usatoday--2020-03-20--Mike Bloomberg pledges to give DNC $18M to help beat Trump in November

Mike Bloomberg 's presidential campaign Friday pledged to transfer $ 18 million to the Democratic National Committee , scrapping his campaign promise to launch a Super PAC if his presidential bid failed to instead boost the party 's battleground efforts in November .
The campaign of the billionaire former New York mayor outlined the contribution in a memo to DNC chairman Tom Perez that said the money is aimed at helping Democrats `` win up and down the ballot this fall . ''
The new resources are intended to boost the DNC ’ s efforts against President Donald Trump in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Bloomberg campaign also committed to transfer several of its former field offices to state parties and help hire for organizing , data , and operations in those six states : Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
`` Mike Bloomberg entered this race to ensure Democrats win – keeping the House blue , flipping the Senate , winning key state and local races , and taking back the White House – and this commitment through November helps do exactly that , '' the memo reads .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we look forward to November and taking on our unified goal of beating Donald Trump . ''
More : Bloomberg ends his bid for the Democratic nomination , endorses Joe Biden Bloomberg , whose net worth is valued near $ 60 billion , withdrew from the Democratic presidential primary this month after a disastrous Super Tuesday , failing to win a single state despite pumping $ 936 million into his campaign , according to his campaign 's latest financial report submitted Friday .
He immediately endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sizable 300-plus delegate lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
Upon entering the race late in January , Bloomberg committed to keeping much of his campaign staff intact through November even if he lost to help the Democratic nominee .
The plan was to have staff paid directly by Bloomberg , likely through a Super PAC , which by federal law must operate independently from a campaign .
Instead , staffers were let go in many states after he dropped out .
`` While we considered creating our own independent entity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountable , '' the Bloomberg campaign said , `` this race is too important to have many competing groups with good intentions but that are not coordinated and united in strategy and execution .
`` The dynamics of the race have also fundamentally changed , and it is critically important that we all do everything we can to support our eventual nominee and scale the Democratic Party ’ s general election efforts . ''
More : Here 's how much Mike Bloomberg spent on anti-Trump advertising alone The Bloomberg campaign touted the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transfer from a presidential campaign in recent history . ''
According to the campaign , Bloomberg staff in the six states were notified Friday they will be paid through the first week of April and receive benefits through April .
It comes as Biden has asserted himself as a virtual lock to be the Democratic nominee after a string of landslide wins , including victories in Florida , Illinois and Arizona this week .
Kate Bedingfield , deputy campaign manager of the Biden campaign , said the campaign welcomes Bloomberg 's investment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modern history '' is defeated .
`` We need to compete with the war chest that Donald Trump , the RNC , and their right-wing allies have amassed , and this will go a long way in ensuring that we can fund the grassroots efforts in key battleground states that will be necessary to win this November , '' she said .
The DNC typically faces a steep fundraising disadvantage compared to the Republican National Committee during election years .
As part of the DNC 's “ Battleground Build-Up 2020 , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to target with resources : Georgia , New Hampshire , Nevada , Ohio , Texas and Virginia .
More : Mike Bloomberg , in his first Democratic presidential debate , did n't get it done In a statement , Perez said with this transfer , Bloomberg and his team `` are making good on their commitment to beating Donald Trump . ''
`` The DNC has made early , historic investments in our battleground and general election programs , and the additional organizers we 're putting on the ground will significantly bolster those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a one-term president.
” In its memo , the Bloomberg campaign said `` there is no greater threat to our democracy '' than Trump , calling his handling of the coronavirus pandemic `` a complete mismanagement '' that has revealed the `` existential threat '' of the Trump presidency .
`` But we should also not assume that Trump ’ s incompetence will be enough to make him a one-term President , '' the memo reads .
`` Trump ’ s ability to lie and propagate misinformation , particularly using digital tools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battleground states , will continue to ensure a close race in November .
Every decision we make as Democrats must account for this . ''

Mike Bloomberg pledges to give DNC $18M to help beat Trump in November
Show Caption Hide Caption Mike Bloomberg ends campaign for president Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg ended his democratic presidential campaign the day after Super Tuesday. USA TODAY, Wochit
Mike Bloomberg's presidential campaign Friday pledged to transfer $18 million to the Democratic National Committee, scrapping his campaign promise to launch a Super PAC if his presidential bid failed to instead boost the party's battleground efforts in November.
The campaign of the billionaire former New York mayor outlined the contribution in a memo to DNC chairman Tom Perez that said the money is aimed at helping Democrats "win up and down the ballot this fall."
The new resources are intended to boost the DNC’s efforts against President Donald Trump in six battleground states, in particular. The Bloomberg campaign also committed to transfer several of its former field offices to state parties and help hire for organizing, data, and operations in those six states: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
"Mike Bloomberg entered this race to ensure Democrats win – keeping the House blue, flipping the Senate, winning key state and local races, and taking back the White House – and this commitment through November helps do exactly that," the memo reads. "By supporting the Democratic Party, we look forward to November and taking on our unified goal of beating Donald Trump."
More: Bloomberg ends his bid for the Democratic nomination, endorses Joe Biden
Bloomberg, whose net worth is valued near $60 billion, withdrew from the Democratic presidential primary this month after a disastrous Super Tuesday, failing to win a single state despite pumping $936 million into his campaign, according to his campaign's latest financial report submitted Friday.
He immediately endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic frontrunner, who has now built a sizable 300-plus delegate lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Upon entering the race late in January, Bloomberg committed to keeping much of his campaign staff intact through November even if he lost to help the Democratic nominee. The plan was to have staff paid directly by Bloomberg, likely through a Super PAC, which by federal law must operate independently from a campaign. Instead, staffers were let go in many states after he dropped out.
"While we considered creating our own independent entity to support the nominee and hold the President accountable," the Bloomberg campaign said, "this race is too important to have many competing groups with good intentions but that are not coordinated and united in strategy and execution.
"The dynamics of the race have also fundamentally changed, and it is critically important that we all do everything we can to support our eventual nominee and scale the Democratic Party’s general election efforts."
More: Here's how much Mike Bloomberg spent on anti-Trump advertising alone
The Bloomberg campaign touted the $18 million contribution as "the largest transfer from a presidential campaign in recent history." According to the campaign, Bloomberg staff in the six states were notified Friday they will be paid through the first week of April and receive benefits through April.
It comes as Biden has asserted himself as a virtual lock to be the Democratic nominee after a string of landslide wins, including victories in Florida, Illinois and Arizona this week.
Difference between caucus and primary, explained The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But what’s the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Kate Bedingfield, deputy campaign manager of the Biden campaign, said the campaign welcomes Bloomberg's investment to ensure the "most dangerous president in modern history" is defeated.
"We need to compete with the war chest that Donald Trump, the RNC, and their right-wing allies have amassed, and this will go a long way in ensuring that we can fund the grassroots efforts in key battleground states that will be necessary to win this November," she said.
The DNC typically faces a steep fundraising disadvantage compared to the Republican National Committee during election years. As part of the DNC's “Battleground Build-Up 2020," the party last month added six more states to target with resources: Georgia, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Texas and Virginia.
More: Mike Bloomberg, in his first Democratic presidential debate, didn't get it done
In a statement, Perez said with this transfer, Bloomberg and his team "are making good on their commitment to beating Donald Trump."
"The DNC has made early, historic investments in our battleground and general election programs, and the additional organizers we're putting on the ground will significantly bolster those efforts and help make sure Donald Trump is a one-term president.”
In its memo, the Bloomberg campaign said "there is no greater threat to our democracy" than Trump, calling his handling of the coronavirus pandemic "a complete mismanagement" that has revealed the "existential threat" of the Trump presidency.
"But we should also not assume that Trump’s incompetence will be enough to make him a one-term President," the memo reads. "Trump’s ability to lie and propagate misinformation, particularly using digital tools and other means with swing voters in battleground states, will continue to ensure a close race in November. Every decision we make as Democrats must account for this."
Contributing: Associated Press
Reach Joey Garrison and on Twitter @joeygarrison.


usatoday--2020-03-20--Donald Trump: Student loan borrowers can suspend payments for 60 days without interest

President Trump announced a temporary waive on interest for federally held student loans for up to 60 days .

Coronavirus response: Student loans allowed pause for 60 days
President Trump announced a temporary waive on interest for federally held student loans for up to 60 days.
Associated Press, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-20--CDC orders migrant deportation at Mexican, Canadian borders for those without proper papers

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said that essential travel includes medical purposes , to attend educational institutions and emergency @ @

Coronavirus order: Mexican, Canadian borders tighten rules per CDC
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said that essential travel includes medical purposes, to attend educational institutions and emergency response.
Associated Press, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-20--'I can't help but feel we are abandoned': Stranded Americans seek US help amid global lockdown

Kristin Monesmith is stranded in Peru with no way to get back to North Carolina , where the ER nurse is desperately needed at her local hospital .
Arizona resident Gabrielle Almeter and her parents are marooned in Marrakesh after the Moroccan government said it would close its borders and cancel international flights .
Chris Pierce is stuck in the Philippines with his wife and 9-year-old son after that government shut its borders and went into lockdown .
They are among hundreds of Americans suddenly in limbo amid a global freeze on international travel and mass quarantines as the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic with unprecedented restrictions .
Besieged by pleas for help , the State Department and its embassies around the world have offered little to no assistance , these stranded travelers say .
More than 400 Americans are stuck in Peru alone , according to Monesmith and others who have been tracking the problem .
Stuck abroad : Americans in Cambodia amid pandemic say they are 'being detained , ' not quarantined Chris Pierce and his wife , Nila , have contacted American embassies in both Manila and Cebu in the Philippines via email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They have n't received a single response .
`` I 'm a realistic person .
I do realize they are probably overwhelmed , '' Chris Pierce told USA TODAY .
`` But at the same time , all U.S. citizens should be a priority .
...
I ca n't help but feel we are abandoned . ''
In an interview Wednesday with Fox News , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the State Department is `` working to try and solve problems for each of those American citizens , '' and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about them over the last couple of days , '' Pompeo said , referring to a group of American students in Peru , among other cases .
`` It ’ ll take us some amount of time . ''
But some lawmakers are growing frustrated with the lack of clarity or a coordinated response .
“ I have heard from an alarming number of Virginians in the past few days who are abroad and unable to return to the United States due to restrictions on movement , closed borders , nationwide lockdowns , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warner , D-Va. , wrote in a letter to Pompeo on Wednesday .
In an interview , Warner said his office has received more than 20 pleas for help in recent days from constituents stranded in Peru , Honduras , Morocco , China , Guatemala and other countries .
`` I 'm not sure that department is providing the kind of clarity , outreach and assistance that Americans need , '' Warner said .
`` We really just need to reach out to our fellow Americans and make sure we get them back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , urged the State Department to begin chartering commercial airplanes to bring stranded Americans home .
He said the Trump administration should use an existing civil airfleet program for such evacuations .
“ No American citizen should be abandoned overseas as we confront this unprecedented pandemic simply because of a failure of government to provide them the support that they need , ” Menendez said Thursday .
“ If there ever was a need to increase our nation ’ s aircraft capability during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The New Jersey Democrat said the Pentagon should also explore the use of military aircraft to repatriate Americans .
A State Department official , who was not authorized to speak on the record , said the agency could not provide an estimate of how many Americans are trying to get back to the U.S. from overseas amid the COVID-19 outbreak .
`` We are considering all options to assist U.S. citizens in these countries and are continuously assessing travel conditions in all areas affected by COVID-19 , '' the official said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisories and safety information for U.S. travelers as situations evolve . ''
Meanwhile , other countries were busy arranging emergency flights to bring their citizens home .
Israel has brought 380 students home from Moldova and planned to send a plane to Peru on Thursday to bring back a group of young Israelis stranded there after Peru 's president , Martín Vizcarra , announced Sunday that he would close his country 's borders , according to The Jerusalem Post .
“ The young people will be brought to Israel free of charge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French authorities were arranging emergency flights from Morocco to bring back dozens of French nationals , according to Reuters .
And Germany 's Foreign Minister announced an `` airlift '' for thousands of German citizens stranded abroad .
For Americans in similar situations ?
Shuttered embassies , recorded phone messages and automated emails .
As soon as Candace Kaiser and her friends learned of Peru 's lockdown , they scrambled to find flights home to South Carolina .
`` Airlines booked up incredibly fast and websites were crashing , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' For a one-way ticket back to the U.S. , she said , prices ran as high as $ 6,000 .
`` I 'm 28 years old .
I ca n't afford something like that , '' said Kaiser , who works in marketing and communications .
They 've called the embassy , but no one has answered .
They tried emailing and received one automated response .
`` Due to COVID-19 concerns , the US .
consular section in Peru is reduced to emergency services only , '' the message reads , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has successfully evacuated many of our citizens in recent weeks , special flights do not reflect our standard practice and should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens abroad who may be impacted by the ongoing spread of COVID-19 . ''
When Monesmith , the North Carolina ER nurse , learned of Peru 's lockdown , `` the last flight from Cusco to Lima had already left , '' she said .
So she went to the U.S. Embassy .
“ The doors were locked , with a sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their website , which said nothing , ” Monesmith said .
“ The embassy has been no help at all .
The State Department has said that they do not send flights to bring Americans home , that is not their practice so we should not expect it.
” She noted that Peru 's government has deployed its military to enforce the lockdown and has suspended some constitutional rights .
`` Life in Cusco is a little scary .
Police are all over the streets , '' she said .
`` We now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 5 a.m. '' There are 420 of us here in Cusco .
We just want to go home , '' Monesmith said .
`` I ’ m far more needed at home in the ER helping patients . ''
Chris Pierce said his family received some potentially good news on Thursday ; Philippine 's tourism authorities may try to arrange flights out of the country for foreign nationals .
`` Glad to hear the Philippine government is doing their part on helping us get home , '' he told USA TODAY , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local tourism office about the possible exit plans .
If they ca n't get out , Pierce said , he 's worried about the consequences of being stuck for as long as a month : Their jobs , their bills .
After speaking with their employers , Chris and Nila have been assured they will have jobs to return to , he said .
But they are n't being paid while they are away .
`` We will be in debt and then some , '' Pierce said .
More : Advocates warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentions China

Deirdre Shesgreen and Morgan Hines, USA TODAY

'I can't help but feel we are abandoned': Stranded Americans seek US help amid global lockdown
Show Caption Hide Caption Americans fight to get home amid coronavirus lockdowns These Americans were stranded abroad when the coronavirus pandemic suddenly shut borders. Many are still trying to get home. USA TODAY
Kristin Monesmith is stranded in Peru with no way to get back to North Carolina, where the ER nurse is desperately needed at her local hospital.
Arizona resident Gabrielle Almeter and her parents are marooned in Marrakesh after the Moroccan government said it would close its borders and cancel international flights.
Chris Pierce is stuck in the Philippines with his wife and 9-year-old son after that government shut its borders and went into lockdown.
They are among hundreds of Americans suddenly in limbo amid a global freeze on international travel and mass quarantines as the U.S. and other countries respond to the coronavirus pandemic with unprecedented restrictions.
Besieged by pleas for help, the State Department and its embassies around the world have offered little to no assistance, these stranded travelers say. More than 400 Americans are stuck in Peru alone, according to Monesmith and others who have been tracking the problem.
Stuck abroad: Americans in Cambodia amid pandemic say they are 'being detained,' not quarantined
Chris Pierce and his wife, Nila, have contacted American embassies in both Manila and Cebu in the Philippines via email and phone – 70 times in all. They haven't received a single response.
"I'm a realistic person. I do realize they are probably overwhelmed," Chris Pierce told USA TODAY. "But at the same time, all U.S. citizens should be a priority. ... I can't help but feel we are abandoned."
In an interview Wednesday with Fox News, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the State Department is "working to try and solve problems for each of those American citizens," and he urged patience.
"We just learned about them over the last couple of days," Pompeo said, referring to a group of American students in Peru, among other cases. "It’ll take us some amount of time."
'Unable to return'
But some lawmakers are growing frustrated with the lack of clarity or a coordinated response.
“I have heard from an alarming number of Virginians in the past few days who are abroad and unable to return to the United States due to restrictions on movement, closed borders, nationwide lockdowns, and canceled flights," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., wrote in a letter to Pompeo on Wednesday.
In an interview, Warner said his office has received more than 20 pleas for help in recent days from constituents stranded in Peru, Honduras, Morocco, China, Guatemala and other countries.
"I'm not sure that department is providing the kind of clarity, outreach and assistance that Americans need," Warner said. "We really just need to reach out to our fellow Americans and make sure we get them back safe."
Sen. Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the State Department to begin chartering commercial airplanes to bring stranded Americans home. He said the Trump administration should use an existing civil airfleet program for such evacuations.
“No American citizen should be abandoned overseas as we confront this unprecedented pandemic simply because of a failure of government to provide them the support that they need,” Menendez said Thursday. “If there ever was a need to increase our nation’s aircraft capability during a national crisis, this is it.”
The New Jersey Democrat said the Pentagon should also explore the use of military aircraft to repatriate Americans.
A State Department official, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said the agency could not provide an estimate of how many Americans are trying to get back to the U.S. from overseas amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
"We are considering all options to assist U.S. citizens in these countries and are continuously assessing travel conditions in all areas affected by COVID-19," the official said. "We will continue to update our travel advisories and safety information for U.S. travelers as situations evolve."
Other countries bring citizens home
Meanwhile, other countries were busy arranging emergency flights to bring their citizens home.
Israel has brought 380 students home from Moldova and planned to send a plane to Peru on Thursday to bring back a group of young Israelis stranded there after Peru's president, Martín Vizcarra, announced Sunday that he would close his country's borders, according to The Jerusalem Post.
“The young people will be brought to Israel free of charge,” Foreign Ministry Israel Katz said.
French authorities were arranging emergency flights from Morocco to bring back dozens of French nationals, according to Reuters. And Germany's Foreign Minister announced an "airlift" for thousands of German citizens stranded abroad.
For Americans in similar situations? Shuttered embassies, recorded phone messages and automated emails.
As soon as Candace Kaiser and her friends learned of Peru's lockdown, they scrambled to find flights home to South Carolina.
"Airlines booked up incredibly fast and websites were crashing," she said. "Then came the price gouging." For a one-way ticket back to the U.S., she said, prices ran as high as $6,000.
"I'm 28 years old. I can't afford something like that," said Kaiser, who works in marketing and communications. They've called the embassy, but no one has answered. They tried emailing and received one automated response.
"Due to COVID-19 concerns, the US. consular section in Peru is reduced to emergency services only," the message reads, in part. "While the U.S. government has successfully evacuated many of our citizens in recent weeks, special flights do not reflect our standard practice and should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens abroad who may be impacted by the ongoing spread of COVID-19."
When Monesmith, the North Carolina ER nurse, learned of Peru's lockdown, "the last flight from Cusco to Lima had already left," she said.
So she went to the U.S. Embassy.
“The doors were locked, with a sign on the door just referring people to their website, which said nothing,” Monesmith said. “The embassy has been no help at all. The State Department has said that they do not send flights to bring Americans home, that is not their practice so we should not expect it.”
She noted that Peru's government has deployed its military to enforce the lockdown and has suspended some constitutional rights.
"Life in Cusco is a little scary. Police are all over the streets," she said. "We now have a curfew" from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
"There are 420 of us here in Cusco. We just want to go home," Monesmith said. "I’m far more needed at home in the ER helping patients."
Possible good news
Chris Pierce said his family received some potentially good news on Thursday; Philippine's tourism authorities may try to arrange flights out of the country for foreign nationals.
"Glad to hear the Philippine government is doing their part on helping us get home," he told USA TODAY, as his wife tried to reach the local tourism office about the possible exit plans.
If they can't get out, Pierce said, he's worried about the consequences of being stuck for as long as a month: Their jobs, their bills.
After speaking with their employers, Chris and Nila have been assured they will have jobs to return to, he said. But they aren't being paid while they are away.
"We will be in debt and then some," Pierce said.
Contributing: The Associated Press
More: Advocates warned against coronavirus stigma, but Trump still mentions China


usatoday--2020-03-21--NIH chief Francis Collins on COVID-19: Best response one people would find 'too drastic'

Kim Hjelmgaard , a London-based world affairs correspondent for USA TODAY , interviewed Francis Collins , the director of the National Institutes of Health , as part of ongoing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic .
This is a lightly edited transcript of that interview .
When will there be a vaccine ?
We are flat out on this .
But everyone needs to recognize that even flat out for a vaccine means we 're a year to a year-and-a-half away .
And that would be breaking the record by a factor of three or so given how long it usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be distributed to the public .
Two days ago ( March 16 ) , the first volunteers were injected with a vaccine that is a collaboration between the NIH research center and a company called Moderna .
There are 45 volunteers in Washington state and this will be our opportunity to find out whether it generates any good and safe responses .
Depending on how that goes , and if it 's remarkably positive also provides efficacy , it will move on to a phase two trial with larger numbers .
Following that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 'd expect to see a phase three trial , and possibly an opportunity to scale this up because if it works , we may need hundreds of millions of doses .
But it would need at least a year for wide deployment , which is why people should not be waiting to take actions that will help minimize the impact of this growing pandemic .
( Editor 's note : Scientists , companies and governments around the world are racing to develop and test other vaccines . )
Race is on : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine for coronavirus Can the U.S. 'flatten its curve ' – slow down the spread of coronavirus – as places in Asia have ?
China , South Korea , Singapore , Taiwan – we can take very significant lessons from these places .
Anyone who looks at the experiences in Asia will see highly activated systems to avoid further transmission by having people shelter in place , avoid interactions , hand-washing and all the other things that we know make a difference ( easy access to testing and tracing ) .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this virus is spreading .
It may be that a country like China has a more top-down ability to insist on certain sets of behavior changes .
But we ought to be able to do it in our way , in a bottom-up fashion .
Americans are smart .
They now have some data they can look at it to know how important this is .
We just have to get together and say , as a people , this is so important for saving what may otherwise be a million lives lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus 'curve ' may be at most dangerous point Can the U.S. avoid the dire Italy-like situation ?
We should be able to blunt it .
But let 's be clear : There 's going to be a very rough road in the weeks and months ahead of us .
They are trying to manage the situation and make awful decisions about who gets a ventilator and who does n't .
God help us if this happens more broadly across the world and we certainly hope that it does n't happen here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these measures , such as social distancing , and it 's front of mind for everybody , do n't expect that you can see an immediate consequence .
Right now , in the U.S. , we supposedly have 6,500 cases ( as of March 16 ) .
That 's got to be a vast underestimate because we have not been able to sample all the people who may be infected or who have no symptoms at all .
Some of these people are already destined to become very sick .
If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still see the numbers going up over the next two weeks because of what 's out there already .
We ca n't change that .
But , what we might be able to do is change what 's going to happen three or four weeks from now .
That 's our challenge .
When you 're on an exponential curve , every moment is dangerous .
This is a particularly critical moment for us to try to bring all the resources and determination of government and the American people to try to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you about a second wave of infections when restrictions are lifted ?
The risk of a second wave when much of the population is still not immune because they did n't get it in the first place is always there .
China will be watching this closely ( now that it has started to ease restrictions in some areas and reported no new cases ) .
Until we have a vaccine , and we get herd immunity with 90 % -95 % of the population immunized , this risk of another wave is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about that , too .
If we 're organized enough , if we 're smart enough , if we 're motivated enough , to flatten our curve this year , and , say , only 10 % of the U.S. population gets it this year , then when the next wave comes along we 'll be better off .
But only if we have the vaccine .
What does coronavirus do to your body ?
: Everything to know about the infection Should the U.S. impose a total lockdown now ?
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I would say is what Anthony Fauci ( director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ) has said a few times in recent days and that is that the approach we should be taking right now is one that most people would find to be too drastic because otherwise , it is not drastic enough .
Social distancing through August ?
: Trump suggests it may be needed to help confront coronavirus Does the U.S. have enough medical staff for this ?
We 're getting there .
Hospital ships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East coasts .
The next few months will determine whether we are outstripping our capabilities or not .
I do n't know any hospital that is n't running around trying to maximize what it can do .
Here at NIH , we run a hospital and we stopped elective admissions ten days ago to make sure we have all the resources we may need for extremely ill patients .
I imagine most hospitals have done the same .
But when it comes down to it , will we have enough physicians , nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilators ?
We do n't know what the need is going to look like and we should be doing everything we can to spread this need out over a few months instead of having it hit in one terrible crisis , which is what we are seeing happening in Italy .
It would be almost impossible to look at the situation in Asia and just say they were lucky their curves flattened .
We are at a point in the U.S where we are doubling the number of new cases about every two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an exponential curve .
If you map that up next to Italy you might say we 're about eight to 10 days behind them in terms of infections .
We better get busy .
Outlook in US : Too many coronavirus patients , too few ventilators It got off to a rocky start .
We ca n't fix that now .
What we can do now is to make sure it 's available much more broadly for people with symptoms .
Drive-thru testing should help .
But it may also freak everyone out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the number of known cases will take a sudden leap up .
Although nobody should assume that means that a lot more people just got infected all of a sudden .

NIH chief Francis Collins on COVID-19: Best response one people would find 'too drastic'
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: Social distancing key to fighting COVID-19 Social distancing matters. Here is how to do it and how it can help curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Kim Hjelmgaard, a London-based world affairs correspondent for USA TODAY, interviewed Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, as part of ongoing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
This is a lightly edited transcript of that interview.
When will there be a vaccine?
We are flat out on this. But everyone needs to recognize that even flat out for a vaccine means we're a year to a year-and-a-half away. And that would be breaking the record by a factor of three or so given how long it usually takes to get something fully ready to be distributed to the public. Two days ago (March 16), the first volunteers were injected with a vaccine that is a collaboration between the NIH research center and a company called Moderna. There are 45 volunteers in Washington state and this will be our opportunity to find out whether it generates any good and safe responses. Depending on how that goes, and if it's remarkably positive also provides efficacy, it will move on to a phase two trial with larger numbers. Following that, but not until the fall, you'd expect to see a phase three trial, and possibly an opportunity to scale this up because if it works, we may need hundreds of millions of doses. But it would need at least a year for wide deployment, which is why people should not be waiting to take actions that will help minimize the impact of this growing pandemic. (Editor's note: Scientists, companies and governments around the world are racing to develop and test other vaccines.)
Race is on: Scientists in all-out global effort to find a vaccine for coronavirus
Coronavirus: How vaccines are developed and tested Pressure to create a coronavirus vaccine is increasing by the day, but for a safe vaccine to enter the market, it takes time. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Can the U.S. 'flatten its curve' – slow down the spread of coronavirus – as places in Asia have?
China, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan – we can take very significant lessons from these places. Anyone who looks at the experiences in Asia will see highly activated systems to avoid further transmission by having people shelter in place, avoid interactions, hand-washing and all the other things that we know make a difference (easy access to testing and tracing). That lesson should apply to any circumstance where this virus is spreading. It may be that a country like China has a more top-down ability to insist on certain sets of behavior changes. But we ought to be able to do it in our way, in a bottom-up fashion. Americans are smart. They now have some data they can look at it to know how important this is. We just have to get together and say, as a people, this is so important for saving what may otherwise be a million lives lost.
USA TODAY analysis: America's coronavirus 'curve' may be at most dangerous point
Can the U.S. avoid the dire Italy-like situation?
We should be able to blunt it. But let's be clear: There's going to be a very rough road in the weeks and months ahead of us. They are trying to manage the situation and make awful decisions about who gets a ventilator and who doesn't. God help us if this happens more broadly across the world and we certainly hope that it doesn't happen here. When you make a decision about one of these measures, such as social distancing, and it's front of mind for everybody, don't expect that you can see an immediate consequence. Right now, in the U.S., we supposedly have 6,500 cases (as of March 16). That's got to be a vast underestimate because we have not been able to sample all the people who may be infected or who have no symptoms at all. Some of these people are already destined to become very sick. If we did everything right today, you would still see the numbers going up over the next two weeks because of what's out there already. We can't change that. But, what we might be able to do is change what's going to happen three or four weeks from now. That's our challenge. When you're on an exponential curve, every moment is dangerous. This is a particularly critical moment for us to try to bring all the resources and determination of government and the American people to try to get off of it.
Grim milestone: Italy's coronavirus deaths surpass China's
How concerned are you about a second wave of infections when restrictions are lifted?
The risk of a second wave when much of the population is still not immune because they didn't get it in the first place is always there. China will be watching this closely (now that it has started to ease restrictions in some areas and reported no new cases). Until we have a vaccine, and we get herd immunity with 90%-95% of the population immunized, this risk of another wave is not going away. We have to think about that, too. If we're organized enough, if we're smart enough, if we're motivated enough, to flatten our curve this year, and, say, only 10% of the U.S. population gets it this year, then when the next wave comes along we'll be better off. But only if we have the vaccine.
What does coronavirus do to your body?: Everything to know about the infection
Should the U.S. impose a total lockdown now?
It's so hard to answer that but what I would say is what Anthony Fauci (director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) has said a few times in recent days and that is that the approach we should be taking right now is one that most people would find to be too drastic because otherwise, it is not drastic enough.
Social distancing through August?: Trump suggests it may be needed to help confront coronavirus
Does the U.S. have enough medical staff for this?
We're getting there. Hospital ships are being placed on the West and East coasts. The next few months will determine whether we are outstripping our capabilities or not. I don't know any hospital that isn't running around trying to maximize what it can do. Here at NIH, we run a hospital and we stopped elective admissions ten days ago to make sure we have all the resources we may need for extremely ill patients. I imagine most hospitals have done the same. But when it comes down to it, will we have enough physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, laboratory technicians, ventilators? We don't know what the need is going to look like and we should be doing everything we can to spread this need out over a few months instead of having it hit in one terrible crisis, which is what we are seeing happening in Italy. It would be almost impossible to look at the situation in Asia and just say they were lucky their curves flattened. We are at a point in the U.S where we are doubling the number of new cases about every two to three days. That's called an exponential curve. If you map that up next to Italy you might say we're about eight to 10 days behind them in terms of infections. We better get busy.
Outlook in US: Too many coronavirus patients, too few ventilators
Is testing improving?
It got off to a rocky start. We can't fix that now. What we can do now is to make sure it's available much more broadly for people with symptoms. Drive-thru testing should help. But it may also freak everyone out when these facilities are widely set up because the number of known cases will take a sudden leap up. Although nobody should assume that means that a lot more people just got infected all of a sudden.


usatoday--2020-03-21--Senate Republicans propose $1,200 cash payments in coronavirus economic rescue package

WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday unveiled a historic stimulus package that includes direct payments of $ 1,200 to individuals and assistance to businesses to deal with the health and economic harm from the novel coronavirus .
“ We need to have the American people ’ s backs , '' said McConnell , R-Ky. Married couples would be eligible for up to $ 2,400 in assistance with an additional $ 500 for every child .
Assistance would begin phasing out for individuals earning at least $ 75,000 and would not be available to those with adjusted gross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couples phases out after $ 150,000 and is not available to those with joint incomes of more than $ 198,000 .
The 247-page bill , which does not yet have a price tag , would also extend the tax filing deadline until July 15 .
The IRS has already extended the payment deadline until that date .
Small businesses would be eligible to receive a private bank loan equal to four months of their expenses that they would n't have to pay back if they stayed open , maintained their workforce and paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to $ 208 billion in collateralized loans to industries hard hit by the outbreak .
That includes airlines , which had been hoping for grants instead of loans .
`` We are not bailing out the airlines or other industries – period , '' said Sen. Richard Shelby , R-Ala .
Proposed help for the health care industry includes higher Medicare payments to providers along with measures to spur the hiring of health care workers , manufacture more personal protective equipment , and speed the development of new vaccines and treatments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats Friday , along with administration officials .
`` We know this legislation will not be the last word , '' he said .
`` But we need to take bold action as soon as possible . ''
Senate Democrats have priorities of their own , and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer complained Thursday that they 've been left out of discussions .
`` It had virtually no input from Democrats , '' Schumer said after McConnell released his plan .
A few hours later , Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proposal is that it is `` not at all pro-worker and instead puts corporations way ahead of workers.
” “ The number one priority is addressing this health crisis , which requires a Marshall Plan to rebuild our health care infrastructure on a continental scale and ensure the resources are there to test and treat everyone who needs it , '' they said .
Democrats share some of the same goals but not necessarily the same methods of assistance .
Schumer , for example , called it a `` must '' that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand beyond what was included in emergency legislation the president signed into law Wednesday , an issue that Republicans have been skeptical of due to the impacts on small business .
Democrats also want an additional expansion of unemployment insurance and Medicaid along with temporarily canceling student loan payments .
“ A one-time cash payment of $ 1,000 , that might help families cover rent , groceries , for a month , but then what ? ''
Schumer said .
`` The pandemic requires bold structural changes to our society ’ s safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months , not just weeks.
” In a conference call House Democrats held Thursday to talk about the package , Pelosi encouraged everyone to `` think big '' about how to use federal dollars to help people , according to a summary of the call provided by a participant .
`` Time is of the essence , '' she said .
Democrats on the call expressed varying views about the best way to provide direct assistance to families and businesses .
While members of both parties want to speed help to small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there 's bipartisan concern about support for large corporations .
Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott said the next stimulus package should focus solely on helping individual workers and restaurants , travel agencies and other mom-and-pop operations before moving on to large industries .
“ Right now , Congress needs to focus on the Americans that are hurt most by the coronavirus – our small businesses , hourly workers and individuals whose livelihoods depend on tips , ” said Scott , the former governor of Florida who once ran the nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be bailing out large corporations that have enjoyed years of growth and prosperity.
” Some Democrats have particularly complained about bailing out airlines after they 've stockpiled debt and spent billions buying back stock to drive up stock prices .
`` If there is so much as a DIME of corporate bailout money in the next relief package , it should include a reinstated ban on stock buybacks , '' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y. , tweeted Tuesday .
Indiana Sen. Todd Young , a member of Senate GOP leadership , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a sympathetic industry , '' they are essential to commerce .
Young said he was the only passenger on his commercial flight from Indianapolis to Washington on Monday .
`` It was me , a pilot , a co-pilot and a flight attendant , '' he said .
`` That strikes me as an unsustainable business model . ''
The industry employs roughly 750,000 pilots , flight attendants and other workers .
Prior to the coronavirus crisis , U.S. airlines were transporting a record 2.5 million passengers and 58,000 tons of cargo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only 20-30 % full and new bookings are implying 70-80 % declines in traffic even as airlines make dramatic cuts in capacity , according to an industry trade group .
Still , public anger at the 2008 bank bailout contributed to the rise of the Tea Party movement that helped Republicans take back the House in 2010 .
Young , who was first elected to Congress as part of that wave , opposed the 2008 bailout .
Young , and others , say the current pandemic is a different situation from the 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` bad decisions by bankers . ''
But Sen. Mike Braun , R-Ind.
, who has worried about comparisons with 2008 and `` bailouts for big companies , '' said he would prefer that the latest package stay focused on assistance to individuals and small businesses .
Braun , however , said he would n't hold up the package if it 's not completely to his liking .
`` It 's an unusual situation , '' he said .
But there 's already blowback from key officials to the payment proposal .
South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key Trump confidant , told Republican colleagues Thursday both he and new White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows are trying to persuade the president to scrap the idea , according to Politico .

Maureen Groppe, Nicholas Wu, Ledyard King and Christal Hayes, USA TODAY

Senate Republicans propose $1,200 cash payments in coronavirus economic rescue package
Show Caption Hide Caption Universal basic income: What Andrew Yang and Nixon have in common What would you do if the government gave you $1,000 per month? That’s what democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang wants. We explain UBI. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday unveiled a historic stimulus package that includes direct payments of $1,200 to individuals and assistance to businesses to deal with the health and economic harm from the novel coronavirus.
“We need to have the American people’s backs," said McConnell, R-Ky.
Married couples would be eligible for up to $2,400 in assistance with an additional $500 for every child.
Assistance would begin phasing out for individuals earning at least $75,000 and would not be available to those with adjusted gross incomes above $99,000. Assistance for couples phases out after $150,000 and is not available to those with joint incomes of more than $198,000.
The 247-page bill, which does not yet have a price tag, would also extend the tax filing deadline until July 15. The IRS has already extended the payment deadline until that date.
Small businesses would be eligible to receive a private bank loan equal to four months of their expenses that they wouldn't have to pay back if they stayed open, maintained their workforce and paid their bills.
The government could provide up to $208 billion in collateralized loans to industries hard hit by the outbreak. That includes airlines, which had been hoping for grants instead of loans.
"We are not bailing out the airlines or other industries – period," said Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.
Proposed help for the health care industry includes higher Medicare payments to providers along with measures to spur the hiring of health care workers, manufacture more personal protective equipment, and speed the development of new vaccines and treatments.
McConnell said Republicans would begin discussions with Democrats Friday, along with administration officials.
"We know this legislation will not be the last word," he said. "But we need to take bold action as soon as possible."
Senate Democrats have priorities of their own, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer complained Thursday that they've been left out of discussions.
"It had virtually no input from Democrats," Schumer said after McConnell released his plan.
A few hours later, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a joint statement saying their first impression of the proposal is that it is "not at all pro-worker and instead puts corporations way ahead of workers.”
“The number one priority is addressing this health crisis, which requires a Marshall Plan to rebuild our health care infrastructure on a continental scale and ensure the resources are there to test and treat everyone who needs it," they said.
Democrats share some of the same goals but not necessarily the same methods of assistance.
Schumer, for example, called it a "must" that the package include sick leave benefits that expand beyond what was included in emergency legislation the president signed into law Wednesday, an issue that Republicans have been skeptical of due to the impacts on small business.
Democrats also want an additional expansion of unemployment insurance and Medicaid along with temporarily canceling student loan payments.
“A one-time cash payment of $1,000, that might help families cover rent, groceries, for a month, but then what?" Schumer said. "The pandemic requires bold structural changes to our society’s safety net to give people a lifeline for months, not just weeks.”
In a conference call House Democrats held Thursday to talk about the package, Pelosi encouraged everyone to "think big" about how to use federal dollars to help people, according to a summary of the call provided by a participant.
"Time is of the essence," she said.
Democrats on the call expressed varying views about the best way to provide direct assistance to families and businesses.
While members of both parties want to speed help to small businesses to help them pay workers' salaries, there's bipartisan concern about support for large corporations.
Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott said the next stimulus package should focus solely on helping individual workers and restaurants, travel agencies and other mom-and-pop operations before moving on to large industries.
“Right now, Congress needs to focus on the Americans that are hurt most by the coronavirus – our small businesses, hourly workers and individuals whose livelihoods depend on tips,” said Scott, the former governor of Florida who once ran the nation’s largest hospital company. “We shouldn’t be bailing out large corporations that have enjoyed years of growth and prosperity.”
Some Democrats have particularly complained about bailing out airlines after they've stockpiled debt and spent billions buying back stock to drive up stock prices.
"If there is so much as a DIME of corporate bailout money in the next relief package, it should include a reinstated ban on stock buybacks," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., tweeted Tuesday.
Indiana Sen. Todd Young, a member of Senate GOP leadership, said that while airlines "may not be a sympathetic industry," they are essential to commerce.
Young said he was the only passenger on his commercial flight from Indianapolis to Washington on Monday.
"It was me, a pilot, a co-pilot and a flight attendant," he said. "That strikes me as an unsustainable business model."
The industry employs roughly 750,000 pilots, flight attendants and other workers. Prior to the coronavirus crisis, U.S. airlines were transporting a record 2.5 million passengers and 58,000 tons of cargo each day. Today, planes are only 20-30% full and new bookings are implying 70-80% declines in traffic even as airlines make dramatic cuts in capacity, according to an industry trade group.
Still, public anger at the 2008 bank bailout contributed to the rise of the Tea Party movement that helped Republicans take back the House in 2010. Young, who was first elected to Congress as part of that wave, opposed the 2008 bailout.
Young, and others, say the current pandemic is a different situation from the 2008 financial crisis, which was caused by "bad decisions by bankers."
But Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., who has worried about comparisons with 2008 and "bailouts for big companies," said he would prefer that the latest package stay focused on assistance to individuals and small businesses.
Braun, however, said he wouldn't hold up the package if it's not completely to his liking.
"It's an unusual situation," he said.
But there's already blowback from key officials to the payment proposal.
South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, a key Trump confidant, told Republican colleagues Thursday both he and new White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows are trying to persuade the president to scrap the idea, according to Politico.


usatoday--2020-03-21--OnPolitics: Cash for Americans and a crippled justice system

President Donald Trump signed a measure to ensure paid sick leave for workers and widen coronavirus testing after its passage in the Senate .
Now , Congress is crafting its next emergency relief package : one that would provide checks of $ 1,000 or more for Americans and financial lifelines for businesses socked by the coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging the economy and upending daily life .
The coronavirus pandemic has upended the day-to-day operations of the criminal justice system , raising significant questions about what incarceration and access to justice looks like as the virus reaches all 50 states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from judges to defendants , now confronts a stark reality .
Jury trials have been suspended in more than two dozen states , the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands , as well as in dozens more localities .
• How much did it hurt Democratic primary turnout ?
Here 's how to get updates all day USA TODAY creates a daily politics blog that is continually updated with the news of the moment .
The moments nowadays are largely coronavirus .
As an example , here are some updates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signals he 's open to the government taking an equity stake in companies • State Department to Americans : 'Do Not Travel ' abroad

OnPolitics: Cash for Americans and a crippled justice system
Congress weighs cash for Americans
President Donald Trump signed a measure to ensure paid sick leave for workers and widen coronavirus testing after its passage in the Senate.
Now, Congress is crafting its next emergency relief package: one that would provide checks of $1,000 or more for Americans and financial lifelines for businesses socked by the coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging the economy and upending daily life.
Upending the criminal justice system
The coronavirus pandemic has upended the day-to-day operations of the criminal justice system, raising significant questions about what incarceration and access to justice looks like as the virus reaches all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Everybody, from judges to defendants, now confronts a stark reality. Jury trials have been suspended in more than two dozen states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as in dozens more localities.
Here's how to get updates all day
USA TODAY creates a daily politics blog that is continually updated with the news of the moment. The moments nowadays are largely coronavirus. As an example, here are some updates from today's blog.


usatoday--2020-03-21--'Complete chaos': How the coronavirus pandemic is upending the criminal justice system

Claramary Winebrenner had a difficult choice to make : keep two pregnant inmates in jail where they might contract coronavirus , or release them knowing they ’ ll be a danger to themselves and to others .
Both inmates have long histories of methamphetamine abuse .
One , who 's six months pregnant , has no family .
She 'll be high in two days if left on her own , said Winebrenner , the prosecutor in rural DeKalb County in Indiana .
Under normal times , keeping them incarcerated would have been the easy choice for Winebrenner .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The coronavirus pandemic has upended the day-to-day operations of the criminal justice system , raising significant questions about what incarceration and access to justice looks like as the virus reaches all 50 states and the District of Columbia .
Everybody , from judges to defendants , now confronts a stark reality .
Jury trials have been suspended in more than two dozen states , the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands , as well as in dozens more localities .
Courthouses have either been restricted from the public or completely shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the justice system does not grind to a screeching halt , have prioritized more urgent cases , with some holding hearings via video or telephone .
This means defendants who enter the criminal justice system will have to stay there longer , which could raise serious questions about civil liberties and constitutional rights to a speedy trial .
Jo-Ann Wallace , president and chief executive of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association , said this also means defendants who are awaiting trial in jail could lose access to their homes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect '' that destabilizes livelihoods .
On lockdown : Prisons restrict movements as they try to keep coronavirus out Similar disruptions are happening in federal courts that hear some of the country ’ s most controversial and consequential cases .
The Supreme Court postponed oral arguments for the first time in a century .
The executive committee of the Judicial Conference , the policy-making body for federal courts , is asking Congress for $ 7 million in additional funds to pay for mental health and drug treatments that have become costlier because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in groups .
The country 's notoriously backlogged federal immigration court system is now largely at a standstill .
The Justice Department closed several courts and postponed hearings of those who are not in custody .
Meanwhile , prosecutors like Winebrenner face an uneasy , immediate question : whether to release defendants they believe should be incarcerated to avoid viral outbreaks in jails , where close quarters and overcrowding would speed the spread of the deadly and highly contagious COVID-19 .
“ Let ’ s just say we ’ ve kind of moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get some people out of there … and bust through some rules that are very good rules for some reasons , but in this situation , some people need to get out , ” she said .
Winebrenner ultimately did not recommend the release of the pregnant inmates , saying their drug addiction poses a greater danger to them than the virus .
At least in jail , she said , they can get medical care and stay sober .
“ Tough calls are being made on a number of rightfully held inmates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are balancing safety for the community against the great benefit of a low jail population , which ultimately , is also for the community.
” For Derwyn Bunton , the chief public defender in New Orleans , the worst-case scenario is clear : Arrests will continue as if everything is business as usual , clogging up court dockets that are not moving .
Reluctance to release nonviolent offenders will overcrowd jails .
Defendants , still innocent until proved guilty , will sit there indefinitely .
The epidemic will make its way inside facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing is n't an option .
Bunton has pushed for not arresting people over minor offenses and releasing inmates accused of nonviolent crimes to avoid that worst-case scenario .
But he ’ s been met with resistance from law-enforcement officials who say bending the rules would result in lawlessness .
Such is the conundrum in jurisdictions across the country , where defense attorneys and prosecutors with competing interests are forced to find common ground to help stem the public health crisis .
“ We can maintain public safety without jeopardizing public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost to the community of keeping those folks in jail on nonviolent or technical violations is outweighed by the need to prevent the spread of the virus.
” Winebrenner is on the same page .
She had asked law enforcement officials who patrol her county to bend the norms .
“ If it ’ s not a public safety issue , … if there ’ s not a darn good reason to arrest somebody , don ’ t arrest them , ” she said .
Other counties in Texas and California have started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor in Kenton County in Kentucky , said he ’ s seeing far more people being released from jail than at any other time in his 21 years in public service .
Nearly every inmate accused of nonviolent offenses is being considered for release , he said .
That includes not only defendants facing minor drug and property crimes , but also felons caught with guns and those accused of drug trafficking .
“ I ’ m apprehensive .
Certainly , we don ’ t want to make any law-abiding citizens get victimized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incarcerated .
That ’ s my biggest concern , ” he said .
Sanders also fears that many defendants will not show up to hearings once court operations are back to normal .
But he also acknowledges that these are unprecedented times .
Taking a chance by releasing certain inmates “ is something we need to do , ” he said .
What does coronavirus do to your body ?
: Everything to know about the infection In Erie County in New York , reducing the jail population has not been as pressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor .
State bail reforms that took effect this year allowed defendants accused of misdemeanor and nonviolent felonies to go free while awaiting trial , significantly reducing jail population .
More pressing for Flynn is the issue with grand juries .
New York , one of about two dozen states that require grand jury indictments for people charged with serious crimes , has stopped empaneling grand juries in response to the pandemic .
Prosecutors have 45 days to take the case to a grand jury , but they ’ re now unlikely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state should enact emergency laws lifting that 45-day limit , though he also acknowledged it may risk incarcerating defendants indefinitely without an indictment .
“ While I recognize that defendants have their civil liberties , we also have to recognize that we are in a state of emergency , ” he said .
“ I ’ m not saying disregard civil liberties , but we have to have a balance here.
” The mass disruptions will create backlogs that will most certainly burden already strained court systems .
The justice system at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more sluggish than it is now .
“ The new normal is complete chaos right now , ” said Steven Halpert , juvenile division chief for the public defender ’ s office in Harris County , Texas .
In the juvenile system , the delays and backlogs mean some teenagers may age out before their cases are processed , Halpert said .
“ We have to finish the procedure before ( they turn ) 18 , ” he said .
“ We have to do something .
It ’ s a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m concerned about those.
” Fact check : Coronavirus originated in China , researchers and studies say But the disruptions , while painful , are necessary , said Greg Banks , the prosecutor in Island County in Washington state .
“ Yes , we will add to the backlog , and it ’ ll be difficult to dig our way out of it .
But the downside of not acting is the infection rate balloons .
Our public system collapses , ” he said .
“ I ’ d rather fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases than to participate in the mismanagement of this epidemic.
” Anne Marie Schubert , the prosecutor in Sacramento , California , said the difficult adjustments in the criminal justice system are critical to help preserve the country ’ s healthcare infrastructure .
“ We play a part in this role to protect the human race .
… We don ’ t want to be in a position where health systems have to make life and death decisions , ” Schubert said .
“ I can ’ t predict where we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
At the end of the day , the criminal justice system will survive.
” In DeKalb County , where the courthouse is now closed , Winebrenner had spent the last few days jumping from one pretrial hearing to the next , postponing cases that can wait , thinking about how she and her five part-time deputy prosecutors can do their jobs without a courtroom – all while frantically finding laptops so secretaries who keep her office running can work from home .
“ Nobody ’ s prepared for this , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared with a plan for this .
”

'Complete chaos': How the coronavirus pandemic is upending the criminal justice system
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus response could go through summer, President Trump warns President Donald Trump announced tougher guidelines for battling the coronavirus and a possible time frame for when the worst may be over. USA TODAY
Claramary Winebrenner had a difficult choice to make: keep two pregnant inmates in jail where they might contract coronavirus, or release them knowing they’ll be a danger to themselves and to others.
Both inmates have long histories of methamphetamine abuse. One, who's six months pregnant, has no family. She'll be high in two days if left on her own, said Winebrenner, the prosecutor in rural DeKalb County in Indiana.
Under normal times, keeping them incarcerated would have been the easy choice for Winebrenner. But these aren’t normal times.
The coronavirus pandemic has upended the day-to-day operations of the criminal justice system, raising significant questions about what incarceration and access to justice looks like as the virus reaches all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Everybody, from judges to defendants, now confronts a stark reality. Jury trials have been suspended in more than two dozen states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as in dozens more localities. Courthouses have either been restricted from the public or completely shut down. Judges, forced to ensure that the justice system does not grind to a screeching halt, have prioritized more urgent cases, with some holding hearings via video or telephone.
This means defendants who enter the criminal justice system will have to stay there longer, which could raise serious questions about civil liberties and constitutional rights to a speedy trial. Jo-Ann Wallace, president and chief executive of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, said this also means defendants who are awaiting trial in jail could lose access to their homes, family and jobs – "the cascading effect" that destabilizes livelihoods.
On lockdown: Prisons restrict movements as they try to keep coronavirus out
Coronavirus updates:Navy hospital ship heading to NYC; stocks fall; death toll climbs
Similar disruptions are happening in federal courts that hear some of the country’s most controversial and consequential cases. The Supreme Court postponed oral arguments for the first time in a century. The executive committee of the Judicial Conference, the policy-making body for federal courts, is asking Congress for $7 million in additional funds to pay for mental health and drug treatments that have become costlier because they must now be given individually instead of in groups.
The country's notoriously backlogged federal immigration court system is now largely at a standstill. The Justice Department closed several courts and postponed hearings of those who are not in custody.
Meanwhile, prosecutors like Winebrenner face an uneasy, immediate question: whether to release defendants they believe should be incarcerated to avoid viral outbreaks in jails, where close quarters and overcrowding would speed the spread of the deadly and highly contagious COVID-19.
“Let’s just say we’ve kind of moved the bar up. We have to get some people out of there … and bust through some rules that are very good rules for some reasons, but in this situation, some people need to get out,” she said.
Winebrenner ultimately did not recommend the release of the pregnant inmates, saying their drug addiction poses a greater danger to them than the virus. At least in jail, she said, they can get medical care and stay sober.
“Tough calls are being made on a number of rightfully held inmates,” Winebrenner said. “We are balancing safety for the community against the great benefit of a low jail population, which ultimately, is also for the community.”
Coronavirus and courts: Supreme Court postpones oral arguments
Public health vs. public safety
For Derwyn Bunton, the chief public defender in New Orleans, the worst-case scenario is clear:
Arrests will continue as if everything is business as usual, clogging up court dockets that are not moving. Reluctance to release nonviolent offenders will overcrowd jails. Defendants, still innocent until proved guilty, will sit there indefinitely. The epidemic will make its way inside facilities, where hygiene products are limited and social distancing isn't an option.
Bunton has pushed for not arresting people over minor offenses and releasing inmates accused of nonviolent crimes to avoid that worst-case scenario. But he’s been met with resistance from law-enforcement officials who say bending the rules would result in lawlessness.
Such is the conundrum in jurisdictions across the country, where defense attorneys and prosecutors with competing interests are forced to find common ground to help stem the public health crisis.
“We can maintain public safety without jeopardizing public health,” Bunton said. “The cost to the community of keeping those folks in jail on nonviolent or technical violations is outweighed by the need to prevent the spread of the virus.”
Winebrenner is on the same page. She had asked law enforcement officials who patrol her county to bend the norms.
“If it’s not a public safety issue, … if there’s not a darn good reason to arrest somebody, don’t arrest them,” she said.
Other counties in Texas and California have started releasing inmates.
Rob Sanders, the prosecutor in Kenton County in Kentucky, said he’s seeing far more people being released from jail than at any other time in his 21 years in public service. Nearly every inmate accused of nonviolent offenses is being considered for release, he said. That includes not only defendants facing minor drug and property crimes, but also felons caught with guns and those accused of drug trafficking.
“I’m apprehensive. Certainly, we don’t want to make any law-abiding citizens get victimized by someone who might otherwise have been incarcerated. That’s my biggest concern,” he said.
Sanders also fears that many defendants will not show up to hearings once court operations are back to normal. But he also acknowledges that these are unprecedented times. Taking a chance by releasing certain inmates “is something we need to do,” he said.
What does coronavirus do to your body?: Everything to know about the infection
In Erie County in New York, reducing the jail population has not been as pressing, said John Flynn, the county prosecutor. State bail reforms that took effect this year allowed defendants accused of misdemeanor and nonviolent felonies to go free while awaiting trial, significantly reducing jail population.
More pressing for Flynn is the issue with grand juries. New York, one of about two dozen states that require grand jury indictments for people charged with serious crimes, has stopped empaneling grand juries in response to the pandemic. Prosecutors have 45 days to take the case to a grand jury, but they’re now unlikely to meet that deadline.
Flynn said the state should enact emergency laws lifting that 45-day limit, though he also acknowledged it may risk incarcerating defendants indefinitely without an indictment.
“While I recognize that defendants have their civil liberties, we also have to recognize that we are in a state of emergency,” he said. “I’m not saying disregard civil liberties, but we have to have a balance here.”
‘Complete chaos’
The mass disruptions will create backlogs that will most certainly burden already strained court systems. The justice system at the end of the pandemic will likely be even more sluggish than it is now.
“The new normal is complete chaos right now,” said Steven Halpert, juvenile division chief for the public defender’s office in Harris County, Texas.
In the juvenile system, the delays and backlogs mean some teenagers may age out before their cases are processed, Halpert said.
“We have to finish the procedure before (they turn) 18,” he said. “We have to do something. It’s a small percentage of the overall kids, but I’m concerned about those.”
Fact check: Coronavirus originated in China, researchers and studies say
But the disruptions, while painful, are necessary, said Greg Banks, the prosecutor in Island County in Washington state.
“Yes, we will add to the backlog, and it’ll be difficult to dig our way out of it. But the downside of not acting is the infection rate balloons. Our public system collapses,” he said. “I’d rather fight my way back from a backlog of cases than to participate in the mismanagement of this epidemic.”
Anne Marie Schubert, the prosecutor in Sacramento, California, said the difficult adjustments in the criminal justice system are critical to help preserve the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
“We play a part in this role to protect the human race. … We don’t want to be in a position where health systems have to make life and death decisions,” Schubert said. “I can’t predict where we’re going to be in three to four weeks. At the end of the day, the criminal justice system will survive.”
In DeKalb County, where the courthouse is now closed, Winebrenner had spent the last few days jumping from one pretrial hearing to the next, postponing cases that can wait, thinking about how she and her five part-time deputy prosecutors can do their jobs without a courtroom – all while frantically finding laptops so secretaries who keep her office running can work from home.
“Nobody’s prepared for this,” she said. “Nobody’s prepared with a plan for this.”
Contributing: Richard Wolf


usatoday--2020-03-21--Coronavirus is altering operations in the trenches of America's criminal justice system

WASHINGTON – In the name of social distancing , officials in at least two Oklahoma counties have agreed to suspend warrants for suspects in non-violent crimes , including vehicle thefts .
Authorities in Maine have permanently dropped warrants in more than 12,000 cases involving unpaid fines , restitution and other sanctions .
Similarly in Minnesota , officials have halted the suspension of drivers licenses for those who fail to make scheduled court appearances .
In each case , officials said , the decisions were driven by a collective desire to reduce social contact and the risk of spreading the highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the pandemic has seeped into the trenches of the every-day American criminal justice system , where judges , prosecutors , defense lawyers and law enforcement officers are taking increasingly uncommon actions to guard against an unfamiliar adversary .
Locking out the virus : Prisons restrict movements as they try to keep coronavirus out Coronavirus is spreading : Everything to know , from symptoms to how to protect yourself '' The new normal is starting to set in , '' said Nelson Bunn Jr. , executive director of the National District Attorneys Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5,100 members .
`` The spread of COVID-19 ... is impacting the way we operate as a society and we all are having to shift our habits and routines . ''
Nina Ginsberg , president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers , has urged government authorities to use discretion in making law enforcement decisions , especially when weighing possible detention of suspects in densely populated local jails , where outbreaks of disease can spread quickly .
`` There are clearly steps to be taken across the board , '' Ginsberg said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly , we really need to see a broader response . ''
Ginsberg said lawyers and bar associations should request that judges require local detention officials disclose the steps that they are taking to protect the populations in their custody .
`` We should push the government to be more flexible on everything from whether a summons would suffice in lieu of a ( arrest ) warrant , where the defendant does not pose a clear danger , to whether a voluntary surrender date can be delayed , '' she said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained , should n't be .
Once the virus gets into one of these jails , I 'm afraid there is no way to stop it from spreading . ''
Earlier this week in Maine , Chief District Judge Susan Sparaco appeared to offer extraordinary relief , canceling 12,400 warrants for those accused of failing to pay a range of fees , fines and restitution .
The `` emergency '' order took effect immediately after it was issued Monday , averting the prospect of adding to the local detention population .
Amy Quinlan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the action does not wipe away the financial sanctions but it does remove the threat of arrest if the fines and fees go unpaid .
`` All of these decisions were very difficult , '' Quinlan said .
`` None of this was done lightly . ''
Civil rights advocates , who have long argued that such financial sanctions disproportionately punish the poor and communities of color , said they hoped the actions signaled a sustained change in course by state and local governments .
`` It should be a wake-up call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the solution , '' said Joanna Weiss , co-director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center .
`` There is a growing recognition that this is no longer a viable way to balance ( local ) budgets . ''
While Quinlan is aware that advocates have been pressing for changes to local financial sanctions , she said the recent action in Maine was meant only to address the public health emergency .
`` I know a lot of states are looking at this issue , '' she said .
Earlier this week in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor in Osage and Pawnee counties , said the threat posed by the virus triggered a conversation with local sheriffs who expressed their increasing unease with executing arrests that might place them and the local jail population in contact with potential carriers of the disease .
`` They were a little bit uncomfortable , '' Fisher said .
As a result , arrest warrants for those suspected of white-collar crimes and property-related offenses are , for now , being suspended .
Fisher said the cases will still be investigated , but the actual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Once we get past this ( virus threat ) , we 'll begin ( the arrests ) ; these cases will still be prosecuted . ''
Fisher said local authorities also have taken steps to alleviate the density in the jail by releasing more than 50 non-violent prisoners , many of them accused of drug offenses , car break-ins and other property crimes , taking the population down from about 135 to 80 .
`` It was significant , '' Fisher said .
Though he is a first-term district attorney , Fisher could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required such action by local authorities .
`` It 's been quite an introduction , '' he said .
Duffie Stone , the chief prosecutor in a five-county area of South Carolina 's low country , said the court delays and warrant suspensions prompted by the virus threat may be the appropriate precautions for now but they are not likely to help win cases in the long run .
`` As a prosecutor , I depend a lot on witnesses ' memories , '' said Stone , who also serves as president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memories do n't get better the longer the delays go on .
Some move away , some die .
`` But I 'm not ready to sound the panic alarm yet .
Maybe the good thing that comes of this is how this event has forced all of us to use technology .
We 're learning that a lot of the business of the criminal courts can be done by teleconference , '' Stone said .
`` You 'll always need a jury , and conduct a jury trial in person .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many functions can be accomplished online . ''

Coronavirus is altering operations in the trenches of America's criminal justice system
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: Donald Trump defends calling COVID-19 the 'Chinese virus' President Donald Trump has continued to refer to coronavirus as the "Chinese virus," causing many to double down on their calls to avoid stigma. Associated Press, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – In the name of social distancing, officials in at least two Oklahoma counties have agreed to suspend warrants for suspects in non-violent crimes, including vehicle thefts.
Authorities in Maine have permanently dropped warrants in more than 12,000 cases involving unpaid fines, restitution and other sanctions. Similarly in Minnesota, officials have halted the suspension of drivers licenses for those who fail to make scheduled court appearances.
In each case, officials said, the decisions were driven by a collective desire to reduce social contact and the risk of spreading the highly contagious coronavirus.
The moves also underscore how the pandemic has seeped into the trenches of the every-day American criminal justice system, where judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers and law enforcement officers are taking increasingly uncommon actions to guard against an unfamiliar adversary.
Locking out the virus:Prisons restrict movements as they try to keep coronavirus out
Coronavirus is spreading: Everything to know, from symptoms to how to protect yourself
"The new normal is starting to set in," said Nelson Bunn Jr., executive director of the National District Attorneys Association in a report to the group's 5,100 members. "The spread of COVID-19 ... is impacting the way we operate as a society and we all are having to shift our habits and routines."
Nina Ginsberg, president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, has urged government authorities to use discretion in making law enforcement decisions, especially when weighing possible detention of suspects in densely populated local jails, where outbreaks of disease can spread quickly.
"There are clearly steps to be taken across the board," Ginsberg said Thursday. "This is spiraling so quickly, we really need to see a broader response."
Ginsberg said lawyers and bar associations should request that judges require local detention officials disclose the steps that they are taking to protect the populations in their custody.
"We should push the government to be more flexible on everything from whether a summons would suffice in lieu of a (arrest) warrant, where the defendant does not pose a clear danger, to whether a voluntary surrender date can be delayed," she said. "Anybody who doesn't need to be detained, shouldn't be. Once the virus gets into one of these jails, I'm afraid there is no way to stop it from spreading."
Earlier this week in Maine, Chief District Judge Susan Sparaco appeared to offer extraordinary relief, canceling 12,400 warrants for those accused of failing to pay a range of fees, fines and restitution. The "emergency" order took effect immediately after it was issued Monday, averting the prospect of adding to the local detention population.
Amy Quinlan, spokeswoman for the state judiciary, said the action does not wipe away the financial sanctions but it does remove the threat of arrest if the fines and fees go unpaid.
"All of these decisions were very difficult," Quinlan said. "None of this was done lightly."
Civil rights advocates, who have long argued that such financial sanctions disproportionately punish the poor and communities of color, said they hoped the actions signaled a sustained change in course by state and local governments.
"It should be a wake-up call ... that these policies can't be the solution," said Joanna Weiss, co-director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center. "There is a growing recognition that this is no longer a viable way to balance (local) budgets."
While Quinlan is aware that advocates have been pressing for changes to local financial sanctions, she said the recent action in Maine was meant only to address the public health emergency.
"I know a lot of states are looking at this issue," she said.
Earlier this week in Oklahoma, Mike Fisher, the chief prosecutor in Osage and Pawnee counties, said the threat posed by the virus triggered a conversation with local sheriffs who expressed their increasing unease with executing arrests that might place them and the local jail population in contact with potential carriers of the disease.
"They were a little bit uncomfortable," Fisher said.
As a result, arrest warrants for those suspected of white-collar crimes and property-related offenses are, for now, being suspended.
Fisher said the cases will still be investigated, but the actual arrests will likely come later.
"Once we get past this (virus threat), we'll begin (the arrests); these cases will still be prosecuted."
Fisher said local authorities also have taken steps to alleviate the density in the jail by releasing more than 50 non-violent prisoners, many of them accused of drug offenses, car break-ins and other property crimes, taking the population down from about 135 to 80.
"It was significant," Fisher said.
Though he is a first-term district attorney, Fisher couldn't recall a comparable challenge that has required such action by local authorities.
"It's been quite an introduction," he said.
Duffie Stone, the chief prosecutor in a five-county area of South Carolina's low country, said the court delays and warrant suspensions prompted by the virus threat may be the appropriate precautions for now but they are not likely to help win cases in the long run.
"As a prosecutor, I depend a lot on witnesses' memories," said Stone, who also serves as president of the National District Attorneys Association. "Memories don't get better the longer the delays go on. Some move away, some die.
"But I'm not ready to sound the panic alarm yet. Maybe the good thing that comes of this is how this event has forced all of us to use technology. We're learning that a lot of the business of the criminal courts can be done by teleconference," Stone said. "You'll always need a jury, and conduct a jury trial in person. But I think people would be surprised with how many functions can be accomplished online."