csmonitor--2020-05-08--Revive economy with virus-immune workers? Not so fast.

One of those people is Jayne Oh , a mother in Brooklyn who fell sick in March .
She plans to take an antibody test to find out if she did have COVID-19 .
She knows a positive test doesn ’ t mean immunity .
Still , “ I would feel more ready to get back out there , ” she says .
Medical researchers say people who recover from COVID-19 will likely have some degree of immunity , though for how long is unknown .
Another issue is a flood of unreliable antibody tests on the market .
Accurate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works , including for people who were never tested for the virus .
But the science of immunity to COVID-19 is still uncertain .
That has stayed the hand of policymakers , including New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , who initially talked up the usefulness of antibody testing for markers of resistance to the disease .
For countries anxious to revive their pandemic-hit economies , the idea of immunity testing is an attractive proposition .
Some have even explored the use of “ immunity certificates ” for COVID-19 , to identify throngs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into economic activities .
More than 327,000 people in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 .
Of these cases , more than half are in New York City .
Jayne Oh isn ’ t one of them .
But she ’ s convinced that she came down with COVID-19 in mid-March , just as the city went into lockdown .
“ It came on quite suddenly , ” she says .
Ms. Oh , a marketing analytics consultant living in Brooklyn , stayed in her bedroom for three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolate herself from her husband and two young children but not to go to the hospital , and within days she had begun to regain her health .
Ms. Oh is one of an untold number of New Yorkers who have had COVID-19-like symptoms and recovered , but were never tested .
The question matters not just to Ms. Oh – who wonders if she now has immunity to the virus – but to cities and states considering how to reopen .
Immunity could influence how communities reopen , and how quickly they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , for example , could be a powerful tool to help reopen safely .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
But first officials need to understand whether COVID-19 immunity exists and how it works .
And that process is proving difficult .
Medical experts and clinicians understand why policymakers anxious to find a path back to economic vitality have talked up the idea of immunity .
But , says Kamran Kadkhoda , who directs the immunopathology lab at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cleveland , Ohio , “ we have to do this [ reopening ] in a prudent manner.
” One test for potential immunity is a blood screening to look for antibodies that reveal a previous viral infection .
The promise of antibody testing has captivated political and business leaders in the U.S. and elsewhere who hope it can help them revive their pandemic-crushed economies .
In the U.S. alone , the unemployment rate surged to 14.7 % in April as precautions against the virus stalled business activity .
From hospitals in Michigan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in California , antibody testing has already begun in an attempt to sort those who have and haven ’ t been infected .
Cities and states are buying testing kits and partnering with research labs to screen residents .
But the flurry of interest in antibody testing as a shortcut to reopening hard-hit cities like New York has given way to humility .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo initially seized on antibody tests as a way to get people back to work and children back to school .
By last week , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the World Health Organization warned there is no evidence of protection from reinfection .
“ There are a lot of unknowns about these antibodies , ” says Dr. Kadkhoda .
That doesn ’ t mean nobody has acquired some immunity to COVID-19 ; in all likelihood the virus acts like other coronaviruses that infect humans , with some immunity for those who have had it , says Paula Cannon , professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Southern California ’ s medical school .
But how strong any immunity is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The only way we ’ ll know is the numbers over time , ” she says .
The wait for clarity on this , coupled with the absence of a vaccine or effective medical treatments for the disease , hangs over nascent efforts to reopen the U.S. economy .
While some voters chafe at social restrictions , a majority in polls express fear at a hasty reopening amid a pandemic , adding to the pressure on political leaders .
Antibody testing isn ’ t just about finding out who might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways .
Epidemiologists want to track how far the virus has spread , how many people unwittingly had it , and to calculate the fatality rate .
Initial tests in hard-hit places like New York City and northern Italy suggest that the number of confirmed cases is a fraction of the actual number .
But several countries , including the United Kingdom and Germany , have also explored the idea of “ immunity certificates ” for those who test positive for antibodies , allowing them to go back to work first .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases , said that the U.S. government was discussing a similar program .
“ I think it might actually have some merit , under certain circumstances , ” he told CNN .
No country has issued immunity certificates , and analysts point to a raft of practical , legal , and ethical concerns , such as the incentive for workers to deliberately get infected or to falsely obtain certificates so they can keep their jobs .
Germany ’ s health minister said Monday that the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before proceeding .
Another concern is the accuracy and consistency of antibody tests .
The U.K. recently ordered 2 million home test kits from China that Prime Minister Boris Johnson said could be “ a total game changer ” in finding out who had immunity , only to scrap the tests as unreliable .
More than 100 different tests are now being sold in the U.S. without government approval under emergency rules , and researchers at the University of California ’ s San Francisco and Berkeley campuses found some produced over 10 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ samples from patients who were thought not to have been exposed .
Others showed false negatives from former COVID-19 patients .
On Monday , the Food and Drug Administration said it was tightening rules on which tests could be sold .
Until we know more , antibody tests won ’ t provide certainty as to who can safely be exposed to the virus , says Tom Frieden , the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ If people take actions based on inaccurate tests , or if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t , ” they could contribute to another wave of infections .
At first , Ms. Oh figured she , her husband , and two small children must have immunity , which was a comforting idea during lockdown until she read up on the issue .
Now she plans to get an antibody test at a local clinic to see if she ’ s positive .
“ I [ would ] know that I had it , I ’ m OK , and I survived .
I would feel more ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she says .
Six or more weeks into the lockdown , she says “ we all want to take some steps towards normalcy , what we had before.
” Antibody tests can offer “ a certain peace of mind , ” even though a positive result provides no guarantee of immunity , says Dr. Cannon .
“ I think there ’ s value as an individual , if you understand what the result means.
” New York City Council member Ritchie Torres knows he had COVID-19 .
He tested positive in March and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district he has represented since 2013 .
It was a relatively mild case , and he was soon back at work remotely , shoring up services in what has become the city ’ s coronavirus epicenter .
Mr. Torres knows that he can ’ t assume he has immunity , so he ’ s not visited his mother , who lives alone , out of caution .
But he also knows that every day that New York is closed for business , the city sinks deeper into a financial black hole .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 in 5 New Yorkers is likely to be out of work by the end of June and that it would take years for employment to recover to pre-pandemic levels .
“ The whole ecosystem of New York City is at risk , ” says Mr. Torres .
He understands the risk of antibody testing that could give New Yorkers who test positive a false sense of security .
For now , he says , there is no failsafe option .
“ We [ would ] have to be honest and say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a presumption of immunity rather than a knowledge of it.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

One of those people is Jayne Oh, a mother in Brooklyn who fell sick in March. She plans to take an antibody test to find out if she did have COVID-19. She knows a positive test doesn’t mean immunity. Still, “I would feel more ready to get back out there,” she says.
Medical researchers say people who recover from COVID-19 will likely have some degree of immunity, though for how long is unknown. Another issue is a flood of unreliable antibody tests on the market. Accurate testing is needed to understand how immunity works, including for people who were never tested for the virus.
In the early weeks of stay-at-home orders, policymakers and the news media voiced hope that immunity tests would become a major tool for reopening the economy amid a pandemic. Now the narrative is shifting.
But the science of immunity to COVID-19 is still uncertain. That has stayed the hand of policymakers, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who initially talked up the usefulness of antibody testing for markers of resistance to the disease.
For countries anxious to revive their pandemic-hit economies, the idea of immunity testing is an attractive proposition. Some have even explored the use of “immunity certificates” for COVID-19, to identify throngs of people who can safely jump back into economic activities.
More than 327,000 people in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Of these cases, more than half are in New York City.
Jayne Oh isn’t one of them. But she’s convinced that she came down with COVID-19 in mid-March, just as the city went into lockdown. “It came on quite suddenly,” she says.
Ms. Oh, a marketing analytics consultant living in Brooklyn, stayed in her bedroom for three days. Her doctor advised her to isolate herself from her husband and two young children but not to go to the hospital, and within days she had begun to regain her health.
Why We Wrote This In the early weeks of stay-at-home orders, policymakers and the news media voiced hope that immunity tests would become a major tool for reopening the economy amid a pandemic. Now the narrative is shifting.
Ms. Oh is one of an untold number of New Yorkers who have had COVID-19-like symptoms and recovered, but were never tested.
The question matters not just to Ms. Oh – who wonders if she now has immunity to the virus – but to cities and states considering how to reopen. Immunity could influence how communities reopen, and how quickly they do so. A pool of immune workers, for example, could be a powerful tool to help reopen safely.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
But first officials need to understand whether COVID-19 immunity exists and how it works. And that process is proving difficult.
Medical experts and clinicians understand why policymakers anxious to find a path back to economic vitality have talked up the idea of immunity. But, says Kamran Kadkhoda, who directs the immunopathology lab at the Cleveland Clinic, a hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, “we have to do this [reopening] in a prudent manner.”
One test for potential immunity is a blood screening to look for antibodies that reveal a previous viral infection. The promise of antibody testing has captivated political and business leaders in the U.S. and elsewhere who hope it can help them revive their pandemic-crushed economies. In the U.S. alone, the unemployment rate surged to 14.7% in April as precautions against the virus stalled business activity.
SOURCE: Preliminary April data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Jacob Turcotte/Staff
From hospitals in Michigan to college campuses in Arizona and software firms in California, antibody testing has already begun in an attempt to sort those who have and haven’t been infected. Cities and states are buying testing kits and partnering with research labs to screen residents.
But the flurry of interest in antibody testing as a shortcut to reopening hard-hit cities like New York has given way to humility. Gov. Andrew Cuomo initially seized on antibody tests as a way to get people back to work and children back to school. By last week, though, he had cooled on the idea after the World Health Organization warned there is no evidence of protection from reinfection. “There are a lot of unknowns about these antibodies,” says Dr. Kadkhoda.
That doesn’t mean nobody has acquired some immunity to COVID-19; in all likelihood the virus acts like other coronaviruses that infect humans, with some immunity for those who have had it, says Paula Cannon, professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Southern California’s medical school.
But how strong any immunity is and how long it lasts is unclear. “The only way we’ll know is the numbers over time,” she says.
The wait for clarity on this, coupled with the absence of a vaccine or effective medical treatments for the disease, hangs over nascent efforts to reopen the U.S. economy. While some voters chafe at social restrictions, a majority in polls express fear at a hasty reopening amid a pandemic, adding to the pressure on political leaders.
Goals of antibody testing
Antibody testing isn’t just about finding out who might have immunity. It can help in other ways. Epidemiologists want to track how far the virus has spread, how many people unwittingly had it, and to calculate the fatality rate. Initial tests in hard-hit places like New York City and northern Italy suggest that the number of confirmed cases is a fraction of the actual number.
But several countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany, have also explored the idea of “immunity certificates” for those who test positive for antibodies, allowing them to go back to work first.
Last month, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, said that the U.S. government was discussing a similar program. “I think it might actually have some merit, under certain circumstances,” he told CNN.
No country has issued immunity certificates, and analysts point to a raft of practical, legal, and ethical concerns, such as the incentive for workers to deliberately get infected or to falsely obtain certificates so they can keep their jobs. Germany’s health minister said Monday that the government would first consult a national ethics council before proceeding.
Another concern is the accuracy and consistency of antibody tests. The U.K. recently ordered 2 million home test kits from China that Prime Minister Boris Johnson said could be “a total game changer” in finding out who had immunity, only to scrap the tests as unreliable.
More than 100 different tests are now being sold in the U.S. without government approval under emergency rules, and researchers at the University of California’s San Francisco and Berkeley campuses found some produced over 10% false positives when used on pre-pandemic blood samples from patients who were thought not to have been exposed. Others showed false negatives from former COVID-19 patients. On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration said it was tightening rules on which tests could be sold.
Until we know more, antibody tests won’t provide certainty as to who can safely be exposed to the virus, says Tom Frieden, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “If people take actions based on inaccurate tests, or if they presume that antibodies reflect immunity and they don’t,” they could contribute to another wave of infections.
“We all want .... normalcy”
At first, Ms. Oh figured she, her husband, and two small children must have immunity, which was a comforting idea during lockdown until she read up on the issue. Now she plans to get an antibody test at a local clinic to see if she’s positive.
“I [would] know that I had it, I’m OK, and I survived. I would feel more ready to get back out there,” she says. Six or more weeks into the lockdown, she says “we all want to take some steps towards normalcy, what we had before.”
Antibody tests can offer “a certain peace of mind,” even though a positive result provides no guarantee of immunity, says Dr. Cannon. “I think there’s value as an individual, if you understand what the result means.”
New York City Council member Ritchie Torres knows he had COVID-19. He tested positive in March and self-isolated in his apartment in the Bronx district he has represented since 2013. It was a relatively mild case, and he was soon back at work remotely, shoring up services in what has become the city’s coronavirus epicenter.
Mr. Torres knows that he can’t assume he has immunity, so he’s not visited his mother, who lives alone, out of caution.
But he also knows that every day that New York is closed for business, the city sinks deeper into a financial black hole. The city’s comptroller said Tuesday that 1 in 5 New Yorkers is likely to be out of work by the end of June and that it would take years for employment to recover to pre-pandemic levels.
“The whole ecosystem of New York City is at risk,” says Mr. Torres.
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He understands the risk of antibody testing that could give New Yorkers who test positive a false sense of security. For now, he says, there is no failsafe option. “We [would] have to be honest and say that we’re opening the economy based on a presumption of immunity rather than a knowledge of it.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-21--The price of uncertainty: Oil futures prices drop below $0

The oil market plunged further on Tuesday over concerns of a collapse in demand as the pandemic leaves factories , cars , and airplanes idled around the world .
The extreme volatility in energy markets highlights investors ' worries about the duration of the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the economy .
That is in turn weighing on financial markets more broadly , including stocks .
The benchmark U.S. oil contract was down $ 4.78 at just $ 15.65 per barrel on Tuesday , having traded as low as $ 11.79 a barrel at one point .
The drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil futures fell below zero on Monday , partly due to technical factors as traders shifted from one futures contract to another .
The U.S. oil contract for delivery in May settled at negative $ 37.63 per barrel on Monday , an indication that investors do n't want to be left holding oil at a time when storage facilities are almost full and demand is at its lowest since the mid-1990s .
The tumult in the oil market reflects uncertainty over where the world economy will head as governments begin to loosen controls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We could merely be in the eye of the hurricane as the epicenters of its rage remain centered around demand devastation and crude oil oversupply , '' Stephen Innes of AxiCorp .
said in a commentary .
`` At a minimum , oil prices will be the last asset class to recover from lockdown '' and only when travel restrictions are lifted , he said .
Brent crude , the international standard , as fallen from $ 45.72 to $ 19.85 in recent weeks .
`` The historic drop in WTI prices is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many other crude oil grades could face , given the oversupply situation , '' Sushant Gupta of Wood Mackenzie said in a report .
The volatility in energy markets unsettled stock markets as well .
With Germany 's DAX stock index losing 3.3 % to 10,319 and the CAC 40 in France shedding 3.2 % to 4,384 .
Britain 's FTSE 100 declined 2.6 % to 5,664 .
Wall Street looked set for losses , with the future contract for the S & P 500 down 2.1 % , while the contract for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While share prices have gradually stabilized after wild swings earlier this year , uncertainty over growing numbers of coronavirus cases in Japan and in some Southeast Asian countries has left investors wary about new waves of infections .
Unconfirmed reports Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was in fragile condition after surgery added to the jitters .
But South Korea 's government said Mr. Kim appeared to be handling state affairs as usual .
Tokyo 's Nikkei 225 stock index fell 2 % Tuesday to 19,280.78 while the Hang Seng index @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23,793.55 .
South Korea 's Kospi slipped 1 % , to 1,879.38 .
Australia 's S & P/ASX 200 fell 2.5 % to 5,221.30 and the Shanghai Composite index gave up 0.9 % to 2,827.01 .
In a sign of continued caution in the market , Treasury yields remained extremely low .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 0.57 % from 0.62 % late Monday .
In currency trading , the dollar edged down to 107.40 Japanese yen from 107.63 on Monday .
The euro fell to $ 1.0831 from $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The oil market plunged further on Tuesday over concerns of a collapse in demand as the pandemic leaves factories, cars, and airplanes idled around the world.
The extreme volatility in energy markets highlights investors' worries about the duration of the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the economy. That is in turn weighing on financial markets more broadly, including stocks.
The benchmark U.S. oil contract was down $4.78 at just $15.65 per barrel on Tuesday, having traded as low as $11.79 a barrel at one point.
The drop comes a day after the price of oil futures fell below zero on Monday, partly due to technical factors as traders shifted from one futures contract to another. The U.S. oil contract for delivery in May settled at negative $37.63 per barrel on Monday, an indication that investors don't want to be left holding oil at a time when storage facilities are almost full and demand is at its lowest since the mid-1990s.
The tumult in the oil market reflects uncertainty over where the world economy will head as governments begin to loosen controls imposed to contain the coronavirus.
"We could merely be in the eye of the hurricane as the epicenters of its rage remain centered around demand devastation and crude oil oversupply," Stephen Innes of AxiCorp. said in a commentary.
"At a minimum, oil prices will be the last asset class to recover from lockdown" and only when travel restrictions are lifted, he said.
Brent crude, the international standard, as fallen from $45.72 to $19.85 in recent weeks.
"The historic drop in WTI prices is an indication of the downward pressure which many other crude oil grades could face, given the oversupply situation," Sushant Gupta of Wood Mackenzie said in a report.
The volatility in energy markets unsettled stock markets as well. With Germany's DAX stock index losing 3.3% to 10,319 and the CAC 40 in France shedding 3.2% to 4,384. Britain's FTSE 100 declined 2.6% to 5,664.
Wall Street looked set for losses, with the future contract for the S&P 500 down 2.1%, while the contract for the Dow industrials lost 2.5%.
While share prices have gradually stabilized after wild swings earlier this year, uncertainty over growing numbers of coronavirus cases in Japan and in some Southeast Asian countries has left investors wary about new waves of infections.
Unconfirmed reports Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was in fragile condition after surgery added to the jitters. But South Korea's government said Mr. Kim appeared to be handling state affairs as usual.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock index fell 2% Tuesday to 19,280.78 while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong lost 2.2% to 23,793.55. South Korea's Kospi slipped 1%, to 1,879.38.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 2.5% to 5,221.30 and the Shanghai Composite index gave up 0.9% to 2,827.01.
In a sign of continued caution in the market, Treasury yields remained extremely low. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 0.57% from 0.62% late Monday.
In currency trading, the dollar edged down to 107.40 Japanese yen from 107.63 on Monday. The euro fell to $1.0831 from $1.0862.
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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--2020-04-24--Where does an oil crisis hit first? Not where you might expect.

When world oil prices crashed this week ( briefly falling into negative territory in the United States ) , it served as a wake-up call for nations .
The coronavirus pandemic has rapidly dried up demand for everything from gasoline to jet fuel .
Now a key question is when and how strongly the global economy will rebound .
Oil may offer some early clues .
Oil-producing nations face a squeeze that could turn out to be a short recession , or something deeper and more prolonged .
In some previous bouts of low prices , “ you could increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Niels de Hoog , an economist with Atradius , a trade-credit insurance company based in the Netherlands .
But now these so-called petrostates “ need to spend more on households and businesses.
” One way to measure the stress is to look at government budgets .
The more nations rely on oil revenues to fund government operations , the bigger their fiscal deficit will be .
To balance their budgets , Saudi Arabia and Russia require a higher oil price than the actual drilling price .
But they have huge financial reserves to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran may be sheltered a bit , too , because it no longer exports much oil and it has some reserves .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Many smaller oil producers look much more vulnerable .
Ecuador announced two weeks ago an emergency economic plan that will dun wage earners and big companies alike to straighten out its finances while dealing with a big outbreak of the coronavirus .
Oman is also struggling with soaring debt , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monetary Fund and others for emergency funds .
Low oil prices also threaten politically fragile governments .
Iraq , on its third prime minister-designate in as many months , faces a halving of oil revenues in recent weeks .
In Venezuela , the price decline is just one more blow for a population already struggling with severe shortages and hyperinflation .
The silver lining in all this , of course , is that low oil prices will help both consumers who fill up their tanks , and big energy importers such as China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

When world oil prices crashed this week (briefly falling into negative territory in the United States), it served as a wake-up call for nations. The coronavirus pandemic has rapidly dried up demand for everything from gasoline to jet fuel. Now a key question is when and how strongly the global economy will rebound. Oil may offer some early clues. Oil-producing nations face a squeeze that could turn out to be a short recession, or something deeper and more prolonged.
In some previous bouts of low prices, “you could increase taxes and cut expenses,” says Niels de Hoog, an economist with Atradius, a trade-credit insurance company based in the Netherlands. But now these so-called petrostates “need to spend more on households and businesses.”
One way to measure the stress is to look at government budgets. The more nations rely on oil revenues to fund government operations, the bigger their fiscal deficit will be. To balance their budgets, Saudi Arabia and Russia require a higher oil price than the actual drilling price. But they have huge financial reserves to cushion the blow. Surprisingly, struggling Iran may be sheltered a bit, too, because it no longer exports much oil and it has some reserves.
Why We Wrote This Here’s a look at the nations most vulnerable to the plunge in oil prices. Hint: It’s not the big names, like the U.S., Russia, or Saudi Arabia. It’s smaller countries already struggling economically.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Many smaller oil producers look much more vulnerable. Ecuador announced two weeks ago an emergency economic plan that will dun wage earners and big companies alike to straighten out its finances while dealing with a big outbreak of the coronavirus. Oman is also struggling with soaring debt, and Nigeria last week applied to the International Monetary Fund and others for emergency funds.
Low oil prices also threaten politically fragile governments. Iraq, on its third prime minister-designate in as many months, faces a halving of oil revenues in recent weeks. In Venezuela, the price decline is just one more blow for a population already struggling with severe shortages and hyperinflation.
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The silver lining in all this, of course, is that low oil prices will help both consumers who fill up their tanks, and big energy importers such as China and Japan.
SOURCE: Chart 1: BP Statistical Review for 2019 (data for 1861 to 2018), U.S. Energy Information Administration (2019 monthly average), Intercontinental Exchange (April 23, 2020 price); Chart 2: Council on Foreign Relations, Energy Intelligence, CEIC, Nasdaq; Chart 3: Atradius N.V., Oxford Economics Global Economic Model; Chart 4: Rystad Energy | Jacob Turcotte and Karen Norris/Staff
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-27--As virus lockdowns lift, investors search for signs of rebounds

Stocks around the world rose Monday as governments prepare to gradually lift restrictions they imposed on businesses to slow the sweep of the coronavirus pandemic .
The S & P 500 was up 1 % at mid-day Monday , the start of a week chockablock with market-moving events .
Several of the world 's largest central banks are meeting , including the Bank of Japan , which announced its latest stimulus measures to prop up markets .
A rush of the biggest U.S. companies are also scheduled to report how much profit they made in the first three months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in getting the S & P 500 to rally over the last month .
More importantly , they may also talk about how they see future conditions shaking out , as some investors look beyond the devastation sweeping economies now to growth potentially returning in the future .
`` Investors have written off 2020 as a shocker and are looking more intently into the landscape in 2021 , '' Chris Weston of Pepperstone wrote in a report .
Treasury yields crept higher in an indication of less pessimism in the market , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swing that 's dominated oil markets in recent weeks .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 269 points , or 1 % as of 1 p.m. Eastern time , and the Nasdaq was up 1 % , too .
In the United States , the spotlight will be on the behemoth companies that have most helped the S & P 500 roughly halve its loss since the index began falling from its record in February .
The S & P is down only about 17 % since then , but the median @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % from its high , according to Goldman Sachs .
A big reason for that is that a group of just five companies makes up a fifth of the index by market value .
Because the S & P 500 – and index funds that form the core of many 401 ( k ) accounts – move based on changes in market value , the performance of the big five overshadow those of smaller companies .
Amazon , Apple , Facebook , Microsoft , and Google 's parent , Alphabet , are all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets began the day with gains after Japan 's central bank scrapped its ceiling on how much government debt it will buy to support the economy .
The Bank of Japan also said it will buy an additional 15 trillion yen ( $ 140 billion ) of commercial paper and bank loans .
Japan 's Nikkei 225 rose 2.7 % , while South Korea 's Kospi added 1.8 % , and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 1.9 % .
In Europe , Spain plans to start easing restrictions Sunday and Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its plans next month .
The German DAX returned 2.5 % , while the French CAC 40 rose 1.6 % , and the FTSE 100 in London added 1.3 % .
Other potentially market-moving events this week include data from the U.S. , China , Japan , Germany , and France on inflation , trade , unemployment , industrial activity , and retail spending .
Leaders of the U.S. Federal Reserve are likely to announce they will wait to see the impact of earlier stimulus before taking more action , Hayaki Narita of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The European Central Bank `` will likely keep its options for easing open . ''
President Donald Trump , who is up for re-election this fall , is pressing U.S. state governors to ease anti-disease controls as early as possible .
Some states are lifting shutdown orders despite warnings that it could cause a surge in infections .
Others , including Gov .
Andrew Cuomo of New York , say they want a bigger decline in new cases before rolling back curbs .
Signs of optimism are rising even in New York , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday reported the number of daily deaths had more than halved from the peak .
Construction and manufacturing jobs that represent low risks for workers will be among the first to resume once New York state begins reopening after the coronavirus shutdown , Mr. Cuomo said Sunday .
In energy markets , the cost for a barrel of U.S. oil to be delivered in June sank 28 % to $ 12.23 per barrel .
Prices have been swinging wildly as demand for energy collapses amid the halt to global economies and as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brent crude , the international standard , fell 7 % to $ 23.08 per barrel .
One casualty of the plunge in oil prices , Houston , Texas-based contract driller Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. , filed for bankruptcy Sunday with debts of $ 2.6 billion .
It said conditions had deteriorated sharply with the pandemic and the recent price war between Russia and other producers .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP Business Writer Joe McDonald contributed .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Stocks around the world rose Monday as governments prepare to gradually lift restrictions they imposed on businesses to slow the sweep of the coronavirus pandemic.
The S&P 500 was up 1% at mid-day Monday, the start of a week chockablock with market-moving events. Several of the world's largest central banks are meeting, including the Bank of Japan, which announced its latest stimulus measures to prop up markets.
A rush of the biggest U.S. companies are also scheduled to report how much profit they made in the first three months of 2020, including the handful most instrumental in getting the S&P 500 to rally over the last month. More importantly, they may also talk about how they see future conditions shaking out, as some investors look beyond the devastation sweeping economies now to growth potentially returning in the future.
"Investors have written off 2020 as a shocker and are looking more intently into the landscape in 2021," Chris Weston of Pepperstone wrote in a report.
Treasury yields crept higher in an indication of less pessimism in the market, but crude tanked again in the latest extreme swing that's dominated oil markets in recent weeks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 269 points, or 1% as of 1 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq was up 1 %, too.
In the United States, the spotlight will be on the behemoth companies that have most helped the S&P 500 roughly halve its loss since the index began falling from its record in February.
The S&P is down only about 17% since then, but the median company in the index is down 28% from its high, according to Goldman Sachs. A big reason for that is that a group of just five companies makes up a fifth of the index by market value. Because the S&P 500 – and index funds that form the core of many 401(k) accounts – move based on changes in market value, the performance of the big five overshadow those of smaller companies. Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and Google's parent, Alphabet, are all scheduled to report this week.
Asian markets began the day with gains after Japan's central bank scrapped its ceiling on how much government debt it will buy to support the economy. The Bank of Japan also said it will buy an additional 15 trillion yen ($140 billion) of commercial paper and bank loans.
Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 2.7%, while South Korea's Kospi added 1.8%, and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 1.9%.
In Europe, Spain plans to start easing restrictions Sunday and Italy on May 4. France will announce its plans next month.
The German DAX returned 2.5%, while the French CAC 40 rose 1.6%, and the FTSE 100 in London added 1.3%.
Other potentially market-moving events this week include data from the U.S., China, Japan, Germany, and France on inflation, trade, unemployment, industrial activity, and retail spending.
Leaders of the U.S. Federal Reserve are likely to announce they will wait to see the impact of earlier stimulus before taking more action, Hayaki Narita of Mizuho Bank said in a report. The European Central Bank "will likely keep its options for easing open."
President Donald Trump, who is up for re-election this fall, is pressing U.S. state governors to ease anti-disease controls as early as possible.
Some states are lifting shutdown orders despite warnings that it could cause a surge in infections. Others, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, say they want a bigger decline in new cases before rolling back curbs.
Signs of optimism are rising even in New York, though. The state hardest-hit by COVID-19 on Sunday reported the number of daily deaths had more than halved from the peak. Construction and manufacturing jobs that represent low risks for workers will be among the first to resume once New York state begins reopening after the coronavirus shutdown, Mr. Cuomo said Sunday.
In energy markets, the cost for a barrel of U.S. oil to be delivered in June sank 28% to $12.23 per barrel. Prices have been swinging wildly as demand for energy collapses amid the halt to global economies and as storage tanks come close to topping out.
Brent crude, the international standard, fell 7% to $23.08 per barrel.
One casualty of the plunge in oil prices, Houston, Texas-based contract driller Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc., filed for bankruptcy Sunday with debts of $2.6 billion. It said conditions had deteriorated sharply with the pandemic and the recent price war between Russia and other producers.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP Business Writer Joe McDonald contributed.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-04--Will cruise industry recover? Some passengers yearn to reboard.

“ We haven ’ t gotten a dog because of all the traveling we ’ ve been doing , ” he says .
“ Now we ’ re [ talking about ] getting one.
” Some passengers are itching to sail again .
But Arthur Birken in Broward County , Florida , is loath to board until there ’ s a vaccine or cure .
He ’ s resigned to a year or more without travel .
But he and his wife may soon have a new companion .
Cruise ships rely on retirees to fill longer routes .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most vulnerable to the COVID-19 disease because of their age and underlying health conditions .
What would it take to convince travelers , particularly the retired boomers who cruise the most , that it ’ s safe to sail again ?
And will their wanderlust eventually win out , despite their health concerns ?
The cruise industry is in free fall – facing debt , lawsuits from passengers sickened on board , and indelible images of people stuck at sea after ports refused to take coronavirus patients .
Even as states begin easing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restart until a 100-day no-sail order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expires in July .
Jules Sher , a retired insurance agent in San Juan Capistrano , California , still remembers his first Caribbean cruise in 1973 .
“ I love cruising .
I love to get away and to unwind , ” he says .
Like other pre-pandemic cruisers , though , he ’ s had to rethink his travel plans .
He recently canceled a 61-day Pacific cruise scheduled for September , figuring it may not sail anyway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 outbreak may already be over in California , and is itching to get back to sea .
“ The minute things turn around I ’ ll be on a cruise , ” he says .
His wife Carole ’ s voice crackles in the background .
He laughs into the phone .
“ She says she ’ s not going with me , ” he explains .
That , in a nutshell , is the cruise industry ’ s acute challenge : What would it take to convince travelers , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that it ’ s safe to sail again , and will their wanderlust eventually win out , despite their health fears ?
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Just as cruisers like Mr. Sher and his wife are weighing the risks of cruising during a global pandemic , so too are leisure travelers in general , prolonging the pain for near-empty hotels , airlines , and theme parks as summer season looms .
“ It ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to travel ?
Are people willing to go to restaurants ?
Movie theaters ?
If they ’ re not prepared to do those things then they ’ re not getting on cruise ships , ” says Andrew Coggins , a professor of management at Pace University who studies the industry .
For now , the cruise industry is in free fall , unable to sail and sinking into debt , amid lawsuits from passengers sickened on cruises and indelible images of people stuck at sea after ports refused to take COVID-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cruise operators can ’ t restart until a 100-day no-sail order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expires in July .
Cruise ships carry around 30 million passengers a year , and while families and younger travelers book short cruises and may take summer vacations on board , the industry relies on retirees to fill longer routes , particularly in winter and spring .
Some retirees book back-to-back sailings and barely touch land .
“ People like to cruise .
The industry has a very high repeat rate , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy commander .
But medical experts say that loyal demographic is most vulnerable to COVID-19 because of their age and underlying health conditions , putting the industry in a bind as it tries to rebuild .
Arthur Birken ’ s next cruise is booked for November , a 20-day sailing from Athens to Dubai , via Israel and Egypt .
“ I ’ ve always wanted to see the pyramids , ” he says .
After that , he and his wife Judy had committed to three more long-haul cruises in 2021 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Broward County , Florida , is loath to board , not until there ’ s a vaccine or cure for a deadly virus that spreads in confined spaces like cruise liners .
“ You don ’ t want to be with crowds .
It ’ s not just on the ship .
What about the excursions ?
What if you get sick in the middle of nowhere ?
” he asks .
Cruise companies are vowing to sail again .
On Monday , Carnival announced plans for new excursions starting at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a raft of measures , from advanced ventilation and enhanced health screenings , to win back customers .
At least one carrier now requires all over-70s to produce a doctor ’ s note about chronic conditions before boarding .
Other changes may include ending self-service buffets and social distancing in restaurants and other venues .
A social-distancing cruise may be a tough sell , says Chris Owen , a travel agent in Florida .
“ A big part of the ship is the shared experience , ” he says .
For an industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break even , it ’ s also not clear they can afford to carry fewer passengers .
“ Until there ’ s a vaccine the cruise business doesn ’ t have a chance of coming back to where it was .
Not a chance , ” he says .
Ellen Silverberg , a retiree in Boston who winters in Florida , says she won ’ t take another cruise until the pandemic ends .
“ We ’ ll stay home for a while , ” she says .
Even traveling back to Boston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her husband if it was safer to drive than fly .
Then she thought about the motel stops and decided to stay put for another month .
Mr. Owen had clients on board the ill-fated Princess Grand , which was held for several days off California in March amid a coronavirus outbreak .
Two passengers died and over 100 tested positive .
Princess Cruises has denied negligence in not warning passengers about an outbreak on the previous voyage that may have been spread by cruisers who stayed on board .
Even that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruisers , says Mr. Owen .
“ The clock is ticking .
We ’ ve only got so many years left to do these things.
” Singling out cruises as infection hotspots is unfair , given how hard crews work to sanitize ships and keep passengers safe , says Harry O ’ Donoghue , an Irish musician who performs often on cruises .
“ It ’ s cleaner on a cruise ship than on an airplane .
We all know that , ” he says .
Mr. Birken agrees .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year or more without travel .
But he may soon have a new companion .
“ We haven ’ t gotten a dog because of all the traveling we ’ ve been doing , ” he says .
“ Now we ’ re [ talking about ] getting one.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“We haven’t gotten a dog because of all the traveling we’ve been doing,” he says. “Now we’re [talking about] getting one.”
Some passengers are itching to sail again. But Arthur Birken in Broward County, Florida, is loath to board until there’s a vaccine or cure. He’s resigned to a year or more without travel. But he and his wife may soon have a new companion.
Cruise lines face a perfect storm of problems in the pandemic. Yet to some loyal clients – itching to reboard while also staying safe – it’s a test of patience and prudence.
Cruise ships rely on retirees to fill longer routes. But medical experts say that loyal demographic is most vulnerable to the COVID-19 disease because of their age and underlying health conditions. What would it take to convince travelers, particularly the retired boomers who cruise the most, that it’s safe to sail again? And will their wanderlust eventually win out, despite their health concerns?
The cruise industry is in free fall – facing debt, lawsuits from passengers sickened on board, and indelible images of people stuck at sea after ports refused to take coronavirus patients. Even as states begin easing lockdowns, cruise operators can’t restart until a 100-day no-sail order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expires in July.
Jules Sher, a retired insurance agent in San Juan Capistrano, California, still remembers his first Caribbean cruise in 1973. “I love cruising. I love to get away and to unwind,” he says.
Like other pre-pandemic cruisers, though, he’s had to rethink his travel plans. He recently canceled a 61-day Pacific cruise scheduled for September, figuring it may not sail anyway. But he reckons the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak may already be over in California, and is itching to get back to sea.
“The minute things turn around I’ll be on a cruise,” he says.
Why We Wrote This Cruise lines face a perfect storm of problems in the pandemic. Yet to some loyal clients – itching to reboard while also staying safe – it’s a test of patience and prudence.
His wife Carole’s voice crackles in the background. He laughs into the phone. “She says she’s not going with me,” he explains.
That, in a nutshell, is the cruise industry’s acute challenge: What would it take to convince travelers, particularly the retired boomers who cruise the most, that it’s safe to sail again, and will their wanderlust eventually win out, despite their health fears?
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Just as cruisers like Mr. Sher and his wife are weighing the risks of cruising during a global pandemic, so too are leisure travelers in general, prolonging the pain for near-empty hotels, airlines, and theme parks as summer season looms.
“It’s not just the cruise ships. Are people willing to travel? Are people willing to go to restaurants? Movie theaters? If they’re not prepared to do those things then they’re not getting on cruise ships,” says Andrew Coggins, a professor of management at Pace University who studies the industry.
For now, the cruise industry is in free fall, unable to sail and sinking into debt, amid lawsuits from passengers sickened on cruises and indelible images of people stuck at sea after ports refused to take COVID-19 patients. Even as states begin easing lockdowns, cruise operators can’t restart until a 100-day no-sail order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expires in July.
Cruise ships carry around 30 million passengers a year, and while families and younger travelers book short cruises and may take summer vacations on board, the industry relies on retirees to fill longer routes, particularly in winter and spring. Some retirees book back-to-back sailings and barely touch land. “People like to cruise. The industry has a very high repeat rate,” says Professor Coggins, a retired U.S. Navy commander.
But medical experts say that loyal demographic is most vulnerable to COVID-19 because of their age and underlying health conditions, putting the industry in a bind as it tries to rebuild.
Arthur Birken’s next cruise is booked for November, a 20-day sailing from Athens to Dubai, via Israel and Egypt. “I’ve always wanted to see the pyramids,” he says. After that, he and his wife Judy had committed to three more long-haul cruises in 2021.
Courtesy of Arthur Birken View caption Hide caption Arthur and Judy Birken pose for a photo during a Mediterranean cruise in April 2018. Mr. Birken, a retired judge in Broward County, Florida, likes to take long cruises but has put his plans on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But Mr. Birken, a retired judge in Broward County, Florida, is loath to board, not until there’s a vaccine or cure for a deadly virus that spreads in confined spaces like cruise liners. “You don’t want to be with crowds. It’s not just on the ship. What about the excursions? What if you get sick in the middle of nowhere?” he asks.
Cruise companies are vowing to sail again. On Monday, Carnival announced plans for new excursions starting at the beginning of August. Companies have promised a raft of measures, from advanced ventilation and enhanced health screenings, to win back customers. At least one carrier now requires all over-70s to produce a doctor’s note about chronic conditions before boarding. Other changes may include ending self-service buffets and social distancing in restaurants and other venues.
A social-distancing cruise may be a tough sell, says Chris Owen, a travel agent in Florida. “A big part of the ship is the shared experience,” he says. For an industry that needs roughly 85% occupancy to break even, it’s also not clear they can afford to carry fewer passengers. “Until there’s a vaccine the cruise business doesn’t have a chance of coming back to where it was. Not a chance,” he says.
Ellen Silverberg, a retiree in Boston who winters in Florida, says she won’t take another cruise until the pandemic ends. “We’ll stay home for a while,” she says. Even traveling back to Boston isn’t risk-free. She debated with her husband if it was safer to drive than fly. Then she thought about the motel stops and decided to stay put for another month.
Mr. Owen had clients on board the ill-fated Princess Grand, which was held for several days off California in March amid a coronavirus outbreak. Two passengers died and over 100 tested positive. Princess Cruises has denied negligence in not warning passengers about an outbreak on the previous voyage that may have been spread by cruisers who stayed on board.
Even that debacle probably won’t deter diehard cruisers, says Mr. Owen. “The clock is ticking. We’ve only got so many years left to do these things.”
Singling out cruises as infection hotspots is unfair, given how hard crews work to sanitize ships and keep passengers safe, says Harry O’Donoghue, an Irish musician who performs often on cruises. “It’s cleaner on a cruise ship than on an airplane. We all know that,” he says.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Mr. Birken agrees. He’s not flying anymore and is resigned to a year or more without travel. But he may soon have a new companion. “We haven’t gotten a dog because of all the traveling we’ve been doing,” he says. “Now we’re [talking about] getting one.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-30--No one wants to dump milk. Here’s why it’s happening anyway.

“ It ’ s not going the way we were thinking it was going to go , ” says Mr. Brown in Belleville , Wisconsin .
“ At the same time , we know we ’ re not alone.
” The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a step in this direction in mid-April .
Some private companies and charities are also buying milk for those who need it .
Yet for now , farmers still face pressure to cut production or dump milk .
Dairy industry groups have urged , among other things , that the federal government step in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more milk go to food banks or nutrition-aid programs “ to address the growing and widening food insecurity facing many Americans.
” The reason : Response to the coronavirus has undermined demand from restaurants even as it also disrupts the paychecks that many consumers use at grocery stores .
That leaves farmers with few options .
Give milk to food banks ?
Make cheese for the future ?
Those are being tried , but warehouses are full and dairy processors , like farmers themselves , are in crisis .
No one likes dumping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian Brown .
Yet dairy farmers from New England to California have been forced into hard choices .
On Easter Sunday , Brian Brown , a dairy farmer in Belleville , Wisconsin , did what he had not done before : He opened the valve on his big stainless steel bulk tank and watched 5,000 gallons of milk flow down the drain .
Days earlier he had gotten a call from the dairy processing company he sells his milk to , telling him to cut production by 20 % .
The call was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been circulating .
Others who got the same call began dumping some milk every day .
The Browns – Brian , his wife , Yvonne , and their son , Cory – decided to do it once a week , on Sundays .
“ I don ’ t know if it ’ s our faith , ” Mr. Brown says , adding that “ we ’ re trying to stay positive.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all farmers .
It ’ s an affront to their bottom line , but also to their sense of purpose and vocation .
“ You ’ ve got all your expenses and hard work going into a product that you care for , a quality product for the consumer , ” Mr. Brown says .
And yet as the coronavirus disrupts supply chains and undermines the demand for dairy products , especially cheese , dairy farmers from New England to California have been forced to make difficult choices .
They have tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cows , usually to slaughterhouses .
They have cut back on feed , hoping to reduce the amount of milk each cow makes .
The Browns have done these things – they sold more than two dozen of their 500-cow herd – but it wasn ’ t nearly enough .
So like many farmers , they have resorted to dumping , an experience Mr. Brown finds difficult to contemplate , let alone describe .
“ We kind of feel numb and defeated , ” he says .
“ You open the drain to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Major farm organizations have appealed to both federal and state governments for help rebalancing supply and demand and rescuing hard-hit dairy farmers .
Here ’ s the problem : Even as demand from places like restaurants has dried up due to coronavirus restrictions , the lockdowns have left millions of consumers in financial stress or outright unemployed – less able to shop freely at grocery stores .
That leaves farmers with few options .
Give milk to food banks ?
Make cheese for the future ?
These too are being tried , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a financial crisis .
Processors are grappling with both a precipitous drop in demand and the need to adapt quickly to new markets .
“ That ’ s a huge shift , ” says Bobbi Wilson , a government relations specialist with the Wisconsin Farmers Union .
One consequence is that farmers are again seeing milk prices drop below the cost of producing it – when they already were struggling to recover from a five-year price slump .
“ It ’ s put them in a difficult position , ” says Ms. Wilson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long stretch of good prices to get their heads above water .
The timing couldn ’ t have been worse.
” The National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association have urged , among other things , that the federal government step in as a temporary buyer , to help more dairy products get to food banks or nutrition aid programs “ to address the growing and widening food insecurity facing many Americans.
” The U.S. Department of Agriculture on April 17 announced a Coronavirus Food Assistance Program , which includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmers and $ 3 billion in purchases for food banks ( including of dairy products ) .
There have been private efforts , too , large and small , to get dairy products , especially milk , to those who need it .
The Milwaukee-based Hunger Task Force pledged $ 1 million to buy milk for distribution at local food pantries .
The Publix supermarket chain has launched a similar effort .
One company , Sassy Cow Creamery , put a “ kindness cooler ” outside its store in Columbus , Wisconsin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger market trends are grim , with industry experts citing declines in exports among the reasons that milk supply now exceeds demand by at least 10 % .
Dumping milk is not unheard of in dairy country .
In the first eight months of 2016 , according to one estimate , a glut of milk in the U.S. prompted farmers and processors to dump 43 million gallons .
In the 1960s , members of the National Farmers Union , a cooperative based in the upper Midwest , dumped milk to protest low prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program they were demanding , but they got a lot of attention .
The dumped milk doesn ’ t actually run into sewage pipes .
Instead , on most farms it ’ s diverted into big lagoons used to store liquid manure .
Eventually it will be pumped out with the manure and spread on the fields as fertilizer – to return again to the cows as corn and alfalfa .
What makes this moment especially painful for dairy farmers is that COVID-19 arrived just as things were just starting to look up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced many of them to borrow against their farms just to survive .
Some gave up altogether .
Prices began to rebound last autumn , and by the turn of the year , farmers were feeling hopeful .
They were making money again .
“ We were kind of set to go , ” Mr. Brown says .
Now prices are falling again , plunging farmers and their families into a new period of uncertainty .
It ’ s hard to stay positive .
For the Browns , the crisis has brought a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past few years , Mr. Brown and his wife had been contemplating how they might transfer the farm to their son , who attended a dairy program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been working next to his parents on the farm he grew up on .
COVID-19 has cast a shadow over these plans , at least for now .
How long it lasts could determine whether they can stay in business .
“ It ’ s not going the way we were thinking it was going to go , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , we know we ’ re not alone.
” Indeed , no farmer is an island .
Dairy farmers are surrounded by a host of bankers , veterinarians , nutritionists , university extension specialists , trade organization representatives , and other experts eager to give advice .
And like others , Brown has been consulting a lot of them recently , trying to figure out what to do .
He ’ s taken to attending meetings by video conference – something else new to him – to learn more .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that farmers could reduce production by lengthening the time a cow is left dry before she calves and is ready to be milked again .
He thought he would try it .
From the beginning , too , farmers have been reaching out to one another for news , advice , and simple reassurance .
Virgil Haag , a friend of Mr. Brown who sells to a different processing company , called when he learned about Mr. Brown ’ s predicament .
“ He was pretty down in the dumps , ” Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came , too .
He learned he would have to cut production by even more : 25 % .
“ There have been many nights since then I ’ ve had pretty much no sleep , ” Mr. Haag says .
“ I ’ ll have some tears when I ’ m dumping – just to see that milk going down the drain that we worked so hard to produce.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“It’s not going the way we were thinking it was going to go,” says Mr. Brown in Belleville, Wisconsin. “At the same time, we know we’re not alone.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a step in this direction in mid-April. Some private companies and charities are also buying milk for those who need it. Yet for now, farmers still face pressure to cut production or dump milk.
Dairy industry groups have urged, among other things, that the federal government step in as a temporary buyer, to help more milk go to food banks or nutrition-aid programs “to address the growing and widening food insecurity facing many Americans.”
Images of farmers literally pouring their milk down the drain are especially troubling at a time of rising demand at U.S. food banks. Farmers would love to get their product to where it’s needed.
The reason: Response to the coronavirus has undermined demand from restaurants even as it also disrupts the paychecks that many consumers use at grocery stores. That leaves farmers with few options. Give milk to food banks? Make cheese for the future? Those are being tried, but warehouses are full and dairy processors, like farmers themselves, are in crisis.
No one likes dumping milk, least of all farmers like Brian Brown. Yet dairy farmers from New England to California have been forced into hard choices.
On Easter Sunday, Brian Brown, a dairy farmer in Belleville, Wisconsin, did what he had not done before: He opened the valve on his big stainless steel bulk tank and watched 5,000 gallons of milk flow down the drain.
“It’s painful,” he says.
Days earlier he had gotten a call from the dairy processing company he sells his milk to, telling him to cut production by 20%. The call was not unexpected. Among farmers, rumors had been circulating. Others who got the same call began dumping some milk every day. The Browns – Brian, his wife, Yvonne, and their son, Cory – decided to do it once a week, on Sundays.
Why We Wrote This Images of farmers literally pouring their milk down the drain are especially troubling at a time of rising demand at U.S. food banks. Farmers would love to get their product to where it’s needed.
“I don’t know if it’s our faith,” Mr. Brown says, adding that “we’re trying to stay positive.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
No one likes dumping milk, least of all farmers. It’s an affront to their bottom line, but also to their sense of purpose and vocation. “You’ve got all your expenses and hard work going into a product that you care for, a quality product for the consumer,” Mr. Brown says.
And yet as the coronavirus disrupts supply chains and undermines the demand for dairy products, especially cheese, dairy farmers from New England to California have been forced to make difficult choices. They have tried alternatives. They have sold their worst cows, usually to slaughterhouses. They have cut back on feed, hoping to reduce the amount of milk each cow makes.
The Browns have done these things – they sold more than two dozen of their 500-cow herd – but it wasn’t nearly enough. So like many farmers, they have resorted to dumping, an experience Mr. Brown finds difficult to contemplate, let alone describe.
“We kind of feel numb and defeated,” he says. “You open the drain to your product and let it go down.”
A search for solutions
Major farm organizations have appealed to both federal and state governments for help rebalancing supply and demand and rescuing hard-hit dairy farmers.
Here’s the problem: Even as demand from places like restaurants has dried up due to coronavirus restrictions, the lockdowns have left millions of consumers in financial stress or outright unemployed – less able to shop freely at grocery stores. That leaves farmers with few options.
Give milk to food banks? Make cheese for the future? These too are being tried, but warehouses are full and farmers face a financial crisis. Processors are grappling with both a precipitous drop in demand and the need to adapt quickly to new markets.
“That’s a huge shift,” says Bobbi Wilson, a government relations specialist with the Wisconsin Farmers Union. One consequence is that farmers are again seeing milk prices drop below the cost of producing it – when they already were struggling to recover from a five-year price slump.
Whitney Curtis/Reuters View caption Hide caption Alfred Brandt speaks with his son, Sam Brandt, and father, Don Brandt, at the dairy farm that's been in their family since 1840 in Linn, Missouri, on April 28, 2020. Their farm and others across the nation have been affected by the industry's supply chain disruptions in response to the coronavirus disease.
“It’s put them in a difficult position,” says Ms. Wilson. “They need to have a long stretch of good prices to get their heads above water. The timing couldn’t have been worse.”
The National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association have urged, among other things, that the federal government step in as a temporary buyer, to help more dairy products get to food banks or nutrition aid programs “to address the growing and widening food insecurity facing many Americans.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on April 17 announced a Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which includes $2.9 billion in payments to dairy farmers and $3 billion in purchases for food banks (including of dairy products).
There have been private efforts, too, large and small, to get dairy products, especially milk, to those who need it. The Milwaukee-based Hunger Task Force pledged $1 million to buy milk for distribution at local food pantries. The Publix supermarket chain has launched a similar effort. One company, Sassy Cow Creamery, put a “kindness cooler” outside its store in Columbus, Wisconsin, stocked with free milk.
But the larger market trends are grim, with industry experts citing declines in exports among the reasons that milk supply now exceeds demand by at least 10%.
Dumping milk is not unheard of in dairy country. In the first eight months of 2016, according to one estimate, a glut of milk in the U.S. prompted farmers and processors to dump 43 million gallons. In the 1960s, members of the National Farmers Union, a cooperative based in the upper Midwest, dumped milk to protest low prices. They failed to get the dairy program they were demanding, but they got a lot of attention.
The dumped milk doesn’t actually run into sewage pipes. Instead, on most farms it’s diverted into big lagoons used to store liquid manure. Eventually it will be pumped out with the manure and spread on the fields as fertilizer – to return again to the cows as corn and alfalfa.
Future of a farm at stake
What makes this moment especially painful for dairy farmers is that COVID-19 arrived just as things were just starting to look up for them. The five-year slump had forced many of them to borrow against their farms just to survive. Some gave up altogether. Prices began to rebound last autumn, and by the turn of the year, farmers were feeling hopeful. They were making money again. “We were kind of set to go,” Mr. Brown says.
Now prices are falling again, plunging farmers and their families into a new period of uncertainty.
It’s hard to stay positive. For the Browns, the crisis has brought a still deeper sense of precariousness. In the past few years, Mr. Brown and his wife had been contemplating how they might transfer the farm to their son, who attended a dairy program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been working next to his parents on the farm he grew up on. COVID-19 has cast a shadow over these plans, at least for now. How long it lasts could determine whether they can stay in business.
“It’s not going the way we were thinking it was going to go,” Mr. Brown says. “At the same time, we know we’re not alone.”
Indeed, no farmer is an island. Dairy farmers are surrounded by a host of bankers, veterinarians, nutritionists, university extension specialists, trade organization representatives, and other experts eager to give advice. And like others, Brown has been consulting a lot of them recently, trying to figure out what to do. He’s taken to attending meetings by video conference – something else new to him – to learn more. The other day he heard someone suggest that farmers could reduce production by lengthening the time a cow is left dry before she calves and is ready to be milked again. He thought he would try it.
From the beginning, too, farmers have been reaching out to one another for news, advice, and simple reassurance. Virgil Haag, a friend of Mr. Brown who sells to a different processing company, called when he learned about Mr. Brown’s predicament. “He was pretty down in the dumps,” Mr. Haag says. But then his turn came, too. He learned he would have to cut production by even more: 25%.
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“There have been many nights since then I’ve had pretty much no sleep,” Mr. Haag says. “I’ll have some tears when I’m dumping – just to see that milk going down the drain that we worked so hard to produce.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-27--Daily for April 27, 2020

Daily for April 27, 2020

In a past life – that is , before COVID-19 – President Donald Trump was banking on a strong economy to usher him into a second term .
That calculation has largely evaporated , but not entirely .
With six months until Election Day , President Trump is now asking voters to make a multi-step mental leap : Remember the once-robust economy , and then see him as having done all he can to save the nation from economic meltdown , while also trying to protect public health in a pandemic that has so far claimed 55,000 American lives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ messages : On the one hand , Mr. Trump has been urging governors to follow science-based federal guidelines for a phased “ opening of America.
” At the same time , he ’ s been egging on protesters at state capitols who are rebelling against those very same guidelines that are keeping most Americans sheltering-in-place .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
It is a risky gambit – an apparent political effort to “ have his cake and eat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up his core supporters with calls to “ liberate ” their states , while trying not to alienate the more mainstream voters he will need in November .
The latest poll numbers in key battleground states show Mr. Trump losing to former Vice President Joe Biden .
In a fundamental way , Mr. Trump is also tapping into the nation ’ s deep roots in individualism and personal responsibility , as well as the right 's growing distrust of experts and elites .
“ He ’ s been very good at building a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , and continuing to remind the base he ’ s on their side , ” says historian Michael Kazin , an expert on populism at Georgetown University .
“ As the economy gets worse , more and more people will say that while the virus might be dangerous , it ’ s also dangerous to have businesses close up for good.
” The political challenges are several fold .
Social distancing means no campaign rallies for the foreseeable future .
Online campaign events – attracting audiences in the hundreds , not thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That forces him to rely all the more on Twitter and friendly news outlets to reach his supporters .
Even Mr. Trump ’ s daily coronavirus briefings , which have attracted high viewership and given him a platform to spar with media , have gone south .
Since his controversial appearance last Thursday , when he sparked an uproar by seeming to float the idea of ingesting disinfectants to treat COVID-19 , he has dialed way back .
On Friday he took no questions , and over the weekend did not hold any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled briefing was initially canceled , then reinstated .
The anti-lockdown rallies themselves also represent a mixed bag for Mr. Trump .
On one level , they reflect the spirit of rebellion that gave rise to his presidency , and before that the tea party movement .
But they also attract fringe elements .
Some have featured Confederate battle flags and signs with swastikas .
Some protesters bring firearms , though they have been urged not to .
In Virginia , pre-coronavirus protests centered on gun rights have morphed into anti-quarantine protests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state capitol in Richmond last week , the messages contained heartfelt pleas by people eager to return to work and worried their rights are being trampled .
“ I am not a COVID-19 denier , ” says Steve Walker , a self-employed mechanic from Chesterfield , Virginia , speaking by phone after the rally .
“ But I believe that the government ’ s response to this is overreaching.
” He worries that if the closures aren ’ t dialed back soon , the food supply could be at risk .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t Tread on Me ” flag his son waved out the window of their green Dodge Durango during the protest , Mr. Walker reveals a deeper sense of grievance .
The flag , common at lockdown protests and a tea party symbol , “ is a warning to the government : We don ’ t work for you , you work for us , ” Mr. Walker says .
“ And if you continue on a course toward tyranny , there will be repercussions .
You have a good chance of seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been made of the support some anti-quarantine protests have received from national groups and people with White House connections , such as Stephen Moore , who serves on the administration ’ s advisory board for reopening the economy .
But , supporters note , no one is paying protesters or forcing them to show up .
The anti-quarantine efforts are a natural outgrowth of the libertarian “ less government , more freedom ” ethos of groups like FreedomWorks , which has 5 million Facebook followers .
“ A lot of the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement have remained active in FreedomWorks , ” says Adam Brandon , the group ’ s president .
“ We ’ re in touch.
” In the last three years , he says , the group has trained 25,000 activists by sponsoring “ fly-ins ” to Washington and holding regional events .
Still , Mr. Trump ’ s all-caps tweets on April 17 calling to “ LIBERATE ” Michigan , Minnesota , and Virginia were startling .
The day before , the president had released a three-phase plan to “ reopen America , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibly toward opening their economies without inviting a surge of new COVID-19 cases .
In fact , 8 in 10 Americans support the shelter-in-place orders in effect in most states , according to the Kaiser Family Foundation , and many governors have seen a spike in their job approval ratings amid the pandemic .
Some governors worried the president was calling for an armed insurrection .
When Democratic Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz saw the tweet , he reached out to Mr. Trump .
The two eventually had a “ very nice call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The tweeting Trump isn ’ t necessarily the phoning Trump , ” says Steven Schier , an emeritus political science professor at Carleton College in Northfield , Minnesota .
But “ there ’ s a real risk here , ” Professor Schier says .
“ Public opinion is clearly not with these protests to open up now .
So he has to worry that he ’ s associating himself with an unpopular movement that could produce some bad results.
” The three states that Mr. Trump tweeted “ liberate ” messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hoping to win Minnesota in November , after barely losing there in 2016 .
Virginia voted Democratic by more than 5 percentage points .
But Michigan is a true battleground , voting for Mr. Trump in 2016 by just a fraction of a percent – and he is fighting hard to keep it in 2020 .
It ’ s worth noting that the United States appears to be the only country with any significant anti-quarantine protests .
Part of it is a reflection of American political culture , in which freedom of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Constitution .
“ There is a lot of social media frustration over the lockdown in several European countries , including the Netherlands and U.K. , but I have not seen many open demonstrations , ” writes Cas Mudde , a professor in the school of public and international affairs at the University of Georgia , in an email .
“ Of course , what makes the U.S. so remarkable , is that the president is by and large opposing his own policies.
” Professor Mudde also notes that Mr. Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his public support for the protests , but could soon be confronted with a second outbreak in states that soften their lockdowns – including Georgia , where he lives .
If that prompts a renewed tightening of lockdown measures , he adds , it could turn the protesters against the president .
One protester , Tom Zawistowski of Akron , Ohio , is a longtime tea party activist , and has opposed the restrictive actions of his state ’ s Republican governor , Mike DeWine .
The governor has won praise for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists like Mr. Zawistowski , it ’ s an abuse of power .
He points to a high infection rate in some Ohio prisons but few deaths , and believes both Governor DeWine and Mr. Trump are overreacting to the virus – and doing deep harm to the economy in the process .
“ I ’ m going to keep asking questions , ” Mr. Zawistowski said Friday , as he prepared for a protest in Columbus , Ohio , the next day .
He indicated he would not wear a mask .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ no mask ” approach to the protests .
“ I know the press is gravitating toward people not wearing masks , ” he says .
“ But that ’ s not the majority of people [ at the protests ] .
That ’ s totally out of our control .
We ’ re advocating that anyone who shows up , first and foremost , needs to keep themselves safe in the world of COVID.
” Staff writer Story Hinckley contributed to this report from Richmond , Virginia .
Editor ’ s note : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

As tensions mount over lockdowns, Trump courts both sides Collapse
Lori Van Buren/The Albany Times Union/AP View caption Hide caption Demonstrators upset with social distancing restrictions protest outside New York's state Capitol, Wednesday, April 22, 2020 in Albany. Most of the protesters said that they want to go back to work.
In a past life – that is, before COVID-19 – President Donald Trump was banking on a strong economy to usher him into a second term.
That calculation has largely evaporated, but not entirely. With six months until Election Day, President Trump is now asking voters to make a multi-step mental leap: Remember the once-robust economy, and then see him as having done all he can to save the nation from economic meltdown, while also trying to protect public health in a pandemic that has so far claimed 55,000 American lives.
The bifurcated approach has produced seemingly contradictory messages: On the one hand, Mr. Trump has been urging governors to follow science-based federal guidelines for a phased “opening of America.” At the same time, he’s been egging on protesters at state capitols who are rebelling against those very same guidelines that are keeping most Americans sheltering-in-place.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
It is a risky gambit – an apparent political effort to “have his cake and eat it too,” as he whips up his core supporters with calls to “liberate” their states, while trying not to alienate the more mainstream voters he will need in November. The latest poll numbers in key battleground states show Mr. Trump losing to former Vice President Joe Biden.
In a fundamental way, Mr. Trump is also tapping into the nation’s deep roots in individualism and personal responsibility, as well as the right's growing distrust of experts and elites.
“He’s been very good at building a base, which is very loyal to him, and continuing to remind the base he’s on their side,” says historian Michael Kazin, an expert on populism at Georgetown University. “As the economy gets worse, more and more people will say that while the virus might be dangerous, it’s also dangerous to have businesses close up for good.”
The political challenges are several fold. Social distancing means no campaign rallies for the foreseeable future. Online campaign events – attracting audiences in the hundreds, not thousands – aren’t the same. That forces him to rely all the more on Twitter and friendly news outlets to reach his supporters.
Even Mr. Trump’s daily coronavirus briefings, which have attracted high viewership and given him a platform to spar with media, have gone south. Since his controversial appearance last Thursday, when he sparked an uproar by seeming to float the idea of ingesting disinfectants to treat COVID-19, he has dialed way back. On Friday he took no questions, and over the weekend did not hold any briefings at all. Monday’s scheduled briefing was initially canceled, then reinstated.
Alex Brandon/AP View caption Hide caption President Donald Trump watches as Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks about the coronavirus in the press briefing room of the White House in Washington April 22, 2020.
The anti-lockdown rallies themselves also represent a mixed bag for Mr. Trump. On one level, they reflect the spirit of rebellion that gave rise to his presidency, and before that the tea party movement. But they also attract fringe elements. Some have featured Confederate battle flags and signs with swastikas.
Some protesters bring firearms, though they have been urged not to. In Virginia, pre-coronavirus protests centered on gun rights have morphed into anti-quarantine protests. At a “drive-by” rally at the state capitol in Richmond last week, the messages contained heartfelt pleas by people eager to return to work and worried their rights are being trampled.
“I am not a COVID-19 denier,” says Steve Walker, a self-employed mechanic from Chesterfield, Virginia, speaking by phone after the rally. “But I believe that the government’s response to this is overreaching.”
He worries that if the closures aren’t dialed back soon, the food supply could be at risk. But when asked about the Gadsden “Don’t Tread on Me” flag his son waved out the window of their green Dodge Durango during the protest, Mr. Walker reveals a deeper sense of grievance.
The flag, common at lockdown protests and a tea party symbol, “is a warning to the government: We don’t work for you, you work for us,” Mr. Walker says. “And if you continue on a course toward tyranny, there will be repercussions. You have a good chance of seeing armed revolt in this state.”
Much has been made of the support some anti-quarantine protests have received from national groups and people with White House connections, such as Stephen Moore, who serves on the administration’s advisory board for reopening the economy.
But, supporters note, no one is paying protesters or forcing them to show up. The anti-quarantine efforts are a natural outgrowth of the libertarian “less government, more freedom” ethos of groups like FreedomWorks, which has 5 million Facebook followers.
“A lot of the people who were involved in the tea party movement have remained active in FreedomWorks,” says Adam Brandon, the group’s president. “We’re in touch.”
In the last three years, he says, the group has trained 25,000 activists by sponsoring “fly-ins” to Washington and holding regional events.
Still, Mr. Trump’s all-caps tweets on April 17 calling to “LIBERATE” Michigan, Minnesota, and Virginia were startling. The day before, the president had released a three-phase plan to “reopen America,” guidance aimed at helping states shift responsibly toward opening their economies without inviting a surge of new COVID-19 cases.
In fact, 8 in 10 Americans support the shelter-in-place orders in effect in most states, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, and many governors have seen a spike in their job approval ratings amid the pandemic.
Some governors worried the president was calling for an armed insurrection. When Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz saw the tweet, he reached out to Mr. Trump. The two eventually had a “very nice call,” according to a Trump tweet.
“The tweeting Trump isn’t necessarily the phoning Trump,” says Steven Schier, an emeritus political science professor at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
But “there’s a real risk here,” Professor Schier says. “Public opinion is clearly not with these protests to open up now. So he has to worry that he’s associating himself with an unpopular movement that could produce some bad results.”
The three states that Mr. Trump tweeted “liberate” messages at have Democratic governors. Mr. Trump is hoping to win Minnesota in November, after barely losing there in 2016. Virginia voted Democratic by more than 5 percentage points. But Michigan is a true battleground, voting for Mr. Trump in 2016 by just a fraction of a percent – and he is fighting hard to keep it in 2020.
It’s worth noting that the United States appears to be the only country with any significant anti-quarantine protests. Part of it is a reflection of American political culture, in which freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are enshrined in the Constitution.
“There is a lot of social media frustration over the lockdown in several European countries, including the Netherlands and U.K., but I have not seen many open demonstrations,” writes Cas Mudde, a professor in the school of public and international affairs at the University of Georgia, in an email. “Of course, what makes the U.S. so remarkable, is that the president is by and large opposing his own policies.”
Seth Herald/Reuters View caption Hide caption Protesters against the state's extended stay-at-home order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus demonstrate at the Capitol building in Columbus, Ohio, April 20, 2020.
Professor Mudde also notes that Mr. Trump is raising expectations about a return to normalcy with his public support for the protests, but could soon be confronted with a second outbreak in states that soften their lockdowns – including Georgia, where he lives. If that prompts a renewed tightening of lockdown measures, he adds, it could turn the protesters against the president.
One protester, Tom Zawistowski of Akron, Ohio, is a longtime tea party activist, and has opposed the restrictive actions of his state’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine. The governor has won praise for shutting down Ohio early, but to activists like Mr. Zawistowski, it’s an abuse of power.
He points to a high infection rate in some Ohio prisons but few deaths, and believes both Governor DeWine and Mr. Trump are overreacting to the virus – and doing deep harm to the economy in the process.
“I’m going to keep asking questions,” Mr. Zawistowski said Friday, as he prepared for a protest in Columbus, Ohio, the next day. He indicated he would not wear a mask.
Mr. Brandon of FreedomWorks rejects the “no mask” approach to the protests.
“I know the press is gravitating toward people not wearing masks,” he says. “But that’s not the majority of people [at the protests]. That’s totally out of our control. We’re advocating that anyone who shows up, first and foremost, needs to keep themselves safe in the world of COVID.”
Staff writer Story Hinckley contributed to this report from Richmond, Virginia.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.