usatoday--2020-12-18--Even virtual schoolchildren need the lessons of snow days

As the biggest nor ’ easter in years made its way up the East Coast this week , one thing was conspicuously absent from the local news reports : the typical roster of school closings and delays .
Districts that have moved to remote learning because of COVID-19 said it would be business as usual .
Online instruction would continue unimpeded by the elements .
Why cancel school if no one has to , you know , actually get to school ?
Snow days , declared New York Mayor Bill de Blasio , are a “ thing of the past.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning time , “ adding to that for no good reason just seems bizarre , ” Boston University professor Joshua Goodman told the New York Times .
To which I say : Bah !
Humbug !
Yes , I know , students have a lot of catching up to do .
And , yes , in too many places in recent years , districts have been laughably quick to shut down because of a little snow , or just the forecast of a little snow .
Where I grew up , in upstate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measured in feet , not inches , to close schools .
Where I live now , in lawyer-infested Montgomery County , Maryland , snow days have seemingly been declared based on rumors of flurries in Poolesville .
But I digress .
The point is , as any schoolchild — or former schoolchild — can tell you , snow days are highly educational .
They teach : Meteorology .
Knowing whether to do your homework , or study for a test , requires a careful analysis of snowfall predictions and probabilities .
Many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fascinated with weather because of nature ’ s power to cancel classes .
What could be more awesome than that ?
With global warming threatening humanity , the more people who understand weather and climate , the better .
USA TODAY Education : Snow days canceled because of COVID-19 online school ?
Not in these school districts Adaptability .
A snow day is the perfect manifestation of the expression “ man plans , and God laughs.
” Put another way , despite our most careful planning , life is unpredictable .
Unexpected changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to roll with the punches .
A year ago , who would have imagined we ’ d be masked up and hunkered down ?
For today ’ s overscheduled students , an unexpected day off can be a welcome relief from the one-activity-to-the-next grind .
Entrepreneurship .
For ambitious students , a snow day is an opportunity to make some extra money shoveling driveways and sidewalks .
This teaches them the value of a dollar and the reward for hard work .
After one big storm a few years ago , when my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bunch of guys in a truck who were charging less , he learned a valuable lesson about competitive pricing and the coldness of global capitalism .
Teamwork .
During COVID , outdoor activities are safer than indoor ones .
Building a major snowman , or prevailing in a snowball fight , requires collaboration .
In later life , these are important skills for group projects in the workplace , or for planning military campaigns .
Aestheticism .
An unscheduled day off allows students to get outside and appreciate the transformative beauty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scenic as sunshine glistening off a fresh coat of snow .
Students won ’ t experience that exquisiteness if they are sitting in front of a screen all day long .
Mayor de Blasio and Professor Goodman may not appreciate the magic of snow days , but at least some educators do .
“ Snow days are chances for on-site and virtual learners to just be kids by playing in the snow , baking cookies , reading books and watching a good movie , ” the Mahwah ( New Jersey ) Township Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ These are times for memory-making , and we believe these types of opportunities should remain intact.
” Exactly .
In a year when the pandemic has robbed children of so much , a few snow days are one joyous tradition worth preserving .
The kids will be all right , and they just might learn a thing or two .
Bill Sternberg is editor of the editorial page .

Don't you dare take away our snow days, New York City. School kids need the magic of snow days. Students have a lot of catching up to do, but an unscheduled day off can teach adaptability, meteorology and team work — and be pretty magical, too.
Show Caption Hide Caption Several feet of snow pile up near Binghamton, New York More than three feet of snow piled up near Binghamton, New York, after a winter storm swept the region, according to the National Weather Service. Storyful
Editor's note: On Tuesday, New York City's Department of Education announced it will eliminate snow days in favor of remote learning for the 2021-22 school year. This column was originally published last December.
When the biggest nor’easter in years made its way up the East Coast last winter, one thing was conspicuously absent from the local news reports: the typical roster of school closings and delays.
Districts that have moved to remote learning because of COVID-19 said it would be business as usual. Online instruction would continue unimpeded by the elements. Why cancel school if no one has to, you know, actually get to school?
On Tuesday, New York City's public schools announced it will eliminate snow and severe weather days in favor of remote learning in the 2021-22 school year. Snow days, declared New York Mayor Bill de Blasio last year, are a “thing of the past.” Because kids have lost so much learning time, “adding to that for no good reason just seems bizarre,” Boston University professor Joshua Goodman told The New York Times.
To which I say: Bah! Humbug!
A lot to learn from snowy afternoons
Yes, I know, students have a lot of catching up to do. And, yes, in too many places in recent years, districts have been laughably quick to shut down because of a little snow, or just the forecast of a little snow.
Where I grew up, in upstate New York, it generally took snow measured in feet, not inches, to close schools. Where I live now, in lawyer-infested Montgomery County, Maryland, snow days have seemingly been declared based on rumors of flurries in Poolesville.
But I digress. The point is, as any schoolchild — or former schoolchild — can tell you, snow days are highly educational. They teach:
Meteorology. Knowing whether to do your homework, or study for a test, requires a careful analysis of snowfall predictions and probabilities. Many of today’s top forecasters first became fascinated with weather because of nature’s power to cancel classes. What could be more awesome than that? With global warming threatening humanity, the more people who understand weather and climate, the better.
USA TODAY Education: Snow days canceled because of COVID-19 online school? Not in these school districts
Adaptability. A snow day is the perfect manifestation of the expression “man plans, and God laughs.” Put another way, despite our most careful planning, life is unpredictable. Unexpected changes are inevitable. We have to learn to roll with the punches. A year ago, who would have imagined we’d be masked up and hunkered down? For today’s overscheduled students, an unexpected day off can be a welcome relief from the one-activity-to-the-next grind.
Entrepreneurship. For ambitious students, a snow day is an opportunity to make some extra money shoveling driveways and sidewalks. This teaches them the value of a dollar and the reward for hard work. After one big storm a few years ago, when my son Scott lost several snow-clearing jobs to a bunch of guys in a truck who were charging less, he learned a valuable lesson about competitive pricing and the coldness of global capitalism.
Teamwork. During COVID, outdoor activities are safer than indoor ones. Building a major snowman, or prevailing in a snowball fight, requires collaboration. In later life, these are important skills for group projects in the workplace, or for planning military campaigns.
Aestheticism. An unscheduled day off allows students to get outside and appreciate the transformative beauty of a snowstorm. Few things are as scenic as sunshine glistening off a fresh coat of snow. Students won’t experience that exquisiteness if they are sitting in front of a screen all day long.
Bill Sternberg's COVID-19 furlough week diary: The path (not) taken
Mayor de Blasio and Professor Goodman may not appreciate the magic of snow days, but at least some educators do.
“Snow days are chances for on-site and virtual learners to just be kids by playing in the snow, baking cookies, reading books and watching a good movie,” the Mahwah (New Jersey) Township Public Schools told parents in an email. “These are times for memory-making, and we believe these types of opportunities should remain intact.”
Exactly. In a year when the pandemic has robbed children of so much, a few snow days are one joyous tradition worth preserving. The kids will be all right, and they just might learn a thing or two.
Bill Sternberg is editor of the editorial page.


usatoday--2020-12-18--Supreme Court: Challenge to Trump plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from census is premature

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court Friday gave the Trump administration a few more weeks to try to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census count used to apportion seats in Congress , in part because the effort may prove fruitless .
The quick decision in a case argued Nov. 30 signaled the court 's hope that it can avoid a more consequential ruling on an issue that could affect the balance of political power in Congress for the next decade .
The decision was unsigned , but the court 's three liberal justices dissented .
They would have struck down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this case is riddled with contingencies and speculation that impede judicial review , '' the court 's majority opinion said .
`` To begin with , the policy may not prove feasible to implement in any manner whatsoever , let alone in a manner substantially likely to harm any of the plaintiffs here . ''
`` Everyone agrees by now that the government can not feasibly implement the memorandum by excluding the estimated 10.5 million aliens without lawful status , '' the majority said .
Associate Justice Stephen Breyer , writing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberals , said the case was ripe for a decision now .
`` The plain meaning of the governing statutes , decades of historical practice , and uniform interpretations from all three branches of government demonstrate that aliens without lawful status can not be excluded from the decennial census solely on account of that status , '' Breyer said .
`` The government ’ s effort to remove them from the apportionment base is unlawful , and I believe this court should say so . ''
President Donald Trump announced in July his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undocumented immigrants from the tabulation on the theory that they are not permanent residents and do not merit political representation .
But counting them is difficult , and the Census Bureau has said it might not complete the work in time for Trump to submit a report to Congress before leaving office .
The number of those who are easier to count – such as immigrants in detention facilities or subject to final deportation orders – may not be sufficient to affect the distribution of House seats and electoral votes among states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it would be premature to uphold or deny the policy without knowing what impact it could have .
If the administration follows through with a muscular policy that affects apportionment , they reasoned , opponents then could challenge it in court .
Earlier : Supreme Court may give President Trump time to test census policy against undocumented immigrants What 's more , President-elect Joe Biden 's administration likely would seek to keep undocumented immigrants in the head count .
That could lead to lawsuits from proponents of the plan after Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if implemented in sweeping fashion , could strip California and perhaps other states of seats in the House of Representatives .
States with large numbers of undocumented immigrants tend to lean Democratic , while those that could gain House seats are majority-Republican .
Gaining or losing House seats also affects states ' electoral votes .
The policy also could alter the distribution of about $ 1.5 trillion in federal funds .
Led by New York , a coalition of 22 states and 15 cities filed suit after Trump announced the policy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled in September that it was unlawful .
The three-judge panel said it served to deter immigrant households from responding to the census count .
Two federal courts in California and Maryland issued similar rulings .
The justices agreed to hear and decide the case quickly because time is running out on the 2020 census process .
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross ' report to the president is due Dec. 31 .
Trump has about 10 days after that to report to Congress on the number of House seats allocated to each state .

Supreme Court: Challenge to Trump plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from census is premature
Show Caption Hide Caption Why the U.S. Census matters President Trump is expected to drop his fight to get the citizenship question for the 2020 census. What is the census and why does the U.S. have one? We explain. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court Friday gave the Trump administration a few more weeks to try to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census count used to apportion seats in Congress, in part because the effort may prove fruitless.
The quick decision in a case argued Nov. 30 signaled the court's hope that it can avoid a more consequential ruling on an issue that could affect the balance of political power in Congress for the next decade.
The decision was unsigned, but the court's three liberal justices dissented. They would have struck down the policy as unlawful.
President Donald Trump announced in July his intention to exclude up to 10.5 million undocumented immigrants from the tabulation on the theory that they are not permanent residents and do not merit political representation.
But counting them is difficult, and the Census Bureau has said it might not complete the work in time for Trump to submit a report to Congress before leaving office. The number of those who are easier to count – such as immigrants in detention facilities or subject to final deportation orders – may not be sufficient to affect the distribution of House seats and electoral votes among states.
"At present, this case is riddled with contingencies and speculation that impede judicial review," the court's majority opinion said. "To begin with, the policy may not prove feasible to implement in any manner whatsoever, let alone in a manner substantially likely to harm any of the plaintiffs here."
"Everyone agrees by now that the government cannot feasibly implement the memorandum by excluding the estimated 10.5 million aliens without lawful status," the majority said.
Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for himself and the court's two other liberals, said the case was ripe for a decision now.
"The plain meaning of the governing statutes, decades of historical practice, and uniform interpretations from all three branches of government demonstrate that aliens without lawful status cannot be excluded from the decennial census solely on account of that status," Breyer said. "The government’s effort to remove them from the apportionment base is unlawful, and I believe this court should say so."
He noted that the Census Bureau likely can include immigrants housed in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, those subject to final deportation orders, some 700,000 recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protection, and about 3.2 million more in removal proceedings.
"All told, the bureau already possesses the administrative records necessary to exclude at least four to five million aliens," Breyer said "Those figures are certainly large enough to affect apportionment."
Dale Ho, director of voting rights for the American Civil Liberties Union, which challenged Trump's policy, vowed that if it's implemented, "We'll be right back in court challenging it."
“The legal mandate is clear," Ho said. "Every single person counts in the census, and every single person is represented in Congress."
During oral argument, several conservative justices said it would be premature to uphold or deny the policy without knowing what impact it could have. If the administration follows through with a muscular policy that affects apportionment, they reasoned, opponents then could challenge it in court.
Earlier: Supreme Court may give President Trump time to test census policy against undocumented immigrants
What's more, President-elect Joe Biden's administration likely would seek to keep undocumented immigrants in the head count. That could lead to lawsuits from proponents of the plan after Trump is out of office.
Trump's plan, if implemented in sweeping fashion, could strip California and perhaps other states of seats in the House of Representatives. States with large numbers of undocumented immigrants tend to lean Democratic, while those that could gain House seats are majority-Republican.
Gaining or losing House seats also affects states' electoral votes. The policy also could alter the distribution of about $1.5 trillion in federal funds.
Led by New York, a coalition of 22 states and 15 cities filed suit after Trump announced the policy in July, and a federal district court ruled in September that it was unlawful. The three-judge panel said it served to deter immigrant households from responding to the census count. Two federal courts in California and Maryland issued similar rulings.
The justices agreed to hear and decide the case quickly because time is running out on the 2020 census process. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross' report to the president is due Dec. 31. Trump has about 10 days after that to report to Congress on the number of House seats allocated to each state.


usatoday--2020-12-19--US gets more help in raging battle against COVID-19 as FDA authorizes Moderna vaccine, the second al

CAMBRIDGE , Mass .
— Americans will soon have access to a second COVID-19 vaccine .
Stephen Hahn , commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , granted emergency authorization Friday to a vaccine made by Moderna , a week after giving similar clearance to one made by Pfizer and its German collaborator , BioNTech .
His is `` authorizing '' rather than approving the vaccine , because longer-term research is needed to meet the full standards for approval , which officials do n't want to wait for during the public health emergency .
The speedy path to authorization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through regulatory red tape , ” Hahn said at a Friday night press conference .
`` We worked quickly based on the urgency of this global pandemic ... we have not cut corners . ''
The announcement makes the U.S. the first country to authorize two COVID-19 vaccines that demonstrate `` clear and compelling effacacy , Dr. Peter Marks — director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA — said during the press conference .
Marks said it is “ another milestone as we work to end the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the U.S. reported its 17 millionth case of COVID-19 and an independent advisory committee reviewed data from human trials of Moderna 's mRNA-1273 vaccine , deciding its benefits outweighed its risks .
The vaccine , according to a trial that included 30,000 volunteers , protected more than 94 % of recipients from active disease , without causing major safety concerns .
Trucks will begin moving the vaccine this weekend , with the first of 5.9 million already manufactured Moderna shots expected to be given on Monday .
Your vaccine questions , answered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still get vaccinated ?
What are the side effects ?
What are its 'ingredients ? '
It 's a triumphant moment for the 10-year-old Cambridge , Massachusetts , biotech company that until now had never brought a product to market .
Now , both its vaccine and the one by Pfizer-BioNTech are poised to change the course of the worst pandemic in a century .
The virus that causes COVID-19 has swept the world and particularly devastated the United States , which accounts for 4 % of the world 's population but nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 % of its deaths .
During the current winter surge , an American is reported dead about every 34 seconds from the virus , and 150 are diagnosed every minute .
But it will take time to roll out vaccine across the country and the world , achieving the 70 % protection – from both vaccination and natural disease – that experts say will be needed to stop widespread infections .
Moderna , which developed its vaccine in collaboration with government scientists , says it will be able to deliver 20 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of December .
Another 80 million will be available in the first few months of 2021 , under a contract signed in August that brought the U.S. government 's direct financial backing of the company to $ 2.5 billion .
`` It is through the dedicated efforts of our federal scientists and their collaborators at Moderna and in academia , the clinical staff who conducted the vaccine 's rigorous clinical trials , and the tens of thousands of study participants who selflessly rolled up their sleeves , that another safe and highly effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be rolled out to the American public , '' Dr. Francis Collins , director of the National Institutes of Health , said Friday .
Just last week , the government closed a deal for a second 100 million doses to be delivered in the second quarter of next year , bringing taxpayers ' total investment in mRNA-1273 up to $ 4.1 billion .
Another candidate vaccine , from Johnson & Johnson , fully enrolled its large-scale human trial Thursday and expects to report its first safety and effectiveness data in January .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University , is a few weeks behind , and a fifth candidate , by vaccine developer Novavax of Gaithersburg , Maryland , is expected to begin its major U.S. trial shortly .
If all or most of these come through , there should be plenty of vaccine by the end of next summer to cover every American who wants one .
`` It 's just incredible science and human achievement , '' said Dr. Steven Joffe , a professor of medical ethics and health policy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the science that went into the vaccines , but the organizational effort to pull off those trials – it 's marvelous . ''
More than a decade in the making Although Moderna moved extremely fast , winning authorization just 11 months after beginning work on mRNA-1273 , it has been developing the technology behind its vaccine for a decade .
The company was founded in 2010 on the banks of the Charles River , a short walk from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , where one of its founders was a faculty member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member .
That MIT grad and board of trustees member , venture capitalist Noubar Afeyan , said he was intrigued at the time by the idea of making drugs inside the human body .
Messenger RNA , which the body uses to translate the DNA code into the proteins that do all the body 's work , seemed like the right tool to address a whole host of medical problems , he said .
Afeyan said he likes to start companies with big ideas that seem like science fiction and then `` take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science to make it real .
Moderna was initially named LS18 to indicate it was the 18th life sciences company Afeyan had started .
( He 's lost track of whether his latest company is LS79 or LS80 , he said . )
The idea was seeded by a stem cell scientist at nearby Harvard University , Derrick Rossi , who was trying to commercialize his research using the body 's most versatile cells to make medicines .
Afeyan said it was a provocative concept .
But by May of the following year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Moderna , they had dropped the idea of using stem cells , which Afeyan said were too unstable in the body , and focused instead on messenger RNA ( hence the name ModeRNA ) .
Messenger or mRNA is the body 's own delivery system , taking `` messages '' from the DNA code in the cell 's nucleus to a protein manufacturing center .
Where 's the COVID-19 vaccine ?
Who 's been vaccinated ?
Here 's how we 'll know .
These proteins direct every activity of life , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand could help people who suffer severe diseases because their bodies make faulty proteins – as with sickle cell disease , cystic fibrosis and myriad rare diseases .
Such proteins could also prime the immune system to target cancer cells , or infectious diseases .
Afeyan and his collaborators wanted to tackle this whole range of medical challenges .
But first , they needed a CEO to run the company .
Afeyan said he had been negotiating with a French entrepreneur who was , like him , a biomedical engineer .
But Stéphane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave a stable job as CEO of an established diagnostics company for the risk of a startup with a never-before-tried idea .
Bancel was walking home across the Longfellow Bridge from Cambridge to Boston one winter night , when Afeyan called and turned on the hard sell .
Afeyan said he would never have a bigger idea to offer Bancel .
If this becomes the next Genentech , `` you 're going to hate yourself '' for not being involved , Afeyan told him , referring to the South San Francisco company that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birth in 1976 .
Later that year , Bancel signed on to run Moderna and continues to lead the company , which has now made several founders and its CEO into billionaires .
There were a few key scientific advances that led mRNA to where it is today .
One came from another Moderna co-founder , Robert Langer , a professor at MIT and a serial entrepreneur .
Early in his career , Langer , who had recently earned his doctorate in chemical engineering from MIT , was struggling to find a job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the oil industry , though he 'd gotten 20 job offers , including four from Exxon alone .
After months of searching , Dr. Judah Folkman , a passionate doctor at what is now called Boston Children 's Hospital finally took a chance on him .
Folkman believed he could cure cancer by cutting off the blood supply to tumors but he could n't figure out how to slowly release drugs to work effectively .
Nevermind the political messenger : When it comes to COVID-19 guidance , trust the message , experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to encapsulate nucleic acids – the same building blocks as in mRNA vaccines – into tiny particles that could make their way into cells .
`` At first people did n't think it was possible , '' Langer said .
He published a 1976 paper showing it could be done but still , it was a slog to get people to believe in its potential .
`` After that paper came out , I must have had 10 years of people rejecting grants '' to support the work , he said .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science for the drug Avastin , which earned $ 7 billion in sales in 2019 and is used to treat many types of cancer as well as wet age-related macular degeneration , the leading cause of blindness in older adults . )
Langer and others made additional improvements over the years , including adding polyethylene glycol to the surface of particles , which enabled them to survive in the body for longer .
That 's one of the key ingredients of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech 's vaccines .
In 2010 , when Langer was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bioengineers and a leader in the field of drug delivery , Rossi came to see him with a scientific insight he hoped would be the basis for starting a company .
Langer introduced him to Afeyan , and the idea for LS18 was born .
By the following year , Rossi moved on and the core group included Langer , Afeyan , Dr. Kenneth Chien , a prominent cardiologist and researcher , and Timothy Springer , an immunologist at Harvard Medical School .
The four met once a week to brainstorm , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flagship Pioneering advanced their ideas in the lab .
Moderna 's first real home was an underwhelming office – half basement , half ground floor just a few blocks away .
The vision from its earliest days , Langer said , was to build a `` platform '' that could be used as the basis for drugs , vaccines and even tissue engineering – another field he had helped pioneer .
Some Americans are n't in a rush to get a COVID-19 vaccine : Experts understand , but say there 's no need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moderna has been collaborating on vaccine development with scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , the agency led by Dr. Anthony Fauci .
By the end of 2018 when Moderna went public , it was the biggest initial public offering ever for a biotech company , though shares fell 19 % that first day as investors worried it was overpriced .
A year later the company was testing 20 different mRNA 's in humans – five or six times more research programs than the typical biotech .
That was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior research analyst at ROBO Global , for her fund to decide to make Moderna one of the 85 companies included in its portfolio of health care technology and innovation stocks .
Moderna had recently announced plans to develop a COVID-19 vaccine when ROBO Global decided to invest .
`` Not because of what they did this year , but what they 've done since the start of the company , '' Deka said .
With two mRNA vaccines under development , ROBO Global expected that even if Moderna 's vaccine did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buoying everyone in the industry .
`` It 's not just vaccines .
It 's also cancer .
It 's also orphan drugs '' for rare diseases , she said .
The company had just built a brand new production facility in the Boston suburb of Norwood , and it was using advanced artificial intelligence to direct its research , which ROBO Global appreciated , Deka said .
Plus , it was breaking speed records with its candidate COVID-19 vaccine .
`` The next question is , '' Deka said , `` if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else can they do ? ''
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics , Innovation and Competition in Healthcare .
The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input .

US gets more help in raging battle against COVID-19 as FDA authorizes Moderna vaccine, the second allowed for emergency use
Show Caption Hide Caption Moderna COVID-19 vaccine authorized by FDA for emergency use in US The FDA has authorized Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the U.S. The first shots of the vaccine are expected to be given Monday. USA TODAY
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Americans will soon have access to a second COVID-19 vaccine.
Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, granted emergency authorization Friday to a vaccine made by Moderna, a week after giving similar clearance to one made by Pfizer and its German collaborator, BioNTech.
His is "authorizing" rather than approving the vaccine, because longer-term research is needed to meet the full standards for approval, which officials don't want to wait for during the public health emergency.
The speedy path to authorization was possible because the agency “cut through regulatory red tape,” Hahn said at a Friday night press conference. "We worked quickly based on the urgency of this global pandemic ... we have not cut corners."
The announcement makes the U.S. the first country to authorize two COVID-19 vaccines that demonstrate "clear and compelling efficacy, Dr. Peter Marks — director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA — said during the press conference. Marks said it is “another milestone as we work to end the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The move comes a day after the U.S. reported its 17 millionth case of COVID-19 and an independent advisory committee reviewed data from human trials of Moderna's mRNA-1273 vaccine, deciding its benefits outweighed its risks. The vaccine, according to a trial that included 30,000 volunteers, protected more than 94% of recipients from active disease, without causing major safety concerns.
Trucks will begin moving the vaccine this weekend, with the first of 5.9 million already manufactured Moderna shots expected to be given on Monday.
Your vaccine questions, answered: I had COVID, should I still get vaccinated? What are the side effects? What are its 'ingredients?'
COVID-19 vaccine: Your most common questions answered In this special edition episode of States of America, experts answer the biggest questions Americans have about the vaccine, side effects, how it's getting to you and more. USA TODAY
It's a triumphant moment for the 10-year-old Cambridge, Massachusetts, biotech company that until now had never brought a product to market.
Now, both its vaccine and the one by Pfizer-BioNTech are poised to change the course of the worst pandemic in a century.
The virus that causes COVID-19 has swept the world and particularly devastated the United States, which accounts for 4% of the world's population but nearly 23% of its COVID-19 cases and 19% of its deaths.
During the current winter surge, an American is reported dead about every 34 seconds from the virus, and 150 are diagnosed every minute.
But it will take time to roll out vaccine across the country and the world, achieving the 70% protection – from both vaccination and natural disease – that experts say will be needed to stop widespread infections.
Moderna, which developed its vaccine in collaboration with government scientists, says it will be able to deliver 20 million doses of its vaccine by the end of December. Another 80 million will be available in the first few months of 2021, under a contract signed in August that brought the U.S. government's direct financial backing of the company to $2.5 billion.
"It is through the dedicated efforts of our federal scientists and their collaborators at Moderna and in academia, the clinical staff who conducted the vaccine's rigorous clinical trials, and the tens of thousands of study participants who selflessly rolled up their sleeves, that another safe and highly effective vaccine to protect against COVID-19 will soon be rolled out to the American public," Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said Friday.
Just last week, the government closed a deal for a second 100 million doses to be delivered in the second quarter of next year, bringing taxpayers' total investment in mRNA-1273 up to $4.1 billion.
Another candidate vaccine, from Johnson & Johnson, fully enrolled its large-scale human trial Thursday and expects to report its first safety and effectiveness data in January.
A fourth, created by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, is a few weeks behind, and a fifth candidate, by vaccine developer Novavax of Gaithersburg, Maryland, is expected to begin its major U.S. trial shortly.
If all or most of these come through, there should be plenty of vaccine by the end of next summer to cover every American who wants one.
"It's just incredible science and human achievement," said Dr. Steven Joffe, a professor of medical ethics and health policy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "Not just the science that went into the vaccines, but the organizational effort to pull off those trials – it's marvelous."
More than a decade in the making
Although Moderna moved extremely fast, winning authorization just 11 months after beginning work on mRNA-1273, it has been developing the technology behind its vaccine for a decade.
The company was founded in 2010 on the banks of the Charles River, a short walk from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where one of its founders was a faculty member, and another a graduate and board member.
That MIT grad and board of trustees member, venture capitalist Noubar Afeyan, said he was intrigued at the time by the idea of making drugs inside the human body.
Messenger RNA, which the body uses to translate the DNA code into the proteins that do all the body's work, seemed like the right tool to address a whole host of medical problems, he said.
Afeyan said he likes to start companies with big ideas that seem like science fiction and then "take the fiction out" by finding the science to make it real.
Moderna was initially named LS18 to indicate it was the 18th life sciences company Afeyan had started. (He's lost track of whether his latest company is LS79 or LS80, he said.) The idea was seeded by a stem cell scientist at nearby Harvard University, Derrick Rossi, who was trying to commercialize his research using the body's most versatile cells to make medicines.
Afeyan said it was a provocative concept. But by May of the following year, when the company was officially launched as Moderna, they had dropped the idea of using stem cells, which Afeyan said were too unstable in the body, and focused instead on messenger RNA (hence the name ModeRNA).
Messenger or mRNA is the body's own delivery system, taking "messages" from the DNA code in the cell's nucleus to a protein manufacturing center.
Where's the COVID-19 vaccine? Who's been vaccinated? Here's how we'll know.
These proteins direct every activity of life, so figuring out how to make them on demand could help people who suffer severe diseases because their bodies make faulty proteins – as with sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis and myriad rare diseases. Such proteins could also prime the immune system to target cancer cells, or infectious diseases.
Afeyan and his collaborators wanted to tackle this whole range of medical challenges.
But first, they needed a CEO to run the company.
Afeyan said he had been negotiating with a French entrepreneur who was, like him, a biomedical engineer. But Stéphane Bancel wasn't sure he wanted to leave a stable job as CEO of an established diagnostics company for the risk of a startup with a never-before-tried idea.
Bancel was walking home across the Longfellow Bridge from Cambridge to Boston one winter night, when Afeyan called and turned on the hard sell.
Afeyan said he would never have a bigger idea to offer Bancel. If this becomes the next Genentech, "you're going to hate yourself" for not being involved, Afeyan told him, referring to the South San Francisco company that launched the entire biotechnology industry with its birth in 1976.
Later that year, Bancel signed on to run Moderna and continues to lead the company, which has now made several founders and its CEO into billionaires.
The earliest seeds of Moderna
There were a few key scientific advances that led mRNA to where it is today.
One came from another Moderna co-founder, Robert Langer, a professor at MIT and a serial entrepreneur.
Early in his career, Langer, who had recently earned his doctorate in chemical engineering from MIT, was struggling to find a job. He didn't want to work in the oil industry, though he'd gotten 20 job offers, including four from Exxon alone.
After months of searching, Dr. Judah Folkman, a passionate doctor at what is now called Boston Children's Hospital finally took a chance on him. Folkman believed he could cure cancer by cutting off the blood supply to tumors but he couldn't figure out how to slowly release drugs to work effectively.
Nevermind the political messenger: When it comes to COVID-19 guidance, trust the message, experts say
Langer spent years developing a way to encapsulate nucleic acids – the same building blocks as in mRNA vaccines – into tiny particles that could make their way into cells.
"At first people didn't think it was possible," Langer said. He published a 1976 paper showing it could be done but still, it was a slog to get people to believe in its potential.
"After that paper came out, I must have had 10 years of people rejecting grants" to support the work, he said. (His work with Folkman provided the underlying science for the drug Avastin, which earned $7 billion in sales in 2019 and is used to treat many types of cancer as well as wet age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older adults.)
Langer and others made additional improvements over the years, including adding polyethylene glycol to the surface of particles, which enabled them to survive in the body for longer. That's one of the key ingredients of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccines.
In 2010, when Langer was one of the world's best known bioengineers and a leader in the field of drug delivery, Rossi came to see him with a scientific insight he hoped would be the basis for starting a company. Langer introduced him to Afeyan, and the idea for LS18 was born.
By the following year, Rossi moved on and the core group included Langer, Afeyan, Dr. Kenneth Chien, a prominent cardiologist and researcher, and Timothy Springer, an immunologist at Harvard Medical School.
The four met once a week to brainstorm, while a handful of scientists at Afeyan's Flagship Pioneering advanced their ideas in the lab.
Moderna's first real home was an underwhelming office – half basement, half ground floor just a few blocks away.
The vision from its earliest days, Langer said, was to build a "platform" that could be used as the basis for drugs, vaccines and even tissue engineering – another field he had helped pioneer.
Some Americans aren't in a rush to get a COVID-19 vaccine: Experts understand, but say there's no need to wait.
For several years, Moderna has been collaborating on vaccine development with scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the agency led by Dr. Anthony Fauci.
By the end of 2018 when Moderna went public, it was the biggest initial public offering ever for a biotech company, though shares fell 19% that first day as investors worried it was overpriced.
A year later the company was testing 20 different mRNA's in humans – five or six times more research programs than the typical biotech.
That was enough, said Nina Deka, a senior research analyst at ROBO Global, for her fund to decide to make Moderna one of the 85 companies included in its portfolio of health care technology and innovation stocks.
Moderna had recently announced plans to develop a COVID-19 vaccine when ROBO Global decided to invest.
"Not because of what they did this year, but what they've done since the start of the company," Deka said.
With two mRNA vaccines under development, ROBO Global expected that even if Moderna's vaccine didn't succeed, the technology would advance, buoying everyone in the industry.
"It's not just vaccines. It's also cancer. It's also orphan drugs" for rare diseases, she said.
The company had just built a brand new production facility in the Boston suburb of Norwood, and it was using advanced artificial intelligence to direct its research, which ROBO Global appreciated, Deka said.
Plus, it was breaking speed records with its candidate COVID-19 vaccine.
"The next question is," Deka said, "if they can do this quickly, what else can they do?"
Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.


usatoday--2020-12-18--Michigan House of Representatives passes bills aimed at limiting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's power

DETROIT – The Michigan House of Representatives voted shortly after midnight Friday to repeal a law Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer used to issue sweeping safety regulations and business restrictions at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic .
It was one of two measures supported chiefly by House Republicans that aims to restrict what the governor and the state health department can do in a time of crisis .
While both measures are likely headed to Whitmer 's desk , it is unlikely she will sign either .
The House voted 57-43 to repeal a 1945 emergency powers law , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of opponents to Whitmer 's executive orders but one the governor and her supporters argued helped save lives .
It voted 59-44 on a separate bill that would limit the length of emergency orders from the state health department without legislative approval and prohibit pandemic restrictions on religious institutions .
The Senate already approved the repeal in April .
In October , the Michigan Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that this specific law unconstitutionally shifted powers from the Legislature to the executive branch .
The court also ruled Whitmer 's executive orders were invalid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law that required she receive legislative approval .
Since then , the Whitmer administration has enacted very similar restrictions using health department orders .
These orders were issued under state health law and are not affected by the Supreme Court ruling .
The early morning vote garnered little debate in the House .
Democratic Floor Leader Yousef Rabhi , D-Ann Arbor , said the governor needed to use the orders proactively to save lives , given legislative inaction .
'Everybody has to contribute ' : Blake Griffin joins Michigan Gov .
Whitmer 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislators , were willing to set an example and just put some masks on .
If we , as a state , were willing to just mask up like every other civilized nation on this planet , perhaps the death count would be lower and perhaps we would n't have needed as many executive orders .
But unfortunately that did n't happen , '' Rabhi said .
Speaking for the majority , Rep. Aaron Miller , R-Sturgis , said he supports practicing safety measures but this bill is a way to check executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who the governor is .
I think it 's improper levels of power , '' Miller said .
`` We ought to be more careful than Legislatures have been in the past — and we 've been guilty frankly , too — for handing over power that is not really about a pandemic and what effects might come from it .
But it 's about the process . ''
A separate measure that would curtail the length of an emergency order passed late Thursday with a modicum of Democratic support .
The bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ length of a pandemic order issued by the state health department .
If the department sought to have an order extended beyond that point , it would need legislative approval .
While the Senate previously approved the bill , the House added a portion that would also prohibit the state from restricting in-person religious services .
Religious institutions have been included in orders restricting gathering sizes , but in March the Whitmer administration clarified no place of worship would face a penalty for going over the capacity limit .
Religious institutions , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are exempt from current mask and gathering restrictions .
While it was largely a party-line vote , three Democrats — Reps. Sara Cambensy of Marquette , Kevin Coleman of Westland and Angela Witwer of Delta Township — supported the measure .
One Republican , Rep. Larry Inman of Williamsburg , voted against the bill .
If Whitmer chooses to veto either bill , Republicans in the House and Senate lack enough votes to override her decision .
Neither chamber voted on any measure that would provide new economic aid to struggling small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
The Senate did announce Thursday night it had a framework for a proposal ; the news release did not include specific dollar amounts , but stated the plan would help both workers and businesses .
The press release attacked Whitmer for her executive orders , an indication she likely does not support the proposal in its current form .
It was not clear whether House Republican leadership supported the Senate proposal .
The Senate reconvenes Friday in what is expected to be its final day of session this year .
The @ @ @ @

Michigan House of Representatives passes bills aimed at limiting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's power
Show Caption Hide Caption First COVID-19 vaccines administered at University of Michigan First COVID-19 vaccines administered at University of Michigan Detroit Free Press
DETROIT – The Michigan House of Representatives voted shortly after midnight Friday to repeal a law Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used to issue sweeping safety regulations and business restrictions at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was one of two measures supported chiefly by House Republicans that aims to restrict what the governor and the state health department can do in a time of crisis. While both measures are likely headed to Whitmer's desk, it is unlikely she will sign either.
The House voted 57-43 to repeal a 1945 emergency powers law, a portion of code that drew the ire of opponents to Whitmer's executive orders but one the governor and her supporters argued helped save lives. It voted 59-44 on a separate bill that would limit the length of emergency orders from the state health department without legislative approval and prohibit pandemic restrictions on religious institutions.
The Senate already approved the repeal in April. In October, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that this specific law unconstitutionally shifted powers from the Legislature to the executive branch. The court also ruled Whitmer's executive orders were invalid because she initiated some under a separate law that required she receive legislative approval.
Since then, the Whitmer administration has enacted very similar restrictions using health department orders. These orders were issued under state health law and are not affected by the Supreme Court ruling.
The early morning vote garnered little debate in the House. Democratic Floor Leader Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, said the governor needed to use the orders proactively to save lives, given legislative inaction.
'Everybody has to contribute': Blake Griffin joins Michigan Gov. Whitmer's COVID-19 taskforce
"If we, as legislators, were willing to set an example and just put some masks on. If we, as a state, were willing to just mask up like every other civilized nation on this planet, perhaps the death count would be lower and perhaps we wouldn't have needed as many executive orders. But unfortunately that didn't happen," Rabhi said.
Speaking for the majority, Rep. Aaron Miller, R-Sturgis, said he supports practicing safety measures but this bill is a way to check executive overreach.
"I don't care who the governor is. I think it's improper levels of power," Miller said.
"We ought to be more careful than Legislatures have been in the past — and we've been guilty frankly, too — for handing over power that is not really about a pandemic and what effects might come from it. But it's about the process."
A separate measure that would curtail the length of an emergency order passed late Thursday with a modicum of Democratic support.
The bill would put a 28-day limit on the length of a pandemic order issued by the state health department. If the department sought to have an order extended beyond that point, it would need legislative approval.
While the Senate previously approved the bill, the House added a portion that would also prohibit the state from restricting in-person religious services. Religious institutions have been included in orders restricting gathering sizes, but in March the Whitmer administration clarified no place of worship would face a penalty for going over the capacity limit.
Religious institutions, and those partaking in services at those sites, are exempt from current mask and gathering restrictions.
While it was largely a party-line vote, three Democrats — Reps. Sara Cambensy of Marquette, Kevin Coleman of Westland and Angela Witwer of Delta Township — supported the measure. One Republican, Rep. Larry Inman of Williamsburg, voted against the bill.
If Whitmer chooses to veto either bill, Republicans in the House and Senate lack enough votes to override her decision.
Neither chamber voted on any measure that would provide new economic aid to struggling small businesses or workers laid-off because of the pandemic. The Senate did announce Thursday night it had a framework for a proposal; the news release did not include specific dollar amounts, but stated the plan would help both workers and businesses.
The press release attacked Whitmer for her executive orders, an indication she likely does not support the proposal in its current form. It was not clear whether House Republican leadership supported the Senate proposal.
The Senate reconvenes Friday in what is expected to be its final day of session this year. The House returns Monday.
Follow Detroit reporter Dave Boucher on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.


usatoday--2020-12-19--Federal charges for 2 accused of abandoning 2-year-old boy at Mississippi Goodwill donation outlet

MEMPHIS , Tennessee – Two suspects accused of abandoning a 2-year-old boy at a Goodwill donation outlet in Southaven , Mississippi , are facing federal kidnapping charges , U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant 's office announced Thursday .
Jeremy Fitzgerald , 34 , and Turliscea Turner , 29 , have been federally charged in a kidnapping complaint .
The boy , who has not been identified by authorities , was left at the Goodwill on Stateline Road in Southaven , Mississippi Monday morning .
The location is less than a mile from the Tennessee state line .
Authorities said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note .
Prosecutors allege the boy was kidnapped as a part of a scheme that started with an attempt to blackmail his mother into prostitution .
It 's not clear from court documents how the two eventually decided to leave the boy at Goodwill .
Fitzgerald , Turner , and an additional unknown suspect allegedly drove the child across the Tennessee-Mississippi state line ; a move that usually triggers federal kidnapping charges .
After responding to the scene at Goodwill , Southaven police then began combing through surveillance footage from the gas station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process .
Smith had reported her son as kidnapped around this time .
After news outlets reported the abandonment case , Mississippi Child Protection Services officials said people across the country felt the need to help the toddler .
The department has received numerous calls and emails with offers to help , send money , foster and adopt the child .

Micaela A Watts, Memphis Commercial Appeal

Federal charges for 2 accused of abandoning 2-year-old boy at Mississippi Goodwill donation outlet
MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Two suspects accused of abandoning a 2-year-old boy at a Goodwill donation outlet in Southaven, Mississippi, are facing federal kidnapping charges, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant's office announced Thursday.
Jeremy Fitzgerald, 34, and Turliscea Turner, 29, have been federally charged in a kidnapping complaint.
The boy, who has not been identified by authorities, was left at the Goodwill on Stateline Road in Southaven, Mississippi Monday morning. The location is less than a mile from the Tennessee state line.
Authorities said he was left with a bag and a note.
More: Mississippi police identify 2-year-old boy abandoned at Goodwill donation outlet, arrest suspect
Prosecutors allege the boy was kidnapped as a part of a scheme that started with an attempt to blackmail his mother into prostitution.
It's not clear from court documents how the two eventually decided to leave the boy at Goodwill.
Fitzgerald, Turner, and an additional unknown suspect allegedly drove the child across the Tennessee-Mississippi state line; a move that usually triggers federal kidnapping charges.
After responding to the scene at Goodwill, Southaven police then began combing through surveillance footage from the gas station next to Goodwill, identifying suspects in the process.
Smith had reported her son as kidnapped around this time.
After news outlets reported the abandonment case, Mississippi Child Protection Services officials said people across the country felt the need to help the toddler.
The department has received numerous calls and emails with offers to help, send money, foster and adopt the child.
Follow Micaela A. Watts on Twitter: @megawatts2000.


usatoday--2020-12-18--House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Leader McConnell get COVID-19 vaccine, the rest of Congress to follo

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell were given the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday as part of an effort to convince Americans the shots are safe and effective .
`` Today , with confidence in science & at the direction of the Office of the Attending Physician , I received the COVID-19 vaccine , '' Pelosi said in a tweet .
`` As the vaccine is being distributed , we must all continue mask wearing , social distancing & other science-based steps to save lives & crush the virus . ''
Less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own tweet announcing he has received his first dose of the vaccine .
The Kentucky Republican pointed out that in addition to boosting confidence , members of Congress were being inoculated as part of a plan to ensure continuity of government .
`` Just received the safe , effective COVID vaccine following continuity-of-government protocols .
Vaccines are how we beat this virus , '' McConnell said .
`` Now back to continue fighting for a rescue package including a lot more money for distribution so more Americans can receive it as fast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to the ongoing negotiations over a new stimulus bill to help mitigate the pandemic 's economic impact .
McConnell and Pelosi both said in separate statements on Thursday they were told by Dr. Brian P. Monahan , the Capitol physician , that the shots would soon be available to members of Congress and that they would not hesitate to take them .
`` As a polio survivor , I know both the fear of a disease and the extraordinary promise of hope that vaccines bring .
I truly hope all Kentuckians and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this safe and effective vaccine , '' McConnell said .
Like Pelosi , McConnell stressed the importance of continuing to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention measures to prevent the spread of the virus because there is not yet enough data to know if those who have been inoculated can still carry and transmit the virus .
“ Even with a vaccine , I will continue following CDC guidelines by wearing a mask , practicing social distancing , and washing my hands frequently , '' McConnell said .
`` I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important guidelines .
It is the only way we will defeat COVID-19 once and for all . ''
Politics live updates : Stimulus talks come down to the wire ; Pence gets the vaccine McConnell noted a recent Associated Press poll that found only about half of the country is ready and willing to get vaccinated .
About one quarter of the respondents were unsure and another quarter said they would flatly refuse to take it .
`` It is concerning that half of Americans feel this way , '' McConnell said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the vaccines , '' Pelosi said Thursday .
Experts estimate at least 70 % of the U.S. population needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity , or the point at which enough people are protected that the virus can be held in check .
In addition to boosting confidence in the vaccine , high-ranking government officials are at the front of the line for vaccinations to ensure that the federal government can function in the event of a national emergency .
The distribution plan for the federal government will follow a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are `` national essential functions . ''
Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence received their vaccinations Friday .
President Donald Trump , who survived a COVID-19 infection in October , has said he will get the vaccine though it is not clear when he will receive it .
President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden plan to get the vaccine on Monday in Delaware , incoming press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday .
Former Presidents Bill Clinton , George W. Bush and Barack Obama have said they plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns .
Monahan informed all members of Congress they are eligible for the vaccine in a letter urging them to make appointments with his office .
`` Once we have completed the vaccination of the Members , we will follow a process to identify the continuity-essential staff members , '' Monahan said , adding that his office would continue with appointments “ until the small vaccine supply is exhausted.
” Contributing : Nicholas Wu and David Jackson , USA TODAY ; The Associated Press

House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Leader McConnell get COVID-19 vaccine, the rest of Congress to follow
Show Caption Hide Caption Mike Pence gets COVID-19 vaccine Vice President Mike Pence received the COVID-19 vaccine on December 18. Associated Press, USA TODAY
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell were given the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday as part of an effort to convince Americans the shots are safe and effective.
"Today, with confidence in science & at the direction of the Office of the Attending Physician, I received the COVID-19 vaccine," Pelosi said in a tweet. "As the vaccine is being distributed, we must all continue mask wearing, social distancing & other science-based steps to save lives & crush the virus."
Less than an hour later, McConnell followed with his own tweet announcing he has received his first dose of the vaccine. The Kentucky Republican pointed out that in addition to boosting confidence, members of Congress were being inoculated as part of a plan to ensure continuity of government.
Today, with confidence in science & at the direction of the Office of the Attending Physician, I received the COVID-19 vaccine. As the vaccine is being distributed, we must all continue mask wearing, social distancing & other science-based steps to save lives & crush the virus. pic.twitter.com/tijVCSnJd7 — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 18, 2020
"Just received the safe, effective COVID vaccine following continuity-of-government protocols. Vaccines are how we beat this virus," McConnell said.
"Now back to continue fighting for a rescue package including a lot more money for distribution so more Americans can receive it as fast as possible," he added, referring to the ongoing negotiations over a new stimulus bill to help mitigate the pandemic's economic impact.
McConnell and Pelosi both said in separate statements on Thursday they were told by Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the Capitol physician, that the shots would soon be available to members of Congress and that they would not hesitate to take them.
"As a polio survivor, I know both the fear of a disease and the extraordinary promise of hope that vaccines bring. I truly hope all Kentuckians and Americans will heed this advice and accept this safe and effective vaccine," McConnell said.
Like Pelosi, McConnell stressed the importance of continuing to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention measures to prevent the spread of the virus because there is not yet enough data to know if those who have been inoculated can still carry and transmit the virus.
“Even with a vaccine, I will continue following CDC guidelines by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and washing my hands frequently," McConnell said. "I would strongly encourage everyone to continue following these important guidelines. It is the only way we will defeat COVID-19 once and for all."
Politics live updates: Stimulus talks come down to the wire; Pence gets the vaccine
Just received the safe, effective COVID vaccine following continuity-of-government protocols. Vaccines are how we beat this virus.
Now back to continue fighting for a rescue package including a lot more money for distribution so more Americans can receive it as fast as possible. pic.twitter.com/kSBhI3EzzM — Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) December 18, 2020
McConnell noted a recent Associated Press poll that found only about half of the country is ready and willing to get vaccinated. About one quarter of the respondents were unsure and another quarter said they would flatly refuse to take it.
"It is concerning that half of Americans feel this way," McConnell said.
"All Americans should have full confidence in the vaccines," Pelosi said Thursday.
Experts estimate at least 70% of the U.S. population needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, or the point at which enough people are protected that the virus can be held in check.
In addition to boosting confidence in the vaccine, high-ranking government officials are at the front of the line for vaccinations to ensure that the federal government can function in the event of a national emergency.
The distribution plan for the federal government will follow a 2016 presidential directive that outlines which jobs are "national essential functions."
Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence received their vaccinations Friday. President Donald Trump, who survived a COVID-19 infection in October, has said he will get the vaccine though it is not clear when he will receive it.
President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden plan to get the vaccine on Monday in Delaware, incoming press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday.
Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have said they plan to publicly receive the vaccine to help assuage concerns.
Monahan informed all members of Congress they are eligible for the vaccine in a letter urging them to make appointments with his office.
"Once we have completed the vaccination of the Members, we will follow a process to identify the continuity-essential staff members," Monahan said, adding that his office would continue with appointments “until the small vaccine supply is exhausted.”
Contributing: Nicholas Wu and David Jackson, USA TODAY; The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-12-18--Black family in Texas says cars set on fire, house vandalized with 'Trump 20' over BLM sign

Police in Texas and the FBI are investigating after a Black family awoke to find their vehicles on fire and `` Trump 20 '' spray painted on the garage last week .
Jayla Gipson and Charles Crawford told local media they believe the incident was brought on by a Black Lives Matter sign they put in their yard around Thanksgiving that was defaced with red paint .
“ That sign was in my yard for less than two weeks and then all of a sudden we get a tragedy like this , ” Gipson told WFAA .
Gipson told NBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around midnight on Dec. 9 and woke the rest of the family who were able to leave unharmed .
She said her 12-year-old daughter was asleep in her room right next to the garage where the cars were burning .
“ It ’ s definitely a hate crime , ” Gipson told the outlet .
“ ‘ Trump 2020 ’ was sprayed on our garage , our ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ sign was spray painted , and our cars were engulfed in flames.
” More : FBI report shows US hate crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire and police departments in Little Elm canvassed the scene , interviewed neighbors and reviewed footage from nearby cameras , according to a release from police .
Katie Chaumont with the FBI 's Dallas office told USA TODAY that the agency is aware of the incident and is working alongside local law enforcement .
Police Chief Rodney Harrison told the Little Elm Journal that it 's too early to say if this was a hate crime .
“ We ’ re working with our federal partners to get through it , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angles to see what took place , '' he said .
“ We ’ re looking at all possible angles . ''
Gipson told the outlet both cars were declared a total loss and the damage is estimated at $ 70,000 .
A GoFundMe has raised more than $ 17,000 for the family so far .

Black family in Texas says cars set on fire, house vandalized with 'Trump 20' over BLM sign
Show Caption Hide Caption When is a crime a hate crime? Police haven't ruled the killing of Muslim-American Nabra Hassanen, 16, a hate crime. Video provided by Newsy Newslook
Police in Texas and the FBI are investigating after a Black family awoke to find their vehicles on fire and "Trump 20" spray painted on the garage last week.
Jayla Gipson and Charles Crawford told local media they believe the incident was brought on by a Black Lives Matter sign they put in their yard around Thanksgiving that was defaced with red paint.
“That sign was in my yard for less than two weeks and then all of a sudden we get a tragedy like this,” Gipson told WFAA.
Gipson told NBC News her 21-year-old son noticed the fire around midnight on Dec. 9 and woke the rest of the family who were able to leave unharmed. She said her 12-year-old daughter was asleep in her room right next to the garage where the cars were burning.
“It’s definitely a hate crime,” Gipson told the outlet. “‘Trump 2020’ was sprayed on our garage, our ‘Black Lives Matter’ sign was spray painted, and our cars were engulfed in flames.”
More: FBI report shows US hate crimes reached the highest level since 2008
The fire and police departments in Little Elm canvassed the scene, interviewed neighbors and reviewed footage from nearby cameras, according to a release from police.
Katie Chaumont with the FBI's Dallas office told USA TODAY that the agency is aware of the incident and is working alongside local law enforcement. Police Chief Rodney Harrison told the Little Elm Journal that it's too early to say if this was a hate crime.
“We’re working with our federal partners to get through it, and we’re working a lot of different angles to see what took place," he said. “We’re looking at all possible angles."
Gipson told the outlet both cars were declared a total loss and the damage is estimated at $70,000. A GoFundMe has raised more than $17,000 for the family so far.
Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg


usatoday--2020-12-19--Let's slam brakes on Tiger's son being next golf star

ORLANDO – Padraig Harrington has made a living as a career tinkerer and world-class aficionado of the golf swing .
This week , at the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Calton Golf Club at Grande Lakes Resort , Harrington has stopped and been entranced by three golf swings .
“ Gary Player .
Lee Trevino and Charlie Woods , ” he said .
“ Gary Player for me , at 85 years of age , it ’ s just incredible how well he hits .
Lee Trevino is still a beautiful ball striker at 81 years of age .
Wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
And on the opposite end of the scale at 11 years of age you have Charlie Woods and what ’ s ahead of him .
It is interesting .
Push Tiger aside .
You ’ re not the story anymore.
’ ’ Even a three-time major winner is intrigued to see the development of Tiger ’ s cub as a golfer and their personal interaction as father and son .
As Harrington so eloquently put it , the spotlight is on Charlie this weekend .
“ This is the first tournament I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woods is playing in that he ’ s not the star of the show .
He should note that himself , ” Harrington said .
“ He ain ’ t the star of the show this week .
And that ’ s very much among the players and the pros .
We ’ re all going down that range and everybody is stopping to watch Charlie .
‘ Move out of the way Tiger.
’ It is incredible the buzz it ’ s created.
’ ’ The knee-jerk reaction this week is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club twirling and mimicking so many of the mannerisms of his 15-time major-winning dad – as a “ mini-me ” version , a chip off the old block .
“ Who wouldn ’ t want to be like your dad if your dad was Tiger Woods ?
” Justin Thomas said .
The Twitter-verse was abuzz at the sight of Charlie ’ s swing and warm-up session on the range Thursday next to Tiger before their pro-am round as if they ’ d seen the second coming .
Cue the crazy talk that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while breaking all of his dad ’ s records .
Simmer down , people .
Charlie ’ s action shows raw promise and it ’ s evident that he not only has his famous father ’ s golf genes but his ‘ feels , ’ and perhaps most importantly , a love for the game .
But let ’ s cool our heels .
Let ’ s allow this weekend to be about a father and son bonding on the golf course .
Thomas , who is something of a big brother to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proper perspective .
“ He ’ s just 11 years old .
He doesn ’ t need to be compared to Tiger .
He doesn ’ t need to be compared to anybody , ” Thomas said .
“ He just needs to enjoy the game and hopefully we will be able to help him enjoy Saturday a little bit more.
” Being the child of a famous athlete comes with pros and cons , said Jackie Langer , daughter of Bernhard Langer .
Many of the offspring of the legends of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s footsteps with limited success .
Gary Nicklaus was dubbed “ The Next Nicklaus , ” on the cover of Sports Illustrated , and while he earned a PGA Tour card , the closest he came to winning an event , let alone 18 majors , was a playoff loss at the hands of Phil Mickelson .
Bill Haas , the son of Jay , has carved out a successful career , winning six times on the PGA Tour , including the FedEx Cup in 2011 , but Jay Haas has never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been on stage practically since he could walk .
He was asked at his pre-tournament press conference how he determined that now was the appropriate time to expose Charlie to the bright lights of NBC/Golf Channel coverage and the accompanying media scrutiny .
“ He ’ s been playing in junior tournaments and out in front and having people video him .
This is a different world that we live in now and everyone has a phone and everyone has an opportunity to video , ” Woods said .
To his credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a press conference .
That can wait .
Listening to Woods answer questions , he seemed uncomfortable with the attention surrounding his son this week .
He repeated the phrases “ fun ” and “ enjoy ” multiples times and deflected any questions that might raise expectations for Charlie to be golf ’ s next superstar .
“ Whatever sport he decides to do and as long as he has the passion for it , I ’ ll be happy for him , ” Tiger said .
The most encouraging words for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be that it was Charlie who pleaded with his dad that he wanted to play in this competition .
When PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan asked Charlie what other sports he played , Charlie told him he was focused on golf , leading Monahan to wonder if he hit balls every day .
Charlie smiled and said he did .
But the comparisons and unfair expectations are inevitable , leaving Harrington to argue that the deck is actually stacked against , not in favor of , Charlie becoming a golf star .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot they ever hit .
He ’ s not as good as his dad .
Or it ’ s easy for him , ” Harrington said .
“ The son of a sports star never gets credit .
It ’ s the same with people with a silver spoon .
They ’ ll never get credit if they are successful .
It was easy for them .
It ’ s actually harder .
That ’ s why most successful sports people come from a tougher background .
They don ’ t have options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have a bad day , what do you do if you have no option ?
You get up and start practicing .
If you have a bad day and you get up the next day and your dad will give you a job , it makes it harder to practice… It ’ s really tough to make it if you have options .
It ’ s much easier to make it in a sport if either you succeed or that ’ s it.
’ ’ So , slam the breaks on Charlie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let this weekend be what it is supposed to be : about fathers being fathers , grandpas in the gallery , family on the bag , wives taking a bow for raising the offspring of the greats while their husbands were chasing glory , and a few good golf shots along the way .
“ It ’ s deepening our bond , ” Tiger said of teaming with his son this week .
“ It ’ s not about anybody else .
It ’ s about us.
” As it should be .

ORLANDO – Padraig Harrington has made a living as a career tinkerer and world-class aficionado of the golf swing. This week, at the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes Resort, Harrington has stopped and been entranced by three golf swings.
“Gary Player. Lee Trevino…and Charlie Woods,” he said as if playing a game of one doesn’t fit with the others. “Gary Player for me, at 85 years of age, it’s just incredible how well he hits. Lee Trevino is still a beautiful ball striker at 81 years of age. Wouldn’t you love to be like that? And on the opposite end of the scale at 11 years of age you have Charlie Woods and what’s ahead of him. It is interesting. Push Tiger aside. You’re not the story anymore.’’
Even a three-time major winner is intrigued to see the development of Tiger’s cub as a golfer and their personal interaction as father and son. As Harrington so eloquently put it, the spotlight is on Charlie this weekend.
PNC Championship: The field, tee times, TV times, format
“This is the first tournament I’ve ever played in that Tiger Woods is playing in that he’s not the star of the show. He should note that himself,” Harrington said. “He ain’t the star of the show this week. And that’s very much among the players and the pros. We’re all going down that range and everybody is stopping to watch Charlie. ‘Move out of the way Tiger.’ It is incredible the buzz it’s created.’’
The knee-jerk reaction this week is to paint Charlie – dressed in Nike, club twirling and mimicking so many of the mannerisms of his 15-time major-winning dad – as a “mini-me” version, a chip off the old block.
“Who wouldn’t want to be like your dad if your dad was Tiger Woods?” Justin Thomas said.
Here’s to father-son moments like this. pic.twitter.com/Y6QjUvgXsI — Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) December 18, 2020
The Twitter-verse was abuzz at the sight of Charlie’s swing and warm-up session on the range Thursday next to Tiger before their pro-am round as if they’d seen the second coming. Cue the crazy talk that Charlie was going to revolutionize the game while breaking all of his dad’s records.
Simmer down, people. Charlie’s action shows raw promise and it’s evident that he not only has his famous father’s golf genes but his ‘feels,’ and perhaps most importantly, a love for the game. But let’s cool our heels. Let’s allow this weekend to be about a father and son bonding on the golf course. Thomas, who is something of a big brother to Charlie, put the 36-hole exhibition into the proper perspective.
“He’s just 11 years old. He doesn’t need to be compared to Tiger. He doesn’t need to be compared to anybody,” Thomas said. “He just needs to enjoy the game and hopefully we will be able to help him enjoy Saturday a little bit more.”
Being the child of a famous athlete comes with pros and cons, said Jackie Langer, daughter of Bernhard Langer. Many of the offspring of the legends of golf attempted to follow in their father’s footsteps with limited success. Gary Nicklaus was dubbed “The Next Nicklaus,” on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and while he earned a PGA Tour card, the closest he came to winning an event, let alone 18 majors, was a playoff loss at the hands of Phil Mickelson. Bill Haas, the son of Jay, has carved out a successful career, winning six times on the PGA Tour, including the FedEx Cup in 2011, but Jay Haas has never been confused for Tiger Woods. Just ask Lee Trevino’s son, Tony, how tough growing up with a Hall of Fame father can really be: “Everyone was scared to death of me until I teed off,” he once told Sports Illustrated. “Then it was, ‘I can beat Lee Trevino’s son.’ ”
How was your swing when you were 11? 😳 pic.twitter.com/vDhphUrudG — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 17, 2020
Tiger has been on stage practically since he could walk. He was asked at his pre-tournament press conference how he determined that now was the appropriate time to expose Charlie to the bright lights of NBC/Golf Channel coverage and the accompanying media scrutiny.
“He’s been playing in junior tournaments and out in front and having people video him. This is a different world that we live in now and everyone has a phone and everyone has an opportunity to video,” Woods said.
To his credit, Tiger didn’t expose Charlie to a press conference. That can wait. Listening to Woods answer questions, he seemed uncomfortable with the attention surrounding his son this week. He repeated the phrases “fun” and “enjoy” multiples times and deflected any questions that might raise expectations for Charlie to be golf’s next superstar.
“Whatever sport he decides to do and as long as he has the passion for it, I’ll be happy for him,” Tiger said.
The most encouraging words for Charlie’s future in the game may be that it was Charlie who pleaded with his dad that he wanted to play in this competition. When PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan asked Charlie what other sports he played, Charlie told him he was focused on golf, leading Monahan to wonder if he hit balls every day. Charlie smiled and said he did. But the comparisons and unfair expectations are inevitable, leaving Harrington to argue that the deck is actually stacked against, not in favor of, Charlie becoming a golf star.
“Huge pressure and stress. Every shot they ever hit. He’s not as good as his dad. Or it’s easy for him,” Harrington said. “The son of a sports star never gets credit. It’s the same with people with a silver spoon. They’ll never get credit if they are successful. It was easy for them. It’s actually harder. That’s why most successful sports people come from a tougher background. They don’t have options. If you have no option and you have a bad day, what do you do if you have no option? You get up and start practicing. If you have a bad day and you get up the next day and your dad will give you a job, it makes it harder to practice… It’s really tough to make it if you have options. It’s much easier to make it in a sport if either you succeed or that’s it.’’
So, slam the brakes on Charlie being golf’s next savior and let this weekend be what it is supposed to be: about fathers being fathers, grandpas in the gallery, family on the bag, wives taking a bow for raising the offspring of the greats while their husbands were chasing glory, and a few good golf shots along the way.
“It’s deepening our bond,” Tiger said of teaming with his son this week. “It’s not about anybody else. It’s about us.”
As it should be.


usatoday--2020-12-18--Florida men's basketball player Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed in game Saturday, thanks doctors, fa

Keyontae Johnson , the Florida men 's basketball player who collapsed on the court during a game Saturday , posted a video Friday on social media , thanking fans for their support .
`` I know y'all have been sending your prayers out the last few weeks , and me and my parents are grateful for the prayers that have been going out , '' Johnson said in the video .
Johnson , 21 , was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital after he collapsed during a timeout in the first half of the Gators ' game at Florida State .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ put into a medically induced coma , his grandfather , Larry DeJarnett , told USA TODAY Sports .
Johnson has been recovering at UF 's Shands Hospital this week .
`` To all doctors and medical staff at Tallahassee Memorial and UF Shands , I just want to say thank you for all the support y'all gave me , '' Johnson said Friday .
His mother , Nika Johnson , posted her own thanks on Twitter : `` Lord , if you do n't do anything else for me , you 've done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The Gators canceled all of their nonconference games while Johnson was hospitalized .

Florida men's basketball player Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed in game Saturday, thanks doctors, fans in video
Keyontae Johnson, the Florida men's basketball player who collapsed on the court during a game Saturday, posted a video Friday on social media, thanking fans for their support.
"I know y'all have been sending your prayers out the last few weeks, and me and my parents are grateful for the prayers that have been going out," Johnson said in the video.
Johnson, 21, was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital after he collapsed during a timeout in the first half of the Gators' game at Florida State. He was unresponsive and had to be put into a medically induced coma, his grandfather, Larry DeJarnett, told USA TODAY Sports. Johnson has been recovering at UF's Shands Hospital this week.
“Write your own story” God said my work here ain’t done 💙🤞🏽 pic.twitter.com/hJHlBIJmdg — Keyontae (@Keyontae) December 18, 2020
"To all doctors and medical staff at Tallahassee Memorial and UF Shands, I just want to say thank you for all the support y'all gave me," Johnson said Friday.
His mother, Nika Johnson, posted her own thanks on Twitter: "Lord, if you don't do anything else for me, you've done Enough! Thank you #keyontaestrong."
The Gators canceled all of their nonconference games while Johnson was hospitalized.


usatoday--2020-12-18--Washington Monument closed down after Interior Secretary tests positive for COVID-19

WASHINGTON — Federal officials closed the Washington Monument to visitors on a temporary basis beginning Friday after U.S .
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt , who led a private tour of the monument this week , tested positive for the COVID-19 virus .
Interior Department spokesman Nicholas Goodwin confirmed the closure , which the Washington Post first reported .
He said `` a couple '' employees at the monument were forced to quarantine as as result of Bernhardt 's positive test , prompting the decision .
`` As we do in all circumstances when an employee attests to having COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with public health officials to follow proper guidelines such as identifying close contacts and cleaning areas as appropriate .
`` The Secretary was recently at the Washington Monument .
In working with our public officials and out of an abundance of caution , a couple of employees have quarantined resulting in a temporary workforce reduction at the monument and its temporary closure . ''
Goodwin said the plan is to reopen the Washington Monument on Dec. 21 .
After being closed for most of the past year amid the coronavirus pandemic , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bernhardt , 51 , a former oil and gas lobbyist appointed to his post by President Donald Trump in 2019 , tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday , leading him to sit out of a Cabinet meeting held later that day .
More : Interior Secretary David Bernhardt tests positive for COVID-19 , goes into quarantine The Post reported Bernardt has been giving `` private , nighttime tours ( of the Washington Monument ) to associates , '' which is operated by the National Park Service , overseen by the Secretary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary `` gave one tour this week to a small group of ( Interior ) appointees , not multiple tours . ''
Tony Reardon , president of the National Treasury Employees Union , which represents National Park Service employees , said Washington Monument workers were worried about exposure to COVID-19 `` long before '' Bernhardt 's recent visit .
Reardon said park employees along the National Mall raised concerns with National Park Service management `` to no avail '' and then turned to Eleanor Holmes Norton , the District of Columbia 's nonvoting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park Service leaders Dec. 9 to close the Washington Monument and other areas until the current surge of coronavirus cases subsided , according to Reardon .
`` If that request had been heeded , frontline federal workers at the Monument would have avoided contact with the Secretary of the Interior this week , '' Reardon said .
He added that he agrees with the decision to close temporarily while employees quarantine .
The National Park Service posted a notice about the temporary closure on its website .
`` Consistent with Centers for Disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the NPS Office of Public Health , the Washington Monument is temporarily closed due to a reduction in its workforce resulting from a potential COVID-19 exposure , '' the notice reads .
`` NPS is working to staff the Washington Monument at the appropriate levels to maintain the safety of its operations for visitors and employees . ''
Built to honor President George Washington and completed in 1884 , the Washington Monument stands 555-feet tall and attracted 800,000 visitors in 2019 .
The monument closed in March because of the the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed from 2011 to 2014 during a three-year restoration project following a magnitude-5.8 earthquake in August 2011 that damaged the structure .
According to The Post , Bernhardt 's positive COVID-19 test forced the cancellation of an interior department holiday party Thursday .
Deputy Secretary Katharine MacGregor is moving forward with plans to visit two national parks in Wyoming – Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks – next week for official business .
Ben Goldey , the department 's press secretary , said MacGregor has not had close contact with Bernhardt as described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The Deputy Secretary has confidence in the advice of our Public Health Service officials and medical guidance issued by the CDC , and believes just like businesses must continue to thrive , so too should our official business , '' Goldey said in a statement .
`` Therefore , the Deputy Secretary 's upcoming official business in Wyoming will move forward as planned at the invitation of the National Park Service . ''

Washington Monument closed down after Interior Secretary tests positive for COVID-19
Show Caption Hide Caption Mike Pence gets COVID-19 vaccine Vice President Mike Pence received the COVID-19 vaccine on December 18. Associated Press, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Federal officials closed the Washington Monument to visitors on a temporary basis beginning Friday after U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who led a private tour of the monument this week, tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Interior Department spokesman Nicholas Goodwin confirmed the closure, which the Washington Post first reported. He said "a couple" employees at the monument were forced to quarantine as as result of Bernhardt's positive test, prompting the decision.
"As we do in all circumstances when an employee attests to having COVID-19," he said, the department worked with public health officials to follow proper guidelines such as identifying close contacts and cleaning areas as appropriate.
"The Secretary was recently at the Washington Monument. In working with our public officials and out of an abundance of caution, a couple of employees have quarantined resulting in a temporary workforce reduction at the monument and its temporary closure."
Goodwin said the plan is to reopen the Washington Monument on Dec. 21. After being closed for most of the past year amid the coronavirus pandemic, the monument opened again for visitors Oct. 1.
Bernhardt, 51, a former oil and gas lobbyist appointed to his post by President Donald Trump in 2019, tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday, leading him to sit out of a Cabinet meeting held later that day.
More: Interior Secretary David Bernhardt tests positive for COVID-19, goes into quarantine
The Post reported Bernardt has been giving "private, nighttime tours (of the Washington Monument) to associates," which is operated by the National Park Service, overseen by the Secretary of the Interior. Goodwin told USA TODAY the secretary "gave one tour this week to a small group of (Interior) appointees, not multiple tours."
Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents National Park Service employees, said Washington Monument workers were worried about exposure to COVID-19 "long before" Bernhardt's recent visit.
Reardon said park employees along the National Mall raised concerns with National Park Service management "to no avail" and then turned to Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia's nonvoting U.S. House delegate. Holmes Norton asked Park Service leaders Dec. 9 to close the Washington Monument and other areas until the current surge of coronavirus cases subsided, according to Reardon.
"If that request had been heeded, frontline federal workers at the Monument would have avoided contact with the Secretary of the Interior this week," Reardon said. He added that he agrees with the decision to close temporarily while employees quarantine.
The National Park Service posted a notice about the temporary closure on its website.
"Consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and in coordination with the NPS Office of Public Health, the Washington Monument is temporarily closed due to a reduction in its workforce resulting from a potential COVID-19 exposure," the notice reads. "NPS is working to staff the Washington Monument at the appropriate levels to maintain the safety of its operations for visitors and employees."
Built to honor President George Washington and completed in 1884, the Washington Monument stands 555-feet tall and attracted 800,000 visitors in 2019.
The monument closed in March because of the the pandemic before reopening in October. It also closed from 2011 to 2014 during a three-year restoration project following a magnitude-5.8 earthquake in August 2011 that damaged the structure.
According to The Post, Bernhardt's positive COVID-19 test forced the cancellation of an interior department holiday party Thursday. Deputy Secretary Katharine MacGregor is moving forward with plans to visit two national parks in Wyoming – Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks – next week for official business.
More: 'I didn't feel a thing.' Vice President Mike Pence gets COVID-19 vaccine on camera
Ben Goldey, the department's press secretary, said MacGregor has not had close contact with Bernhardt as described by CDC guidelines supported by health officials.
"The Deputy Secretary has confidence in the advice of our Public Health Service officials and medical guidance issued by the CDC, and believes just like businesses must continue to thrive, so too should our official business," Goldey said in a statement. "Therefore, the Deputy Secretary's upcoming official business in Wyoming will move forward as planned at the invitation of the National Park Service."
Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.


usatoday--2020-12-18--US Consumer Product Safety Commission PSA on dangers of not watering your Christmas tree

US Consumer Product Safety Commission PSA on dangers of not watering your Christmas tree The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission @ @ @ @ @ can happen if you do n't water your Christmas tree during the holidays .

PSA: Water your Christmas tree, or your house might catch on fire
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned of what horrors can happen if you don't water your Christmas tree during the holidays.
USA TODAY, Storyful


usatoday--2020-12-18--Family of eight receives life-changing gift

When Jericha and her family moved in next door to the Perriers , she could have never guessed how being @ @ @ @ @ all of their lives .

Family of eight receives life-changing gift
When Jericha and her family moved in next door to the Perriers, she could have never guessed how being a good neighbor would change all of their lives.
Humankind, USA TODAY