usatoday--2020-07-12--'Republicans are really fed up': GOP increasingly splits with Trump as his polls drag

WASHINGTON – Weeks before President Donald Trump accepts his party 's nomination , cracks are deepening within the party as a host of GOP lawmakers distance themselves from the Republican standard bearer as they weigh their election chances in November .
Republicans have increasingly split with Trump on a host of issues shadowing his administration , from his tone on racism and the removal of Confederate statues , to wearing a face mask amid the coronavirus pandemic and questions over intelligence reports of a Russia-backed bounty program on U.S. troops in Afghanistan .
It 's a rare moment in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Trump otherwise relished inparty unity on issues such as his impeachment and former special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia investigation .
`` There ’ s a real disagreement between the president and his party in this election , ” said Alex Conant , a GOP strategist and former aide to Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla. `` I think a lot of Republicans are really fed up with the president 's divisive strategy .
People are just throwing up their hands with some of the rhetoric that 's coming out of the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his own reelection , but also to keeping the Senate . ''
Earlier this week , several GOP lawmakers said they plan to skip the party 's national convention in Jacksonville , Florida , where coronavirus cases have surged , leaving supporters , politicians and officials who plan to attend with the hard choice of risking their personal health or facing potential retaliation from the president .
Sen. Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , the oldest GOP senator at age 86 , said Monday he would avoid the convention `` because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lamar Alexander , R-Tenn. ; Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska ; Susan Collins , R-Maine ; and Mitt Romney , R-Utah , also cited coronavirus concerns as the reason they would not attend .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , called the convention a `` challenging situation '' when asked whether he plans to attend .
`` We 'll have to wait and see how things look in late August to determine whether or not we can safely convene with that many people , '' he said Thursday .
The Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past weekend with a campaign rally at a New Hampshire airport hangar , but the campaign announced it would postpone the rally over the approaching Tropical Storm Fay , according to White House officials .
The campaign snag comes after turnout at a June rally held inside an Oklahoma arena fell short of expectations amid an increase in COVID-19 cases across the state .
Tulsa health officials said Wednesday that the rally and surrounding protests likely contributed to the city ’ s recent surge in cases .
New Hampshire 's Gov .
Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been willing to break with the president over his pandemic messaging when it collides with his state 's interests .
Sununu has had to walk a careful line in defending the president 's rally while enforcing his own reopening guidelines .
The Republican governor had planned to greet Trump in New Hampshire but skip the rally over coronavirus fears .
'Make-or-break moment ' : Trump heads to New Hampshire for campaign rally amid sagging polls , coronavirus fears 'Some of his tweets have not been helpful ' : GOP senators criticize Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Biden widens his lead , but Trump keeps the edge on enthusiasm The Republican Party moved its convention from Charlotte , North Carolina , last month after state and local officials refused to commit to the president 's desire to hold a full convention , packed with thousands of supporters , over health concerns amid the ongoing pandemic .
But aside from coronavirus concerns , the Republican convention may have lost its luster for some lawmakers , according to GOP strategist Matt Gorman .
`` For a lot of these elected officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there for fundraising and press attention , '' he said .
`` And if a lot of media folks are not planning to go and a lot of donors choose not to go because in-person fundraising is a bit less prevalent , then there 's not much incentive to show up . ''
Gorman said he does n't think the list of senators avoiding the convention will draw the president 's ire , noting that several lawmakers skipped the event in 2016 in protest – including Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has since softened his tone about holding a traditional convention , telling television host Greta Van Susteren this week that `` it really depends on timing . ''
`` We can do a lot of things , but we ’ re very flexible , '' he said of convention plans .
Jacksonville has emerged as one of the nation 's biggest hot spots for the coronavirus .
The Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that Jacksonville would be one of three cities designated for a testing `` surge '' to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The administration 's mounting controversies have pushed even Republicans who previously refused to break ranks with Trump to begin speaking out – most notably as it relates to the dramatic uptick in coronavirus cases in the U.S .
They have been vocal in their opposition to his refusal to wear a mask , pressuring the administration for increased testing and , most recently , some have criticized Trump for pulling out of the World Health Organization as the pandemic continues to ravage the country .
More : Some Republicans split with Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military bases More : The White House has sent conflicting messages on wearing masks and the new coronavirus cases '' I disagree with the president ’ s decision , '' Alexander , a Tennessee Republican , said after the president pulled the U.S. from WHO , noting that while the organization 's mistakes should be examined , `` the time to do that is after the crisis has been dealt with , not in the middle of it .
Withdrawing U.S. membership could , among other things , interfere with clinical trials that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Even some of the president 's closest allies on Capitol Hill in recent weeks have been critical as Trump 's poll numbers , already hit by the pandemic , continue to plummet amid a national reckoning over policing , race and America 's Confederate history .
Aides and allies have urged the president to change his tone as the nation grieves the death of George Floyd after he was killed by a Minneapolis police officer , and protesters call for change to racially fraught policies .
The president has instead stoked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against demonstrators and using Independence Day speeches to defend Confederate monuments and dismiss protesters as `` Marxists . ''
`` The country is looking for healing and calm .
And I think the president needs to project that in his tone , '' said Sen. John Thune , the Senate 's No .
2 Republican .
`` He masters that sometimes , and that ’ s the tone he needs to strike right now . ''
Trump 's handling of the protests even led to Murkowski leaving the door open to voting against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am struggling with it , '' she said when asked by reporters whether she would continue to support Trump .
`` I have struggled with it for a long time . ''
Trump has drawn the ire of even of his most ardent supporters with his some of his racially polarizing comments .
Most recently , after Trump criticized NASCAR for banning the Confederate flag and called for Bubba Wallace , one of the sport 's only Black drivers , to apologize after the FBI said a noose found in his garage was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back .
`` I do n't think Bubba Wallace has anything to apologize for , '' Graham told Fox News Radio .
`` I 've lived in South Carolina all my life and if you 're in business , the Confederate flag is not a good way to grow your business . ''
Senate Republicans have largely ignored the president 's threat to veto a defense spending bill over an amendment to rename Army bases named for Confederate figures .
The proposal , sponsored by former 2020 Democratic contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support from prominent Republicans , including Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa , who warned earlier this week that Congress would `` probably override '' Trump 's veto .
While the president has drawn a line on removing memorials honoring Confederate leaders and controversial historical figures , Republican attitudes appeared to have shifted since protests over racial inequality first unfolded in May .
McConnell said last month he 'd be `` OK '' with changing the names of military bases while Sen. Joni Ernst , an Iowa Republican facing a tough reelection in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armed Services Committee vote last month .
`` There shouldn ’ t be a knee-jerk reaction to renaming bases , '' Grassley said Monday .
`` And I imagine that in my lifetime , there ’ s been a lot of bases that have had their names changed .
I ’ m not aware of it .
But the extent to which it ’ s a thoughtful process and not a knee-jerk reaction , I wouldn ’ t have any objection to it . ''
Trump has issued eight vetoes during his presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress .
Rep. Liz Cheney , R-Wyo.
, has made a habit of marking her differences with the president over his term , especially when it comes to foreign policy , and has continued to speak up throughout the latest controversies .
After the president refused to wear a face mask in public , Cheney tweeted a photo of her father Dick Cheney in a mask with the hashtag # realmenwearmasks .
Opinion : Trump , Tulsa and the demise of Lincoln ’ s Republican Party Republicans like Cheney know the risks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lashing from the president ’ s Twitter account .
But history has shown the president is less likely to go after loyal lawmakers who disagree with him on occasion , as he typically targets those who attack him personally or could imperil his reelection chances , such as those who have voiced openness to voting against him or weren ’ t unilaterally behind him during his impeachment .
“ My sense is that Trump is fine with Republicans criticizing his policy , even his tweets , but he ’ s not OK with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Congressional Republicans say the critiques of the president aren ’ t part of a trend but more of a reaction to specific instances worthy of criticism .
They reject the notion that it ’ s a showing of division within the party but rather an attempt to get the president back on track and on message .
Though privately , many wonder whether public criticisms will alter the president ’ s conduct .
Opinion : Do n't gorge on polls that show Biden ahead .
COVID and voter suppression boost Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is up big and the Senate is in sight , but Democrats still haunted by fear of letdown Trump 's propensity for fiery Twitter missives has been notably absent amid the wave of GOP criticism .
Part of that calculation may be focusing attacks on Democrats with just four months until Election Day , Gorman said .
`` I think not just him , but also his team , know that the people we need to be going after right now are Democrats and he has been pretty consistent with that , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a calculation that Republicans doing well down ballot helps him and vice versa . ''
Republicans keeping Trump at an arm 's distance must also reckon with his dwindling poll numbers as November approaches .
A recent USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll found that opposition to Trump is by far the biggest factor propelling Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , to the White House .
Biden leads Trump by 12 percentage points , 53 % -41 % , the nationwide survey shows .
Polls have similarly not been good for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority and are fending off serious challenges in more than five states .
A slew of recent polls show Democrats leading in Maine , Arizona , North Carolina , Iowa , Colorado and Montana , which has left incumbents in an uncomfortable position as they wrestle with the barrage of controversies surrounding the president .
Incumbents have employed varying strategies , some tying their fate to Trump while others distance themselves from the president – a heavy feat as he sits atop the ticket .
Several have attempted to steer clear of weighing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others , such as Maine 's Collins , have repeatedly criticized the president in recent weeks , including Trump 's clearing of protesters outside the White House in early June .
Still , some Republicans acknowledge that Trump is a political unicorn and while his tactics are far from traditional and frequently attract fierce criticism , he has weathered many storms – a trend that could continue as November nears .
`` Every time I think that he ’ s miscalculated , he comes out on the winning side of it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wall Street Journal when asked about the president 's rhetoric on Confederate history .
`` The thing the president is credited with , appropriately , is really good instincts . ''

Courtney Subramanian and Christal Hayes, USA TODAY

'Republicans are really fed up': GOP increasingly splits with Trump as his polls drag
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: Pres. Trump urges governors to reopen schools in fall Donald Trump's push to reopen schools comes amid a nationwide debate over whether it's safe for children to return to the classroom amid coronavirus. Associated Press, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Weeks before President Donald Trump accepts his party's nomination, cracks are deepening within the party as a host of GOP lawmakers distance themselves from the Republican standard bearer as they weigh their election chances in November.
Republicans have increasingly split with Trump on a host of issues shadowing his administration, from his tone on racism and the removal of Confederate statues, to wearing a face mask amid the coronavirus pandemic and questions over intelligence reports of a Russia-backed bounty program on U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
It's a rare moment in the president's 3½ year tenure, during which Trump otherwise relished in party unity on issues such as his impeachment and former special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
"There’s a real disagreement between the president and his party in this election,” said Alex Conant, a GOP strategist and former aide to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. "I think a lot of Republicans are really fed up with the president's divisive strategy. People are just throwing up their hands with some of the rhetoric that's coming out of the president. It's really unhelpful not just to his own reelection, but also to keeping the Senate."
Earlier this week, several GOP lawmakers said they plan to skip the party's national convention in Jacksonville, Florida, where coronavirus cases have surged, leaving supporters, politicians and officials who plan to attend with the hard choice of risking their personal health or facing potential retaliation from the president.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the oldest GOP senator at age 86, said Monday he would avoid the convention "because of the virus situation," while Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, also cited coronavirus concerns as the reason they would not attend.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the convention a "challenging situation" when asked whether he plans to attend.
"We'll have to wait and see how things look in late August to determine whether or not we can safely convene with that many people," he said Thursday.
The Trump campaign had hoped to test those waters this past weekend with a campaign rally at a New Hampshire airport hangar, but the campaign announced it would postpone the rally over the approaching Tropical Storm Fay, according to White House officials. The campaign snag comes after turnout at a June rally held inside an Oklahoma arena fell short of expectations amid an increase in COVID-19 cases across the state. Tulsa health officials said Wednesday that the rally and surrounding protests likely contributed to the city’s recent surge in cases.
New Hampshire's Gov. Chris Sununu is another GOP politician who has been willing to break with the president over his pandemic messaging when it collides with his state's interests. Sununu has had to walk a careful line in defending the president's rally while enforcing his own reopening guidelines. The Republican governor had planned to greet Trump in New Hampshire but skip the rally over coronavirus fears.
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The Republican Party moved its convention from Charlotte, North Carolina, last month after state and local officials refused to commit to the president's desire to hold a full convention, packed with thousands of supporters, over health concerns amid the ongoing pandemic.
But aside from coronavirus concerns, the Republican convention may have lost its luster for some lawmakers, according to GOP strategist Matt Gorman.
"For a lot of these elected officials, it's a chance to go there for fundraising and press attention," he said. "And if a lot of media folks are not planning to go and a lot of donors choose not to go because in-person fundraising is a bit less prevalent, then there's not much incentive to show up."
Gorman said he doesn't think the list of senators avoiding the convention will draw the president's ire, noting that several lawmakers skipped the event in 2016 in protest – including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., now a key Trump ally.
The president has since softened his tone about holding a traditional convention, telling television host Greta Van Susteren this week that "it really depends on timing."
"We can do a lot of things, but we’re very flexible," he said of convention plans.
Jacksonville has emerged as one of the nation's biggest hot spots for the coronavirus. The Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that Jacksonville would be one of three cities designated for a testing "surge" to make more tests available in the hardest-hit areas.
The administration's mounting controversies have pushed even Republicans who previously refused to break ranks with Trump to begin speaking out – most notably as it relates to the dramatic uptick in coronavirus cases in the U.S.
They have been vocal in their opposition to his refusal to wear a mask, pressuring the administration for increased testing and, most recently, some have criticized Trump for pulling out of the World Health Organization as the pandemic continues to ravage the country.
More: Some Republicans split with Trump, support removing Confederate statues and renaming military bases
More: The White House has sent conflicting messages on wearing masks and the new coronavirus cases
"I disagree with the president’s decision," Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, said after the president pulled the U.S. from WHO, noting that while the organization's mistakes should be examined, "the time to do that is after the crisis has been dealt with, not in the middle of it. Withdrawing U.S. membership could, among other things, interfere with clinical trials that are essential to the development of vaccines."
Even some of the president's closest allies on Capitol Hill in recent weeks have been critical as Trump's poll numbers, already hit by the pandemic, continue to plummet amid a national reckoning over policing, race and America's Confederate history.
Aides and allies have urged the president to change his tone as the nation grieves the death of George Floyd after he was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, and protesters call for change to racially fraught policies. The president has instead stoked division, threatening to use the military against demonstrators and using Independence Day speeches to defend Confederate monuments and dismiss protesters as "Marxists."
2020 Republican National Convention is moving to Jacksonville, Florida The Republican National Committee announced it has picked Jacksonville, Florida, as the location for its convention. USA TODAY, Wochit
"The country is looking for healing and calm. And I think the president needs to project that in his tone," said Sen. John Thune, the Senate's No. 2 Republican. "He masters that sometimes, and that’s the tone he needs to strike right now."
Trump's handling of the protests even led to Murkowski leaving the door open to voting against the president in November. "I am struggling with it," she said when asked by reporters whether she would continue to support Trump. "I have struggled with it for a long time."
Trump has drawn the ire of even of his most ardent supporters with his some of his racially polarizing comments.
Most recently, after Trump criticized NASCAR for banning the Confederate flag and called for Bubba Wallace, one of the sport's only Black drivers, to apologize after the FBI said a noose found in his garage wasn't targeting the driver, Graham pushed back.
Trump losing swing states: Trump trails Biden in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina and Arizona, poll finds
"I don't think Bubba Wallace has anything to apologize for," Graham told Fox News Radio. "I've lived in South Carolina all my life and if you're in business, the Confederate flag is not a good way to grow your business."
Senate Republicans have largely ignored the president's threat to veto a defense spending bill over an amendment to rename Army bases named for Confederate figures. The proposal, sponsored by former 2020 Democratic contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has gained a groundswell of support from prominent Republicans, including Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who warned earlier this week that Congress would "probably override" Trump's veto.
While the president has drawn a line on removing memorials honoring Confederate leaders and controversial historical figures, Republican attitudes appeared to have shifted since protests over racial inequality first unfolded in May.
McConnell said last month he'd be "OK" with changing the names of military bases while Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican facing a tough reelection in November, supported the amendment in a U.S. Armed Services Committee vote last month.
"There shouldn’t be a knee-jerk reaction to renaming bases," Grassley said Monday. "And I imagine that in my lifetime, there’s been a lot of bases that have had their names changed. I’m not aware of it. But the extent to which it’s a thoughtful process and not a knee-jerk reaction, I wouldn’t have any objection to it."
Trump has issued eight vetoes during his presidency, and none has been overridden by Congress.
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., has made a habit of marking her differences with the president over his term, especially when it comes to foreign policy, and has continued to speak up throughout the latest controversies. After the president refused to wear a face mask in public, Cheney tweeted a photo of her father Dick Cheney in a mask with the hashtag #realmenwearmasks.
Opinion: Trump, Tulsa and the demise of Lincoln’s Republican Party
Republicans like Cheney know the risks of speaking out and the potential for a lashing from the president’s Twitter account. But history has shown the president is less likely to go after loyal lawmakers who disagree with him on occasion, as he typically targets those who attack him personally or could imperil his reelection chances, such as those who have voiced openness to voting against him or weren’t unilaterally behind him during his impeachment.
“My sense is that Trump is fine with Republicans criticizing his policy, even his tweets, but he’s not OK with them attacking him,” said Conant.
Congressional Republicans say the critiques of the president aren’t part of a trend but more of a reaction to specific instances worthy of criticism. They reject the notion that it’s a showing of division within the party but rather an attempt to get the president back on track and on message. Though privately, many wonder whether public criticisms will alter the president’s conduct.
Opinion: Don't gorge on polls that show Biden ahead. COVID and voter suppression boost Trump's odds.
'Grim resolve': Biden is up big and the Senate is in sight, but Democrats still haunted by fear of letdown
Trump's propensity for fiery Twitter missives has been notably absent amid the wave of GOP criticism. Part of that calculation may be focusing attacks on Democrats with just four months until Election Day, Gorman said.
"I think not just him, but also his team, know that the people we need to be going after right now are Democrats and he has been pretty consistent with that," he said. "So I think there is a calculation that Republicans doing well down ballot helps him and vice versa."
Republicans keeping Trump at an arm's distance must also reckon with his dwindling poll numbers as November approaches.
A recent USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll found that opposition to Trump is by far the biggest factor propelling Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, to the White House. Biden leads Trump by 12 percentage points, 53%-41%, the nationwide survey shows.
Polls have similarly not been good for Senate Republicans, who hold a three-seat majority and are fending off serious challenges in more than five states. A slew of recent polls show Democrats leading in Maine, Arizona, North Carolina, Iowa, Colorado and Montana, which has left incumbents in an uncomfortable position as they wrestle with the barrage of controversies surrounding the president.
Incumbents have employed varying strategies, some tying their fate to Trump while others distance themselves from the president – a heavy feat as he sits atop the ticket.
Several have attempted to steer clear of weighing in on the president's conduct while others, such as Maine's Collins, have repeatedly criticized the president in recent weeks, including Trump's clearing of protesters outside the White House in early June.
Still, some Republicans acknowledge that Trump is a political unicorn and while his tactics are far from traditional and frequently attract fierce criticism, he has weathered many storms – a trend that could continue as November nears.
"Every time I think that he’s miscalculated, he comes out on the winning side of it," Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., told the Wall Street Journal when asked about the president's rhetoric on Confederate history. "The thing the president is credited with, appropriately, is really good instincts."


usatoday--2020-07-12--More than 1 in 3 Americans say they know someone who has been sick from coronavirus, survey shows

WASHINGTON – As the number of COVID-19 cases in the USA climbs , Americans are three times as likely to know someone in their community who has been sick with the virus than they were in March , according to a new survey .
A disparity among racial groups that was n't there in March also appeared .
More than one-third of Americans ( 36 % ) say someone they know outside their immediate family or work has been sick with the coronavirus , according to a survey from the Democracy Fund and UCLA Nationscape Project .
That number is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when it was 11 % .
The USA has hit 3 million documented cases of COVID-19 , roughly a quarter of the world ’ s cases and the same percentage of its deaths .
The spike in cases comes after many states eased social distancing guidelines .
Since the rise in cases , some states paused reopening and issued requirements for residents to wear masks .
The number of Americans who say a member of their immediate family has been sick with coronavirus more than doubled since March , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democracy Fund , UCLA and USA TODAY .
As of late June , that number is 8 % compared with 3 % in March .
Nearly three times as many Americans say someone in their workplace has been sick with coronavirus ( 17 % ) than in March ( 6 % ) .
“ There 's just a much larger percentage of people today who are saying , ‘ This is impacting me and my personal family , ’ ” says Robert Griffin , research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project is a large-scale study of the American electorate designed to conduct 500,000 interviews about policies and the presidential candidates during the 2020 election cycle .
The latest poll was conducted the week of June 25 , surveying 6,416 Americans .
There is a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points .
The older poll was conducted the week of March 18 , surveying 6,413 Americans .
The margin of error is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points .
Nationscape Insights : Where do Americans stand on election issues ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows a growing racial disparity among those who report immediate family members have been sick with the virus .
Black ( 11 % ) and Latino ( 11 % ) Americans are more likely than white Americans ( 7 % ) to have an immediate family member who got sick , according to the survey .
These racial differences were not apparent in the survey from March .
Amid the pandemic , Black and Latino Americans have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus .
According to a report from The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three times as likely to become infected with the virus than white Americans .
Black and Latino people are nearly twice as likely to die from the virus compared with white Americans , the Times reported .
“ The impact of the disease across racial lines is really disparate , ” Griffin said , adding that not only are Black and Latino communities more likely to become sick but also have the highest numbers of people reporting that they know someone who got sick .

More than 1 in 3 Americans say they know someone who has been sick from coronavirus, survey shows
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: How R-0 can be used to fight COVID-19 R-0 may be the most important scientific term you’ve never heard of when it comes to stopping the coronavirus pandemic. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – As the number of COVID-19 cases in the USA climbs, Americans are three times as likely to know someone in their community who has been sick with the virus than they were in March, according to a new survey. A disparity among racial groups that wasn't there in March also appeared.
More than one-third of Americans (36%) say someone they know outside their immediate family or work has been sick with the coronavirus, according to a survey from the Democracy Fund and UCLA Nationscape Project. That number is more than triple the number in mid-March, when it was 11%.
The USA has hit 3 million documented cases of COVID-19, roughly a quarter of the world’s cases and the same percentage of its deaths. The spike in cases comes after many states eased social distancing guidelines. Since the rise in cases, some states paused reopening and issued requirements for residents to wear masks.
The number of Americans who say a member of their immediate family has been sick with coronavirus more than doubled since March, according to the Nationscape Insights analysis, a project of Democracy Fund, UCLA and USA TODAY. As of late June, that number is 8% compared with 3% in March.
Nearly three times as many Americans say someone in their workplace has been sick with coronavirus (17%) than in March (6%).
“There's just a much larger percentage of people today who are saying, ‘This is impacting me and my personal family,’ ” says Robert Griffin, research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group.
The Democracy Fund and UCLA Nationscape Project is a large-scale study of the American electorate designed to conduct 500,000 interviews about policies and the presidential candidates during the 2020 election cycle. The latest poll was conducted the week of June 25, surveying 6,416 Americans. There is a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points. The older poll was conducted the week of March 18, surveying 6,413 Americans. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.
Nationscape Insights: Where do Americans stand on election issues? Let them tell you.
The survey shows a growing racial disparity among those who report immediate family members have been sick with the virus.
Black (11%) and Latino (11%) Americans are more likely than white Americans (7%) to have an immediate family member who got sick, according to the survey. These racial differences were not apparent in the survey from March.
Amid the pandemic, Black and Latino Americans have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. According to a report from The New York Times, Latino and Black Americans have been three times as likely to become infected with the virus than white Americans. Black and Latino people are nearly twice as likely to die from the virus compared with white Americans, the Times reported.
“The impact of the disease across racial lines is really disparate,” Griffin said, adding that not only are Black and Latino communities more likely to become sick but also have the highest numbers of people reporting that they know someone who got sick.
Contributing: Marco della Cava and Jorge L. Ortiz


usatoday--2020-07-13--Coronavirus updates: Trump RTs tweet saying CDC 'lies' about COVID; NYC reports zero deaths for firs

Coronavirus updates: Trump RTs tweet saying CDC 'lies' about COVID; NYC reports zero deaths for first time since March

As the pandemic reached new highs in Florida and across the world , New York City provided a glimmer of hope : zero deaths for the first time in four months .
Total confirmed cases across the nation surpassed 3.3 million – about 1 % of all Americans have now tested positive since the outbreak began racing across the nation just a few months ago .
More than 135,000 Americans have died .
In Washington , President Donald Trump showed little faith in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , retweeting a social media post accusing the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , the wife of a bus driver who was beaten to death after he asked four passengers to wear face masks aboard his vehicle called Saturday for “ exemplary punishment ” for his killers .
The bus driver had been hospitalized in critical condition after the July 5 attack , and his death was announced Friday .
• Online school ?
In-person ?
How parents are making their own fall 2020 decisions as COVID-19 squabbles continue .
• Large and small labs running 24/7 can ’ t process samples quickly enough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week or longer in hot spot communities , undercutting public health efforts to track , isolate and prevent spread .
• The `` current best estimate '' from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that approximately 40 % of people infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic .
The chance of transmission from them is 75 % , the data reports .
📈 Today 's stats : The U.S. has surpassed 3.3 million cases with over 135,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Globally , there have been 12.9 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What we 're reading : Public health experts fear a scenario where “ me first ” vaccine nationalism pits nation against nation to get and keep enough doses for their citizens .
Countries , as of now , are focusing on their own vaccine development programs rather than collaborating to pool resources .
President Donald Trump retweeted a post claiming the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others are telling `` outrageous lies '' about the pandemic .
The original tweet , from conservative podcast host Chuck Woolery , claims the lies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy from reviving .
`` The most outrageous lies are the ones about Covid 19 .
Everyone is lying , '' Woolery , a former game show host , wrote .
`` The CDC , Media , Democrats , our Doctors , not all but most , that we are told to trust .
I think it 's all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back , which is about the election .
I 'm sick of it . ''
Trump also retweeted a Woolery post citing `` overwhelming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall .
The German health minister urged Germans not to organize local Oktoberfest parties that could bring a second wave of the pandemic to the country .
The national celebration has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns .
Health Minister Jens Spahn also said he was troubled by viral videos showing large groups of German tourist on the Spanish island of Mallorca apparently ignoring social distancing guidelines .
Germany has drawn rave international reviews for its efforts to harness the outbreak , which has infected more than 200,000 Germans and killed more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but where there are parties the infection risk is particularly high , '' he said .
`` We don ’ t automatically have to see a second wave in the fall and winter .
Together , as a society , we can prevent that . ''
As officials play political football with K-12 school re-openings , families across the nation are busy making their own calculations about whether to send children back to school .
Most are taking a measured and hyper-local approach to what is ultimately a very personal decision , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educators .
That 's despite the issue becoming increasingly political , with President Donald Trump and state officials weighing in last week , often in conflict with published health guidance .
“ There are no ideal solutions here , ” says Kao-Ping Chua , assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan .
`` Unfortunately , beyond conflicting information that ’ s getting politicized , states are seeing surging cases , which is not an environment you want to open schools in.
” You can become infected twice – and that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evidence is emerging that people can become infected a second time , a scenario that could be the death knell to any faint hopes of `` herd immunity . ''
D. Clay Ackerly , a primary care physician practicing in Washington , DC.
, writes for vox.com about a 50-year-old patient who earlier this month tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes Covid-19 , three months after a previous infection .
His first infection prompted mild symptoms , the second `` was marked by a high fever , shortness of breath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trips to the hospital , '' Ackerly said .
He also cites other examples of second infections .
`` Our national discourse retains an implicit hope that herd immunity is possible , '' Ackerly writes .
`` This wishful thinking is harmful .
It risks incentivizing bad behavior . ''
New York City health officials report no deaths for first time since March 11 Initial data released Sunday by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported that no one died from the virus in the city on July 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's first official death was recorded on March 11 .
Officials also recorded no confirmed deaths the day before as well , but did report two probable deaths .
The welcoming news comes after a harrowing four-month stretch in the nation 's most populated city .
The peak in confirmed daily deaths was April 7 , with at 597 , although another 216 people were likely to have died from the virus that day despite no positive laboratory tests .
All told , New York City has reported 18,670 deaths from COVID-19 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health reported Oklahoma ’ s first COVID-19-related death in the 5-17 age category .
The patient was identified as a 13-year-old who died at Comanche County Memorial Hospital on Friday night , reported local news station KSWO-TV .
Oklahoma military base Fort Sill said the teen was a dependent of an active duty service member at the post , where family members are in isolation .
The state department reported 456 new coronavirus cases across the state Sunday , bringing the total cumulative number of the state ’ s positive cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed deaths ; 4th highest total of any country Mexican officials say the total number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths has passed 35,000 , moving it past Italy with the fourth-most deaths of any country in the world .
Only the United States , Brazil and Britain have recorded more deaths , according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard .
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the recent news `` is positive , it is good '' because only nine of the country 's 32 provinces had increases in cases of infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic is on the downside , that it is losing intensity , '' he said .
Meanwhile , Italy , which was one of the first hot spots of the virus in Europe , has seen hospitals declare themselves coronavirus-free .
The country 's deaths Saturday fell to 7 , with confirmed daily cases dropping to below 200 , according to health officials .
Veronique Monguillot said she told the French interior minister , Gerald Darmanin , that she was “ destroyed ” by the fatal assault on her husband at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We must bang a fist on the table , so this never happens again , ” she said .
“ It ’ s barbaric , not normal .
We must stop this massacre.
” Bus driver Philippe Monguillot was attacked July 5 after asking four passengers to wear face masks , which are required on French public transport .
Monguillot was then verbally assaulted , pushed off the bus and violently beaten and kicked in the head .
His death was announced July 10 after he had been hospitalized in critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and charged in connection with the fatal assault .
Florida tops record for new cases by any state as school , convention looms Florida on Sunday reported the largest single-day increase in positive coronavirus cases in any state since the beginning of the pandemic .
The 15,299 additional cases represents almost 3,700 more than any state had reported in a single day .
Last week was Florida 's deadliest : almost 500 fatalities .
Two months ago , Florida was one of the first states to begin reopening its economy .
One month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests came up positive on a daily average .
Last week , the daily average exceeded 19 % .
Coming next month is the new school year , which in many parts of Florida begins Aug. 10 .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis has cited the `` huge , huge costs '' of not providing in-person schooling , ordering schools to offer five-day-per-week , in-classroom education .
`` The risk of corona , fortunately , for students is incredibly low , '' he said .
Also next month , the Republican National Convention is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering moving the convention to an outdoor stadium , The Washington Post reported last week .
America ’ s testing system is once again strained and labs are struggling to keep pace as coronavirus rages faster than ever in the South and West .
The number of daily tests reached an all-time high of more than 719,000 on July 3 and averaged nearly 640,000 each day this past week , according to data from the COVID Tracking Project .
Because of this increase , large and small labs running 24/7 can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans tested every week .
Testing centers in Sunbelt cities such as Tallahassee , Florida , and Phoenix routinely attract long lines and at times must turn away people .
Other than hospital patients , whom labs are prioritizing , delays are widespread in the South and West at drive-thru and walk-up testing centers , urgent care , doctor ’ s offices and government-supported testing sites .
More on the coronavirus from USA TODAY Where a face mask is required : Many governors are instituting or renewing orders requiring people to wear face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise .
Is your state on the list ?
See it here .
Coronavirus Watch : We have a few ways for you to stay informed .
Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here , and come together and share the latest information about the coronavirus , coping with lifestyle changes and more by joining our Facebook group .
Where are states on reopening ?
Some are taking preemptive measures to postpone further phases of their reopening , while others have rolled back their phases to prevent the spread of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @

John Bacon and Elinor Aspegren, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: LA and San Diego school districts will start fall classes online only; California orders statewide closures
Show Caption Hide Caption Black, Asian Americans report increased discrimination during pandemic According to a Pew Research Center report, discrimination and racism have increased in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, particularly for Asians. USA TODAY
Two of the largest school districts in the U.S., the Los Angeles and San Diego unified school districts, said Monday that their academic years will start with only online instruction, as California continues to fight a surge of COVID-19 cases.
The districts made the announcement in a joint statement and said their academic calendars will begin as scheduled – Aug. 18 for Los Angeles and Aug. 31 for San Diego. The statement added that both districts will plan to resume in-person learning "as soon as public health conditions allow."
Also on Monday, Florida reported another alarming number of new coronavirus, as President Donald Trump displayed his frustration with the CDC and the World Health Organization's director warned that the global pandemic is worsening.
"We need to reach a sustainable situation where we have adequate control of this virus without shutting down our lives entirely," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday, adding that "lurching from lockdown to lockdown ... has a hugely detrimental impact on societies."
Total confirmed cases across the nation surpassed 3.3 million – about 1% of all Americans have now tested positive since the outbreak began racing across the nation just a few months ago. More than 135,000 Americans have died.
Florida reported more than 12,000 new cases Monday, one day after its 15,000 new cases smashed the daily record for any state since the pandemic began. Florida's infection total now stands at 282,435 – more than all but eight countries.
In Washington, Trump showed little faith in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, retweeting a social media post accusing the agency of "outrageous lies."
Some recent developments:
Online school? In-person? How parents are making their own fall 2020 decisions as COVID-19 squabbles continue.
Large and small labs running 24/7 can’t process samples quickly enough. That means COVID-19 test results are delayed a week or longer in hot spot communities, undercutting public health efforts to track, isolate and prevent spread.
The "current best estimate" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that approximately 40% of people infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic. The chance of transmission from them is 75%, the data reports.
📈 Today's stats: The U.S. has surpassed 3.3 million cases with over 135,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Globally, there have been 12.9 million cases and over 570,000 deaths.
📰 What we're reading: Public health experts fear a scenario where “me first” vaccine nationalism pits nation against nation to get and keep enough doses for their citizens. Countries, as of now, are focusing on their own vaccine development programs rather than collaborating to pool resources.
L.A., San Diego school districts to start academic year with online classes
In a joint statement issued Monday, the Los Angeles and San Diego unified school districts, the two largest in California, announced that their academic calendars will begin with online instruction.
Classes will begin as scheduled, Aug. 18 for Los Angeles and Aug. 31 for San Diego. Both districts will continue to plan for in-person classes "as soon as public health conditions allow."
The districts said they planned on providing additional training for teachers and students to ease the transition. Online support will be offered for parents "to make it easier for them to participate in the education of their students" and free meals will continue to be provided at distribution centers.
Los Angeles is the second-largest school district in the United States.
Key West orders residents to wear masks, even when social distancing
Mayor Teri Johnston of Key West, Florida signed an executive order Monday, strengthening its rules on residents wearing face masks when out in public.
The order mandates that every person older than 6 "shall wear a face covering at all times, regardless of whether social distancing is also maintained" any time the person leaves their home. Business operators and employees "shall ensure" that the guidelines are met, the order states. People do not have to wear masks when inside their cars or on their private boats. Diners at restaurants may temporarily remove their masks to eat and drink, the order says.
Patrons of businesses who refuse to comply with the order will be forced to vacate the establishment and could face trespassing charges. Violations of the order could draw misdemeanor charges, jail time, or $500 fines.
California orders closures, including some gyms and churches
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday a list of business sectors that will be required to close as the number of coronavirus cases continue to increase substantially across the state.
All counties will be required to close indoor operations of restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, museums, card rooms and all bars.
The 30 counties that are on the state’s targeted engagement list are ordered to close indoor operations of fitness centers, places of worship, offices for non-critical sectors, personal hair services, and indoor malls.
California's average daily new cases hit 8,211 over the past week.
– Nicole Hayden, Palm Springs Desert Sun
Sen. Ted Cruz spotted on American Airlines flight without mask
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was spotted without a face covering on a Sunday flight on American Airlines, according to a post on Twitter. In the photo, Cruz, who was seated in first class on the regional jet operated by an American partner, was looking at his phone and holding a cup of coffee. A mask is not visible.
The photo was posted by Hosseh Enad, a marketing compliance associate at DCCC, the Democratic National Campaign Committee. Enad said in a subsequent tweet that he'd gotten it from an acquaintance. He also posted photos of an unmasked Cruz sitting in the gate area before the flight.
Captured today at 10:45am — @TedCruz on a commercial flight, refusing to wear a mask. pic.twitter.com/h8DM7J4CMi — Hosseh (@hossehenad) July 13, 2020
"Consistent with airline policy, he temporarily removes the mask while eating or drinking,'' Cruz spokesperson Lauren Aronson said in a statement. "Yesterday, during his flight he removed his mask to drink and put it back on afterward. We should all practice common sense measures to slow the spread of the virus.”
– Dawn Gilbertson
New York to out-of-state travelers: Provide contact information or face a fine
New York will require air travelers from states with high rates of COVID-19 to provide their local contact information or face a penalty of up to $2,000, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.
The shift in policy comes nearly three weeks after New York issued an order in late June requiring many out-of-state travelers to quarantine for two weeks upon entering the state.
The quarantine order, which came as COVID-19 rates increased across the country while dropping in New York, now applies to travelers coming from 19 states including California, Texas and Florida.
Travelers to New York from the states on the quarantine list will be required to fill out a form documenting where they're coming from and their local contact information after they exit the plane.
– Jon Campbell, Democrat and Chronicle
Trump promotes tweet claiming CDC, physicians are lying about COVID-19
President Donald Trump retweeted a post claiming the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others are telling "outrageous lies" about the pandemic. The original tweet, from conservative podcast host Chuck Woolery, claims the lies are politically motivated and designed to keep the economy from reviving.
"The most outrageous lies are the ones about Covid 19. Everyone is lying," Woolery, a former game show host, wrote. "The CDC, Media, Democrats, our Doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it's all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I'm sick of it."
Trump also retweeted a Woolery post citing "overwhelming" evidence that schools should open this fall.
Three people who traveled on recent Delta flight have tested positive for COVID-19
Three people who traveled on a recent regional Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Albany have tested positive for COVID-19.
"We are working with local officials and following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s protocol in their outreach to customers and employees," Delta Air Lines spokesperson Kate Modolo said in a statement. "Customer and crew health and safety are our top priority."
There were 44 passengers on the flight.
The passengers became symptomatic on July 7, a day after the July 6 flight, according to a Facebook post from the Rensselaer County government in upstate New York.
– David Oliver and Dawn Gilbertson
WHO leader: Global pandemic is getting worse, not better
The COVID-19 pandemic is worsening globally and a return to the "old normal" remains in the distant future, the head of the World Health Organization warned Monday. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that while some countries, especially in Europe and Asia, have brought outbreaks under control, too many others are seeing numbers rocket higher. Still, he said the tide can be turned. Governments, he said, must emphasize reducing mortality and suppressing transmission. And an "engaged community" must act responsibly for each other through wearing masks, practicing social distancing and other measures.
"It can be done. It must be done. I have said it before and I will keep saying it," Tedros said. "We need strong government leadership and coordination of comprehensive strategies that are communicated clearly and consistently."
Florida logs second largest number of cases in a single day
One day after setting a record for most new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in a single day for any state, Florida’s figures ticked down but still represented the second-highest single-day total seen since the start of the pandemic. The state’s Department of Health reported 12,343 new cases Monday, down about 20% from the previous day's total of 15,283. Before the weekend began, New York state had held the previous mark for most single-day new confirmed COVID-19 cases with 12,274, reached on April 4.
Florida's surge in cases over the past several weeks has forced the state to slow some of its reopening measures. The spike, however, comes as Disney World reopened on Saturday and as the Republican National Convention is scheduled to take place in August in Jacksonville. Gov. Ron DeSantis has also ordered schools to reopen in August, when classes are set to resume.
It’s not just Florida – states large and small racking up big numbers of cases
Florida’s report Sunday of 15,300 coronavirus cases, more than New York ever reported, widened eyes. But on a per-person basis, states are adding cases at rates beyond the worst of what Northeastern states saw when they were the "hot spot" in April. Arizona last week was adding cases at a higher per-capita rate than New York ever hit, and stayed around that level.
Florida sailed past New Jersey’s worst week and is approaching New York’s record, an analysis of Johns Hopkins University data by University of Illinois computer scientist Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider shows.
Adjusted for population, some smaller states are recording significant tallies of the coronavirus. Last weekend, Louisiana passed New Jersey’s worst week – a level 22% worse than Louisiana recorded when New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebrations lay the groundwork for the state’s April surge. On a per-person basis, South Carolina’s outbreak is now as bad as Texas’, and both are closing in on Massachusetts’ record worst week.
– Mike Stucka
One bar's shocking way to keep customers at a safe distance: An electric fence
The Star Inn pub in Cornwall, England, put up an electric fence used to restrict livestock near its bar counter to help keep patrons at a safe distance from bartenders.
The pub's owner, Johnny McFadden, who is also a farmer, decided to install the electric fencing to keep his employees safe, the South West News Service reported.
"Before the fence, people were not following social-distancing and were doing as they pleased, but now people take heed to the guidance around social distancing," McFadden told Cornwall Live.
McFadden told SWNS the fence is usually switched off but could be turned on if things get out of hand.
– Ryan W. Miller
Alaska sets another one-day record for new COVID cases
Alaska, which has been able to avoid the brunt of the pandemic, was stung by its first triple-digit total of new cases Sunday – 116. While that pales in comparison to Florida, it shows that the wilderness state is not immune to the outbreak. The state Department of Health and Social Services said the new cases break a previous record set the day before, when the state reported 77 cases. Alaska has reported 1,774 cases, including 17 deaths.
"I hope Alaskans will join me in practicing social distancing, wearing a mask when you can’t keep your distance from others, and staying home if you are sick," Gov. Mike Dunleavy tweeted. "The actions you take today may save someone's life."
Germany issues Oktoberfest warning, chastises Germans partying in Spain
The German health minister urged Germans not to organize local Oktoberfest parties that could bring a second wave of the pandemic to the country. The national celebration has been canceled because of coronavirus concerns. Health Minister Jens Spahn also said he was troubled by viral videos showing large groups of German tourists on the Spanish island of Mallorca apparently ignoring social distancing guidelines.
Germany has drawn rave international reviews for its efforts to harness the outbreak, which has infected more than 200,000 Germans and killed more than 9,000.
"I understand the impatience, but where there are parties the infection risk is particularly high," he said. "We don’t automatically have to see a second wave in the fall and winter. Together, as a society, we can prevent that."
Families ignore politics, make plans for coming school year
As officials play political football with K-12 school re-openings, families across the nation are busy making their own calculations about whether to send children back to school. Most are taking a measured and hyper-local approach to what is ultimately a very personal decision, consulting with friends, neighbors and local educators. That's despite the issue becoming increasingly political as President Donald Trump and state officials weighed in last week, often in conflict with published health guidance.
“There are no ideal solutions here,” says Kao-Ping Chua, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan. "Unfortunately, beyond conflicting information that’s getting politicized, states are seeing surging cases, which is not an environment you want to open schools in.”
– Marco della Cava
Coronavirus: How R-0 can be used to fight COVID-19 R-0 may be the most important scientific term you’ve never heard of when it comes to stopping the coronavirus pandemic. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
New York City health officials report no deaths for first time since March 11
Initial data released Sunday by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported that no one died from the virus in the city on July 11, exactly four months after the state's first official death was recorded on March 11. Officials also recorded no confirmed deaths the day before as well but did report two probable deaths.
The welcoming news comes after a harrowing four-month stretch in the nation's most populated city. The peak in confirmed daily deaths was April 7, at 597, although another 216 people were likely to have died from the virus that day despite no positive laboratory tests. All told, New York City has reported 18,670 deaths from COVID-19 and 4,613 probable fatalities.
Oklahoma reports state's first teen death, a 13-year-old at Fort Sill
The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported Oklahoma’s first COVID-19-related death in the 5-17 age category. The patient was identified as a 13-year-old who died at Comanche County Memorial Hospital on Friday night, reported local news station KSWO-TV. Oklahoma military base Fort Sill said the teen was a dependent of an active duty service member at the post, where family members are in isolation.
The state department reported 456 new coronavirus cases across the state Sunday, bringing the total cumulative number of the state’s positive cases to 20,235.
Mexico surpasses Italy in confirmed deaths; 4th highest total of any country
Mexican officials say the total number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths has passed 35,000, moving it past Italy with the fourth-most deaths of any country in the world. Only the United States, Brazil and Britain have recorded more deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the recent news "is positive, it is good" because only nine of the country's 32 provinces had increases in cases of infection.
"The bottom line is that the pandemic is on the downside, that it is losing intensity," he said.
Meanwhile, Italy, which was one of the first hot spots of the virus in Europe, has seen hospitals declare themselves coronavirus-free. The country's deaths Saturday fell to seven and confirmed daily cases dropped to below 200, according to health officials.
French widow mourns 'barbaric' death of driver beaten over masks
Veronique Monguillot said she told the French interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, that she was “destroyed” by the fatal assault on her husband at a bus stop in Bayonne, southwest France. “We must bang a fist on the table, so this never happens again,” she said. “It’s barbaric, not normal. We must stop this massacre.”
Bus driver Philippe Monguillot was attacked July 5 after asking four passengers to wear face masks, which are required on French public transport. Monguillot was then verbally assaulted, pushed off the bus and violently beaten and kicked in the head. His death was announced July 10 after he had been hospitalized in critical condition. Four men have been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal assault.
Long lines for COVID-19 tests, stressed labs delay results as demand spikes
America’s testing system is once again strained and labs are struggling to keep pace as the coronavirus rages faster than ever in the South and West.
The number of daily tests reached an all-time high of more than 719,000 on July 3 and averaged nearly 640,000 each day this past week, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project.
Because of this increase, large and small labs running 24/7 can’t process samples quickly enough from millions of Americans tested every week.
Testing centers in Sunbelt cities such as Tallahassee, Florida and Phoenix routinely attract long lines and at times must turn away people. Other than hospital patients, whom labs are prioritizing, delays are widespread in the South and West at drive-thru and walk-up testing centers, urgent care, doctor’s offices and government-supported testing sites.
– Ken Alltucker
More on the coronavirus from USA TODAY
Where a face mask is required: Many governors are instituting or renewing orders requiring people to wear face coverings in public as cases continue to rise. Is your state on the list? See it here.
Coronavirus Watch: We have a few ways for you to stay informed. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here, and come together and share the latest information about the coronavirus, coping with lifestyle changes and more by joining our Facebook group.
Where are states on reopening? Some are taking preemptive measures to postpone further phases of their reopening, while others have rolled back their phases to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. See the list.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-07-13--China sanctions U.S. lawmakers including Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz over Xinjiang

China on Monday announced retaliatory sanctions against U.S. officials and entities , including Republican Senator Marco Rubio , after Washington sanctioned senior Chinese officials who it claimed are responsible for mass detentions , religious persecution and forced sterilization against Muslim Uighur minorities in China 's Xinjiang province .
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying disclosed the sanctions during a daily briefing .
Also sanctioned : Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas ; Sam Brownback , a U.S .
Ambassador for religious freedom ; Representative Chris Smith , R-N.J. ; and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China , which monitors human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdraw the from the World Health Organization Hua said the sanctions would begin immediately and those penalized would be barred entry to China .
But she did not specify how the U.S. lawmakers or the commission would further specifically be targeted , making the move appear to be a largely symbolic retaliation three days after the Washington sanctioned a top member of China ’ s ruling Communist Party and three other officials over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang .
Beijing had also vowed to strike back against the U.S. for what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affairs in Hong Kong and Taiwan .
`` I guess they don ’ t like me ? ''
Rubio tweeted Monday .
China has repeatedly denied it is mistreating Uighur Muslims in far-western Xinjiang , but human rights organizations and foreign media reports have alleged that authorities have detained about a million people in so-called re-education camps there .
China denies any wrongdoing and says the camps are vocational centers needed to counter radicalism .
According to a new book by John Bolton , President Donald Trump 's former national security adviser , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's President Xi Jinping at the G-20 economic summit in Japan last year Trump said that `` Xi should go ahead with building the camps . ''
Trump thought it was `` exactly the right thing to do , '' Bolton said .
China : What we learned from John Bolton 's book on the Trump administration Separately , Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration may be planning to make an announcement this week related to escalating tensions in the South China Sea , where Washington and Beijing are vying for military supremacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. has deteriorated over the coronavirus pandemic , human rights , trade and Beijing 's policy toward Hong Kong , where it has moved to erode the territory 's separate judicial system from mainland China 's .

China sanctions US lawmakers, including Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, over Xinjiang
Show Caption Hide Caption FBI's Wray: China aims to be sole 'superpower' FBI Director Christopher Wray is detailing ongoing attempts by China to become the "world's only superpower." "The potential economic harm to American businesses and the economy as a whole almost defies calculation," Wray says. (July 7) AP
China announced retaliatory sanctions Monday against U.S. officials and entities, including Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., after Washington sanctioned senior Chinese officials who it claimed are responsible for mass detentions, religious persecution and forced sterilization against Muslim Uighur minorities in China's Xinjiang province.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying disclosed the sanctions during a daily briefing. Also sanctioned: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Sam Brownback, a U.S. ambassador for religious freedom; Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J.; and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which monitors human rights.
Trump: US officially begins to withdraw from World Health Organization
Hua said the sanctions would begin immediately and those penalized would be barred entry to China.
Last week, Washington sanctioned a top member of China’s ruling Communist Party and three other officials over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Beijing vowed to strike back for what it claims is inappropriate U.S. meddling in its internal affairs in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
"I guess they don’t like me?" Rubio tweeted Monday.
China has repeatedly denied it mistreats Uighur Muslims in far-western Xinjiang, but human rights organizations and foreign media reports alleged that authorities detained about a million people in so-called reeducation camps. China said the camps are vocational centers needed to counter radicalism.
According to a new book by John Bolton, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, when Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G-20 economic summit in Japan last year, he said "Xi should go ahead with building the camps." Trump thought it was "exactly the right thing to do," Bolton said.
China: What we learned from John Bolton's book on the Trump administration
Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration may make an announcement this week related to escalating tensions in the South China Sea, where Washington and Beijing vie for military supremacy.
U.S.-Chinese relations have deteriorated over the coronavirus pandemic, human rights, trade and Beijing's policy toward Hong Kong, where it moved to erode the territory's separate judicial system from mainland China's.
Beijing and Washington agreed on the first phase of a trade deal. The second part of the agreement stalled amid the heightened tensions.


usatoday--2020-07-13--Pennsylvania police investigating after 'disturbing' video shows officer kneeling on man's neck in A

Pennsylvania police investigating after 'disturbing' video shows officer kneeling on man's neck in Allentown

Police in Pennsylvania are investigating after an officer appeared to put a knee on the neck of a person during an incident captured on video by at least one bystander that drew comparisons to the death of George Floyd .
The Allentown Police Department is conducting a use of force investigation , according to a statement released Sunday .
Video of the incident on Twitter shows three officers on top of a screaming man .
One of the officers appears to put a knee on the man 's neck after first trying to restrain him by other means .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crump , who is representing Floyd 's family .
Crump shared video of the incident on Twitter , describing it as `` exactly what led to ( Floyd 's ) death . ''
He also called for police to identify the officer .
They overcame police dogs and beatings : Civil rights activists from 1960s cheer on Black Lives Matter protesters leading new fight Floyd , a Black man , died after now-fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee to Floyd 's neck for nearly nine minutes .
Chauvin , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on second-degree murder charges and three officers involved with the incident have been arrested and charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin .
Video of the incident in Pennsylvania shows two officers restraining the man while a third officer appears to put a knee on the man 's neck .
Floyd was also restrained by three officers while a fourth officer worked to control a growing crowd around the situation .
The incident in Allentown took place Saturday at St. Luke 's Hospital-Sacred Heart , according to the statement and local reports .
Officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrelated matter '' before they `` observed a male outside who was vomiting and staggering in the street , eventually stopping in the driveway of the emergency room , '' police said in the statement .
Policy shifts amid national unrest : A look at how cities , states are responding to police brutality '' The observed erratic behavior resulted in the officers and hospital staff interacting with the individual , '' the statement said .
`` The individual began to yell , scream and spit at the officers and hospital staff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the individual , all parties fell to the ground .
The individual continued to be noncompliant , which required officers to restrain the individual and the hospital applied a spit shield . ''
The statement does n't mention the officer putting a knee on or near the man 's neck .
The man was treated at the hospital and released , according to the statement .
Police added an investigation into the incident will be reviewed by the Lehigh County district attorney and that review is not expected to be completed until later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also being reviewed , police said .
The Allentown Police Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment from USA TODAY .
St. Luke 's and the Allentown mayor 's office also did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
'You 're standing on the wrong side ' : Black officers who face insults , personal attacks get a double dose of pain and frustration Floyd 's death on Memorial Day has sparked ongoing protests nationwide against racial discrimination and police brutality .
The Morning Call in Pennsylvania reported protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ray O ’ Connell and Police Chief Glenn Granitz Jr. about the incident .
O'Connell called the video `` disturbing '' and said , “ I think we need to gather all the facts and information before we go forward , ” according to the newspaper .
The Allentown Police Department 's use of force policy is available on its website .
Under its `` restraint and control '' section , the policy notes , `` Use of neck restraints or similar weaponless control techniques ( choke holds ) is prohibited . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a member or citizen is the only possible exception to the prohibition , according to the policy .

Police investigate after 'disturbing' video shows officer kneeling on man's neck in Allentown, Pa.
Show Caption Hide Caption NYC paints Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower The planned mural in Manhattan provoked the ire of President Trump, who slammed the mural on Twitter as a "symbol of hate." USA TODAY
Police in Pennsylvania are investigating after an officer appeared to put a knee on the neck of a person during an incident captured on video by at least one bystander that drew comparisons to the death of George Floyd.
The Allentown Police Department is conducting a use-of-force investigation, according to a statement released Sunday. Video of the incident on Twitter shows three officers on top of a screaming man.
One of the officers appears to put a knee on the man's neck after trying to restrain him by other means.
Attorney Ben Crump, who represents Floyd's family, shared video of the incident on Twitter, describing it as "exactly what led to (Floyd's) death." He called for police to identify the officer.
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Floyd, a Black man, died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee to Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes. Chauvin, who is white, was fired and arrested on second-degree murder charges, and three officers involved in the incident were arrested and charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin.
Floyd was restrained by three officers while a fourth worked to control a growing crowd around the situation.
The incident in Allentown took place Saturday at St. Luke's Hospital-Sacred Heart, according to the statement.
Officers were at the hospital for an "unrelated matter" before they "observed a male outside who was vomiting and staggering in the street, eventually stopping in the driveway of the emergency room," police said in the statement.
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"The observed erratic behavior resulted in the officers and hospital staff interacting with the individual," the statement said. "The individual began to yell, scream and spit at the officers and hospital staff.
"As the officers attempted to restrain the individual, all parties fell to the ground. The individual continued to be noncompliant, which required officers to restrain the individual and the hospital applied a spit shield."
The statement doesn't mention the officer putting a knee on or near the man's neck.
The man was treated at the hospital and released, according to the statement. Police said an investigation into the incident will be reviewed by the Lehigh County district attorney this week. Video from the incident is also being reviewed, police said.
The Allentown Police Department did not respond to requests for comment from USA TODAY. St. Luke's and the Allentown mayor's office also did not immediately respond.
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Floyd's death on Memorial Day set off protests nationwide against racial discrimination and police brutality.
The Morning Call in Pennsylvania reported protesters marched into downtown Allentown and confronted Mayor Ray O’Connell and Police Chief Glenn Granitz about Saturday's incident.
O'Connell called the video "disturbing" and said, “I think we need to gather all the facts and information before we go forward,” according to the newspaper.
The Allentown Police Department's use-of-force policy is available on its website. Under its "restraint and control" section, the policy notes, "Use of neck restraints or similar weaponless control techniques (choke holds) is prohibited."
Preventing imminent death or serious bodily injury to a member or citizen is the only exception to the prohibition, according to the policy.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-07-13--College football 2020: What we know about the upcoming season

The coronavirus pandemic has the college football season in a state of uncertainty regarding how — or even if — games will be played .
Already , the Ivy League has decided to cancel its football schedule this fall , while still leaving open the possibility of moving the season to the spring .
Will other schools follow suit ?
How will they balance the health of their athletes vs. the financial windfall football brings to institutions of all sizes ?
Heavyweight programs in the Power Five conferences have the most incentive to play their games as scheduled .
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey has scheduled a meeting on Monday with the league 's athletic directors to discuss plans for the upcoming football season .
`` The direct reality is not good , '' Sankey tweeted on Saturday after an appearance on ESPN Radio .
Sankey said in the interview there needs to be significant changes in the current coronavirus numbers and pandemic-related behaviors before schools can think about playing football safely .
He added that the SEC is working toward making a decision regarding the season in late July , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` high to very high . ''
After delaying all fall sports until after Sept. 1 , the ACC has discussed playing a conference-only football schedule , a league official told USA TODAY Sports last week .
However , the ACC 's only official statement has been that it will make a decision about the 2020 football season by the end of July .
`` As we continue to work on the best possible path forward for the return of competition , we will do so in a way that appropriately coincides with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissioner John Swofford said .
`` Over the last few months , our conference has prepared numerous scenarios related to the fall athletics season . ''
The Big 12 has n't made any decisions about its football schedules yet , preferring instead to take a wait-and-see approach .
However , commissioner Bob Bowlsby told ESPN on Friday his league is `` kind of on the same schedule '' as the SEC and ACC in expecting to have a plan in place by late July .
Bowlsby has a previously scheduled meeting with conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ athletic director Gene Smith said last week he 's `` very concerned '' about playing any sports this fall .
The Big Ten took a major step on Thursday in announcing its football teams will play only conference opponents , making it the first member of the Bowl Subdivision to take such as step .
The move stunned many non-conference foes who will lose out on the guaranteed payouts they receive each year traveling to face Big Ten opponents .
Of those 33 games that were canceled , USA TODAY Sports obtained contracts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools totaling nearly $ 22.2 million .
In addition , several high-profile matchups — including Ohio State at Oregon on Sept. 5 and Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame on Oct. 3 in Green Bay — also fell by the wayside .
Following in the Big Ten 's footsteps , the Pac-12 announced on Friday that its schools will be limited to conference games only this fall .
“ Our decisions have and will be guided by science and data , and based upon the trends and indicators over the past days , it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves with maximum flexibility to schedule , and to delay any movement to the next phase of return-to-play activities , ” Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement .
The conference plans to release details on its conference-only schedules by the end of July .
A non-conference clash between USC and Alabama in Arlington , Texas , is one of the Pac-12 's biggest cancellations .

College football 2020: What we know about the upcoming season
Show Caption Hide Caption Why fall college sports may be in peril SportsPulse: As Christine Brennan points out, the Ivy League's decisions have often been a tell tale sign for all college sports and it's time to prepare for a fall without college football. USA TODAY
The coronavirus pandemic has the college football season in a state of uncertainty regarding how — or even if — games will be played. Already, the Ivy League has decided to cancel its football schedule this fall, while still leaving open the possibility of moving the season to the spring.
Will other schools follow suit? How will they balance the health of their athletes vs. the financial windfall football brings to institutions of all sizes?
Heavyweight programs in the Power Five conferences have the most incentive to play their games as scheduled. Here is where they stand at the moment:
SEC
Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey has scheduled a meeting on Monday with the league's athletic directors to discuss plans for the upcoming football season.
"The direct reality is not good," Sankey tweeted on Saturday after an appearance on ESPN Radio.
Yep...that’s exactly what I said...and have been saying. I want to provide the opportunity for college athletics to be part of the fall, but we need to all consider our behavior to make possible what right now appears very difficult. “The direct reality is not good...” https://t.co/z3pHGeMIa9 — Greg Sankey (@GregSankey) July 11, 2020
Sankey said in the interview there needs to be significant changes in the current coronavirus numbers and pandemic-related behaviors before schools can think about playing football safely. He added that the SEC is working toward making a decision regarding the season in late July, but that his level of concern is "high to very high."
ACC
After delaying all fall sports until after Sept. 1, the ACC has discussed playing a conference-only football schedule, a league official told USA TODAY Sports last week. However, the ACC's only official statement has been that it will make a decision about the 2020 football season by the end of July.
"As we continue to work on the best possible path forward for the return of competition, we will do so in a way that appropriately coincides with our universities' academic missions," commissioner John Swofford said. "Over the last few months, our conference has prepared numerous scenarios related to the fall athletics season."
Big 12
The Big 12 hasn't made any decisions about its football schedules yet, preferring instead to take a wait-and-see approach. However, commissioner Bob Bowlsby told ESPN on Friday his league is "kind of on the same schedule" as the SEC and ACC in expecting to have a plan in place by late July.
Bowlsby has a previously scheduled meeting with conference athletic directors on Tuesday.
Big Ten
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said last week he's "very concerned" about playing any sports this fall. The Big Ten took a major step on Thursday in announcing its football teams will play only conference opponents, making it the first member of the Bowl Subdivision to take such as step.
The move stunned many non-conference foes who will lose out on the guaranteed payouts they receive each year traveling to face Big Ten opponents. Of those 33 games that were canceled, USA TODAY Sports obtained contracts for 26 — with payouts to visiting schools totaling nearly $22.2 million.
In addition, several high-profile matchups — including Ohio State at Oregon on Sept. 5 and Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame on Oct. 3 in Green Bay — also fell by the wayside.
Pac-12
Following in the Big Ten's footsteps, the Pac-12 announced on Friday that its schools will be limited to conference games only this fall.
“Our decisions have and will be guided by science and data, and based upon the trends and indicators over the past days, it has become clear that we need to provide ourselves with maximum flexibility to schedule, and to delay any movement to the next phase of return-to-play activities,” Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement.
The conference plans to release details on its conference-only schedules by the end of July. A non-conference clash between USC and Alabama in Arlington, Texas, is one of the Pac-12's biggest cancellations.


usatoday--2020-07-13--Inside the NFL offensive linemen summit, where players prepare for a season of uncertainty

FRISCO , Texas — As Terron Armstead tells it , no place is a bad place for an offensive lineman to repeatedly practice his stance .
“ It ’ s something you can do in Walmart , in the cereal aisle , ” the All-Pro Saints left tackle told a gathering of 47 NFL and collegiate offensive linemen Friday .
“ Over and over .
Repetition.
” Armstead ’ s message was one of many drilled with repetition as veterans including Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson and Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen gathered to exchange tips and advise younger linemen on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offseason in which the coronavirus pandemic has limited them .
But Armstead also imparted another key lesson to young guards , centers and tackles ranging from Texas and Oklahoma collegiate players to 2020 rookies such as the Jets ’ Mekhi Bechton and Cardinals ’ Josh Jones .
“ Problem-solving , ” Armstead said .
“ Things are going to come up you haven ’ t seen .
They ’ ve got a game of the week , a blitz of the week that you guys have got to problem-solve throughout the game.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparation will account for all variables — extended far beyond the technique , recovery and film review strategies shared across two days at the Omni Hotel adjacent to Cowboys headquarters at the Star in Frisco .
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Sign up !
Johnson , his marketing agent Brian Bradtke and personal offensive line coach Duke Manyweather spent preceding days thwarting their own set of logistical blitzes in their pursuit to salvage an in-person summit .
They required temperature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrival .
Bottles of hand sanitizer and Clorox containers canvassed the spacious ballroom .
Masks were available at check-in , though most players did n't consistently wear them .
A doctor in a hazmat suit administered free COVID-19 tests to dozens of participants who opted to utilize the service .
Linemen envisioned the gathering , in many ways , as foreshadowing the 2020 football season that tentatively lies ahead of them : health precautions and a nonzero level of risk are realities players can ’ t divorce from the contact-heavy sport that encompasses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football in a pandemic is complex .
“ It ’ s like , well , if I stay at home and do nothing , then I get called tomorrow , my ass is getting cut , ” Manyweather told USA TODAY Sports on Friday from his third annual OL Masterminds Summit .
“ At the end of the day , what these guys understand is that the NFL is about performance and results .
“ The longer they ’ re not playing , they ’ re not going to make money.
” And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mental processing and play speed , ” Manyweather teaches the players who train with him .
Understanding precisely where a player ’ s eyes , feet , hips and center of gravity must focus makes a difference .
At the summit , players across NFC and AFC teams compared strategies .
Every presnap advantage is key to withstand a “ scary athlete ” like Saints defensive end Cam Jordan , Jensen said , explaining that he eschews cutups for chronological game film to best spot differences in a defender ’ s game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominating and ones he ’ s beat handily .
Jets offensive tackle George Fant shared how he maximized aggressive use of his hands when protecting mobile Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson during his previous tenure with the Seahawks .
Players compared varying techniques to combat defenders ’ strengths , from a tendency to cheat a couple steps when facing Pro Bowl interior defenders including Aaron Donald and Gerald McCoy to realizing that the antidote to Nick Bosa ’ s smooth hands differs from the ideal way to counter Everson Griffen ’ s power or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subtle thrashes .
Players deem these behind-the-scenes tips worth setting aside their team loyalties .
“ Every time I leave this place I end up becoming a better player or at least more knowledgeable , ” Johnson said .
“ The O-line is a brotherhood .
“ We call it the mushroom society because we take a lot of [ expletive ] and we ’ re put in the dark.
” Mere weeks away from training camp , players feel similarly in the dark regarding NFL protocols that will minimize spread of infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing delays and protocols not yet settled between the NFL and NFL Players Association .
None of the three players who spoke to USA TODAY Sports planned to skip the season regardless of protocol .
But the unusual circumstances are on their mind .
“ The excitement I have for the season has kind of been stifled a bit just because everything going on , ” Cowboys offensive tackle Cam Erving told USA TODAY Sports .
“ You can ’ t really get excited because you don ’ t know what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just different in that sense.
” The risk , too , is potentially more acute for linemen than many of their skill-position teammates .
Many linemen ’ s height-weight coordinates yield body mass indexes within the CDC ’ s definition of obese—and thus , by CDC standards , at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 .
Players at the summit Friday said they ’ re reassured that their healthy respiratory systems and elite fitness will reduce their vulnerability .
Even BMI estimates may get tricky , Manyweather said , when “ there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body fat.
” Infecting family members is some players ’ more pressing concern .
“ Is it fair to ask another human to go potentially risk their life for your entertainment ?
” Jensen told USA TODAY Sports .
“ If I have it , and I go home , yeah I got tested—but I ’ m not going to know for 24 hours and I ’ m going to go home and kiss my kids.
” It ’ s that message Jensen wants fans to remember as players continue to fight for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re more than just athletes and ‘ idols , ’ ” Jensen said .
“ We ’ re human beings that have families we need to take care of .

Inside the NFL offensive linemen summit, where players prepare for a season of uncertainty
Show Caption Hide Caption NFL Linemen feel healthy enough to handle 2020 season, but concerned for family safety USA TODAY Sports' Jori Epstein gives an inside look at the Offensive Lineman Summit. USA TODAY
FRISCO, Texas — As Terron Armstead tells it, no place is a bad place for an offensive lineman to repeatedly practice his stance.
“It’s something you can do in Walmart, in the cereal aisle,” the All-Pro Saints left tackle told a gathering of 47 NFL and collegiate offensive linemen Friday. “Over and over. Repetition.”
Armstead’s message was one of many drilled with repetition as veterans including Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson and Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen gathered to exchange tips and advise younger linemen on how to maximize every advantage during an offseason in which the coronavirus pandemic has limited them.
But Armstead also imparted another key lesson to young guards, centers and tackles ranging from Texas and Oklahoma collegiate players to 2020 rookies such as the Jets’ Mekhi Bechton and Cardinals’ Josh Jones.
“Problem-solving,” Armstead said. “Things are going to come up you haven’t seen. They’ve got a game of the week, a blitz of the week that you guys have got to problem-solve throughout the game.”
That mantra — that no amount of preparation will account for all variables — extended far beyond the technique, recovery and film review strategies shared across two days at the Omni Hotel adjacent to Cowboys headquarters at the Star in Frisco.
NFL NEWSLETTER: Exclusive analysis of the league's top story lines in your inbox each week. Sign up!
Johnson, his marketing agent Brian Bradtke and personal offensive line coach Duke Manyweather spent preceding days thwarting their own set of logistical blitzes in their pursuit to salvage an in-person summit. They required temperature screenings and symptom questionnaires from attendees upon arrival. Bottles of hand sanitizer and Clorox containers canvassed the spacious ballroom. Masks were available at check-in, though most players didn't consistently wear them. A doctor in a hazmat suit administered free COVID-19 tests to dozens of participants who opted to utilize the service.
Linemen envisioned the gathering, in many ways, as foreshadowing the 2020 football season that tentatively lies ahead of them: health precautions and a nonzero level of risk are realities players can’t divorce from the contact-heavy sport that encompasses their livelihood. The risk-reward calculus of football in a pandemic is complex.
“It’s like, well, if I stay at home and do nothing, then I get called tomorrow, my ass is getting cut,” Manyweather told USA TODAY Sports on Friday from his third annual OL Masterminds Summit. “At the end of the day, what these guys understand is that the NFL is about performance and results.
“The longer they’re not playing, they’re not going to make money.”
And there’s “a relationship between the mental processing and play speed,” Manyweather teaches the players who train with him. Understanding precisely where a player’s eyes, feet, hips and center of gravity must focus makes a difference. At the summit, players across NFC and AFC teams compared strategies.
Every presnap advantage is key to withstand a “scary athlete” like Saints defensive end Cam Jordan, Jensen said, explaining that he eschews cutups for chronological game film to best spot differences in a defender’s game between the snaps when he’s dominating and ones he’s beat handily. Jets offensive tackle George Fant shared how he maximized aggressive use of his hands when protecting mobile Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson during his previous tenure with the Seahawks. Players compared varying techniques to combat defenders’ strengths, from a tendency to cheat a couple steps when facing Pro Bowl interior defenders including Aaron Donald and Gerald McCoy to realizing that the antidote to Nick Bosa’s smooth hands differs from the ideal way to counter Everson Griffen’s power or Yannick Ngakoue’s false chops and subtle thrashes. Players deem these behind-the-scenes tips worth setting aside their team loyalties.
“Every time I leave this place I end up becoming a better player or at least more knowledgeable,” Johnson said. “The O-line is a brotherhood.
“We call it the mushroom society because we take a lot of [expletive] and we’re put in the dark.”
Mere weeks away from training camp, players feel similarly in the dark regarding NFL protocols that will minimize spread of infections. Players expressed concerns over potential COVID-19 testing delays and protocols not yet settled between the NFL and NFL Players Association. None of the three players who spoke to USA TODAY Sports planned to skip the season regardless of protocol. But the unusual circumstances are on their mind.
“The excitement I have for the season has kind of been stifled a bit just because everything going on,” Cowboys offensive tackle Cam Erving told USA TODAY Sports. “You can’t really get excited because you don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s just different in that sense.”
The risk, too, is potentially more acute for linemen than many of their skill-position teammates. Many linemen’s height-weight coordinates yield body mass indexes within the CDC’s definition of obese—and thus, by CDC standards, at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Players at the summit Friday said they’re reassured that their healthy respiratory systems and elite fitness will reduce their vulnerability. Even BMI estimates may get tricky, Manyweather said, when “there are some guys here with sub-20% body fat.”
Infecting family members is some players’ more pressing concern.
“Is it fair to ask another human to go potentially risk their life for your entertainment?” Jensen told USA TODAY Sports. “If I have it, and I go home, yeah I got tested—but I’m not going to know for 24 hours and I’m going to go home and kiss my kids.”
It’s that message Jensen wants fans to remember as players continue to fight for guidelines that ensure their safety.
“We’re more than just athletes and ‘idols,’” Jensen said. “We’re human beings that have families we need to take care of.
“Our business technically isn’t an essential business.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Jori Epstein on Twitter @JoriEpstein