mercurynews--2020-11-03--President’s sons spread false info leading up to election

As two of his top surrogates , President Donald Trump ’ s eldest sons , Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump , have spread a significant amount of false information this campaign season on topics ranging from the coronavirus , to their father ’ s alleged successes , to attacks against his Democratic opponent former Vice President Joe Biden .
On the eve of the election here ’ s a look at some of the false and misleading claims from Trump ’ s sons .
The coronavirus has been the subject of a ton of misinformation online , some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Back in July , Twitter even restricted his account for sharing a video that spread false information about hydroxychloroquine .
Here are some of the more notable claims he ’ s made about the coronavirus .
During a Fox News interview on Thursday , Trump Jr. said that the number of deaths from Covid-19 is now “ almost nothing.
” “ I went through the CDC data because I kept hearing about new infections , ” Trump Jr. said , “ but I was like , ‘ Well , why aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , oh , because the number is almost nothing.
” Facts First : This is false .
The day Trump Jr. made this claim nearly 1,000 virus-related deaths were reported .
More than 231,000 people in the US have died from the virus .
In an interview with radio talk-show host Chris Stigall , Trump Jr. claimed the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was reporting an increase in US coronavirus cases because the country has increased testing .
“ The reason they ’ re seeing more test cases pop up is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the testing , ” he said .
Facts First : Trump Jr. ’ s claim is comprehensively inaccurate , just as it ’ s been when his father has made the same claim repeatedly through the campaign and over the summer .
The spike in US coronavirus cases is not being caused by an increase in testing .
As of October 26 , just three days before Trump Jr. ’ s interview , The number of confirmed new cases was increasing at a faster rate than the number of new tests , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiative that assembles and analyzes coronavirus data .
And the number of hospitalizations and deaths is also rising , which shows that the increase in the case numbers isn ’ t merely being caused by tests capturing mild cases .
Taken together , the numbers tell a consistent story : the situation in the US is genuinely getting worse .
In a tweet that ’ s since been retweeted over 26,000 times , Trump Jr. wrote on October 26 , “ We went from 75,000 flu deaths last year in America to almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being manipulated .
On the Chris Stigall Show a few days later , he went so far as to specifically claim that this year ’ s flu deaths have been categorized as coronavirus deaths instead .
“ Magically , the flu is also totally gone , right ?
” Trump Jr. said .
“ They ’ re just attributing everything to COVID because that ’ s their logic , it ’ s fear.
” Facts First : Trump Jr. was wrong on multiple counts .
When Trump Jr. mentioned last year ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether he was referring to the previous flu season or flu deaths in 2019 alone .
Either way , his estimate was off .
According to a preliminary report from the US Centers for DC , the US had 24,000 — 62,000 flu deaths during last year ’ s flu season , which lasted from October 1 , 2019 through April 4 , 2020 .
And an AFP tally of weekly data from the National Center for Health Statistics , part of the CDC , found that 7,250 Americans died of the flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same dataset showed over 8,000 flu deaths in 2020 so far .
Only a handful of those deaths are from the 2020-2021 flu season which began at the end of September but that ’ s largely because only a month of data is currently available .
It ’ s possible that trend may continue but not because of any misattribution to Covid-19 , as Trump Jr. claims .
A CDC study published in September suggested that while it ’ s impossible to say what ’ s going to happen when flu season gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winter , measures taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus , like social distancing , teleworking and school closures could also lead to a mild flu season this year .
According to the study , “ If extensive community mitigation measures continue throughout the fall , influenza activity in the United States might remain low and the season might be blunted or delayed.
” Eric Trump has also made false and misleading claims on an array of topics .
The younger son shared a photoshopped meme on October 20 that falsely pasted MAGA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 50 Cent , ridiculously asserted that his father had “ literally saved Christianity , ” tweeted a video that falsely claimed Biden used a teleprompter during an interview , and wrongly claimed that Barack Obama never visited Chicago as president .
Perhaps more dangerous than those , Eric Trump claimed on Friday that many ballots in New York were sent to voters , pre-filled out for Biden .
While discussing voter fraud in an interview with talk-radio host Lars Larson , Eric Trump baselessly claimed that there were “ many ballots ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ [ I ] n New York , people in Queens were getting ballots that were already filled out for Joe and Kamala , ” Eric Trump said .
“ And , it ’ s been turned into authorities and , you know , there are many ballots found by many people , and again , the ballots were already fully filled out and mailed to them and literally just , you know , return these ballots.
” Facts First : According to the New York City Board of Elections there have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theory revolves around a few tweets that have been debunked .
A Twitter user posted allegations that “ Several Queens Village ( NY ) residents are receiving pre-filled out ballots for Joe Biden and being told to just send them back to the Board of Elections.
” The same user posted a video on October 30 , allegedly showing one of these ballots .
The NYC Board of Elections replied to the tweet saying the claims were false and that they “ have communicated directly with the voter in question , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press reported that the absentee ballot , because it was placed in the wrong envelope , was then sent to the voter ’ s previous address in Queens .
On October 17 , Eric Trump tweeted a picture of a large house , writing “ The salary of a U.S .
Senator is $ 174,000 per year .
This is Joe Biden ’ s house… .
seems legit.
” Facts First : The house was purchased by Biden for $ 185,000 in 1975 and was sold — following renovations — in 1996 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times .
Trump Jr. ’ s claim highlights some of the hypocrisy in the Trump campaign ’ s attacks .
Unlike the President , Biden has released his tax returns for the past 22 years .
Only in recent years have the Bidens brought in more than $ 400,000 per year .
In 2017 , after leaving office , Biden and his wife Jill reported an income of $ 11 million and in 2018 they brought in $ 4.6 million .
Much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking engagements , according to Forbes .

By Holmes Lybrand and Tara Subramaniam | CNN
As two of his top surrogates, President Donald Trump’s eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, have spread a significant amount of false information this campaign season on topics ranging from the coronavirus, to their father’s alleged successes, to attacks against his Democratic opponent former Vice President Joe Biden.
On the eve of the election here’s a look at some of the false and misleading claims from Trump’s sons.
Donald Trump Jr.
The coronavirus has been the subject of a ton of misinformation online, some of which has been spread by Trump Jr. Back in July, Twitter even restricted his account for sharing a video that spread false information about hydroxychloroquine.
Here are some of the more notable claims he’s made about the coronavirus.
Covid deaths
During a Fox News interview on Thursday, Trump Jr. said that the number of deaths from Covid-19 is now “almost nothing.”
“I went through the CDC data because I kept hearing about new infections,” Trump Jr. said, “but I was like, ‘Well, why aren’t they talking about deaths?’ Oh, oh, because the number is almost nothing.”
Facts First: This is false. The day Trump Jr. made this claim nearly 1,000 virus-related deaths were reported.
More than 231,000 people in the US have died from the virus.
Testing and cases
In an interview with radio talk-show host Chris Stigall, Trump Jr. claimed the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was reporting an increase in US coronavirus cases because the country has increased testing.
“The reason they’re seeing more test cases pop up is because they’re doing 100 times the testing,” he said.
Facts First: Trump Jr.’s claim is comprehensively inaccurate, just as it’s been when his father has made the same claim repeatedly through the campaign and over the summer.
The spike in US coronavirus cases is not being caused by an increase in testing. As of October 26, just three days before Trump Jr.’s interview, The number of confirmed new cases was increasing at a faster rate than the number of new tests, according to the COVID Tracking Project, an initiative that assembles and analyzes coronavirus data.
And the number of hospitalizations and deaths is also rising, which shows that the increase in the case numbers isn’t merely being caused by tests capturing mild cases. Taken together, the numbers tell a consistent story: the situation in the US is genuinely getting worse.
Flu deaths
In a tweet that’s since been retweeted over 26,000 times, Trump Jr. wrote on October 26, “We went from 75,000 flu deaths last year in America to almost 0” and suggested the data was being manipulated.
On the Chris Stigall Show a few days later, he went so far as to specifically claim that this year’s flu deaths have been categorized as coronavirus deaths instead.
“Magically, the flu is also totally gone, right?” Trump Jr. said. “They’re just attributing everything to COVID because that’s their logic, it’s fear.”
Facts First: Trump Jr. was wrong on multiple counts.
When Trump Jr. mentioned last year’s flu deaths, it’s unclear whether he was referring to the previous flu season or flu deaths in 2019 alone. Either way, his estimate was off.
According to a preliminary report from the US Centers for DC, the US had 24,000 — 62,000 flu deaths during last year’s flu season, which lasted from October 1, 2019 through April 4, 2020. And an AFP tally of weekly data from the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the CDC, found that 7,250 Americans died of the flu in 2019, not 75,000. The same dataset showed over 8,000 flu deaths in 2020 so far. Only a handful of those deaths are from the 2020-2021 flu season which began at the end of September but that’s largely because only a month of data is currently available.
It’s possible that trend may continue but not because of any misattribution to Covid-19, as Trump Jr. claims. A CDC study published in September suggested that while it’s impossible to say what’s going to happen when flu season gets underway in the US this fall and winter, measures taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus, like social distancing, teleworking and school closures could also lead to a mild flu season this year. According to the study, “If extensive community mitigation measures continue throughout the fall, influenza activity in the United States might remain low and the season might be blunted or delayed.”
Eric Trump
Eric Trump has also made false and misleading claims on an array of topics.
The younger son shared a photoshopped meme on October 20 that falsely pasted MAGA branding on the hats of Ice Cube and 50 Cent, ridiculously asserted that his father had “literally saved Christianity,” tweeted a video that falsely claimed Biden used a teleprompter during an interview, and wrongly claimed that Barack Obama never visited Chicago as president.
Perhaps more dangerous than those, Eric Trump claimed on Friday that many ballots in New York were sent to voters, pre-filled out for Biden.
NY Ballots
While discussing voter fraud in an interview with talk-radio host Lars Larson, Eric Trump baselessly claimed that there were “many ballots” found completely filled out for Biden.
“[I]n New York, people in Queens were getting ballots that were already filled out for Joe and Kamala,” Eric Trump said. “And, it’s been turned into authorities and, you know, there are many ballots found by many people, and again, the ballots were already fully filled out and mailed to them and literally just, you know, return these ballots.”
Facts First: According to the New York City Board of Elections there have been no reports of this occurring. The conspiracy theory revolves around a few tweets that have been debunked.
A Twitter user posted allegations that “Several Queens Village (NY) residents are receiving pre-filled out ballots for Joe Biden and being told to just send them back to the Board of Elections.”
The same user posted a video on October 30, allegedly showing one of these ballots.
The NYC Board of Elections replied to the tweet saying the claims were false and that they “have communicated directly with the voter in question, who received a BLANK absentee ballot.”
The Associated Press reported that the absentee ballot, because it was placed in the wrong envelope, was then sent to the voter’s previous address in Queens.
Biden’s house
On October 17, Eric Trump tweeted a picture of a large house, writing “The salary of a U.S. Senator is $174,000 per year. This is Joe Biden’s house…. seems legit.”
Facts First: The house was purchased by Biden for $185,000 in 1975 and was sold — following renovations — in 1996 for $1.2 million, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.
Trump Jr.’s claim highlights some of the hypocrisy in the Trump campaign’s attacks. Unlike the President, Biden has released his tax returns for the past 22 years. Only in recent years have the Bidens brought in more than $400,000 per year.
In 2017, after leaving office, Biden and his wife Jill reported an income of $11 million and in 2018 they brought in $4.6 million. Much of the new revenue came from book sales and speaking engagements, according to Forbes.


mercurynews--2020-11-02--Plywood covers Bay Area storefronts as threat of election unrest looms

With political tensions running high across the country , plywood is going up over many Bay Area storefronts as business owners and landlords worry the election may kick off days of tumult .
Buildings in Oakland , San Francisco , San Jose , Walnut Creek and elsewhere are boarding up ground-level windows and doors , hoping to avoid smashed glass , looting and vandalism if post Election Day-demonstrations take a destructive turn .
After months of protests , people are on edge , said Rick Mitchell , owner of Luka ’ s Taproom & Lounge in Oakland ’ s Uptown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s worried , ” he said Monday .
“ My staff is worried .
They asked actually if we could close early tomorrow before it got dark.
” CLICK HERE if you ’ re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
The Bay Area has been a hotbed of civil unrest this year , with regular protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis , and the police killings of other Black men and women .
While most of the demonstrations have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and looters broke into stores in Emeryville , San Francisco and Walnut Creek .
There already have been clashes leading up to Election Day .
When a caravan of several hundred cars in support of President Donald Trump passed through Marin City on Sunday , police received reports of screaming matches , fights , paintball shots and eggs thrown at cars .
It ’ s not just the Bay Area that ’ s bracing for unrest .
Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is closed for Election Day , and store owners have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington , D.C. , and New York City are putting up plywood as well .
On Monday , a crew of workers was covering the many large windows of a Volkswagen dealership on Broadway ’ s Auto Row in Oakland .
At the Powell Street Plaza in Emeryville — the site of mass looting in May — Marshalls , Ross and Carter ’ s Babies and Kids were boarded up Monday morning .
But most stores , including Trader Joe ’ s , still had their windows uncovered .
In San Francisco , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around Union Square had plywood coverings , including Hermès , Louis Vuitton , Neiman Marcus and Macy ’ s .
Even the iconic Salesforce tower covered over its ground-floor windows .
“ San Francisco looks terrible .
Downtown San Francisco looks like a war zone , ” said 51-year-old Bruce Taylor .
“ I ’ ve lived in San Francisco for almost 25 years now , and I ’ ve never seen anything like it.
” Taylor was in Emeryville on Monday , heading into the boarded-up Ross to buy furnishings for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
“ In a way , I ’ m kind of used to it now .
It seems like that ’ s just the way things are , ” he said .
“ I feel like the world ’ s changed so much , really in the last year.
” Many storefronts around the Bay Area — including some that have closed during the pandemic — have had boards over their windows for months .
Instead of taking them down and putting them back up every time there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have left them up and had them painted with colorful murals .
In downtown Walnut Creek — also a scene of looting in May — Macy ’ s , Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom boarded up their windows in anticipation of the election .
Downtown businesses are working with the city and police department on staying informed about protests , said Kathy Hemmenway , executive director of the Walnut Creek Downtown Business Association .
If word comes that people are heading to Walnut Creek to protest , it ’ s up to individual businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On the Walnut Creek Police Department ’ s Facebook page , some people responded to the department ’ s warnings of the likelihood of protests with calls for the police to impose a curfew .
They expressed concerns that the protests could involve property damage or worse .
Several Bay Area jurisdictions set curfews to quell civil unrest in late May and early June .
If demonstrations get out of hand again this week , Alameda County may bring the curfew back , said sheriff ’ s office spokesman Sgt .
Ray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a tool we may have to look at again , ” he said .
“ When done the right way for the right reasons , it ’ s very impactful.
” In downtown San Jose , it was mainly business as usual Monday near San Jose City Hall plaza — the site of daily Black Lives Matter marches earlier this year .
But a work crew from Sacramento nailed plywood across one of the ground-floor businesses of Vintage Tower , an art deco high-rise constructed in 1928 .
Other businesses boarded up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street , the VTA ’ s downtown office , Erik ’ s Deli Cafe and Umbrella salon on North Market Street , and several offices on South First Street , including the SPUR office .
For Ryan Summers , who owns Pizza Flora on South First Street , the threat of election unrest and vandalism adds to a long list of pandemic-era worries .
“ Having a lot of the downtown boarded up is of concern , ” he said .
Summers did not put up plywood , and plans to remain open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , California police prepare for protests At Luka ’ s in Oakland , owner Mitchell worries what will happen on the streets after the election .
A few months ago , his employees had to run outside with fire extinguishers to put out trash fires during a protest , Mitchell said .
Shortly after , one of his managers resigned — and Mitchell thinks it was at least partly over the stress of that night .
But to him , plywood isn ’ t the answer .
It ’ s bad for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable during a pandemic when the restaurant ’ s revenue already has been cut in half .
“ It ’ s expensive to board up and take them down , ” Mitchell said .
“ We can ’ t afford to do it every time there ’ s concern on the street .
”

Marisa Kendall, Martha Ross, Linda Zavoral, George Avalos

With political tensions running high across the country, plywood is going up over many Bay Area storefronts as business owners and landlords worry the election may kick off days of tumult.
Buildings in Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Walnut Creek and elsewhere are boarding up ground-level windows and doors, hoping to avoid smashed glass, looting and vandalism if post Election Day-demonstrations take a destructive turn.
After months of protests, people are on edge, said Rick Mitchell, owner of Luka’s Taproom & Lounge in Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood.
“I think everyone’s worried,” he said Monday. “My staff is worried. They asked actually if we could close early tomorrow before it got dark.”
SAN JOSE - NOVEMBER 2: A cyclist rides past a boarded up beauty salon on East Santa Clara Street in San Jose, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Workers from Romero Glass Studios board up windows at the Volkswagen of Oakland dealership along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: A worker from Valhalla Builders & Developers in San Jose, boards up the Target store along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Pat Garrat, of Valhalla Builders & Developers in San Jose, boards up the Target store along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Workers from Valhalla Builders & Developers in San Jose board up the Target store along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
WALNUT CREEK, CA - NOVEMBER 1: A worker boards up windows at a Chase Bank location along North Broadway on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Walnut Creek, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Jonathan Marcoux, of Valhalla Builders & Developers in San Jose, boards up the Target store along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 31: Louis Vuitton boards up their windows in the Union Square district of San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in preparation for possible election protests. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - NOVEMBER 2: A pedestrian walks past a boarded up beauty salon on East Santa Clara Street in San Jose, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Workers from Romero Glass Studios board up windows at the Volkswagen of Oakland dealership along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: A worker from Romero Glass Studios boards up windows at the Volkswagen of Oakland dealership along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Pat Garrat, of Valhalla Builders & Developers in San Jose, boards up the Target store along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Salesperson Chelsea Adams takes a break as the Volkswagen of Oakland dealership is boarded up along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. "If we could have a little more compassion and empathy, America could be a better place," Adams said. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 31: Businesses in the Union Square district of San Francisco, Calif., board up their windows, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in preparation for possible election protests. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Pat Garrat, of Valhalla Builders & Developers in San Jose, boards up the Target store along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Workers from Romero Glass Studios board up windows at the Volkswagen of Oakland dealership along Broadway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Precautions are being taken before Tuesday's election. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
The Bay Area has been a hotbed of civil unrest this year, with regular protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, and the police killings of other Black men and women. While most of the demonstrations have been peaceful, some spurred vandalism, and looters broke into stores in Emeryville, San Francisco and Walnut Creek.
There already have been clashes leading up to Election Day. When a caravan of several hundred cars in support of President Donald Trump passed through Marin City on Sunday, police received reports of screaming matches, fights, paintball shots and eggs thrown at cars.
It’s not just the Bay Area that’s bracing for unrest. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is closed for Election Day, and store owners have been encouraged to board up. Businesses in Washington, D.C., and New York City are putting up plywood as well.
On Monday, a crew of workers was covering the many large windows of a Volkswagen dealership on Broadway’s Auto Row in Oakland.
At the Powell Street Plaza in Emeryville — the site of mass looting in May — Marshalls, Ross and Carter’s Babies and Kids were boarded up Monday morning. But most stores, including Trader Joe’s, still had their windows uncovered.
In San Francisco, several businesses in the tony shopping district around Union Square had plywood coverings, including Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Neiman Marcus and Macy’s. Even the iconic Salesforce tower covered over its ground-floor windows.
“San Francisco looks terrible. Downtown San Francisco looks like a war zone,” said 51-year-old Bruce Taylor. “I’ve lived in San Francisco for almost 25 years now, and I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Taylor was in Emeryville on Monday, heading into the boarded-up Ross to buy furnishings for his new apartment. The plywood is dispiriting, he said.
“In a way, I’m kind of used to it now. It seems like that’s just the way things are,” he said. “I feel like the world’s changed so much, really in the last year.”
Many storefronts around the Bay Area — including some that have closed during the pandemic — have had boards over their windows for months. Instead of taking them down and putting them back up every time there’s talk of a protest, the owners have left them up and had them painted with colorful murals.
In downtown Walnut Creek — also a scene of looting in May — Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom boarded up their windows in anticipation of the election.
Downtown businesses are working with the city and police department on staying informed about protests, said Kathy Hemmenway, executive director of the Walnut Creek Downtown Business Association. If word comes that people are heading to Walnut Creek to protest, it’s up to individual businesses to board up their windows or close.
On the Walnut Creek Police Department’s Facebook page, some people responded to the department’s warnings of the likelihood of protests with calls for the police to impose a curfew. They expressed concerns that the protests could involve property damage or worse.
Several Bay Area jurisdictions set curfews to quell civil unrest in late May and early June. If demonstrations get out of hand again this week, Alameda County may bring the curfew back, said sheriff’s office spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly.
“I think it’s a tool we may have to look at again,” he said. “When done the right way for the right reasons, it’s very impactful.”
In downtown San Jose, it was mainly business as usual Monday near San Jose City Hall plaza — the site of daily Black Lives Matter marches earlier this year. But a work crew from Sacramento nailed plywood across one of the ground-floor businesses of Vintage Tower, an art deco high-rise constructed in 1928. Other businesses boarded up include Chase Bank on East Santa Clara Street, the VTA’s downtown office, Erik’s Deli Cafe and Umbrella salon on North Market Street, and several offices on South First Street, including the SPUR office.
For Ryan Summers, who owns Pizza Flora on South First Street, the threat of election unrest and vandalism adds to a long list of pandemic-era worries.
“Having a lot of the downtown boarded up is of concern,” he said. Summers did not put up plywood, and plans to remain open.
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Israel’s Netanyahu released from hospital ahead of key vote on legal overhaul Election | Protesters try to storm Baghdad’s Green Zone over the burning of Quran and Iraqi flag in Denmark At Luka’s in Oakland, owner Mitchell worries what will happen on the streets after the election. A few months ago, his employees had to run outside with fire extinguishers to put out trash fires during a protest, Mitchell said. Shortly after, one of his managers resigned — and Mitchell thinks it was at least partly over the stress of that night.
But to him, plywood isn’t the answer. It’s bad for business, and it’s not sustainable during a pandemic when the restaurant’s revenue already has been cut in half.
“It’s expensive to board up and take them down,” Mitchell said. “We can’t afford to do it every time there’s concern on the street.”


mercurynews--2020-11-02--San Jose Unified plans to reopen classrooms in January

San Jose Unified School District announced plans Monday to reopen classrooms in January to students who have been studying at home through online remote learning since the coronavirus pandemic erupted in March .
The announcement from the district with more than 28,000 students in 41 elementary , middle and high schools comes amid growing impatience among many parents with continued school closures even as coronavirus cases subside and many private , charter and small district schools already have reopened .
“ We are actively planning and preparing to welcome students back for in-person instruction in January , ” said Superintendent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are continuing to prepare our schools , including classrooms and common areas , and are developing training for our students and staff.
” The reopening plan assumes that Santa Clara County continues to show improvement in coronavirus outbreaks .
The district won ’ t confirm the decision until Dec. 30 , the last day before the targeted January 5 reopening when the county ’ s ranking could change in the state ’ s reopening system .
Under that system ’ s four color-coded tiers , schools in the purple tier for widespread outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are elementary schools granted waivers by state and local health authorities .
Schools can reopen after two weeks in the red tier for significant outbreaks , or after progressing further to the orange moderate or yellow minimal outbreak tiers .
Santa Clara County reached the red tier in early September and the orange tier in mid-October .
Palo Alto Unified returned younger students to the classroom on Oct. 12 .
More than 50 other mostly private , charter and small public elementary schools have opened with waivers in Santa Clara County , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Oakland Unified School District also has yet to reopen .
“ It won ’ t be before January at the earliest , ” said Oakland Unified spokesman John Sasaki .
But with mounting consensus that distance learning , though much improved since the spring , isn ’ t as good as in-person instruction , as well as indications that schools have not seen many virus outbreaks , parents are becoming more eager to return .
Jessica Nemire , whose daughters Charlie , 9 , and Maddie , 7 , attend Booksin Elementary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s hopeful they can get back in the classoom as soon as possible .
She has friends whose kids attend private schools that have gone back .
“ I ’ d love for my kids to go back to school as long as it ’ s safe , ” Nemire said .
“ I think my kids are doing the best they could , but it ’ s definitely not an ideal solution and certainly not a long-term solution .
I ’ m cautiously optimistic they ’ ll actually go back in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already back in school .
”

San Jose Unified School District announced plans Monday to reopen classrooms in January to students who have been studying at home through online remote learning since the coronavirus pandemic erupted in March.
The announcement from the district with more than 28,000 students in 41 elementary, middle and high schools comes amid growing impatience among many parents with continued school closures even as coronavirus cases subside and many private, charter and small district schools already have reopened.
“We are actively planning and preparing to welcome students back for in-person instruction in January,” said Superintendent Nancy Albarrán. “Our amazing staff are continuing to prepare our schools, including classrooms and common areas, and are developing training for our students and staff.”
The reopening plan assumes that Santa Clara County continues to show improvement in coronavirus outbreaks. The district won’t confirm the decision until Dec. 30, the last day before the targeted January
5 reopening when the county’s ranking could change in the state’s reopening system.
Under that system’s four color-coded tiers, schools in the purple tier for widespread outbreaks cannot reopen classrooms, unless they are elementary schools granted waivers by state and local health authorities. Schools can reopen after two weeks in the red tier for significant outbreaks, or after progressing further to the orange moderate or yellow minimal outbreak tiers.
Santa Clara County reached the red tier in early September and the orange tier in mid-October. Palo Alto Unified returned younger students to the classroom on Oct. 12. More than 50 other mostly private, charter and small public elementary schools have opened with waivers in Santa Clara County, but most large public school districts have not.
Oakland Unified School District also has yet to reopen.
“It won’t be before January at the earliest,” said Oakland Unified spokesman John Sasaki.
But with mounting consensus that distance learning, though much improved since the spring, isn’t as good as in-person instruction, as well as indications that schools have not seen many virus outbreaks, parents are becoming more eager to return.
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America’s educational culture wars hit Bay Area school district Education | Taliban have no plans to lift ban on female education Jessica Nemire, whose daughters Charlie, 9, and Maddie, 7, attend Booksin Elementary in Willow Glen, said she’s hopeful they can get back in the classoom as soon as possible. She has friends whose kids attend private schools that have gone back.
“I’d love for my kids to go back to school as long as it’s safe,” Nemire said. “I think my kids are doing the best they could, but it’s definitely not an ideal solution and certainly not a long-term solution. I’m cautiously optimistic they’ll actually go back in January. I would love to have them already back in school.”


mercurynews--2020-11-02--Coronavirus cancellation: San Francisco’s 2021 Chinese New Year Parade

One year after San Francisco ’ s hugely popular Chinese New Year Parade was nearly put on hiatus because of growing concerns over the coronavirus and crowds , the 2021 version has been officially canceled as the pandemic continues .
“ While we are very hopeful for positive changes in the coming year , we must deal with our current conditions and recognize that plans for everyone ’ s safety in the future is our most important responsibility , ” the parade organizers , the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce , announced in a press release .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrated with painted ox statues around the city — similar to the hearts in San Francisco and sharks in San Jose citywide artistic campaigns of previous years — and a broadcast special at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 , the time when the live parade would normally be broadcast on KTVU Fox 2 and KTSF 26 .
• Cupertino community briefs for the week of Nov. 6 • Day of the Dead altars brought to life in San Jose • San Jose leaders say raising Black Lives Matters banners just the start The parade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectators , is one of the few illuminated nighttime parades in the world .
Together with the festivals , the event has reigned for years as the largest such celebration outside Asia .
According to the chamber , the tradition started in the years after the Gold Rush when members of the Chinese community sought to share their culture with the thousands of people who flocked to San Francisco and the gold mines to seek their fortune .
“ Like an ox , with fortitude and hard work , together we will build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the organizers said .

One year after San Francisco’s hugely popular Chinese New Year Parade was nearly put on hiatus because of growing concerns over the coronavirus and crowds, the 2021 version has been officially canceled as the pandemic continues.
“While we are very hopeful for positive changes in the coming year, we must deal with our current conditions and recognize that plans for everyone’s safety in the future is our most important responsibility,” the parade organizers, the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce, announced in a press release.
Instead, the Year of the Ox will be celebrated with painted ox statues around the city — similar to the hearts in San Francisco and sharks in San Jose citywide artistic campaigns of previous years — and a broadcast special at 6 p.m. Feb. 20, the time when the live parade would normally be broadcast on KTVU Fox 2 and KTSF 26.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Entertainment | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge The parade. which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators, is one of the few illuminated nighttime parades in the world. Together with the festivals, the event has reigned for years as the largest such celebration outside Asia.
According to the chamber, the tradition started in the years after the Gold Rush when members of the Chinese community sought to share their culture with the thousands of people who flocked to San Francisco and the gold mines to seek their fortune.
“Like an ox, with fortitude and hard work, together we will build a bright and resilient 2021,” the organizers said.


mercurynews--2020-11-03--Editorial: Take a deep breath, this unique election may not be over

Click here for a complete list of our election recommendations .
Never in modern times has the nation been so polarized .
Never has the national anxiety over a presidential election been wound so tight .
Never have the stakes been so high .
This election has been , and continues to be , like none before it .
A pandemic .
Record voting by mail .
Foreign nations trying to undermine our democracy .
A president casting doubt on the election system , repeating debunked theories about election fraud and refusing to say whether he would agree to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Polls show tight races in key swing states .
There ’ s an unprecedented level of litigation over which ballots should be counted .
And a Supreme Court with a new , lopsided conservative majority , could have the final say .
Little wonder anxiety is at such a high level .
And it ’ s very possible that it will not end tonight , that early vote tallies will be skewed depending on each state ’ s rules for counting mail ballots , and that a clear winner will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So … take a deep breath .
Center yourself .
If you haven ’ t already voted , be sure to do so today .
Then , lower your expectations about what will be known tonight .
Prepare for a possible extended period of uncertainty .
Be prepared to wait it through .
Go for a walk .
Plan a hike or a bike ride .
Find a diversion .
Hug your partner , your kids , those in your immediate household — and , of course , no one else .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some Bay Area residents are wont to do , please keep it peaceful .
Looting and destruction of our own cities will do nothing but hurt those already vulnerable .
There ’ s enough unemployment , businesses are already struggling to survive , and many municipalities are financially strapped .
Let ’ s not make it worse .
We are a nation divided by politics and a population isolated by the pandemic .
Whatever the outcome , this is a moment that calls for kindness .
It ’ s one thing we can @ @ @

Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards

Click here for a complete list of our election recommendations.
Never in modern times has the nation been so polarized. Never has the national anxiety over a presidential election been wound so tight. Never have the stakes been so high.
This election has been, and continues to be, like none before it. A pandemic. Record voting by mail. Foreign nations trying to undermine our democracy. A president casting doubt on the election system, repeating debunked theories about election fraud and refusing to say whether he would agree to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses.
Polls show tight races in key swing states. There’s an unprecedented level of litigation over which ballots should be counted. And a Supreme Court with a new, lopsided conservative majority, could have the final say.
Little wonder anxiety is at such a high level. And it’s very possible that it will not end tonight, that early vote tallies will be skewed depending on each state’s rules for counting mail ballots, and that a clear winner will not be known for days, or even weeks.
So … take a deep breath. Center yourself. If you haven’t already voted, be sure to do so today. Then, lower your expectations about what will be known tonight. Prepare for a possible extended period of uncertainty. Be prepared to wait it through.
Go for a walk. Plan a hike or a bike ride. Find a diversion. Hug your partner, your kids, those in your immediate household — and, of course, no one else.
For those inclined to demonstrate, as some Bay Area residents are wont to do, please keep it peaceful. Looting and destruction of our own cities will do nothing but hurt those already vulnerable. There’s enough unemployment, businesses are already struggling to survive, and many municipalities are financially strapped. Let’s not make it worse.
We are a nation divided by politics and a population isolated by the pandemic. Whatever the outcome, this is a moment that calls for kindness. It’s one thing we can individually control.


mercurynews--2020-11-03--Does weather affect the spread of the coronavirus outside?

Does weather affect the spread of the coronavirus outside ?
The World Health Organization says the virus can be transmitted in any kind of weather and that there is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill it .
The U.N. health agency says the virus is mainly spread between people .
Rain and snow might dilute any traces of the virus on benches or other outside objects , but transmission from surfaces is not believed to be a major contributor to the pandemic .
Scientists say the real concern about cold weather is that lower temperatures are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in more crowded spaces where the virus can spread more easily .
Studies have shown that a significant percentage of spread happens within households when people are sharing common areas like kitchens and bathrooms .
WHO and others have also warned that in indoor spaces with poor ventilation , transmission happens more easily because the virus can be spread in the air and infectious particles might remain suspended in the air for several hours .
• Cases of coronavirus in children spiked to over 61,000 last week • Marin County might order quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traced to nightclubs , gyms and even choir practices .
The coronavirus does not transmit as often outdoors because fresh air disperses the virus particles and people are more easily able to keep their distance from others .
But experts caution that if people spend extended periods of time outdoors close to others without wearing masks , coronavirus spread is still possible .
Health officials say the best way to stop transmission of the virus is to wear a mask in public , stay at least 6 feet ( 2 meters ) away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequently wash your hands .
The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series .
Submit them at : FactCheck @ AP.org .

Does weather affect the spread of the coronavirus outside?
Not really.
The World Health Organization says the virus can be transmitted in any kind of weather and that there is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill it.
The U.N. health agency says the virus is mainly spread between people. Rain and snow might dilute any traces of the virus on benches or other outside objects, but transmission from surfaces is not believed to be a major contributor to the pandemic.
Scientists say the real concern about cold weather is that lower temperatures are more likely to keep people indoors — potentially in more crowded spaces where the virus can spread more easily.
Studies have shown that a significant percentage of spread happens within households when people are sharing common areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
WHO and others have also warned that in indoor spaces with poor ventilation, transmission happens more easily because the virus can be spread in the air and infectious particles might remain suspended in the air for several hours.
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Health officials say the best way to stop transmission of the virus is to wear a mask in public, stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from people not in your household and frequently wash your hands.
___
The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: FactCheck@AP.org.


mercurynews--2020-11-03--San Francisco firefighter struck by hose during fire, critically injured

SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco firefighter was critically injured Monday while fighting a fire in a high-rise building , @ @ @ @ @ , a six-year veteran , was hit by a hose line , knocked over and @ @ @ @ @ 3:30 p.m. while on the street responding to a fire on the 19th floor of @ @ @ @ @ Street , fire officials said .
Vann was unconscious and stopped breathing .
He listed @ @ @ @ @ Francisco General Hospital , Fire Department Lt. Jonathan Baxter said .
• Heat stroke killed @ @ @ @ @ husband ’ s police car Video showed a hose tangled under a bus , KGO-TV @ @ @ @ @ was travelling through the route at the time of the accident and authorities were investigating @ @ @ @ @ the hose .
The bus didn ’ t have any passengers .
The San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ with the Fire Department on the investigation , spokeswoman Kristen Holland said .

SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco firefighter was critically injured Monday while fighting a fire in a high-rise building, authorities said.
Matt Vann, a six-year veteran, was hit by a hose line, knocked over and struck his head at about 3:30 p.m. while on the street responding to a fire on the 19th floor of a building at 55 Spear Street, fire officials said.
Vann was unconscious and stopped breathing. He listed in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital, Fire Department Lt. Jonathan Baxter said.
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A Muni bus was travelling through the route at the time of the accident and authorities were investigating whether it may have struck the hose. The bus didn’t have any passengers.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is coordinating with the Fire Department on the investigation, spokeswoman Kristen Holland said.


mercurynews--2020-11-03--Kenosha shooting suspect Kyle Rittenhouse’s bail set at $2 million

Kyle Rittenhouse , the teen accused of fatally shooting two people and seriously injuring a third during protests in Kenosha , Wisconsin , attended a virtual hearing Monday where his bond was set at $ 2 million .
Kenosha County Commissioner Loren Keating said the bond was set at such a high amount because the court considered Rittenhouse a “ flight risk , ” given that he could face a “ mandatory life sentence or at least significant amounts of time , likely decades of time period of incarceration ” if convicted .
Rittenhouse was extradited to Wisconsin from Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After previous arguments from Rittenhouse ’ s attorneys that an extradition could put him in danger , Judge Paul Novak of Lake County , Illinois , said in the ruling that matters filed by Rittenhouse ’ s attorneys , such as their client ’ s safety , can be brought up in hearings in Wisconsin .
The teen is facing charges that he allegedly killed Anthony M. Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz during protests that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wisconsin , in August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homicide in the death of Rosenbaum and Huber , and a felony attempted homicide charge in the incident involving Grosskreutz .
He ’ s also charged with possession of a dangerous weapon while under the age of 18 , court records show , which is a misdemeanor .
Huber ’ s father slammed Rittenhouse in the hearing , saying “ he thinks he ’ s above the law and he ’ s been treated as such by law enforcement.
” • No matter who wins the election , California police prepare for protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other people .
He was a hero .
And anyone who says otherwise is dead wrong , ” John Huber said .
Rittenhouse is due back in court for a preliminary hearing December 3 at 10:30 a.m .

Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen accused of fatally shooting two people and seriously injuring a third during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, attended a virtual hearing Monday where his bond was set at $2 million.
Kenosha County Commissioner Loren Keating said the bond was set at such a high amount because the court considered Rittenhouse a “flight risk,” given that he could face a “mandatory life sentence or at least significant amounts of time, likely decades of time period of incarceration” if convicted.
Rittenhouse was extradited to Wisconsin from Illinois after a judge’s ruling Friday.
After previous arguments from Rittenhouse’s attorneys that an extradition could put him in danger, Judge Paul Novak of Lake County, Illinois, said in the ruling that matters filed by Rittenhouse’s attorneys, such as their client’s safety, can be brought up in hearings in Wisconsin.
The teen is facing charges that he allegedly killed Anthony M. Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz during protests that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August.
He faces two felony charges of homicide in the death of Rosenbaum and Huber, and a felony attempted homicide charge in the incident involving Grosskreutz. He’s also charged with possession of a dangerous weapon while under the age of 18, court records show, which is a misdemeanor.
Huber’s father slammed Rittenhouse in the hearing, saying “he thinks he’s above the law and he’s been treated as such by law enforcement.”
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Rittenhouse’s attorney, Mark Richards, claimed there’s “overwhelming” evidence that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense.
Rittenhouse is due back in court for a preliminary hearing December 3 at 10:30 a.m.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-11-03--Cases of coronavirus in children spiked to over 61,000 last week

Soaring case counts around the country are impacting children at “ unprecedented levels , ” according to new numbers released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children ’ s Hospital Association , which are tracking data reported by state health departments .
There were 61,000 new cases in children during the last week of October , “ which is larger than any previous week in the pandemic , ” the AAP said in a statement .
From the onset of the pandemic through October 29 , more than 853,000 children have tested positive for Covid-19 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases during the month of October .
“ This is a stark reminder of the impact this pandemic is having on everyone — including our children and adolescents , ” said AAP President Dr. Sally Goza in the statement .
“ This virus is highly contagious , and as we see spikes in many communities , children are more likely to be infected , too , ” Goza said .
Yet these numbers are likely an undercount , the AAP said .
Because symptoms in children are often mild and can look like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go untested .
Typical symptoms of Covid-19 in both children and adults include a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher , a dry cough , difficulty breathing , headaches , digestive issues , body aches and fatigue , runny nose , sore throat and sneezing .
Unusual symptoms can include “ Covid toes ” — a reddish tinge to toes and other extremities , a sudden loss of taste and smell and conjunctivitis , a highly contagious condition also known as pink eye .
However , early research has suggested children may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of breath as often as adults .
Fever and cough was found in 56 % and 54 % of children in one study , compared to 71 % and 80 % of adults , according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Shortness of breath was found in only 13 % of pediatric patients , compared to 43 % of adults .
Sore throat , headache , muscle pain , fatigue and diarrhea were also less commonly reported in children .
While cases of severe illness due to Covid-19 appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness has been reported , most often in infants less than a year .
When children did need to be hospitalized , the CDC found , one in three needed to be treated in the intensive care unit — the same rate as for adults .
Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 , according to an early October report by the CDC , were about twice as likely to test positive for Covid-19 than kids between 5 and 11 years old .
More severe cases of Covid-19 were most likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions , the CDC said , with chronic lung disease , including asthma , the most commonly reported condition ( 55 % ) .
While in smaller percentages , children with disability ( 9 % ) , immune disorders ( 7 % ) , diabetes ( 6 % ) , psychological conditions ( 6 % ) , cardiovascular disease ( 5 % ) and severe obesity ( 4 % ) notably had severe cases of Covid-19 as well .
There is an “ urgent ” need for studies and more data on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s health long-term , both physically , emotionally and mentally , the AAP says .
“ Not only are children feeling the direct effects of the virus and becoming ill , but the pandemic has transformed their lives at critical stages of development and education , ” Goza said .
“ I ’ m very concerned about the long-term harms that children may suffer , particularly Black and Hispanic children , who are suffering a higher number of infections , ” she said .
“ This includes not only children who test positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these communities who are suffering disproportionate emotional and mental health harms.
” Colder temperatures are driving many people inside , into closer quarters , where the virus can more easily spread .
In addition , upcoming holiday travel may put both children and adults at greater risk as family gather .
• Marin County might order quarantine for some travelers • Pac-12 announces in-season COVID-19 testing protocols to solve the false-positive problem on game day Considering the rising numbers of cases and hospitalization around the country at this time , the AAP is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider canceling any Thanksgiving or other holiday plans .
“ We can help protect everyone in our communities by keeping our physical distance , wearing masks , and following other recommendations from our doctors and public health experts , ” Goza said .
“ We are entering a heightened wave of infections around the country .
We would encourage family holiday gatherings to be avoided if possible , especially if there are high risk individuals in the household , ” said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado , who chairs the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases @

Soaring case counts around the country are impacting children at “unprecedented levels,” according to new numbers released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association, which are tracking data reported by state health departments.
There were 61,000 new cases in children during the last week of October, “which is larger than any previous week in the pandemic,” the AAP said in a statement. From the onset of the pandemic through October 29, more than 853,000 children have tested positive for Covid-19, the AAP said, including nearly 200,000 new cases during the month of October.
“This is a stark reminder of the impact this pandemic is having on everyone — including our children and adolescents,” said AAP President Dr. Sally Goza in the statement.
“This virus is highly contagious, and as we see spikes in many communities, children are more likely to be infected, too,” Goza said.
Yet these numbers are likely an undercount, the AAP said. Because symptoms in children are often mild and can look like common colds or viruses, many children go untested.
Symptoms in children
Typical symptoms of Covid-19 in both children and adults include a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, a dry cough, difficulty breathing, headaches, digestive issues, body aches and fatigue, runny nose, sore throat and sneezing.
Unusual symptoms can include “Covid toes” — a reddish tinge to toes and other extremities, a sudden loss of taste and smell and conjunctivitis, a highly contagious condition also known as pink eye.
However, early research has suggested children may not get fever, cough or shortness of breath as often as adults. Fever and cough was found in 56% and 54% of children in one study, compared to 71% and 80% of adults, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shortness of breath was found in only 13% of pediatric patients, compared to 43% of adults. Sore throat, headache, muscle pain, fatigue and diarrhea were also less commonly reported in children.
While cases of severe illness due to Covid-19 appears to be rare among children, severe illness has been reported, most often in infants less than a year.
When children did need to be hospitalized, the CDC found, one in three needed to be treated in the intensive care unit — the same rate as for adults.
Long-term effects not known
Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, according to an early October report by the CDC, were about twice as likely to test positive for Covid-19 than kids between 5 and 11 years old.
More severe cases of Covid-19 were most likely to be found in children with underlying health conditions, the CDC said, with chronic lung disease, including asthma, the most commonly reported condition (55%). While in smaller percentages, children with disability (9%), immune disorders (7%), diabetes (6%), psychological conditions (6%), cardiovascular disease (5%) and severe obesity (4%) notably had severe cases of Covid-19 as well.
There is an “urgent” need for studies and more data on how the virus may affect a chlld’s health long-term, both physically, emotionally and mentally, the AAP says.
“Not only are children feeling the direct effects of the virus and becoming ill, but the pandemic has transformed their lives at critical stages of development and education,” Goza said.
“I’m very concerned about the long-term harms that children may suffer, particularly Black and Hispanic children, who are suffering a higher number of infections,” she said. “This includes not only children who test positive for the virus, but everyone in these communities who are suffering disproportionate emotional and mental health harms.”
A need for caution
Colder temperatures are driving many people inside, into closer quarters, where the virus can more easily spread. In addition, upcoming holiday travel may put both children and adults at greater risk as family gather.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Considering the rising numbers of cases and hospitalization around the country at this time, the AAP is urging families to take greater precautions and consider canceling any Thanksgiving or other holiday plans.
“We can help protect everyone in our communities by keeping our physical distance, wearing masks, and following other recommendations from our doctors and public health experts,” Goza said.
“We are entering a heightened wave of infections around the country. We would encourage family holiday gatherings to be avoided if possible, especially if there are high risk individuals in the household,” said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, who chairs the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-11-03--49ers mailbag: How does Garoppolo’s injury impact 2021 plan?

SANTA CLARA — Welcome to Election Day .
We will not be covering politics here but the next-worst thing , which is the 49ers ’ Week 9 state after injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle and so on and so on .
Let ’ s review the mailbag questions which were delivered through a live Instagram exchange you can click on or read a few of my answers below : Do you think Jimmy Garoppolo should get traded ?
( @ jcpugaa ) The 49ers ’ embattled QB is out indefinitely with his aggravated ankle , so I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting traded by today ’ s 1 p.m. deadline .
That ’ s not to say his old team , the New England Patriots , or his hometown Chicago Bears couldn ’ t use him — or every NFC East team and many others , especially for their 2021 plans .
As for the 49ers ’ future , I don ’ t know who Kyle Shanahan evenisions as a ready-made upgrade over Garoppolo .
Steve Young , on ESPN ’ s Monday night pregame show , expressed his strongest doubts yet about Garoppolo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to a place where Kyle Shanahan , this innovative offensive coordinator , one of the best head coaches in the league , can find a quarterback that he can trust and just be expansive with , rather than protect ?
And I think that ’ s been the issue with Jimmy .
And I think that $ 25 million ( salary ) and a shrinking salary cap , with this injury … I just don ’ t know how Jimmy ends up being the quarterback for the 49ers next year.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lows ( though 6-0 all-time after a loss ) .
He regressed in Seattle , but the prior two weeks , he beat the Rams and Patriots in a conservative scheme tailored to him .
He shouldn ’ t be the fall guy for a team so ridiculously riddled with injuries .
Dump a quarterback and well-liked captain a year after a Super Bowl ?
Hard to fathom .
Are they able to cull Aaron Rodgers out of Green Bay to bring him home to NorCal like Tom Brady wanted to do last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merit a fortune for an unlikely deal to a NFC rival .
And vote no on Shanahan reunions with Kirk Cousins and Matt Ryan .
So , Jimmy G it is , until it isn ’ t .
Any theories why we ’ re seeing an increase in ankle , knee foot injuries this year ?
( @ ja50n_29 ) Well , I can give you a couple .
Let ’ s go back to Weeks 2 and 3 to the MetLife Field turf and say the field conditions were one .
Artificial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seattle ’ s surface reminded Garoppolo ( high ankle sprain ) and George Kittle ( foot fracture ) .
But I think it ’ s more than that .
It ’ s also about players not having offseason training with their teams because of the pandemic .
I do not think this is the strength coach ’ s fault .
The 49ers training grounds have monuments still erected for failed attempts at avoiding injuries , from a log-ladden obstacle course to a giant incline ramp .
Some players ’ injury history factors in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war of attrition and right now the 49ers are under siege by their injury luck .
Are the 49ers waving the white flag and surrendering this season ?
( @ gunnertopp ) Never .
Just because they traded Kwon Alexander , I think that is where this question is coming from .
You traded a veteran starter , who ’ s only played 13 regular-season games , who missed the second half of last regular season , who ’ s missed the last three games this season .
He became unreliable , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in the death knell to somebody ’ s roster chances , he became replaceable as they found Dre Greenlaw a starting-caliber linebacker .
They paid Kwan way too much money .
They can justify it saying he brought swagger to the lineup and gave confidence to guys like Fred Warner to and Nick Bosa , and that ’ s all true .
That ’ s great .
Warner and Greenlaw is their linebacker tandem going forward into this next decade .
Is Jordan Reed going to play ?
( @ carlosesquivel342 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so there ’ s a chance he can come back off of injured reserve this week .
But here ’ s the thing , Jordan Reed hasn ’ t done a full practice yet , that we know of .
They like to play things cautious with Jordan Reed .
( Sorry , we ’ re not on a first-name “ Jordan ” basis , yet . )
I don ’ t think that they ’ re gon na be rushing him in to face the Packers , although it ’ d be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a potential season-ending foot fracture .
• Kurtenbach : Why Garoppolo and Kittle ’ s injuries are a twisted blessing for the 49ers • Packers running back tests positive for COVID-19 , out Thursday vs. Niners • 49ers are ‘ so glad ’ for Thursday game vs. Packers — but a short week is the last thing they need Will Kiko Alonso be healthy enough to play Nov. 15 against the Saints ?
( @ chaserebibis ) Kind of a cool thing about this trade is that Kwon Alexander is going back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy .
Kiko Alonzo is a Los Gatos guy .
He played at Los Gatos High School , a rival of Kyle Shanahan ’ s freshman year Saratoga High .
So he gets to come back here .
Kiko played really well obviously at Oregon before the Bills drafted him .
He has been out all season because he tore an ACL .
This was his third ACL tear of his career .
He ’ s been on the physically unable to perform list all season , but the Saints activated his practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s getting healthy and there ’ s a chance he can play .
Or he may never play in a 49ers uniform .
But there ’ s a chance he does , and it ’ s nice veteran insurance to have in place of Alexander .

SANTA CLARA — Welcome to Election Day. We will not be covering politics here but the next-worst thing, which is the 49ers’ Week 9 state after injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle and so on and so on.
Let’s review the mailbag questions which were delivered through a live Instagram exchange you can click on or read a few of my answers below:
Do you think Jimmy Garoppolo should get traded? (@jcpugaa)
The 49ers’ embattled QB is out indefinitely with his aggravated ankle, so I can’t see any shot of him getting traded by today’s 1 p.m. deadline. That’s not to say his old team, the New England Patriots, or his hometown Chicago Bears couldn’t use him — or every NFC East team and many others, especially for their 2021 plans. As for the 49ers’ future, I don’t know who Kyle Shanahan evenisions as a ready-made upgrade over Garoppolo.
Steve Young, on ESPN’s Monday night pregame show, expressed his strongest doubts yet about Garoppolo’s future: “Can we get to a place where Kyle Shanahan, this innovative offensive coordinator, one of the best head coaches in the league, can find a quarterback that he can trust and just be expansive with, rather than protect? And I think that’s been the issue with Jimmy. And I think that $25 million (salary) and a shrinking salary cap, with this injury … I just don’t know how Jimmy ends up being the quarterback for the 49ers next year.”
He has his highs. He has his lows (though 6-0 all-time after a loss). He regressed in Seattle, but the prior two weeks, he beat the Rams and Patriots in a conservative scheme tailored to him. He shouldn’t be the fall guy for a team so ridiculously riddled with injuries.
Dump a quarterback and well-liked captain a year after a Super Bowl? Hard to fathom. Are they able to cull Aaron Rodgers out of Green Bay to bring him home to NorCal like Tom Brady wanted to do last spring? Nah, the Packers would merit a fortune for an unlikely deal to a NFC rival. And vote no on Shanahan reunions with Kirk Cousins and Matt Ryan. So, Jimmy G it is, until it isn’t.
Any theories why we’re seeing an increase in ankle, knee foot injuries this year? (@ja50n_29)
Well, I can give you a couple. Let’s go back to Weeks 2 and 3 to the MetLife Field turf and say the field conditions were one. Artificial turf is not pillow-top friendly, as Seattle’s surface reminded Garoppolo (high ankle sprain) and George Kittle (foot fracture). But I think it’s more than that. It’s also about players not having offseason training with their teams because of the pandemic. I do not think this is the strength coach’s fault. The 49ers training grounds have monuments still erected for failed attempts at avoiding injuries, from a log-ladden obstacle course to a giant incline ramp. Some players’ injury history factors in, too. The NFL is a war of attrition and right now the 49ers are under siege by their injury luck.
Are the 49ers waving the white flag and surrendering this season? (@gunnertopp)
Never. Just because they traded Kwon Alexander, I think that is where this question is coming from. You traded a veteran starter, who’s only played 13 regular-season games, who missed the second half of last regular season, who’s missed the last three games this season. He became unreliable, too costly, and, most of all, in the death knell to somebody’s roster chances, he became replaceable as they found Dre Greenlaw a starting-caliber linebacker. They paid Kwan way too much money. They can justify it saying he brought swagger to the lineup and gave confidence to guys like Fred Warner to and Nick Bosa, and that’s all true. That’s great. Warner and Greenlaw is their linebacker tandem going forward into this next decade.
Is Jordan Reed going to play? (@carlosesquivel342)
Jordan Reed started practicing last week, so there’s a chance he can come back off of injured reserve this week. But here’s the thing, Jordan Reed hasn’t done a full practice yet, that we know of. They like to play things cautious with Jordan Reed. (Sorry, we’re not on a first-name “Jordan” basis, yet.) I don’t think that they’re gonna be rushing him in to face the Packers, although it’d be wonderfully timely with George Kittel going out with a potential season-ending foot fracture. Related Articles San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers aren’t worried about Nick Bosa’s holdout. They should be
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Will Kiko Alonso be healthy enough to play Nov. 15 against the Saints? (@chaserebibis)
Kind of a cool thing about this trade is that Kwon Alexander is going back to Louisiana; he was an LSU guy. Kiko Alonzo is a Los Gatos guy. He played at Los Gatos High School, a rival of Kyle Shanahan’s freshman year Saratoga High. So he gets to come back here. Kiko played really well obviously at Oregon before the Bills drafted him. He has been out all season because he tore an ACL. This was his third ACL tear of his career. He’s been on the physically unable to perform list all season, but the Saints activated his practice window two weeks ago, which means he’s getting healthy and there’s a chance he can play. Or he may never play in a 49ers uniform. But there’s a chance he does, and it’s nice veteran insurance to have in place of Alexander.


mercurynews--2020-11-03--2 Northern California teens plead guilty in 2019 stabbing death of 87-year-old Idaho woman

POCATELLO , Idaho – Two teenagers from California have pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of an @ @ @ @ @ year , prosecutors said .
Maryville , California residents Dustin Garrett Alfaro , 19 , @ @ @ @ @ 18 , pleaded guilty on Friday in the death of 87-year-old Arlyne Koehler inside her @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , The Idaho State Journal reported .
Koehler ’ s family members found her @ @ @ @ @ day after Alfaro and Rodriguez-Romero allegedly broke into her home as part of a burglary @ @ @ @ @ and Rodriguez-Romero were arrested a week later in California , authorities said .
The two @ @ @ @ @ of a deal that dropped several other charges , including conspiracy to commit first-degree murder @ @ @ @ @ Alfaro faces at least 22 years and up to life in prison , while Rodriguez-Romero @ @ @ @ @ and up to life in prison .

POCATELLO, Idaho – Two teenagers from California have pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of an older woman in Idaho last year, prosecutors said.
Maryville, California residents Dustin Garrett Alfaro, 19, and Isaac Angel Rodriguez-Romero, 18, pleaded guilty on Friday in the death of 87-year-old Arlyne Koehler inside her home in Pocatello in March 2019, The Idaho State Journal reported.
Koehler’s family members found her dead March 19, a day after Alfaro and Rodriguez-Romero allegedly broke into her home as part of a burglary, police said.
Alfaro and Rodriguez-Romero were arrested a week later in California, authorities said. The two teens pleaded guilty as part of a deal that dropped several other charges, including conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and weapon enhancement charges.
Sentencing hearings are scheduled in January.
Alfaro faces at least 22 years and up to life in prison, while Rodriguez-Romero faces at least 27 years and up to life in prison.


mercurynews--2020-11-03--More U.S. malls dragged into bankruptcy as retail carnage continues

America ’ s ailing malls suffered a pair of body blows over the weekend as two major landlords followed their ever-growing list of bankrupt tenants into Chapter 11 protection .
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust and CBL & Associates Properties Inc. sought protection from creditors Sunday , citing pandemic-induced pressures on their tenants and , in turn , themselves .
Together the two REITs account for some 87 million square feet of real estate across the U.S. , according to court papers .
CBL owns one retail center in California , the Imperial Valley Mall in El Centro .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brick-and-mortar retailers , with a steady stream of chains falling victim as their customers shifted to online shopping .
J.C. Penney Co. , J .
Crew Group and the owner of Ann Taylor are among the dozens of chains that have sought court protection since Covid-19 lockdowns throttled in-store shopping this year .
That ’ s an even bigger problem for the likes of PREIT and CBL , which own less productive malls than rivals such as Simon Property Group and Macerich Co. , according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Lindsay Dutch .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estate in the U.S. , ” said Dutch , a REIT equity analyst .
“ Retailers continue to reduce their store footprints , and while brick and mortar is here to stay , the focus is on high-quality locations.
” The Chapter 11 filing doesn ’ t necessarily mean the malls are closing .
Instead , it gives their owners time to work out a plan to turn the business around and repay creditors .
CBL , based in Chattanooga , counts 107 properties in 26 states in its portfolio , including enclosed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a company statement .
Philadelphia-based PREIT owns malls in Pennsylvania , New Jersey , Virginia , Maryland and Michigan , according to its website .
Many of their properties are known in the industry parlance as B-class malls , which bring in fewer sales per square foot than their better-placed peers .
They may be located outside major metropolitan areas or upscale regions , making them vulnerable as middle-class customers struggle to make ends meet , and they were hit hard by the pullback of anchor stores like J.C. Penney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 30 of CBL ’ s retail tenants went bankrupt , according to court papers filed by CBL in Houston on Monday .
The resulting closures cut deep into revenue , which was also hurt by rent deferrals and other types of concessions for tenants .
The recovery plan envisions giving a 90 % ownership stake to holders of CBL ’ s senior unsecured notes , along with almost $ 50 million in cash .
A 10 % stake in the reorganized company would be awarded to current stockholders , which may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Chairman Charles B. Lebovitz , who ranked as the biggest share owner .
The mall owners drummed up support from creditors for restructuring plans prior to their bankruptcy filings , possibly shortening their trips through bankruptcy .
PREIT ’ s plan would , pending court approval , push out debt maturities and bring in $ 150 million of additional capital .
CBL ’ s plan would slash debt by $ 1.5 billion and also extend certain maturities , but the process may not be smooth .
The mall company said its bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under cover of darkness and asserting a variety of conjured up alleged Events of Default that occurred during the global pandemic.
” CBL said it was suing to void those actions .
PREIT , too , faces opposition from a dissenting creditor .
An investment firm — Strategic Value Partners LLC — bought up a small piece of PREIT debt in the run-up to its bankruptcy and is the “ lone holdout ” to its proposed restructuring , Chief Financial Officer Mario Ventresca Jr. said in documents filed Monday in Delaware .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay or derail ” PREIT ’ s proposal , Ventresca said .
The plan would let stockholders keep their shares , leave trade creditors unimpaired and hand new debt claims to holders of some unsecured PREIT debt , among other things .
Strategic Value Partners instead proposed handing all the equity to unsecured lenders , but that plan would probably lead to a legal fight with other lenders , undoing support PREIT worked to build with other creditors , Ventresca said .
Representatives for Strategic Value Partners declined to comment .
• Real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Silicon Valley property deals in one day

By Jeremy Hill | Bloomberg
America’s ailing malls suffered a pair of body blows over the weekend as two major landlords followed their ever-growing list of bankrupt tenants into Chapter 11 protection.
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust and CBL & Associates Properties Inc. sought protection from creditors Sunday, citing pandemic-induced pressures on their tenants and, in turn, themselves. Together the two REITs account for some 87 million square feet of real estate across the U.S., according to court papers.
CBL owns one retail center in California, the Imperial Valley Mall in El Centro.
The pandemic worsened an already dire situation for brick-and-mortar retailers, with a steady stream of chains falling victim as their customers shifted to online shopping. J.C. Penney Co., J. Crew Group and the owner of Ann Taylor are among the dozens of chains that have sought court protection since Covid-19 lockdowns throttled in-store shopping this year.
That’s an even bigger problem for the likes of PREIT and CBL, which own less productive malls than rivals such as Simon Property Group and Macerich Co., according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Lindsay Dutch.
“There’s too much retail real estate in the U.S.,” said Dutch, a REIT equity analyst. “Retailers continue to reduce their store footprints, and while brick and mortar is here to stay, the focus is on high-quality locations.”
The Chapter 11 filing doesn’t necessarily mean the malls are closing. Instead, it gives their owners time to work out a plan to turn the business around and repay creditors.
CBL, based in Chattanooga, counts 107 properties in 26 states in its portfolio, including enclosed malls, outlets and open-air retail centers, according to a company statement. Philadelphia-based PREIT owns malls in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Michigan, according to its website.
B Class
Many of their properties are known in the industry parlance as B-class malls, which bring in fewer sales per square foot than their better-placed peers. They may be located outside major metropolitan areas or upscale regions, making them vulnerable as middle-class customers struggle to make ends meet, and they were hit hard by the pullback of anchor stores like J.C. Penney and Sears.
Just in 2020, more than 30 of CBL’s retail tenants went bankrupt, according to court papers filed by CBL in Houston on Monday. The resulting closures cut deep into revenue, which was also hurt by rent deferrals and other types of concessions for tenants.
The recovery plan envisions giving a 90% ownership stake to holders of CBL’s senior unsecured notes, along with almost $50 million in cash. A 10% stake in the reorganized company would be awarded to current stockholders, which may ease some of the impact on founder and Chairman Charles B. Lebovitz, who ranked as the biggest share owner.
Fresh cash
The mall owners drummed up support from creditors for restructuring plans prior to their bankruptcy filings, possibly shortening their trips through bankruptcy. PREIT’s plan would, pending court approval, push out debt maturities and bring in $150 million of additional capital.
CBL’s plan would slash debt by $1.5 billion and also extend certain maturities, but the process may not be smooth. The mall company said its bank lenders cut short negotiations, acting “under cover of darkness and asserting a variety of conjured up alleged Events of Default that occurred during the global pandemic.” CBL said it was suing to void those actions.
PREIT, too, faces opposition from a dissenting creditor. An investment firm — Strategic Value Partners LLC — bought up a small piece of PREIT debt in the run-up to its bankruptcy and is the “lone holdout” to its proposed restructuring, Chief Financial Officer Mario Ventresca Jr. said in documents filed Monday in Delaware.
The lender “will almost certainly seek to delay or derail” PREIT’s proposal, Ventresca said. The plan would let stockholders keep their shares, leave trade creditors unimpaired and hand new debt claims to holders of some unsecured PREIT debt, among other things.
Strategic Value Partners instead proposed handing all the equity to unsecured lenders, but that plan would probably lead to a legal fight with other lenders, undoing support PREIT worked to build with other creditors, Ventresca said.