usatoday--2020-11-08--Alex Trebek dead at 80: Why pancreatic cancer is so deadly

About 47,050 people will die this year from pancreatic cancer , according to the American Society of Cancer , and among them will be Alex Trebek , the beloved `` Jeopardy ! ''
host .
Trebek , 80 , died Sunday , about 20 months after he announced he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer — more than twice as long as the average patient survives after diagnosis , according to the Hirshberg Foundation for pancreatic cancer research .
Since July , Civil rights icon John Lewis and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg also died of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms of cancer .
More : Civil rights icon John Lewis remembered by fellow veterans : 'We had right on our side' More : Supreme Court justices remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as ' a superb judge ' who 'inspired us all' Fewer than 10 percent of people live five years after being diagnosed , according to American Society for Clinical Oncology ( ASCO ) .
Why survival rates are so low A lack of cost-effective screenings that can reliably detect cancer for people without symptoms make it difficult to diagnose .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advanced stages — often Stage 4 , when the cancer has spread to other parents of the body .
In December , Rep. John Lewis announced he had been diagnosed with State 4 pancreatic cancer .
cancer .
Ginsburg , by contrast , was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2009 that was discovered during a regular checkup .
Ginsburg 's cancer was discovered during a regular checkup and , after she had surgery to treat it she lived for more than a decade -- a rarity among those who have pancreatic cancer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not candidates for surgery because the cancer has metastasize – spread outside of the pancreas to other parts of the body .
And although treatment is available , pancreatic cancer is considered largely incurable .
The chances of getting pancreatic cancer are about 1 in 64 , according to the American Cancer Society .
The ACS reports those chances are affected byspecific risk factors that can be controlled such as : — People who smoke are about twice as likely to get it .
— People who are `` very overweight '' face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
— Chronic inflammation of the pancreas , commonly linked with smoking and heavy alcohol use , increases the chances .
Other factors include age ( at least two-thirds of patients are 65 or older ) , gender ( men are slightly more likely to get it ) , race ( Black people are slightly more likely than white people to et it ) and inherited gene mutations ( found in 10 % of cases ) .
What are the symptoms ?
Before the diagnosis , Trebek said , he experienced persistent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports that a dull pain in the upper abdomen or upper back is common .
“ This is probably caused by a tumor that has formed in the body or tail of the pancreas because it can press on the spine , ’ ’ according to Johns Hopkins Medicine .
“ Some patients describe pain starting in the middle abdomen and radiating into the back .
Pain can be worse when lying down and can often be relieved by leaning forward .
Pancreatic cancer pain can differ from person to person… ’ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administration ( FDA ) has granted “ orphan drug designation ’ ’ for a new generation of antibody therapeutics designed to treatment pancreatic cancer and other types of cancer .
`` Orphan drug designation '' means special status to a drug or biological product a rare disease or condition upon request of a sponsor , according to the FDA .
“ Orphan drug designation qualifies the sponsor for various development incentives , including tax credits for qualified clinical testing , up to seven years of marketing exclusivity for the orphan indication and waiver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apexigen , Inc. , the company developing the research , said in a statement .
The use of immunotherapy , the artificial stimulation of the immune system , also is being explored as a treatment .

Alex Trebek dead at 80: Why pancreatic cancer is so deadly
Show Caption Hide Caption Alex Trebek: 'Jeopardy!' contestants remember late game show host Alex Trebek, the longtime "Jeopardy!" host, died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. USA TODAY
About 47,050 people will die this year from pancreatic cancer, according to the American Society of Cancer, and among them will be Alex Trebek, the beloved "Jeopardy!" host.
Trebek, 80, died Sunday, about 20 months after he announced he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer — more than twice as long as the average patient survives after diagnosis, according to the Hirshberg Foundation for pancreatic cancer research.
Since July, Civil rights icon John Lewis and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg also died of pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
More: Civil rights icon John Lewis remembered by fellow veterans: 'We had right on our side'
More: Supreme Court justices remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as 'a superb judge' who 'inspired us all'
Fewer than 10 percent of people live five years after being diagnosed, according to American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Why survival rates are so low
A lack of cost-effective screenings that can reliably detect cancer for people without symptoms make it difficult to diagnose.
As a result, most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages — often Stage 4, when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. In December, Rep. John Lewis announced he had been diagnosed with State 4 pancreatic cancer. cancer. Ginsburg, by contrast, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2009 that was discovered during a regular checkup.
Ginsburg's cancer was discovered during a regular checkup and, after she had surgery to treat it she lived for more than a decade -- a rarity among those who have pancreatic cancer.
Most people diagnosed with the cancer are not candidates for surgery because the cancer has metastasized – spread outside of the pancreas to other parts of the body. And although treatment is available, pancreatic cancer is considered largely incurable.
The chances of getting pancreatic cancer are about 1 in 64, according to the American Cancer Society. The ACS reports those chances are affected by specific risk factors that can be controlled such as:
— People who smoke are about twice as likely to get it.
— People who are "very overweight" face a 20% higher chance of getting it.
— Diabetes, especially Type 2, puts people at increased risk.
— Chronic inflammation of the pancreas, commonly linked with smoking and heavy alcohol use, increases the chances.
Other factors include age (at least two-thirds of patients are 65 or older), gender (men are slightly more likely to get it), race (Black people are slightly more likely than white people to get it) and inherited gene mutations (found in 10% of cases).
What are the symptoms?
Before the diagnosis, Trebek said, he experienced persistent stomach pains, and John Hopkins Medicine reports that a dull pain in the upper abdomen or upper back is common.
“This is probably caused by a tumor that has formed in the body or tail of the pancreas because it can press on the spine,’’ according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Some patients describe pain starting in the middle abdomen and radiating into the back. Pain can be worse when lying down and can often be relieved by leaning forward. Pancreatic cancer pain can differ from person to person…’’
Symptoms can include jaundice, pain and weight loss.
Pancreatic cancer research
Last month, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted “orphan drug designation’’ for a new generation of antibody therapeutics designed to treatment pancreatic cancer and other types of cancer. "Orphan drug designation'' means special status to a drug or biological product a rare disease or condition upon request of a sponsor, according to the FDA.
More: Pancreatic cancer research news
“Orphan drug designation qualifies the sponsor for various development incentives, including tax credits for qualified clinical testing, up to seven years of marketing exclusivity for the orphan indication and waiver of certain FDA fees,’’ Apexigen, Inc., the company developing the research, said in a statement.
The use of immunotherapy, the artificial stimulation of the immune system, also is being explored as a treatment.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.


usatoday--2020-11-08--Coronavirus updates: US sets another record with 126,742 new cases; world surpasses 50 million cases

The U.S. set another daily record for coronavirus cases and the world surpassed 50 million total cases Sunday as President-elect Joe Biden promised to do what President Donald Trump could not : `` Get this virus under control . ''
The U.S. recorded 126,742 cases Saturday , the third day in a row the total exceeded 120,000 , according to data from Johns Hopkins .
The United States , with about 4.3 % of the world population , has about 20 % of the cases .
Some infectious disease experts believe the U.S. and global numbers are conservative , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tested .
Daily U.S deaths are also rising : More than 1,000 were reported Saturday .
South Dakota was one of four states reporting a record number of deaths for the week .
On Saturday , Gov .
Kristi Noem tweeted about her state 's thriving job market , posting smiling pictures of herself arm-and-arm with elderly residents – no social distancing and no masks .
Here are the latest headlines Sunday : • The day President Donald Trump turns the White House over to Joe Biden , COVID-19 will remain just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here 's how the strategy for tackling it will change dramatically .
• Massachusetts is trying a 10 p.m. curfew to stem the growing COVID-19 outbreak there .
Can it work ?
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 9.8 million cases and more than 237,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
The global totals : 50 million cases and 1.2 million deaths .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak in your state .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Daily Briefing newsletter .
New Jersey poised to announce more restrictions as cases surge New Jersey , which along with New York was hit hard early in the pandemic , is facing fast-rising numbers once again .
An additional 5,250 people residents were diagnosed with coronavirus infection over the weekend , including 3,207 in one day – the highest number in a single day since last spring .
Four deaths were reported in New Jersey on Sunday , for a total of 14,629 since the pandemic began .
Details of new restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's regular press briefing on Monday .
He has already warned residents not to travel out of state unless it is absolutely necessary and warned he was `` close '' to announcing new steps to try to control the spread .
“ We will clearly be taking action , ” Murphy said .
“ I hope it will be action that balances all the various challenges and interests.
” Ex-FDA commissioner says 'apex ' of pandemic could be Inauguration Day The pandemic wo n't be over in 2021 but it will be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb says .
Gottlieb also predicted that the country would see a record number of hospitalizations this week .
When President-elect Joe Biden takes over in January the nation will probably `` be at the apex of what we ’ re going through right now , ” Gottlieb said on `` Face the Nation . ''
Gottlieb also said he does not believe the U.S. will have a traditional inauguration that brings together hundreds of thousands of people on the National Mall .
The country will be in the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he pandemic in January , he said .
Cuomo says he expects Americans finally 'will get how serious this is' New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that he thinks there will be a different tone on the coronavirus after the election and that finally `` Americans will get how serious this is . ''
Cuomo said President-elect Joe Biden 's leadership should ease political pressure to deny the risks associated with COVID-19 .
`` I think you 'll even see some ( Republican ) governors start to take a different tone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , '' Cuomo said on ABC 's `` This Week . ''
`` I think you 'll see scientists speak with an unmuzzled voice now . ''
President-elect Joe Biden , addressing the nation for the first time since he was declared the winner Saturday , said the coronavirus pandemic was first on his list of issues he wants to tackle immediately upon taking office Jan. 20 .
Biden said he would assemble a group of scientists and experts who will begin working on a Biden-Harris COVID plan on Monday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control , '' Biden said from Wilmington , Delaware .
`` We can not repair the economy , restore our vitality or relish life ’ s most precious moments – hugging a grandchild , birthdays , weddings , graduations , all the moments that matter most to us – until we get this virus under control . ''
He said the plan `` will be built on a bedrock of science .
It will be constructed out of compassion , empathy and concern .
I will spare no effort – or commitment – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Dakota and South Dakota have the nation ’ s worst rate of deaths per capita over the last 30 days .
With winter approaching and hospitals scrambling to make room for COVID-19 patients , medical experts worry that virus deaths will continue to climb in a region where people have been slow to adopt mitigation measures such as wearing masks .
The Republican governors of both states have derided government orders to help halt the outbreaks , leaning on ideals of limited government .
North Dakota reported 309 people died from COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than all other periods combined .
The state shot to the top of the nation in deaths per capita in the last 30 days , with roughly 41 deaths per 100,000 people , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
South Dakota reported 252 deaths , a 98 % increase in the last 30 days .
It had a death rate of roughly 29 people per 100,000 over the last 30 days , according to the Johns Hopkins data .
Dr. Ashish K. Jha , dean of the Brown School of Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautionary tale ” of the consequences of ignoring the science of the virus and public health initiatives .
Jha noted that the region started experiencing a steep climb in cases after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota , a two-week event that drew nearly 500,000 people .
Trump 's chief of staff , Mark Meadows , 5 other staffers have coronavirus President Donald Trump 's chief of staff , Mark Meadows has the coronavirus , according to reports Friday .
It was n't clear when he tested positive , but multiple news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisers of his diagnosis after Election Day .
Five other White House officials also tested positive for the virus in the days before and after Election Day , people familiar with the diagnoses told The New York Times .
His positive test comes a month after Trump 's own bout with the virus , which saw him hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in early October .
In the wake of Trump 's diagnosis , several White House aides also tested positive for the virus , including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Barron Trump also were positive .
At least five aides to Vice President Mike Pence , including his chief of staff Marc Short , tested positive last month as well , according to reports .
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz told USA TODAY on Saturday morning that he has tested “ positive for antibodies , '' indicating that he had the virus at one point .
He said he has no plans to quarantine and does not know where he picked up the antibodies .
“ No symptoms .
Feel great .
Going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USA TODAY in a text message .
In March , Gaetz was accused of making light of the coronavirus outbreak when he wore a gas mask in Congress after one of his constituents died from COVID-19 .
“ Made light ?
!
?
!
I was quite serious , '' the Florida Republican tweeted in response to a Washington Post headline that claimed he had been doing exactly that .
`` The threat to Congress is real , as I explained based on travel and habits like selfies and handshakes.
” Illinois Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a meeting Monday where they were exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 have tested negative , the governor 's office said in a statement Saturday .
The office conducted PCR tests Friday afternoon – the second negative test result for the governor and staff after they underwent their weekly test on Wednesday , the office said .
The governor and staff who attended the meeting were not considered close contacts because they met with the person who was infected prior to 48 hours before symptom onset , and per CDC guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Illinois , meanwhile , reported more than 12,000 new daily cases Saturday – the same week the state broke 10,000 daily cases for the first time .
What does a Biden presidency mean for another stimulus package ?
President-elect Joe Biden has voiced support for a robust relief measure that includes another federal bonus to weekly unemployment benefits , more aid for struggling small businesses and financially distressed states , and another round of stimulus checks to most households .
The big question : Which party has the majority in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed a $ 2.2 trillion package while the Republican Senate has favored a $ 500 billion plan .
If Republicans keep control , lawmakers likely would approve a $ 1.5 trillion stimulus , possibly late this year , according to Moody ’ s Analytics and Oxford Economics .
If the Democrats wrest control , Mark Zandi of Moody 's expects a $ 2 trillion package that could match the $ 600 jobless aid provided to unemployed Americans earlier this year instead of a reduced amount .
But economist Nancy Vanden Houten of Oxford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opt for a $ 1.5 trillion measure to preserve space for other spending initiatives .
Read more here .
In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter .
Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .
On Facebook : A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But what we do know , we 're sharing with you .
Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .

Heather Tucker, Rachel Aretakis and John Bacon, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: US sets another record with 126,742 new cases; world surpasses 50 million cases
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: How R-0 can be used to fight COVID-19 R-0 may be the most important scientific term you’ve never heard of when it comes to stopping the coronavirus pandemic. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The U.S. set another daily record for coronavirus cases and the world surpassed 50 million total cases Sunday as President-elect Joe Biden promised to do what President Donald Trump could not: "Get this virus under control."
The U.S. recorded 126,742 cases Saturday, the third day in a row the total exceeded 120,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins. The United States, with about 4.3% of the world population, has about 20% of the cases.
Some infectious disease experts believe the U.S. and global numbers are conservative, saying many people are asymptomatic and haven't been tested.
Daily U.S deaths are also rising: More than 1,000 were reported Saturday. South Dakota was one of four states reporting a record number of deaths for the week. On Saturday, Gov. Kristi Noem tweeted about her state's thriving job market, posting smiling pictures of herself arm-and-arm with elderly residents – no social distancing and no masks.
Here are the latest headlines Sunday:
The day President Donald Trump turns the White House over to Joe Biden , COVID-19 will remain just as big a threat to Americans. Here's how the strategy for tackling it will change dramatically.
turns the White House over to , COVID-19 will remain just as big a threat to Americans. Here's how the strategy for tackling it will change dramatically. Massachusetts is trying a 10 p.m. curfew to stem the growing COVID-19 outbreak there. Can it work?
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 9.8 million cases and more than 237,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: 50 million cases and 1.2 million deaths.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak in your state.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
New Jersey poised to announce more restrictions as cases surge
New Jersey, which along with New York was hit hard early in the pandemic, is facing fast-rising numbers once again. An additional 5,250 people residents were diagnosed with coronavirus infection over the weekend, including 3,207 in one day – the highest number in a single day since last spring. Four deaths were reported in New Jersey on Sunday, for a total of 14,629 since the pandemic began.
Details of new restrictions may come at Gov. Phil Murphy's regular press briefing on Monday. He has already warned residents not to travel out of state unless it is absolutely necessary and warned he was "close" to announcing new steps to try to control the spread.
“We will clearly be taking action,” Murphy said. “I hope it will be action that balances all the various challenges and interests.”
– Lindy Washburn, NorthJersey.com
The pandemic won't be over in 2021 but it will be a much better year than 2020, former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb says. Gottlieb also predicted that the country would see a record number of hospitalizations this week. When President-elect Joe Biden takes over in January the nation will probably "be at the apex of what we’re going through right now,” Gottlieb said on "Face the Nation." Gottlieb also said he does not believe the U.S. will have a traditional inauguration that brings together hundreds of thousands of people on the National Mall.
The country will be in the "thick of the worst point" of he pandemic in January, he said.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that he thinks there will be a different tone on the coronavirus after the election and that finally "Americans will get how serious this is." Cuomo said President-elect Joe Biden's leadership should ease political pressure to deny the risks associated with COVID-19.
"I think you'll even see some (Republican) governors start to take a different tone now that Mr. Trump is out of office," Cuomo said on ABC's "This Week." "I think you'll see scientists speak with an unmuzzled voice now."
President-elect Joe Biden, addressing the nation for the first time since he was declared the winner Saturday, said the coronavirus pandemic was first on his list of issues he wants to tackle immediately upon taking office Jan. 20.
Biden said he would assemble a group of scientists and experts who will begin working on a Biden-Harris COVID plan on Monday.
"Our work begins with getting COVID under control," Biden said from Wilmington, Delaware. "We cannot repair the economy, restore our vitality or relish life’s most precious moments – hugging a grandchild, birthdays, weddings, graduations, all the moments that matter most to us – until we get this virus under control." He said the plan "will be built on a bedrock of science. It will be constructed out of compassion, empathy and concern. I will spare no effort – or commitment – to turn this pandemic around."
North Dakota and South Dakota have the nation’s worst rate of deaths per capita over the last 30 days. With winter approaching and hospitals scrambling to make room for COVID-19 patients, medical experts worry that virus deaths will continue to climb in a region where people have been slow to adopt mitigation measures such as wearing masks.
The Republican governors of both states have derided government orders to help halt the outbreaks, leaning on ideals of limited government.
North Dakota reported 309 people died from COVID-19 in the last 30 days, more than all other periods combined. The state shot to the top of the nation in deaths per capita in the last 30 days, with roughly 41 deaths per 100,000 people, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
South Dakota reported 252 deaths, a 98% increase in the last 30 days. It had a death rate of roughly 29 people per 100,000 over the last 30 days, according to the Johns Hopkins data.
Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown School of Public Health, called the states a “cautionary tale” of the consequences of ignoring the science of the virus and public health initiatives. Jha noted that the region started experiencing a steep climb in cases after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, a two-week event that drew nearly 500,000 people.
President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows has the coronavirus, according to reports Friday. It wasn't clear when he tested positive, but multiple news outlets said Meadows informed a group of advisers of his diagnosis after Election Day. Five other White House officials also tested positive for the virus in the days before and after Election Day, people familiar with the diagnoses told The New York Times.
His positive test comes a month after Trump's own bout with the virus, which saw him hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in early October. In the wake of Trump's diagnosis, several White House aides also tested positive for the virus, including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and former counselor Kellyanne Conway. Melania and Barron Trump also were positive.
At least five aides to Vice President Mike Pence, including his chief of staff Marc Short, tested positive last month as well, according to reports.
– Jeanine Santucci
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz told USA TODAY on Saturday morning that he has tested “positive for antibodies," indicating that he had the virus at one point. He said he has no plans to quarantine and does not know where he picked up the antibodies.
“No symptoms. Feel great. Going paddle boarding today,” he told USA TODAY in a text message. In March, Gaetz was accused of making light of the coronavirus outbreak when he wore a gas mask in Congress after one of his constituents died from COVID-19.
“Made light?!?! I was quite serious," the Florida Republican tweeted in response to a Washington Post headline that claimed he had been doing exactly that. "The threat to Congress is real, as I explained based on travel and habits like selfies and handshakes.”
– Ledyard King
How to get a free COVID-19 antibody test If you are wondering whether you have had COVID-19, now you can find out for free by donating blood with the American Red Cross. Buzz60
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and staff who attended a meeting Monday where they were exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 have tested negative, the governor's office said in a statement Saturday. The office conducted PCR tests Friday afternoon – the second negative test result for the governor and staff after they underwent their weekly test on Wednesday, the office said.
The governor and staff who attended the meeting were not considered close contacts because they met with the person who was infected prior to 48 hours before symptom onset, and per CDC guidance, will not be required to quarantine.
Illinois, meanwhile, reported more than 12,000 new daily cases Saturday – the same week the state broke 10,000 daily cases for the first time.
– Grace Hauck
President-elect Joe Biden has voiced support for a robust relief measure that includes another federal bonus to weekly unemployment benefits, more aid for struggling small businesses and financially distressed states, and another round of stimulus checks to most households.
The big question: Which party has the majority in the Senate? Last month, the Democratic House passed a $2.2 trillion package while the Republican Senate has favored a $500 billion plan.
If Republicans keep control, lawmakers likely would approve a $1.5 trillion stimulus, possibly late this year, according to Moody’s Analytics and Oxford Economics. If the Democrats wrest control, Mark Zandi of Moody's expects a $2 trillion package that could match the $600 jobless aid provided to unemployed Americans earlier this year instead of a reduced amount.
But economist Nancy Vanden Houten of Oxford Economics believes even a Democratic Senate would opt for a $1.5 trillion measure to preserve space for other spending initiatives. Read more here.
– Paul Davidson
COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
In your inbox: Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter.
Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together.
On Facebook: A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-11-06--Blind cat gets second chance as therapy animal

Blind cat gets second chance as therapy animal Christy Santoro dedicates her life to helping cats in need .
When @ @ @ @ @ cat with no eyes , it changed her life forever .

Blind cat gets second chance as therapy animal
Christy Santoro dedicates her life to helping cats in need. When she was introduced to a cat with no eyes, it changed her life forever.
Animalkind, USA Today


usatoday--2020-11-08--Inside the Dems' Florida flop: Turnout, rural success propelled Trump in the Sunshine State

WEST PALM BEACH , Fla – Former Vice President Joe Biden might have won the presidency after days of counting , but Election Day was a flop for Democrats in Florida .
Much has been made of how the Democrats hemorrhaged support from Hispanic voters in Miami-Dade County .
But that alone does not explain why Biden lost the state by about 375,000 votes , a substantial gap in a state known for paper-thin margins .
An analysis of post-election data shows that several factors played into the Democrats ' bad day .
Biden did underperform in heavily Hispanic Miami-Dade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casting the former vice president as a socialist threat in communities where people have up close and personal memories of socialism and communism .
Turnout in areas that went for President Donald Trump surpassed turnout in areas that went for Biden .
The urban-rural divide colorfully illustrated in the red and blue maps deployed by television networks played out on the ground in Florida .
More : Trump bet big on winning the Hispanic vote in Miami and Florida – and it paid off And then there is the enthusiasm factor .
Nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 230,000-plus coronavirus deaths , not the cratered national economy and not his litany of falsehoods moved Trump 's supporters away from him .
They waved placards on overpasses , flew flags from the back of their trucks and wore T-shirts with the president 's signature phrase , `` Make America Great Again . ''
`` I 've never seen anything like it , '' said Mike Coleman , vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Palm Beach County .
Trump cruised to a margin of victory that was more than twice the combined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump beat Biden three times more decisively in Florida than he beat Hillary Clinton in 2016 , and Democrats lost congressional and other down ballot races , too .
Democrats were successful in boosting turnout overall from 2016 , but those bigger numbers were trumped by the GOP .
`` We just did n't keep up , '' Coleman said .
Joe Biden : President-elect seeks diverse Cabinet to 'look like America ' in leading federal departments There will be much hand-wringing over what happened in Miami-Dade .
The strategy for any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to run up big margins in South Florida and limit the margins in more conservative parts of the state .
Clinton almost pulled it off , beating Trump in Miami-Dade by 290,000 votes in 2016 , when she lost the state by just over a percentage point .
Biden , though , could n't match Clinton 's success there .
Initial returns show he won Miami-Dade by about 85,000 votes , nowhere near enough to offset Trump 's margins elsewhere .
As of Sunday , results showed Biden getting 53 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % in 2016 .
Just as they did with Clinton and just as they did when former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum ran for governor , Republicans cast Biden as a Trojan horse for socialism .
It was a potent pitch , particularly among Cuban Americans in Miami , many of whom are personally familiar with the toll Fidel Castro-style socialism took on Cuba .
`` It 's easy for Trump to pick that scab , '' Coleman said .
`` I 'm not sure how long that 's going to last . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's long record in the U.S. Senate would dispel any socialist fears and even deploying former President Barack Obama to make the former vice president 's case .
Will any Democrat campaigning in South Florida always be tarred as a socialist in waiting ?
`` I think it can be countered , '' Coleman said .
`` I do n't think it 's been countered well . ''
Florida election:5 key takeaways from Trump 's impressive win in the Sunshine State Obama tried to ease the chill between Cuba and the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade .
But in September , with the election weeks away , Trump cracked down on Cuba , barring American travelers from staying in government-run hotels in the island nation or bringing home rum or cigars .
Trump 's move will make it nearly impossible for many Americans to visit Cuba because the government controls most of the hotels there .
`` I cancelled the Obama-Biden sellout to the Castro regime , '' Trump said .
A return to strict sanctions against Cuba will keep its government isolated , but it will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit relatives and send them money .
Coleman said the way to counter the socialist label among Cuban Americans is to `` remind them of what they 've lost . ''
Jody Young , a political strategist who has worked for Democratic candidates , said Democrats should have been better prepared to offer counter arguments .
`` Paying taxes to have a police department is socialism , '' he said .
`` Paying taxes to have health care is socialism .
It 's not your grandfather 's socialism .
I mean , look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that messaging . ''
Tuesday 's struggles have opened fissures in the party .
Young said Democrats need a change in party leadership in Tallahassee .
On his Facebook page , he shared an acrimonious text message exchange with state Rep. Matt Willhite , a Democrat who represents parts of Wellington , Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves .
Willhite disagreed with the assessment that the party needs new leadership .
The Young-Willhite dispute was a window into a broad set of concerns many in the party have about its direction .
Young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messaging .
`` You ca n't run a political party on hope yearlong , '' he said .
`` You ca n't go into the minority community only at election time . ''
In addition to winning Miami-Dade by a 205,000 fewer votes than Clinton , Biden 's margin of victory in Palm Beach County was smaller by about 4,300 votes , with just a 98,000-vote margin in his favor .
Trump exceeded local party expectations by taking 43.2 percent of the county vote .
Biden fell short in Broward County of Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a margin of 7,600 fewer votes .
All told , though , the South Florida `` wins '' were n't enough to give Biden a shot at beating Trump , who swamped him by 841,000 votes in areas outside of South Florida , about 40,000 more votes than in 2016 .
Trump 's victory margin grew because South Florida did n't deliver for Democrats as it has in the past .
Clinton rode a 685,000-vote wave in Miami-Dade , Broward and Palm Beach counties .
With slippage in all three counties , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Florida 's counties are experiencing the same trend seen across the country this century , with dense urban counties becoming increasingly Democratic , rural counties voting more Republican and suburban areas somewhere in between .
That trend is illustrated in Duval County , home to Jacksonville .
The last time voters there selected a Democrat for president was 1976 , when southerner Jimmy Carter ran .
But in 2018 , for the first time in 42 years , Duval voters backed Gillum and Bill Nelson in statewide races .
And Biden won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around .
In Seminole County , the northern neighbor to populous Orange County , voters have trended toward Democrats , who won the county in 2018 statewide races for the first time since 1948 .
Biden won a majority there , too .
Meanwhile , once reliably blue St. Lucie County continues to trend red .
Trump won a majority of votes there .
In 2016 , he won a plurality , 49.9 percent .
Before then , Democrats won the majority there going back to 1996 .
Typically , the candidate who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Petersburg , wins the state .
But Biden took the county by a slim 1,200 votes , the first time since Al Gore won Pinellas in 2000 that the winner of the county and the state were different .
In all , Trump won 55 of Florida 's 67 counties , with Biden winning the more populous urban counties and Trump winning the more rural .
Collier County , which Trump carried by 50,000 votes , had the highest turnout at 90 percent .
Overall turnout reached 77 percent .
Melania Trump : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former first lady ?
Biden and Trump came into the race understanding the importance of winning Florida and its 29 Electoral College votes .
If Biden 's win withstands likely court challenges from the Trump campaign , it will be the first presidential race since 1992 when Florida 's voters did not select the Electoral College winner .
Of course , the 1992 race included a wealthy third-party contender , Ross Perot .
Before 1992 , the last time the majority of Florida voters was out of step with the national electorate was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nixon over Democrat John F. Kennedy .
Coleman said the areas in Florida where Democrats need to be strong are shifting .
The Interstate 4 corridor , home to an increasing number of Hispanic voters who are not Cuban Americans , is emerging as an opportunity for the party .
`` When the I-4 corridor becomes the power center for Hispanic voting , Miami-Dade 's going to slip down a notch , '' he said .
Coleman estimates that , by the end of the decade , Hispanics in the I-4 corridor will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than GOP-leaning Cuban Americans do in Miami-Dade .
`` The right personality could accelerate that much more quickly , '' he said .
For the past four years , it 's been the GOP with the right political personality .
Trump has been impervious to scandal and drew thousands to rallies even as the coronavirus set grim records for sickness and death .
The president inspired fear and acquiescence among other elected Republicans who knew not to cross him .
And Trump consistently pounded Democrats rhetorically .
That constant stream of invective made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderates and voters who have no political affiliation , Coleman said .
`` He has used every opportunity to denigrate and demonize Democrats , '' Coleman said .
`` He 's had a bully pulpit that allowed him to preach incessantly in a way that demonized Democrats . ''
More than anything else , Coleman said , Biden lost Florida for one reason : Donald Trump .
`` He built up a cult of personality , and we just experienced it , '' he said .

Wayne Washington, Wayne Washington and Chris Persaud, Palm Beach Post

Inside Democrats' Florida flop: Turnout, rural success propelled Trump in Sunshine State
Show Caption Hide Caption 2020: Election Day in Florida Here's a look in Florida as of Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Produced by Oscar Santiago Torres - USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida, USA TODAY
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Former Vice President Joe Biden might have won the presidency after days of counting, but Election Day was a flop for Democrats in Florida.
Much has been made of how the Democrats hemorrhaged support from Hispanic voters in Miami-Dade County. But that alone does not explain why Biden lost the state by about 375,000 votes, a substantial gap in a state known for paper-thin margins.
An analysis of post-election data shows that several factors played into the Democrats' bad day.
Biden did underperform in heavily Hispanic Miami-Dade County after Republicans were successful in casting the former vice president as a socialist threat in communities where people have up-close and personal memories of socialism and communism. Turnout in areas that went for President Donald Trump surpassed turnout in areas that went for Biden. The urban-rural divide colorfully illustrated in the red and blue maps deployed by television networks played out on the ground in Florida.
More: Trump bet big on winning the Hispanic vote in Miami and Florida – and it paid off
And then there is the enthusiasm factor. Nothing, not his impeachment, not the 230,000-plus coronavirus deaths, not the cratered national economy and not his litany of falsehoods moved Trump's supporters away from him. They waved placards on overpasses, flew flags from the back of their trucks and wore T-shirts with the president's signature phrase, "Make America Great Again."
"I've never seen anything like it," said Mike Coleman, vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Palm Beach County.
Trump cruised to a margin of victory that was more than twice the combined margin from the past three gubernatorial elections. Trump beat Biden three times more decisively in Florida than he beat Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Democrats lost congressional and other down-ballot races, too.
Democrats were successful in boosting turnout overall from 2016, but those bigger numbers were trumped by the GOP.
"We just didn't keep up," Coleman said.
Joe Biden: President-elect seeks diverse Cabinet to 'look like America' in leading federal departments
205,000-vote drop in Miami-Dade
There will be much hand-wringing over what happened in Miami-Dade.
The strategy for any Democrat trying to win statewide in Florida is to run up big margins in South Florida and limit the margins in more conservative parts of the state.
Clinton almost pulled it off, beating Trump in Miami-Dade by 290,000 votes in 2016, when she lost the state by just over a percentage point.
Biden, though, couldn't match Clinton's success there. Initial returns show he won Miami-Dade by about 85,000 votes, nowhere near enough to offset Trump's margins elsewhere.
As of Sunday, results showed Biden getting 53% of votes in Miami-Dade. Clinton got 63% in 2016.
Florida election: Results by county
Just as they did with Clinton and just as they did when former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum ran for governor, Republicans cast Biden as a Trojan horse for socialism. It was a potent pitch, particularly among Cuban Americans in Miami, many of whom are personally familiar with the toll Fidel Castro-style socialism took on Cuba.
"It's easy for Trump to pick that scab," Coleman said. "I'm not sure how long that's going to last."
Democrats tried to fight back, hoping Biden's long record in the U.S. Senate would dispel any socialist fears and even deploying former President Barack Obama to make the former vice president's case.
Will any Democrat campaigning in South Florida always be tarred as a socialist in waiting?
"I think it can be countered," Coleman said. "I don't think it's been countered well."
Florida election: 5 key takeaways from Trump's impressive win in the Sunshine State
Trump's Cuba crackdown
Obama tried to ease the chill between Cuba and the United States, restoring diplomatic relations and liberalizing trade. But in September, with the election weeks away, Trump cracked down on Cuba, barring American travelers from staying in government-run hotels in the island nation or bringing home rum or cigars.
Trump's move will make it nearly impossible for many Americans to visit Cuba because the government controls most of the hotels there.
"I canceled the Obama-Biden sellout to the Castro regime," Trump said.
A return to strict sanctions against Cuba will keep its government isolated, but it will also make it harder for Cuban Americans to visit relatives and send them money.
Coleman said the way to counter the socialist label among Cuban Americans is to "remind them of what they've lost."
Break up Florida Dems?
Jody Young, a political strategist who has worked for Democratic candidates, said Democrats should have been better prepared to offer counterarguments.
"Paying taxes to have a police department is socialism," he said. "Paying taxes to have health care is socialism. It's not your grandfather's socialism. I mean, look at Social Security. We failed in that messaging."
Tuesday's struggles have opened fissures in the party.
Young said Democrats need a change in party leadership in Tallahassee. On his Facebook page, he shared an acrimonious text message exchange with state Rep. Matt Willhite, a Democrat who represents parts of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves.
Willhite disagreed with the assessment that the party needs new leadership.
The Young-Willhite dispute was a window into a broad set of concerns many in the party have about its direction.
Young said part of the problem is consistent messaging.
"You can't run a political party on hope yearlong," he said. "You can't go into the minority community only at election time."
In addition to winning Miami-Dade by a 205,000 fewer votes than Clinton, Biden's margin of victory in Palm Beach County was smaller by about 4,300 votes, with just a 98,000-vote margin in his favor. Trump exceeded local party expectations by taking 43.2% of the county vote.
Biden fell short in Broward County of Clinton's 2016 performance as well, winning by a margin of 7,600 fewer votes.
All told, though, the South Florida "wins" weren't enough to give Biden a shot at beating Trump, who swamped him by 841,000 votes in areas outside of South Florida, about 40,000 more votes than in 2016.
Trump's victory margin grew because South Florida didn't deliver for Democrats as it has in the past. Clinton rode a 685,000-vote wave in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. With slippage in all three counties, Biden's winning margin barely topped 467,000.
George W. Bush: Former President extends 'warm congratulations' to President-elect Joe Biden
Urban-rural divide
Florida's counties are experiencing the same trend seen across the country this century, with dense urban counties becoming increasingly Democratic, rural counties voting more Republican and suburban areas somewhere in between.
That trend is illustrated in Duval County, home to Jacksonville.
The last time voters there selected a Democrat for president was 1976, when Southerner Jimmy Carter ran. But in 2018, for the first time in 42 years, Duval voters backed Gillum and Bill Nelson in statewide races. And Biden won the majority of votes there this time around.
In Seminole County, the northern neighbor to populous Orange County, voters have trended toward Democrats, who won the county in 2018 statewide races for the first time since 1948. Biden won a majority there, too.
Meanwhile, once reliably blue St. Lucie County continues to trend red. Trump won a majority of votes there.
In 2016, he won a plurality, 49.9%. Before then, Democrats won the majority there going back to 1996.
Typically, the candidate who wins Pinellas County, home to St. Petersburg, wins the state. But Biden took the county by a slim 1,200 votes, the first time since Al Gore won Pinellas in 2000 that the winner of the county and the state were different.
In all, Trump won 55 of Florida's 67 counties, with Biden winning the more populous urban counties and Trump winning the more rural. Collier County, which Trump carried by 50,000 votes, had the highest turnout at 90%. Overall turnout reached 77%.
Melania Trump: What’s next for the soon-to-be former first lady?
Florida no longer a bellwether?
Biden and Trump came into the race understanding the importance of winning Florida and its 29 Electoral College votes.
If Biden's win withstands likely court challenges from the Trump campaign, it will be the first presidential race since 1992 when Florida's voters did not select the Electoral College winner.
Of course, the 1992 race included a wealthy third-party contender, Ross Perot.
Before 1992, the last time the majority of Florida voters was out of step with the national electorate was 1960, when they selected Republican Richard Nixon over Democrat John F. Kennedy.
Coleman said the areas in Florida where Democrats need to be strong are shifting. The Interstate 4 corridor, home to an increasing number of Hispanic voters who are not Cuban Americans, is emerging as an opportunity for the party.
"When the I-4 corridor becomes the power center for Hispanic voting, Miami-Dade's going to slip down a notch," he said.
Coleman estimates that, by the end of the decade, Hispanics in the I-4 corridor will carry as much if not more clout than GOP-leaning Cuban Americans do in Miami-Dade.
"The right personality could accelerate that much more quickly," he said.
For the past four years, it has been the GOP with the right political personality.
Trump has been impervious to scandal and drew thousands to rallies even as the coronavirus set grim records for sickness and death. The president inspired fear and acquiescence among other elected Republicans who knew not to cross him. And Trump consistently pounded Democrats rhetorically.
That constant stream of invective made it tougher for Democrats to appeal to moderates and voters who have no political affiliation, Coleman said.
"He has used every opportunity to denigrate and demonize Democrats," Coleman said. "He's had a bully pulpit that allowed him to preach incessantly in a way that demonized Democrats."
More than anything else, Coleman said, Biden lost Florida for one reason: Donald Trump.
"He built up a cult of personality, and we just experienced it," he said.
Follow reporters Wayne Washington and Chris Persaud on Twitter: @waynewashpbpost, @ChrisMPersau


usatoday--2020-11-08--Michelle Obama: 'Voting in one election isn't a magic wand, and neither is winning one'

Michelle Obama joined the chorus of congratulations for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris after they prevailed in the election .
But in a series of tweets , she urged Americans to focus on the challenges ahead .
`` And after we celebrate — and we should all take a moment to exhale after everything we ’ ve been through — let ’ s remember that this is just a beginning , '' the former First Lady tweeted .
`` It ’ s a first step .
Voting in one election isn ’ t a magic wand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s remember that tens of millions of people voted for the status quo , even when it meant supporting lies , hate , chaos , and division .
We ’ ve got a lot of work to do to reach out to these folks in the years ahead and connect with them on what unites us .
`` But we ’ ve also got to recognize that the path to progress will always be uphill .
We ’ ll always have to scrape and crawl up toward that mountaintop .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from now , there will once again be no margin for error . ''
Hilary Clinton : ' A new page for America ' .
Others react to Joe Biden 's win .
Melania Trump : What 's next for the soon-to-be former First Lady ?
More : Michelle Obama , in lengthy video , assails Trump 's 'failure to take this pandemic seriously' 'VOTE ' : Michelle Obama necklace goes viral in DNC speech about the importance of voting The former First Lady also called on Americans to stay engaged and vigilant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we can ’ t take even the tiniest part of our democracy for granted .
Every single vote must count — and every single one of us must vote , '' she tweeted .
`` And as a country , we should be making it easier , not harder to cast a ballot .
`` So it ’ s up to us to stay engaged and informed , to keep speaking out and marching on .
We ’ ve got to vote in even greater numbers in the upcoming Senate runoffs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward . ''
In yet another tweet , Obama referenced President Donald Trump , albeit without mentioning his name .
`` I ’ m beyond thrilled that my friend @ JoeBiden and our first Black and Indian-American woman Vice President , @ KamalaHarris , are headed to restore some dignity , competence , and heart at the White House , '' she tweeted .
`` Our country sorely needs it . ''

Michelle Obama: 'Voting in one election isn't a magic wand, and neither is winning one'
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden calls for unity in first address as President-elect In first address since securing the presidency, Joe Biden called for unity between all Americans. USA TODAY
Michelle Obama joined the chorus of congratulations for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris after they prevailed in the election. But in a series of tweets, she urged Americans to focus on the challenges ahead.
"And after we celebrate — and we should all take a moment to exhale after everything we’ve been through — let’s remember that this is just a beginning," the former First Lady tweeted. "It’s a first step. Voting in one election isn’t a magic wand, and neither is winning one.
"Let’s remember that tens of millions of people voted for the status quo, even when it meant supporting lies, hate, chaos, and division. We’ve got a lot of work to do to reach out to these folks in the years ahead and connect with them on what unites us.
"But we’ve also got to recognize that the path to progress will always be uphill. We’ll always have to scrape and crawl up toward that mountaintop. And two years from now, four years from now, there will once again be no margin for error."
Hilary Clinton: 'A new page for America'. Others react to Joe Biden's win.
Melania Trump: What's next for the soon-to-be former First Lady?
More: Michelle Obama, in lengthy video, assails Trump's 'failure to take this pandemic seriously'
'VOTE': Michelle Obama necklace goes viral in DNC speech about the importance of voting
The former First Lady also called on Americans to stay engaged and vigilant.
"We see now the reality that we can’t take even the tiniest part of our democracy for granted. Every single vote must count — and every single one of us must vote," she tweeted. "And as a country, we should be making it easier, not harder to cast a ballot.
"So it’s up to us to stay engaged and informed, to keep speaking out and marching on. We’ve got to vote in even greater numbers in the upcoming Senate runoffs in Georgia—and every state and local election going forward."
I’m beyond thrilled that my friend @JoeBiden and our first Black and Indian-American woman Vice President, @KamalaHarris, are headed to restore some dignity, competence, and heart at the White House. Our country sorely needs it. pic.twitter.com/yXqQ3tYRoa — Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) November 7, 2020
In yet another tweet, Obama referenced President Donald Trump, albeit without mentioning his name.
"I’m beyond thrilled that my friend @JoeBiden and our first Black and Indian-American woman Vice President, @KamalaHarris, are headed to restore some dignity, competence, and heart at the White House," she tweeted. "Our country sorely needs it."


usatoday--2020-11-08--Bellwether no more? Ohio misses presidential pick for first time since 1960

Democrat Joe Biden will become the first candidate to win the presidency without Ohio since 1960 , ending Ohio 's long streak of picking the eventual winner and highlighting its diminished status as a battleground swing state .
Ohio voters chose Republican President Donald Trump by about 8 percentage points in unofficial results , the same margin as in 2016 .
On Saturday , the Associated Press and others declared Democrat Joe Biden the winner after it determined the uncounted ballots in Pennsylvania would n't be enough for Trump to catch up .
Ohio 's winner has gone on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 elections , starting in 1964 .
Florida had the second longest streak of six election winners .
That too ended this week .
2020 election : Bellwether , swing state , national microcosm - Is Ohio still all that ?
But Ohio 's record – three misses since 1900 – still puts it in the top tier of bellwether states .
Florida , Nevada and New Mexico also have missed three times .
New Mexico , which missed in 2016 , has the longest streak of picking the popular vote winner .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump to win on the way to 270 electoral college votes ; Biden had more paths to get there without Ohio .
The adage `` no Republican has won the White House without Ohio '' still stands .
And Ottawa County , on Lake Erie between Toledo and Sandusky , keeps its title as the bellwether of Ohio , choosing Ohio 's winner every election since 1944 .
Trump won Tuesday with about 61 % of the vote there , according to unofficial results .

Bellwether no more? Ohio misses presidential pick for first time since 1960
Show Caption Hide Caption Is Ohio still a Swing State? Ohio has long been a bellwether in presidential elections. But that may be changing. A look at Ohio's changing population and election tendencies. Michael Nyerges, Cincinnati Enquirer
Democrat Joe Biden will become the first candidate to win the presidency without Ohio since 1960, ending Ohio's long streak of picking the eventual winner and highlighting its diminished status as a battleground swing state.
Ohio voters chose Republican President Donald Trump by about 8 percentage points in unofficial results, the same margin as in 2016. On Saturday, the Associated Press and others declared Democrat Joe Biden the winner after it determined the uncounted ballots in Pennsylvania wouldn't be enough for Trump to catch up.
Ohio's winner has gone on to win the Electoral College for the past 14 elections, starting in 1964. Florida had the second-longest streak of six election winners. That too ended this week.
2020 election: Bellwether, swing state, national microcosm - Is Ohio still all that?
But Ohio's record – three misses since 1900 – still puts it in the top tier of bellwether states. Florida, Nevada and New Mexico also have missed three times. New Mexico, which missed in 2016, has the longest streak of picking the popular vote winner.
Ohio was a more important state for Trump to win on the way to 270 electoral college votes; Biden had more paths to get there without Ohio. The adage "no Republican has won the White House without Ohio" still stands.
And Ottawa County, on Lake Erie between Toledo and Sandusky, keeps its title as the bellwether of Ohio, choosing Ohio's winner every election since 1944. Trump won Tuesday with about 61% of the vote there, according to unofficial results.


usatoday--2020-11-09--Pfizer's COVID vaccine candidate shown to be 90% effective in early findings

In a major boost to vaccine development , Pfizer and its collaborator BioNTech released early study results Monday indicating that their vaccine , BNT162b2 , prevented more than 90 % of infections with the virus that causes COVID-19 .
In the newly released data on the first 94 trial participants to come down with COVID-19 , the vaccine was found to be more than 90 % effective in preventing the disease .
Half the participants received a placebo and half the vaccine , so the new data shows that more people who received the placebo than the vaccine came down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week after the second dose of the vaccine .
The two doses are given 21 days apart .
There were no serious safety concerns reported to the independent data monitoring board that reviews both safety and effectiveness data .
The board , which had the power to stop the trial if the vaccine was ineffective , recommended that the trial continue , as planned .
As the large Phase 3 study continues , the level of effectiveness may vary .
Pfizer and the German biotechnology company BioNTech , which developed the candidate vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nearly 39,000 of whom have received both doses of the candidate vaccine .
They recently expanded their trial to include teens and children as young as 12 .
Approximately 30 % of the American trial participants have racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds , according to the companies .
Pfizer and BioNTech had been expected to release results several weeks ago , after 32 of the trial participants came down with COVID-19 , but decided after discussion with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to wait until more participants fell ill. “ Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanity , '' said Dr. Albert Bourla , Pfizer Chairman and CEO in a prepared statement .
“ We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records , hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen .
With today ’ s news , we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis.
” By the third week in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough safety and effectiveness data to submit a request for emergency approval to the FDA .
Monday 's statement said the companies are `` working to prepare the necessary safety and manufacturing data to submit to the FDA . ''
The companies will monitor participants for long-term protection and safety for an additional two years after their second dose .
Most serious vaccine side effects show up within the first six weeks of vaccination , so the FDA has required companies making candidate vaccines to wait until at least half of trial participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to ensure safety Pfizer expects to produce up to 50 million doses of BNT162b2 this year and 1.3 billion next year .
Moderna , which is using the same mRNA vaccine technology as Pfizer/BioNTech , is likely to be the next federally funded vaccine developer to release interim effectiveness data .
Its trial , which reached full enrollment last month , calls for 53 infections before the first interim analysis , which is expected to happen shortly .
Two other Phase 3 trials funded by the U.S. government , one from AstraZeneca/Oxford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson , restarted after delays caused by unexplained illnesses .
The FDA decided last month those illnesses could not definitively be blamed on the vaccine , so they allowed those trials to resume .
AstraZeneca also has a large trial in the U.K. , which was paused for less time than the U.S. one and so could report its first data soon .
Unfortunately for those infected , all the trials have been helped by the fact that COVID-19 continues to rage through the U.S. and several other countries where trials are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sooner enough trial participants will fall ill and determine each candidate vaccine 's effectiveness .
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 .

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine candidate shown to be 90% effective in early findings
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: Pfizer's vaccine candidate shown to be 90% effective Pfizer and BioNTech released early study results indicating that their vaccine prevented more than 90% of infections with the virus that causes COVID-19. USA TODAY
In a major boost to vaccine development, Pfizer and its collaborator BioNTech released early study results Monday indicating that their vaccine, BNT162b2, prevented more than 90% of infections with the virus that causes COVID-19.
In the newly released data on the first 94 trial participants to come down with COVID-19, the vaccine was found to be more than 90% effective in preventing the disease. Half the participants received a placebo and half the vaccine, so the new data shows that more people who received the placebo than the vaccine came down with COVID-19.
They were protected a week after the second dose of the vaccine. The two doses are given 21 days apart. As the large Phase 3 study continues, the level of effectiveness may vary.
There were no serious safety concerns reported to the independent data monitoring board that reviews safety and effectiveness data. The board, which had the power to stop the trial if the vaccine was ineffective, recommended that the trial continue as planned.
Two experts who have been watching the vaccine development process said the results were even better than they'd hoped.
"You have to be pleasantly surprised," said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of vaccinology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
What's not yet clear is whether the vaccine is more effective for some groups of people than others, Offit said. Vaccines traditionally do not work as well in older people, who are most vulnerable to COVID-19. That data likely will come when these results are published in a scientific journal, or after more results have come in.
Dr. William Schaffner, professor of health policy and of preventive medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, echoed both Offit's enthusiasm and notes of caution.
COVID-19: How Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines differ Pfizer and Moderna have both announced promising results in the phase 3 trials of their COVID-19 vaccines. Here's how they differ. USA TODAY, Storyful
"This is a wonderful new addition to the barriers that we put up that will help reduce the spread of this infection, but it's only one," Schaffner said, explaining that masks, social distancing and avoiding crowds remain important strategies for combating the virus. "We cannot abandon the others. We have to do the others even better than we are now."
No vaccine is ever 100% effective, and it will take months to roll the vaccine out to everyone who wants it, Schaffner said.
President-elect Joe Biden expressed similar concerns in a statement Monday, saying that while the news is extremely promising, it does not mean people can stop wearing masks or taking other precautions to avoid COVID-19.
"Americans will have to rely on masking, distancing, contact tracing, hand washing, and other measures to keep themselves safe well into next year," Biden said. "Today’s news is great news, but it doesn't change that fact."
President Donald Trump Tweeted his enthusiasm Monday for the results.
"STOCK MARKET UP BIG, VACCINE COMING SOON. REPORT 90% EFFECTIVE. SUCH GREAT NEWS!," he wrote.
Schaffner said he hopes politicians largely will stay out of the vaccine development process going forward. Political involvement has tainted the process, he said, resulting in distrust.
"This vaccine will be better accepted if our political leadership steps back now and lets the public health folks be the public face that talks about this vaccine to the general public," he said. "We're past the election now, and I would hope politicians would support public health rather than getting out in front of this."
Schaffner also is concerned people have an overly rosy view of the vaccine. Though it appears to be extremely safe and effective, it will have side effects, particularly after the second of two doses.
"A sore arm and feeling crummy for a day or two is a lot better than COVID," he said, but he wants people to know what to expect.
Health care workers who are regularly exposed to COVID-19 are likely to be the first to receive a vaccine, followed by high-risk elderly people, assuming the vaccine works well in them. Even if all goes well, it will be well into 2021 before most Americans can get a vaccine, experts say.
Pfizer and the German biotechnology company BioNTech, which developed the candidate vaccine, have enrolled more than 43,000 volunteers, nearly 39,000 of whom have received both doses of the candidate vaccine. They recently expanded their trial to include teens and children as young as 12.
About 30% of the American trial participants have racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, according to the companies.
Pfizer and BioNTech had been expected to release results several weeks ago, after 32 of the trial participants came down with COVID-19, but decided after discussion with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to wait until more participants fell ill.
“Today is a great day for science and humanity," said Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO in a prepared statement. “We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen. With today’s news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis.”
By the third week in November, Bourla said, the companies should have enough safety and effectiveness data to submit a request for emergency approval to the FDA. Monday's statement said the companies are "working to prepare the necessary safety and manufacturing data to submit to the FDA."
The companies will monitor participants for long-term protection and safety for an additional two years after their second dose. Most serious vaccine side effects show up within the first six weeks of vaccination, so the FDA has required companies making candidate vaccines to wait until at least half of trial participants were two months past their second shot to ensure safety.
What the current study can't tell is how long the benefits of the vaccine will last.
To win FDA approval, most vaccines go through the same process as the candidate COVID-19 vaccines are undergoing, but are followed longer, primarily to see how long their effectiveness lasts. In this case, with 1,000 Americans dying a day from COVID-19, the FDA won't want to wait two to four years to see if the vaccine candidates continue to be effective.
Pfizer expects to produce up to 50 million doses of BNT162b2 this year and 1.3 billion next year. The federal government did not pay to develop Pfizer/BioNTech's candidate vaccine, though it is providing nearly $2 billion to support manufacturing and distribution.
Taxpayers have supported five other candidate vaccines as well.
Moderna, which is using the same mRNA vaccine technology as Pfizer/BioNTech, is likely to be the next federally funded vaccine developer to release interim effectiveness data. Its trial, which reached full enrollment last month, calls for 53 infections before the first interim analysis, which is expected to happen shortly.
Two other Phase 3 trials funded by the U.S. government, one from AstraZeneca/Oxford University and the other from Johnson & Johnson, restarted after delays caused by unexplained illnesses. The FDA decided last month those illnesses could not definitively be blamed on the vaccine, so they allowed those trials to resume.
AstraZeneca also has a large trial in the U.K., which was paused for less time than the U.S. one and so could report its first data soon.
Novavax Inc. of Gaithersburg, Maryland, announced Monday that it had received fast-track designation from the FDA to proceed with a large, Phase 3 trial of its candidate COVID-19 vaccine, NVX-CoV2373. The company expects to begin the trial in the U.S. and Mexico by the end of November. The company expects its Phase 3 clinical trial in the United Kingdom to be fully enrolled by the end of the month, with interim results as soon as the first few months of 2021.
Unfortunately, for those infected, all the trials have been helped by the fact that COVID-19 continues to rage through the U.S. and several other countries where trials are being run. The worse the outbreak, the sooner enough trial participants will fall ill and determine each candidate vaccine's effectiveness.
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--2020-11-09--The whole world is watching, waiting for Trump to concede

Since 1896 when Democrat William Jennings Bryan conceded the presidency to William McKinley , every loser has followed his precedent .
“ [ T ] he returns indicate your election , and I hasten to extend my congratulations .
We have submitted the issue to the American people and their will is law , ” Bryan wrote in a telegram .
So began the American custom of the losers in the presidential sweepstakes conceding to the victors .
Over 120 years , Americans have witnessed 32 such speeches — by telegram , radio , live TV , and most recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law that requires any losing candidate to acknowledge defeat , it ’ s become an American tradition intrinsic to the orderly transition of power .
To that point presidential historian Robert Dallek told the Los Angeles Times that these speeches “ demonstrate a continuing commitment to peaceful transitions of power.
” He added that they also send an important “ signal to supporters that they need to join the defeated candidate in accepting the loss.
” Yesterday when all the networks ( including Trump ’ s once beloved Fox ) and USA TODAY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump blew up this patriotic custom of calling for unity .
He responded by refusing to concede , even threatening additional legal challenges and claimed in a statement , “ Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner… .
The simple fact is this election is far from over.
” Only an hour before Trump had tweeted , completely erroneously , “ I WON THIS ELECTION , BY A LOT !
” ( which Twitter noted was untrue ) .
Both Democrats and Republicans have consistently maintained this long-held custom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The whole campaign is a formalized warfare , ” Paul Corcoran , a political theorist who studies U.S. presidential campaigns , told NPR last week .
“ The more I looked at the concession speech , the more I realized that [ it serves ] an important political function .
There needs to be a ceremonial recognition of an end.
” Its ultimate purpose , he added , isn ’ t about losing candidates accepting their fate but about bridging divides so that their supporters will accept it .
More : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what 's next ?
The presidential transition from hell .
When Democrat Jimmy Carter became a one-term president ( much like Trump ) , losing to Ronald Reagan in 1980 , he publicly recommitted to American democracy , saying , “ I have a deep appreciation of the system , however , that lets people make a free choice about who will lead them for the next four years.
” Similarly , when Republican Richard Nixon lost to John F. Kennedy in 1960 , in a very tight contest , he , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together .
“ I have great faith that our people , Republicans , Democrats alike , will unite behind our next president.
” Sure , there ’ s a formula to these speeches , starting with a call for unity , a recommitment to democracy , and a vow to continue the fight for their own causes .
To that last point , when Democrat Hubert H. Humphrey , the sitting vice president , lost to Nixon in 1968 , he emphasized , “ I shall continue my personal commitment to the cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the betterment of man.
” This part of the formula gives any loser -- including Trump -- a way to try to cement his legacy and signal to his supporters that he ’ s not abandoning them .
Some concession speeches have gone beyond the expected , reaching notes of grace .
In 2008 Republican John McCain , who lost to Barack Obama ( the first Black man elected president ) told a crowd in Phoenix .
“ This is an historic election ... And I recognize the special significance it has for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that must be theirs tonight.
” He continued : “ I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him , but offering our next president our goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together , to find the necessary compromises , to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity , defend our security in a dangerous world , and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger , better country than we inherited.
” Even Democrat Hillary Clinton , smarting from her surprise loss to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling a hotel crowd : “ Donald Trump is going to be our president .
We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead .
Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power .
We don ’ t just respect that .
We cherish it.
” Perhaps Trump needs a writing prompt to help him with this speech .
I would actually refer him to Clinton ’ s speech .
“ Joe Biden is going to be our president .
We owe him an open mind and the chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful transfer of power .
We don ’ t just respect that .
We cherish it.
” And I ’ d also suggest that he paraphrase McCain ’ s concession , in this case referencing vice-president elect Kamala Harris .
“ This is an historic election ... And I recognize the special significance it has for Black Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.
” With more lawsuits coming on Monday that ’ s a pipe dream .
After all it was Trump who told Fox News anchor Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not a good loser .
I don ’ t like to lose.
” Mr. President : With history in the making , you have one last chance to redeem yourself .
The whole world is watching .
Steven Petrow , a writer on civility and manners and a member of USA TODAY 's Board of Contributors , is the author of five etiquette books .
His new book is `` Stupid Things I Wo n't Do When I 'm Old . ''
Follow him on Twitter : @ StevenPetrow

The whole world is watching, waiting for Trump to concede While no law requires losing candidates to acknowledge defeat, it’s become an American tradition intrinsic to the orderly transition of power.
Show Caption Hide Caption Concession speeches: A look back on history Scott Farris, author of "Almost President: The Men Who Lost the Race but Changed the Nation," describes the tradition of offering a concession speech. USA TODAY
Since 1896 when Democrat William Jennings Bryan conceded the presidency to William McKinley, every loser has followed his precedent. “[T] he returns indicate your election, and I hasten to extend my congratulations. We have submitted the issue to the American people and their will is law,” Bryan wrote in a telegram.
So began the American custom of the losers in the presidential sweepstakes conceding to the victors. Over 120 years, Americans have witnessed 32 such speeches — by telegram, radio, live TV, and most recently YouTube. While there’s no law that requires any losing candidate to acknowledge defeat, it’s become an American tradition intrinsic to the orderly transition of power. To that point presidential historian Robert Dallek told the Los Angeles Times that these speeches “demonstrate a continuing commitment to peaceful transitions of power.” He added that they also send an important “signal to supporters that they need to join the defeated candidate in accepting the loss.”
Yesterday when all the networks (including Trump’s once beloved Fox) and USA TODAY called the election for Joe Biden, Donald Trump blew up this patriotic custom of calling for unity. He responded by refusing to concede, even threatening additional legal challenges and claimed in a statement, “Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner…. The simple fact is this election is far from over.”
Only an hour before Trump had tweeted, completely erroneously, “I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!” (which Twitter noted was untrue).
Both Democrats and Republicans have consistently maintained this long-held custom, which is really about closure and continuity. “The whole campaign is a formalized warfare,” Paul Corcoran, a political theorist who studies U.S. presidential campaigns, told NPR last week. “The more I looked at the concession speech, the more I realized that [it serves] an important political function. There needs to be a ceremonial recognition of an end.” Its ultimate purpose, he added, isn’t about losing candidates accepting their fate but about bridging divides so that their supporters will accept it.
More: Donald Trump has lost to Joe Biden, what's next? The presidential transition from hell.
When Democrat Jimmy Carter became a one-term president (much like Trump), losing to Ronald Reagan in 1980, he publicly recommitted to American democracy, saying, “I have a deep appreciation of the system, however, that lets people make a free choice about who will lead them for the next four years.”
Similarly, when Republican Richard Nixon lost to John F. Kennedy in 1960, in a very tight contest, he, too, called for Americans to come together. “I have great faith that our people, Republicans, Democrats alike, will unite behind our next president.”
Sure, there’s a formula to these speeches, starting with a call for unity, a recommitment to democracy, and a vow to continue the fight for their own causes. To that last point, when Democrat Hubert H. Humphrey, the sitting vice president, lost to Nixon in 1968, he emphasized, “I shall continue my personal commitment to the cause of human rights, to peace and the betterment of man.” This part of the formula gives any loser--including Trump--a way to try to cement his legacy and signal to his supporters that he’s not abandoning them.
Some concession speeches have gone beyond the expected, reaching notes of grace. In 2008 Republican John McCain, who lost to Barack Obama (the first Black man elected president) told a crowd in Phoenix. “This is an historic election... And I recognize the special significance it has for African Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.”
He continued: “I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.”
Even Democrat Hillary Clinton, smarting from her surprise loss to Trump four years ago, rallied by telling a hotel crowd: “Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power. We don’t just respect that. We cherish it.”
Perhaps Trump needs a writing prompt to help him with this speech. I would actually refer him to Clinton’s speech. “Joe Biden is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power. We don’t just respect that. We cherish it.” And I’d also suggest that he paraphrase McCain’s concession, in this case referencing vice-president elect Kamala Harris. “This is an historic election... And I recognize the special significance it has for Black Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.”
With more lawsuits coming on Monday that’s a pipe dream. After all it was Trump who told Fox News anchor Chris Wallace in July, “I’m not a good loser. I don’t like to lose.” Mr. President: With history in the making, you have one last chance to redeem yourself. The whole world is watching.
Steven Petrow, a writer on civility and manners and a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors, is the author of five etiquette books. His new book is "Stupid Things I Won't Do When I'm Old." Follow him on Twitter: @StevenPetrow


usatoday--2020-11-09--We need doctors more than ever. But independent medical practices can't afford to stay open during C

We need doctors more than ever. But independent medical practices can't afford to stay open during COVID-19 pandemic.

“ Hello , Dr. Hummel ’ s office .
Yes , of course .
I understand.
” Dr. Barbara Hummel hung up the office phone with a sigh .
Another patient canceling their appointment .
Hummel 's been running her Milwaukee private practice since 1995.It was her dream job , since she decided to go back to school for medicine when she was 36 years old .
At the height of her business , she would see about 16 patients a day .
But since the coronavirus pandemic , she 's been lucky to see nine patients come through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as two patients have shown up .
She is now the sole employee of her office , working as a doctor , receptionist and office manager .
“ This last year has been rough , ” the 77-year-old family doctor said .
“ My practice is technically bankrupt so I ’ m paying all my expenses out of my personal funds … using retirement savings.
” Hummel is not alone .
Smaller physician practices like hers are struggling to stay open during the public health crisis as the coronavirus continues to strain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued by the American Medical Association late last month found the average revenue in medical practices has dropped by 32 % .
Revenue reductions were 50 % or greater for nearly 1 out of 5 physicians , according to the nationally representative survey of 3,500 physicians , administered from mid-July through August .
“ Physician practices continue to be under significant financial stress due to reductions in patient volume and revenue , in addition to higher expenses for supplies that are scarce for some physicians , ” said AMA President Dr. Susan R. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person visits decreased by 50 % or more during the pandemic .
Hummel says her revenue is down nearly 60 % as the majority of her patients are older and afraid to leave their homes .
They know the coronavirus disproportionately impacts people over the age of 70 .
Wisconsin reported more than 38,000 new cases in the week ending Sunday – setting another record for the state .
Nearly 13,000 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized with more than 1,500 of them in the intensive care units .
Hummel knows at her age she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease but that does n't stop her from going to the office every day and visiting patients .
Recently , she made a house call to one of her 100-year-olds to give her a flu shot in the backyard .
`` I ’ m concerned , I take all the precautions I can .
I know that if I get COVID I ’ m probably at risk of being one of the fatalities but if I dwell on that I wouldn ’ t leave my house and I ca n't do that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an obligation to be here and to help provide care for my patients and I understand that obligation . ''
Many offices have turned to telemedicine .
But despite an increase in virtual visits since February , the AMA survey found nearly 7 out of 10 physicians said they were still providing fewer overall visits .
Hummel has tried to help her patients adapt to telemedicine .
Most of them do n't have cell phones , let alone a computer .
`` Telemedicine doesn ’ t pay for the office overhead , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` And , again , most of my patients don ’ t even have access to it so that doesn ’ t work . ''
While smaller practices struggle to break even , they ’ re faced with additional costs .
Nearly half of medical practice owners surveyed by the AMA said spending on personal protective equipment has increase 50 % or moresince February .
Thirty-six percent of physicians said acquiring more PPE was very or extremely difficult for smaller practices that lack purchasing power to compete with larger health systems .
Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 on a pack of 50 surgical masks .
In the spring , that same pack of masks cost $ 50 .
When demand from bigger hospital systems overwhelmed her distributors , she resorted to buying masks from Amazon , which cost $ 15 to $ 30 per pack .
Since Hummel began offering COVID-19 testing in the spring , she 's had to buy more gowns , gloves , face shields and N95 masks .
Testing does n't bring any revenue to the office , in fact , it depletes PPE and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a service the community needs .
`` I had to scrounge , '' Hummel said .
`` I had a patient actually bring me my first N95 mask because I couldn ’ t find it and he was a woodworker and he had four or five of them in his shop . ''
Concerned for her older patients , Hummel also invested in UV-C light equipment to disinfect exam rooms during her lunch break and at the end of the day .
She also spends more on hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in every corner of the office and schedules 15 minutes between patients to disinfect everything in the exam room .
The AMA argues their survey shows more economic relief is needed from Congress `` as some medical practices contemplate the brink of viability , particularly smaller practices that are facing a difficult road to recovery . ''
Family practices had been struggling since before the pandemic .
According to AMA ’ s Physician Practice Benchmark Surveys in 2018 , 54 % of physicians were working in private practices compared to 60.1 % in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
She 's worked in big hospitals and has no interest in returning to that type of medicine .
If things do n't pick up in the next year , she 's considering leasing her space to another doctor and splitting expenses , or joining an independent physicians group .
`` A lot of these patients have been with me for 15 to 20 years and that ’ s hard for them .
Change is hard for some of my older patients , '' she said .
`` So , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can . ''
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 .

We need doctors more than ever to fight COVID-19, but smaller practices can't afford to stay open
“Hello, Dr. Hummel’s office. Yes, of course. I understand.”
Dr. Barbara Hummel hung up the office phone with a sigh. Another patient canceling their appointment.
Hummel's been running her Milwaukee private practice since 1995. It was her dream job since she decided to go back to school for medicine when she was 36 years old.
At the height of her business, she would see about 16 patients a day. But since the coronavirus pandemic, she has been lucky to see nine patients come through the door. Some days, as few as two patients have shown up.
She is now the sole employee of her office, working as a doctor, receptionist and office manager.
“This last year has been rough,” the 77-year-old family doctor said. “My practice is technically bankrupt, so I’m paying all my expenses out of my personal funds … using retirement savings.”
Hummel is not alone. Smaller physician practices like hers are struggling to stay open during the public health crisis as the pandemic strains the American health care system. A survey issued by the American Medical Association late last month found the average revenue in medical practices has dropped by 32%.
Revenue reductions were 50% or greater for nearly 1 out of 5 physicians, according to the nationally representative survey of 3,500 physicians, administered from mid-July through August.
“Physician practices continue to be under significant financial stress due to reductions in patient volume and revenue, in addition to higher expenses for supplies that are scarce for some physicians,” said AMA President Dr. Susan R. Bailey.
One-third of surveyed physicians said in-person visits decreased by 50% or more during the pandemic.
Hummel says her revenue is down nearly 60% because the majority of her patients are older and afraid to leave their homes. They know the coronavirus disproportionately affects people over 70.
Wisconsin reported more than 38,000 new cases in the week ending Sunday – another record for the state. Nearly 13,000 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, and more than 1,500 of them are in intensive care units.
Hummel knows that at her age she, too, is at higher risk for severe disease, but that doesn't stop her from going to the office every day and visiting patients. Recently, she made a house call to one of her 100-year-olds to give her a flu shot in the backyard.
"I’m concerned. I take all the precautions I can. I know that if I get COVID I’m probably at risk of being one of the fatalities, but if I dwell on that I wouldn’t leave my house and I can't do that," she said. "I have an obligation to be here and to help provide care for my patients and I understand that obligation."
Hospitals overwhelmed: Exhausted staffs, surging COVID-19 cases push nation's limits
Many offices have turned to telemedicine. But despite an increase in virtual visits since February, the AMA survey found nearly 7 out of 10 physicians said they were still providing fewer overall visits.
Hummel has tried to help her patients adapt to telemedicine. Most of them don't have mobile phones, let alone a computer.
"Telemedicine doesn’t pay for the office overhead, not at all," she said. "And, again, most of my patients don’t even have access to it."
As smaller practices struggle to break even, they’re faced with additional costs. Nearly half of medical practice owners surveyed by the AMA said spending on personal protective equipment has increased 50% or more since February.
Thirty-six percent of physicians said acquiring more PPE was very or extremely difficult for smaller practices that lack purchasing power to compete with larger health systems.
Before the pandemic, Hummel spent about $12 on a pack of 50 surgical masks. In the spring, that same pack of masks cost $50. When demand from bigger hospital systems overwhelmed her distributors, she resorted to buying masks from Amazon, which cost $15 to $30 a pack.
Since Hummel began offering coronavirus testing in the spring, she has had to buy more gowns, gloves, face shields and N95 masks. Testing doesn't bring any revenue to the office; in fact, it depletes PPE and other resources. But she believes it's a service the community needs.
"I had to scrounge," Hummel said. "I had a patient actually bring me my first N95 mask because I couldn’t find it, and he was a woodworker and he had four or five of them in his shop."
Concerned for her older patients, Hummel also invested in UV-C light equipment to disinfect exam rooms during her lunch break and at the end of the day.
She also spends more on hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes. She keeps a bottle of hand sanitizer in every corner of the office and schedules 15 minutes between patients to disinfect everything in the exam room.
The AMA argues its survey shows more economic relief is needed from Congress "as some medical practices contemplate the brink of viability, particularly smaller practices that are facing a difficult road to recovery."
Family practices had been struggling since before the pandemic. According to the AMA’s Physician Practice Benchmark Surveys in 2018, 54% of physicians were working in private practices, compared with 60.1% in 2012.
But Hummel isn't giving up. She has worked in big hospitals and has no interest in returning to that type of medicine. If things don't pick up in the next year, she's considering leasing her space to another doctor and splitting expenses, or joining an independent physicians group.
"A lot of these patients have been with me for 15 to 20 years, and that’s hard for them. Change is hard for some of my older patients," she said. "So, I’ll stick around for as long as I can."
Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.
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.