mercurynews--2020-12-22--When will you get a second stimulus check?

A second round of stimulus payments was included in a coronavirus relief package passed by Congress Monday night .
The deal provides for $ 600 checks , but experts say it will take at least two weeks for the Treasury to get cash into individuals ’ bank accounts after legislation is signed .
“ The timing could be more challenging this time , but the IRS could likely begin to get the money out in January , ” said Howard Gleckman , a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center .
In March , Congress provided individuals with $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,400 plus $ 500 per child under the $ 2 trillion CARES Act .
As with that first round , the new payments will start phasing out for individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than $ 75,000 , and those making more than $ 99,000 won ’ t receive anything .
The income thresholds would be doubled for couples .
It took two weeks after the first bill was passed for the IRS to start distributing the money — but some eligible recipients still haven ’ t received it , months later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments do not go all out at once .
Those whose bank information is on file with the IRS will likely get the money first because it will be directly deposited into their account .
Others will receive paper checks or prepaid debit cards in the mail .
About 90 million people — more than half of those eligible — received their payments within the first three weeks of April after the March deal was signed .
Most people had their money within two months .
Still , about 12 million eligible Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money at all because the IRS had no way to reach them .
While most people received the money automatically , very low-income people who don ’ t normally file tax returns had to register online before November 21 to provide their address or bank account number .
If Congress keeps the eligibility requirements the same as they were for the first round of checks , the process may be nearly as easy as hitting a button .
But it could complicate things if the parameters are changed — especially if Congress adds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Sheriff ’ s deputies arrest dozens at weekend parties said to violate coronavirus health orders • Passenger who died on United flight diverted to LA may have had Covid-19 symptoms , airline says Additional checks may delay the start of the 2020 tax filing season .
A second stimulus check means the agency will have to make changes to the tax return forms , some of which have already been sent to the printers .
December is not an ideal time to add to the IRS ’ s workload .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done to prepare for the upcoming filing season and more staff may be on leave than usual due to the holidays .
“ I believe the IRS will deliver the stimulus checks in a timely manner .
It just might be at the expense of the filing season start date , ” said Chad Hooper , the executive director of the Professional Managers Association , which advocates for more than 30,000 non-union IRS workers .
This story has been updated with details of the stimulus deal .

A second round of stimulus payments was included in a coronavirus relief package passed by Congress Monday night.
The deal provides for $600 checks, but experts say it will take at least two weeks for the Treasury to get cash into individuals’ bank accounts after legislation is signed.
“The timing could be more challenging this time, but the IRS could likely begin to get the money out in January,” said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.
In March, Congress provided individuals with $1,200 direct payments and couples with $2,400 plus $500 per child under the $2 trillion CARES Act.
As with that first round, the new payments will start phasing out for individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than $75,000, and those making more than $99,000 won’t receive anything. The income thresholds would be doubled for couples.
It took two weeks after the first bill was passed for the IRS to start distributing the money — but some eligible recipients still haven’t received it, months later.
Who gets the money fastest
The payments do not go all out at once. Those whose bank information is on file with the IRS will likely get the money first because it will be directly deposited into their account. Others will receive paper checks or prepaid debit cards in the mail.
About 90 million people — more than half of those eligible — received their payments within the first three weeks of April after the March deal was signed. Most people had their money within two months.
Still, about 12 million eligible Americans were at risk of not getting the money at all because the IRS had no way to reach them. While most people received the money automatically, very low-income people who don’t normally file tax returns had to register online before November 21 to provide their address or bank account number.
IRS under pressure
If Congress keeps the eligibility requirements the same as they were for the first round of checks, the process may be nearly as easy as hitting a button. But it could complicate things if the parameters are changed — especially if Congress adds restrictions aside from income.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Economy | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Additional checks may delay the start of the 2020 tax filing season. A second stimulus check means the agency will have to make changes to the tax return forms, some of which have already been sent to the printers.
December is not an ideal time to add to the IRS’s workload. It’s typically the month when work is done to prepare for the upcoming filing season and more staff may be on leave than usual due to the holidays.
“I believe the IRS will deliver the stimulus checks in a timely manner. It just might be at the expense of the filing season start date,” said Chad Hooper, the executive director of the Professional Managers Association, which advocates for more than 30,000 non-union IRS workers.
This story has been updated with details of the stimulus deal.
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mercurynews--2020-12-22--Fentanyl bill reintroduced in California Legislature as overdose deaths surge

They were as young as 14 , 16 , 18 .
Seeking celebration , relief , escape .
Many were inexperienced users who thought they were taking OxyContin , or ecstasy , or cocaine , but were fooled by an even more lethal drug — fentanyl .
It cost them their lives .
Fentanyl is a cheap , synthetic opioid — 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine — that ’ s pouring into California over the Mexican border , masquerading as other drugs and leaving carnage in its wake .
With overdose deaths related to fentanyl surging , state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bill on Dec. 15 that would task California ’ s Attorney General with getting a firmer handle on the problem and crafting coherent solutions .
Modeled after an earlier legislative effort targeting methamphetamine , Senate Bill 75 would require the A.G. ’ s office to establish and chair a “ Southern California Fentanyl Task Force ” to enhance law enforcement agency coordination , recommend changes to the law and bring a state-wide caliber of expertise to the issue .
It would cover the hard-hit counties of Los Angeles , Orange , Riverside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This issue is so widespread that it needs state coordination and implementation over several levels of government to see the effectiveness and results that were attained by other AG task forces , ” says a primer on the bill .
It ’ s a bipartisan effort crafted with Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and co-authors Assemblymembers Cottie Petrie-Norris , D-Laguna Beach and Marie Waldron , R-Escondido ; and Sen. Melissa Melendez , R-Lake Elsinore .
“ As a former social worker who once worked in communities ravaged by drugs , ( I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save people from fentanyl-related tragedies , ” said Bates in a prepared statement .
“ A task force would help maximize existing resources and improve communication among various agencies.
” The new bill is the latest incarnation of an idea Bates introduced in March , which was sidelined as the Legislature pivoted to the pandemic .
Lawmakers hope to accomplish a major overhaul of the troubled addiction treatment industry next year .
The pandemic has only pumped up overdose deaths .
Consider : -The U.S. Centers for Disease Control tracked 32,000 deaths from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s projecting deaths will leap more than 26 % this year , to some 46,000 .
-In California , the toll has been grim .
There were 104 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2014 ; quadruple that in 2017 ( 431 ) ; and almost quadruple that in 2019 ( 1,513 ) .
Officials expect fentanyl-related deaths to spike to some 1,900 in the Golden State in 2020 .
In Los Angeles County alone , deaths soared from 117 in 2017 to a projected 783 in 2020 , Bates said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an exponentially-growing number of hard-core drug addicts ; it ’ s because fentanyl has made its way into recreational drugs bought by occasional , casual users , many parents say .
In 2013 , only 3 % of overdose deaths in Los Angeles County involved fentanyl .
But by last year fentanyl was linked to 32.8 % of the county ’ s overdose deaths , and in the first seven months of 2020 it was nearly 50 % , said Nicole Nishida , spokesperson for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk to our communities , ” said Orange County Sheriff Barnes in a prepared statement .
“ As a state we must enhance our efforts to reduce the prevalence of this opioid from our communities .
The current trend of rising fentanyl-related deaths is unacceptable.
” The victims are not only the users : Cartels increasingly lure young people , often students , to smuggle drugs across the border with promises of money and electronics , officials said .
First responders are at risk as well : After police pulled a car over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man tore open a plastic bag and dumped fentanyl on the ground , spilling it on the shoes and pants of officers and suspects .
A small amount of the drug can be lethal .
The Senate has not yet set a hearing date for the bill .
Bates has also authored several bills seeking to add fentanyl to the lost of dangerous drugs that are subject to penalty enhancements .
Those haven ’ t been successful , but she plans to keep trying .
Amy Neville ’ s son Alexander died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She appreciates the effort behind the bill , but wants more .
“ If California ’ s fentanyl crisis was a patient in the ER , I do not think that the doctors would meet in the conference room for four years so they could analyze and determine how to help the patient , ” she said by email .
“ We have hundreds of front line workers already familiar with the problem : coroners , EMTs , firefighters , police , sheriffs , DEA/ICE partners , and civilians .
It would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have proposals within six months instead of four years .
“ People are dying and lives are being ruined by this scourge and it should be addressed with a similar urgency we have seen in the COVID-19 pandemic .
The CDC and local health departments have been extremely responsive to the pandemic , there is no reason that we can not be just as responsive towards this .
”

They were as young as 14, 16, 18. Seeking celebration, relief, escape. Many were inexperienced users who thought they were taking OxyContin, or ecstasy, or cocaine, but were fooled by an even more lethal drug — fentanyl.
It cost them their lives.
Fentanyl is a cheap, synthetic opioid — 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine — that’s pouring into California over the Mexican border, masquerading as other drugs and leaving carnage in its wake.
With overdose deaths related to fentanyl surging, state Sen. Pat Bates, R-Laguna Niguel re-introduced a bill on Dec. 15 that would task California’s Attorney General with getting a firmer handle on the problem and crafting coherent solutions.
Modeled after an earlier legislative effort targeting methamphetamine, Senate Bill 75 would require the A.G.’s office to establish and chair a “Southern California Fentanyl Task Force” to enhance law enforcement agency coordination, recommend changes to the law and bring a state-wide caliber of expertise to the issue. It would cover the hard-hit counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego.
“This issue is so widespread that it needs state coordination and implementation over several levels of government to see the effectiveness and results that were attained by other AG task forces,” says a primer on the bill.
It’s a bipartisan effort crafted with Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and co-authors Assemblymembers Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Laguna Beach and Marie Waldron, R-Escondido; and Sen. Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore.
“As a former social worker who once worked in communities ravaged by drugs, (I believe) California must do more to save people from fentanyl-related tragedies,” said Bates in a prepared statement. “A task force would help maximize existing resources and improve communication among various agencies.”
The new bill is the latest incarnation of an idea Bates introduced in March, which was sidelined as the Legislature pivoted to the pandemic. Lawmakers hope to accomplish a major overhaul of the troubled addiction treatment industry next year.
Body count
The pandemic has only pumped up overdose deaths. Consider:
-The U.S. Centers for Disease Control tracked 32,000 deaths from synthetic opioids last year — primarily fentanyl. It’s projecting deaths will leap more than 26% this year, to some 46,000.
-In California, the toll has been grim. There were 104 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2014; quadruple that in 2017 (431); and almost quadruple that in 2019 (1,513). Officials expect fentanyl-related deaths to spike to some 1,900 in the Golden State in 2020.
In Los Angeles County alone, deaths soared from 117 in 2017 to a projected 783 in 2020, Bates said. And it’s not because there’s an exponentially-growing number of hard-core drug addicts; it’s because fentanyl has made its way into recreational drugs bought by occasional, casual users, many parents say.
In 2013, only 3% of overdose deaths in Los Angeles County involved fentanyl. But by last year fentanyl was linked to 32.8% of the county’s overdose deaths, and in the first seven months of 2020 it was nearly 50%, said Nicole Nishida, spokesperson for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
“Fentanyl continues to pose a substantial risk to our communities,” said Orange County Sheriff Barnes in a prepared statement.
“As a state we must enhance our efforts to reduce the prevalence of this opioid from our communities. The current trend of rising fentanyl-related deaths is unacceptable.”
The victims are not only the users: Cartels increasingly lure young people, often students, to smuggle drugs across the border with promises of money and electronics, officials said. First responders are at risk as well: After police pulled a car over on Dec. 15, in Orange, a man tore open a plastic bag and dumped fentanyl on the ground, spilling it on the shoes and pants of officers and suspects. A small amount of the drug can be lethal.
The Senate has not yet set a hearing date for the bill. Bates has also authored several bills seeking to add fentanyl to the lost of dangerous drugs that are subject to penalty enhancements. Those haven’t been successful, but she plans to keep trying.
Amy Neville’s son Alexander died at age 14 after ingesting fentanyl. She appreciates the effort behind the bill, but wants more.
“If California’s fentanyl crisis was a patient in the ER, I do not think that the doctors would meet in the conference room for four years so they could analyze and determine how to help the patient,” she said by email. “We have hundreds of front line workers already familiar with the problem: coroners, EMTs, firefighters, police, sheriffs, DEA/ICE partners, and civilians. It would not seem hasty to pool these resources and have proposals within six months instead of four years.
“People are dying and lives are being ruined by this scourge and it should be addressed with a similar urgency we have seen in the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC and local health departments have been extremely responsive to the pandemic, there is no reason that we cannot be just as responsive towards this.”
Updated 12/21/2020 with comment from Amy Neville


mercurynews--2020-12-22--California sheriff releases videos of encounter at grocery store that left man dead

Riverside County ’ s sheriff released two videotapes Monday that show several of his deputies and a store security guard in a confrontation last week with a man at a Stater Bros. market in Jurupa Valley that left the man dead .
Ernie Teddy Serrano , 33 , of Jurupa Valley , was pronounced dead after the Dec. 15 encounter .
Deputies had arrested him for an alleged assault with a deadly weapon at the supermarket , according to the Sheriff ’ s Department .
Also Monday , preliminary results of an autopsy showed that Serrano had contusions on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baton strikes , according to Sheriff Chad Bianco .
Serrano also had a contusion under his chin and a black eye .
“ There were no other indications of trauma and no signs of asphyxiation , ” Bianco said at a news conference .
“ One major finding is that Mr. Serrano ’ s lungs were twice the size as normal , indicating a drug overdose.
” Bianco said that the preliminary finding of the cause of death was acute methamphetamine intoxication that caused a fatal arrhythmia during his struggle with deputies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serrano family , reacted to the press conference later Monday , saying he major concerns .
Those included that Serrano was apparently saying that he couldn ’ t breathe and that deputies continued to keep him in the same position .
Guizar said that the position the deputies held Serrano in contributed to his death , citing “ positional asphyxiation.
” “ They already had control of him , why did they keep him there so long ?
” Guizar said .
“ Didn ’ t ( the police ) learn their lesson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help them and not constrict them when they can ’ t breathe.
” Guizar also said : “ There ’ s training at the Riverside Sheriff ’ s academy on dealing with people who are under the influence of drugs .
They violated their training.
” At Bianco ’ s news conference , several minutes of a store surveillance camera were played in which Serrano appeared to be hovering or attempting to purchase items on multiple occasions near a checkout counter before a store security guard arrives to confront him .
The two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After a few minutes , the surveillance video shows , at least four Riverside County sheriff ’ s deputies appear inside the store .
After using a Taser and striking him with a baton , they subdue the man and pin him down on a checkout counter .
When the man appears unresponsive , they move him to the floor to perform life-saving techniques , the video appears to show .
Body camera footage from one of the deputies showed the encounter from a closer perspective .
In that video the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he can be heard saying “ Let me go , ” several times .
Bianco said that both the Riverside County District Attorney ’ s Office and his department are probing exactly what happened during the incident .
He said it was too early to determine whether the deputies seen in the videos followed department policy during the arrest .
Bianco said that Serrano had had an encounter with his deputies the previous day and two of the same deputies from that encounter were present at the Dec. 15 incident .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal record in Los Angeles and Orange counties .
Deputies had responded to the Dec. 15 incident at the Stater Bros. at 5571 Mission Blvd .
in the Rubidoux neighborhood at 8:29 p.m. Bianco said Saturday that Serrano had allegedly been fighting with a security guard for about six minutes , where the guard shocked Serrano with a Taser and used pepper spray .
Bianco said Monday that a security guard informed the responding deputies that Serrano attempted to remove the guard ’ s holstered firearm .
Serrano stopped breathing once he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a news release .
Medics were able to obtain a pulse before he was transported to a hospital , where he died .
Guizar , of Justice X law group , said that he is planning to meet with Serrano ’ s family on Tuesday and they will likely hold a press conference on Wednesday , Dec. 23 , to respond to the Sheriff ’ s Department ’ s findings .
Guizar said Monday afternoon that he had sent a government claim against the Sheriff ’ s Department to start down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also said he will be filing a California Public Records Act asking for all videos and radio transmissions to be released .
Guizar said before the news conference that he could not consider the Riverside County Coroner ’ s Office ’ s autopsy to be independent due to it falling under the same umbrella as the Sheriff ’ s Department .
He emphasized there should be an independent autopsy done from an outside agency .
He held the same sentiment after release of the autopsy ’ s preliminary findings .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Guizar said .
“ ( The county ’ s autopsy ) doesn ’ t pass the smell test for me.
” Just the day before , Guizar and Serrano ’ s family and loved ones held a prayer vigil outside of the Stater Bros. where he passed away .
Serrano ’ s family , Guizar and his colleagues claimed that the force shown on the video and what occurred after was unnecessary and unwarranted .

Riverside County’s sheriff released two video recordings Monday that show several of his deputies and a store security guard in a confrontation last week at a Stater Bros. market in Jurupa Valley that left a man dead.
Ernie Teddy Serrano, 33, of Jurupa Valley, was pronounced dead after the Dec. 15 encounter. Deputies had arrested him for an alleged assault with a deadly weapon at the supermarket, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Also Monday, preliminary results of an autopsy showed that Serrano had bruises on his right arm and stomach, consistent with baton strikes, according to Sheriff Chad Bianco. Serrano also had a bruise under his chin and a black eye.
“There were no other indications of trauma and no signs of asphyxiation,” Bianco said at a news conference. “One major finding is that Mr. Serrano’s lungs were twice the size as normal, indicating a drug overdose.”
Bianco said that the preliminary finding of the cause of death was acute methamphetamine intoxication that caused a fatal arrhythmia during Serrano’s struggle with deputies.
Humberto Guizar, a lawyer for the Serrano family, reacted to the press conference later Monday, saying he had major concerns. Those included that Serrano was apparently saying that he couldn’t breathe and that deputies continued to keep him in the same position.
Guizar said that the position the deputies held Serrano in contributed to his death, citing “positional asphyxiation.”
“They already had control of him, why did they keep him there so long?” Guizar said. “Didn’t (the police) learn their lesson from George Floyd? You try and help them and not constrict them when they can’t breathe.”
Guizar also said: “There’s training at the Riverside Sheriff’s academy on dealing with people who are under the influence of drugs. They violated their training.”
At Bianco’s news conference, several minutes of a store surveillance camera were played in which Serrano appeared to be hovering or attempting to purchase items on multiple occasions near a checkout counter before a store security guard arrives to confront him. The two appear to get into a physical altercation.
After a few minutes, the surveillance video shows, at least four Riverside County sheriff’s deputies appear inside the store. After using a Taser and striking him with a baton, they subdue the man and pin him down on a checkout counter. When the man appears unresponsive, they move him to the floor to perform life-saving techniques, the video appears to show.
Body camera footage from one of the deputies showed the encounter from a closer perspective. In that video the man’s face appears to be bloodied, and he can be heard saying “Let me go,” several times.
Bianco said that both the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and his department are probing exactly what happened during the incident. He said it was too early to determine whether the deputies seen in the videos followed department policy during the arrest.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Bianco said.
Bianco said that Serrano had had an encounter with his deputies the previous day and two of the same deputies from that encounter were present at the Dec. 15 incident. He also said the man had a criminal record in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Deputies had responded to the Dec. 15 incident at the Stater Bros. at 5571 Mission Blvd. in the Rubidoux neighborhood at 8:29 p.m. Bianco said Saturday that Serrano had allegedly been fighting with a security guard for about six minutes, where the guard shocked Serrano with a Taser and used pepper spray.
Bianco said Monday that a security guard informed the responding deputies that Serrano attempted to remove the guard’s holstered firearm.
Serrano stopped breathing once he was arrested, the Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. Medics were able to obtain a pulse before he was transported to a hospital, where he died.
Guizar, of Justice X law group, said that he is planning to meet with Serrano’s family on Tuesday and they will likely hold a press conference on Wednesday, Dec. 23, to respond to the Sheriff’s Department’s findings.
Guizar said Monday afternoon that he had sent a government claim against the Sheriff’s Department to start down the legal route of a lawsuit. He also said he will be filing a California Public Records Act asking for all videos and radio transmissions to be released.
Guizar said before the news conference that he could not consider the Riverside County Coroner’s Office’s autopsy to be independent due to it falling under the same umbrella as the Sheriff’s Department. He emphasized there should be an independent autopsy done from an outside agency.
He held the same sentiment after release of the autopsy’s preliminary findings.
“I might ask to do an independent autopsy,” Guizar said. “(The county’s autopsy) doesn’t pass the smell test for me.”
Just the day before, Guizar and Serrano’s family and loved ones held a prayer vigil outside of the Stater Bros. where he passed away. Serrano’s family, Guizar and his colleagues claimed that the force shown on the video and what occurred after was unnecessary and unwarranted.
Video of the incident starts about 8½ minutes in. The events may be disturbing to some viewers.


mercurynews--2020-12-22--California students rush to apply for DACA for the first time in three years

With the door to apply for DACA open for the first time in more than three years , hundreds of high school and college students in California are rushing to apply , fearful it will be slammed shut again .
“ We ’ re on a mad dash to put out as much educational content for folks as possible , ” said Juliana Macedo do Nascimento , the state and local policy manager for United We Dream , the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the country .
“ We know that this window is open , but we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal judge ordered the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services on Dec. 4 to fully restore Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals , the program that provides temporary protection from deportation and permission to work for about 700,000 young people who came to the U.S. as children .
Court battles ensued after the Trump administration attempted to end DACA in September 2017 , and first-time applications have not been accepted since then .
Although the attempt to end the program was described as “ arbitrary and capricious ” by the U.S. Supreme Court in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new applications until Dec. 7 , after a federal judge ordered them to begin accepting them .
Still , the future of DACA is uncertain .
A hearing on a separate lawsuit , in which Texas and six other states sued to end DACA , is scheduled for Dec. 22 in a Houston federal court .
Some attorneys are concerned that the agency could again stop accepting new applications sometime after that date .
“ We are trying to get as many applications in before there ’ s a ruling in the Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Maria Blanco , executive director of the University of California Immigrant Legal Services Center .
“ Everybody ’ s working literally weekends and late at night.
” An estimated 300,000 people are now eligible to apply for DACA for the first time .
This includes some 55,500 people who have turned 15 , the minimum age to apply , since the government stopped accepting new applications .
To be eligible for DACA , applicants must have come to the U.S. before they turned 16 and have lived here since June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attending school or having graduated high school and not been convicted of certain crimes .
Ines Martinez , 18 , a first-year student at Cabrillo College in Aptos , near Santa Cruz , turned 15 just a couple of months before DACA was rescinded in 2017 .
Martinez was brought to the United States right before she turned 2 years old and has lived in Santa Cruz ever since .
In high school , she had been excited to apply for DACA to be able to work and help her family and have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began contacting lawyers and saving up to pay the fee , but just a couple of months after her 15th birthday , the Trump administration stopped accepting new applications .
“ I was heartbroken that it was taken away as soon as I was able to apply .
That was what I was depending on , that I would be getting DACA , ” Martinez said .
She is now working to collect school and medical records needed to prove she has been in the country since 2007 .
“ Actually going through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , you know , because it ’ s like , ‘ Oh , it ’ s actually going to happen this time , ’ ” Martinez said .
Counselors and attorneys working with undocumented students at high schools , community colleges , California State University and University of California campuses say this month they have seen a huge increase in the number of students requesting legal services or help applying for DACA .
At the nine UC undergraduate campuses , Blanco estimates there are 400 to 600 students who are eligible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until now , because they were too young before .
“ There ’ s tremendous pent-up demand , ” Blanco said .
“ All the undocumented students pretty much that started this year , unless they ’ re a transfer student , none of them were ever able to apply for DACA .
So they all started the year without DACA.
” The mood among undocumented students is a mix of excitement and uncertainty , said Fina Espino , office coordinator for the Cal State San Marcos DREAMer Resource Office , which offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Espino said having DACA will help students be able to work and support themselves while completing their studies , and will also allow other opportunities for students , like the ability to attend graduate school in other states , even if they do not offer in-state tuition for undocumented students , like California does .
Still , the looming Texas case and the lack of a permanent solution that includes a path to citizenship makes students feel unsafe .
“ I had one student who said , ‘ But is this for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s that other court hearing.
’ For our office , not knowing for sure , it ’ s a roller coaster for us also , because we don ’ t know how to advise our students .
And it ’ s a temporary thing that we ’ re giving them .
We have to tell them , ‘ This can change at any time , ’ ” Espino said .
The pandemic has made it harder for attorneys and counselors to help large numbers of students at a time in one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to prove 13 years of residency in the United States , which can prove challenging , especially if back in 2007 they were infants or toddlers and not yet enrolled in school .
When a court ordered the federal government to accept new DACA applications again , Los Angeles middle school teacher Miriam González Ávila said her first thought was of her younger sister , who will now be able to apply , and her former students .
González Ávila , who has DACA status herself and was one of the plaintiffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in the case that went to the Supreme Court , was teaching 8th grade when DACA was rescinded in 2017 .
Her students inspired her to fight for DACA in court , she said .
When the Trump administration canceled the program , some of her students were visibly upset , either because they would no longer be able to apply or because they had older siblings with DACA .
She often thinks about those who had just started their freshman year of high school and were about to turn 15 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration canceled the program .
• Judge : Trump administration must take new DACA applications • Judge rules that the DACA program must be restored “ Even though I ’ m not in direct contact with them , I think about them all the time .
I think about one specific student whose mom was saying she was really worried about him because he felt like giving up , ” González Ávila said .
González Ávila is relieved more people will be able to apply for DACA , but she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a permanent solution with a pathway to citizenship .
“ These past couple of years since the rescission of DACA , it ’ s been a back-and-forth , you can ’ t ever feel completely comfortable , ” González Ávila said .
“ It ’ s this game that the government keeps playing with us , and I think it ’ s time for a permanent solution , so we can live our lives and go to school without the pressure of , ‘ Am I going to be safe today ?
What @ @ @ @ @

By Zaidee Stavely, EdSource
With the door to apply for DACA open for the first time in more than three years, hundreds of high school and college students in California are rushing to apply, fearful it will be slammed shut again.
“We’re on a mad dash to put out as much educational content for folks as possible,” said Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, the state and local policy manager for United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the country. “We know that this window is open, but we don’t know for how long.”
A federal judge ordered the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services on Dec. 4 to fully restore Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the program that provides temporary protection from deportation and permission to work for about 700,000 young people who came to the U.S. as children.
Court battles ensued after the Trump administration attempted to end DACA in September 2017, and first-time applications have not been accepted since then. Although the attempt to end the program was described as “arbitrary and capricious” by the U.S. Supreme Court in June, the Trump administration continued denying new applications until Dec. 7, after a federal judge ordered them to begin accepting them.
Still, the future of DACA is uncertain. A hearing on a separate lawsuit, in which Texas and six other states sued to end DACA, is scheduled for Dec. 22 in a Houston federal court. Some attorneys are concerned that the agency could again stop accepting new applications sometime after that date.
“We are trying to get as many applications in before there’s a ruling in the Texas case, which is hanging out there,” said Maria Blanco, executive director of the University of California Immigrant Legal Services Center. “Everybody’s working literally weekends and late at night.”
An estimated 300,000 people are now eligible to apply for DACA for the first time. This includes some 55,500 people who have turned 15, the minimum age to apply, since the government stopped accepting new applications. To be eligible for DACA, applicants must have come to the U.S. before they turned 16 and have lived here since June 15, 2007, in addition to attending school or having graduated high school and not been convicted of certain crimes.
Ines Martinez, 18, a first-year student at Cabrillo College in Aptos, near Santa Cruz, turned 15 just a couple of months before DACA was rescinded in 2017. Martinez was brought to the United States right before she turned 2 years old and has lived in Santa Cruz ever since. In high school, she had been excited to apply for DACA to be able to work and help her family and have some protection from deportation. Her family began contacting lawyers and saving up to pay the fee, but just a couple of months after her 15th birthday, the Trump administration stopped accepting new applications.
“I was heartbroken that it was taken away as soon as I was able to apply. That was what I was depending on, that I would be getting DACA,” Martinez said.
She is now working to collect school and medical records needed to prove she has been in the country since 2007.
“Actually going through the process is something really exciting for me, you know, because it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s actually going to happen this time,’” Martinez said.
Counselors and attorneys working with undocumented students at high schools, community colleges, California State University and University of California campuses say this month they have seen a huge increase in the number of students requesting legal services or help applying for DACA.
At the nine UC undergraduate campuses, Blanco estimates there are 400 to 600 students who are eligible for DACA but were not able to apply until now, because they were too young before.
“There’s tremendous pent-up demand,” Blanco said. “All the undocumented students pretty much that started this year, unless they’re a transfer student, none of them were ever able to apply for DACA. So they all started the year without DACA.”
The mood among undocumented students is a mix of excitement and uncertainty, said Fina Espino, office coordinator for the Cal State San Marcos DREAMer Resource Office, which offers counseling and legal services to undocumented students. Espino said having DACA will help students be able to work and support themselves while completing their studies, and will also allow other opportunities for students, like the ability to attend graduate school in other states, even if they do not offer in-state tuition for undocumented students, like California does. Still, the looming Texas case and the lack of a permanent solution that includes a path to citizenship makes students feel unsafe.
“I had one student who said, ‘But is this for real though? Because on the 22nd there’s that other court hearing.’ For our office, not knowing for sure, it’s a roller coaster for us also, because we don’t know how to advise our students. And it’s a temporary thing that we’re giving them. We have to tell them, ‘This can change at any time,’” Espino said.
The pandemic has made it harder for attorneys and counselors to help large numbers of students at a time in one place. In addition, applicants now have to prove 13 years of residency in the United States, which can prove challenging, especially if back in 2007 they were infants or toddlers and not yet enrolled in school.
When a court ordered the federal government to accept new DACA applications again, Los Angeles middle school teacher Miriam González Ávila said her first thought was of her younger sister, who will now be able to apply, and her former students.
González Ávila, who has DACA status herself and was one of the plaintiffs who sued to keep the program in place in the case that went to the Supreme Court, was teaching 8th grade when DACA was rescinded in 2017. Her students inspired her to fight for DACA in court, she said. When the Trump administration canceled the program, some of her students were visibly upset, either because they would no longer be able to apply or because they had older siblings with DACA.
She often thinks about those who had just started their freshman year of high school and were about to turn 15 and be able to apply for DACA when the Trump administration canceled the program.
“Even though I’m not in direct contact with them, I think about them all the time. I think about one specific student whose mom was saying she was really worried about him because he felt like giving up,” González Ávila said.
González Ávila is relieved more people will be able to apply for DACA, but she said it is time for Congress to enact a permanent solution with a pathway to citizenship.
“These past couple of years since the rescission of DACA, it’s been a back-and-forth, you can’t ever feel completely comfortable,” González Ávila said. “It’s this game that the government keeps playing with us, and I think it’s time for a permanent solution, so we can live our lives and go to school without the pressure of, ‘Am I going to be safe today? What about tomorrow?’”
EdSource reporter Betty Márquez Rosales contributed to this article.


mercurynews--2020-12-23--Santa Cruz pedestrian killed in hit-and-run on Highway 1

A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run collision on Highway 1 in Santa Cruz late Monday , according to the @ @ @ @ @ collision was reported around 11:30 p.m. on Highway 1 north of Shaffer Road , at @ @ @ @ @ edge .
The pedestrian , a 47-year-old man , was hit by a black 2002 @ @ @ @ @ his injuries at the scene , CHP officials said .
His identity was not been @ @ @ @ @ was found nearby .
Its driver fled and remains at large .
The accident occurred @ @ @ @ @ was critically injured while crossing a road in Santa Cruz County ’ s Soquel area @ @ @ @ @ the driver ’ s identity or whereabouts is asked to call ( 831 ) 662-0511 @ @ @ @ @ 831 ) 796-2160 after hours .

A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run collision on Highway 1 in Santa Cruz late Monday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The collision was reported around 11:30 p.m. on Highway 1 north of Shaffer Road, at the city’s western edge.
The pedestrian, a 47-year-old man, was hit by a black 2002 GMC Yukon and died of his injuries at the scene, CHP officials said. His identity was not been released.
The pickup truck was found nearby. Its driver fled and remains at large.
The accident occurred two days after a pedestrian was critically injured while crossing a road in Santa Cruz County’s Soquel area.
Anyone with information about the driver’s identity or whereabouts is asked to call (831) 662-0511 during business hours or (831) 796-2160 after hours.


mercurynews--2020-12-23--Coronavirus: These countries have imposed new travel restrictions prompted by virus variant

Editor ’ s note : This list was current as of 9.30 a.m .
ET on December 22 .
Countries around the world are imposing bans and restrictions on travel from the United Kingdom to stem the transmission of a coronavirus variant that health authorities say can spread faster than others .
The new variant discovered in the UK prompted authorities to impose a Tier 4 lockdown in London and southeast England and tighten restrictions for all of England over the festive period .
Since the UK lockdown was announced on Saturday , over 40 countries in Europe , Asia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Middle East have restricted travel from the UK and in some cases , also travel from other countries that have documented cases with the variant .
The variant has also been detected in Denmark , the Netherlands and Australia , according to the World Health Organization .
In South Africa , a different coronavirus variant has been reported , the WHO ’ s technical lead for Covid-19 , Maria van Kerkhove , said Monday .
The UK Foreign , Commonwealth and Development Office ( FCDO ) is working to support British nationals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new restrictions , which have cut off UK travelers from much of Europe and other parts of the world .
The United States had not issued a ban on travel from the UK as of Wednesday afternoon .
However , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has called for either a ban on travel from the UK or mandatory testing of passengers .
Now all passengers on Delta , British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights between the UK and New York City will be obliged to present negative tests ahead of their flight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brett Giroir told CNN that as of Monday morning , there weren ’ t plans for US restrictions on travel to or from the UK because of the new coronavirus variant , but “ everything is possible , we just need to put everything on the table , have an open scientific discussion and make a best recommendation.
” “ CDC is following the situation closely and actively assessing the implications of the new variant and response options with respect to international travel , ” according to a statement from the US Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a joint statement published Sunday by the Argentinian Health and Interior Ministries , Argentina was to allow only one more flight from Britain to land at the international airport in Buenos Aires on Monday morning .
Later flights have been canceled .
From December 23 to 31 , only residents of Belgium will be allowed to enter the country .
Non-residents can enter from January 1 , provided they supply evidence of a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than 48 hours prior to their arrival .
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov convened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his Cabinet in response to the new variant , during which it was decided to temporarily suspend air travel between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom starting Monday until January 31 , 2021 , his office said .
Canada says it was banning most passenger travel from the UK beginning midnight Sunday for at least 72 hours .
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the news in a tweet Sunday night saying it was being done to “ protect ” Canadians across the country .
The Chilean government announced that all flights to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning on Tuesday , and that travelers who have been to the UK in the past 14 days would have to self-quarantine .
Colombian President Ivan Duque announced that all flights between Colombia and the UK will be suspended , starting on Monday .
Travelers who have been to the UK in the past 14 days will also have to self-quarantine upon entering Colombia , Duque told reporters .
The Czech government was halting flights from the UK as of 6 a.m .
ET Monday in reaction to the new variant of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement said .
Denmark has temporarily banned air travel from the UK for 48 hours .
Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht said Denmark is “ in a very serious situation ” with widespread infection throughout the country .
“ The mutated Covid-19 virus , which has spread rapidly in London and other parts of England , ” could make it harder to control the infection .
The ban is in effect through December 23 .
The Dominican Republic has suspended all “ aerial operations ” between the island and the UK starting Monday until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as emergency flights , cargo and airmail will not be affected by the mandate .
El Salvador is banning anyone entering the country from the UK and South Africa .
The government of Estonia announced a suspension of air traffic between Estonia and the UK on Sunday , which will last until the end of the year .
French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a 48-hour ban on the movement of people from the UK to France starting Sunday night and applying to all methods of transport .
The German government is restricting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Africa because of the new coronavirus variant .
Grenada has suspended all flights to and from the UK until further notice .
Additionally , anyone who has been in the UK within the past 14 days will not be allowed entry into the country .
In Guatemala , health authorities announced on Monday travelers from the UK are prohibited from entering the country due to the new variant of Covid-19 detected .
Guatemala ’ s Health Minister said further details on the new restrictions for travelers from the UK will be announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passengers who stayed in the United Kingdom for more than two hours in the past 14 days from arriving in the city starting Tuesday , Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan said during a Monday press conference .
Flights between India and the United Kingdom are suspended until the end of 2020 , the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Monday .
Passengers arriving in India from the UK before December 22 are required to take a mandatory RT-PCR test .
Iran announced the suspension of flights to and from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel ’ s government has banned flights from the UK , Denmark and South Africa .
Italy is suspending flights between the country and the United Kingdom because of the new coronavirus variant identified in England , Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio announced on Sunday .
Jamaica has banned all flights coming from the UK until January 4 , although those due to arrive Tuesday will be accepted , the Ministry of Health and Wellness has said .
Passengers on those flights will be PCR tested on arrival and quarantined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accommodation .
Those testing negative will receive armbands to complete a 14-day quarantine at home .
Those testing positive will be quarantined by the state until their recovery .
The government has decided to suspend all direct and indirect ( transit ) passenger flights from the United Kingdom starting Monday and lasting through January 3 , 2021 , according to a statement from Jordanian Government Spokesman and Minister of State for Media Affairs Ali Al-Ayed .
Kuwait has suspended flights arriving from the United Kingdom starting Monday .
Latvia has suspended travel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to January 1 , the Latvian Ministry of Transportation announced in a statement on Sunday .
Fights from the UK will be suspended , Lithuania ’ s prime minister tweeted .
Luxembourg has temporarily suspended flights from the UK after a new variant of coronavirus was found there , according to a government statement Sunday .
Morocco suspended flights to and from the United Kingdom starting Sunday night ( December 20 ) , Morocco State News Agency ( MAP ) reported .
The Netherlands will ban all passenger flights coming from the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macedonia has announced that flight restrictions to the UK will be unveiled imminently .
Oman will shut down its air , sea and land borders starting Tuesday , December 22 , for one week to monitor the new variant of coronavirus reported by the United Kingdom , Oman state news agency reported .
Pakistan is suspending direct or indirect travel from the United Kingdom into the country .
According to a statement released by the Pakistan Aviation Ministry the suspension will be in effect from December 23-30 .
Repatriation flights to the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be reviewed December 28 .
Starting at 11:59pm ET on Monday , Panama will temporarily suspend the entrance of people who have stayed or transited in the UK or South Africa in the past 20 days .
Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti announced a ban on flights coming from Europe for two weeks as a preventive measure .
He also announced a ban on foreigners coming to Peru if they have been in the UK for the last two weeks .
Flights to and from the UK have been suspended until at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is banning flights from Britain on Monday and Tuesday , the government announced Sunday .
Russia is suspending flights to and from the UK for a week starting at midnight Moscow time on December 22 , state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported , citing Russian coronavirus response headquarters .
Starting Monday , all international flights are suspended for seven days — except in exceptional cases , Saudi Arabia ’ s General Authority of Civil Aviation ( GACA ) has announced .
The temporary ban can be extended for another week .
Spain ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , will refuse entry to travelers from the UK starting Tuesday , Spain ’ s La Moncloa announced Monday afternoon .
Spanish citizens and residents are exempt .
The government also announced it will reinforce border controls at Gibraltar .
Sweden is banning travel from the UK , the country ’ s foreign minister said on Sunday .
The ban on flights took immediate effect on December 21 , and will last 48 hours .
However , the country has also banned all passengers arriving from the UK for one month , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Switzerland has issued a general entry ban for foreigners arriving from Great Britain or South Africa , as well as a retroactive quarantine following discovery of a new , more contagious strain of the coronavirus in Great Britain and South Africa .
Tunisia has suspended flights to and from the United Kingdom , Australia and South Africa following the emergence of a new variant of coronavirus , the country ’ s Ministry of Transport and Logistics announced Monday .
Travelers who have recently resided or passed through those countries will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into effect Monday and will last until further notice , the ministry said in a statement .
Turkey has banned flights from the UK , South Africa , the Netherlands and Denmark , the country ’ s state-owned Anadolu Agency reported late Sunday .
President Lenin Moreno announced that visitors coming from the UK , Australia , South Africa and the EU need to show negative PCR test results taken 10 days prior to arriving in the country .
They must also take an antibody test that will be provided at international airports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on arrival .
Non-residents must isolate in hotels chosen by the local authorities .
Greece has imposed a seven-day quarantine for all travelers arriving from the United Kingdom starting December 22 , the Greek Civil Protection department announced Sunday .
Additionally , all passengers coming from the UK will be tested on arrival ( they must also present a negative PCR test conducted within the last 72 hours ) .
If the result of the test on arrival is negative , you must still quarantine for seven days .
If positive , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities .
No individual who has been in the UK in the past 14 days can enter Mauritius , as of December 21 .
The ban will be reviewed on December 31 .
From December 21 to January 4 , no non-resident nationals who have been in the UK since December 7 will be allowed entry .
Residents who have been in the UK since December 7 must get approval from the Paraguayan government to enter the country , and must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in government-provided accommodation or a ‘ health hotel ’ .
People already in Paraguay , who came from the UK between December 14-21 , must isolate at home for seven days from their arrival date .
Portugal has imposed restrictions on flights from the UK .
Only Portuguese nationals will be allowed to travel , and they must have a negative Covid-19 test , according to the country ’ s Interior Minister .
• Coronavirus : Here ’ s what tier each California county is in as of Dec. 22 • At late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief money in bill • Holiday travel continues , despite pleas for the Bay Area to stay home Spain announced it is reinforcing airports to verify PCR tests for people arriving from the UK , according to a tweet from the government on Sunday .
The Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago updated health protocols on Monday for travelers coming into the islands from the UK due to the new variant .
The new guidance for UK travelers updates the number of mandatory quarantine days in a “ state supervised facility ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Virgin Atlantic and Delta Airlines have agreed to test all passengers before they enter New York State , Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday .
Additionally , Virgin Atlantic will require proof of a negative Covid-19 test for all passengers traveling from London to anywhere in the United States starting December 24 , the company said in a statement .

Editor’s note: This list was current as of 9.30 a.m. ET on December 22.
Countries around the world are imposing bans and restrictions on travel from the United Kingdom to stem the transmission of a coronavirus variant that health authorities say can spread faster than others.
The new variant discovered in the UK prompted authorities to impose a Tier 4 lockdown in London and southeast England and tighten restrictions for all of England over the festive period.
Since the UK lockdown was announced on Saturday, over 40 countries in Europe, Asia, South America, the Caribbean and the Middle East have restricted travel from the UK and in some cases, also travel from other countries that have documented cases with the variant.
The variant has also been detected in Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia, according to the World Health Organization. In South Africa, a different coronavirus variant has been reported, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid-19, Maria van Kerkhove, said Monday.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working to support British nationals affected by the travel disruptions caused by the new restrictions, which have cut off UK travelers from much of Europe and other parts of the world.
The United States had not issued a ban on travel from the UK as of Wednesday afternoon.
However, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has called for either a ban on travel from the UK or mandatory testing of passengers. Now all passengers on Delta, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights between the UK and New York City will be obliged to present negative tests ahead of their flight.
US Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Giroir told CNN that as of Monday morning, there weren’t plans for US restrictions on travel to or from the UK because of the new coronavirus variant, but “everything is possible, we just need to put everything on the table, have an open scientific discussion and make a best recommendation.”
“CDC is following the situation closely and actively assessing the implications of the new variant and response options with respect to international travel,” according to a statement from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
COUNTRIES BANNING TRAVEL
Argentina
According to a joint statement published Sunday by the Argentinian Health and Interior Ministries, Argentina was to allow only one more flight from Britain to land at the international airport in Buenos Aires on Monday morning. Later flights have been canceled.
Belgium
From December 23 to 31, only residents of Belgium will be allowed to enter the country. Non-residents can enter from January 1, provided they supply evidence of a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than 48 hours prior to their arrival .
Bulgaria
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov convened a working meeting on Sunday with members of his Cabinet in response to the new variant, during which it was decided to temporarily suspend air travel between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom starting Monday until January 31, 2021, his office said.
Canada
Canada says it was banning most passenger travel from the UK beginning midnight Sunday for at least 72 hours. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the news in a tweet Sunday night saying it was being done to “protect” Canadians across the country.
Chile
The Chilean government announced that all flights to and from the UK will be suspended beginning on Tuesday, and that travelers who have been to the UK in the past 14 days would have to self-quarantine.
Colombia
Colombian President Ivan Duque announced that all flights between Colombia and the UK will be suspended, starting on Monday. Travelers who have been to the UK in the past 14 days will also have to self-quarantine upon entering Colombia, Duque told reporters.
Czech Republic
The Czech government was halting flights from the UK as of 6 a.m. ET Monday in reaction to the new variant of the coronavirus in the UK, a government statement said.
Denmark
Denmark has temporarily banned air travel from the UK for 48 hours. Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht said Denmark is “in a very serious situation” with widespread infection throughout the country. “The mutated Covid-19 virus, which has spread rapidly in London and other parts of England,” could make it harder to control the infection. The ban is in effect through December 23.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has suspended all “aerial operations” between the island and the UK starting Monday until January 10. All other operations such as emergency flights, cargo and airmail will not be affected by the mandate.
El Salvador
El Salvador is banning anyone entering the country from the UK and South Africa.
Estonia
The government of Estonia announced a suspension of air traffic between Estonia and the UK on Sunday, which will last until the end of the year.
France
French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a 48-hour ban on the movement of people from the UK to France starting Sunday night and applying to all methods of transport.
Germany
The German government is restricting travel to and from the UK and South Africa because of the new coronavirus variant.
Grenada
Grenada has suspended all flights to and from the UK until further notice. Additionally, anyone who has been in the UK within the past 14 days will not be allowed entry into the country.
Guatemala
In Guatemala, health authorities announced on Monday travelers from the UK are prohibited from entering the country due to the new variant of Covid-19 detected. Guatemala’s Health Minister said further details on the new restrictions for travelers from the UK will be announced Wednesday.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong will ban all passengers who stayed in the United Kingdom for more than two hours in the past 14 days from arriving in the city starting Tuesday, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan said during a Monday press conference.
India
Flights between India and the United Kingdom are suspended until the end of 2020, the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Monday. Passengers arriving in India from the UK before December 22 are required to take a mandatory RT-PCR test.
Iran
Iran announced the suspension of flights to and from the UK for two weeks on Sunday.
Israel
Israel’s government has banned flights from the UK, Denmark and South Africa.
Italy
Italy is suspending flights between the country and the United Kingdom because of the new coronavirus variant identified in England, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio announced on Sunday.
Jamaica
Jamaica has banned all flights coming from the UK until January 4, although those due to arrive Tuesday will be accepted, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has said. Passengers on those flights will be PCR tested on arrival and quarantined for at least 48 hours in government accommodation. Those testing negative will receive armbands to complete a 14-day quarantine at home. Those testing positive will be quarantined by the state until their recovery.
Jordan
The government has decided to suspend all direct and indirect (transit) passenger flights from the United Kingdom starting Monday and lasting through January 3, 2021, according to a statement from Jordanian Government Spokesman and Minister of State for Media Affairs Ali Al-Ayed.
Kuwait
Kuwait has suspended flights arriving from the United Kingdom starting Monday.
Latvia
Latvia has suspended travel to and from the UK from December 21 to January 1, the Latvian Ministry of Transportation announced in a statement on Sunday.
Lithuania
Fights from the UK will be suspended, Lithuania’s prime minister tweeted.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg has temporarily suspended flights from the UK after a new variant of coronavirus was found there, according to a government statement Sunday.
Morocco
Morocco suspended flights to and from the United Kingdom starting Sunday night (December 20), Morocco State News Agency (MAP) reported.
Netherlands
The Netherlands will ban all passenger flights coming from the United Kingdom.
North Macedonia
The Prime Minister of North Macedonia has announced that flight restrictions to the UK will be unveiled imminently.
Oman
Oman will shut down its air, sea and land borders starting Tuesday, December 22, for one week to monitor the new variant of coronavirus reported by the United Kingdom, Oman state news agency reported.
Pakistan
Pakistan is suspending direct or indirect travel from the United Kingdom into the country.
According to a statement released by the Pakistan Aviation Ministry the suspension will be in effect from December 23-30. Repatriation flights to the UK are available, however. The ban will be reviewed December 28.
Panama
Starting at 11:59pm ET on Monday, Panama will temporarily suspend the entrance of people who have stayed or transited in the UK or South Africa in the past 20 days.
Peru
Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti announced a ban on flights coming from Europe for two weeks as a preventive measure. He also announced a ban on foreigners coming to Peru if they have been in the UK for the last two weeks.
Poland
Flights to and from the UK have been suspended until at least January 6.
Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland is banning flights from Britain on Monday and Tuesday, the government announced Sunday.
Russia
Russia is suspending flights to and from the UK for a week starting at midnight Moscow time on December 22, state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing Russian coronavirus response headquarters.
Saudi Arabia
Starting Monday, all international flights are suspended for seven days — except in exceptional cases, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced. The temporary ban can be extended for another week.
Spain
Spain’s government, in coordination with Portugal, will refuse entry to travelers from the UK starting Tuesday, Spain’s La Moncloa announced Monday afternoon. Spanish citizens and residents are exempt. The government also announced it will reinforce border controls at Gibraltar.
Sweden
Sweden is banning travel from the UK, the country’s foreign minister said on Sunday. The ban on flights took immediate effect on December 21, and will last 48 hours. However, the country has also banned all passengers arriving from the UK for one month, so expect the flight ban to be renewed.
Switzerland
Switzerland has issued a general entry ban for foreigners arriving from Great Britain or South Africa, as well as a retroactive quarantine following discovery of a new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus in Great Britain and South Africa.
Tunisia
Tunisia has suspended flights to and from the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa following the emergence of a new variant of coronavirus, the country’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics announced Monday. Travelers who have recently resided or passed through those countries will not be allowed into Tunisia. The suspension goes into effect Monday and will last until further notice, the ministry said in a statement.
Turkey
Turkey has banned flights from the UK, South Africa, the Netherlands and Denmark, the country’s state-owned Anadolu Agency reported late Sunday.
COUNTRIES IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS
Ecuador
President Lenin Moreno announced that visitors coming from the UK, Australia, South Africa and the EU need to show negative PCR test results taken 10 days prior to arriving in the country. They must also take an antibody test that will be provided at international airports, and must isolate for five days on arrival. Non-residents must isolate in hotels chosen by the local authorities.
Greece
Greece has imposed a seven-day quarantine for all travelers arriving from the United Kingdom starting December 22, the Greek Civil Protection department announced Sunday. Additionally, all passengers coming from the UK will be tested on arrival (they must also present a negative PCR test conducted within the last 72 hours). If the result of the test on arrival is negative, you must still quarantine for seven days. If positive, you must quarantine until advised otherwise by the authorities.
Mauritius
No individual who has been in the UK in the past 14 days can enter Mauritius, as of December 21. The ban will be reviewed on December 31.
Paraguay
From December 21 to January 4, no non-resident nationals who have been in the UK since December 7 will be allowed entry. Residents who have been in the UK since December 7 must get approval from the Paraguayan government to enter the country, and must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival. They must then quarantine for 10 days in government-provided accommodation or a ‘health hotel’.
People already in Paraguay, who came from the UK between December 14-21, must isolate at home for seven days from their arrival date.
Portugal
Portugal has imposed restrictions on flights from the UK. Only Portuguese nationals will be allowed to travel, and they must have a negative Covid-19 test, according to the country’s Interior Minister.
Spain
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Trinidad and Tobago
The Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago updated health protocols on Monday for travelers coming into the islands from the UK due to the new variant. The new guidance for UK travelers updates the number of mandatory quarantine days in a “state supervised facility” from 7 to 14.
United States
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Delta Airlines have agreed to test all passengers before they enter New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday. Additionally, Virgin Atlantic will require proof of a negative Covid-19 test for all passengers traveling from London to anywhere in the United States starting December 24, the company said in a statement.
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mercurynews--2020-12-23--Flam: What went wrong with the COVID-19 vaccine trials

If there ’ s a common theme in the errors of the U.S. response to COVID-19 , it ’ s been the astounding amount of squandering .
Our leaders squandered time , as well as public trust and people ’ s economic and emotional resources .
And they squandered the chance to do good science — testing drugs and vaccines in a way that serves the public interest rather than the interest of pharmaceutical companies .
There ’ s no question that COVID-19 vaccines and therapies will save many lives .
But we ’ re not doing the kinds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines and therapies to maximize lives saved and minimize the weeks we endure unprecedented social and economic constraints .
It ’ s not too late to change course .
It ’ s not too late , for example to test the possibility some have raised that the return to normal could be advanced by months if the Pfizer vaccine is given as a single shot .
Though clinical trials determined safety and efficacy for two shots , supplies are running short and there ’ s some evidence that one shot provides some protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by picking a group of volunteers in the early rollout to get one shot , and compare them with those getting two , says Peter Bach , a physician and director of the drug pricing lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center .
A trial would be the only way to justify giving people a single shot .
He says he also stands by a recommendation he made in September , that vaccines be tested against one another .
There ’ s much valuable data that could be gathered quickly given that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing stage , with many different technological approaches .
Some use inactive virus , others pieces of the virus and still others viral DNA encased in various kinds of harmless viruses .
Then there are the two front runners , which use messenger RNA .
As researchers told me last spring , some of these vaccines might be better at preventing high-risk people from getting fatal cases , while others might be better for keeping lower-risk individuals from spreading the virus .
Some will be cheaper and easier to manufacture .
Some will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s product requires extreme refrigeration ; others don ’ t .
One candidate might even work as an oral vaccine rather than an injection .
The first vaccines across the finish line of FDA authorization might not be the best ones for achieving worldwide immunity .
As STATnews reported in September , several of the “ tortoises ” in the race , from Merck and Sanofi , look very strong .
“ You don ’ t lose anything if you do 50,000 people with Pfizer versus J & J , ” says Bach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re squandering the Pfizer vaccines.
” Such tests would be in the public interest , ensuring we get the maximum amount of data in a minimum of time .
The way clinical trials usually work , companies design their own trials within some constraints established by regulators like the FDA .
But it doesn ’ t have to be that way .
In this unprecedented situation , we should have a much more uniform standard for scientific testing .
In fact , last June , the FDA did lay out some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Bach .
“ That was completely ignored.
” A mandatory standard might have given us much-needed information on how well those newly approved Pfizer and Moderna vaccines protect against asymptomatic infection and thereby help us all achieve herd immunity .
Testing subjects regularly for COVID-19 would have told us this , but Pfizer and Moderna didn ’ t collect that data .
The AstraZeneca trial did collect data on asymptomatic cases , though the trial was marred by a serious mistake with dosing .
And contact tracing subjects might even help us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections to others .
Those are not normal procedures , but this is not a normal situation .
The other looming mystery is how long vaccine-induced immunity lasts .
The best way to learn about longer-term safety and efficacy is to keep the placebo-controlled trials going .
But Pfizer is already talking about ending its trial by giving the people in the control arm the vaccine .
The gesture may seem altruistic , but there ’ s a selfish side to it : It undercuts the ability to keep getting data and uncover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea applies to drug that could treat COVID-19 , which should be tested in a standardized system designed for our benefit .
Last spring , the antiviral drug remdesivir was approved , for example , with minimal data on efficacy , timing and dosing .
It ’ s proven disappointing .
The public is so worn down that we ’ re grateful for any ray of hope , and disinclined to question something that would end the pandemic — even though pharmaceutical companies are getting a great bargain out of this .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as the public deserves the best possible public health campaign .
That hasn ’ t been the standard in 2020 , but it ’ s not too late to do better .

If there’s a common theme in the errors of the U.S. response to COVID-19, it’s been the astounding amount of squandering. Our leaders squandered time, as well as public trust and people’s economic and emotional resources. And they squandered the chance to do good science — testing drugs and vaccines in a way that serves the public interest rather than the interest of pharmaceutical companies.
There’s no question that COVID-19 vaccines and therapies will save many lives. But we’re not doing the kinds of scientific studies needed to determine the best vaccines and therapies to maximize lives saved and minimize the weeks we endure unprecedented social and economic constraints. It’s not too late to change course.
It’s not too late, for example to test the possibility some have raised that the return to normal could be advanced by months if the Pfizer vaccine is given as a single shot. Though clinical trials determined safety and efficacy for two shots, supplies are running short and there’s some evidence that one shot provides some protection.
The company could test the idea by picking a group of volunteers in the early rollout to get one shot, and compare them with those getting two, says Peter Bach, a physician and director of the drug pricing lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. A trial would be the only way to justify giving people a single shot.
He says he also stands by a recommendation he made in September, that vaccines be tested against one another. There’s much valuable data that could be gathered quickly given that there are more than 40 vaccines in the testing stage, with many different technological approaches. Some use inactive virus, others pieces of the virus and still others viral DNA encased in various kinds of harmless viruses. Then there are the two front runners, which use messenger RNA.
As researchers told me last spring, some of these vaccines might be better at preventing high-risk people from getting fatal cases, while others might be better for keeping lower-risk individuals from spreading the virus. Some will be cheaper and easier to manufacture. Some will induce fewer side effects. Pfizer’s product requires extreme refrigeration; others don’t. One candidate might even work as an oral vaccine rather than an injection.
The first vaccines across the finish line of FDA authorization might not be the best ones for achieving worldwide immunity. As STATnews reported in September, several of the “tortoises” in the race, from Merck and Sanofi, look very strong.
“You don’t lose anything if you do 50,000 people with Pfizer versus J&J,” says Bach. “It’s not like you’re squandering the Pfizer vaccines.” Such tests would be in the public interest, ensuring we get the maximum amount of data in a minimum of time.
The way clinical trials usually work, companies design their own trials within some constraints established by regulators like the FDA. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this unprecedented situation, we should have a much more uniform standard for scientific testing. In fact, last June, the FDA did lay out some standard experimental guidelines for vaccine manufacturers, says Bach. “That was completely ignored.”
A mandatory standard might have given us much-needed information on how well those newly approved Pfizer and Moderna vaccines protect against asymptomatic infection and thereby help us all achieve herd immunity. Testing subjects regularly for COVID-19 would have told us this, but Pfizer and Moderna didn’t collect that data. The AstraZeneca trial did collect data on asymptomatic cases, though the trial was marred by a serious mistake with dosing. And contact tracing subjects might even help us learn if vaccinated people can transmit silent infections to others. Those are not normal procedures, but this is not a normal situation.
The other looming mystery is how long vaccine-induced immunity lasts. The best way to learn about longer-term safety and efficacy is to keep the placebo-controlled trials going. But Pfizer is already talking about ending its trial by giving the people in the control arm the vaccine. The gesture may seem altruistic, but there’s a selfish side to it: It undercuts the ability to keep getting data and uncover less common safety issues.
The same idea applies to drug that could treat COVID-19, which should be tested in a standardized system designed for our benefit. Last spring, the antiviral drug remdesivir was approved, for example, with minimal data on efficacy, timing and dosing. It’s proven disappointing.
The public is so worn down that we’re grateful for any ray of hope, and disinclined to question something that would end the pandemic — even though pharmaceutical companies are getting a great bargain out of this. They deserve some praise, but not as much as the public deserves the best possible public health campaign. That hasn’t been the standard in 2020, but it’s not too late to do better.
Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist.


mercurynews--2020-12-23--Elon Musk claims Tim Cook refused to meet with him to discuss buying Tesla

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter on Tuesday that he attempted to sell the company “ during the darkest days of the Model 3 program , ” but that Apple CEO Tim Cook “ refused to take the meeting.
” Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment Musk made the claim in response to a post about a Reuters report published Monday .
Apple is planning to introduce a mass-market automobile that will make use of new battery technology , according to the Reuters report , which cites anonymous sources .
“ I reached out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple acquiring Tesla ( for 1/10 of our current value ) , ” Musk said in a tweet .
“ He refused to take the meeting.
” Musk said on Twitter the Reuters report was “ strange , if true ” and added in a second tweet that he approached Cook about a possible sale during the early days of Tesla ’ s Model 3 program , the mid-market sedan that hit the market in 2017 .
The Model 3 suffered months of manufacturing difficulties and other issues , including cars being assembled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Fremont , California factory .
The Model 3 is now the best-selling luxury car in America , fueling Tesla ’ s rise to the most valuable automaker in the world .
• Mathews : Thank you , Texas , for taking Elon Musk off our hands • Elon Musk is leaving Silicon Valley for Texas .
These millionaires and companies are joining him • Elon Musk appears immune to criticism as Tesla ignores the media • Billionaire Elon Musk relocates to Texas from California ; compares himself to war general In August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he was considering “ taking Tesla private ” with “ funding secured.
” That tweet turned out to not be true , and after an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission , Musk agreed to a settlement that included a provision that he would have tweets concerning “ any information about Tesla ’ s financial condition ” or “ potential or proposed mergers ” reviewed by an “ experienced securities lawyer.
” It is unclear if an experienced securities lawyer reviewed Musk ’ s Tuesday tweets .
Breaking into the automobile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Musk has said that Tesla was nearly bankrupt at several points throughout its 17-year-history .
The company only posted its first annual profit last year .

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter on Tuesday that he attempted to sell the company “during the darkest days of the Model 3 program,” but that Apple CEO Tim Cook “refused to take the meeting.”
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment
Musk made the claim in response to a post about a Reuters report published Monday. Apple is planning to introduce a mass-market automobile that will make use of new battery technology, according to the Reuters report, which cites anonymous sources.
“I reached out to Tim Cook to discuss the possibility of Apple acquiring Tesla (for 1/10 of our current value),” Musk said in a tweet. “He refused to take the meeting.”
Musk said on Twitter the Reuters report was “strange, if true” and added in a second tweet that he approached Cook about a possible sale during the early days of Tesla’s Model 3 program, the mid-market sedan that hit the market in 2017. The Model 3 suffered months of manufacturing difficulties and other issues, including cars being assembled in a tent next to Tesla’s Fremont, California factory. The Model 3 is now the best-selling luxury car in America, fueling Tesla’s rise to the most valuable automaker in the world.
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Elon Musk promises to fund legal fights of discriminated X users Business | Tesla is under investigation again after 12 drivers complain of steering problems In August of 2018, Musk claimed on Twitter that he was considering “taking Tesla private” with “funding secured.” That tweet turned out to not be true, and after an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Musk agreed to a settlement that included a provision that he would have tweets concerning “any information about Tesla’s financial condition” or “potential or proposed mergers” reviewed by an “experienced securities lawyer.”
It is unclear if an experienced securities lawyer reviewed Musk’s Tuesday tweets.
Breaking into the automobile market is a notoriously difficult endeavor. Musk has said that Tesla was nearly bankrupt at several points throughout its 17-year-history. The company only posted its first annual profit last year.
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mercurynews--2020-12-23--Krugman: The ghost of sabotage future

Krugman: The ghost of sabotage future

The not-a-stimulus deal Congress reached over the weekend — seriously , this is about disaster relief , not boosting the economy — didn ’ t come a moment too soon .
Actually , it came much too late : Crucial aid to many unemployed Americans and businesses expired months ago .
But now some of that aid is back , for a while .
True , the aid will be less generous than it was in the spring and summer : $ 300 a week in enhanced unemployment benefits , rather than $ 600 .
But because the workers still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic tended to have low earnings even before the coronavirus struck , they will , on average , be receiving something like 85 % of their pre-COVID-19 income .
By the way , although the one-time $ 600 checks to a much wider group of Americans are getting much of the media coverage , they account for only a small percentage of the overall expense and are far less crucial than the unemployment benefits to keeping families afloat .
So what ’ s not to like about this relief package ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a tax break for corporate meal expenses — fighting a deadly pandemic with three-martini lunches .
But the serious problem with this deal is that economic aid will end far too soon : Enhanced unemployment benefits will last just 11 weeks .
And the process by which the deal was reached has ominous implications for the future .
Why isn ’ t 11 weeks of aid enough ?
Because we won ’ t be able to begin a vigorous economic recovery until a large fraction of the population is vaccinated , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even the early fall .
And we ’ re still down around 10 million jobs from pre-COVID levels ; even if we can regain jobs as quickly as we did during the false dawn of May and June ( when the Trump administration insisted that the pandemic was ending ) , it will take months more before we ’ re anywhere close to full employment .
So while the new legislation provides a sort of bridge to the post-COVID future , it ’ s a bridge that spans only part of the chasm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was passed offers few reasons to be optimistic about Republican willingness to let the Biden administration finish the project .
Remember , until recently Mitch McConnell showed little interest in passing any kind of relief package .
And there ’ s no mystery about what changed his mind : It was all about the Senate runoffs in Georgia .
“ Kelly ( Loeffler ) and David ( Perdue ) are getting hammered ” over the failure to provide aid , he told his political allies .
Once those races end on Jan. 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest all over again .
And unless Democrats win both elections , he ’ ll still be Senate majority leader , in a position to stand in the way of any further economic relief .
Beyond that , the final hurdles to reaching an agreement were a reminder of something we should have learned during the Obama years : When a Democrat is in the White House , Republicans try to sabotage the economy .
And the sabotage doesn ’ t stop with using phony deficit concerns to block necessary spending ; it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial crisis .
Remember , GOP flimflam when Barack Obama was president went beyond posing as deficit hawks to block needed fiscal stimulus .
It also involved constant criticism and harassment of the Fed over its efforts to rescue the economy .
And now it ’ s happening again .
Some background : Although the pandemic recession was deep and ugly , it could easily have been even uglier .
For a few weeks in March , America teetered on the edge of a financial crisis approaching the meltdown following the fall of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , this incipient crisis was quickly contained by the Federal Reserve , which stabilized markets both by purchasing trillions of dollars ’ worth of financial assets and by making it clear that it would do even more if necessary .
That was a job well done .
But the risk of financial crisis hasn ’ t gone away , so we want to make sure that the Fed has the tools to meet future challenges .
Yet last month Steven Mnuchin , the blessedly departing Treasury secretary , gratuitously clawed back hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Fed emergency lending programs , making those funds unavailable to his successor .
And talks over economic relief almost fell apart over a last-minute demand by Sen. Pat Toomey , backed by the Republican leadership , that the legislation bar the Fed from restarting some of these programs or anything like them .
In the end , this poison pill appears to have been rendered mostly harmless , with face-saving language that prevents exact copycat programs but seems to leave room for slightly different programs that would achieve the same results .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ things to come .
If another crisis develops , expect Republicans to do all they can to prevent an effective response .
So how should we feel about this relief deal ?
The glass is half full : For millions of American families , the next few months will be less hellish than they would have been otherwise .
The glass is half empty : Unless Democrats win those Georgia seats , expect an ugly spring and years of economic sabotage ahead .

The not-a-stimulus deal Congress reached over the weekend — seriously, this is about disaster relief, not boosting the economy — didn’t come a moment too soon. Actually, it came much too late: Crucial aid to many unemployed Americans and businesses expired months ago. But now some of that aid is back, for a while.
True, the aid will be less generous than it was in the spring and summer: $300 a week in enhanced unemployment benefits, rather than $600. But because the workers still out of a job as a result of the pandemic tended to have low earnings even before the coronavirus struck, they will, on average, be receiving something like 85% of their pre-COVID-19 income.
By the way, although the one-time $600 checks to a much wider group of Americans are getting much of the media coverage, they account for only a small percentage of the overall expense and are far less crucial than the unemployment benefits to keeping families afloat.
So what’s not to like about this relief package? There’s some dumb stuff, like a tax break for corporate meal expenses — fighting a deadly pandemic with three-martini lunches. But the serious problem with this deal is that economic aid will end far too soon: Enhanced unemployment benefits will last just 11 weeks. And the process by which the deal was reached has ominous implications for the future.
Why isn’t 11 weeks of aid enough? Because we won’t be able to begin a vigorous economic recovery until a large fraction of the population is vaccinated, which might not happen until the summer or even the early fall. And we’re still down around 10 million jobs from pre-COVID levels; even if we can regain jobs as quickly as we did during the false dawn of May and June (when the Trump administration insisted that the pandemic was ending), it will take months more before we’re anywhere close to full employment.
So while the new legislation provides a sort of bridge to the post-COVID future, it’s a bridge that spans only part of the chasm ahead. And the way the bill was passed offers few reasons to be optimistic about Republican willingness to let the Biden administration finish the project.
Remember, until recently Mitch McConnell showed little interest in passing any kind of relief package. And there’s no mystery about what changed his mind: It was all about the Senate runoffs in Georgia. “Kelly (Loeffler) and David (Perdue) are getting hammered” over the failure to provide aid, he told his political allies.
Once those races end on Jan. 5, McConnell’s sure to lose interest all over again. And unless Democrats win both elections, he’ll still be Senate majority leader, in a position to stand in the way of any further economic relief.
Beyond that, the final hurdles to reaching an agreement were a reminder of something we should have learned during the Obama years: When a Democrat is in the White House, Republicans try to sabotage the economy. And the sabotage doesn’t stop with using phony deficit concerns to block necessary spending; it also involves deliberately increasing the risk of financial crisis.
Remember, GOP flimflam when Barack Obama was president went beyond posing as deficit hawks to block needed fiscal stimulus. It also involved constant criticism and harassment of the Fed over its efforts to rescue the economy. And now it’s happening again.
Some background: Although the pandemic recession was deep and ugly, it could easily have been even uglier. For a few weeks in March, America teetered on the edge of a financial crisis approaching the meltdown following the fall of Lehman Bros. in 2008. Fortunately, however, this incipient crisis was quickly contained by the Federal Reserve, which stabilized markets both by purchasing trillions of dollars’ worth of financial assets and by making it clear that it would do even more if necessary.
That was a job well done. But the risk of financial crisis hasn’t gone away, so we want to make sure that the Fed has the tools to meet future challenges.
Yet last month Steven Mnuchin, the blessedly departing Treasury secretary, gratuitously clawed back hundreds of billions of dollars in budget backing for Fed emergency lending programs, making those funds unavailable to his successor. And talks over economic relief almost fell apart over a last-minute demand by Sen. Pat Toomey, backed by the Republican leadership, that the legislation bar the Fed from restarting some of these programs or anything like them.
In the end, this poison pill appears to have been rendered mostly harmless, with face-saving language that prevents exact copycat programs but seems to leave room for slightly different programs that would achieve the same results.
But the episode was a preview of things to come. If another crisis develops, expect Republicans to do all they can to prevent an effective response.
So how should we feel about this relief deal? The glass is half full: For millions of American families, the next few months will be less hellish than they would have been otherwise. The glass is half empty: Unless Democrats win those Georgia seats, expect an ugly spring and years of economic sabotage ahead.
Paul Krugman is a New York Times columnist.