csmonitor--2020-04-27--In fits and starts, US, Europe, and beyond are reopening

Spain let children go outside and play Sunday for the first time in six weeks as European countries methodically worked to ease their lockdowns and reopen their economies , while governors in the United States moved at differing speeds , some more aggressive , others more cautious .
Elsewhere around the world , China 's state-run media said that hospitals in Wuhan , the original epicenter of the disaster , no longer have any COVID-19 patients , after a crisis in which the city recorded nearly 3,900 deaths .
And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson planned to be back at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a bout with the coronavirus that put him in intensive care .
While governors in states like hard-hit New York and Michigan are keeping stay-at-home restrictions in place until at least mid-May , their counterparts in places such as Georgia , Oklahoma , and Alaska are allowing certain businesses to reopen .
And churches in Montana began holding in-person services again Sunday .
Dr. Deborah Birx , the White House coronavirus task force coordinator , said each state is different .
Still , she told NBC , social-distancing recommendations would “ be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that we protect one another as we move through these phases.
” The official death toll from the virus topped 205,000 worldwide , with over 2.9 million reported infections , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University , though the real figures are believed to be much higher , in part because of inadequate testing and differences in counting the dead .
Italy , Britain , Spain , and France accounted for more than 20,000 deaths each , the U.S. for about 55,000 .
Some encouraging signs were seen , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths since mid-March , with 260 , and New York state registered its fewest since late last month , with 367 .
Seven weeks into Italy 's strict lockdown , Premier Giuseppe Conte laid out a long-awaited timetable for getting back to normal , announcing that factories , construction sites and wholesale supply businesses can resume activity as soon as they put safety measures in place against the virus .
Mr. Conte also said that starting May 4 , parks and gardens will reopen , funerals will be allowed , athletes can resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to visit relatives living in the same region .
If all goes well , stores and museums will open May 18 , and restaurants , cafes , and salons on June 1 , he said .
But he warned that if people do n't wear masks and obey other social-distancing rules , “ the curve of contagion can rise again , it will go out of control , deaths will climb and we ’ ll have irreparable damage ” to the economy .
After Italian bishops complained that these latest rules did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's office said a plan for such worship would be released .
In Spain , where the crisis is also easing , the streets echoed again with children ’ s shrieks of joy and the clatter of bicycles after youngsters under 14 were allowed out of their homes with one parent for up to an hour of play .
“ This is wonderful !
I can ’ t believe it has been six weeks , ” Susana Sabaté , a mother of 3-year-old twin boys , said in Barcelona .
“ Today when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave them their scooters , they were thrilled.
” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will present a detailed plan Tuesday for the “ de-escalation ” of Spain ’ s lockdown but said it would be cautious .
His French counterpart will as well on the same day .
In the U.S. , where President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed to reopen the country for business and a split has opened among the states along often partisan lines .
Oklahoma Gov .
Kevin Stitt , a Republican , told “ Fox News Sunday ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he will reopen churches and restaurant dining on Friday , with social-distancing guidelines in place .
“ We believe it ’ s the time to have a measured reopening , ” he said .
But Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a Democrat , told ABC that her state is not ready and needs more robust testing , community tracing , and a plan for isolating people who get sick .
“ We ’ ve got to be nimble and we have to follow the science and be really smart about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ because no one – no one , even if you ’ re a protester or you ’ re the sitting governor or you ’ re on another side of the issue – we know that no one wants a second wave.
” In Montana , some churchgoers returned to Sunday services as a general stay-at-home order expired .
At Christ the King Lutheran Church in Billings , every other pew was kept empty .
Roughly 100 people streamed into St. Anthony Catholic Church in Laurel , where ushers tried to keep families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was available .
“ It ’ s like being given life again , ” said church member Jack Auzqui .
He said being unable to attend had been spiritually difficult for him and his wife .
Georgia ’ s Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp , in announcing the opening of several businesses last week , reiterated religious services were allowed as long as strict social-distancing protocols were followed .
But leaders of various denominations said they would keep their buildings shuttered for now .
In a sign that it could get harder to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lingering heat wave in California lured tens of thousands of people to beaches , rivers , and trails Sunday , prompting warnings that defiance of stay-at-home orders could reverse progress .
Most recreation areas are shuttered , but officials worried that those still open could draw people who will ignore the rules .
“ Unless all these people are in one household , it does look like they are not social distancing , '' Robin Ford told the Orange County Register as he surveyed the crush of visitors with concern .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the other side of the Atlantic , as Britain 's prime minister returns to work , he faces calls for more clarity on when his government will ease the lockdown , now set to run until at least May 7 .
Other European nations are further along in relaxing their restrictions .
Germany allowed nonessential shops and other facilities to open last week , and Denmark has reopened schools for children up to fifth grade .
In China , Wuhan said all major construction projects have resumed as authorities push to restart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2 1/2-month lockdown .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Spain let children go outside and play Sunday for the first time in six weeks as European countries methodically worked to ease their lockdowns and reopen their economies, while governors in the United States moved at differing speeds, some more aggressive, others more cautious.
Elsewhere around the world, China's state-run media said that hospitals in Wuhan, the original epicenter of the disaster, no longer have any COVID-19 patients, after a crisis in which the city recorded nearly 3,900 deaths. And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson planned to be back at his desk Monday at 10 Downing St. after a bout with the coronavirus that put him in intensive care.
While governors in states like hard-hit New York and Michigan are keeping stay-at-home restrictions in place until at least mid-May, their counterparts in places such as Georgia, Oklahoma, and Alaska are allowing certain businesses to reopen. And churches in Montana began holding in-person services again Sunday.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, said each state is different. Still, she told NBC, social-distancing recommendations would “be with us through the summer to really ensure that we protect one another as we move through these phases.”
The official death toll from the virus topped 205,000 worldwide, with over 2.9 million reported infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, though the real figures are believed to be much higher, in part because of inadequate testing and differences in counting the dead.
Italy, Britain, Spain, and France accounted for more than 20,000 deaths each, the U.S. for about 55,000.
Some encouraging signs were seen, as Italy recorded its lowest 24-hour number of deaths since mid-March, with 260, and New York state registered its fewest since late last month, with 367.
Seven weeks into Italy's strict lockdown, Premier Giuseppe Conte laid out a long-awaited timetable for getting back to normal, announcing that factories, construction sites and wholesale supply businesses can resume activity as soon as they put safety measures in place against the virus.
Mr. Conte also said that starting May 4, parks and gardens will reopen, funerals will be allowed, athletes can resume training, and people will be able to visit relatives living in the same region. If all goes well, stores and museums will open May 18, and restaurants, cafes, and salons on June 1, he said.
But he warned that if people don't wear masks and obey other social-distancing rules, “the curve of contagion can rise again, it will go out of control, deaths will climb and we’ll have irreparable damage” to the economy. After Italian bishops complained that these latest rules didn't allow for public Masses, Mr. Conte's office said a plan for such worship would be released.
In Spain, where the crisis is also easing, the streets echoed again with children’s shrieks of joy and the clatter of bicycles after youngsters under 14 were allowed out of their homes with one parent for up to an hour of play.
“This is wonderful! I can’t believe it has been six weeks,” Susana Sabaté, a mother of 3-year-old twin boys, said in Barcelona. “Today when they saw the front door and we gave them their scooters, they were thrilled.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will present a detailed plan Tuesday for the “de-escalation” of Spain’s lockdown but said it would be cautious. His French counterpart will as well on the same day.
In the U.S., where President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed to reopen the country for business and a split has opened among the states along often partisan lines. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, told “Fox News Sunday” that with hospitalizations dropping in his state, he will reopen churches and restaurant dining on Friday, with social-distancing guidelines in place.
“We believe it’s the time to have a measured reopening,” he said.
But Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, told ABC that her state is not ready and needs more robust testing, community tracing, and a plan for isolating people who get sick.
“We’ve got to be nimble and we have to follow the science and be really smart about how we reengage," she said, “because no one – no one, even if you’re a protester or you’re the sitting governor or you’re on another side of the issue – we know that no one wants a second wave.”
In Montana, some churchgoers returned to Sunday services as a general stay-at-home order expired. At Christ the King Lutheran Church in Billings, every other pew was kept empty. Roughly 100 people streamed into St. Anthony Catholic Church in Laurel, where ushers tried to keep families separate from one another and hand sanitizer was available.
“It’s like being given life again,” said church member Jack Auzqui. He said being unable to attend had been spiritually difficult for him and his wife.
Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, in announcing the opening of several businesses last week, reiterated religious services were allowed as long as strict social-distancing protocols were followed. But leaders of various denominations said they would keep their buildings shuttered for now.
In a sign that it could get harder to enforce restrictions as the weather improves, a lingering heat wave in California lured tens of thousands of people to beaches, rivers, and trails Sunday, prompting warnings that defiance of stay-at-home orders could reverse progress. Most recreation areas are shuttered, but officials worried that those still open could draw people who will ignore the rules.
“Unless all these people are in one household, it does look like they are not social distancing," Robin Ford told the Orange County Register as he surveyed the crush of visitors with concern. "They could be spread out more.”
On the other side of the Atlantic, as Britain's prime minister returns to work, he faces calls for more clarity on when his government will ease the lockdown, now set to run until at least May 7.
Other European nations are further along in relaxing their restrictions. Germany allowed nonessential shops and other facilities to open last week, and Denmark has reopened schools for children up to fifth grade.
In China, Wuhan said all major construction projects have resumed as authorities push to restart factory production and other economic activity after a 2 1/2-month lockdown.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-27--Crash course in civics to end a pandemic

The global challenge from COVID-19 has placed a special burden on democracies .
They must rely on citizens being able to understand how their leaders operate as well as their own role in the crisis .
The pandemic severely tests democracies , says German Chancellor Angela Merkel , because it “ restricts exactly the things that make up our existential rights.
” In the United States , for example , rules on social distancing have made voting difficult in state primaries .
The November elections could be significantly affected .
Yet the challenges go even deeper : How far can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat , such as closing down much of the economy ?
Exactly where do responsibilities lie between the president , Congress , governors , state legislatures , mayors , and so on ?
Another concern is the potential erosion of privacy .
Techniques to trace where the virus may have spread involve tracking the movements of individuals and who they have associated with .
This could include collecting data from cell phones .
Should citizens allow trade-offs that reduce their privacy but help reduce the disease ’ s spread ?
Some privacy advocates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intrusions it may be reluctant to give them up .
These questions require thoughtful public discussions with careful attention from informed citizens .
Yet in a worrisome sign of the civic maturity in the U.S. , a new survey shows a large majority of eighth grade students are still unable to comprehend the basics of democracy .
Fewer than one-quarter are “ proficient ” in civics education , such as understanding the rights and duties of citizens , according to a report in April from the National Assessment of Educational Progress ( NAEP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made no progress since the last time the test was administered in 2014 .
“ In a moment when our society is discussing what government should and can do amid the COVID-19 pandemic , we clearly see the value of a strong civics education , ” said Patrick Kelly , a government and politics teacher in Columbia , South Carolina , and a member of NAEP ’ s governing board .
One ray of light : The half of eighth graders who reported having taken a class focused mainly on civics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they hadn ’ t taken such a class .
Only eight states now require high school students to take a full year of civics classes , according to a study by Education Week in 2018 .
The federal government spends heavily on STEM ( science , technology , engineering , and math ) education , in an effort to prepare students for today ’ s workplace .
Even a tiny fraction of that money spent in support of civics education could yield big dividends as well .
State and local governments have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Island , for example , a bipartisan bill under consideration called the Civic Literacy Act would require all students to complete a year-long course in civics and government somewhere between the 8th and 12th grades .
Literacy in civics plays another role .
Autocratic leaders around the world are using the pandemic as an excuse to increase their control .
The world ’ s democracies must demonstrate how effective action during a public health emergency need not result in permanent restrictions on individual freedoms .
In shoring up public health with public consent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary , it can also spread the ideals of liberty and self-governance to countries where there are none .

The global challenge from COVID-19 has placed a special burden on democracies. They must rely on citizens being able to understand how their leaders operate as well as their own role in the crisis. The pandemic severely tests democracies, says German Chancellor Angela Merkel, because it “restricts exactly the things that make up our existential rights.”
In the United States, for example, rules on social distancing have made voting difficult in state primaries. The November elections could be significantly affected. Yet the challenges go even deeper: How far can elected officials go to end the coronavirus threat, such as closing down much of the economy? Exactly where do responsibilities lie between the president, Congress, governors, state legislatures, mayors, and so on?
Another concern is the potential erosion of privacy. Techniques to trace where the virus may have spread involve tracking the movements of individuals and who they have associated with. This could include collecting data from cell phones. Should citizens allow trade-offs that reduce their privacy but help reduce the disease’s spread? Some privacy advocates worry that once a government uses such intrusions it may be reluctant to give them up.
These questions require thoughtful public discussions with careful attention from informed citizens. Yet in a worrisome sign of the civic maturity in the U.S., a new survey shows a large majority of eighth grade students are still unable to comprehend the basics of democracy. Fewer than one-quarter are “proficient” in civics education, such as understanding the rights and duties of citizens, according to a report in April from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
American eighth graders in fact have made no progress since the last time the test was administered in 2014. “In a moment when our society is discussing what government should and can do amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we clearly see the value of a strong civics education,” said Patrick Kelly, a government and politics teacher in Columbia, South Carolina, and a member of NAEP’s governing board.
One ray of light: The half of eighth graders who reported having taken a class focused mainly on civics and U.S. government scored higher than those who said they hadn’t taken such a class. Only eight states now require high school students to take a full year of civics classes, according to a study by Education Week in 2018.
The federal government spends heavily on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education, in an effort to prepare students for today’s workplace. Even a tiny fraction of that money spent in support of civics education could yield big dividends as well.
State and local governments have their role, too. In Rhode Island, for example, a bipartisan bill under consideration called the Civic Literacy Act would require all students to complete a year-long course in civics and government somewhere between the 8th and 12th grades.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Literacy in civics plays another role. Autocratic leaders around the world are using the pandemic as an excuse to increase their control. The world’s democracies must demonstrate how effective action during a public health emergency need not result in permanent restrictions on individual freedoms.
In shoring up public health with public consent, a well-informed citizenry is not only necessary, it can also spread the ideals of liberty and self-governance to countries where there are none.


csmonitor--2020-04-24--Pandemic anthem? An Alicia Keys ballad for essential workers.

On Thursday , Alicia Keys ’ new song “ Good Job ” premiered on CNN ’ s global town hall .
“ This is your music , it ’ s our images , ” said CNN ’ s Anderson Cooper , introducing the 15-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys .
The moving new 4-minute-long music video starts with Ms. Keys at her white piano delivering a powerful tribute to essential workers .
“ You are the engine that makes all things go / And you are always in disguise , my hero , ” she sings .
Ms. Keys ’ performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public places and people at the frontline – the everyday heroes of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ There ’ s no way to ever pay you back / Bless your heart , know I love you for that , ” she sings .
For the past several weeks , as the pandemic traveled across the world and tested human limits , the essential workers – including but not limited to grocery store , delivery , and health care employees – all have continued to brave this unprecedented crisis and do their jobs for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the morning / And soon as you walk through the door / Everyone needs you again , ” Ms. Keys sings .
As they continue to shelter at home , people have organized displays of gratitude for frontline workers , like community applause for health care employees .
Ms. Keys wrote the song last year for her seventh studio album titled “ Alicia ” which was scheduled for release in May 2020 .
The song was originally written in tribute to her personal heroes - her mother and grandmother - however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential workers amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The ballad of gratitude praises those on the frontline for making her feel fearless .
Ms. Keys ends with the lyrics : `` You are doing a good job / Don ’ t get too down / The world needs you now / Know that you matter/Matter , matter , '' and a solemn , heartfelt `` Thank you . ''
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s @ @

On Thursday, Alicia Keys’ new song “Good Job” premiered on CNN’s global town hall.
“This is your music, it’s our images,” said CNN’s Anderson Cooper, introducing the 15-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys. The moving new 4-minute-long music video starts with Ms. Keys at her white piano delivering a powerful tribute to essential workers.
“You are the engine that makes all things go / And you are always in disguise, my hero,” she sings.
Ms. Keys’ performance is punctuated with CNN-provided images of empty public places and people at the frontline – the everyday heroes of the coronavirus pandemic.
“There’s no way to ever pay you back / Bless your heart, know I love you for that,” she sings.
For the past several weeks, as the pandemic traveled across the world and tested human limits, the essential workers – including but not limited to grocery store, delivery, and health care employees – all have continued to brave this unprecedented crisis and do their jobs for the rest of us.
“Six in the morning / And soon as you walk through the door / Everyone needs you again,” Ms. Keys sings.
As they continue to shelter at home, people have organized displays of gratitude for frontline workers, like community applause for health care employees.
Ms. Keys wrote the song last year for her seventh studio album titled “Alicia” which was scheduled for release in May 2020. The song was originally written in tribute to her personal heroes - her mother and grandmother - however, Ms. Keys decided to dedicate it to essential workers amid the coronavirus pandemic. The ballad of gratitude praises those on the frontline for making her feel fearless.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Ms. Keys ends with the lyrics: "You are doing a good job / Don’t get too down / The world needs you now / Know that you matter/Matter, matter," and a solemn, heartfelt "Thank you."
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-20--Monday Sunrise Briefing: US close to $450 billion rescue plan

The White House and members of Congress say that a $ 450 billion rescue package , mostly for small business loans , is “ very close.
” The deal would likely include $ 300 million for small businesses , $ 75 billion for U.S. hospitals , $ 50 billion for disaster loans to small businesses , and $ 25 billion would go toward COVID-19 testing .
In less than two weeks , all of the original $ 340 billion in the Paycheck Protection Program was dispensed to some 1.7 million businesses .
This new package would essentially refill that fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and restaurant chains drained some of the fund , and other businesses with fewer than 500 employees are not getting support .
Any aid package would have to be approved by the Senate and House , but some in Congress say it could be on the president ’ s desk by the end of this week .
2 .
A test of patience .
Small protests erupted in more than half-a-dozen U.S. state capitals this week , including Denver on Sunday , as mostly conservative voters demanded lockdowns be lifted .
“ Pot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open and my church is closed , ” protester Mary Conley told the Denver Post .
President Trump sided with protestors Friday , tweeting “ LIBERATE MINNESOTA , ” “ LIBERATE MICHIGAN , ” and `` LIBERATE VIRGINIA !
and save your great 2nd Amendment .
It is under siege !
” Several governors , including Republican Gov .
Larry Hogan of Maryland , noted Sunday that White House guidelines say business shouldn ’ t reopen until cases decline for 14 days .
“ We 're sending completely conflicting messages out to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we should ignore federal policy and federal recommendations , '' he said .
Only 3 % of voters say the country is ready to reopen , according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Sunday , and 15 % say it will be ready to in the next few weeks .
3 .
Hong Kong ’ s rule of law challenged : At least 14 key pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong were arrested Saturday on charges of joining massive anti-government protests last year .
Among those detained in the sweeping crackdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former lawmaker Martin Lee , the founder of the Democratic Party .
Chris Patten , the last governor of Hong Kong , said in a statement that while the world ’ s attention is focused on the covid-19 epidemic , Beijing has taken “ yet another step towards burying one country , two systems.
” U.S. and British governments protested the arrests .
Britain 's Foreign Office said “ the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong ’ s way of life and as such is protected in both the Joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , it ’ s the Lyrids .
The peak of the annual Lyrid meteor shower is expected tonight , with as many as 18 meteors per hour streaking across the night sky .
The new moon isn ’ t expected until Wednesday , so visibility should be good .
Earth , it ’ s your day .
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day , a global annual event intended to raise environmental awareness .
It began the same year that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was created under Republican President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed the Clean Air Act .
Ramadan arrives .
Muslims expect to begin observing the holy month , starting at sundown .
Muslims believe that the Angel Gabriel revealed God ’ s message to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan .
These revelations became the basis of the sacred text of the Islamic faith , the Quran .
Ramadan is observed by fasting through the day , followed by nightly feasts .
Replenishing the ranks .
The NFL draft starts Thursday at 8 p.m .
ET and runs through Saturday .
Expect LSU quarterback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 pick .
There ’ s lots of speculation around whether Alabama ’ s QB Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon ’ s QB Justin Herbert will go next .
You can watch it live on the NFL Network , ESPN , with coverage on ABC , too .
On Easter Sunday , an EF3 tornado destroyed 150 homes , and killed three people in Chattanooga , Tennessee .
Three days later , Tracy Lynn Coats was driving by the decimated Faith Community Wesleyan Church and spotted a piano in the rubble .
It beckoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
She gingerly clambered atop the debris , where the piano was still perched on what was left of a stage .
The band teacher at East Hamilton Middle High School in Ooltewah , Tennessee , started to pluck out the hymn `` It Is Well With My Soul . ''
She tried to make a video to comfort her students , she said , and perhaps the church members .
But she had trouble uploading it .
She went back later that day .
A local TV news crew filming nearby heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her .
A couple of church members arrived to see if there was anything salvageable .
They asked her to play one or two of their favorite hymns , and they started singing .
`` It 's just such a sweet unity , really , among Christian people right there , '' Ms. Coats told CNN .
`` We just had a little praise and worship service right in the middle of the whole thing .
It was really cool.
” It would be hard to find a more moving portrait of resiliency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story that inspired Monitor readers : In tonight ’ s Daily Edition , watch for our story about Paradise , California , where residents are drawing on communal strength born of past adversity to meet the pandemic .
Finally , check out the Monitor ’ s selected stories from Friday 's subscription-only Daily Edition : • How two European countries are trying to safely end lockdowns • Isolated from peers , teens find new paths to community • What day is it ?
Why the pandemic warps your sense of time .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks back • At home with Galileo : Simple science for cooped-up kids Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday morning news update .
Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think .
Thank you !

The White House and members of Congress say that a $450 billion rescue package, mostly for small business loans, is “very close.” The deal would likely include $300 million for small businesses, $75 billion for U.S. hospitals, $50 billion for disaster loans to small businesses, and $25 billion would go toward COVID-19 testing.
In less than two weeks, all of the original $340 billion in the Paycheck Protection Program was dispensed to some 1.7 million businesses. This new package would essentially refill that fund. Critics say that large auto dealers and restaurant chains drained some of the fund, and other businesses with fewer than 500 employees are not getting support.
Any aid package would have to be approved by the Senate and House, but some in Congress say it could be on the president’s desk by the end of this week.
Why We Wrote This Good morning! Welcome to your Monday, April 20, 2020, sunrise briefing. Here are three news events from this past weekend (while you may have been taking the handstand challenge, giving yourself a buzzcut, and enjoying an offline life). Also, what to look for in the news this week.
2. A test of patience. Small protests erupted in more than half-a-dozen U.S. state capitals this week, including Denver on Sunday, as mostly conservative voters demanded lockdowns be lifted. “Pot shops are open, abortion clinics are open and my church is closed,” protester Mary Conley told the Denver Post. President Trump sided with protestors Friday, tweeting “LIBERATE MINNESOTA,” “LIBERATE MICHIGAN,” and "LIBERATE VIRGINIA! and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!” Several governors, including Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, noted Sunday that White House guidelines say business shouldn’t reopen until cases decline for 14 days. “We're sending completely conflicting messages out to the governors and to the people, as if we should ignore federal policy and federal recommendations," he said. Only 3% of voters say the country is ready to reopen, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Sunday, and 15% say it will be ready to in the next few weeks.
3. Hong Kong’s rule of law challenged: At least 14 key pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong were arrested Saturday on charges of joining massive anti-government protests last year. Among those detained in the sweeping crackdown were the media tycoon Jimmy Lai and former lawmaker Martin Lee, the founder of the Democratic Party.
Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong, said in a statement that while the world’s attention is focused on the covid-19 epidemic, Beijing has taken “yet another step towards burying one country, two systems.” U.S. and British governments protested the arrests. Britain's Foreign Office said “the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong’s way of life and as such is protected in both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.”
Christian Murdock/The Gazette via AP View caption Hide caption Graduation jubilation: The class of 2020 celebrates as the Thunderbirds fly over Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs, Colo. Nearly 1,000 cadets graduated in a scaled-down ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Look Ahead
Tuesday, April 21
Look up, it’s the Lyrids. The peak of the annual Lyrid meteor shower is expected tonight, with as many as 18 meteors per hour streaking across the night sky. The new moon isn’t expected until Wednesday, so visibility should be good.
Wednesday, April 22
Earth, it’s your day. Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a global annual event intended to raise environmental awareness. It began the same year that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was created under Republican President Richard Nixon, and the U.S. Congress passed the Clean Air Act.
Thursday, April 23
Ramadan arrives. Muslims expect to begin observing the holy month, starting at sundown. Muslims believe that the Angel Gabriel revealed God’s message to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan. These revelations became the basis of the sacred text of the Islamic faith, the Quran. Ramadan is observed by fasting through the day, followed by nightly feasts.
Replenishing the ranks. The NFL draft starts Thursday at 8 p.m. ET and runs through Saturday. Expect LSU quarterback Joe Burrow to be the No. 1 pick. There’s lots of speculation around whether Alabama’s QB Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s QB Justin Herbert will go next. You can watch it live on the NFL Network, ESPN, with coverage on ABC, too.
Resiliency Watch
Tracy Lynn Coats via Facebook View caption Hide caption Tracy Lynn Coats played the piano April 15, 2020 amid the debris of the Faith Community Wesleyan Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
On Easter Sunday, an EF3 tornado destroyed 150 homes, and killed three people in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Three days later, Tracy Lynn Coats was driving by the decimated Faith Community Wesleyan Church and spotted a piano in the rubble. It beckoned to her. Would it even work?
She gingerly clambered atop the debris, where the piano was still perched on what was left of a stage. The band teacher at East Hamilton Middle High School in Ooltewah, Tennessee, started to pluck out the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul." She tried to make a video to comfort her students, she said, and perhaps the church members. But she had trouble uploading it. She went back later that day. A local TV news crew filming nearby heard the music in the distance and filmed her. A couple of church members arrived to see if there was anything salvageable. They asked her to play one or two of their favorite hymns, and they started singing.
"It's just such a sweet unity, really, among Christian people right there," Ms. Coats told CNN. "We just had a little praise and worship service right in the middle of the whole thing. It was really cool.”
It would be hard to find a more moving portrait of resiliency.
Hidden gem
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers:
From healing hearts to stealing hearts: Jordan’s ‘Dr. Fauci’
Sneak preview
In tonight’s Daily Edition, watch for our story about Paradise, California, where residents are drawing on communal strength born of past adversity to meet the pandemic.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Finally, check out the Monitor’s selected stories from Friday's subscription-only Daily Edition:
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday morning news update. Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think. Thank you!


csmonitor--2020-06-09--Uber and under: Why gig workers struggle in pandemic

“ This is one of those moments where we have this very dramatic fork in the road , ” says Bama Athreya , an economic inequality fellow with Open Society Foundations and the host of “ The Gig , ” a new podcast about gig workers .
“ We need to redefine work in a way that gives people decent lives .
And the money is there to do that.
” The arc of Ms. Thomson ’ s working life so far – from small-business owner to gig worker – mirrors the trajectory of much of the American labor experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the coronavirus pandemic continues , some observers are calling for us to rethink how we treat our society ’ s most precarious workers .
Or at least she did until the pandemic struck .
These days , she ’ s living on unemployment plus an extra weekly $ 600 offered by the CARES Act , the federal government ’ s largest response so far to the coronavirus .
Those payments are set to stop on July 25 , and after that , she says , “ all bets are off.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small business in Boston .
These days , she ’ s still her own boss , in a sense : She drives a Lyft .
Until about 10 years ago , Cat Thomson owned a flower shop in Boston ’ s perennially up-and-coming Jamaica Plain neighborhood , before it succumbed to the economic distress of the Great Recession .
Today , Ms. Thomson is still her own boss , in a sense .
She drives a Lyft , or at least she did until the pandemic struck .
Now , even as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions , Ms. Thomson worries that her livelihood will be undercut again , as hard times produce a shortage of riders and a glut of drivers .
“ People will be financially strapped in general and will be taking fewer Lyfts , ” she says .
“ Wages will probably go down because when there are more drivers , there is more competition for the work.
” Stuck at home since March , Ms. Thomson is surviving on unemployment plus an extra weekly $ 600 offered by the CARES Act , the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus .
Those payments are set to stop on July 25 , after which , she says , “ all bets are off.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
It ’ s a challenge faced by throngs of U.S. workers , and one hitting especially hard in the arena of gig or “ contingent ” work , which lacks the steady paychecks and benefits of traditional full-time jobs .
Thanks to the CARES Act , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the self-employed and gig workers like Ms. Thomson .
As of May , a stunning 11 million workers were receiving or awaiting these special Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits .
On Friday , the Labor Department reported that the official U.S. unemployment rate declined in May , as steps toward economic reopening allowed many businesses to rehire .
But the jobless rate remains at a level not seen since the Great Depression : 13.3 % , or actually 16.4 % if people “ employed but not working ” are properly counted among those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for gig workers alone , is a sign of how precarious these jobs are .
Yet to some observers , the upheaval also represents an opportunity to carve a path toward a more humane gig economy .
“ This is one of those moments where we have this very dramatic fork in the road , ” says Bama Athreya , an economic inequality fellow with Open Society Foundations and the host of “ The Gig , ” a new podcast about gig workers .
“ We need to redefine work in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the money is there to do that.
” While unique in its particulars , the arc of Ms. Thomson ’ s working life so far – from an English degree at Macalester College in Minnesota to small-business owner to salaried employee to gig worker – mirrors the trajectory of much of the American labor experience since 2008 .
During the Great Recession and the fitful recovery that followed , some workers prospered while others saw only slow gains in pay and others found little job security at all .
By 2016 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of Americans said they had less than $ 400 on hand for an emergency .
If the recovery from the past economic crash is any sign , it ’ s likely that many of the jobs , when they return , will at least initially be more precarious than the ones they replace .
Gig work , of course , is nothing new .
Capitalist economies have long fielded a reserve army of laborers , from performing artists to office temps to housecleaners to adjunct professors , who can come and go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the flexibility of nonstandard hours has always held an attraction for some workers .
What is relatively new , however , is the smartphone , and the companies that connect service workers with consumers via apps like Uber , Lyft , Fiverr , and Instacart .
Setting the prices and wages on these apps are complex algorithms that parse every tap and swipe and relentlessly seek to optimize worker productivity and customer revenue .
It ’ s an arrangement that has attracted many Americans , and not always out of financial desperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 36 % percent of U.S. workers had some kind of arrangement in the gig economy .
Separate surveys have found that about 10 % to 13 % of workers , like Ms. Thomson , rely on gig work for their primary income .
“ To me , it ’ s been well worth what I ’ m doing for the pay that I ’ ve been getting , ” says Ms. Thomson , who also paints and DJs .
“ It ’ s fun for me .
I actually weirdly enjoy driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a tale of two gig economies.
” Gallup polling has revealed a sharp divide between “ independent ” gig workers who experience high levels of autonomy and job satisfaction and “ contingent ” workers , the temps and on-call workers who are forced into unpredictable hours , receive little feedback , and are afforded scant opportunities for creative expression .
Mike Della Penna , a San Francisco-area children ’ s entertainer who performs as Mike the Magician , falls decidedly into the former category .
A full-time elementary school teacher , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he performs in preschools , libraries , and other venues , for about a quarter of his family ’ s income .
This translates into a significant financial hit from the pandemic for Mr. Della Penna , his wife , and their 10-year-old son .
He says that he was able to convert only about a fifth of his magic shows into virtual ones .
“ That ’ s the negative , losing all that work , ” says Mr. Della Penna .
But the positives , he says , are manifold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a 10-episode virtual performance with the city of Novato , California .
“ I now have a YouTube channel , ” he says .
“ I now know how to use iMovie.
” More important , like many Americans afforded with the ability to stay home during the pandemic , Mr. Della Penna has used the time to deepen his skills .
“ It ’ s made me come up with new routines and new material , ” he says .
“ It ’ s made me go into my closet and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like I ’ m going to come out the other side of this knowing my craft.
” Ms. Thomson , for her part , has been spending more time painting , which she now says she can do without feeling guilty that she ’ s not out driving .
Those experiences reflect a wider trend .
For many white-collar workers , the pandemic has offered a glimpse of the kind of flexibility and autonomy that gig work has long offered .
No longer physically tethered to their workplaces , workers are getting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boss ” mentality that first dazzled observers when apps like Uber emerged following the 2008 crash .
But much of this flexibility is illusory , says Dr. Athreya , and it represents part of a larger historical trend in the United States .
“ This is not new , ” she says .
“ There have been a variety of technologies over the past few decades to fragment work and make it ever more short-term.
” Dr. Athreya agrees that flexible labor has its role in the economy .
“ There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she says .
“ The problem is not that everyone needs to be a full-time , formal employee .
The problem is with precarious work.
” Ms. Thomson understands that Lyft ’ s oft-touted flexibility for its drivers has its limits , because Lyft ’ s pricing changes according to supply and demand .
“ You ’ d be foolish not to drive at certain times of day or certain days of the week , because [ if you did n't ] you ’ d be paid only half as much .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other business.
” These algorithms have the effect of squeezing drivers , as tech platforms compete for riders .
For instance , a JPMorgan Chase Institute study found that , as the supply of Uber and Lyft drivers has expanded , their average monthly earnings dropped from $ 1,469 in 2013 to just $ 783 in 2017 .
“ They don ’ t have control over when they drive , over who they drive , and how much they get for that drive , ” says Dr. Athreya .
Now , for Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bigger question is whether job opportunities will revive before unemployment benefits run out .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“This is one of those moments where we have this very dramatic fork in the road,” says Bama Athreya, an economic inequality fellow with Open Society Foundations and the host of “The Gig,” a new podcast about gig workers. “We need to redefine work in a way that gives people decent lives. And the money is there to do that.”
The arc of Ms. Thomson’s working life so far – from small-business owner to gig worker – mirrors the trajectory of much of the American labor experience since 2008. As the economic devastation from the coronavirus pandemic continues, some observers are calling for us to rethink how we treat our society’s most precarious workers.
So-called gig work dates back long before there were app-based services like Lyft. But the coronavirus is exposing how, for these jobs, the flip side of freedom is insecurity.
Or at least she did until the pandemic struck. These days, she’s living on unemployment plus an extra weekly $600 offered by the CARES Act, the federal government’s largest response so far to the coronavirus. Those payments are set to stop on July 25, and after that, she says, “all bets are off.”
A decade ago, Cat Thomson owned a small business in Boston. These days, she’s still her own boss, in a sense: She drives a Lyft.
Until about 10 years ago, Cat Thomson owned a flower shop in Boston’s perennially up-and-coming Jamaica Plain neighborhood, before it succumbed to the economic distress of the Great Recession.
Today, Ms. Thomson is still her own boss, in a sense. She drives a Lyft, or at least she did until the pandemic struck.
Now, even as the economy begins a spasmodic reopening from coronavirus restrictions, Ms. Thomson worries that her livelihood will be undercut again, as hard times produce a shortage of riders and a glut of drivers.
Why We Wrote This So-called gig work dates back long before there were app-based services like Lyft. But the coronavirus is exposing how, for these jobs, the flip side of freedom is insecurity.
“People will be financially strapped in general and will be taking fewer Lyfts,” she says. “Wages will probably go down because when there are more drivers, there is more competition for the work.”
Stuck at home since March, Ms. Thomson is surviving on unemployment plus an extra weekly $600 offered by the CARES Act, the federal government’s largest response so far to the coronavirus. Those payments are set to stop on July 25, after which, she says, “all bets are off.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
It’s a challenge faced by throngs of U.S. workers, and one hitting especially hard in the arena of gig or “contingent” work, which lacks the steady paychecks and benefits of traditional full-time jobs.
Thanks to the CARES Act, for the first time unemployment assistance is available for the self-employed and gig workers like Ms. Thomson. As of May, a stunning 11 million workers were receiving or awaiting these special Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits.
On Friday, the Labor Department reported that the official U.S. unemployment rate declined in May, as steps toward economic reopening allowed many businesses to rehire. But the jobless rate remains at a level not seen since the Great Depression: 13.3%, or actually 16.4% if people “employed but not working” are properly counted among those unemployed.
The magnitude of the problem, for gig workers alone, is a sign of how precarious these jobs are. Yet to some observers, the upheaval also represents an opportunity to carve a path toward a more humane gig economy.
“This is one of those moments where we have this very dramatic fork in the road,” says Bama Athreya, an economic inequality fellow with Open Society Foundations and the host of “The Gig,” a new podcast about gig workers. “We need to redefine work in a way that gives people decent lives. And the money is there to do that.”
Courtesy of Cat Thomson View caption Hide caption Cat Thomson saw her work as a Lyft driver around Boston dry up during the pandemic. Her gig employment has also included painting and DJ work.
While unique in its particulars, the arc of Ms. Thomson’s working life so far – from an English degree at Macalester College in Minnesota to small-business owner to salaried employee to gig worker – mirrors the trajectory of much of the American labor experience since 2008. During the Great Recession and the fitful recovery that followed, some workers prospered while others saw only slow gains in pay and others found little job security at all. By 2016, the Federal Reserve Board reported that nearly half of Americans said they had less than $400 on hand for an emergency.
If the recovery from the past economic crash is any sign, it’s likely that many of the jobs, when they return, will at least initially be more precarious than the ones they replace.
Gigs and gigabytes
Gig work, of course, is nothing new. Capitalist economies have long fielded a reserve army of laborers, from performing artists to office temps to housecleaners to adjunct professors, who can come and go as demand waxes and wanes. Moreover, the flexibility of nonstandard hours has always held an attraction for some workers.
What is relatively new, however, is the smartphone, and the companies that connect service workers with consumers via apps like Uber, Lyft, Fiverr, and Instacart. Setting the prices and wages on these apps are complex algorithms that parse every tap and swipe and relentlessly seek to optimize worker productivity and customer revenue.
It’s an arrangement that has attracted many Americans, and not always out of financial desperation. In 2018, according to Gallup, 36% percent of U.S. workers had some kind of arrangement in the gig economy. Separate surveys have found that about 10% to 13% of workers, like Ms. Thomson, rely on gig work for their primary income.
“To me, it’s been well worth what I’m doing for the pay that I’ve been getting,” says Ms. Thomson, who also paints and DJs. “It’s fun for me. I actually weirdly enjoy driving in Boston.”
Two gig economies
Some describe it as “a tale of two gig economies.” Gallup polling has revealed a sharp divide between “independent” gig workers who experience high levels of autonomy and job satisfaction and “contingent” workers, the temps and on-call workers who are forced into unpredictable hours, receive little feedback, and are afforded scant opportunities for creative expression.
Mike Della Penna, a San Francisco-area children’s entertainer who performs as Mike the Magician, falls decidedly into the former category. A full-time elementary school teacher, Mr. Della Penna relies on magic shows, which he performs in preschools, libraries, and other venues, for about a quarter of his family’s income.
This translates into a significant financial hit from the pandemic for Mr. Della Penna, his wife, and their 10-year-old son. He says that he was able to convert only about a fifth of his magic shows into virtual ones.
“That’s the negative, losing all that work,” says Mr. Della Penna. But the positives, he says, are manifold. For one thing, he picked up a 10-episode virtual performance with the city of Novato, California.
“I now have a YouTube channel,” he says. “I now know how to use iMovie.”
More important, like many Americans afforded with the ability to stay home during the pandemic, Mr. Della Penna has used the time to deepen his skills.
“It’s made me come up with new routines and new material,” he says. “It’s made me go into my closet and read my magic books. I feel like I’m going to come out the other side of this knowing my craft.”
Rich Pedroncelli/AP/File View caption Hide caption Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, a San Diego Democrat, speaks at rally calling for passage of her measure to limit when companies can label workers as independent contractors, in Sacramento, California, on Aug. 28, 2019. After passing the pioneering bill AB5 into law, California recently sued Uber and Lyft, saying the law requires them to treat their drivers as employees.
Ms. Thomson, for her part, has been spending more time painting, which she now says she can do without feeling guilty that she’s not out driving.
Meet the new boss
Those experiences reflect a wider trend. For many white-collar workers, the pandemic has offered a glimpse of the kind of flexibility and autonomy that gig work has long offered. No longer physically tethered to their workplaces, workers are getting a taste of the “be your own boss” mentality that first dazzled observers when apps like Uber emerged following the 2008 crash.
But much of this flexibility is illusory, says Dr. Athreya, and it represents part of a larger historical trend in the United States. “This is not new,” she says. “There have been a variety of technologies over the past few decades to fragment work and make it ever more short-term.”
Dr. Athreya agrees that flexible labor has its role in the economy. “There’s nothing wrong with nonstandard employment,” she says. “The problem is not that everyone needs to be a full-time, formal employee. The problem is with precarious work.”
Ms. Thomson understands that Lyft’s oft-touted flexibility for its drivers has its limits, because Lyft’s pricing changes according to supply and demand. “You’d be foolish not to drive at certain times of day or certain days of the week, because [if you didn't] you’d be paid only half as much. But that’s no different than any other business.”
These algorithms have the effect of squeezing drivers, as tech platforms compete for riders. For instance, a JPMorgan Chase Institute study found that, as the supply of Uber and Lyft drivers has expanded, their average monthly earnings dropped from $1,469 in 2013 to just $783 in 2017.
“They don’t have control over when they drive, over who they drive, and how much they get for that drive,” says Dr. Athreya.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Now, for Ms. Thomson and many other gig workers, the bigger question is whether job opportunities will revive before unemployment benefits run out.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-28--Daily for April 28, 2020

Daily for April 28, 2020

As America continues to fight the COVID-19 virus it seems increasingly likely that when we look back , the pandemic of 2020 – like 9/11 and the 2008 financial crash – will be a time when the world around us changed in sudden and profound ways .
It will affect everything from where we live and work to how we communicate with and relate to others , and even what counts as patriotic service , worthy of the nation ’ s salute .
That does not mean the post-coronavirus world will be different beyond recognition .
The pandemic will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as accelerate it , according to Richard Haass , president of the Council on Foreign Relations .
The importance of the United States to other nations may decline , while that of China increases ; but that is happening in some form already .
Our screen time may skyrocket along with reliance on Zoom , FaceTime , and other video connectors ; but that basic trend preexists .
Manufacturers may diversify suppliers to create redundant globalized production chains ; but far-sighted managers have pushed this for some time .
Nor are coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1918 turned the world upside down and ravaged the U.S. population .
What followed was not a new seriousness of national purpose , but the Roaring ’ 20s , a free-spending decade remembered today as one of the shallowest eras of American life .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
But crises can shake up the status quo .
They override tendencies toward inertia , open room for the consideration of new ideas , and push aside past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government programs that became the New Deal had been bouncing around U.S. politics for years before Franklin Roosevelt became president , says Margaret O ’ Mara , a professor of history at the University of Washington in Seattle .
It took the shock of the 1929 stock market crash and the onset of the Great Depression to make them law .
“ Great crises can change the rules of the game and people ’ s attitudes about political possibility really fast , ” Dr. O ’ Mara says .
If there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain to shift into hyperdrive , it ’ s the movement of more and more of our activities online .
The most obvious of these changes are occurring in the midst of the outbreak as tens of millions of people struggle to keep up some semblance of their old routines .
Virtual schooling is now part of the curriculum for many of the 124,000-plus U.S. schools affected by a coronavirus shutdown , for instance .
In the past , many school systems have resisted widespread online learning or found it difficult to integrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have little choice .
But today ’ s basic diet of Zoom lectures and student show-and-tells don ’ t fully reflect what online education can do , say its advocates .
For instance , a more sophisticated integration of virtual and live instruction could help high schools match the achievement gains primary education has made in recent years .
Meanwhile , telemedicine is exploding .
Right now , doctors are still struggling with such basic questions as how online health care fits into existing billing practices , but in the future it could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members and health organizations .
And of course , online ordering of everything from soup to bolts is for many people the new normal .
Related to this acceleration of the digital is the increasing importance of big tech to the national welfare .
If this moment in history is the moral equivalent of war , are Microsoft , Amazon , Google , Facebook , and Twitter emerging as the new arsenals of democracy , as GM , Ford , and Chrysler did during World War II ?
After all Bill Gates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is increasingly outspoken about fighting all manner of health crises .
Amazon is America ’ s delivery backbone .
Facebook is the new radio , the way an isolated society communicates and receives news .
President Donald Trump turned to a Google division to construct a website for locating COVID-19 test sites – though that hasn ’ t progressed much so far .
“ The tech companies are really part of this now , ” says Dr. O ’ Mara , author of the recent book “ The Code : Silicon Valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could mean a significant shift in big tech ’ s image , Dr. O ’ Mara notes .
Until recent years Silicon Valley has largely ignored politics as well as any concerns about the more unsavory aspects of its impact on society .
Then tech itself became a political headline , with Mark Zuckerberg hauled before Congress to defend Facebook policies on issues such as data sharing and election security .
“ It became very clear that tech was not only not adequate to address some of our most complicated social problems ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world in the right way , ” says Dr. O ’ Mara .
Then America was struck by a grave public health threat whose effect on society is unmatched by any crisis since World War II , and perhaps could surpass even that for its sheer breadth .
Leadership at the top of government , with some exceptions , has struggled to meet the challenge .
The economic fallout will ripple through every sector of the economy , devastating some , such as airlines , hotels , and restaurants .
“ The only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more money in the bank is tech , ” says Dr. O ’ Mara .
With their global workforces and global reach , tech firms are uniquely situated to provide moral leadership and a global perspective , she says .
Yet their preexisting problems remain : worries about the privacy of personal data and the little-checked spread of false information .
It ’ s also important to remember that a continuing digital revolution will leave many people behind .
Laptops and Wi-Fi connections are expensive ; many low-income families can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some 42 million Americans , and a quarter of all rural residents , don ’ t have access to broadband internet , according to a recent report from BroadbandNow Research .
Life in American cities may not be the same after the coronavirus recedes .
At the least , things probably won ’ t return to anything resembling the old normal for a long time .
Many urban areas have been shrinking for decades as their populations migrate to inner-ring suburbs and more distant areas .
It ’ s possible the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the perceived safety of larger open spaces .
Some wealthy Americans packed up and left New York and other central cities for second homes or hotels in the Hamptons , or the Catskills , or on Cape Cod .
A percentage of these may not return if their work and family situations allow .
Similar dispersions may happen elsewhere around the globe , say some experts .
“ We may now be witnessing the outlines of a new , and necessary , dispersion of population , not only in the wide open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but even in the megacities of the developing world , ” wrote Joel Kotkin , executive director of the Urban Reform Institute , in an article in the publication Quillette in late March .
But this may not mean cities per se are set to wither , or that their attributes will become less attractive to people drawn to the pulse of urban life .
The terrible flu pandemic of 1918 did not destroy hard-hit cities , after all .
Pittsburgh was ravaged , as was Detroit .
Both thrived afterward .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history – and many have been worse [ than COVID-19 ] – has been enough to derail the force of urbanization , ” says Richard Florida , an urbanist and professor at the University of Toronto ’ s Rotman School of Management and School of Cities .
“ The clustering of people , clustering of ideas , and trading with one another have made the world a more productive and innovative place.
” What the coronavirus will do is reshape the way people work and interact in cities at a micro level for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine is able to bring it under control , says Dr. Florida .
It ’ s hard to anticipate exactly what these changes will be , he says .
People may be worried about returning to city offices and taking mass transit , so it ’ s possible they will opt to live in center cities and walk , or resume driving to work , creating more traffic congestion .
Small businesses will look different , with restaurant tables placed farther apart , hair salon chairs dispersed or divided from one another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to very different schools , Dr. Florida predicts , with temperature checks at the door and social distancing in the lunch room .
Other changes that he believes will need to take place before cities reopen for business include retrofitting airports , convention centers , and other infrastructure for screenings and personal separation , and financial support for arts and cultural institutions that help provide urban areas with vitality .
“ We have to prepare our communities , our playgrounds , our arenas to get up and running safely , ” Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some types of urban areas might do better than others .
Los Angeles , a big world-class city built around the concept of sprawling neighborhoods of single-family homes , could benefit from people ’ s desire to insulate themselves in a bit of space .
So could smallish cities that offer some cultural amenities but are close enough to bigger places to serve as a type of satellite .
One example of this might be Hudson , New York , up the river from New York City .
People can experience different degrees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same city , based on their relative wealth and class , Dr. Florida says .
About a third of the workforce nationwide is wealthy enough to afford extensive deliveries of food and other staples , and to carry out much of their jobs through telework .
Another third is composed of blue-collar workers who stock the produce aisles , drive delivery trucks , and otherwise are at risk on the pandemic front lines .
The last third are poor people , who have little choice but to hunker down .
Yes , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their second or third homes , moving to physically distance themselves from any health threat .
But could they actually root themselves in their chalets ?
If they have school-age children , they might not find local educational options attractive .
In any case , the isolation they see as a buffer might be illusory .
Rural health care options are often limited – and rural counties with attractive recreational amenities , such as the ski slopes of Colorado , have had a high per capita incidence of COVID-19 , Dr. Florida points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear and resentment among those who live in rural areas full time .
In one infamous incident on the Maine island of Vinalhaven , a group of locals cut down a tree on March 27 in an attempt to forcibly barricade several New Jersey residents inside the home they were renting .
Dr. Florida says such conflicts could become bitter if they pit states against states .
“ One of the things that worries me is these border battles in general , ” he says .
The nation ’ s sense of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after COVID-19 .
For years many of America ’ s red-white-and-blue rituals have centered on celebrating the military .
There ’ s the honor guard for the national anthem , the F-22 flyovers for home openers , the line of greeters saying “ thank you for your service ” to the troops disembarking at airports for leave .
It ’ s meant to honor people who have agreed to risk their lives to protect the larger community .
Some of it derives from the memory of the Vietnam years , when protesters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on veterans , and worse .
But not all heroes wear camo .
In the coronavirus pandemic it is everyday Americans , from doctors and nurses and EMTs to grocery workers and delivery drivers , who are putting their health and lives at risk to protect and provide for everyone else .
“ Hopefully we ’ ll have maybe a more inclusive sense of patriotism ” after the pandemic , says Mark Lawrence Schrad , an assistant professor of political science at Villanova University and author of “ Vodka Politics : Alcohol , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian State.
” Dr. Schrad says he ’ s come to this conclusion a roundabout way .
One of the things he teaches his students about is nationalism .
And a part of nationalism , he says , is constructing the “ we ” that defines the nation , against the “ them ” that stand outside it .
Patriotism is one aspect used in building that “ we.
” But in the current situation , the “ them ” isn ’ t the Soviet Union , or Al Qaeda , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amorphous and as dangerous to our geopolitical adversaries as it is to us .
Dr. Schrad believes that , if the nation is in such a new place , maybe it needs a new kind of patriotism .
Election monitors serve the country – and in Wisconsin recently , working amid the pandemic , bravely so .
Teachers serve the community .
And now , so do UPS drivers , and postal workers , and agricultural field hands , and hospital orderlies , and a whole range of people whose jobs require them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dangers and lockdowns .
Maybe grocery workers will be honored at halftime during NFL games when the league restarts .
Maybe the nurses of community hospitals will march at the front of small town July Fourth parades .
But even before then we can all start thanking them for their service .
“ They didn ’ t sign on for this , ” Dr. Schrad says .
The coronavirus crisis is certainly bringing us closer together , in some ways , but also pushing us apart .
Technology has ensured that everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has high-speed internet and wants to remain connected to friends and relatives .
Zoom this , Zoom that , it ’ s the book club on Mondays , conversations with grandmother on Tuesdays , then the parents group and the church rummage sale committee .
That doesn ’ t even include all the work-related videoconferencing .
Isolation has never seen such togetherness , noted Sherry Turkle , a professor of the social studies of science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , in a recent appearance on the public radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has long meant trying to present our best selves – pictures cropped and filtered , subjects curated to make our lives look as exciting as possible .
But the new online look is more of a human experience , all of us striving to maintain the authentic connections developed in real life , according to Dr. Turkle , author of “ Reclaiming Conversation : The Power of Talk in a Digital Age.
” But online meetups can be exhausting .
It ’ s hard to say no – excuses to avoid online chats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in real life .
And there ’ s something about them that is just more restrictive .
They can ’ t really duplicate the full experience of personal connection .
And real-life conversation has more to it .
There are things you can ’ t duplicate via video screen .
There are subtle pauses , looks , being quiet together without saying anything .
Dr. Turkle calls these communication extras “ friction.
” In this sense , friction refers to the “ messiness of politics , of the dinner table , the intimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ square.
” When the pandemic is over , we may come out of it , not hooked on the ease of transferring all our conversations to the infosphere , but missing and honoring the small glitches and unspoken connections that real life entails .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

How coronavirus will change US Collapse
As America continues to fight the COVID-19 virus it seems increasingly likely that when we look back, the pandemic of 2020 – like 9/11 and the 2008 financial crash – will be a time when the world around us changed in sudden and profound ways. It will affect everything from where we live and work to how we communicate with and relate to others, and even what counts as patriotic service, worthy of the nation’s salute.
That does not mean the post-coronavirus world will be different beyond recognition. The pandemic will not change the basic direction of history so much as accelerate it, according to Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations. The importance of the United States to other nations may decline, while that of China increases; but that is happening in some form already. Our screen time may skyrocket along with reliance on Zoom, FaceTime, and other video connectors; but that basic trend preexists. Manufacturers may diversify suppliers to create redundant globalized production chains; but far-sighted managers have pushed this for some time.
Nor are coming changes completely predictable. The influenza epidemic of 1918 turned the world upside down and ravaged the U.S. population. What followed was not a new seriousness of national purpose, but the Roaring ’20s, a free-spending decade remembered today as one of the shallowest eras of American life.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
But crises can shake up the status quo. They override tendencies toward inertia, open room for the consideration of new ideas, and push aside past impediments. The ideas for the big government programs that became the New Deal had been bouncing around U.S. politics for years before Franklin Roosevelt became president, says Margaret O’Mara, a professor of history at the University of Washington in Seattle. It took the shock of the 1929 stock market crash and the onset of the Great Depression to make them law.
“Great crises can change the rules of the game and people’s attitudes about political possibility really fast,” Dr. O’Mara says.
Mark J. Terrill/AP View caption Hide caption A cyclist rides with an American flag as the USNS Mercy docks at the Port of Los Angeles. The 1,000-bed Navy hospital ship was brought in to help take the load off Los Angeles area hospitals as they treat coronavirus patients.
Life moves online
If there’s one thing the COVID-19 pandemic is almost certain to shift into hyperdrive, it’s the movement of more and more of our activities online.
The most obvious of these changes are occurring in the midst of the outbreak as tens of millions of people struggle to keep up some semblance of their old routines. Virtual schooling is now part of the curriculum for many of the 124,000-plus U.S. schools affected by a coronavirus shutdown, for instance. In the past, many school systems have resisted widespread online learning or found it difficult to integrate into existing lesson plans. Now they have little choice.
But today’s basic diet of Zoom lectures and student show-and-tells don’t fully reflect what online education can do, say its advocates. For instance, a more sophisticated integration of virtual and live instruction could help high schools match the achievement gains primary education has made in recent years.
Meanwhile, telemedicine is exploding. Right now, doctors are still struggling with such basic questions as how online health care fits into existing billing practices, but in the future it could allow much greater collaboration among diverse team members and health organizations. And of course, online ordering of everything from soup to bolts is for many people the new normal.
Related to this acceleration of the digital is the increasing importance of big tech to the national welfare. If this moment in history is the moral equivalent of war, are Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Twitter emerging as the new arsenals of democracy, as GM, Ford, and Chrysler did during World War II?
After all Bill Gates, shed of his corporate responsibilities at Microsoft, is increasingly outspoken about fighting all manner of health crises. Amazon is America’s delivery backbone. Facebook is the new radio, the way an isolated society communicates and receives news. President Donald Trump turned to a Google division to construct a website for locating COVID-19 test sites – though that hasn’t progressed much so far.
“The tech companies are really part of this now,” says Dr. O’Mara, author of the recent book “The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America.”
This could mean a significant shift in big tech’s image, Dr. O’Mara notes. Until recent years Silicon Valley has largely ignored politics as well as any concerns about the more unsavory aspects of its impact on society. Then tech itself became a political headline, with Mark Zuckerberg hauled before Congress to defend Facebook policies on issues such as data sharing and election security.
“It became very clear that tech was not only not adequate to address some of our most complicated social problems ... but that it was not changing the world in the right way,” says Dr. O’Mara.
Then America was struck by a grave public health threat whose effect on society is unmatched by any crisis since World War II, and perhaps could surpass even that for its sheer breadth. Leadership at the top of government, with some exceptions, has struggled to meet the challenge. The economic fallout will ripple through every sector of the economy, devastating some, such as airlines, hotels, and restaurants.
“The only sector that may come out of this with more money in the bank is tech,” says Dr. O’Mara.
With their global workforces and global reach, tech firms are uniquely situated to provide moral leadership and a global perspective, she says. Yet their preexisting problems remain: worries about the privacy of personal data and the little-checked spread of false information.
It’s also important to remember that a continuing digital revolution will leave many people behind. Laptops and Wi-Fi connections are expensive; many low-income families can’t reliably connect for telework or virtual education. Some 42 million Americans, and a quarter of all rural residents, don’t have access to broadband internet, according to a recent report from BroadbandNow Research.
JL/SIPA/AP View caption Hide caption Jayen, a 13-year-old student in Miramar, Florida, participates in a virtual class from her bedroom. Schools in Florida’s Broward County, like elsewhere across the country, are shut down.
Another urban flight?
Life in American cities may not be the same after the coronavirus recedes. At the least, things probably won’t return to anything resembling the old normal for a long time.
Many urban areas have been shrinking for decades as their populations migrate to inner-ring suburbs and more distant areas. It’s possible the pandemic will accelerate this movement as people flee to the perceived safety of larger open spaces.
Some wealthy Americans packed up and left New York and other central cities for second homes or hotels in the Hamptons, or the Catskills, or on Cape Cod. A percentage of these may not return if their work and family situations allow. Similar dispersions may happen elsewhere around the globe, say some experts.
“We may now be witnessing the outlines of a new, and necessary, dispersion of population, not only in the wide open spaces of North America and Australia, but even in the megacities of the developing world,” wrote Joel Kotkin, executive director of the Urban Reform Institute, in an article in the publication Quillette in late March.
But this may not mean cities per se are set to wither, or that their attributes will become less attractive to people drawn to the pulse of urban life. The terrible flu pandemic of 1918 did not destroy hard-hit cities, after all. Pittsburgh was ravaged, as was Detroit. Both thrived afterward.
“The point is that no pandemic in history – and many have been worse [than COVID-19] – has been enough to derail the force of urbanization,” says Richard Florida, an urbanist and professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and School of Cities. “The clustering of people, clustering of ideas, and trading with one another have made the world a more productive and innovative place.”
What the coronavirus will do is reshape the way people work and interact in cities at a micro level for a midrange period of time, until a vaccine is able to bring it under control, says Dr. Florida. It’s hard to anticipate exactly what these changes will be, he says. People may be worried about returning to city offices and taking mass transit, so it’s possible they will opt to live in center cities and walk, or resume driving to work, creating more traffic congestion. Small businesses will look different, with restaurant tables placed farther apart, hair salon chairs dispersed or divided from one another, and so forth.
Children will return to very different schools, Dr. Florida predicts, with temperature checks at the door and social distancing in the lunch room. Other changes that he believes will need to take place before cities reopen for business include retrofitting airports, convention centers, and other infrastructure for screenings and personal separation, and financial support for arts and cultural institutions that help provide urban areas with vitality.
“We have to prepare our communities, our playgrounds, our arenas to get up and running safely,” Dr. Florida says.
In the post-pandemic world some types of urban areas might do better than others. Los Angeles, a big world-class city built around the concept of sprawling neighborhoods of single-family homes, could benefit from people’s desire to insulate themselves in a bit of space. So could smallish cities that offer some cultural amenities but are close enough to bigger places to serve as a type of satellite.
One example of this might be Hudson, New York, up the river from New York City. People can experience different degrees of density, despite living in the same city, based on their relative wealth and class, Dr. Florida says.
About a third of the workforce nationwide is wealthy enough to afford extensive deliveries of food and other staples, and to carry out much of their jobs through telework. Another third is composed of blue-collar workers who stock the produce aisles, drive delivery trucks, and otherwise are at risk on the pandemic front lines. The last third are poor people, who have little choice but to hunker down.
Yes, the richest of the rich can jet to their second or third homes, moving to physically distance themselves from any health threat. But could they actually root themselves in their chalets? If they have school-age children, they might not find local educational options attractive. In any case, the isolation they see as a buffer might be illusory. Rural health care options are often limited – and rural counties with attractive recreational amenities, such as the ski slopes of Colorado, have had a high per capita incidence of COVID-19, Dr. Florida points out.
Coronavirus refugees have also sparked fear and resentment among those who live in rural areas full time. In one infamous incident on the Maine island of Vinalhaven, a group of locals cut down a tree on March 27 in an attempt to forcibly barricade several New Jersey residents inside the home they were renting. Dr. Florida says such conflicts could become bitter if they pit states against states. “One of the things that worries me is these border battles in general,” he says.
John Locher/AP View caption Hide caption Medical student Claire Chen (right) tests for virus cases at a makeshift camp for the homeless in Las Vegas. Officials opened part of a city parking lot as a temporary homeless shelter.
Not all heroes wear camo
The nation’s sense of what constitutes patriotic service may enlarge and change after COVID-19. For years many of America’s red-white-and-blue rituals have centered on celebrating the military. There’s the honor guard for the national anthem, the F-22 flyovers for home openers, the line of greeters saying “thank you for your service” to the troops disembarking at airports for leave.
It’s meant to honor people who have agreed to risk their lives to protect the larger community. Some of it derives from the memory of the Vietnam years, when protesters in a bitterly divided U.S. turned their backs on veterans, and worse.
But not all heroes wear camo. In the coronavirus pandemic it is everyday Americans, from doctors and nurses and EMTs to grocery workers and delivery drivers, who are putting their health and lives at risk to protect and provide for everyone else.
“Hopefully we’ll have maybe a more inclusive sense of patriotism” after the pandemic, says Mark Lawrence Schrad, an assistant professor of political science at Villanova University and author of “Vodka Politics: Alcohol, Autocracy, and the Secret History of the Russian State.”
Dr. Schrad says he’s come to this conclusion a roundabout way. One of the things he teaches his students about is nationalism. And a part of nationalism, he says, is constructing the “we” that defines the nation, against the “them” that stand outside it.
Patriotism is one aspect used in building that “we.” But in the current situation, the “them” isn’t the Soviet Union, or Al Qaeda, or humans at all. It’s amorphous and as dangerous to our geopolitical adversaries as it is to us.
Dr. Schrad believes that, if the nation is in such a new place, maybe it needs a new kind of patriotism. Election monitors serve the country – and in Wisconsin recently, working amid the pandemic, bravely so. Teachers serve the community. And now, so do UPS drivers, and postal workers, and agricultural field hands, and hospital orderlies, and a whole range of people whose jobs require them to continue to work with others despite the dangers and lockdowns.
Maybe grocery workers will be honored at halftime during NFL games when the league restarts. Maybe the nurses of community hospitals will march at the front of small town July Fourth parades.
But even before then we can all start thanking them for their service. “They didn’t sign on for this,” Dr. Schrad says.
Alex Gallardo/Reuters View caption Hide caption Joseph Alvarado makes deliveries for Amazon in Costa Mesa, California. Shopping online for everything is becoming part of the new normal as much of the world remains on lockdown.
Valuing real connection
The coronavirus crisis is certainly bringing us closer together, in some ways, but also pushing us apart.
Technology has ensured that everybody remains booked – at least, everybody who has high-speed internet and wants to remain connected to friends and relatives. Zoom this, Zoom that, it’s the book club on Mondays, conversations with grandmother on Tuesdays, then the parents group and the church rummage sale committee. That doesn’t even include all the work-related videoconferencing. Isolation has never seen such togetherness, noted Sherry Turkle, a professor of the social studies of science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in a recent appearance on the public radio show “On Point.”
Online communication has long meant trying to present our best selves – pictures cropped and filtered, subjects curated to make our lives look as exciting as possible. But the new online look is more of a human experience, all of us striving to maintain the authentic connections developed in real life, according to Dr. Turkle, author of “Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age.”
But online meetups can be exhausting. It’s hard to say no – excuses to avoid online chats are more limited than for getting together in real life. And there’s something about them that is just more restrictive. They can’t really duplicate the full experience of personal connection.
And real-life conversation has more to it. There are things you can’t duplicate via video screen. There are subtle pauses, looks, being quiet together without saying anything. Dr. Turkle calls these communication extras “friction.” In this sense, friction refers to the “messiness of politics, of the dinner table, the intimate conversation, the playground, the public square.”
When the pandemic is over, we may come out of it, not hooked on the ease of transferring all our conversations to the infosphere, but missing and honoring the small glitches and unspoken connections that real life entails.
“Empathy requires conversations with friction,” says Dr. Turkle.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.