usatoday--2020-10-05--Trump and COVID-19: We need an independent commission to monitor president's health

Reforms in how the nation monitors the health of its president are long overdue .
President Trump ’ s unprecedented illness , and the confusion around his diagnosis and the state of his health make it clear that our current system is flawed .
Plenty of presidents have gotten sick , and plenty have kept it secret , some even when their illness impaired their ability to govern .
Woodrow Wilson had a stroke that rendered him incapable of governing for the last 18 months of his presidency .
His wife effectively became Commander in Chief .
Americans never knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He also kept secret the long-standing high blood pressure that damaged his heart and left him a sick , physically compromised man in his 1945 meetings in Yalta , where the allies divided up the post-war world .
John F. Kennedy kept secret his Addison ’ s disease , while the drugs used to treat the resulting pain may have impaired his alertness when he met Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna in 1961 .
Historians speculate that Khrushchev came away thinking Kennedy was weak and could be bullied .
The result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's different about Trump getting COVID ?
So what ’ s different about President Trump ’ s contracting the novel coronavirus ?
First , unlike all other recorded serious presidential illnesses , Trump ’ s is infectious .
We now know that a large number of people close to the president have tested positive , or are at risk .
Those still at risk include the vice president and the president ’ s chief of staff and an unknown number of other senior officials who the president may have interacted with , unmasked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
It also includes the Democratic candidate for president , former Vice President Joe Biden .
There is no precedent for a presidential illness that threatened to take down with him a broad swathe of the nation ’ s senior leadership , and thus to comprehensively threaten our nation ’ s ability to govern itself .
Second , no president in recent history has expressed such open contempt for the best medical and scientific opinion of his day or so openly indulged in promoting medical quackery .
The president ’ s championing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even after the best science debunked it , stands out as unique in the annals of the modern presidency .
So does his administration ’ s efforts to manipulate the dissemination of scientific advice to the American people and potentially , to interfere with the process for approving a vaccine .
These behavior patterns raise concerns about whether he will take advantage of the superb care he will be offered at Walter Reed Medical Center , or veer off to insist on receiving unproven and perhaps hazardous therapies .
They also raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president allows his physicians to share with the public about his condition .
After Trumps ' diagnosis : Vaccine or not , COVID-19 isn ’ t going away Third , the pace of events in the internet age tests presidents as never before .
The volume of information that they must absorb , and the rate at which it flows into the Oval Office are unprecedented in history .
Thus , the president ’ s mental acuity , always important , is now more critical than ever to national security and to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , therefore , is just a bigger deal in 2020 .
Health of presidents is a matter of national security This combination of factors raises again a question that surfaces periodically , only to drift out of focus as presidential health crises resolve .
Quite simply , the health of the president — and indeed of presidential candidates — is a matter of national security and should be treated as such .
The American people deserve to know if their commander in chief is sick , whether he is getting the best possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governing , and whether his illness threatens the health of those around him .
They also need to know before they cast votes for presidential candidates whether they are physically capable of rendering the service that the public needs and deserves .
One way to provide this information to Americans would be for Congress to constitute a national presidential medical commission with responsibility for rendering an objective , scientific assessment of the health of presidential candidates and Oval Office occupants .
The commission should include both governmental and non-governmental physicians and scientists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the National Academies of Science , Engineering and Medicine , which were chartered during President Abraham Lincoln ’ s term to provide independent scientific advice to the U.S. Government .
This commission should be tasked with informing the American people about the health status of presidential aspirants and incumbents , and also with making recommendations about invoking the 25th Amendment , transferring power from the president to the vice president when necessary .
History shows that we can not rely on candidates , presidents or their staffs to provide the information the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objective and timely fashion .
It ’ s time to take it out of their hands .
Dr. David Blumenthal is president of the Commonwealth Fund .
Follow him on Twitter : @ DavidBlumenthal

Dr. David Blumenthal, Opinion contributor

Trump and COVID-19: We need an independent commission to monitor president's health The president's health is a matter of national security.
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 testing: Positivity rates and why they are so important COVID-19 widespread testing is crucial to fighting the pandemic, but is there enough testing? The answer is in the positivity rates. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Reforms in how the nation monitors the health of its president are long overdue. President Trump’s unprecedented illness, and the confusion around his diagnosis and the state of his health make it clear that our current system is flawed.
Plenty of presidents have gotten sick, and plenty have kept it secret, some even when their illness impaired their ability to govern. Woodrow Wilson had a stroke that rendered him incapable of governing for the last 18 months of his presidency. His wife effectively became Commander in Chief. Americans never knew.
FDR never revealed his polio-induced paralysis. He also kept secret the long-standing high blood pressure that damaged his heart and left him a sick, physically compromised man in his 1945 meetings in Yalta, where the allies divided up the post-war world.
John F. Kennedy kept secret his Addison’s disease, while the drugs used to treat the resulting pain may have impaired his alertness when he met Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna in 1961. Historians speculate that Khrushchev came away thinking Kennedy was weak and could be bullied. The result: the Cuban Missile Crisis.
What's different about Trump getting COVID?
So what’s different about President Trump’s contracting the novel coronavirus? First, unlike all other recorded serious presidential illnesses, Trump’s is infectious. We now know that a large number of people close to the president have tested positive, or are at risk. Those still at risk include the vice president and the president’s chief of staff and an unknown number of other senior officials who the president may have interacted with, unmasked, during the last week to 10 days. It also includes the Democratic candidate for president, former Vice President Joe Biden. There is no precedent for a presidential illness that threatened to take down with him a broad swathe of the nation’s senior leadership, and thus to comprehensively threaten our nation’s ability to govern itself.
Second, no president in recent history has expressed such open contempt for the best medical and scientific opinion of his day or so openly indulged in promoting medical quackery. The president’s championing of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19, even after the best science debunked it, stands out as unique in the annals of the modern presidency. So does his administration’s efforts to manipulate the dissemination of scientific advice to the American people and potentially, to interfere with the process for approving a vaccine. These behavior patterns raise concerns about whether he will take advantage of the superb care he will be offered at Walter Reed Medical Center, or veer off to insist on receiving unproven and perhaps hazardous therapies. They also raise concerns about manipulation of whatever information the president allows his physicians to share with the public about his condition.
After Trumps' diagnosis: Vaccine or not, COVID-19 isn’t going away
Third, the pace of events in the internet age tests presidents as never before. The volume of information that they must absorb, and the rate at which it flows into the Oval Office are unprecedented in history. Thus, the president’s mental acuity, always important, is now more critical than ever to national security and to the nation’s welfare. Presidential illness, therefore, is just a bigger deal in 2020.
Health of presidents is a matter of national security
This combination of factors raises again a question that surfaces periodically, only to drift out of focus as presidential health crises resolve. Quite simply, the health of the president — and indeed of presidential candidates — is a matter of national security and should be treated as such. The American people deserve to know if their commander in chief is sick, whether he is getting the best possible care, whether he is capable of governing, and whether his illness threatens the health of those around him. They also need to know before they cast votes for presidential candidates whether they are physically capable of rendering the service that the public needs and deserves.
Trump contracts COVID-19: Presidential illness is a recurring concern in American politics
One way to provide this information to Americans would be for Congress to constitute a national presidential medical commission with responsibility for rendering an objective, scientific assessment of the health of presidential candidates and Oval Office occupants. The commission should include both governmental and non-governmental physicians and scientists, and could be convened under the auspices of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, which were chartered during President Abraham Lincoln’s term to provide independent scientific advice to the U.S. Government. This commission should be tasked with informing the American people about the health status of presidential aspirants and incumbents, and also with making recommendations about invoking the 25th Amendment, transferring power from the president to the vice president when necessary.
History shows that we cannot rely on candidates, presidents or their staffs to provide the information the American people need and deserve in an objective and timely fashion. It’s time to take it out of their hands.
Dr. David Blumenthal is president of the Commonwealth Fund. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidBlumenthal


usatoday--2020-10-05--Doctor makes baby giggle during shots

Doctor makes baby giggle during shots

Noah and his mother are n't a big fan of needles , but this doctor 's bedside manner puts everyone @ @ @

Doctor makes baby giggle during shots
Noah and his mother aren't a big fan of needles, but this doctor's bedside manner puts everyone at ease.
Humankind, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-10-06--'Don't be afraid of it:' Donald Trump talks COVID-19 on video after return to White House

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump capped his return to the White House on Monday night with a video repeating his message to supporters urging them not to be afraid of the coronavirus .
`` Do n't let it dominate you , '' Trump told supporters in a video posted to Twitter .
`` Do n't be afraid of it .
You 're going to beat it . ''
Trump issued a similar message in an afternoon tweet , drawing criticism from people who said he was being too nonchalant about the virus that killed more than 200,000 Americans .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and first responders at the Walter Reed Medical Center , and said he has `` learned so much '' about the virus .
He also made something of a campaign push , saying `` we 're the greatest country in the world '' and `` we 're going back to work .
We 're going to be out front .
As a leader I had to do that . ''
`` Get out there .
Be careful .
We have the best medicines in the world , and they 're all happened very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the vaccines are coming momentarily , '' Trump said in the video .
The president painted an optimistic view of his condition , saying that `` now I 'm better , and maybe I 'm immune , I do n't know . ''
Trump delivered the remarks , maskless , from the White House South Portico shortly after he arrived from Walter Reed Medical Center .
White House physician Sean Conley told reporters earlier on Monday that Trump would continue his treatment regimen at the White House , where he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The president will continue taking his five-day course of remdesivir , an antiviral drug , as well as the steroid dexamethasone .
Critics were quick to seize on his decision to remove his mask with members of staff nearby and just three days after he was admitted to the hospital with mild symptoms .
Doctors also pointed out that the president has access to some of the world 's best health care while many Americans lack access to COVID-19 testing .
Dr. Otto Yang , a professor of infectious disease at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said `` COVID-19 is something that is killing a lot of people '' and is `` definitely a threat to people ’ s overall health . ''
COVID-19 can have long-term effects that really interfere with people ’ s quality of life , said Dr. Aaron Bunnell , a professor of medicine at the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle who runs the post-COVID clinic there .
“ The most common we ’ re seeing it ongoing fatigue and exhaustion .
We ’ ve had a few patients that are three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really struggling to do their day-to-day activities , '' he said .
“ Some patients are also having other organ systems affected , inflammation of the structures around the heart and the heart muscle .
In patients that are a little more severely affected I ’ m seeing evidence of nerve and muscle damage and we ’ re sometimes seeing really profound impairment of their ability to function .
”

David Jackson, Courtney Subramanian and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

'Don't be afraid of it:' Donald Trump talks COVID-19 on video after return to White House
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump returns from hospital, removes mask on White House balcony President Donald Trump returned to the White House after three days at Walter Reed. He removed his mask on the steps of the balcony. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump capped his return to the White House on Monday night with a video repeating his message to supporters urging them not to be afraid of the coronavirus.
"Don't let it dominate you," Trump told supporters in a video posted to Twitter. "Don't be afraid of it. You're going to beat it."
Trump issued a similar message in an afternoon tweet, drawing criticism from people who said he was being too nonchalant about the virus that killed more than 200,000 Americans.
Trump also thanked the doctors, nurses, and first responders at the Walter Reed Medical Center, and said he has "learned so much" about the virus.
He also made something of a campaign push, saying "we're the greatest country in the world" and "we're going back to work. We're going to be out front. As a leader I had to do that."
"Get out there. Be careful. We have the best medicines in the world, and they're all happened very shortly and they're all getting approved, and the vaccines are coming momentarily," Trump said in the video.
The president painted an optimistic view of his condition, saying that "now I'm better, and maybe I'm immune, I don't know."
Trump delivered the remarks, maskless, from the White House South Portico shortly after he arrived from Walter Reed Medical Center.
White House physician Sean Conley told reporters earlier on Monday that Trump would continue his treatment regimen at the White House, where he will receive "24/7 world class medical care." The president will continue taking his five-day course of remdesivir, an antiviral drug, as well as the steroid dexamethasone.
COVID-19: Trump's doctor avoids questions on oxygen President Trump's doctor said Trump is not currently on oxygen, but would not say whether he ever received oxygen since his COVID-19 diagnosis. Associated Press, USA TODAY
Critics were quick to seize on his decision to remove his mask with members of staff nearby and just three days after he was admitted to the hospital with mild symptoms.
Doctors also pointed out that the president has access to some of the world's best health care while many Americans lack access to COVID-19 testing.
Dr. Otto Yang, a professor of infectious disease at the University of California, Los Angeles, said "COVID-19 is something that is killing a lot of people" and is "definitely a threat to people’s overall health."
COVID-19 can have long-term effects that really interfere with people’s quality of life, said Dr. Aaron Bunnell, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle who runs the post-COVID clinic there.
“The most common we’re seeing it ongoing fatigue and exhaustion. We’ve had a few patients that are three months out and they’re still really struggling to do their day-to-day activities," he said.
“Some patients are also having other organ systems affected, inflammation of the structures around the heart and the heart muscle. In patients that are a little more severely affected I’m seeing evidence of nerve and muscle damage and we’re sometimes seeing really profound impairment of their ability to function.”


usatoday--2020-10-06--Supreme Court restores witness signature rule for absentee ballots in South Carolina

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court weighed in again Monday night on procedures for conducting mail-in voting this fall , reinstating South Carolina 's requirement that absentee ballots include witness signatures .
The state 's Republican election officials and legislature had asked the high court to intervene after two lower courts ruled that the requirement was a risky imposition during the COVID-19 pandemic .
In response , the high court temporarily reinstated the witness signature rule while the case progresses in court but said any ballots received in the next two days without the signature must be counted .
Conservative Associate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neil Gorsuch said they would not have added that concession .
The justices upheld Alabama 's witness signature rule in a 5-4 vote along conservative-liberal lines in July , but it ruled 5-3 in August against a similar rule in Rhode Island .
The difference , the majority said in the latter ruling , was that Rhode Island 's public officials had no objection to eliminating the witness requirement .
In the latest case , not even the three remaining liberal justices following Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's death announced any objections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actual vote count is not revealed .
More : Supreme Court begins 2020 term as a key election issue : Will it decide the election , too ?
South Carolina is one of many states that expanded absentee voting in light of the pandemic , but it said voters still needed to get a witness 's signature on the envelope before returning it .
State officials say the requirement is intended to deter fraud , even though there is little proof of such fraud in the state or nation .
More than 150,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state , where polls show a closer race than expected between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden .
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham , the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that plans to conduct Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett 's confirmation hearing next week , also is on the ballot .
`` Each passing day increases the risk that ballots will be returned that , in mistaken reliance on the district court ’ s injunction , do not comply with the witness requirement , '' Republican officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court to rule on Arizona 's ban against third-party ballot collection In response , state and federal Democratic Party leaders urged the justices to uphold the lower courts on the basis that `` the witness requirement increases the risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission and unconstitutionally burdens the right to vote . ''
Democrats also contended that requiring witness signatures is a particular burden for many African American voters `` whose communities have been hit disproportionately hard by COVID-19 . ''
Graham 's Democratic opponent in the Senate election , Jaime Harrison , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 300 election-related lawsuits have been filed , thanks largely to problems associated with COVID-19 and the expansion of voting by mail .
Republicans , including President Donald Trump 's reelection campaign , demand limits while Democrats push for further opportunities .
The nation 's ever-rising political polarization and reckless claims on social media make it even more likely that local , state and federal elections will wind up in court , not only in the weeks leading up to Election Day but in the days and weeks thereafter .
More : Where you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2020 election

Supreme Court restores witness signature rule for absentee ballots in South Carolina
Show Caption Hide Caption Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court weighed in again Monday night on procedures for conducting mail-in voting this fall, reinstating South Carolina's requirement that absentee ballots include witness signatures.
The state's Republican election officials and Legislature asked the high court to intervene after two lower courts ruled that the requirement was a risky imposition during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response, the high court temporarily reinstated the witness signature rule while the case progresses in court but said any ballots received in the next two days without the signature must be counted. Conservative Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch said they would not have added that concession.
It was the third time in recent months that the high court has dealt with witness signature rules, one of several issues pertaining to mail-in ballots that are working their way through federal and state courts.
The justices upheld Alabama's witness signature rule in a 5-4 vote along conservative-liberal lines in July, but it ruled 5-3 in August against a similar rule in Rhode Island. The difference, the majority said in the latter ruling, was that Rhode Island's public officials had no objection to eliminating the witness requirement.
In the latest case, not even the three liberal justices remaining after Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death announced any objections. On such emergency proceedings, the actual vote count is not revealed.
Supreme Court begins 2020 term as an election issue: Will it decide the election, too?
South Carolina is one of many states that expanded absentee voting in light of the pandemic, but it said voters needed to get a witness's signature on the envelope before returning it. State officials said the requirement is intended to deter fraud, although there is little proof of such fraud.
More than 150,000 absentee ballots have been mailed out and several thousand returned in the state, where polls show a closer race than expected between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that plans to conduct Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing next week, also is on the ballot.
"Each passing day increases the risk that ballots will be returned that, in mistaken reliance on the district court’s injunction, do not comply with the witness requirement," Republican officials said in court papers.
More: Supreme Court to rule on Arizona's ban against third-party ballot collection
State and federal Democratic Party leaders urged the justices to uphold the lower courts on the basis that "the witness requirement increases the risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission and unconstitutionally burdens the right to vote."
Democrats contended that requiring witness signatures is a particular burden for many African American voters "whose communities have been hit disproportionately hard by COVID-19." Graham's Democratic opponent in the Senate election, Jaime Harrison, is Black.
Nationwide, more than 300 election-related lawsuits have been filed, largely as a result of problems associated with COVID-19 and the expansion of voting by mail. Republicans, including Trump's reelection campaign, generally seek to limit such voting, while Democrats want to expand it.
More: Where you can vote by mail, absentee ballot in the 2020 election


usatoday--2020-10-05--Plexiglass and 12 feet apart: Mike Pence, Kamala Harris have new rules for vice presidential debate

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Monday evening that plexiglass will be used at Wednesday ’ s debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris .
The changes come after President Donald Trump , First Lady Melania Trump and several White House staffers and allies have tested positive for COVID-19 days after the first presidential debate last week in Cleveland , Ohio .
At the first presidential debate , Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's podiums were separated by more than 6 feet but the two candidates did not wear masks during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence and Harris will be seated and will be 12 feet and 3 inches apart .
The commission also noted that there will be a variety of health safety protocols for everyone in the debate hall , including COVID-19 testing and the use of masks .
Those who do not wear a mask will be escorted out , according to the commission .
Trump was hospitalized for three days for COVID-19 and has since returned to the White House Monday evening .
He reportedly arrived at the debate too late to be tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Wallace .
Several members of the Trump family also did not wear masks inside the debate hall .
The vice presidential debate will be held at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City .
Amid the coronavirus pandemic , candidates have had to adapt how they campaign and even debate .
For example , Democratic Senate candidate Jaime Harrison of South Carolina put a plexiglass barrier between him and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham at their debate Saturday evening .
Two more presidential debates are scheduled , with the second debate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate in Nashville on Oct. 22 .
Biden has tested negative for COVID-19 since debating with the president last week , with his last negative test on Sunday .
The former vice president is participating in a NBC town hall Monday evening in Miami .

Rebecca Morin and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

Plexiglass and 12 feet apart: Mike Pence, Kamala Harris have new rules for vice presidential debate
Show Caption Hide Caption Biden, Trump fact checked on COVID-19, violence, campaigning President Donald Trump and Joe Biden clashed over COVID-19, crime and election integrity during the first presidential debate. USA TODAY
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Monday evening that plexiglass will be used at Wednesday’s debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
The changes come after President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and several White House staffers and allies have tested positive for COVID-19 days after the first presidential debate last week in Cleveland.
At the first presidential debate, Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's podiums were separated by more than 6 feet but the two candidates did not wear masks during the debate.
Unlike the presidential debate, Pence and Harris will be seated and will be 12 feet and 3 inches apart. The commission also noted that there will be a variety of health safety protocols for everyone in the debate hall, including COVID-19 testing and the use of masks. Those who do not wear a mask will be escorted out, according to the commission.
Trump was hospitalized for three days for COVID-19 and has since returned to the White House Monday evening. He reportedly arrived at the debate too late to be tested for the virus, according to moderator Chris Wallace. Several members of the Trump family also did not wear masks inside the debate hall.
The vice presidential debate will be held at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, candidates have had to adapt how they campaign and even debate. For example, Democratic Senate candidate Jaime Harrison of South Carolina put a plexiglass barrier between him and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham at their debate Saturday evening.
Two more presidential debates are scheduled, with the second debate in Miami on Oct. 15 and the third debate in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 22.
Biden has tested negative for COVID-19 since debating with the president last week, with his last negative test on Sunday. The former vice president is participating in a NBC town hall Monday evening in Miami.


usatoday--2020-10-06--Gov. Kristi Noem says South Dakota has proven a point during COVID-19 pandemic: Lockdowns are 'usele

Gov. Kristi Noem says South Dakota has proven a point during COVID-19 pandemic: Lockdowns are 'useless'

Gov .
Kristi Noem said Monday that South Dakota has given the rest of the country an example of how to navigate a pandemic without heavy-handed government mandates .
During a special legislative session in Pierre , Noem told lawmakers that while her resistance to statewide stay-at-home orders has drawn criticism , it 's also provided a different approach to managing the pandemic than those taken in other states .
`` As you all might imagine , these last seven months have been quite lonely at times , '' Noem said .
`` But earlier this week , one very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that said : 'Governor , if you had n't stood against lockdowns , we 'd have no proof of just how useless they really have been . '
'' Noem spoke after South Dakota 's worst month yet during the pandemic .
The Mount Rushmore State has consistently broken records in recent weeks for new and active cases , hospitalizations and the number of people killed by COVID-19 .
Who is Kristi Noem ?
South Dakota governor criticizes protests in Democratic cities , praises Trump at RNC South Dakota received $ 1.25 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide some relief for those hurt by the pandemic .
While Noem has marked hundreds of millions for local and state governments and schools , nearly $ 600 million remains untapped .
Legislators serving on the Joint Committee on Appropriations last week adopted formal recommendations to create multiple grant programs for various industries , including business , healthcare and tourism .
The CARES Act funds can be used to cover coronavirus-related expenses and to stimulate the local economy .
They must be spent by Dec. 30 , according to language in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dakota dismisses 'elite class of so-called experts , ' carries on with state fair after Sturgis rally fueled COVID-19 surge Noem has voiced a desire for Congress to loosen framework for CARES Act funds and potentially extend the deadline .
She told lawmakers Monday they should be mindful of that if and when votes are cast on the committee 's recommendations .
`` I ’ ll keep pushing Congress to provide greater flexibility , especially as it relates to this deadline , '' she said .
`` But that ’ s why whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should account for whether Congress acts or doesn ’ t act .

Gov. Kristi Noem issues claim that South Dakota has proven a point during COVID-19 pandemic: Lockdowns are 'useless'
Show Caption Hide Caption US hits 200,000 COVID deaths as flu season looms ahead The U.S. has reached 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus. Now experts are looking ahead, and the forecast for the fall and winter isn't good. USA TODAY
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Gov. Kristi Noem claimed Monday that South Dakota has given the rest of the country an example of how to navigate a pandemic without heavy-handed government mandates.
During a special legislative session in Pierre, Noem told lawmakers that while her resistance to statewide stay-at-home orders has drawn criticism, it's also provided a different approach to managing the pandemic than those taken in other states.
"As you all might imagine, these last seven months have been quite lonely at times," Noem said. "But earlier this week, one very prominent national reporter sent me a note that said: 'Governor, if you hadn't stood against lockdowns, we'd have no proof of just how useless they really have been.'"
Noem spoke after South Dakota's worst month yet during the pandemic. The Mount Rushmore State has consistently broken records in recent weeks for new and active cases, hospitalizations and the number of people killed by COVID-19.
Who is Kristi Noem? South Dakota governor criticizes protests in Democratic cities, praises Trump at RNC
"If we keep failing to take this pandemic seriously, 200,000 more lives will be lost by the end of this year," said Dennis Carroll, who led the pandemic unit at the federal Agency for International Development for nearly 15 years. "Fact-denying rhetoric from the president and the South Dakota governor only ensures these deaths will come. Even with better treatments."
South Dakota received $1.25 billion in federal funds through the CARES Act to provide some relief for those hurt by the pandemic. While Noem has marked hundreds of millions for local and state governments and schools, nearly $600 million remains untapped.
Legislators serving on the Joint Committee on Appropriations last week adopted formal recommendations to create multiple grant programs for various industries, including business, health care and tourism.
The CARES Act funds can be used to cover coronavirus-related expenses and to stimulate the local economy. They must be spent by Dec. 30, according to language in the law.
Life as usual: South Dakota dismisses 'elite class of so-called experts,' carries on with state fair after Sturgis rally fueled COVID-19 surge
Noem has voiced a desire for Congress to loosen framework for CARES Act funds and potentially extend the deadline. She told lawmakers Monday they should be mindful of that if and when votes are cast on the committee's recommendations.
"I’ll keep pushing Congress to provide greater flexibility, especially as it relates to this deadline," she said. "But that’s why whatever you adopt should be flexible. It should account for whether Congress acts or doesn’t act.
Contributing: John Bacon, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-10-05--How sick is the president? Trump latest commander-in-chief to downplay medical troubles

American presidents have a long history of downplaying , or even hiding , the severity of their illnesses .
But presidential historians say President Donald Trump ’ s handling of his COVID-19 infection has become downright dangerous because he 's providing misleading information during a deadly pandemic and is not being transparent about his health as Americans are already deciding whether to reelect him .
The White House has been unclear on the timeline leading to Trump ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis , and officials have given mixed stories about his treatment .
Aidesin recent days have portrayed an image of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the severity of his case even after Trump left the hospital Monday to return to the White House .
`` We vote for and support people we trust , '' said Peter Loge , an associate professor of media and public affairs at George Washington Universityin Washington , D.C. `` If we ca n't get a straight answer out of the White House about how sick the president is , we just lose credibility and it makes it hard to trust them . ''
Scholars who have studied the presidency say the optimism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented .
`` As a rule of thumb , in any presidential health crisis , you are going to get a much more optimistic report than generally is warranted , '' said Ross K. Baker , professor of political science at Rutgers University in New Jersey .
As he left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Monday night , Trump wore a mask and gave several thumbs up and celebratory fist shakes for the cameras gathered outside the building .
The president suffered in recent days a high fever and low blood oxygen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antiviral medication , an experimental antibody cocktail and supplemental oxygen while under care .
Trump 's weight and age increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
News of the coronavirus infiltrating the administration did not come from the White House — it was revealed by a Bloomberg News reporter who confirmed Thursday that presidential advisor Hope Hicks had tested positive .
Trump , first lady Melania Trump , three Republican senators , press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and others close to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have COVID-19 .
After Trump was flown last week to Walter Reed , his doctors gave conflicting accounts of his health .
Dr. Sean Conley , the president 's physician , was evasive when he was initially asked Saturday whether the president was receiving oxygen , later saying he was `` not necessarily '' intending to mislead the public but trying to paint an `` optimistic '' picture instead .
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows muddied the assessment even further when he followed Conley 's upbeat press conference by telling reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president 's condition .
The White House later released photos of Trump `` hard at work '' in the hospital where he appeared to sign a blank piece of paper while sitting at a boardroom table and dressed in business jacket .
On Sunday , Trump ventured outside Walter Reed Medical Center , where he has been under treatment , to wave at supporters from an SUV .
Doctors and critics called the move `` reckless '' and accused him of endangering the Secret Service members riding in the vehicle with him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving Walter Reed , the president said he was feeling better .
`` Don ’ t let it dominate your life , '' he wrote on Twitter about COVID-19 .
`` We have developed , under the Trump Administration , some really great drugs & knowledge .
I feel better than I did 20 years ago ! ''
All this comes after seven months of Trump downplaying the virus and telling Americans COVID-19 was no worse than the flu and that it would disappear `` like a miracle . ''
Trump is hardly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of good health and resilience .
President John F. Kennedy tried to portray an image of vigorous health despite debilitating back pain and suffering from Addison 's disease , a disorder that leads to constant pain-relieving injections , Baker said .
President James Garfield was shot in the back in 1881 by a lawyer at a railway station in Washington , D.C. Doctors were unable to remove the bullet .
After two months of suffering through various medical procedures , he was taken to a cottage in Long Branch , New Jersey .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yet physicians kept sending out messages saying he was fine .
Nobody wants to be the bearer of bad tidings when it comes to the president ’ s health .
For Trump , this is further complicated by the fact that the president is the commander-in-chief and his doctors at Walter Reed answer to him .
`` This is politicized medicine , '' Baker said .
`` Medical reports are issued for the political purpose of convincing people the president is in better shape than the actual medical condition would allow .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverup in some cases .
President Woodrow Wilson traversed the country in September 1919 , exhausting himself as he tried to build support for a coalition of nations following World War I .
He collapsed after a speech in Pueblo , Colorado , on September 25 , and suffered a severe stroke the next month that left him partially paralyzed on the left side .
But the stroke was not made public while Wilson remained in office .
Neither was a urinary infection that `` nearly killed him , '' according to John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Wisconsin-Madison who wrote `` Woodrow Wilson : A Biography . ''
Wilson ’ s wife , Edith Wilson , hid the extent of Wilson ’ s condition and practically took over the role of president for the final 17 months of his presidency .
Cooper said the first lady screened all incoming requests and correspondence , and while she consulted with Wilson on major decisions , she often made the decision herself by `` reading his mind '' and taking actions that she felt he would have supported .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Two decades later , in 1944 , a similar scene played out when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was diagnosed with `` acute congestive heart failure '' that forced him into seclusion for months .
In that case , historians say a bit of subterfuge was understandable given that the country was in the midst of World War II and the U.S. military was in the final stages of preparing for the D-Day invasion that opened the second front in the war .
`` I can understand why the White House didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the world whether the president was ill , '' said Timothy Naftali , a presidential historian at New York University .
But a presidential election was also on the calendar that year , meaning FDR withheld critical information about his health condition to voters .
After winning that election , FDR died three months into his fourth and final term .
`` We were electing a dying man , '' Cooper said .
Sometimes , Americans have been left completely in the darkabout their leaders ' health .
President Grover Cleveland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1893 , was secretly taken to a friend ’ s yacht to have a cancerous tumor removed from the roof of his mouth .
The public wouldn ’ t learn the truth until nine years after Cleveland died in 1917 .
Naftali , the New York University historian , worries that Trump is wasting what could be a `` teachable moment '' for the American people .
To date , COVID-19 , the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus , has infected more than 7.5 million people in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet Trump hasrepeatedly mocked his rival , Vice President Joe Biden , for wearing a mask , and has downplayed the severity of the virus .
Historians say such actions run contrary to the role of the president , who should be using his position to promote preventive health measures , especially during a global pandemic .
Naftali pointed to President Ronald Regan , who was diagnosed with colon cancer while in office , and first lady Nancy Reagan , who was diagnosed with breast cancer .
In each case , they shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underwent .
That helped educate the public about those diseases , Naftali said , leading to more women getting mammograms and more adults getting their colons checked .
While Trump has tried to remain in the public eye since his COVID-19 diagnosis , Naftali said his actions over the weekend have undermined his ability to use his experience as an instructive example .
Naftali questioned Trump ’ s decisions to retweet a video showing unmasked supporters lined up outside Walter Reed Medical Center .
He questioned Trump ’ s decision to expose Secret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ride in an SUV to greet those supporters .
And he questioned the president ’ s tweet on Monday about leaving Walter Reed , where the president also declared : `` Don ’ t be afraid of Covid . ''
`` The tweet was the worst messaging on public health ever , '' Naftali said .
`` The president has an opportunity to lead the discussion toward a better public health approach .
That might ’ ve been an opportunity to tell his supporters , ' I want you to stay safe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t . ''
From a marketing perspective , presidents are `` all about protecting their brand , '' said Randy Sparks , professor of marketing at the University of Dayton School of Business Administrationin Ohio .
`` The Trump campaign is doing exactly what it should be doing to protect their brand , '' said Sparks , who has studied campaign rhetoric and its effects on persuasion .
Sparks said people will have different `` ethical lines '' on how much should be revealed about a president ’ s health .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel it 's in the interest of national security to not reveal the whole story about a president 's health .
Anti-American countries or terrorist groups could view a presidential illness or incapacitation as a moment to strike .
On the other hand , there is the argument that Americans have a right to the truth about a president 's medical condition , especially as many Americans prepare to vote this week ahead of the November election , he said .
`` It is a very fine line that you have to walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competing interests , '' he said .
William Howell , a political science professor at the University of Chicago , said the United States is polarized with people having deep concerns about the health of democracy .
They are divided , distrustful and angry .
`` The lack of clarity associated with his health adds volatility and more uncertainty , '' he said .
Follow the reporters on Twitter @ anneryman and @ alangomez .
USA TODAY reporters Elinor Aspegren and Savannah Behrmann contributed to this story .

How sick is the president? Trump latest commander in chief to downplay medical troubles
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: Trump's doctor avoids questions on oxygen President Trump's doctor said Trump is not currently on oxygen, but would not say whether he ever received oxygen since his COVID-19 diagnosis. Associated Press, USA TODAY
American presidents have a long history of downplaying, or even hiding, the severity of their illnesses. But presidential historians said President Donald Trump’s handling of his COVID-19 infection is downright dangerous because he provides misleading information during a pandemic and is not being transparent about his health as Americans decide whether to reelect him.
The White House has been unclear on the timeline leading to Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, and officials have given mixed stories about his treatment. Aides portrayed an image of business as usual despite lingering uncertainty over the severity of his case even after Trump left the hospital Monday to return to the White House.
"We vote for and support people we trust," said Peter Loge, an associate professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University in Washington. "If we can't get a straight answer out of the White House about how sick the president is, we just lose credibility, and it makes it hard to trust them."
Scholars who have studied the presidency said the optimism from the White House is not unprecedented.
"As a rule of thumb, in any presidential health crisis, you are going to get a much more optimistic report than generally is warranted," said Ross Baker, professor of political science at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
As he left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday night, Trump wore a mask and gave several thumbs-up and celebratory fist shakes for the cameras gathered outside the building.
The president suffered a high fever and low blood oxygen levels. He received a steroid, antiviral medication, an experimental antibody cocktail and supplemental oxygen while under care. Trump's weight and age increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
News of the coronavirus infiltrating the administration did not come from the White House – it was revealed by a Bloomberg News reporter who confirmed Thursday that presidential adviser Hope Hicks had tested positive. Trump, first lady Melania Trump, three Republican senators, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and others close to the administration also contracted COVID-19.
After Trump was flown last week to Walter Reed, his doctors gave conflicting accounts of his health. Sean Conley, the president's physician, was evasive when he was asked Saturday whether the president was receiving oxygen, later saying he was "not necessarily" intending to mislead the public but trying to paint an "optimistic" picture. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows muddied the assessment even further when he followed Conley's upbeat news conference by saying he was "very concerned" about the president's condition.
The White House released photos of Trump "hard at work" in a business jacket in the hospital where he signed a blank piece of paper while sitting at a boardroom table.
Sunday, Trump ventured outside Walter Reed Medical Center to wave at supporters from an SUV. Doctors and critics called the move "reckless" and accused him of endangering the Secret Service members riding in the vehicle with him.
A day later, hours before leaving Walter Reed, the president said he was feeling better. "Don’t let it dominate your life," he wrote on Twitter about COVID-19. "We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!"
All this comes after seven months of Trump downplaying the virus and telling Americans COVID-19 was no worse than the flu and that it would disappear "like a miracle."
Trump is hardly the first president to project good health and resilience.
President John F. Kennedy tried to portray an image of vigorous health despite debilitating back pain and Addison's disease, a disorder that leads to constant pain-relieving injections, Baker said.
President James Garfield was shot in the back in 1881 by a lawyer at a railway station in Washington. Doctors were unable to remove the bullet. After two months of suffering through various medical procedures, he was taken to a cottage in Long Branch, New Jersey. He was clearly dying, Baker said, yet physicians kept sending out messages saying he was fine.
Nobody wants to be the bearer of bad tidings when it comes to the president’s health. Doctors at Walter Reed answer to the commander in chief.
"This is politicized medicine," Baker said. "Medical reports are issued for the political purpose of convincing people the president is in better shape than the actual medical condition would allow."
The positive spin can become a cover-up in some cases.
Coronavirus: How coronavirus COVID-19 attacks the body How does coronavirus enter the body, and why does it become fatal for some compared to just a cough or fever for others? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
President Woodrow Wilson traversed the country in September 1919, exhausting himself as he tried to build support for a coalition of nations after World War I. He collapsed after a speech in Pueblo, Colorado, on Sept. 25 and suffered a severe stroke the next month that left him partially paralyzed on the left side.
The stroke was not made public while Wilson remained in office. Neither was a urinary infection that "nearly killed him," according to John Milton Cooper, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who wrote "Woodrow Wilson: A Biography."
Wilson’s wife, Edith, hid the extent of his condition and practically took over the role of president for the final 17 months of his presidency. Cooper said the first lady screened all requests and correspondence, and though she consulted with Wilson on major decisions, she often made the decision herself by "reading his mind" and taking actions she felt he would have supported.
"It was a terrible cover-up," Cooper said.
Two decades later, in 1944, a similar scene played out when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was diagnosed with "acute congestive heart failure" that forced him into seclusion for months. Historians said a bit of subterfuge was understandable, given that the country was in the midst of World War II and the U.S. military was in the final stages of preparing for the D-Day invasion that opened the second front in the war.
"I can understand why the White House didn’t want to tell Adolf Hitler and the world whether the president was ill," said Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian at New York University.
A presidential election was also on the calendar that year, meaning FDR withheld critical information about his health from voters. After winning that election, FDR died three months into his fourth and final term.
"We were electing a dying man," Cooper said.
Sometimes, Americans have been left completely in the dark about their leaders' health.
President Grover Cleveland, in his second term in the summer of 1893, was secretly taken to a friend’s yacht to have a cancerous tumor removed from the roof of his mouth. The public wouldn’t learn the truth until nine years after Cleveland died in 1917.
Naftali said he worries that Trump is wasting what could be a "teachable moment" for the American people.
COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, has infected more than 7.5 million people in the USA and killed more than 212,000. Trump has repeatedly mocked his rival, Vice President Joe Biden, for wearing a mask and has downplayed the severity of the virus.
Historians said such actions run contrary to the role of the president, who should use his position to promote preventive health measures, especially during a pandemic.
Naftali pointed to President Ronald Regan, who was diagnosed with colon cancer while in office, and first lady Nancy Reagan, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. They shared their diagnoses and the procedures they underwent. That helped educate the public about those diseases, Naftali said, leading to more women getting mammograms and more adults getting their colons checked.
Though Trump has tried to remain in the public eye since his COVID-19 diagnosis, Naftali said his actions over the weekend undermined his ability to use his experience as an instructive example. Naftali questioned Trump’s decisions to retweet a video showing unmasked supporters lined up outside Walter Reed Medical Center. He questioned Trump’s decision to expose Secret Service agents to the virus during his ride in an SUV to greet those supporters. And he questioned the president’s tweet on Monday about leaving Walter Reed, in which the president declared, "Don’t be afraid of Covid."
Pres. Trump tweets update from White House balcony Shortly after returning to the White House, President Trump thanked the staff of Walter Reed hospital where he was treated for COVID-19. USA TODAY
"The tweet was the worst messaging on public health ever," Naftali said. "The president has an opportunity to lead the discussion toward a better public health approach. That might’ve been an opportunity to tell his supporters, 'I want you to stay safe, wear a mask.' But he didn’t."
From a marketing perspective, presidents are "all about protecting their brand," said Randy Sparks, professor of marketing at the University of Dayton School of Business Administration in Ohio.
"The Trump campaign is doing exactly what it should be doing to protect their brand," said Sparks, who has studied campaign rhetoric and its persuasive effects.
Sparks said people will have different "ethical lines" on how much should be revealed about a president’s health.
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020
Some presidential advisers may feel it's in the interest of national security to not reveal the whole story about a president's health. Anti-American countries or terrorist groups could view a presidential illness or incapacitation as a moment to strike.
On the other hand, there is the argument that Americans have a right to the truth about a president's medical condition, especially as many prepare to vote, he said.
"It is a very fine line that you have to walk because there are a whole variety of competing interests," he said.
William Howell, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, said people have deep concerns about the health of democracy in a polarized USA. They are divided, distrustful and angry.
"The lack of clarity associated with his health adds volatility and more uncertainty," he said.
Follow the reporters on Twitter @anneryman and @alangomez.
Contributing: Elinor Aspegren and Savannah Behrmann


usatoday--2020-10-05--Melania Trump will 'continue to rest' at White House as President Trump returns from hospital

First lady Melania Trump , isolating after testing positive for coronavirus , did n't leave the White House to visit the president in the hospital , but he 's already back there after three impatient days under medical care for COVID-19 .
So far , the first lady has not tweeted about her husband 's dramatic return .
Earlier on Monday , she tweeted her own status report , saying , `` I am feeling good and will continue to rest at home . ''
`` My family is grateful for all of the prayers & support !
I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home .
Thank you to medical staff & caretakers everywhere , & my continued prayers for those who are ill or have a family member impacted by the virus , '' her post on her official Twitter account read .
NBC News on Sunday and CNN on Monday reported that an unnamed White House official confirmed the first lady would not break isolation to visit her husband because of concern that would expose the Secret Service agents who would drive her there and the medical staff who would greet her .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had been in the hospital for treatment since Friday evening , was driven by his Secret Service agents inside a sealed car to wave to a crowd of his supporters gathered outside the front gates of the hospital Sunday afternoon .
`` I really appreciate all of the fans and supporters outside of the hospital .
The fact is , they really love our Country and are seeing how we are MAKING IT GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE ! ''
he tweeted .
By Monday evening , the president was is back at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Military Medical Center in suburban Maryland .
Will he and she isolate from each other and their son , Barron , inside the residence ?
So far , no one is saying .
Wearing a mask , Trump left the hospital by Marine One during the evening news broadcasts , having tweeted Monday afternoon that he was returning to the White House in the evening .
`` I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M .
Feeling really good !
Don ’ t be afraid of Covid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your life .
We have developed , under the Trump Administration , some really great drugs & knowledge .
I feel better than I did 20 years ago !
, '' the tweet said .
Once he got there , recorded by cameras in the media pool , he walked up the stairs of the South Portico , removed his mask and stood at the railing before the media to pose and hold two thumbs up .
Behind him through the open door , people could be seen mingling , but it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president walked in and out the door to the balcony a few times before going inside for good , without a mask .
Stephanie Grisham , the first lady 's chief of staff and spokeswoman , did not respond to questions about plans now that the president has returned .
Over the weekend , Grisham told USA TODAY the first lady was doing well in the residence and had stayed in contact with the president by phone .
Barron , 14 , has tested negative , Grisham said , and `` all precautions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s kept safe and healthy.
” It 's not clear if Barron is in the White House with his mother .
Grisham told USA TODAY on Monday that she and other members of the first lady 's East Wing staff have all tested negative and are working from home .
The president 's ride to greet his fans on Sunday provoked backlash from some Democrats and from some doctors not involved in his care who assailed him for endangering the agents inside the armored and sealed car with him .
`` It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expose others .
Pray for the Secret Service .
LAW & ORDER !
, '' tweeted Rep. Eric Swalwell on Sunday .
Dr. James P. Phillips , chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University in Washington , tweeted that the risk of virus transmission inside the president 's vehicle is `` as high as it gets '' outside medical procedures and that `` the irresponsibility is astounding . ''
He said in another tweet his `` thoughts are with the Secret Service '' agents .
`` Every single person in the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days .
They might get sick .
They may die .
For political theater .
Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater .
This is insanity , '' Phillips tweeted .
While taking a different course from the president , the first lady did not explicitly criticize his actions , in keeping with her usual policy since she moved into the White House in June 2017 .
More recently , she differed in her actions from her husband on the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , which until recently he did not encourage .
She was seen wearing one in public earlier than he and has posted multiple tweets and videos imploring people to wear them and to follow other medical guidelines to keep the virus from spreading .
But both she and her husband have been seen recently not wearing masks in large gatherings , including at the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony to announce a new Supreme Court nominee , which may have been a superspreading event given the number of White House officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who subsequently tested positive .

Melania Trump will 'continue to rest' at White House as President Trump returns from hospital
Show Caption Hide Caption Trumps test positive for COVID-19: World reacts Celebrities and world leaders have mixed reactions upon finding out President Trump and first lady Melania have tested positive for COVID-19. USA TODAY, Wochit
First lady Melania Trump, isolating after testing positive for coronavirus, didn't leave the White House to visit the president in the hospital, but he's already back there after three impatient days under medical care for COVID-19.
So far, the first lady has not tweeted about her husband's dramatic return. Earlier on Monday, she tweeted her own status report, saying, "I am feeling good and will continue to rest at home."
"My family is grateful for all of the prayers & support! I am feeling good & will continue to rest at home. Thank you to medical staff & caretakers everywhere, & my continued prayers for those who are ill or have a family member impacted by the virus," her post on her official Twitter account read.
My family is grateful for all of the prayers & support! I am feeling good & will continue to rest at home. Thank you to medical staff & caretakers everywhere, & my continued prayers for those who are ill or have a family member impacted by the virus. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 5, 2020
NBC News on Sunday and CNN on Monday reported that an unnamed White House official confirmed the first lady would not break isolation to visit her husband because of concern that would expose the Secret Service agents who would drive her there and the medical staff who would greet her.
These reports come after President Donald Trump, who had been in the hospital for treatment since Friday evening, was driven by his Secret Service agents inside a sealed car to wave to a crowd of his supporters gathered outside the front gates of the hospital Sunday afternoon.
"I really appreciate all of the fans and supporters outside of the hospital. The fact is, they really love our Country and are seeing how we are MAKING IT GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!" he tweeted.
By Monday evening, the president was is back at the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in suburban Maryland. Will he and she isolate from each other and their son, Barron, inside the residence? So far, no one is saying.
Wearing a mask, Trump left the hospital by Marine One during the evening news broadcasts, having tweeted Monday afternoon that he was returning to the White House in the evening.
"I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!," the tweet said.
Once he got there, recorded by cameras in the media pool, he walked up the stairs of the South Portico, removed his mask and stood at the railing before the media to pose and hold two thumbs up.
Behind him through the open door, people could be seen mingling, but it wasn't clear who they were. The president walked in and out the door to the balcony a few times before going inside for good, without a mask.
Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's chief of staff and spokeswoman, did not respond to questions about plans now that the president has returned.
Over the weekend, Grisham told USA TODAY the first lady was doing well in the residence and had stayed in contact with the president by phone. Barron, 14, has tested negative, Grisham said, and "all precautions are being taken to ensure he’s kept safe and healthy.” It's not clear if Barron is in the White House with his mother.
Grisham told USA TODAY on Monday that she and other members of the first lady's East Wing staff have all tested negative and are working from home.
The president's ride to greet his fans on Sunday provoked backlash from some Democrats and from some doctors not involved in his care who assailed him for endangering the agents inside the armored and sealed car with him.
"It is criminal negligence for @realDonaldTrump to recklessly expose others. Pray for the Secret Service. LAW & ORDER!," tweeted Rep. Eric Swalwell on Sunday.
It is criminal negligence for @realDonaldTrump to recklessly expose others. Pray for the Secret Service. LAW & ORDER! https://t.co/sejBydBNLk — Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) October 4, 2020
Dr. James P. Phillips, chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University in Washington, tweeted that the risk of virus transmission inside the president's vehicle is "as high as it gets" outside medical procedures and that "the irresponsibility is astounding." He said in another tweet his "thoughts are with the Secret Service" agents.
"Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential 'drive-by' just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity," Phillips tweeted.
Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential “drive-by” just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity. — Dr. James P. Phillips, MD (@DrPhillipsMD) October 4, 2020
While taking a different course from the president, the first lady did not explicitly criticize his actions, in keeping with her usual policy since she moved into the White House in June 2017.
More recently, she differed in her actions from her husband on the question of wearing face masks to guard against the virus, which until recently he did not encourage. She was seen wearing one in public earlier than he and has posted multiple tweets and videos imploring people to wear them and to follow other medical guidelines to keep the virus from spreading.
But both she and her husband have been seen recently not wearing masks in large gatherings, including at the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony to announce a new Supreme Court nominee, which may have been a superspreading event given the number of White House officials, including the president and first lady, who subsequently tested positive.


usatoday--2020-10-05--Texans fire coach, general manager Bill O'Brien after 0-4 start to season

The Houston Texans took drastic action to address their 0-4 start to the season , firing coach and general manager Bill O'Brien after six-plus years .
“ On behalf of my family and our entire organization , I want to sincerely thank Bill O ’ Brien and his family for their impact on our franchise , '' team chairman and chief executive officer Cal McNair said in a statement .
`` Bill ’ s leadership moved our organization forward as he guided us to four AFC South division championships , 52 wins and multiple playoff appearances during his tenure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader in this league .
I spoke with him earlier today and told him we are moving in a different direction . ''
Associate head coach Romeo Crennel will serve as the interim coach for the rest of the season .
`` We have a talented team and I have no doubt our players and staff will rally to make Texans fans proud as we aim to win championships and do great things for the city of Houston , '' McNair said .
Hired in 2014 , O'Brien led the Texans to four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the last two , as Houston 's head coach .
He served as the de facto general manager in 2019 after Brian Gaine 's firing but officially earned the title in January .
The Texans dropped to 0-4 , the franchise 's worst start since 2008 , with a 31-23 loss Sunday to the previously winless Minnesota Vikings .
`` In the end , it 's a bottom line business , '' O'Brien said in a news conference after his firing was announced .
`` We were n't able to get it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' O'Brien drew considerable criticism this offseason after trading three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a package that included running back David Johnson and a second-round pick .
Hopkins leads the NFL with 39 catches so far this season and ranks fourth with 397 receiving yards .
Johnson , meanwhile , has tallied just 197 yards on 51 carries for an offense that ranks last in the NFL in rushing yards per game ( 73.5 ) .
The Texans also are without their first- and second-round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending them to the Miami Dolphins as part of a trade package for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills .
O'Brien finished 52-48 in six-plus seasons at the helm .
The Texans had at least nine wins in five of those years but never advanced past the divisional round in that time .
In January , the Kansas City Chiefs erased a 24-point deficit against Houston in a 51-31 divisional-round win .
`` I want to coach , '' O'Brien said of his future .
`` I love coaching .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the assistant coaches .
...
There 's no doubt in my mind I want to coach again . ''
The Texans host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday .

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz and Mike Jones, USA TODAY

Texans fire coach, general manager Bill O'Brien after 0-4 start to season
Show Caption Hide Caption NFL Week 4 overreactions: Eagles make claim for beast of the NFC least SportsPulse: The first quarter of the NFL season is nearly in the books and it's the first time with confidence we think we know where everyone stands. Mackenzie Salmon "overreacts" to the biggest storylines from Week 4. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
The Houston Texans took drastic action to address their 0-4 start to the season, firing coach and general manager Bill O'Brien after six-plus years.
“On behalf of my family and our entire organization, I want to sincerely thank Bill O’Brien and his family for their impact on our franchise," team chairman and chief executive officer Cal McNair said in a statement. "Bill’s leadership moved our organization forward as he guided us to four AFC South division championships, 52 wins and multiple playoff appearances during his tenure. Bill proved himself as a coach and leader in this league. I spoke with him earlier today and told him we are moving in a different direction."
Associate head coach Romeo Crennel will serve as the interim coach for the rest of the season.
"We have a talented team and I have no doubt our players and staff will rally to make Texans fans proud as we aim to win championships and do great things for the city of Houston," McNair said.
Hired in 2014, O'Brien led the Texans to four divisional titles in six full seasons, including the last two, as Houston's head coach. He served as the de facto general manager in 2019 after Brian Gaine's firing but officially earned the title in January.
The Texans dropped to 0-4, the franchise's worst start since 2008, with a 31-23 loss Sunday to the previously winless Minnesota Vikings.
"In the end, it's a bottom line business," O'Brien said in a news conference after his firing was announced. "We weren't able to get it where we needed to get it."
O'Brien drew considerable criticism this offseason after trading three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a package that included running back David Johnson and a second-round pick. Hopkins leads the NFL with 39 catches so far this season and ranks fourth with 397 receiving yards. Johnson, meanwhile, has tallied just 197 yards on 51 carries for an offense that ranks last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (73.5).
The Texans also are without their first- and second-round picks in the 2021 NFL draft after sending them to the Miami Dolphins as part of a trade package for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills.
O'Brien finished 52-48 in six-plus seasons at the helm. The Texans had at least nine wins in five of those years but never advanced past the divisional round in that time. In January, the Kansas City Chiefs erased a 24-point deficit against Houston in a 51-31 divisional-round win.
"I want to coach," O'Brien said of his future. "I love coaching. I love the relationships with the players, the assistant coaches. ... There's no doubt in my mind I want to coach again."
The Texans host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.


usatoday--2020-10-05--'Prepare for a potential hurricane': Tropical Storm Delta strengthens, heads for Gulf Coast

• `` There is a risk of dangerous storm surge , wind and rainfall hazards along the coast from Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle . ''
• The tropical storm is the 25th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season .
Newly formed Tropical Storm Delta is forecast to make landfall as a hurricane in the northern Gulf Coast later this week , forecasters warned , while Tropical Storm Gamma killed at least six people after coming ashore in Mexico 's Yucatan Peninsula over the weekend .
The National Hurricane Center upgraded a tropical depression to Tropical Storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was 160 miles south-southwest of Jamaica Monday evening , is on track to reach the Gulf Coast as a hurricane around Friday .
`` Strengthening is expected during the next few days , '' the Hurricane Center said , warning that Delta could develop into a hurricane by early Tuesday .
Once it approaches the Gulf Coast , `` there is a risk of dangerous storm surge , wind and rainfall hazards along the coast from Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle , '' the Hurricane Center said .
AccuWeather senior meteorologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gulf Coast from southeast Texas to Florida should be prepared for a potential hurricane landfall at the end of the week or early next weekend . ''
If it makes landfall , it would be the 10th named storm to hit the U.S. in a single season , which would be an all-time record .
2020 has already tied 1916 for nine landfalling tropical systems in the U.S. , AccuWeather said .
The tropical storm is also the 25th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season – more than double the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 .
Delta breaks the record for the earliest 25th named storm , which had been held by a system that formed Nov. 15 , 2005 .
Delta had top winds of 70 mph as of 5 p.m .
ET Monday and was about 245 miles south-southeast of Grand Cayman .
It was moving near 8 mph , on track to hit the Cayman Islands early Tuesday and approach western Cuba Tuesday afternoon or evening before moving into the Gulf on Wednesday .
A tropical storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a hurricane warning was in effect for western Cuba and portions of Mexico 's Yucatan Peninsula .
Two major hurricanes have formed this season : Laura and Teddy reached Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale .
Laura caused widespread damage in Louisiana and southeastern Texas when it roared ashore as a Category 4 storm .
Teddy never made landfall in the U.S. but brushed past Maine into Canada after it lashed Bermuda .
Tropical Storm Gamma hit Mexico 's Yucatan Peninsula on Saturday with maximum sustained winds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hurricane Center .
The four deaths in the state of Chiapas included two children who were crushed by a landslide in their home , according to Mexico ’ s civil defense agency .
The other two deaths were in Tabasco state , where one person was dragged away by the water and another drowned .

Doyle Rice and Jessica Flores, USA TODAY

Hurricane Delta breaks record for earliest 25th named storm, forecast to strike Gulf Coast this week
Show Caption Hide Caption New tropical storm breaks record as it surges toward the Gulf Coast Newly formed Tropical Storm Delta could make landfall as a hurricane in the northern Gulf Coast later this week. USA TODAY
The National Hurricane Center upgraded a tropical depression to Tropical Storm Delta Monday morning.
"There is a risk of dangerous storm surge, wind and rainfall hazards along the coast from Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle."
The tropical storm is the 25th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.
Hurricane Delta formed in the Caribbean Sea on Monday night, rapidly strengthening from a tropical depression and threatening to strike the Gulf Coast later this week after lashing Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
The National Hurricane Center upgraded a tropical depression to Tropical Storm Delta on Monday morning and then to a hurricane by evening. The storm, which was 165 miles south-southeast of Grand Cayman as of 2 a.m. EDT Tuesday, is on track to reach the Gulf Coast as a hurricane by Friday.
"Additional rapid strengthening is expected during the next day or so, and Delta is expected to be a major hurricane when it nears the Yucatan Peninsula," the Hurricane Center said.
Once it approaches the Gulf Coast, Delta will bring the "risk of dangerous storm surge, wind and rainfall hazards along the coast from Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle," the Hurricane Center said.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Randy Adkins said that "residents across the Gulf Coast from southeast Texas to Florida" should be prepared for the storm to make landfall "at the end of the week or early next weekend."
If it makes landfall, Delta would be the 10th named storm to hit the U.S. in a single season, which would be an all-time record. 2020 has already tied 1916 for nine landfalling tropical systems in the U.S., AccuWeather said.
Delta is the earliest 25th named storm in an Atlantic hurricane season.
Delta had top winds of 85 mph early Tuesday and was moving near 7 mph. The storm was on track to hit the Cayman Islands early Tuesday and approach western Cuba on Tuesday afternoon or evening before moving into the Gulf on Wednesday.
A hurricane warning was issued for portions of the Yucatan Peninsula, including Cozumel, and a tropical storm warning was in effect for the Cayman Islands and parts of Cuba.
Two major hurricanes have formed this season: Laura and Teddy reached Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale.
Laura caused widespread damage in Louisiana and southeastern Texas when it roared ashore as a Category 4 storm. Teddy never made landfall in the U.S. but brushed past Maine into Canada after it lashed Bermuda.
Delta will follow Tropical Storm Gamma, which hit the Yucatan Peninsula last weekend with maximum sustained winds of nearly 70 mph, killing at least six people.
Four people died in the state of Chiapas, including two children who were crushed by a landslide in their home, according to Mexico’s civil defense agency. Two other deaths were reported in Tabasco state, where one person was dragged away by the water and another drowned.
Contributing: Steve Kiggins and Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY; Kimberly Miller, Palm Beach (Fla.) Post; The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-10-05--NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: Forfeits possible for COVID-19 protocol violations

The NFL is entering another level when it comes to cracking down on teams and individuals found in violation of the league ’ s strict protocols for managing COVID-19 .
Forfeits are now part of the equation .
Call it a “ No Mercy Rule.
” And Big Brother will be watching as the league will implement a video monitoring system at the headquarters of each of the NFL ’ s 32 teams to ensure compliance with protocols – particularly the stipulation that all players and staff wear PPE while at a club facility and during travel .
“ Simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a memo distributed Monday to team power brokers and infection control officers , which was obtained by USA TODAY Sports .
“ Now is the time to recommit ourselves to our protocols and best practices for the duration of the season.
” In the aftermath of the outbreak with the Tennessee Titans that led to moving their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers , scheduled for this past Sunday , to Oct. 25 , Goodell warned that protocol violations that lead to schedule adjustments due to the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitive discipline on top of the financial consequences already threatened to escalate .
Goodell threatened the loss or adjustment of draft picks in addition to the potential for forfeits .
The Titans are the first team struck by a widespread outbreak , with more than a dozen players and staff members testing positive for the novel coronavirus .
In conference call on Monday that included Goodell , team and league executives and coaches , several significant changes to the protocols ( in agreement with the NFL Players Association ) were reviewed .
Included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team facilities .
“ Complacency is our shared opponent , ” wrote Goodell , noting the minimal number of positive cases during training camp and the first three weeks of the season , with daily testing of players and staff .
RAIDERS PLAYERS : Fined by NFL for not wearing masks at charity fundraiser The league is also considering mandates that would require all meetings to be conducted virtually , and that masks and face shields would no longer be optional for players during practices and walk-through sessions .
The league could also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s traveling party and reduce time allowed in team cafeterias and locker rooms .
The message is clear : The NFL , determined to complete a full season within a pandemic , is increasingly willing to drop the hammer .
Ask the group of Las Vegas Raiders players who were fined after it was discovered that they did not wear masks while attending a charity event to benefit the foundation of tight end Darren Waller .
Waller was fined $ 30,000 , while the following nine players were each docked $ 15,000 : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones , Nevin Lawson , Erik Magnuson ( practice squad ) , Foster Moreau , Nathan Peterman , Hunter Renfrow and Jason Witten .
The NFL can ’ t prevent COVID-19 , but it is certainly committed to mitigating the risk .

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: Forfeits possible for COVID-19 protocol violations
Show Caption Hide Caption NFL Week 4 overreactions: Eagles make claim for beast of the NFC least SportsPulse: The first quarter of the NFL season is nearly in the books and it's the first time with confidence we think we know where everyone stands. Mackenzie Salmon "overreacts" to the biggest storylines from Week 4. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
The NFL is entering another level when it comes to cracking down on teams and individuals found in violation of the league’s strict protocols for managing COVID-19.
Forfeits are now part of the equation. Call it a “No Mercy Rule.”
And Big Brother will be watching as the league will implement a video monitoring system at the headquarters of each of the NFL’s 32 teams to ensure compliance with protocols – particularly the stipulation that all players and staff wear PPE while at a club facility and during travel.
“Simply put, compliance is mandatory,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a memo distributed Monday to team power brokers and infection control officers, which was obtained by USA TODAY Sports. “Now is the time to recommit ourselves to our protocols and best practices for the duration of the season.”
In the aftermath of the outbreak with the Tennessee Titans that led to moving their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, scheduled for this past Sunday, to Oct. 25, Goodell warned that protocol violations that lead to schedule adjustments due to the spread of the virus will be subject to competitive discipline on top of the financial consequences already threatened to escalate.
Goodell threatened the loss or adjustment of draft picks in addition to the potential for forfeits.
The Titans are the first team struck by a widespread outbreak, with more than a dozen players and staff members testing positive for the novel coronavirus.
In conference call on Monday that included Goodell, team and league executives and coaches, several significant changes to the protocols (in agreement with the NFL Players Association) were reviewed. Included:
A longer onboarding process for free agent tryouts.
Bans on gathering away from team facilities.
A limit on tryouts permitted each week.
“Complacency is our shared opponent,” wrote Goodell, noting the minimal number of positive cases during training camp and the first three weeks of the season, with daily testing of players and staff.
RAIDERS PLAYERS: Fined by NFL for not wearing masks at charity fundraiser
TEXANS: Fire coach, GM Bill O'Brien after 0-4 start to season
The league is also considering mandates that would require all meetings to be conducted virtually, and that masks and face shields would no longer be optional for players during practices and walk-through sessions. The league could also decrease the size of each team’s traveling party and reduce time allowed in team cafeterias and locker rooms.
The message is clear: The NFL, determined to complete a full season within a pandemic, is increasingly willing to drop the hammer.
Ask the group of Las Vegas Raiders players who were fined after it was discovered that they did not wear masks while attending a charity event to benefit the foundation of tight end Darren Waller.
Waller was fined $30,000, while the following nine players were each docked $15,000: Derek Carr, Derek Carrier, Zay Jones, Nevin Lawson, Erik Magnuson (practice squad), Foster Moreau, Nathan Peterman, Hunter Renfrow and Jason Witten.
The NFL can’t prevent COVID-19, but it is certainly committed to mitigating the risk.


usatoday--2020-10-06--Southwest Airlines CEO looks to concessions, not layoffs, if  Congress balks on more aid

With no new federal stimulus in sight , Southwest Airline 's chief announced management pay cuts and said he will seek to negotiate concessions from workers to avoid layoffs .
In saying he believes the airline can navigate the crisis without furloughs , CEO Gary Kelly sought Monday to stand apart from rivals .
American and United Airlines , for instance , have warned that 32,000 employees would collectively face layoffs after Congress was unable to come to agreement on a new relief package .
Airlines are scrambling to cut costs after the federal stimulus ran out last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to airlines last spring to offset a severe drop in passenger traffic due to the coronavirus , half of it to pay salaries .
Kelly said Southwest 's revenue remains 70 % below what it normally would be .
More : Nancy Pelosi urges airlines to delay 'devastating ' cuts as Democratic aid proposal fails to advance The House of Representatives passed a new $ 2.2 trillion relief measure favored by Democrats last week , but the GOP-led Senate was n't expected to take it up .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Steven Mnuchin and it is still uncertain whether a separate bill to aid the airlines , a strategy favored by the White House , can be hammered out .
Kelly said Southwest needs to plan for cost reductions in case no further federal help comes through .
He invoked the airline 's maverick history and noted that labor is the highest area of cost .
`` We have a clear way to do all of this without layoffs or furloughs , at least through the end of next year , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workforce .
`` As usual , we 're different from the other airlines . ''
He said he will work without his base salary through the end of next year .
Managers and the board of directors will also take pay cuts .
But when it comes to dealing with the unions , such as those representing pilots and flight attendants , Kelly said he needs to have cost cuts in place by Jan. 1 .
`` We simply do not have time for long , complex , drawn-out negotiations .
We need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place , '' he said .
Furloughs would only be a `` last resort '' if agreement ca n't be reached .

Southwest Airlines CEO looks to concessions, not layoffs, if Congress balks on more aid
Show Caption Hide Caption Airline workers brace for mass layoffs Tens of thousands of airline industry workers are bracing for layoffs and furloughs on Thursday if Congress fails to pass a relief package aimed at alleviating the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. (Sept. 30) AP
With no new federal stimulus in sight, Southwest Airline's chief announced management pay cuts and said he will seek to negotiate concessions from workers to avoid layoffs.
In saying he believes the airline can navigate the crisis without furloughs, CEO Gary Kelly sought Monday to stand apart from rivals. American and United Airlines have warned that 32,000 employees would collectively face layoffs after Congress was unable to come to agreement on a new relief package.
Airlines are scrambling to cut costs after the federal stimulus ran out last week. Congress delivered $50 billion in relief to airlines last spring to offset a severe drop in passenger traffic due to the coronavirus, half of it to pay salaries. Kelly said Southwest's revenue remains 70% below what it normally would be.
More: Nancy Pelosi urges airlines to delay 'devastating' cuts as Democratic aid proposal fails to advance
The House of Representatives passed a new $2.2 trillion relief measure favored by Democrats last week, but the GOP-led Senate wasn't expected to take it up. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has been in talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and it is still uncertain whether a separate bill to aid the airlines, a strategy favored by the White House, can be hammered out.
Kelly said Southwest needs to plan for cost reductions in case no further federal help comes through. He invoked the airline's maverick history and noted that labor is the highest area of cost.
"We have a clear way to do all of this without layoffs or furloughs, at least through the end of next year," he said in a video message to the workforce. "As usual, we're different from the other airlines."
More: American Airlines to begin furloughs of 19,000 employees
He said he will work without his base salary through the end of next year. Managers and the board of directors will also take pay cuts.
But when it comes to dealing with the unions, such as those representing pilots and flight attendants, Kelly said he needs to have cost cuts in place by Jan. 1.
More: 'I don’t have a Plan B': 40,000 airline workers brace for mass layoffs
"We simply do not have time for long, complex, drawn-out negotiations. We need to move quickly and have cost savings in place," he said. Furloughs would only be a "last resort" if agreement can't be reached.
In a note to its members, Southwest's pilots union said it hasn't received answers to multiple requests for information from the company that would be helpful as a basis of whether to accept concessions.
The union, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, also said its members have given up $48 million through voluntary actions, and at the current rate that the company is burning cash, about $17 million a day, it has enough reserves to last two years.