening before entering the second phase on Friday. Phase 2 lifted the state's stay-at-home order and allowed certain businesses to restart or expand operations in a limited capacity.
In announcing the easing of restrictions, authorities noted that although "overall key indicators remain stable," there remained "continued increases in daily case counts." A statement accompanying Gov. Roy Cooper's executive order, issued on Wednesday, said reopening would be a more modest endeavor than initially envisioned.
"North Carolina is using the data to guide our decisions about when to lift COVID-19 restrictions, and overall our key indicators remain stable," Cooper, a Democrat, said. "Safer At Home Phase 2 is another careful step forward, and we have to continue taking this virus seriously to prevent a dangerous spike in infections."
The executive order allows businesses such as restaurants, salons and barbershops to be open at 50% capacity with social distancing and cleaning requirements in place. Bars, gyms and movie theaters are to remain closed.
The order also caps gatherings at 25 people for outdoor venues, while indoor events are limited to 10.
The announcement came as many parts of the U.S. have seen a general decline in new infections and as other areas — such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. — are reporting plateaus.
As of Saturday, North Carolina has reported at least 22,725 coronavirus infections.


npr--2020-05-25--6 Pieces Of Advice From A Veteran Contact Tracer And A Newbie

6 Pieces Of Advice From A Veteran Contact Tracer And A Newbie What advice is there for the army of new contact tracers out to find anyone who has been near a newly diagnosed coronavirus patient ?
We asked two contact tracers for their best insights .
One is a veteran : registered nurse Rachel Saykpah of Liberia , who after two exposures to patients during the Ebola outbreak was inspired to begin working with the Liberia National Red Cross Society in 2014 .
She oversaw around 70 tracers and eventually became a quality assurance officer with Last Mile Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers in remote areas .
The other contact tracer we spoke to is Jana De Brauwere , who manages the business , science and technology department at the San Francisco Public Library .
She 's one of thousands of city workers and volunteers activated in a partnership between the California Department of Public Health and the University of California , San Francisco to stop the virus 's spread through contact tracing and case investigation .
Based on their respective experiences tracing Ebola in Liberia and COVID-19 in California , here are six key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracing during a disease outbreak .
1 .
Be prepared to be judged by the neighbors .
Saykpah can speak not just as a contact tracer but as someone who was `` traced '' after her contact with patients .
In 2013 , workers from Liberia 's Ministry of Health would come to her door to take her temperature and monitor her for any signs or symptoms she might develop .
`` Everyone in your community , when they see someone coming to your door , they want to know what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And when you are a health worker and they see people coming to your door and testing you , it can be traumatizing . ''
Being outed as someone who potentially contracted the virus or has been in contact with a sick person can contribute to the stigma that arises during an outbreak , says Saykpah .
In her case , the workers coming to her door did not wear personal protective equipment , which she presumes could 've been because of a lack of enough protective gear but also might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stigma since the interview was conducted outside her house in plain sight of neighbors .
2 .
People may be scared to disclose personal information .
Any time a potential contact is traced , they 're asked to provide demographic information about themselves , including name , address and date of birth .
De Brauwere says some people she has spoken with in California express fear that their immigration status may be used against them if they comply with the interview — some even hang up once they 're asked such basic identity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me actually , during my last shift , '' she says .
A patient who 'd received a message from a contact tracer called back and confessed , `` I did n't want to pick up because I thought [ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ] was calling me . ''
3 .
Get to know community leaders .
The most efficient way to earn people 's trust ?
Go straight to the leaders they already believe in .
Saykpah says when she started training contact tracers in Liberia in 2014 , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who encouraged others to have faith in the contact tracers .
`` So then these people go out and talk to [ their community members ] and say , 'These are our health workers .
They have come to save our lives .
If you think you came in contact with this [ patient ] , give your information so they can be able to save you , ' `` she says .
`` With that process , everyone who was in contact with an identified case was willing to provide all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feedback from mentors — and experienced health workers — is key .
Although Saykpah is a registered nurse , she says there were no specific requirements or qualifications that volunteers needed to meet to become contact tracers in Liberia .
`` We got community volunteers who are government trained doing health education in the community to come on board and do the contact tracing , '' she explains .
`` They began tracing at the county level with health practitioners to guide them . ''
Similarly , De Brauwere has no medical background @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 hours of training from the California Department of Public Health .
`` There 's a lot of support for the tracers — a lot of quality control making sure we are sticking to the script , asking the questions correctly and providing the current resources the best we can , '' she says .
Not everyone who receives a call from the California tracers speaks English , which means there 's a need for tracers who can conduct interviews in different languages — especially in immigrant communities where many essential workers face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` What I 'm finding out on my shifts is that most of the contacts are actually Spanish speakers , so the English speakers would use interpreters for Spanish or other languages , '' says De Brauwere , who speaks Spanish .
Although the tracers De Brauwere works with currently have scripts in both languages , she says sometimes the people she calls speak only Vietnamese or Thai and need someone they can understand in order to be thoroughly traced as a contact .
6 .
Connect with other tracers — they 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracers might get overwhelmed jumping straight into this work , especially if they do n't have a medical background — but veteran tracers like Saykpah have already successfully used contact tracing to break the chain of transmission before .
And they have tons of expertise they 're happy to share .
In a time of global crisis , this cross-cultural conversation can go a long way in finding solutions and slowing the virus 's spread .
`` Whenever there is some gap in information that you do n't have or you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who have already been involved in this work , '' Saykpah says .
`` Check in with us .
We can share knowledge and work together . ''

6 Pieces Of Advice From A Veteran Contact Tracer And A Newbie
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jana De Brauwere; Rachel Saykpah Jana De Brauwere; Rachel Saykpah
What advice is there for the army of new contact tracers out to find anyone who has been near a newly diagnosed coronavirus patient?
We asked two contact tracers for their best insights. One is a veteran: registered nurse Rachel Saykpah of Liberia, who after two exposures to patients during the Ebola outbreak was inspired to begin working with the Liberia National Red Cross Society in 2014. She oversaw around 70 tracers and eventually became a quality assurance officer with Last Mile Health, a Liberian nonprofit that deploys health workers in remote areas.
The other contact tracer we spoke to is Jana De Brauwere, who manages the business, science and technology department at the San Francisco Public Library. She's one of thousands of city workers and volunteers activated in a partnership between the California Department of Public Health and the University of California, San Francisco to stop the virus's spread through contact tracing and case investigation.
Based on their respective experiences tracing Ebola in Liberia and COVID-19 in California, here are six key takeaways Saykpah and De Brauwere have on contact tracing during a disease outbreak.
1. Be prepared to be judged by the neighbors.
Saykpah can speak not just as a contact tracer but as someone who was "traced" after her contact with patients. In 2013, workers from Liberia's Ministry of Health would come to her door to take her temperature and monitor her for any signs or symptoms she might develop.
"Everyone in your community, when they see someone coming to your door, they want to know what they are coming for," she says. "And when you are a health worker and they see people coming to your door and testing you, it can be traumatizing."
Being outed as someone who potentially contracted the virus or has been in contact with a sick person can contribute to the stigma that arises during an outbreak, says Saykpah. In her case, the workers coming to her door did not wear personal protective equipment, which she presumes could've been because of a lack of enough protective gear but also might have been intentional — to de-escalate any stigma since the interview was conducted outside her house in plain sight of neighbors.
2. People may be scared to disclose personal information.
Any time a potential contact is traced, they're asked to provide demographic information about themselves, including name, address and date of birth. De Brauwere says some people she has spoken with in California express fear that their immigration status may be used against them if they comply with the interview — some even hang up once they're asked such basic identity questions.
"This just happened to me actually, during my last shift," she says. A patient who'd received a message from a contact tracer called back and confessed, "I didn't want to pick up because I thought [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] was calling me."
3. Get to know community leaders.
The most efficient way to earn people's trust? Go straight to the leaders they already believe in.
Saykpah says when she started training contact tracers in Liberia in 2014, they made sure to meet with community representatives who encouraged others to have faith in the contact tracers.
"So then these people go out and talk to [their community members] and say, 'These are our health workers. They have come to save our lives. If you think you came in contact with this [patient], give your information so they can be able to save you,' " she says. "With that process, everyone who was in contact with an identified case was willing to provide all of this information."
4. Getting feedback from mentors — and experienced health workers — is key.
Although Saykpah is a registered nurse, she says there were no specific requirements or qualifications that volunteers needed to meet to become contact tracers in Liberia.
"We got community volunteers who are government trained doing health education in the community to come on board and do the contact tracing," she explains. "They began tracing at the county level with health practitioners to guide them."
Similarly, De Brauwere has no medical background — but she says she received about 20 hours of training from the California Department of Public Health.
"There's a lot of support for the tracers — a lot of quality control making sure we are sticking to the script, asking the questions correctly and providing the current resources the best we can," she says.
5. Speak their language — literally.
Not everyone who receives a call from the California tracers speaks English, which means there's a need for tracers who can conduct interviews in different languages — especially in immigrant communities where many essential workers face higher risks of contracting the virus.
"What I'm finding out on my shifts is that most of the contacts are actually Spanish speakers, so the English speakers would use interpreters for Spanish or other languages," says De Brauwere, who speaks Spanish.
Although the tracers De Brauwere works with currently have scripts in both languages, she says sometimes the people she calls speak only Vietnamese or Thai and need someone they can understand in order to be thoroughly traced as a contact.
6. Connect with other tracers — they've been in your shoes!
New COVID-19 contact tracers might get overwhelmed jumping straight into this work, especially if they don't have a medical background — but veteran tracers like Saykpah have already successfully used contact tracing to break the chain of transmission before. And they have tons of expertise they're happy to share. In a time of global crisis, this cross-cultural conversation can go a long way in finding solutions and slowing the virus's spread.
"Whenever there is some gap in information that you don't have or you are facing a challenge somewhere, engage with people who have already been involved in this work," Saykpah says. "Check in with us. We can share knowledge and work together."


npr--2020-05-25--Tracking The Pandemic: How Quickly Is The Coronavirus Spreading State By State?


npr--2020-05-25--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak


npr--2020-05-25--Video: What The U.S. Is Doing About Its Testing Swab Shortage

Video : What The U.S. Is Doing About Its Testing Swab Shortage Widespread testing for the coronavirus is key to safely reopening the country , but the U.S. has struggled for months to get to the level of testing many experts say we need — even as states and cities begin to loosen restrictions .
Part of the problem is that a test for the coronavirus is not a single device .
Testing entails several different steps and requires supplies and pieces of equipment sourced from different places .
These supplies have to make it from factories , to testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collected , and to the lab where tests are processed .
Along the way , there can be shortages of various components , each one potentially creating a bottleneck .
The most common kind of test to check for an active coronavirus infection takes a sample from the back of your nose or throat .
There are dozens of varieties of that test , but they all require one key element : the swab .
Even though health experts and governors were warning of swab shortages as early as February , the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ domestic production .
That means that now , months into this crisis , we still need more of them .
In this video , we zero in on the swab , detailing what the federal government and private industry did and did n't do , and we break down why testing is so complicated in the first place .

VIDEO: What The U.S. Is Doing About Its Testing Swab Shortage
Widespread testing for the coronavirus is key to safely reopening the country, but the U.S. has struggled for months to get to the level of testing many experts say we need — even as states and cities begin to loosen restrictions.
Part of the problem is that a test for the coronavirus is not a single device. Testing entails several different steps and requires supplies and pieces of equipment sourced from different places. These supplies have to make it from factories to testing sites where patients' samples can be collected and to the lab where tests are processed. Along the way, there can be shortages of various components, each one potentially creating a bottleneck.
The most common kind of test to check for an active coronavirus infection takes a sample from the back of your nose or throat. There are dozens of varieties of that test, but they all require one key element: the swab.
Even though health experts and governors were warning of swab shortages as early as February, the federal government took until late April to increase domestic production. That means that now, months into this crisis, we still need more of them.
In this video, we zero in on the swab, detailing what the federal government and private industry did and didn't do, and we break down why testing is so complicated in the first place.
Elizabeth Gillis