npr--2020-05-12--Aimee Stephens, Transgender Woman At Center Of Major Civil Rights Case, Dies At 59

Aimee Stephens , Transgender Woman At Center Of Major Civil Rights Case , Dies At 59 Aimee Stephens , the transgender woman at the center of a major employment rights case pending in the U.S. Supreme Court , died in Detroit on Tuesday at age 59 .
Stephens was the first transgender person whose civil rights case was heard by the Supreme Court , according to the American Civil Liberties Union , which represented her .
Her case concerns the question of whether federal law prohibiting employment discrimination applies to transgender employees .
`` Aimee did n't set out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but she is one , '' the ACLU said in a tweet confirming her death .
`` We all owe her a debt of gratitude for her commitment to justice for all people , and her dedication to the trans community . ''
After years of working as an embalmer and funeral home director at R.G .
and G.R .
Harris Funeral Homes in Livonia , Mich. , Stephens informed her boss in 2013 that she was transitioning from male to female .
She had been living as a transgender woman outside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company 's dress code for women on the job .
A short time later , Stephens was fired .
Backed by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission , she sued her former employer .
In 2018 , the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled against the funeral home owners , saying that LGBTQ people are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , which states employers can not fire , refuse to hire or otherwise penalize people because of their sex .
The funeral home owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court , arguing the civil rights laws were not intended to protect gay and transgender people .
Additionally , they said , the funeral home was within its rights to insist that Stephens adhere to its dress code for male employees during work hours .
The case currently before the high court asks whether it is illegal sex discrimination , under federal civil rights statutes , to fire someone because they are transgender .
The Supreme Court started hearing the case last year and its decision is expected by July .
Stephens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the end stage of renal failure in recent weeks .
She died in hospice care at home with her wife Donna Stephens by her side , the ACLU said .
According to a GoFundMe account asking for financial assistance to cover Stephens ' funeral costs and end-of-life care , being fired from her job in 2013 resulted in the loss of adequate health care coverage , `` years of lost income '' and `` immediate financial strain , leading her spouse Donna to take on several jobs . ''
`` Aimee Stephens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job she was hired to do , that she was good at , and that she was prepared to continue while living as her true gender , '' Brian Bond , executive director of PFLAG National , said in a statement .
`` Her fight will continue as we strive for equality for all , inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity . ''
In an interview last year with The Detroit News , Stephens said she was optimistic about the outcome of the pending Supreme Court case .
`` I believe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stood up for myself to make sure that it happens .
That 's what keeps me going , '' she said .
`` If you 're part of the human race , which we all are , we all deserve the same basic rights .
We 're not asking for anything special .
We 're just asking to be treated like other people are . ''

Aimee Stephens, Transgender Woman At Center Of Major Civil Rights Case, Dies At 59
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul Sancya/AP Paul Sancya/AP
Aimee Stephens, the transgender woman at the center of a major employment rights case pending in the U.S. Supreme Court, died in Detroit on Tuesday at age 59.
Stephens was the first transgender person whose civil rights case was heard by the Supreme Court, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented her. Her case concerns the question of whether federal law prohibiting employment discrimination applies to transgender employees.
"Aimee didn't set out to be a hero and a trailblazer, but she is one," the ACLU said in a tweet confirming her death. "We all owe her a debt of gratitude for her commitment to justice for all people, and her dedication to the trans community."
After years of working as an embalmer and funeral home director at R.G. and G.R. Harris Funeral Homes in Livonia, Mich., Stephens informed her boss in 2013 that she was transitioning from male to female. She had been living as a transgender woman outside of work, and planned to follow the company's dress code for women on the job. A short time later, Stephens was fired.
Backed by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, she sued her former employer. In 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled against the funeral home owners, saying that LGBTQ people are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states employers cannot fire, refuse to hire or otherwise penalize people because of their sex.
The funeral home owners appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing the civil rights laws were not intended to protect gay and transgender people. Additionally, they said, the funeral home was within its rights to insist that Stephens adhere to its dress code for male employees during work hours.
The case currently before the high court asks whether it is illegal sex discrimination, under federal civil rights statutes, to fire someone because they are transgender. The Supreme Court started hearing the case last year and its decision is expected by July.
Stephens, who suffered from kidney disease, was in the end stage of renal failure in recent weeks. She died in hospice care at home with her wife, Donna Stephens, by her side, the ACLU said.
According to a GoFundMe account asking for financial assistance to cover Stephens' funeral costs and end-of-life care, being fired from her job in 2013 resulted in the loss of adequate health care coverage, "years of lost income" and "immediate financial strain, leading her spouse Donna to take on several jobs."
"Aimee Stephens just wanted to continue to do the job she was hired to do, that she was good at, and that she was prepared to continue while living as her true gender," Brian Bond, executive director of PFLAG National, said in a statement.
"Her fight will continue as we strive for equality for all, inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity."
In an interview last year with The Detroit News, Stephens said she was optimistic about the outcome of the pending Supreme Court case.
"I believe in what I'm doing. I've stood up for myself to make sure that it happens. That's what keeps me going," she said.
"If you're part of the human race, which we all are, we all deserve the same basic rights. We're not asking for anything special. We're just asking to be treated like other people are."


npr--2020-05-12--South Korea Delays Reopening Schools As Coronavirus Cases Resurge

South Korea has delayed reopening schools another week as dozens of new coronavirus cases linked to nightclubs in Seoul continue to emerge daily .
Since a clubgoer tested positive last Wednesday , 102 infection cases from the cluster have been confirmed .
The country had prepared to start on-site classes this Wednesday in what would be another milestone in South Korea 's steady recovery .
New daily infections had stayed close to zero for days as the country eased social distancing restrictions last week and opened public museums and libraries for the first time in over 70 days .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early March , had been delayed four times until it began online about a month ago .
To finally greet students in person , schools and teachers disinfected and rearranged desks and checked their stockpile of face masks and hand sanitizers .
They set up an isolated waiting area for suspected patients and installed thermal cameras and partitions .
The Education Ministry 's guidelines even instructed schools to keep one-third of windows open when the air conditioner is on .
But the nightclub cluster , detected just a week before the first day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and education authorities despite all the careful preparations .
More than 190,000 people signed a presidential petition urging the school reopening to be postponed further .
Education superintendents of Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi province , where most of the related cases are , publicly proposed the government revise its plan .
The government quickly reinstated the order enforcing disease prevention restrictions on bars and nightclubs but remained cautious .
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a news briefing Friday that it 's `` too early '' to discuss an additional delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to occur , and we are taking the risk to return to our everyday lives . ''
Health authorities also tried to reassure the public that the tried-and-true methods of testing and contact tracing can rein in the new wave of infections .
`` Even though COVID-19 is difficult to handle , our citizens have experienced that it can be controlled , '' Jeong Eun-kyeong , the director of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , said Friday .
But rising case numbers , including secondary infections , and fresh challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government to recalculate risks .
Announcing the delay on Monday , Vice Education Minister Park Baek-beom voiced concerns about the prospect of controlling the outbreak and said student safety must be top priority .
Students will have to stay home for one more week with extended online virtual classes .
The new case cluster revived fear and frustration , suggesting a long , zigzagging path forward .
In a televised speech on Sunday , President Moon Jae-in urged citizens not to lower their guard and said , `` It 's not over until @ @ @ @ @

South Korea Delays Reopening Schools As Coronavirus Cases Resurge
Enlarge this image toggle caption Yonhap News Agency via Reuters Yonhap News Agency via Reuters
South Korea has delayed reopening schools another week as dozens of new coronavirus cases linked to nightclubs in Seoul continue to emerge daily. Since a clubgoer tested positive last Wednesday, 102 infection cases from the cluster have been confirmed.
The country had prepared to start on-site classes this Wednesday in what would be another milestone in South Korea's steady recovery. New daily infections had stayed close to zero for days as the country eased social distancing restrictions last week and opened public museums and libraries for the first time in over 70 days.
The spring semester, which normally starts in early March, had been delayed four times until it began online about a month ago.
Asia South Korea Postpones School Reopening As The Number Of New Coronavirus Cases Rises South Korea Postpones School Reopening As The Number Of New Coronavirus Cases Soars Listen · 3:01 3:01
To finally greet students in person, schools and teachers disinfected and rearranged desks and checked their stockpile of face masks and hand sanitizer. They set up an isolated waiting area for suspected patients and installed thermal cameras and partitions. The Education Ministry's guidelines even instructed schools to keep one-third of windows open when the air conditioner is on.
But the nightclub cluster, detected just a week before the first day of classes, stirred fear among parents and education authorities despite all the careful preparations. More than 190,000 people signed a presidential petition urging the school reopening to be postponed further. Education superintendents of Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi province, where most of the related cases are, publicly proposed the government revise its plan.
The government quickly reinstated the order enforcing disease prevention restrictions on bars and nightclubs but remained cautious. Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a news briefing Friday that it's "too early" to discuss an additional delay and said, "Sporadic infections can continue to occur, and we are taking the risk to return to our everyday lives."
Health authorities also tried to reassure the public that the tried-and-true methods of testing and contact tracing can rein in the new wave of infections. "Even though COVID-19 is difficult to handle, our citizens have experienced that it can be controlled," Jeong Eun-kyeong, the director of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Friday.
But rising case numbers, including secondary infections, and fresh challenges posed by the new cluster pushed the government to recalculate risks.
Announcing the delay on Monday, Vice Education Minister Park Baek-beom voiced concerns about the prospect of controlling the outbreak and said student safety must be top priority. Students will have to stay home for one more week with extended online classes.
The new case cluster revived fear and frustration, suggesting a long, zigzagging path forward.
In a televised speech on Sunday, President Moon Jae-in urged citizens not to lower their guard and said, "It's not over until it's over."


npr--2020-05-12--In COVID-19 Relief Bill, House Democrats Propose Pushing Census Deadlines

As the U.S. Census Bureau resumes some 2020 census field operations put on hold by the pandemic , House Democrats are moving forward with proposals for major changes to the national head count as requested by the bureau .
The coronavirus relief bill released Tuesday includes provisions that would push back by four months the legal deadlines for the bureau to deliver 2020 census results — including the latest state population counts used to redistribute congressional seats and Electoral College votes among the states , and the data used to redraw voting districts .
If passed , the legislation would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ census by $ 400 million .
But the bill , known as the Heroes Act , is not expected to gain traction in the Republican-led Senate .
It does offer some insight into the House Democrats ' wish list for the constitutionally mandated count of every person living in the country .
The bill includes a provision that would block the Trump administration 's ongoing efforts to use government records to produce data about the U.S. citizenship status of every person living in the country , as well as requiring Census Bureau Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the count 's progress to lawmakers .

In COVID-19 Relief Bill, House Democrats Propose Pushing Census Deadlines
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
As the U.S. Census Bureau resumes some 2020 census field operations put on hold by the pandemic, House Democrats are moving forward with proposals for major changes to the national head count as requested by the bureau.
The coronavirus relief bill released Tuesday includes provisions that would push back by four months the legal deadlines for the bureau to deliver 2020 census results — including the latest state population counts used to redistribute congressional seats and Electoral College votes among the states, and the data used to redraw voting districts.
If passed, the legislation would also boost the emergency budget for the census by $400 million.
But the bill, known as the Heroes Act, is not expected to gain traction in the Republican-led Senate.
It does offer some insight into the House Democrats' wish list for the constitutionally mandated count of every person living in the country.
The bill includes a provision that would block the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to use government records to produce data about the U.S. citizenship status of every person living in the country, as well as requiring Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham to provide a monthly report about the count's progress to lawmakers.


npr--2020-05-12--Australian Authorities Make Arrest In Apparent Hate Crime Murder Of Gay Man In 1988

Australian Authorities Make Arrest In Apparent Hate Crime Murder Of Gay Man In 1988 In 1988 , American mathematician Scott Johnson , 27 , died after falling off a cliff in Sydney , Australia .
His death was initially classified as a suicide , but this week , authorities arrested a suspect , a 49-year-old male , and charged him with murdering Johnson .
Johnson 's death became an open case in 2012 , and authorities determined in 2017 that it was likely the result of an anti-gay hate crime .
A Sydney police review of suspicious deaths from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 men were murdered by homophobic attackers during that period .
Johnson 's brother Steve Johnson , a former AOL executive , said news of the arrest of the suspect was `` emotional '' for the family — `` for my three kids who never got to know their uncle and admire him not just because of his brilliance but because he courageously lived his life the way he wanted to , '' he said in a statement .
In 2018 , the Australian government offered a reward of 1 million Australian dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the arrest of Johnson 's killer .
Earlier this year , Johnson 's family matched it .
`` I hope the friends and families of the other dozens of gay men who lost their lives find solace in what 's happened today and hope it opens the door to resolve some of the other mysterious deaths of men who have not yet received justice , '' Johnson said .
Nicolas Parkhill , the CEO of ACON , Sydney 's largest LGBTQ health organization , urged authorities to continue to investigate other possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of gay men and transgender women and the epidemic of violence in Sydney and [ New South Wales ] during the 1970s to 1990s has left a traumatic legacy , '' Parkhill said in a statement .
`` Bias-motivated violence and murder are crimes that hurt both physically and emotionally , and the impact is felt deeply , both individually and communally . ''

Australian Authorities Make Arrest In Apparent Hate Crime Murder Of Gay Man In 1988
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dan Himbrechts/AP Dan Himbrechts/AP
In 1988, American mathematician Scott Johnson, 27, died after falling off a cliff in Sydney, Australia. His death was initially classified as a suicide, but this week, authorities arrested a suspect, a 49-year-old male, and charged him with murdering Johnson.
Johnson's death became an open case in 2012, and authorities determined in 2017 that it was likely the result of an anti-gay hate crime. A Sydney police review of suspicious deaths from the 1970s to 2000 found that at least 27 men were murdered by homophobic attackers during that period.
Johnson's brother Steve Johnson, a former AOL executive, said news of the arrest of the suspect was "emotional" for the family — "for my three kids who never got to know their uncle and admire him not just because of his brilliance but because he courageously lived his life the way he wanted to," he said in a statement.
In 2018, the Australian government offered a reward of 1 million Australian dollars ($647,260) for information leading to the arrest of Johnson's killer. Earlier this year, Johnson's family matched it.
"I hope the friends and families of the other dozens of gay men who lost their lives find solace in what's happened today and hope it opens the door to resolve some of the other mysterious deaths of men who have not yet received justice," Johnson said.
Nicolas Parkhill, the CEO of ACON, Sydney's largest LGBTQ health organization, urged authorities to continue to investigate other possible murders.
"The deaths and disappearances of gay men and transgender women and the epidemic of violence in Sydney and [New South Wales] during the 1970s to 1990s has left a traumatic legacy," Parkhill said in a statement. "Bias-motivated violence and murder are crimes that hurt both physically and emotionally, and the impact is felt deeply, both individually and communally."


npr--2020-05-12--Americans Are Driving Less And Snacking More

Americans Are Driving Less And Snacking More Gasoline prices dropped like a rock last month but food prices shot up the most in nearly 50 years .
Both have something to do with how we 're living these days .
Overall , we 're spending less and spending differently than we did just a few months ago .
And that 's affecting consumer prices for everything from pasta to auto insurance .
New inflation numbers out Tuesday from the Labor Department offer a window on how consumers are coping in the COVID-19 era .
Most of us are n't driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % last month .
The price of auto insurance also dropped in April , by 7.2 % — more than any other month on record .
`` With people driving less , that will inevitably mean fewer accidents , '' said Sean Kevelighan , CEO of the Insurance Information Institute .
Auto insurers are offering discounts and refunds totaling more than $ 10 billion this year .
Kevelighan warns , however , that with fewer cars on the road , some people are driving faster .
That means the accidents that do happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , people are driving more recklessly at this time .
And so that means we 're having more injuries and greater damage , '' he said .
The new inflation report is filled with mixed messages like that .
Overall , consumer prices were down 0.8 % in April — the sharpest drop since the Great Recession in 2008 .
But food prices at the grocery store jumped 2.6 % — the biggest jump since 1974 , when double-digit inflation became a national concern .
The price of pasta and rice bubbled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prices ground up 4.8 % .
And anyone who bought cookies had to lay out 5.1 % more dough .
Americans had grown used to spending more than half their food budgets on meals eaten outside the home .
But that changed abruptly when the coronavirus pandemic hit .
Restaurants closed their doors and families were forced to cook for themselves .
`` We saw an immediate , drastic decrease in expenditures away from home and an increase in the expenditures that we made at the grocery store , '' said David Ortega @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University .
Ortega sees the change in his own habits .
Instead of buying a prepared coffee at the campus bagel shop , he 's making his own coffee at home with store-bought beans .
He 's also shopping for his wife and two-year-old daughter .
`` Yep , I have to now go to the grocery store and make sure we have snacks and goldfish and crackers and just about everything that 's going up in price , '' Ortega said .
There 's little evidence that people 's overall food consumption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snacks jumped 3.8 % last month ) .
But where and what we 're eating has shifted .
And that 's created some costly kinks in the supply chain .
Something similar famously happened with toilet paper , where household demand soared while office supplies went unused .
Household paper prices jumped 4.5 % last month .
There are a handful of other categories where prices rose — including hospital care ( up 0.5 % ) and funerals ( up 0.3 % ) .
But while Americans are spending more on necessities like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cutting back on everything else .
`` Accordingly , prices are falling .
Apparel was down on the month again .
Airline fares are plummeting .
Hotel prices [ are ] down , '' said Kathy Bostjancic , chief U.S. financial economist for Oxford Economics .
The price of used cars dropped 0.4 % last month and could fall further if rental car companies decide they have too many cars and sell some of their surplus .
There could be some bargains on the used car lot .
But with millions of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not clear who will want to buy .
`` Therein lies the issue , '' Bostjancic said .
`` And that 's why you 're seeing across the consumer spectrum deep discounting . ''
If you take out volatile food and gasoline prices , the cost of everything else fell 0.4 % last month .
Over the last year , these so-called `` core prices '' rose just 1.4 % .
That suggests the government could afford to keep borrowing and spending money on emergency relief programs without fear of runaway prices .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ worries right now , '' Bostjancic said .

We're Eating At Home And It's Costing Us More
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Updated at 10:32 a.m. ET
Food prices have jumped the most since 1974, when double-digit inflation became a national concern. But inflation isn't a worry this time as prices for just about everything else are diving.
New inflation numbers out Tuesday from the Labor Department offer a window on how consumers are coping in the COVID-19 era. And the bottom line is that we're snacking more — and paying more for a lot of food — as we shop more at our local grocery stores.
Overall, consumer prices were down 0.8% last month — the sharpest drop since the Great Recession in 2008. But food prices at the grocery store rose 2.6% — the biggest jump in nearly 50 years.
The price of pasta and rice bubbled up 2.5% in April. Hamburger prices ground up 4.8%. And anyone who bought cookies had to lay out 5.1% more dough.
Americans had grown used to spending more than half their food budgets on meals eaten outside the home. But that changed abruptly when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Restaurants closed their doors, and families were forced to cook for themselves.
"We saw an immediate, drastic decrease in expenditures away from home and an increase in the expenditures that we made at the grocery store," said David Ortega, a food economist at Michigan State University.
Ortega sees the change in his own habits. Instead of buying a prepared coffee at the campus bagel shop, he's making his own coffee at home with store-bought beans. He's also shopping for his wife and 2-year-old daughter.
"Yep, I have to now go to the grocery store and make sure we have snacks and goldfish and crackers and just about everything that's going up in price," Ortega said.
There's little evidence that people's overall food consumption has increased (although the price of snacks jumped 3.8% last month). But where and what we're eating has shifted. And that's created some costly kinks in the supply chain.
Ortega warned that beef and pork prices are likely to climb in the weeks ahead, as a result of bottlenecks at slaughterhouses, which have become hot spots for coronavirus infections.
Most of us aren't driving much, so gasoline prices tumbled 20.6% last month. The price of auto insurance also dropped in April, by 7.2% — more than any other month on record.
"With people driving less, that will inevitably mean fewer accidents," said Sean Kevelighan, CEO of the Insurance Information Institute. Auto insurers are offering discounts and refunds totaling more than $10 billion this year.
Kevelighan warns, however, that with fewer cars on the road, some people are driving faster. That means the accidents that do happen are often more costly.
"In fact, people are driving more recklessly at this time. And so that means we're having more injuries and greater damage," he said.
The inflation report tells us more about how our consumption patterns have changed during the pandemic.
As demand for toilet paper soared, household paper prices jumped 4.5% last month. There are a handful of other categories where prices rose — including hospital care (up 0.5%) and funerals (up 0.3%).
But while Americans are spending more on necessities like pasta and toilet paper, they're cutting back on everything else.
"Accordingly, prices are falling. Apparel was down on the month again. Airline fares are plummeting. Hotel prices [are] down," said Kathy Bostjancic, chief U.S. financial economist for Oxford Economics.
The price of used cars dropped 0.4% last month and could fall further if rental car companies decide they have too many cars and sell some of their surplus. There could be some bargains on the used car lot. But with millions of Americans suddenly out of work, it's not clear who will want to buy.
"Therein lies the issue," Bostjancic said. "And that's why you're seeing across the consumer spectrum deep discounting."
If you take out volatile food and gasoline prices, the cost of everything else fell 0.4% last month. Over the last year, these so-called "core prices" rose just 1.4%.
That suggests the government could afford to keep borrowing and spending money on emergency relief programs without fear of runaway prices.
"Inflation is the least of our worries right now," Bostjancic said.


npr--2020-05-12--Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms On Reopening Georgia: 'I Remain Concerned'

Republican Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp 's reopening of many businesses on April 24 came earlier than many public health experts had recommended and against White House guidelines .
Another critic was Atlanta 's Democratic mayor , Keisha Lance Bottoms .
Fulton County , where most of Atlanta lies , has more than 3,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases , the most of any county in Georgia .
`` I remain concerned , '' she tells NPR 's Ailsa Chang on All Things Considered .
`` All of the numbers that you are seeing now , for as high as they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing measures in place . ''
Bottoms acknowledges that new daily infection numbers have seen a downward trend over the past several days , but says `` over the next couple of weeks , we will see whether or not the reopening of our state sends us in the other direction . ''
Here are selections from that interview : Do you think Atlanta should be on the same timeline as the rest of the state ?
No , I do n't .
Obviously , Atlanta is a large urban city with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state .
We have very high asthma rates in our city .
But one of the newest hot spots that we have in our state is in Gainesville , Ga. , primarily hitting the Latino community .
So I think it 's just this reminder , whether you are a densely populated city or a more rural town , COVID-19 can still strike and it can spread very rapidly .
Do you think that the governor 's decision to start reopening your state is irresponsible ?
I think that there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very thoughtful about a phased reopening .
I do n't think that that should have begun with hair salons and barbershops and places that people can not appropriately socially distance or even have at readily available access to the appropriate PPE .
So I do think that there could have been a more thoughtful approach .
...
I have spoken with Gov .
Kemp directly about this , and we have agreed to disagree .
This disease continues to disproportionately hit the black community in the U.S. and in Atlanta .
Have you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front ?
We are just really beginning to gather information on specific ethnic classifications .
So initially , the numbers were very spotty .
But I can tell you anecdotally , I knew that it was hitting our community much harder .
So now that we are gathering this information , we will continue to track it and we will see where those numbers are .
I 've seen that up to 80 % of people in the state of Georgia who have been hospitalized are African American .
As I mentioned , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in Gainesville , Ga. , centered around the Latino community .
So I think the trend continues that black and brown communities are being hit harder .
And I think that has a great deal to do with the jobs that are often accessible to black and brown communities in this country .
Mayor Bottoms also addresses the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in the full audio version of this interview .
Listen here .

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms On Reopening Georgia: 'I Remain Concerned'
Enlarge this image toggle caption City of Atlanta/Mayor's Office of Communications City of Atlanta/Mayor's Office of Communications
Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's reopening of many businesses on April 24 came earlier than many public health experts had recommended and were against White House guidelines.
Another critic was Atlanta's Democratic mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms. Fulton County, where most of Atlanta lies, has more than 3,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the most of any county in Georgia.
"I remain concerned," she tells NPR's Ailsa Chang on All Things Considered. "All of the numbers that you are seeing now, for as high as they are, it's been with extreme social distancing measures in place."
Bottoms acknowledges that new daily infection numbers have seen a downward trend over the past several days, but says "over the next couple of weeks, we will see whether or not the reopening of our state sends us in the other direction."
Here are selections from that interview:
Do you think Atlanta should be on the same timeline as the rest of the state?
No, I don't. Obviously, Atlanta is a large urban city with a much more dense population than other parts of the state. We have very high asthma rates in our city.
But one of the newest hotspots that we have in our state is in Gainesville, Ga., primarily hitting the Latino community. So I think it's just this reminder, whether you are a densely populated city or a more rural town, COVID-19 can still strike and it can spread very rapidly.
Do you think that the governor's decision to start reopening your state is irresponsible?
I think that there was perhaps a way for us to be very thoughtful about a phased reopening. I don't think that that should have begun with hair salons and barbershops and places that people cannot appropriately socially distance or even have readily available access to the appropriate PPE. So I do think that there could have been a more thoughtful approach. ...
I have spoken with Gov. Kemp directly about this, and we have agreed to disagree.
This disease continues to disproportionately hit the black community in the U.S. and in Atlanta. Have you seen any signs of progress on that front?
We are just really beginning to gather information on specific ethnic classifications. So initially, the numbers were very spotty. But I can tell you anecdotally, I knew that it was hitting our community much harder. So now that we are gathering this information, we will continue to track it and we will see where those numbers are. I've seen that up to 80% of people in the state of Georgia who have been hospitalized are African American.
As I mentioned, the latest hotspot in our state is in Gainesville, Ga., centered around the Latino community. So I think the trend continues that black and brown communities are being hit harder. And I think that has a great deal to do with the jobs that are often accessible to black and brown communities in this country.
Mayor Bottoms also addresses the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in the full audio version of this interview. Listen here.


npr--2020-05-12--Read The House Bill Calling For $3 Trillion In Coronavirus Relief

Read The House Bill Calling For $ 3 Trillion In Coronavirus Relief House Democrats plan to move forward with a @ @ @ @ @ additional coronavirus relief , following up on the historic $ 2 trillion aid package passed @ @ @ @ @ bill , called the HEROES Act , prioritizes granting hazard pay to front-line workers and @ @ @ @ @ local governments , which had not been allotted in previous bills .
The House could @ @ @ @ @ measure as soon as Friday .
It is not expected to gain traction in the @ @ @ @ @ bipartisan talks on the latest recovery package have stalled .
Read the full text of @ @ @ @ @ pages — here :

Read The House Bill Calling For $3 Trillion In Coronavirus Relief
House Democrats plan to move forward with a $3 trillion bill for additional coronavirus relief, following up on the historic $2 trillion aid package passed in March.
The latest bill, called the HEROES Act, prioritizes granting hazard pay to front-line workers and providing aid to state and local governments, which had not been allotted in previous bills.
The House could hold a vote on the measure as soon as Friday. It is not expected to gain traction in the Senate, though, as bipartisan talks on the latest recovery package have stalled.
Read the full text of the bill — all 1,815 pages — here:


npr--2020-05-12--Virginia To Reopen Partially This Week, But Not In The Areas Closest To D.C.

Virginia To Reopen Partially This Week , But Not In The Areas Closest To D.C. As many states begin taking steps toward reopening their economies , Virginia is set to allow some businesses around the state to open up later this week .
But Gov .
Ralph Northam is delaying the reopening for areas just outside Washington , D.C. , because of a higher infection rate in the region .
Northam , a physician , has outlined a phased plan that will allow some business activities to resume on Friday .
For example , nonessential retail stores can operate at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer limited outdoor dining .
Churches , synagogues and other religious congregations also will be allowed to hold services at 50 % capacity .
In an executive order signed Tuesday , Northam extended restrictions for several counties , cities and towns in Northern Virginia through at least May 28 .
The governor said local municipal leaders asked him to take that step out of concerns about the number of cases in the area .
`` While no region may move faster to ease restrictions , we 're open to some regions moving more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media briefing Monday .
State officials said Northern Virginia , which borders Washington , D.C. , accounts for about 70 % of the commonwealth 's positive coronavirus tests on a typical day .
Northam said that in recent days Virginia hospitals have been reporting an adequate supply of personal protective equipment for health care workers .

Virginia To Reopen Partially This Week, But Not In Richmond, Areas Closest To D.C.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Steve Helber/AP Steve Helber/AP
Updated 5/14/20
As many states begin taking steps toward reopening their economies, Virginia is set to allow some businesses around the state to open up later this week.
But Gov. Ralph Northam is delaying the reopening for areas just outside Washington, D.C., because of a higher infection rate in the region. The governor's office announced on Thursday that he's also delaying the re-opening plan for Richmond and for Accomack County on Virginia's Eastern Shore, at the request of local officials.
In a news release Thursday, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said the city had requested the delay in re-opening until at least May 29 because of an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 tests in the past two weeks.
Northam, a physician, has outlined a phased plan that will allow some business activities to resume on Friday. For example, nonessential retail stores can operate at 50% occupancy, and restaurants can offer limited outdoor dining. Churches, synagogues and other religious congregations also will be allowed to hold services at 50% capacity.
In an executive order signed Tuesday, Northam extended restrictions for several counties, cities and towns in Northern Virginia through at least May 28. The governor said local municipal leaders asked him to take that step out of concerns about the number of cases in the area.
"While no region may move faster to ease restrictions, we're open to some regions moving more slowly," Northam said during a media briefing Monday.
State officials said Northern Virginia, which borders Washington, D.C., accounts for about 70% of the commonwealth's positive coronavirus tests on a typical day.
Northam said that in recent days Virginia hospitals have been reporting an adequate supply of personal protective equipment for health care workers.


npr--2020-05-12--Despite Early Warnings, U.S. Took Months To Expand Swab Production For COVID-19 Test

Despite Early Warnings , U.S .
Took Months To Expand Swab Production For COVID-19 Test The Trump administration says it will now spend billions of dollars to help states make COVID-19 testing more widely available , a move meant to address months-long complaints about test shortages .
But here 's the puzzle : Many labs say they have plenty of tests .
So what 's the disconnect ?
Turns out a `` test '' is not a single device .
COVID-19 testing involves several steps , each one requiring different supplies , and there are shortages of different supplies at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite warnings about supply shortages by health experts and governors at least as early as February , the federal government took until late April to ramp up domestic production of swabs — a universal ingredient in the most common type of COVID-19 test .
The swab test checks for active infections , unlike an antibody test , which involves drawing blood to check whether the body has recovered from the virus .
Step 1 of a swab test is collecting a sample , and the most common way to do that is by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sample collection usually involves a swab , a tube and a chemical solution called `` viral transport media , '' which keeps the sample fresh as it travels to a laboratory .
There are dozens of types of FDA-approved swab tests , and the swabbing is usually done at hospitals , community health centers or drive-through testing sites .
Step 2 takes place at a lab .
There , genetic material is extracted from the sample .
That requires a special machine and chemicals called reagents .
Once the genetic material is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machine checks whether that genetic material contains any of the coronavirus .
If it does , the sample has tested positive for COVID-19 .
`` A test is not simply a one-component test , but is made up of many different components , '' said Heather Pierce , senior director for science policy and regulatory counsel at the Association of American Medical Colleges .
`` If any one of those components is missing or has insufficient quantities , the test ca n't happen . ''
The COVID-19 testing process has been plagued by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the chemical solution that keeps samples fresh .
Some weeks , there are shortages of some but not others , or one location has them and another does n't .
Take swabs .
They are able to work with any approved swab test .
The name suggests something as simple as a Q-tip , but they are more specialized .
Nasopharyngeal swabs , as they 're called , are considered medical devices and must be long and flexible enough to get all the way through the nose to the back of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing , President Trump said that in the next few weeks , the federal government would be sending millions of swabs to the states , and he added : `` Mostly , it 's cotton .
It 's not a big deal . ''
But Trump was wrong .
Cotton can interfere with test results because it contains its own genetic material , so nasopharyngeal swabs are typically made of polyester , nylon , foam or some other synthetic material .
On April 20 , Vice President Pence , speaking publicly about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this : `` By our best estimates , we have enough testing capacity today for every state in America to go to Phase 1 . ''
But `` testing capacity '' does not necessarily mean testing is happening .
Remember : Testing involves not just swabbing , but also having a sample analyzed at a lab .
And labs may have the machines that analyze samples , but if there are n't enough swabs , those machines may sit idle .
In other words , a shortage of swabs may prevent labs from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why is there a shortage of something as seemingly simple as swabs ?
For one reason , there had been only two major manufacturers of these swabs worldwide — Puritan Medical Products in Maine and Copan Diagnostics in Italy .
When COVID-19 hit and demand for swabs skyrocketed , the companies became overwhelmed and could n't keep up .
`` I do n't think the United States was prepared , '' said Timothy Templet , Puritan 's executive vice president of global sales .
`` That includes us , Puritan .
It includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ... And now it gets really nerve-wracking to think that we may be in this for another couple years . ''
The U.S. government could have been amassing swabs in the Strategic National Stockpile , a federal warehouse of medical supplies , but was not .
The government also has the Defense Production Act , a tool the Trump administration used in late March to require General Motors to produce more ventilators for coronavirus patients .
But the administration did not act as quickly to use that tool for swab shortages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Weeks ago , '' Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee told NPR on April 16 , `` I spoke to the president and urged him to invoke the Defense Production Act and mobilize the incredible supply chains that the Department of Defense has and to ask them to convert some of their production from other hardware and software to swabs and contact vials and machines that can do analysis .
And he did not agree with that assessment , and we lost weeks , frankly . ''
That was not the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of swab shortages .
On Feb. 12 , at a hearing on pandemic preparedness , a group of prominent health experts told a U.S. Senate committee that the country has a testing supply chain problem .
On March 16 , former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted that `` swabs could be a weak link in broadening testing . ''
On March 17 , Rhode Island Gov .
Gina Raimondo told CNN that `` the problem is swabs . ''
During the same time period , there were other public distress calls about supply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acted : It flew shipments of swabs from Italy to the U.S .
But that still did n't meet demand , and complaints about shortages were still continuing in mid-April .
On April 19 , President Trump said he would use the Defense Production Act to increase swab production .
On April 29 , the government said Puritan Medical Products had been awarded a $ 75.5 million contract to produce more swabs .
Puritan 's goal is to produce at least an additional 20 million swabs a month , and it 's building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it 's hard to say whether that 's enough to meet demand because it 's difficult to get consensus on how much COVID-19 testing the U.S. should be doing , and how many swabs can be produced .
Consider the experience of the American Society for Microbiology , which asked in mid-April to speak with Dr. Deborah Birx 's team on the White House coronavirus task force to find out what was being done to address testing supply shortages — and discovered that the White House was trying to figure out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was very surprising , '' recalled Dr. Robin Patel , the organization 's president .
`` First of all , Ambassador Birx is a wonderful person and has very good insight into the challenges that are happening ... but what they did is they turned around and they asked the American Society for Microbiology to help with this situation .
That 's not why we were there .
We were there asking for information . ''
So Patel 's group gave the coronavirus task force its feedback .
`` We are pleased to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patel , noting that the pandemic is a complicated situation and that everyone needs to work together to solve it .
`` But we were not there to volunteer to help .
That was what was surprising — was the ask back to us . ''
The American Society for Microbiology 's experience makes clear that nearly three months into the pandemic , the Trump administration was still struggling to understand the shortage of swabs and other test supplies , and how to fix it .
To help address the shortage , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and an Ohio company is converting a plant to make swabs .
The FDA has also approved a saliva test that does not require a swab .
And this week , the White House said it would send $ 11 billion to state governments to expand testing and make sure each state has enough testing supplies , although it said it wants to focus on high-risk communities like nursing homes .
So it remains unclear how widespread testing will ever be in the U.S. NPR 's Laura Sullivan , Graham Smith and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Despite Early Warnings, U.S. Took Months To Expand Swab Production For COVID-19 Test
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bruce Bennett/Getty Images Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The Trump administration says it will now spend billions of dollars to help states make COVID-19 testing more widely available, a move meant to address months-long complaints about test shortages.
But here's the puzzle: Many labs say they have plenty of tests. So what's the disconnect?
Turns out a "test" is not a single device. COVID-19 testing involves several steps, each one requiring different supplies, and there are shortages of different supplies at different times in different places.
But despite warnings about supply shortages by health experts and governors at least as early as February, the federal government took until late April to ramp up domestic production of swabs — a universal ingredient in the most common type of COVID-19 test.
The swab test checks for active infections, unlike an antibody test, which involves drawing blood to check whether the body has recovered from the virus.
Step 1 of a swab test is collecting a sample, and the most common way to do that is by swabbing a patient's nose or throat. Sample collection usually involves a swab, a tube and a chemical solution called "viral transport media," which keeps the sample fresh as it travels to a laboratory. There are dozens of types of FDA-approved swab tests, and the swabbing is usually done at hospitals, community health centers or drive-through testing sites.
Step 2 takes place at a lab. There, genetic material is extracted from the sample. That requires a special machine and chemicals called reagents.
Once the genetic material is extracted, Step 3 occurs: A machine checks whether that genetic material contains any of the coronavirus. If it does, the sample has tested positive for COVID-19.
"A test is not simply a one-component test, but is made up of many different components," said Heather Pierce, senior director for science policy and regulatory counsel at the Association of American Medical Colleges. "If any one of those components is missing or has insufficient quantities, the test can't happen."
The COVID-19 testing process has been plagued by missing components, including swabs, reagents and the chemical solution that keeps samples fresh. Some weeks, there are shortages of some but not others, or one location has them and another doesn't.
Take swabs. They are able to work with any approved swab test. The name suggests something as simple as a Q-tip, but they are more specialized. Nasopharyngeal swabs, as they're called, are considered medical devices and must be long and flexible enough to get all the way through the nose to the back of the throat.
At an April 17 press briefing, President Trump said that in the next few weeks, the federal government would be sending millions of swabs to the states, and he added: "Mostly, it's cotton. It's not a big deal."
But Trump was wrong. Cotton can interfere with test results because it contains its own genetic material, so nasopharyngeal swabs are typically made of polyester, nylon, foam or some other synthetic material.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
On April 20, Vice President Pence, speaking publicly about a phased reopening of the economy, said this: "By our best estimates, we have enough testing capacity today for every state in America to go to Phase 1."
But "testing capacity" does not necessarily mean testing is happening. Remember: Testing involves not just swabbing, but also having a sample analyzed at a lab. And labs may have the machines that analyze samples, but if there aren't enough swabs, those machines may sit idle. In other words, a shortage of swabs may prevent labs from operating at full testing capacity.
So why is there a shortage of something as seemingly simple as swabs?
For one reason, there had been only two major manufacturers of these swabs worldwide — Puritan Medical Products in Maine and Copan Diagnostics in Italy. When COVID-19 hit and demand for swabs skyrocketed, the companies became overwhelmed and couldn't keep up.
"I don't think the United States was prepared," said Timothy Templet, Puritan's executive vice president of global sales. "That includes us, Puritan. It includes our customers. And it includes the government ... And now it gets really nerve-wracking to think that we may be in this for another couple years."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carl D. Walsh/Portland Press Herald via Getty Carl D. Walsh/Portland Press Herald via Getty
The U.S. government could have been amassing swabs in the Strategic National Stockpile, a federal warehouse of medical supplies, but was not.
The government also has the Defense Production Act, a tool the Trump administration used in late March to require General Motors to produce more ventilators for coronavirus patients. But the administration did not act as quickly to use that tool for swab shortages, even though some people were advising that.
"Weeks ago," Washington Gov. Jay Inslee told NPR on April 16, "I spoke to the president and urged him to invoke the Defense Production Act and mobilize the incredible supply chains that the Department of Defense has and to ask them to convert some of their production from other hardware and software to swabs and contact vials and machines that can do analysis. And he did not agree with that assessment, and we lost weeks, frankly."
That was not the first time the federal government had been warned of swab shortages.
On Feb. 12, at a hearing on pandemic preparedness, a group of prominent health experts told a U.S. Senate committee that the country has a testing supply chain problem. On March 16, former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted that "swabs could be a weak link in broadening testing." On March 17, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo told CNN that "the problem is swabs." During the same time period, there were other public distress calls about supply shortages.
In mid-March, the government acted: It flew shipments of swabs from Italy to the U.S. But that still didn't meet demand, and complaints about shortages were still continuing in mid-April. On April 19, President Trump said he would use the Defense Production Act to increase swab production. On April 29, the government said Puritan Medical Products had been awarded a $75.5 million contract to produce more swabs.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Al Bello/Getty Images Al Bello/Getty Images
Puritan's goal is to produce at least an additional 20 million swabs a month, and it's building a new factory to do that. But it's hard to say whether that's enough to meet demand because it's difficult to get consensus on how much COVID-19 testing the U.S. should be doing, and how many swabs can be produced.
Consider the experience of the American Society for Microbiology, which asked in mid-April to speak with Dr. Deborah Birx's team on the White House coronavirus task force to find out what was being done to address testing supply shortages — and discovered that the White House was trying to figure out the same thing.
"Something happened that was very surprising," recalled Dr. Robin Patel, the organization's president. "First of all, Ambassador Birx is a wonderful person and has very good insight into the challenges that are happening ... but what they did is they turned around and they asked the American Society for Microbiology to help with this situation. That's not why we were there. We were there asking for information."
So Patel's group gave the coronavirus task force its feedback.
"We are pleased to be able to help," said Patel, noting that the pandemic is a complicated situation and that everyone needs to work together to solve it. "But we were not there to volunteer to help. That was what was surprising — was the ask back to us."
The American Society for Microbiology's experience makes clear that nearly three months into the pandemic, the Trump administration was still struggling to understand the shortage of swabs and other test supplies, and how to fix it.
To help address the shortage, the FDA has approved more types of swabs, and an Ohio company is converting a plant to make swabs. The FDA has also approved a saliva test that does not require a swab.
And this week, the White House said it would send $11 billion to state governments to expand testing and make sure each state has enough testing supplies, although it said it wants to focus on high-risk communities like nursing homes.
So it remains unclear how widespread testing will ever be in the U.S.
NPR's Laura Sullivan, Graham Smith and Tim Mak contributed to this story.


npr--2020-05-12--'There Was So Little Information': Polio Survivors Offer Pandemic Perspective

'There Was So Little Information ' : Polio Survivors Offer Pandemic Perspective A fear of the unknown .
The need to maintain an appropriate distance .
An urgent desire to find a cure or vaccine .
They 're the hallmarks of the coronavirus pandemic , but they also characterized an earlier epidemic : when paralysis-causing polio ravaged the U.S. in the 1940s and '50s .
Now , the toddlers and preteens of that era are once again part of a high-risk group during a deadly epidemic of a highly infectious disease .
Commonly transmitted person to person , polio led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People avoided public places and those infected were shunned .
Ina Pinkney was a year old when she contracted the disease in Brooklyn , N.Y. '' When my parents would take me out ... you could hear everybody get silent and move away , which is very much what it feels like now , '' says Pinkney , who is 77 now and lives in Chicago , where she ran a successful restaurant for decades .
Much like the coronavirus , when one person contracted polio , the entire family lived in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case when Nancy Artinian Theoharis became sick more than six decades ago at age 14 .
Her daughter Liz remembers stories about her grandmother 's efforts to protect the other children in the house , particularly her aunt , who shared a bedroom with Nancy .
`` My grandma would furiously take my aunt 's temperature every day , '' Liz Theoharis says .
`` While everybody may have been exposed , there was fear that my aunt will come down with the virus as well . ''
As news reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Margaret Nielsen started feeling a sense of deja vu , recalling memories of battling polio as a 4-year-old .
At the time , people stricken with the disease like Nielsen could spend weeks isolated in the hospital .
The 78-year-retired professor remembers how little the doctors knew about the disease , and how hard it was for her family to get updates on how she was doing .
`` They could call once a day and they would get a one-word response because there were so many families calling , '' says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mich. `` So during the initial couple of weeks when I was infectious there was so little information . ''
Infectious cases peaked in the 1950s , with nearly 60,000 contracting the disease and more than 3,000 deaths in 1952 alone .
People felt a great sense of urgency about when a vaccine would be found , says Carl Kurlander , whose documentary A Shot Felt 'Round the World chronicled the discovery of the first preventative polio vaccine .
Dr. Jonas Salk began work on a live virus vaccine in 1947 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective vaccine became available to the public .
`` Church bell rang out , people screamed and were let out of school , '' Kurlander says .
`` Around the world there were headlines 'Victory Over Polio . '
'' Now , riding through another epidemic , Pinkney says that a coronavirus vaccine may not instantly reverse things to normalcy but `` there will be a great sense of relief . ''
And surviving that earlier epidemic has given her perspective : `` I live with hope and I live with anticipation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other side of this .
I do n't know what it looks like .
It does n't even matter , as long as people are not getting sick and people are not dying . ''

'There Was So Little Information': Polio Survivors Offer Pandemic Perspective
Enlarge this image toggle caption Erick Williams, George Theoharis, Takashi Yagihashi Erick Williams, George Theoharis, Takashi Yagihashi
A fear of the unknown. The need to maintain an appropriate distance. An urgent desire to find a cure or vaccine.
They're the hallmarks of the coronavirus pandemic, but they also characterized an earlier epidemic: when paralysis-causing polio ravaged the U.S. in the 1940s and '50s.
Now, the toddlers and preteens of that era are once again part of a high-risk group during a deadly epidemic of a highly infectious disease.
Commonly transmitted person to person, polio led to social distancing even without official enforcement. People avoided public places and those infected were shunned.
Ina Pinkney was a year old when she contracted the disease in Brooklyn, N.Y.
"When my parents would take me out ... you could hear everybody get silent and move away, which is very much what it feels like now," says Pinkney, who is 77 now and lives in Chicago, where she ran a successful restaurant for decades.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ina Pinkney Ina Pinkney
Much like the coronavirus, when one person contracted polio, the entire family lived in anxiety of household spread. That was the case when Nancy Artinian Theoharis became sick more than six decades ago at age 14.
Her daughter Liz remembers stories about her grandmother's efforts to protect the other children in the house, particularly her aunt, who shared a bedroom with Nancy.
"My grandma would furiously take my aunt's temperature every day," Liz Theoharis says. "While everybody may have been exposed, there was fear that my aunt will come down with the virus as well."
As news reports of the coronavirus spread in the U.S. worsened, Margaret Nielsen started feeling a sense of deja vu, recalling memories of battling polio as a 4-year-old.
At the time, people stricken with the disease like Nielsen could spend weeks isolated in the hospital.
The 78-year-retired professor remembers how little the doctors knew about the disease, and how hard it was for her family to get updates on how she was doing.
"They could call once a day and they would get a one-word response because there were so many families calling," says Nielsen, who lives in East Lansing, Mich. "So during the initial couple of weeks when I was infectious there was so little information."
Infectious cases peaked in the 1950s, with nearly 60,000 contracting the disease and more than 3,000 deaths in 1952 alone.
People felt a great sense of urgency about when a vaccine would be found, says Carl Kurlander, whose documentary A Shot Felt 'Round the World chronicled the discovery of the first preventative polio vaccine.
Dr. Jonas Salk began work on a live virus vaccine in 1947. And in 1955, a safe and effective vaccine became available to the public.
"Church bell rang out, people screamed and were let out of school," Kurlander says. "Around the world there were headlines 'Victory Over Polio.'"
Now, riding through another epidemic, Pinkney says that a coronavirus vaccine may not instantly reverse things to normalcy but "there will be a great sense of relief."
And surviving that earlier epidemic has given her perspective: "I live with hope and I live with anticipation that we will [get] on the other side of this. I don't know what it looks like. It doesn't even matter, as long as people are not getting sick and people are not dying."


npr--2020-05-12--Sen. Rand Paul To Dr. Fauci: 'I Don't Think You're The End-All'

Sen. Rand Paul To Dr. Fauci : ' I Do n't Think You 're The End-All' Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. , had sharp words for Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert , during Tuesday 's Senate committee hearing on the coronavirus .
In arguing for reopening the economy and schools , Paul said , `` As much as I respect you , Dr. Fauci , I do n't think you 're the end-all .
I do n't think you 're the one person who gets to make a decision . ''
Paul pointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of young people up to age 18 , which he said was near zero — much lower than for older people .
`` If we keep kids out of school for another year , what 's going to happen is that the poor and underprivileged kids who do n't have a parent that is able to teach them at home are not going to learn for a full year , '' said Paul , who tested positive for COVID-19 in March .
Earlier in the hearing , Fauci responded to a question about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by saying it was unlikely there would be a vaccine or a treatment for COVID-19 available that soon .
At the end of the hearing , he clarified that reopening should be based on testing capacity and the severity of the local outbreak , not on whether a vaccine is available .
On getting people back to work , Paul said there was evidence those who do contract the disease develop an immunity to it , at least in the short term .
Paul went as far as to say that `` the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the meat processing industry is that a large portion of these workers now have immunity .
Those workers should be reassured that they likely wo n't get it again instead of being alarmed by media reports that there is no evidence of immunity . ''
Researchers think recovering from COVID-19 may in fact lend some protection against future infections .
However , it 's not yet clear how strong that protection is , how long it lasts and how the level of antibodies people have in their blood correlates with that protection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ assumption '' that recovering would be protective but that it would take longer-term studies to say so definitively .
As for his own humility , Fauci responded that he has `` never made myself out to be the 'end-all ' and only voice in this .
I 'm a scientist , a physician and a public health official .
I give advice according to the best scientific evidence , '' adding that it is others ' jobs to give economic advice .
Fauci said Paul was `` right in the numbers that children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than adults and the elderly and particularly those with underlying conditions .
But I am very careful and hopefully humble in knowing that I do n't know everything about this disease . ''
He noted some children were suffering from `` a very strange inflammatory syndrome '' that is believed to be related to COVID-19 .
`` I think we 've got to be careful we are not cavalier in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects '' of the coronavirus , Fauci said .

Sen. Rand Paul To Dr. Fauci: 'I Don't Think You're The End-All'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Win McNamee/AP Win McNamee/AP
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., had sharp words for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, during Tuesday's Senate committee hearing on the coronavirus.
In arguing for reopening the economy and schools, Paul said, "As much as I respect you, Dr. Fauci, I don't think you're the end-all. I don't think you're the one person who gets to make a decision."
Paul pointed to the mortality rate in New York City of young people up to age 18, which he said was near zero — much lower than for older people.
"If we keep kids out of school for another year, what's going to happen is that the poor and underprivileged kids who don't have a parent that is able to teach them at home are not going to learn for a full year," said Paul, who tested positive for COVID-19 in March.
Earlier in the hearing, Fauci responded to a question about whether schools should reopen in the fall by saying it was unlikely there would be a vaccine or a treatment for COVID-19 available that soon. At the end of the hearing, he clarified that reopening should be based on testing capacity and the severity of the local outbreak, not on whether a vaccine is available.
On getting people back to work, Paul said there was evidence those who do contract the disease develop an immunity to it, at least in the short term.
Paul went as far as to say that "the silver lining to so many infections in the meat processing industry is that a large portion of these workers now have immunity. Those workers should be reassured that they likely won't get it again instead of being alarmed by media reports that there is no evidence of immunity."
Researchers think recovering from COVID-19 may in fact lend some protection against future infections. However, it's not yet clear how strong that protection is, how long it lasts and how the level of antibodies people have in their blood correlates with that protection.
Fauci said it was a "reasonable assumption" that recovering would be protective but that it would take longer-term studies to say so definitively.
As for his own humility, Fauci responded that he has "never made myself out to be the 'end-all' and only voice in this. I'm a scientist, a physician and a public health official. I give advice according to the best scientific evidence," adding that it is others' jobs to give economic advice.
Fauci said Paul was "right in the numbers that children in general do much, much better than adults and the elderly and particularly those with underlying conditions. But I am very careful and hopefully humble in knowing that I don't know everything about this disease."
He noted some children were suffering from "a very strange inflammatory syndrome" that is believed to be related to COVID-19.
"I think we've got to be careful we are not cavalier in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects" of the coronavirus, Fauci said.
NPR Science Desk reporter Pien Huang contributed to this report.


npr--2020-05-12--Putin Spokesman Is Hospitalized With COVID-19 As Coronavirus Cases Spike In Russia

Putin Spokesman Is Hospitalized With COVID-19 As Coronavirus Cases Spike In Russia Russia is now reporting more confirmed cases of COVID-19 than any country except the U.S , after a surge in cases vaulted it past both Spain and the U.K .
In another new development , President Vladimir Putin 's press secretary Dmitry Peskov has confirmed he 's being treated for COVID-19 .
`` Yes , I have fallen ill , '' Peskov told state-run Tass media .
`` I am receiving treatment . ''
He added that the last time he saw Russian President Vladimir Putin in person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peskov 's wife , Tatyana Navka , said via Instagram that she was also sick , and that she and Peskov were hospitalized after the first symptoms were detected to protect their relatives from infection .
Navka added that while her case is already easing , her husband 's condition is more complicated .
She did not elaborate .
Peskov is the latest high-ranking member of Putin 's government to test positive for COVID-19 .
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin revealed his COVID-19 diagnosis less than two weeks ago .
The heads of Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the deadly disease , as The Moscow Times notes .
When Mishustin disclosed his diagnosis on April 30 , Russia was just crossing the 100,000-case mark .
It has now more than doubled that amount , with 232,243 cases as of Tuesday , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
News about Peskov 's condition and a spike in coronavirus cases comes one day after Putin led a high-profile discussion about how Russia might be able to begin emerging from a broad economic shutdown that began on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the country was in a mandatory `` non-work period , '' in which Putin decreed workers would still get their normal wages .
But that ended on Monday .
`` Critics say authorities are putting lives at risk by opening too soon .
They also question numbers put forth by a government task force that insists Russia 's mortality rate from COVID-19 remains far lower than global averages — at under 1 % with just over 2,000 lives lost , '' Charles Maynes reports from Moscow for NPR 's Newscast unit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wants his cabinet to look for ways to help operations resume in `` backbone industries '' such as construction , manufacturing , agriculture , communications , and energy .
But he added that every Russian region should make its own decisions on loosening restrictions , based on advice from medical experts , conditions in their area and the ability to ensure sanitary and safe conditions as people get back to work .
`` Jumping ahead too soon would be reckless and dangerous .
At the same time , sitting idly and evading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin said .
`` It is a question of choosing between Scylla and Charybdis , '' the president added , illustrating the tricky task of balancing the competing needs for economic activity and personal safety by evoking the fearsome monsters from Greek mythology who occupied opposite sides of the Strait of Messina .
`` I ask you to take this as seriously as possible , '' Putin told his ministers .

Putin Spokesman Is Hospitalized With COVID-19 As Coronavirus Cases Spike In Russia
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alexei Nikolsky/AP Alexei Nikolsky/AP
Russia is now reporting more confirmed cases of COVID-19 than any other country except the U.S. after a surge in cases vaulted it past both Spain and the U.K. In another new development, President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, has confirmed he's being treated for COVID-19.
"Yes, I have fallen ill," Peskov told state-run Tass media. "I am receiving treatment."
He added that the last time he saw Russian President Vladimir Putin in person was more than a month ago. Peskov's wife, Tatyana Navka, said via Instagram that she was also sick and that she and Peskov were hospitalized after the first symptoms were detected to protect their relatives from infection.
Navka added that while her case is already easing, her husband's condition is more complicated. She did not elaborate.
Peskov is the latest high-ranking member of Putin's government to test positive for COVID-19. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin revealed his COVID-19 diagnosis less than two weeks ago. The heads of Russia's construction and culture ministries have also tested positive, as The Moscow Times notes.
When Mishustin disclosed his diagnosis on April 30, Russia was just crossing the 100,000-case mark. The number of cases are now more than double that amount with 232,243 cases as of Tuesday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
News about Peskov's condition and a spike in coronavirus cases comes one day after Putin led a high-profile discussion about how Russia might be able to begin emerging from a broad economic shutdown that began on March 30.
For more than six weeks, the country was in a mandatory "non-work period" in which Putin decreed workers would still get their normal wages. But that ended on Monday.
"Critics say authorities are putting lives at risk by opening too soon. They also question numbers put forth by a government task force that insists Russia's mortality rate from COVID-19 remains far lower than global averages — at under 1% with just over 2,000 lives lost," Charles Maynes reports from Moscow for NPR's Newscast unit.
At Monday's meeting, Putin said he wants his Cabinet to look for ways to help operations resume in "backbone industries" such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, communications and energy. But he added that every Russian region should make its own decisions on loosening restrictions based on advice from medical experts, conditions in their area and the ability to ensure sanitary and safe conditions as people get back to work.
"Jumping ahead too soon would be reckless and dangerous. At the same time, sitting idly and evading responsibility is not an option," Putin said.
"It is a question of choosing between Scylla and Charybdis," the president added, illustrating the tricky task of balancing the competing needs for economic activity and personal safety by evoking the fearsome monsters from Greek mythology that occupied opposite sides of the Strait of Messina.
"I ask you to take this as seriously as possible," Putin told his ministers.


npr--2020-05-12--House Democrats Unveil $3 Trillion Proposal For Coronavirus Relief

House Democrats are moving full steam ahead with legislation to provide a new wave of coronavirus relief at a price tag of more than $ 3 trillion , with plans to call the full House back on Friday to approve it .
Democrats are moving forward without Republican support since bipartisan talks have stalled , and the legislation is expected to be dead on arrival for the GOP-led Senate .
But Democrats say the plan , dubbed the Heroes Act , details the priorities they believe need to be addressed as the economic and public health impacts of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill marks a long wish list for Democrats , including nearly $ 1 trillion to state , local and tribal governments and another round of direct cash payments to Americans .
It extends unemployment benefits to January , adds hazard pay for front-line workers and expands virus-testing efforts .
`` We must think big for the people now , because if we do n't , it will cost more in lives and livelihood later , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said Tuesday .
`` Not acting is the most expensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do what is necessary to deal with the [ coronavirus ] crisis and make sure we can get the country back to work and school safely . ''
Democrats are viewing the legislation as a critical marker of what they see as gaps left by the previous roughly $ 3 trillion in spending that has already been enacted in the last two months .
Bipartisan talks to reach a deal on a fifth relief bill have n't gotten off the ground as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , says it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous packages are working .
He is also insisting that any new bill include liability protections for businesses and individuals , a move Democrats oppose .
The chamber 's leaders were also quick to slam the Democrats ' plan on Tuesday .
`` This is nothing more than a messaging exercise from House Democrats , '' said Senate Majority Whip John Thune , R-S.D .
`` It is an effort to try and create talking points for the 2020 election .
It 's not going anywhere , and we know that . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides $ 200 billion to essential workers in pandemic hazard pay .
It also adds another $ 75 billion for coronavirus testing , contact tracing and treatment efforts .
Many Democrats , including House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Katherine Clark , D-Mass.
, say the coronavirus crisis has exposed significant systemic shortcomings in the way the federal government supports workers and families .
`` The coronavirus pandemic has exposed gaping holes in our social safety net , '' Clark said in an interview .
`` It has brought into stark relief issues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can see their devastating impacts so clearly . ''
Clark is advocating for new child care funding and programs to make it easier for families , and women in particular , to return to work as schools and child care facilities remain closed .
Democrats say it will be difficult to restart the economy without some intervention to keep businesses afloat and to allow workers to return safely to their jobs .
Some moderate Democrats are wary about approving another large spending bill but have been largely willing to support the additional spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus response , according to aides familiar with the talks .
Most Democrats are referring to the legislation as a follow-up to the CARES Act , which was approved in March , but it is not seen as the final action that Congress will have to take in response to the coronavirus .
The new legislative proposal , released Tuesday , provides large sums for some of Democrats ' top priorities , including $ 500 billion in direct , flexible aid for state governments and an additional $ 357 billion for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans have criticized the push for more state aid , arguing that any new money needs to be tied to the pandemic and not help address budget issues that predated the crisis .
Democrats set aside $ 3.6 billion to protect federal elections , $ 25 billion to support the U.S .
Postal Service , $ 100 billion for low-income rent support , $ 75 billion for a homeowner assistance fund and $ 100 million for the Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs .
The bill includes some changes to programs that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including an expansion of the IRS payment program .
Democrats want more generous benefits for families , including a $ 1,200 payment for each dependent .
The CARES Act limits payments to $ 500 per child ; adults or other dependents do not currently qualify .
The bill provides up to $ 6,000 per household .
It also expands funding for small-business loans , enhances an employee-retention tax credit program and boosts worker protections .
Republicans have already rejected many elements of the bill , including a suspension of the cap on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved as part of the 2017 GOP-led tax cuts .
Democrats also want to extend emergency family and medical leave until the end of 2021 .
Doing so is part of their broader focus on child care and family support .
The official scorekeepers at the Congressional Budget Office estimate that the earlier version of the leave provisions , which passed in March and extend through the end of this year , would themselves cost $ 105 billion .
The latest proposal would more than double the length of those benefits .
House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday highlighted the funding for safe elections .
The plan `` is a further response to this unprecedented challenge to our people , to our health and to our economic well-being , '' Hoyer said .
The House is also planning to vote separately on Friday on a Democratic plan that would allow some members to vote by proxy when they are unable to return to the Capitol because of the health crisis .
The proposal also sets up procedures for lawmakers to participate in hearings remotely .
The House Rules Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , as well as the remote voting and hearings bill , on Thursday to ready the measures for Friday 's floor action .

House Democrats Unveil $3 Trillion Proposal For Coronavirus Relief
Enlarge this image toggle caption Steven Senne/AP Steven Senne/AP
Updated at 4:11 p.m. ET
House Democrats are moving full steam ahead with legislation to provide a new wave of coronavirus relief at a price tag of more than $3 trillion, with plans to call the full House back on Friday to approve it.
Democrats are moving forward without Republican support since bipartisan talks have stalled, and the legislation is expected to be dead on arrival for the GOP-led Senate. But Democrats say the plan, dubbed the Heroes Act, details the priorities they believe need to be addressed as the economic and public health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic worsen.
The more than 1,800-page bill marks a long wish list for Democrats, including nearly $1 trillion to state, local and tribal governments and another round of direct cash payments to Americans. It extends unemployment benefits to January, adds hazard pay for front-line workers and expands virus-testing efforts.
"We must think big for the people now, because if we don't, it will cost more in lives and livelihood later," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Tuesday. "Not acting is the most expensive course. We are presenting a plan to do what is necessary to deal with the [coronavirus] crisis and make sure we can get the country back to work and school safely."
Democrats are viewing the legislation as a critical marker of what they see as gaps left by the previous roughly $3 trillion in spending that has already been enacted in the last two months. Bipartisan talks to reach a deal on a fifth relief bill haven't gotten off the ground as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., says it's time first to evaluate how the previous packages are working. He is also insisting that any new bill include liability protections for businesses and individuals, a move Democrats oppose.
The chamber's leaders were also quick to slam the Democrats' plan on Tuesday.
"This is nothing more than a messaging exercise from House Democrats," said Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D. "It is an effort to try and create talking points for the 2020 election. It's not going anywhere, and we know that."
Among its provisions, the Democratic proposal provides $200 billion to essential workers in pandemic hazard pay. It also adds another $75 billion for coronavirus testing, contact tracing and treatment efforts.
Many Democrats, including House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Katherine Clark, D-Mass., say the coronavirus crisis has exposed significant systemic shortcomings in the way the federal government supports workers and families.
"The coronavirus pandemic has exposed gaping holes in our social safety net," Clark said in an interview. "It has brought into stark relief issues that we knew were there but now we can see their devastating impacts so clearly."
Clark is advocating for new child care funding and programs to make it easier for families, and women in particular, to return to work as schools and child care facilities remain closed. Democrats say it will be difficult to restart the economy without some intervention to keep businesses afloat and to allow workers to return safely to their jobs.
Some moderate Democrats are wary about approving another large spending bill but have been largely willing to support the additional spending as long as it is closely tailored to the coronavirus response, according to aides familiar with the talks. Most Democrats are referring to the legislation as a follow-up to the CARES Act, which was approved in March, but it is not seen as the final action that Congress will have to take in response to the coronavirus.
The new legislative proposal, released Tuesday, provides large sums for some of Democrats' top priorities, including $500 billion in direct, flexible aid for state governments and an additional $357 billion for local governments and counties. Many Senate Republicans have criticized the push for more state aid, arguing that any new money needs to be tied to the pandemic and not help address budget issues that predated the crisis.
Democrats set aside $3.6 billion to protect federal elections, $25 billion to support the U.S. Postal Service, $100 billion for low-income rent support, $75 billion for a homeowner assistance fund and $100 million for the Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs.
The bill includes some changes to programs that were approved in the CARES Act, including an expansion of the IRS payment program. Democrats want more generous benefits for families, including a $1,200 payment for each dependent. The CARES Act limits payments to $500 per child; adults or other dependents do not currently qualify. The bill provides up to $6,000 per household.
It also expands funding for small-business loans, enhances an employee-retention tax credit program and boosts worker protections.
Republicans have already rejected many elements of the bill, including a suspension of the cap on the state and local tax deduction that was approved as part of the 2017 GOP-led tax cuts.
Democrats also want to extend emergency family and medical leave until the end of 2021. Doing so is part of their broader focus on child care and family support. The official scorekeepers at the Congressional Budget Office estimate that the earlier version of the leave provisions, which passed in March and extend through the end of this year, would themselves cost $105 billion. The latest proposal would more than double the length of those benefits.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., on Tuesday highlighted the funding for safe elections.
The plan "is a further response to this unprecedented challenge to our people, to our health and to our economic well-being," Hoyer said.
The House is also planning to vote separately on Friday on a Democratic plan that would allow some members to vote by proxy when they are unable to return to the Capitol because of the health crisis. The proposal also sets up procedures for lawmakers to participate in hearings remotely.
The House Rules Committee is slated to take up the funding bill, as well as the remote voting and hearings bill, on Thursday to ready the measures for Friday's floor action.


npr--2020-05-12--After A Spike In Infections, Lebanon Reimposes Strict Orders To Stay At Home

After A Spike In Infections , Lebanon Reimposes Strict Orders To Stay At Home Lebanon is reinstating a national stay-at-home order for four days , following a spike in the number of reported cases of the coronavirus .
Beginning Wednesday at 7 p.m. , residents will be asked to avoid outings except for emergencies .
Speaking to reporters after the cabinet decision Tuesday afternoon , Information Minister Manal Abdel-Samad said the government would use the four-day shutdown to conduct more tests for the disease and try to trace recent transmissions .
Lebanon had managed to limit the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that saw residents mostly confined to their homes .
A stringent nighttime curfew was also put into place .
The country has only reported 26 deaths related to the virus .
Late last month , the government began a phased plan to allow a small number of businesses to reopen .
These included beauty salons and some restaurants .
But after a few days when new cases remained in the single digits , the infection rate spiked this week .
Saturday saw 36 new cases — a high figure for Lebanon , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the total number of confirmed infections is reported at 870 .
Some of the new infections are among Lebanese nationals who were recently brought home from other countries , Health Ministry officials said .
One flight had 25 infected passengers on board , according to Lebanon 's Daily Star .
Local news reports said some repatriated citizens were failing to adhere to the quarantine policy and had spread the virus to others in the general population .
In Tuesday 's cabinet meeting , Lebanon 's president , Michel Aoun , called on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` abide by what is asked of them in order to avoid legal action . ''
This comes as the national carrier , Middle East Airlines , is set to continue repatriation plans to bring some 11,300 nationals back to the country .
These flights have already sparked controversy .
Passengers posted videos on Twitter showing a flight on May 8 from London where people argued over their close seating , despite what they said were assurances from the airline that social distancing measures would be in place .
The renewed stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dire economic emergency , which has been driving many residents into poverty .
The government is set to begin talks this week with the International Monetary Fund to discuss a bailout from the economic crisis .

After A Spike In Infections, Lebanon Reimposes Strict Orders To Stay At Home
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hassan Ammar/AP Hassan Ammar/AP
Lebanon is reinstating a national stay-at-home order for four days following a spike in the number of reported cases of the coronavirus.
Beginning Wednesday at 7 p.m., residents will be asked to avoid outings except for emergencies.
Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet decision Tuesday afternoon, Information Minister Manal Abdel-Samad said the government would use the four-day shutdown to conduct more tests for the disease and try to trace recent transmissions.
Lebanon had managed to limit the spread of the coronavirus by quickly imposing a national shutdown that saw residents mostly confined to their homes. A stringent nighttime curfew was also put into place. The country has reported only 26 deaths related to the virus.
Late last month, the government began a phased plan to allow a small number of businesses to reopen. These included beauty salons and some restaurants.
But after a few days when new cases remained in the single digits, the infection rate spiked this week. Saturday saw 36 new cases — a high figure for Lebanon, a country of about 5 million people, where the total number of confirmed infections is reported at 870.
Some of the new infections are among Lebanese nationals who were recently brought home from other countries, Health Ministry officials said. One flight had 25 infected passengers on board, according to Lebanon's Daily Star.
Local news reports said some repatriated citizens were failing to adhere to the quarantine policy and had spread the virus to others in the general population.
In Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Lebanon's president, Michel Aoun, called on repatriated citizens to remain in self-isolation and to "abide by what is asked of them in order to avoid legal action."
This comes as the national carrier, Middle East Airlines, is set to continue repatriation plans to bring some 11,300 nationals back to the country.
These flights have already sparked controversy. Passengers posted videos on Twitter showing a flight on May 8 from London where people argued over their close seating, despite what they said were assurances from the airline that social distancing measures would be in place.
The renewed stay-at-home order comes as Lebanon is caught in a dire economic emergency that has been driving many residents into poverty.
The government is set to begin talks this week with the International Monetary Fund to discuss a bailout from the economic crisis.


npr--2020-05-12--Feds Warn Airlines Once Again To Offer Customers Refunds

Feds Warn Airlines Once Again To Offer Customers Refunds Amid a huge increase in consumer complaints , the federal government is once again reminding airlines of their obligation to offer customers refunds for canceled flights .
At the same time , regulators say they will provide airlines some relief from a requirement that carriers continue flying into cities where demand for air travel is close to nonexistent .
As a condition for accepting federal aid as part of the coronavirus relief package known as the CARES Act , the government had required airlines to continue flying to all destinations they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extent practicable . ''
The Department of Transportation can approve waivers of that requirement and has granted some , but has denied others , resulting in airlines often flying planes carrying just a handful of passengers on some routes , and sometimes none .
The number of people flying each day has fallen more than 90 % in recent months because of the coronavirus pandemic , but the airlines continue to fly about 30 % of their flights each day .
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced Tuesday that `` in light of ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department will begin to allow carriers to reduce the number of points they serve , as long as `` every community served by a covered air carrier prior to March 1 , 2020 will continue to receive service from at least one covered carrier . ''
Airlines can request exemptions from providing flights into up to 5 % of required destinations that they believe are no longer reasonable for them to continuing serving .
Airlines have slashed their flight schedules in response to plummeting demand , canceling thousands of flights .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to customers when they 've canceled flights , instead offering travel credits and vouchers for future travel .
Many would-be travelers say they 've gotten the runaround from airlines when trying to request refunds they 're rightfully owed .
Consumer complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation skyrocketed to more than 25,000 in March and April , up from a usual amount of about 1,500 complaints and inquiries per month .
So the DOT is once again issuing a stern warning to the airlines , issuing a second enforcement notice to carriers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal regulations to provide refunds for canceled flights , regardless of the reason for the cancellation .
`` The Department has received an unprecedented volume of complaints from passengers and is examining this issue closely to ensure that airlines ' policies and practices conform to DOT 's refund rules , '' Chao said .
`` The Department is asking all airlines to revisit their customer service policies and ensure they are as flexible and considerate as possible to the needs of passengers who face financial hardship during this time . ''
The federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with answers to common questions about refunds , to help customers understand their rights .
While airlines must offer refunds when the carrier cancels flights , refunds are not required for consumers who cancel their travel plans .
In those instances , many airlines are offering credits for future travel and they are waiving cancellation and change fees .

Feds Warn Airlines Once Again To Offer Customers Refunds
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris O'Meara/AP Chris O'Meara/AP
Amid a huge increase in consumer complaints, the federal government is once again reminding airlines of their obligation to offer customers refunds for canceled flights. At the same time, regulators say they will provide airlines some relief from a requirement that carriers continue flying into cities where demand for air travel is close to nonexistent.
As a condition for accepting federal aid as part of the coronavirus relief package known as the CARES Act, the government had required airlines to continue flying to all destinations they served before March 1 "to the extent practicable." The Department of Transportation can approve waivers of that requirement and has granted some, but has denied others, resulting in airlines often flying planes carrying just a handful of passengers on some routes, and sometimes none.
The number of people flying each day has fallen more than 90% in recent months because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the airlines continue to fly about 30% of their flights each day.
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced Tuesday that "in light of ongoing challenges faced by U.S. airlines," the department will begin to allow carriers to reduce the number of points they serve, as long as "every community served by a covered air carrier prior to March 1, 2020 will continue to receive service from at least one covered carrier."
Airlines can request exemptions from providing flights into up to 5% of required destinations that they believe are no longer reasonable for them to continuing serving.
Airlines have slashed their flight schedules in response to plummeting demand, canceling thousands of flights. But they've been reluctant to refund airfares to customers when they've canceled flights, instead offering travel credits and vouchers for future travel. Many would-be travelers say they've gotten the runaround from airlines when trying to request refunds they're rightfully owed.
Consumer complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation skyrocketed to more than 25,000 in March and April, up from a usual amount of about 1,500 complaints and inquiries per month.
So the DOT is once again issuing a stern warning to the airlines, issuing a second enforcement notice to carriers, reminding them of their obligation under federal regulations to provide refunds for canceled flights, regardless of the reason for the cancellation.
"The Department has received an unprecedented volume of complaints from passengers and is examining this issue closely to ensure that airlines' policies and practices conform to DOT's refund rules," Chao said. "The Department is asking all airlines to revisit their customer service policies and ensure they are as flexible and considerate as possible to the needs of passengers who face financial hardship during this time."
The federal agency is also providing guidance for consumers, with answers to common questions about refunds, to help customers understand their rights. While airlines must offer refunds when the carrier cancels flights, refunds are not required for consumers who cancel their travel plans. In those instances, many airlines are offering credits for future travel and they are waiving cancellation and change fees.