usatoday--2020-07-31--'America's Frontline Doctors' may be real doctors, but experts say they don't know what they're talk

Tech platforms scrambled this week to delete a video featuring seven doctors who claimed their front-line knowledge of the pandemic contradicts the guidance of public health experts – even as President Donald Trump , his son and other political allies sought to amplify the video .
The event suggested the doctors ' personal experience gave them a valuable perspective on the public health crisis that they said was not being taken seriously .
And the major theme throughout the event by the group that calls itself America ’ s Frontline Doctors : touting the alleged benefits of hydroxychloroquine as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science that has shown it does not have a clinical benefit for COVID-19 patients and even has increased risks .
`` These are the doctors diagnosing , treating and helping patients beat COVID-19 , '' said Jenny Beth Martin – co-founder of Tea Party Patriots , a pro-Trump conservative group that helped organize the event – during the news conference .
While their name , America ’ s Frontline Doctors , suggests the speakers may work in hospital emergency rooms or intensive care units and have experience treating critically ill COVID-19 patients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors have such experience .
USA TODAY confirmed that most are physicians with active state medical licenses , but their specialties and experience suggests they were offering little more than personal opinions rather than research experience on infectious diseases .
While one is affiliated with a hospital that would treat critically ill patients and others work at urgent care or other clinics , none claim to be infectious disease experts or doctors working in a hospital emergency room or intensive care unit .
Many have also been vocal critics of lockdowns and supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , director of the Harvard Global Health Institute , likened the views expressed in the video to his own opinions about foreign politics in an interview with USA TODAY on Wednesday .
Jha acknowledged the power of the image contained in the video : a group of doctors standing outside the Supreme Court , donning white lab coats , boasting an introduction from a U.S. congressman and spreading a hopeful message amid a raging pandemic .
It proved a convincing package to the more the 17 million people who viewed one version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken down earlier this week .
Speaking with MSNBC , Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease specialist , called the group `` a bunch of people spouting something that is n't true . ''
Dr. Joe Ladapo , a UCLA physician who appeared in the video , told USA TODAY in an email that he appeared at the event `` because I believe it ’ s critically important for us to have a discussion that includes different perspectives about our approach to COVID-19 . ''
Jha , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal experience could outweigh more rigorous studies is simply unscientific .
“ Experiences are trumped by scientific evidence , ” he said .
And in the case of the arguments made in the video , Jha says the evidence does n't back up their experiences .
Some of the allegations made in the video – including that a cure for COVID-19 exists – essentially suggest a global conspiracy to suppress an effective treatment to the coronavirus , Jha said .
Who was featured in the video ?
USA TODAY tried to contact all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversial video filmed Monday to verify the organization 's claim that they are working on the front lines of the pandemic .
One responded , another declined to comment and the rest did not answer .
USA TODAY also reached out to Tea Party Patriots , the group organizing the event , and did not immediately get a response .
Many of the speakers have made public statements that clash with the opinion of the majority of public health experts .
• Dr. Simone Gold , who has identified herself as an emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , she gained national attention for being a part of a group of Pro-Trump doctors who advocated for quickly reopening the economy .
On her website , she claims she `` works as an emergency physician on the frontlines whether or not there is a pandemic . ''
On LinkedIn , she says she works as a `` Concierge Physician , '' an increasingly common field of medicine where patients pay a monthly or annual fee for access to a physician , according to AARP .
She is listed as having a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical Board of California and self-reported to the board that she completes 30-39 hours of patient care per week .
• Dr. Bob Hamilton identified himself as a pediatrician from Santa Monica , California , with 36 years of practice .
He 's listed as a pediatrician at Pacific Ocean Pediatrics , which reports on its website he has privileges at two California hospitals .
He is listed as having a renewed and current medical license by the Medical Board of California .
• Dr. Stella Immanuel identified herself as a primary care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successfully treated about 350 COVID-19 patients .
She has a full medical license in Texas , according to Texas Medical Board online records .
She told the board she has a primary specialty of pediatrics and a secondary specialty of emergency medicine .
• Dr. Dan Erickson was featured in a previous controversial video criticizing lockdowns ; he co-owns California urgent care centers .
The American Academy of Emergency Medicine condemned Erickson for his `` reckless and untested musings '' relating to COVID-19 in April .
Erickson is listed as having a license @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While the training for a doctor of osteopathic medicine is slightly different , focusing on more of a hands-on and holistic approach to health , they must go through a similar licensing process as physicians , according to the Mayo Clinic .
His urgent care center , Accelerated Urgent Care , does have a current license with the state medical board .
• Dr. Richard G. Urso is listed as an ophthalmologist with Houston Eye Associates .
He has a full medical license in Texas , according to Texas Medical Board online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a primary and secondary specialty of ophthalmology .
An assistant for Urso declined to comment to USA TODAY .
• Dr. James Todaro identifies himself on LinkedIn as a Detroit-area physician , managing partner of an investment fund and former physician with an eye group .
Michigan 's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs does not list anyone with a current medical doctor license by Todaro 's name .
• Dr. Joe Ladapo is an associate professor of medicine in the division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research at David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is listed as a Hospitalist affiliated with Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center by UCLA health .
Ladapo wrote in an email to USA TODAY that he has treated COVID-19 patients but that his primary work is in clinical research .
He said that his research has not primarily focused on COVID-19 and potential treatments , but rather policy and management of the pandemic .
Ladapo has written numerous opinion editorials critical of lockdowns published by national outlets , including USA TODAY .
A doctor who believes in demon sperm sued for medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the doctors in the group after a report from the Daily Beast highlighted some of her bizarre religious and medical beliefs .
The Daily Beast reported that Immanuel has stated `` that gynecological problems like cysts and endometriosis are in fact caused by people having sex in their dreams with demons and witches '' and that `` alien DNA is currently used in medical treatments . ''
On Twitter , Immanuel embraced these claims , tweeting , `` Yes America !
some need deliverance from demon sperm '' and said the news outlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliverance ministry . ''
The address listed for Immanuel 's practice is at the same strip mall where her Fire Power Ministries Christian Resource Center is located .
At the event for America ’ s Frontline Doctors , Immanuel also said masks are not necessary , despite evidence that has shown the use of face coverings can slow the spread of the virus through respiratory droplets .
In a video posted on Facebook in April , Immanuel is seen wearing full-body personal protective equipment in which she says her clinic offers screening for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to online records , the Texas Medical Board lists no investigations into medical malpractice against Immanuel ; however , the Houston Chronicle reported that Immanuel was the subject of a medical malpractice lawsuit tied to a woman 's death in Louisiana , where Immanuel is also licensed to practice .
According to the Chronicle , the lawsuit says that a woman treated by Immanuel complained about a needle in her arm .
Immanuel prescribed medication but did not perform a closer examination or tests , the lawsuit says , per the Chronicle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hospital because of the pain .
A surgeon removed the needle , but days later , the woman died , the lawsuit says .
Dick Knadler , an attorney for the woman 's mother , told the Houston Chronicle that the woman died from an infection .
Immanuel could not be reached for comment by USA TODAY or the Houston Chronicle .
Who organized the the white lab coat 'press conference ' ?
The group Tea Party Patriots hosted the event , which also featured Rep. Ralph Norman , R-S.C. On its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other videos of the same doctors speaking at a summit , billed as part of the `` Second Opinion Project . ''
`` American life has fallen casualty to a massive disinformation campaign .
We can speculate on how this has happened , and why it has continued , but the purpose of the American Frontline Doctor 's Summit is to empower Americans to stop living in fear , '' Tea Party Patriots writes on its website .
According to the Center for Responsive Politics , which tracks political fundraising , the Tea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PAC , has raised more than $ 24 million since 2014 for Republican candidates and conservative causes .
The group also operates a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit and a 501 ( c ) 4 social welfare organization , which allows it to participate in politics and influencing legislation .
On the group 's website , its super PAC pushes for Trump 's reelection as well as keeping Republicans in office .
Martin , the group 's co-founder who was also featured prominently in the video , has led the group and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and most effective national umbrella group within the Tea Party movement , '' the group 's website states .
`` Jenny Beth Martin and Tea Party Patriots now use their network to reach millions of Americans every week with education and updates about fiscal responsibility , free market principles , and constitutionally limited government , '' the website says .
What we know about COVID-19 and hydroxychloroquine Fauci and other leading voices in public health and infectious disease research have repeatedly said that the cumulative knowledge of scientific evidence to date does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 patients and that there are risk in taking the drug for COVID-19 patients .
Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial drug , but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has revoked its emergency authorization for the use of the drug in treating the new coronavirus .
The agency said in a letter the decision is based on new evidence that made it unreasonable to believe hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine `` may be effective in diagnosing , treating or preventing '' COVID-19 , the illness caused by the virus .
Citing reports of heart complications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a greater risk to patients than any potential benefits .
The drug came to public attention after several small , anecdotal , non-peer-reviewed reports about hydroxychloroquine in China in February .
None was up to the scientific gold standard of a double-blind , randomized , placebo-controlled trial that would more definitively show whether the drug worked .
An analysis by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , part of the USA TODAY Network , found that many hydroxychloroquine trials have resembled lone-wolf research , overseen by individual hospitals and universities and have become became a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific free-for-all in which research overlapped , studies were poorly designed , and patients were given drugs of unproven benefit .
Contributing : Adrianna Rodriguez , John Fauber and The Associated Press

Ryan W. Miller and Joel Shannon, USA TODAY

'America's Frontline Doctors' may be real doctors, but experts say they don't know what they're talking about
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump again touts hydroxychloroquine for COVID A day after President Donald Trump and his son shared a fresh dose of misinformation about hydroxychloroquine in videos that were taken down by Twitter and Facebook, Trump again touted the benefits of the drug, insisting it's safe and effective. (July 28) AP
Tech platforms scrambled this week to delete a video featuring seven doctors who claimed their front-line knowledge of the pandemic contradicts the guidance of public health experts – even as President Donald Trump, his son and other political allies sought to amplify the video.
The event suggested the doctors' personal experience gave them a valuable perspective on the public health crisis that they said was not being taken seriously.
And the major theme throughout the event by the group that calls itself America’s Frontline Doctors: touting the alleged benefits of hydroxychloroquine as a cure for COVID-19 and shooting down the science that has shown it does not have a clinical benefit for COVID-19 patients and even has increased risks.
"These are the doctors diagnosing, treating and helping patients beat COVID-19," said Jenny Beth Martin – co-founder of Tea Party Patriots, a pro-Trump conservative group that helped organize the event – during the news conference.
While their name, America’s Frontline Doctors, suggests the speakers may work in hospital emergency rooms or intensive care units and have experience treating critically ill COVID-19 patients, it's unclear to what extent the doctors have such experience.
USA TODAY confirmed that most are physicians with active state medical licenses, but their specialties and experience suggests they were offering little more than personal opinions rather than research experience on infectious diseases.
While one is affiliated with a hospital that would treat critically ill patients and others work at urgent care or other clinics, none claim to be infectious disease experts or doctors working in a hospital emergency room or intensive care unit.
Many have also been vocal critics of lockdowns and supporters of the Trump administration.
Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, likened the views expressed in the video to his own opinions about foreign politics in an interview with USA TODAY on Wednesday.
Jha acknowledged the power of the image contained in the video: a group of doctors standing outside the Supreme Court, donning white lab coats, boasting an introduction from a U.S. congressman and spreading a hopeful message amid a raging pandemic. It proved a convincing package to the more the 17 million people who viewed one version of the video circulating online before it was taken down earlier this week.
Speaking with MSNBC, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease specialist, called the group "a bunch of people spouting something that isn't true."
Dr. Joe Ladapo, a UCLA physician who appeared in the video, told USA TODAY in an email that he appeared at the event "because I believe it’s critically important for us to have a discussion that includes different perspectives about our approach to COVID-19."
Jha, however, said the idea that any doctor's personal experience could outweigh more rigorous studies is simply unscientific.
“Experiences are trumped by scientific evidence,” he said. And in the case of the arguments made in the video, Jha says the evidence doesn't back up their experiences.
Some of the allegations made in the video – including that a cure for COVID-19 exists – essentially suggest a global conspiracy to suppress an effective treatment to the coronavirus, Jha said.
“It’s not science."
Who was featured in the video?
USA TODAY tried to contact all of the doctors who spoke during the controversial video filmed Monday to verify the organization's claim that they are working on the front lines of the pandemic. One responded, another declined to comment and the rest did not answer. USA TODAY also reached out to Tea Party Patriots, the group organizing the event, and did not immediately get a response.
Many of the speakers have made public statements that clash with the opinion of the majority of public health experts.
Dr. Simone Gold, who has identified herself as an emergency medicine specialist in Los Angeles. In May, she gained national attention for being a part of a group of Pro-Trump doctors who advocated for quickly reopening the economy. On her website, she claims she "works as an emergency physician on the frontlines whether or not there is a pandemic." On LinkedIn, she says she works as a "Concierge Physician," an increasingly common field of medicine where patients pay a monthly or annual fee for access to a physician, according to AARP. She is listed as having a renewed and current medical license by the Medical Board of California and self-reported to the board that she completes 30-39 hours of patient care per week. Dr. Bob Hamilton identified himself as a pediatrician from Santa Monica, California, with 36 years of practice. He's listed as a pediatrician at Pacific Ocean Pediatrics, which reports on its website he has privileges at two California hospitals. He is listed as having a renewed and current medical license by the Medical Board of California. Dr. Stella Immanuel identified herself as a primary care physician in Houston and claims to have successfully treated about 350 COVID-19 patients. She has a full medical license in Texas, according to Texas Medical Board online records. She told the board she has a primary specialty of pediatrics and a secondary specialty of emergency medicine. Dr. Dan Erickson was featured in a previous controversial video criticizing lockdowns; he co-owns California urgent care centers. The American Academy of Emergency Medicine condemned Erickson for his "reckless and untested musings" relating to COVID-19 in April. Erickson is listed as having a license from the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. While the training for a doctor of osteopathic medicine is slightly different, focusing on more of a hands-on and holistic approach to health, they must go through a similar licensing process as physicians, according to the Mayo Clinic. His urgent care center, Accelerated Urgent Care, does have a current license with the state medical board. Dr. Richard G. Urso is listed as an ophthalmologist with Houston Eye Associates. He has a full medical license in Texas, according to Texas Medical Board online records. He told the board he has a primary and secondary specialty of ophthalmology. An assistant for Urso declined to comment to USA TODAY. Dr. James Todaro identifies himself on LinkedIn as a Detroit-area physician, managing partner of an investment fund and former physician with an eye group. Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs does not list anyone with a current medical doctor license by Todaro's name. Dr. Joe Ladapo is an associate professor of medicine in the division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is listed as a Hospitalist affiliated with Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center by UCLA health. Ladapo wrote in an email to USA TODAY that he has treated COVID-19 patients but that his primary work is in clinical research. He said that his research has not primarily focused on COVID-19 and potential treatments, but rather policy and management of the pandemic. Ladapo has written numerous opinion editorials critical of lockdowns published by national outlets, including USA TODAY.
A doctor who believes in demon sperm sued for medical malpractice
Immanuel has received heightened attention among the doctors in the group after a report from the Daily Beast highlighted some of her bizarre religious and medical beliefs.
The Daily Beast reported that Immanuel has stated "that gynecological problems like cysts and endometriosis are in fact caused by people having sex in their dreams with demons and witches" and that "alien DNA is currently used in medical treatments."
On Twitter, Immanuel embraced these claims, tweeting, "Yes America! some need deliverance from demon sperm" and said the news outlet "did a great job summarizing our deliverance ministry."
The address listed for Immanuel's practice is at the same strip mall where her Fire Power Ministries Christian Resource Center is located.
At the event for America’s Frontline Doctors, Immanuel also said masks are not necessary, despite evidence that has shown the use of face coverings can slow the spread of the virus through respiratory droplets.
In a video posted on Facebook in April, Immanuel is seen wearing full-body personal protective equipment in which she says her clinic offers screening for COVID-19 in its parking lot.
According to online records, the Texas Medical Board lists no investigations into medical malpractice against Immanuel; however, the Houston Chronicle reported that Immanuel was the subject of a medical malpractice lawsuit tied to a woman's death in Louisiana, where Immanuel is also licensed to practice.
According to the Chronicle, the lawsuit says that a woman treated by Immanuel complained about a needle in her arm. Immanuel prescribed medication but did not perform a closer examination or tests, the lawsuit says, per the Chronicle.
The woman sought help hours later from a hospital because of the pain. A surgeon removed the needle, but days later, the woman died, the lawsuit says. Dick Knadler, an attorney for the woman's mother, told the Houston Chronicle that the woman died from an infection.
Immanuel could not be reached for comment by USA TODAY or the Houston Chronicle.
Who organized the the white lab coat 'press conference'?
The group Tea Party Patriots hosted the event, which also featured Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. On its website, Tea Party Patriots published several other videos of the same doctors speaking at a summit, billed as part of the "Second Opinion Project."
"American life has fallen casualty to a massive disinformation campaign. We can speculate on how this has happened, and why it has continued, but the purpose of the American Frontline Doctor's Summit is to empower Americans to stop living in fear," Tea Party Patriots writes on its website.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks political fundraising, the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund, a super PAC, has raised more than $24 million since 2014 for Republican candidates and conservative causes.
The group also operates a 501(c)3 non-profit and a 501(c)4 social welfare organization, which allows it to participate in politics and influencing legislation.
On the group's website, its super PAC pushes for Trump's reelection as well as keeping Republicans in office.
Martin, the group's co-founder who was also featured prominently in the video, has led the group and grown it "to be the largest and most effective national umbrella group within the Tea Party movement," the group's website states.
"Jenny Beth Martin and Tea Party Patriots now use their network to reach millions of Americans every week with education and updates about fiscal responsibility, free market principles, and constitutionally limited government," the website says.
What we know about COVID-19 and hydroxychloroquine
Fauci and other leading voices in public health and infectious disease research have repeatedly said that the cumulative knowledge of scientific evidence to date does not show that hydroxychloroquine has a positive effect for COVID-19 patients and that there are risk in taking the drug for COVID-19 patients.
Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial drug, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has revoked its emergency authorization for the use of the drug in treating the new coronavirus.
The agency said in a letter the decision is based on new evidence that made it unreasonable to believe hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine "may be effective in diagnosing, treating or preventing" COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.
Citing reports of heart complications, the FDA said the drugs pose a greater risk to patients than any potential benefits.
The drug came to public attention after several small, anecdotal, non-peer-reviewed reports about hydroxychloroquine in China in February. None was up to the scientific gold standard of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that would more definitively show whether the drug worked.
An analysis by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, found that many hydroxychloroquine trials have resembled lone-wolf research, overseen by individual hospitals and universities and have become became a frenzied hodge-podge of undertakings – an unprecedented scientific free-for-all in which research overlapped, studies were poorly designed, and patients were given drugs of unproven benefit.
Contributing: Adrianna Rodriguez, John Fauber and The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-07-31--Does the Covid pandemic spell the end of public schools?

We might be entering the last days of public education in America .
The United States , which led the world in expanding access to public education to boys and girls in the 1800s , is poised to become the first rich nation to abandon that commitment as longstanding political efforts to undermine public schools meet the existential threat posed by the coronavirus .
As privileged parents determine what to do if schools are closed or online this fall , their individual choices could , in the aggregate , presage a shift away from public education and back to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public schools have been under threat for decades , as leaders in both parties pushed for school choice , charters and vouchers .
That effort has gained renewed steam under the Trump administration .
Even before the pandemic , Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos made providing public funding for families seeking to opt out of the public system a priority .
But the pandemic offers her an opportunity to impose disruptive change .
As public schools struggle to determine whether they can safely reopen and take on new expenses associated both with moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access , the Department of Education under DeVos has sought to channel emergency funds to private schools .
South Carolina ’ s Republican Gov .
Henry McMaster also hopes to use federal emergency funds to encourage parents to abandon public schools .
These decisions by federal and state leaders are being made at a moment when parents are in an impossible situation .
Because President Donald Trump ignored the virus and bypassed government scientists , the United States , unlike other wealthy nations , has lost control over the pandemic and is heading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools have not been offered sufficient guidance nor funding to open safely .
And in the context of a pandemic , many parents are wary about sending their kids to school in any case .
Moreover , given that , despite heroic efforts by our nation ’ s educators , the quality of online education last spring left much to be desired , it ’ s not clear whether parents will send their kids to public schools online either .
For privileged parents , this means thinking about alternatives for the fall .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ forming private “ pods ” or “ microschools ” with neighbors and friends to share responsibilities and curricula .
And others might choose private schools , which because they are tuition-driven and do not have the same problems of scale , may be open .
As parents opt out , could we see eroding support for public education ?
Based on my research as a historian of American education , I fear so .
The reason is simple .
In a country that has long been hostile to big government , public schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stakeholder .
At the time of the American Revolution , education was not considered a public good .
Parents were responsible for educating their own children .
But , many Revolutionary-era leaders argued , a democracy requires all citizens to be educated , and this requires providing tax support for new public schools .
Open schools : Racial inequities will grow if schools do n't open safely this fall .
Here 's an action plan .
Americans then were skeptical .
Many were unwilling to pay taxes to educate other families ’ children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they went out to collect school taxes !
Although American leaders — Thomas Jefferson among them — spoke eloquently about the need to equalize access to education , their words were not enough .
It was not until a critical mass of Americans started sending their kids to the new public schools that schooling really took off .
As more parents sent their kids to public schools , others wanted in .
And over time , the bulk of families in a community had a reason to pay taxes for public schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In short , public support for public schooling was forged through the schools themselves .
Advocates of public schools knew that they would only be successful if most parents were invested in them .
Public schools turn each parent ’ s interest in their own child into a collective investment in other people ’ s children .
Horace Mann , secretary to the Massachusetts Board of Education in the 1830s and one of the 19th century ’ s leading advocates of public education , worried that if privileged parents did not opt in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If privileged families “ turn away from the Common Schools ” and send their children to a “ private school , ” then , Mann argued , poorer children would end up with a second-class education .
Similarly , an 1822 report for the Kentucky legislature concluded that public schools will only succeed if the majority of children attended .
If wealthy families opted out , public education would be considered charity instead of a public good .
We are at a moment of reckoning .
The last time public schools were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid integration .
The goal then was to sustain racial inequality .
Even if today the aim is not racist , in a system already rife with economic and racial inequality , if families with resources invest more in themselves rather than share time and money in common institutions , the quality of public education for less privileged Americans , many of whom are racial minorities , will deteriorate .
Pandemic and schools : How much GDP and employment are worth how many teachers and students ?
Do we matter ?
In short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough choices in the context of America ’ s botched response to the pandemic , individual choices might collectively increase inequality and undermine Americans ’ commitment to public education itself .
Johann Neem , author of `` Democracy ’ s Schools : The Rise of Public Education in America , '' teaches history at Western Washington University .

Does the Covid pandemic spell the end of public schools? COVID-19 has become a threat to public schooling as parents begin to seek alternative schooling for the fall if public schools remain closed.
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: How access to the internet is not created equal As schools debate about returning to online learning, the lack of internet access for many Americans is a big sticking point. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
We might be entering the last days of public education in America. The United States, which led the world in expanding access to public education to boys and girls in the 1800s, is poised to become the first rich nation to abandon that commitment as longstanding political efforts to undermine public schools meet the existential threat posed by the coronavirus. As privileged parents determine what to do if schools are closed or online this fall, their individual choices could, in the aggregate, presage a shift away from public education and back to the market-based private education that predated it.
Public schools have been under threat for decades, as leaders in both parties pushed for school choice, charters and vouchers. That effort has gained renewed steam under the Trump administration. Even before the pandemic, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos made providing public funding for families seeking to opt out of the public system a priority. But the pandemic offers her an opportunity to impose disruptive change. As public schools struggle to determine whether they can safely reopen and take on new expenses associated both with moving online and preparing their campuses for safe access, the Department of Education under DeVos has sought to channel emergency funds to private schools. South Carolina’s Republican Gov. Henry McMaster also hopes to use federal emergency funds to encourage parents to abandon public schools.
Rise of alternatives to public schools
These decisions by federal and state leaders are being made at a moment when parents are in an impossible situation. Because President Donald Trump ignored the virus and bypassed government scientists, the United States, unlike other wealthy nations, has lost control over the pandemic and is heading into fall with cases rising. Public schools have not been offered sufficient guidance nor funding to open safely. And in the context of a pandemic, many parents are wary about sending their kids to school in any case. Moreover, given that, despite heroic efforts by our nation’s educators, the quality of online education last spring left much to be desired, it’s not clear whether parents will send their kids to public schools online either.
For privileged parents, this means thinking about alternatives for the fall. Some are considering homeschooling. Others are forming private “pods” or “microschools” with neighbors and friends to share responsibilities and curricula. And others might choose private schools, which because they are tuition-driven and do not have the same problems of scale, may be open.
As parents opt out, could we see eroding support for public education? Based on my research as a historian of American education, I fear so. The reason is simple. In a country that has long been hostile to big government, public schools succeeded because almost every family was a stakeholder.
At the time of the American Revolution, education was not considered a public good. Parents were responsible for educating their own children. But, many Revolutionary-era leaders argued, a democracy requires all citizens to be educated, and this requires providing tax support for new public schools.
Open schools: Racial inequities will grow if schools don't open safely this fall. Here's an action plan.
Americans then were skeptical. Many were unwilling to pay taxes to educate other families’ children. Tax collectors sometimes faced physical threats when they went out to collect school taxes! Although American leaders — Thomas Jefferson among them — spoke eloquently about the need to equalize access to education, their words were not enough. It was not until a critical mass of Americans started sending their kids to the new public schools that schooling really took off. As more parents sent their kids to public schools, others wanted in. And over time, the bulk of families in a community had a reason to pay taxes for public schools: Their children or grandchildren attended. In short, public support for public schooling was forged through the schools themselves.
Necessities for public school to succeed
Advocates of public schools knew that they would only be successful if most parents were invested in them. Public schools turn each parent’s interest in their own child into a collective investment in other people’s children. Horace Mann, secretary to the Massachusetts Board of Education in the 1830s and one of the 19th century’s leading advocates of public education, worried that if privileged parents did not opt in, then public schools would never succeed. If privileged families “turn away from the Common Schools” and send their children to a “private school,” then, Mann argued, poorer children would end up with a second-class education.
Similarly, an 1822 report for the Kentucky legislature concluded that public schools will only succeed if the majority of children attended. If wealthy families opted out, public education would be considered charity instead of a public good.
We are at a moment of reckoning. The last time public schools were closed was when Southern states sought to avoid integration. The goal then was to sustain racial inequality. Even if today the aim is not racist, in a system already rife with economic and racial inequality, if families with resources invest more in themselves rather than share time and money in common institutions, the quality of public education for less privileged Americans, many of whom are racial minorities, will deteriorate.
Pandemic and schools: How much GDP and employment are worth how many teachers and students? Do we matter?
In short, as families are forced to make tough choices in the context of America’s botched response to the pandemic, individual choices might collectively increase inequality and undermine Americans’ commitment to public education itself.
Johann Neem, author of "Democracy’s Schools: The Rise of Public Education in America," teaches history at Western Washington University.


usatoday--2020-07-31--A black bear wheeled a trash can up this house's driveway before looking for leftovers

This black bear lent a helping hand , that worked out in its favor This Florida black bear stood upright @ @ @ @ @ trash bin toward a home before bringing the bin to the ground to search for @ @

This black bear lent a helping hand, that worked out in its favor
This Florida black bear stood upright to a roll a residential trash bin toward a home before bringing the bin to the ground to search for leftovers.
USA TODAY, Storyful


usatoday--2020-07-31--'It hit me very hard': Trump meets with Vanessa Guillen's family at White House

President Donald Trump met with the family of slain soldier Vanessa Guillen at the White House .

Trump meets with family of slain soldier Vanessa Guillen
President Donald Trump met with the family of slain soldier Vanessa Guillen at the White House.
Associated Press, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-07-31--Ohio pharmacy board reverses ban on hydroxychloroquine after GOP Gov. DeWine's request

COLUMBUS , Ohio – The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy has changed course on its ban of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as coronavirus treatments following the governor ’ s urging to do so .
Beginning Thursday , pharmacies , clinics and other medical institutions were to be prohibited from dispensing or selling the drugs to treat COVID-19 , according to regulations issued by the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy .
They could still be used in clinical trials , said Cameron McNamee , director of policy and communications for the board .
That regulation change has since been pulled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the board now plans to re-examine the issue with the assistance of the State Medical Board of Ohio , clinical experts , and other stakeholders to determine its next steps , according to an announcement .
The board ’ s shift came after Republican Gov .
Mike DeWine asked the state pharmacy board on Thursday morning to rescind its plan to ban hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as treatments for the virus .
'America 's Frontline Doctors ' : May be real doctors , but experts say they do n't know what they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor-patient decision DeWine said the decision of how to treat COVID-19 should instead be between patients and their doctors .
“ The Board of Pharmacy and the State Medical Board of Ohio should revisit the issue , listen to the best medical science , and open the process up for comment and testimony from experts , ” DeWine said in a prepared statement .
Hydroxychloroquine has been touted by President Donald Trump despite medical studies showing the drug to be ineffective at treating the disease .
The drug may also cause serious cardiac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Drug Administration .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in mid-June revoked an emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine that had allowed it to be used to treat COVID-19 patients .
Despite the FDA ’ s revocation and until now , it could technically still be used for off-label treatment of the virus in Ohio , McNamee said .
“ Basically , it ’ s a patient safety issue , ” McNamee said on Wednesday before DeWine ’ s request and the board ’ s subsequent reversal .
“ We ’ re looking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s best for the patients of Ohio.
” Under the regulation , pharmacists in Ohio found to be selling or dispensing the drug to treat COVID-19 could have faced disciplinary action ranging anywhere from a warning or fine to a temporary suspension of their license .
That action would have depended on the situation , McNamee said Wednesday .
“ The long and short of it is , we want people to focus on what works , such as social distancing and mask use , ” McNamee said .
“ We ultimately want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not exposing themselves to drugs that have shown not to be effective in treating COVID-19.
” The board ’ s original move to ban the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 came as misinformation continued to spread about it .
As recently as this week , Trump has promoted the drug and said he took it as a preventative measure .
McNamee said the board ’ s initial decision had nothing to do with Trump ’ s continued endorsement of hydroxychloroquine .
This isn ’ t the first time the state pharmacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of the drug during the pandemic .
In March , the Ohio Board of Pharmacy cracked down on doctors who were hoarding hydroxychloroquine for themselves , family and friends in case it was needed .
At that time , the board implemented restrictions that said the drug could be prescribed only for those who had tested positive for COVID-19 .
Hydroxychloroquine is typically used to treat malaria , a mosquito-borne illness that causes fever , chills and influenza-like symptoms , according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that cause inflammation , such as lupus and forms of arthritis .
In the early days of the pandemic , the Ohio Department of Health stockpiled the drug in case it turned out to be a good treatment .
The state purchased more than 2 million hydroxychloroquine pills for $ 602,629 on April 9 , Melanie Amato , spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Health , said via email in June .
On April 20 , Capital Wholesale Drug in Columbus donated 2 million hydroxychloroquine pills — worth about $ 680,000 — from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Mason , Ohio .
The amount of pills stockpiled by the state is equivalent to nearly two years ’ worth of prescriptions that the state typically would use for its managed-care programs , according to data provided by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services .
“ The company that donated the 2 million pills is taking them back , ” Amato said via email Wednesday .
“ The ones we purchased we are still looking at options at donating them to foundations that can use them to treat lupus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in coronavirus patients months after recovering from COVID-19

Ohio pharmacy board reverses ban on hydroxychloroquine after GOP Gov. DeWine’s request
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump again touts hydroxychloroquine for COVID A day after President Donald Trump and his son shared a fresh dose of misinformation about hydroxychloroquine in videos that were taken down by Twitter and Facebook, Trump again touted the benefits of the drug, insisting it's safe and effective. (July 28) AP
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy has changed course on its ban of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as coronavirus treatments following the governor’s urging to do so.
Beginning Thursday, pharmacies, clinics and other medical institutions were to be prohibited from dispensing or selling the drugs to treat COVID-19, according to regulations issued by the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy. They could still be used in clinical trials, said Cameron McNamee, director of policy and communications for the board.
That regulation change has since been pulled back by the board though. Instead, the board now plans to re-examine the issue with the assistance of the State Medical Board of Ohio, clinical experts, and other stakeholders to determine its next steps, according to an announcement.
The board’s shift came after Republican Gov. Mike DeWine asked the state pharmacy board on Thursday morning to rescind its plan to ban hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as treatments for the virus.
'America's Frontline Doctors': May be real doctors, but experts say they don't know what they're talking about
DeWine says treatment should be doctor-patient decision
DeWine said the decision of how to treat COVID-19 should instead be between patients and their doctors.
“The Board of Pharmacy and the State Medical Board of Ohio should revisit the issue, listen to the best medical science, and open the process up for comment and testimony from experts,” DeWine said in a prepared statement.
Hydroxychloroquine has been touted by President Donald Trump despite medical studies showing the drug to be ineffective at treating the disease. The drug may also cause serious cardiac side effects, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Ohio speaker Householder indicted in federal bribery case: Title stripped in 90-0 vote
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in mid-June revoked an emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine that had allowed it to be used to treat COVID-19 patients. Despite the FDA’s revocation and until now, it could technically still be used for off-label treatment of the virus in Ohio, McNamee said.
“Basically, it’s a patient safety issue,” McNamee said on Wednesday before DeWine’s request and the board’s subsequent reversal. “We’re looking at the best science to determine what’s best for the patients of Ohio.”
Under the regulation, pharmacists in Ohio found to be selling or dispensing the drug to treat COVID-19 could have faced disciplinary action ranging anywhere from a warning or fine to a temporary suspension of their license. That action would have depended on the situation, McNamee said Wednesday.
“The long and short of it is, we want people to focus on what works, such as social distancing and mask use,” McNamee said. “We ultimately want to make sure people are being safe and not exposing themselves to drugs that have shown not to be effective in treating COVID-19.”
The board’s original move to ban the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 came as misinformation continued to spread about it. As recently as this week, Trump has promoted the drug and said he took it as a preventative measure.
McNamee said the board’s initial decision had nothing to do with Trump’s continued endorsement of hydroxychloroquine.
State purchased $600,000 worth of drug in April
This isn’t the first time the state pharmacy board has stepped in to regulate the use of the drug during the pandemic.
In March, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy cracked down on doctors who were hoarding hydroxychloroquine for themselves, family and friends in case it was needed. At that time, the board implemented restrictions that said the drug could be prescribed only for those who had tested positive for COVID-19.
Hydroxychloroquine is typically used to treat malaria, a mosquito-borne illness that causes fever, chills and influenza-like symptoms, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The drug is also used to treat conditions that cause inflammation, such as lupus and forms of arthritis.
In the early days of the pandemic, the Ohio Department of Health stockpiled the drug in case it turned out to be a good treatment.
The state purchased more than 2 million hydroxychloroquine pills for $602,629 on April 9, Melanie Amato, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Health, said via email in June. On April 20, Capital Wholesale Drug in Columbus donated 2 million hydroxychloroquine pills — worth about $680,000 — from drug maker Prasco, which is based in Mason, Ohio.
The amount of pills stockpiled by the state is equivalent to nearly two years’ worth of prescriptions that the state typically would use for its managed-care programs, according to data provided by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
“The company that donated the 2 million pills is taking them back,” Amato said via email Wednesday. “The ones we purchased we are still looking at options at donating them to foundations that can use them to treat lupus and malaria.”
Contributing: Rick Rouan and Lucas Sullivan, Columbus Dispatch
Follow reporter Max Filby on Twitter: @MaxFilby
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A grand jury in Georgia indicted Donald Trump Monday, accusing the former president and his allies of trying to steal President Joe Biden’s win.


usatoday--2020-08-01--Coronavirus updates: Colleges could reopen if they test students every 2 days; Fauci 'cautiously opt

In its biggest coronavirus vaccine deal yet , the U.S. said Friday it will pay French pharmaceutical company Sanofi and Great Britain ’ s GlaxoSmithKline up to $ 2.1 billion to test and produce 100 million doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine .
The deal is part of Operation Warp Speed , a White House-led initiative aimed at getting a vaccine to stop SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 .
On Capitol Hill , Dr. Anthony Fauci testified Friday before a special House panel .
He told the committee that he 's `` cautiously optimistic '' that by late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being tested would be deemed safe and effective .
Also in Washington , the extra $ 600 in federal unemployment aid that helped many Americans stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic is expiring as plans for additional stimulus stalled in a deadlocked Senate .
Here are some significant developments : • A new survey shows fewer Americans want to resume daily activities like going to restaurants or sending children to school as cases spike .
• It could be safe for students to return to campus this fall if colleges conduct rapid coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a study published Friday .
• An outbreak at a Georgia summer camp provides further evidence that children of all ages are susceptible to infection and `` might play an important role in transmission , '' according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report Friday .
• The pandemic is forcing Muslim families worldwide to readjust their celebrations this week for Eid al-Adha , the second of two major Muslim holidays , as families scale back travel and adhere to face social distancing guidelines .
• A Florida couple was arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` immediate danger . ''
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has recorded more than 152,000 deaths and over 4.4 million cases of COVID-19 , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Worldwide , there have been over 671,000 deaths and 17 million cases .
📰 What we 're reading : Kids ' mental health can struggle during online school .
Here 's how teachers are planning ahead .
Our live blog is being updated throughout the day .
Refresh for the latest news , and get updates in your inbox with The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of May , a temporary hospital at one of the nation 's largest convention centers will reopen and begin receiving COVID-19 patients next week , Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp announced Friday .
The Georgia World Congress Center will reopen with a total capacity of 120 beds and will house an initial surge of 60 beds .
`` These additional hospital beds will provide relief to surrounding healthcare facilities while providing top notch care for patients , '' Kemp said in a statement .
More than 3,700 people have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the virus in Georgia , which was the first state to begin reopening businesses at the end of April .
A study out a Chicago children ’ s hospital Thursday found that children younger than 5 years with mild to moderate COVID-19 had high amounts of virus in their noses and throats as compared with older children and adults , suggesting that young children `` can potentially be important drivers of SARS-CoV-2 spread in the general population . ''
However , more virus does n't necessarily mean more transmission , scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be less likely to transmit , get infected and be symptomatic , said George Rutherford , head of infectious disease and global epidemiology at the University of California-San Francisco .
`` It ’ s obviously something that is counterintuitive to the prevailing narrative , '' said Rutherford , who is also a pediatrician .
Florida sheriffs meet with Trump after conference with COVID infected colleague Florida sheriffs who had attended a conference this week with a COVID-19-infected colleague met Friday afternoon with President Donald Trump .
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood reported his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dozen other sheriffs stood with Trump on the Tampa International Airport tarmac .
Chitwood had attended the Florida Sheriff 's Association conference earlier this week in Bonita Springs .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis , Sen. Rick Scott , R-Fla. , Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and law enforcement officers from around the state were also at the conference .
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno , who hosted the conference and whose agency polices Bonita Springs , stood behind Trump along with 14 other sheriffs as Trump praised them and announced he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Neither Trump nor the sheriffs wore masks .
Two of the sheriffs said they had been rapid-tested for COVID-19 before meeting with Trump .
The U.S. may see more than 20,000 more COVID-19-related deaths in the next three weeks , according to a forecast published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday .
The ensemble forecast , which combines projections from 32 modeling groups , projects 173,000 total COVID-19 deaths by August 22 , with a range of 168,000 to 182,000 total deaths .
The forecast suggests weekly reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , with 5,000 to 11,000 new deaths reported during the week ending August 22 .
Study : Colleges could reopen safely if they screen students every 2 days It could be safe for students to return to campus this fall if colleges conduct rapid coronavirus screening every two days , according to a study published Friday in the Journal of the American Medical Association by researchers at Yale , Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital .
The researchers created a computer model to simulate a medium-sized college with about 5,000 students – all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living in a congregate setting – and initially assumed that there were 10 undetected , asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 on campus .
The model found that by screening every two days with a rapid and inexpensive test – even if not always accurate – coupled with `` strict behavioral interventions , '' a college could maintain a `` controllable number '' of infections at a cost of $ 470 per student per semester .
Outbreak at summer camp further evidence kids play 'important role ' in transmission About 260 people at an overnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 years and younger – tested positive for the coronavirus after the camp did not implement several precautionary measures , providing further evidence that children of all ages are susceptible to infection and `` might play an important role in transmission , '' according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report Friday .
Among 597 people at the camp , test results were available for 344 attendees , and 76 % of those tests were positive .
Among campers aged 6-10 who provided test results , 51 % were positive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11-17 years , and 33 % of those aged 18-21 years .
The camp implemented `` most '' of the CDC ’ s recommendations for reducing the risk of transmission – such as requiring all participants to provide documentation of a negative test before arriving – but did not mandate face masks for campers or open windows and doors for increased ventilation in buildings .
`` These findings demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 spread efficiently in a youth-centric overnight setting , resulting in high attack rates among persons in all age groups , despite efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategies to prevent transmission .
Asymptomatic infection was common and potentially contributed to undetected transmission , '' the authors wrote .
The United States announced Friday it will pay French pharmaceutical company Sanofi and Great Britain ’ s GlaxoSmithKline up to $ 2.1 billion to test and produce 100 million doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine .
More than half of the money will support further development and early-stage clinical trials to ensure it is safe and effective .
The rest will pay for the first 100 million doses , with an option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the $ 2.1 billion will go to Sanofi , which made the vaccine candidate .
GlaxoSmithKline made a booster that improves how the body responds to it .
The deal is part of Operation Warp Speed , a White House-led initiative aimed at getting a vaccine to stop SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 .
The Trump administration initiative has now spent more than $ 8 billion on experimental vaccines that may or may not make it across the finish line .
A video shared by a Florida school district showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look has gone viral on TikTok and other social media , with parents and critics decrying it as an `` apocalyptic '' and `` heartbreaking '' viewing experience .
The two-minute clip , shared by the School District of Manatee County on its Facebook page July 21 , shows students wearing masks and social distancing in classrooms , lunch lines and cafeteria spaces as a protective measure against COVID-19 .
`` I 'm not gon na lie , it looks a little apocalyptic , '' said Tiffany Jenkins , a Florida comedian and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another district in the area .
Vietnam records first COVID-19 death after tourists flock to Da Nang beaches Vietnam on Friday reported its first-ever death of a person with the coronavirus as it struggles with a renewed outbreak after 99 days with no local cases .
The Health Ministry said a 70-year-old man died after contracting the disease while being treated for a kidney illness at a hospital in Da Nang .
More than 100 new cases have been confirmed in the past week , more than half of them patients at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s most popular beach destination , and thousands of visitors were in the city for summer vacation .
Across the country , authorities are rushing to test people who have returned home from the coastal city and have reimposed virus restrictions .
Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress on Friday that experts are `` cautiously optimistic '' that by late fall or early winter a COVID-19 vaccine now being tested would be deemed safe and effective .
Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said the vaccine began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals that will last several months .
`` We hope that at a time we get into the late fall and early winter we will have a vaccine that we can say would be safe and effective , '' he said .
`` No one can guarantee the safety or effectiveness unless you do the trial , but we are cautiously optimistic that this week be successful because of the early studies on humans . ''
Fauci , CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield , and Brett Giroir , assistant secretary for health at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , appeared before the House select subcommittee on national coronavirus strategy .
In the span of a few months , Gov .
Ron DeSantis has gone from one of the most admired state leaders in America to one of the most disparaged , with an approval rating that has dropped precipitously as coronavirus cases surged .
A pair of recent polls indicate more Floridians now disapprove of the job DeSantis is doing than approve .
The latest was released Friday by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy .
It shows that 49 % of Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job performance , compared to 45 % who approve .
That ’ s a 17 percentage point drop from the 62 % of Florida voters who approved of DeSantis in a Mason-Dixon poll from last year .
As the virus has raged out of control , DeSantis has closed bars but taken few other steps to contain the virus .
He repeatedly played down the explosion of new cases , at first attributing it to more testing and then arguing that the big increase in cases isn ’ t such a big deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and less likely to get seriously ill. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced Friday that the government will postpone highly anticipated legislative elections by one year , citing a worsening coronavirus outbreak in the semi-autonomous Chinese city .
The postponement is a setback for the pro-democracy opposition , which was hoping to capitalize on disenchantment with the current pro-Beijing majority to make gains .
A group of 22 lawmakers issued a statement ahead of the announcement accusing the government of using the outbreak as an excuse to delay the vote .
Virus takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curbs on travel , large gatherings The coronavirus pandemic is forcing Muslim families worldwide to readjust their celebrations this week for Eid al-Adha , the second of two major Muslim holidays , as families scale back travel and adhere to face social distancing guidelines .
Eid al-Adha , which marks the end of the hajj , or pilgrimage , season , is a three-day celebration in Muslim-majority countries .
In the United States , most observe just one day .
This year Saudi Arabia suspended travel to Mecca for the annual hajj .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ online this year , unlike big celebrations such as a gathering of 30,000 people in a football stadium in Minnesota .
Nearly half of more than 250 law enforcement agencies surveyed this month say they already being hit by stiff budget reductions because of the coronavirus pandemic and the national movement to defund the police .
The report slated for release this week by the Police Executive Research Forum , a nonpartisan research organization , finds few agencies , regardless of size , are being spared .
Deep reductions have been ordered or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Seattle ; Baltimore County , Maryland ; Tempe , Arizona ; and Eureka , California .
Much of the funding is being pulled from equipment , hiring and training accounts , even as a number of cities also are tracking abrupt spikes in violent crime , the report concluded .
More record cases in 6 states ; record deaths in 9 A weekly USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Thursday shows six states set records for new cases while nine states had a record number of deaths .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mississippi , Missouri , Montana , Oklahoma and Oregon , and also Puerto Rico .
Record numbers of deaths were reported in Arkansas , Florida , Idaho , Mississippi , Montana , Nevada , North Carolina , Oklahoma and Oregon .
Minnesota schools will have flexibility in reopening Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz unveiled a reopening plan Thursday that includes an equation for districts to use to decide whether to reopen with in-person class , distance learning or a hybrid option dependent on the viral activity in the surrounding county and the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Experts from the health and education departments will partner with school districts and charter schools to help determine which learning model they should use at the beginning of the year .
School districts will announce separately which learning models they will be using .
“ With this approach , we are pairing the knowledge and data from our departments of health and education with the expertise of our local school districts to make the best decisions for our students across the state , '' Walz said .
The announcement comes a month after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prepare for the three scenarios — and be prepared to switch between the options based on local spread of the novel coronavirus .
• People are using neck gaiters as face masks — but are they as effective ?
• Arizona woman who destroyed Target mask display in viral video says she regrets behavior • $ 1,200 checks ?
Money for schools ?
Breaking down what Republicans and Democrats want in the coronavirus stimulus plan Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards said Thursday he expects to extend the mask mandate , bar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 when his current order is set to expire .
`` People should not expect us to be making major changes every two weeks , '' Edwards said during a public press briefing .
`` I do n't want people thinking there are going to be major changes .
That does n't seem likely based on current data . ''
Edwards will officially announce his decision next week , but sent a clear signal that the modified Phase 2 of reopening order will remain in place .
Though the governor said there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection based on a three-day run of fewer hospitalizations , `` We remain No .
1 among states in per capita cases . ''
Extra $ 600 in unemployment aid set to lapse as talks deadlock A deadlocked Senate on Thursday exited Washington for the weekend without acting to extend a $ 600 per-week expanded jobless benefit that has helped keep both families and the economy afloat as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the country .
Friday 's expiration of the $ 600 jobless benefit sent Republicans controlling the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitch McConnell made a procedural move to make it easier to reach a potential compromise next week that would extend the bonus unemployment benefit while talks on a broader COVID relief measure grind on .
`` We 're so far apart on a longer-term deal right now , that even if we said 'yes ' to a longer-term deal you could ( have ) weeks of negotiation without getting to common ground , '' said White House chief of staff Mark Meadows .
The first dog to test positive for COVID-19 in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has died .
He was the first pet dog in the United States to test positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
After months of him being ill , his owners and vet made the difficult decision to euthanize him , according to an exclusive report by National Geographic .
The beloved dog died July 11 in Staten Island , New York .
Buddy first exhibited symptoms of the virus in mid-April , right before his seventh birthday .
He was struggling to breathe , lost weight and became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three different veterinarians , heart medications , steroids and other medical interventions , Buddy was tested for COVID-19 on May 15 .
But it wasn ’ t until June 2 the New York City Department of Health called the Mahoney family to tell them that their dog had indeed contracted the virus .
Bryan Cranston is revealing that he had coronavirus .
Now , he says he 's using his antibodies in hopes of helping others .
`` I had COVID-19 a little while ago , '' Cranston , in a mask , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
In the post 's caption , he writes that he got the virus despite strictly following protocols .
`` I 'm very lucky , '' he says , `` very mild symptoms . ''
Text at the bottom of Cranston 's video describes the Emmy winner 's symptoms as including a slight headache , chest tightness and loss of taste and smell .
Since recovering , Cranston explains that he has started giving plasma at the UCLA Blood and Plasma Donation Center , `` because I have the antibodies . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing so `` will help people recover faster and be used in scientific research studies about this virus . ''
For the second time this month , the European Union extended its travel ban on Americans on Thursday , as COVID-19 infections continued to rise across the United States .
The EU first started lifting its travel restrictions outside the bloc on July 1 , welcoming visitors from 14 countries , including Canada , South Korea and Australia .
The U.S. was left off that initial list , and the EU extended its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 16 .
The announcement , by the European Council , came after EU officials conducted their biweekly review of travel restrictions , examining coronavirus trends and containment measures in each country to determine whether to add or narrow the list of permitted travelers .
The key measurement : The pandemic outbreak in a given country needs to be equally contained – or better – than in the EU .
Based on a seven-day rolling average , daily cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. have fallen to 65,266 , down about 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Johns Hopkins University data .
Researchers prefer to see two weeks of trending data , but University of Florida biostatistician Ira Longini said he thinks `` the direction is real . ''
More good news : The percentage of positive tests nationwide dropped from an average of 8.5 % to 7.8 % over the past week .
Still , Dr. Ali Khan , dean of the University of Nebraska College of Public Health , warns that yet another boom in cases is possible .
“ This disease will continue to hopscotch around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – like any good fire , ” Khan said .
For the third consecutive day , the Florida Department of Health reported a new daily record for COVID-19 deaths Thursday .
The 253 fatalities represented a jump of almost 20 % from the record set the previous day .
The total death toll among Florida residents now stands at 6,586 , almost half of them in July .
A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Wednesday shows seven states set records for new cases while eight states had a record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were set in Arkansas , Hawaii , Minnesota , Missouri , Montana , New Mexico and West Virginia .
Record numbers of deaths were reported in Arkansas , California , Florida , Idaho , Montana , Oregon , Tennessee and Texas .
Herman Cain , one-time presidential hopeful and former CEO of Godfather ’ s Pizza , died Thursday after being hospitalized in Atlanta for coronavirus treatment a month ago , according to his website and social media .
`` Herman Cain – our boss , our friend , like a father to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away , '' wrote Dan Calabrese on Cain 's website .
Calabrese said Cain , 74 , was `` pretty healthy '' in recent years but that his history with cancer landed him in a high-risk group for the coronavirus .
Cain recently joined Newsmax TV and was working toward launching a weekly show .
Newsmax said Cain had attended a rally for President Donald Trump in Tulsa , Oklahoma , in June , less than two weeks before he was diagnosed .
Newsmax said it was not known where Cain , chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected .
On Facebook : There 's still a lot unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do know , we 're sharing with you .
Join our Facebook group , `` Coronavirus Watch , '' to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .
In your inbox : Stay up-to-date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter here .
Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together here .

Jessica Flores and Grace Hauck, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: Colleges could reopen if they test students every 2 days; Fauci 'cautiously optimistic' for vaccine this year
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: FDA opens the door to rapid at-home testing At-home testing could transform the fight against the novel coronavirus. USA TODAY
In its biggest coronavirus vaccine deal yet, the U.S. said Friday it will pay French pharmaceutical company Sanofi and Great Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline up to $2.1 billion to test and produce 100 million doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine.
The deal is part of Operation Warp Speed, a White House-led initiative aimed at getting a vaccine to stop SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
On Capitol Hill, Dr. Anthony Fauci testified Friday before a special House panel. He told the committee that he's "cautiously optimistic" that by late fall or early winter a vaccine now being tested would be deemed safe and effective.
Also in Washington, the extra $600 in federal unemployment aid that helped many Americans stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic is expiring as plans for additional stimulus stalled in a deadlocked Senate.
Here are some significant developments:
A new survey shows fewer Americans want to resume daily activities like going to restaurants or sending children to school as cases spike.
It could be safe for students to return to campus this fall if colleges conduct rapid coronavirus screening every two days, according to a study published Friday.
An outbreak at a Georgia summer camp provides further evidence that children of all ages are susceptible to infection and "might play an important role in transmission," according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report Friday.
The pandemic is forcing Muslim families worldwide to readjust their celebrations this week for Eid al-Adha, the second of two major Muslim holidays, as families scale back travel and adhere to face social distancing guidelines.
A Florida couple was arrested for breaking COVID-19 quarantine and declared an "immediate danger."
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 152,000 deaths and over 4.4 million cases of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there have been over 671,000 deaths and 17 million cases.
📰 What we're reading: Kids' mental health can struggle during online school. Here's how teachers are planning ahead.
Our live blog is being updated throughout the day. Refresh for the latest news, and get updates in your inbox with The Daily Briefing.
Georgia to reopen temporary hospital at giant convention center
After winding down operations at the end of May, a temporary hospital at one of the nation's largest convention centers will reopen and begin receiving COVID-19 patients next week, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Friday.
The Georgia World Congress Center will reopen with a total capacity of 120 beds and will house an initial surge of 60 beds.
"These additional hospital beds will provide relief to surrounding healthcare facilities while providing top notch care for patients," Kemp said in a statement.
More than 3,700 people have died and more than 186,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Georgia, which was the first state to begin reopening businesses at the end of April.
Study finds children carry more virus, but experts aren't surprised
A study out a Chicago children’s hospital Thursday found that children younger than 5 years with mild to moderate COVID-19 had high amounts of virus in their noses and throats as compared with older children and adults, suggesting that young children "can potentially be important drivers of SARS-CoV-2 spread in the general population."
However, more virus doesn't necessarily mean more transmission, scientists say. Young children still appear to be less likely to transmit, get infected and be symptomatic, said George Rutherford, head of infectious disease and global epidemiology at the University of California-San Francisco.
"It’s obviously something that is counterintuitive to the prevailing narrative," said Rutherford, who is also a pediatrician.
– Elizabeth Weise and Grace Hauck
Florida sheriffs meet with Trump after conference with COVID infected colleague
Florida sheriffs who had attended a conference this week with a COVID-19-infected colleague met Friday afternoon with President Donald Trump.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood reported his positive test just hours before more than a dozen other sheriffs stood with Trump on the Tampa International Airport tarmac.
Chitwood had attended the Florida Sheriff's Association conference earlier this week in Bonita Springs. Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and law enforcement officers from around the state were also at the conference.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, who hosted the conference and whose agency polices Bonita Springs, stood behind Trump along with 14 other sheriffs as Trump praised them and announced he had received "dozens" of their endorsements. Neither Trump nor the sheriffs wore masks. Two of the sheriffs said they had been rapid-tested for COVID-19 before meeting with Trump.
CDC ensemble forecasts 20,000 more deaths in 3 weeks
The U.S. may see more than 20,000 more COVID-19-related deaths in the next three weeks, according to a forecast published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday.
The ensemble forecast, which combines projections from 32 modeling groups, projects 173,000 total COVID-19 deaths by August 22, with a range of 168,000 to 182,000 total deaths. The forecast suggests weekly reports of new deaths may increase over the next month, with 5,000 to 11,000 new deaths reported during the week ending August 22.
Study: Colleges could reopen safely if they screen students every 2 days
It could be safe for students to return to campus this fall if colleges conduct rapid coronavirus screening every two days, according to a study published Friday in the Journal of the American Medical Association by researchers at Yale, Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital.
The researchers created a computer model to simulate a medium-sized college with about 5,000 students – all younger than 30 years, nonimmune and living in a congregate setting – and initially assumed that there were 10 undetected, asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 on campus.
The model found that by screening every two days with a rapid and inexpensive test – even if not always accurate – coupled with "strict behavioral interventions," a college could maintain a "controllable number" of infections at a cost of $470 per student per semester.
Outbreak at summer camp further evidence kids play 'important role' in transmission
About 260 people at an overnight Georgia summer camp – including 51 kids 10 years and younger – tested positive for the coronavirus after the camp did not implement several precautionary measures, providing further evidence that children of all ages are susceptible to infection and "might play an important role in transmission," according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report Friday.
Among 597 people at the camp, test results were available for 344 attendees, and 76% of those tests were positive. Among campers aged 6-10 who provided test results, 51% were positive, along with 44% of those aged 11-17 years, and 33% of those aged 18-21 years.
The camp implemented "most" of the CDC’s recommendations for reducing the risk of transmission – such as requiring all participants to provide documentation of a negative test before arriving – but did not mandate face masks for campers or open windows and doors for increased ventilation in buildings.
"These findings demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 spread efficiently in a youth-centric overnight setting, resulting in high attack rates among persons in all age groups, despite efforts by camp officials to implement most recommended strategies to prevent transmission. Asymptomatic infection was common and potentially contributed to undetected transmission," the authors wrote.
US strikes biggest coronavirus vaccine deal yet
The United States announced Friday it will pay French pharmaceutical company Sanofi and Great Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline up to $2.1 billion to test and produce 100 million doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine.
More than half of the money will support further development and early-stage clinical trials to ensure it is safe and effective. The rest will pay for the first 100 million doses, with an option on 500 million more. The majority of the $2.1 billion will go to Sanofi, which made the vaccine candidate. GlaxoSmithKline made a booster that improves how the body responds to it.
The deal is part of Operation Warp Speed, a White House-led initiative aimed at getting a vaccine to stop SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The Trump administration initiative has now spent more than $8 billion on experimental vaccines that may or may not make it across the finish line.
– Elizabeth Weise
Florida school district shares 'apocalyptic' video of its reopening
A video shared by a Florida school district showing examples of what reopening its schools will look has gone viral on TikTok and other social media, with parents and critics decrying it as an "apocalyptic" and "heartbreaking" viewing experience.
The two-minute clip, shared by the School District of Manatee County on its Facebook page July 21, shows students wearing masks and social distancing in classrooms, lunch lines and cafeteria spaces as a protective measure against COVID-19.
"I'm not gonna lie, it looks a little apocalyptic," said Tiffany Jenkins, a Florida comedian and public speaker with three children who attend another district in the area.
– Joshua Bote
Vietnam records first COVID-19 death after tourists flock to Da Nang beaches
Vietnam on Friday reported its first-ever death of a person with the coronavirus as it struggles with a renewed outbreak after 99 days with no local cases.
The Health Ministry said a 70-year-old man died after contracting the disease while being treated for a kidney illness at a hospital in Da Nang. More than 100 new cases have been confirmed in the past week, more than half of them patients at the hospital.
Da Nang is Vietnam’s most popular beach destination, and thousands of visitors were in the city for summer vacation. Across the country, authorities are rushing to test people who have returned home from the coastal city and have reimposed virus restrictions.
– Associated Press
Fauci 'cautiously optimistic' of safe, effective vaccine by early winter
Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress on Friday that experts are "cautiously optimistic" that by late fall or early winter a COVID-19 vaccine now being tested would be deemed safe and effective. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the vaccine began Phase 3 testing last week involving 30,000 individuals that will last several months.
"We hope that at a time we get into the late fall and early winter we will have a vaccine that we can say would be safe and effective," he said. "No one can guarantee the safety or effectiveness unless you do the trial, but we are cautiously optimistic that this week be successful because of the early studies on humans."
Fauci, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, and Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, appeared before the House select subcommittee on national coronavirus strategy.
Florida Gov. DeSantis’ popularity plummets amid widely-panned coronavirus response
In the span of a few months, Gov. Ron DeSantis has gone from one of the most admired state leaders in America to one of the most disparaged, with an approval rating that has dropped precipitously as coronavirus cases surged.
A pair of recent polls indicate more Floridians now disapprove of the job DeSantis is doing than approve. The latest was released Friday by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy. It shows that 49% of Florida voters disapprove of the governor’s job performance, compared to 45% who approve. That’s a 17 percentage point drop from the 62% of Florida voters who approved of DeSantis in a Mason-Dixon poll from last year.
As the virus has raged out of control, DeSantis has closed bars but taken few other steps to contain the virus. He repeatedly played down the explosion of new cases, at first attributing it to more testing and then arguing that the big increase in cases isn’t such a big deal because many of those infected are younger and less likely to get seriously ill.
– Zac Anderson, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Hong Kong postpones elections by a year, citing coronavirus
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced Friday that the government will postpone highly anticipated legislative elections by one year, citing a worsening coronavirus outbreak in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
The postponement is a setback for the pro-democracy opposition, which was hoping to capitalize on disenchantment with the current pro-Beijing majority to make gains. A group of 22 lawmakers issued a statement ahead of the announcement accusing the government of using the outbreak as an excuse to delay the vote.
Virus takes its toll on Muslim holiday, with curbs on travel, large gatherings
The coronavirus pandemic is forcing Muslim families worldwide to readjust their celebrations this week for Eid al-Adha, the second of two major Muslim holidays, as families scale back travel and adhere to face social distancing guidelines.
Eid al-Adha, which marks the end of the hajj, or pilgrimage, season, is a three-day celebration in Muslim-majority countries. In the United States, most observe just one day.
This year Saudi Arabia suspended travel to Mecca for the annual hajj. Worldwide, many gatherings will take place online this year, unlike big celebrations such as a gathering of 30,000 people in a football stadium in Minnesota.
– Jordan Culver
Police departments face deep cuts as virus, 'defund' movement takes its toll
Nearly half of more than 250 law enforcement agencies surveyed this month say they already being hit by stiff budget reductions because of the coronavirus pandemic and the national movement to defund the police.
The report slated for release this week by the Police Executive Research Forum, a nonpartisan research organization, finds few agencies, regardless of size, are being spared. Deep reductions have been ordered or proposed in Los Angeles; New York; Seattle; Baltimore County, Maryland; Tempe, Arizona; and Eureka, California.
Much of the funding is being pulled from equipment, hiring and training accounts, even as a number of cities also are tracking abrupt spikes in violent crime, the report concluded.
– Kevin Johnson and Kristine Phillips
More record cases in 6 states; record deaths in 9
A weekly USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Thursday shows six states set records for new cases while nine states had a record number of deaths. New case records were set in Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma and Oregon, and also Puerto Rico. Record numbers of deaths were reported in Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Oregon.
– Mike Stucka
Minnesota schools will have flexibility in reopening
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz unveiled a reopening plan Thursday that includes an equation for districts to use to decide whether to reopen with in-person class, distance learning or a hybrid option dependent on the viral activity in the surrounding county and the district's ability to meet mitigation requirements.
Experts from the health and education departments will partner with school districts and charter schools to help determine which learning model they should use at the beginning of the year. School districts will announce separately which learning models they will be using.
“With this approach, we are pairing the knowledge and data from our departments of health and education with the expertise of our local school districts to make the best decisions for our students across the state," Walz said.
The announcement comes a month after state health and education officials asked districts to prepare for the three scenarios — and be prepared to switch between the options based on local spread of the novel coronavirus.
– Jenny Berg, St. Cloud Times
More COVID-19 headlines
Louisiana to extend face mask mandate, bar closures
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday he expects to extend the mask mandate, bar closures and other COVID restrictions beyond Aug. 7 when his current order is set to expire.
"People should not expect us to be making major changes every two weeks," Edwards said during a public press briefing. "I don't want people thinking there are going to be major changes. That doesn't seem likely based on current data."
Edwards will officially announce his decision next week, but sent a clear signal that the modified Phase 2 of reopening order will remain in place. Though the governor said there are hopeful signs of a plateau in the infection based on a three-day run of fewer hospitalizations, "We remain No. 1 among states in per capita cases."
– Greg Hilburn, Monroe News-Star
Extra $600 in unemployment aid set to lapse as talks deadlock
A deadlocked Senate on Thursday exited Washington for the weekend without acting to extend a $600 per-week expanded jobless benefit that has helped keep both families and the economy afloat as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the country.
Friday's expiration of the $600 jobless benefit sent Republicans controlling the Senate scrambling to respond. Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell made a procedural move to make it easier to reach a potential compromise next week that would extend the bonus unemployment benefit while talks on a broader COVID relief measure grind on.
"We're so far apart on a longer-term deal right now, that even if we said 'yes' to a longer-term deal you could (have) weeks of negotiation without getting to common ground," said White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
– Andrew Taylor, Associated Press
The first dog to test positive for COVID-19 in the US has died
Buddy the German Shepherd has died. He was the first pet dog in the United States to test positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. After months of him being ill, his owners and vet made the difficult decision to euthanize him, according to an exclusive report by National Geographic. The beloved dog died July 11 in Staten Island, New York.
Buddy first exhibited symptoms of the virus in mid-April, right before his seventh birthday. He was struggling to breathe, lost weight and became increasingly lethargic. After multiple visits to three different veterinarians, heart medications, steroids and other medical interventions, Buddy was tested for COVID-19 on May 15. But it wasn’t until June 2 the New York City Department of Health called the Mahoney family to tell them that their dog had indeed contracted the virus.
– Adrianna Rodriguez
Actor Bryan Cranston reveals he had COVID-19, donates plasma
Bryan Cranston is revealing that he had coronavirus. Now, he says he's using his antibodies in hopes of helping others. "I had COVID-19 a little while ago," Cranston, in a mask, tells fans in an Instagram video posted Thursday. In the post's caption, he writes that he got the virus despite strictly following protocols.
"I'm very lucky," he says, "very mild symptoms." Text at the bottom of Cranston's video describes the Emmy winner's symptoms as including a slight headache, chest tightness and loss of taste and smell.
Since recovering, Cranston explains that he has started giving plasma at the UCLA Blood and Plasma Donation Center, "because I have the antibodies." Text on the selfie video reads that doing so "will help people recover faster and be used in scientific research studies about this virus."
– Carly Mallenbaum
EU extends ban on American travelers, again
For the second time this month, the European Union extended its travel ban on Americans on Thursday, as COVID-19 infections continued to rise across the United States. The EU first started lifting its travel restrictions outside the bloc on July 1, welcoming visitors from 14 countries, including Canada, South Korea and Australia. The U.S. was left off that initial list, and the EU extended its ban on Americans visiting the bloc on July 16.
The announcement, by the European Council, came after EU officials conducted their biweekly review of travel restrictions, examining coronavirus trends and containment measures in each country to determine whether to add or narrow the list of permitted travelers. The key measurement: The pandemic outbreak in a given country needs to be equally contained – or better – than in the EU.
– Curtis Tate and Deirdre Shesgreen
New cases trending down nationally?
Based on a seven-day rolling average, daily cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. have fallen to 65,266, down about 3% from a week ago, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Researchers prefer to see two weeks of trending data, but University of Florida biostatistician Ira Longini said he thinks "the direction is real."
More good news: The percentage of positive tests nationwide dropped from an average of 8.5% to 7.8% over the past week. Still, Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the University of Nebraska College of Public Health, warns that yet another boom in cases is possible. “This disease will continue to hopscotch around until it finds tinder – susceptible individuals – like any good fire,” Khan said.
– John Bacon
Florida daily death toll continues to climb
For the third consecutive day, the Florida Department of Health reported a new daily record for COVID-19 deaths Thursday. The 253 fatalities represented a jump of almost 20% from the record set the previous day. The total death toll among Florida residents now stands at 6,586, almost half of them in July.
A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Wednesday shows seven states set records for new cases while eight states had a record number of deaths. New case records were set in Arkansas, Hawaii, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico and West Virginia. Record numbers of deaths were reported in Arkansas, California, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas.
– Mike Stucca and Cheryl McCloud
Former presidential hopeful Herman Cain dies of COVID-19
Herman Cain, one-time presidential hopeful and former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, died Thursday after being hospitalized in Atlanta for coronavirus treatment a month ago, according to his website and social media.
"Herman Cain – our boss, our friend, like a father to so many of us – has passed away," wrote Dan Calabrese on Cain's website.
Calabrese said Cain, 74, was "pretty healthy" in recent years but that his history with cancer landed him in a high-risk group for the coronavirus. Cain recently joined Newsmax TV and was working toward launching a weekly show.
Newsmax said Cain had attended a rally for President Donald Trump in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June, less than two weeks before he was diagnosed. Newsmax said it was not known where Cain, chair of Black Voices for Trump, was infected.
– Nicholas Wu and Jeanine Santucci
More COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
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