thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Doreen Lawrence To Lead Review Of BAME Deaths From Covid-19

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Equalities campaigner Doreen Lawrence has been appointed by Keir Starmer to head up a Labour review of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.
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Baroness Lawrence, whose son Stephen was murdered by racists in 1993, will lead a team looking at why the Covid-19 outbreak is disproportionately impacting people from BAME backgrounds, including NHS and care staff.
Official figures show more than a third of people in intensive care from Covid-19 are from BAME backgrounds – well over double the proportion of BAME people in the wider population.
All 15 doctors known to have died from the virus were from minority ethnic backgrounds. While BAME staff make up 44% of the overall NHS workforce, they account for 72% of its deaths.
On Friday it emerged that another neonatologist Dr Vishna Rasiah, who worked at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, had died from the virus.
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His wife, Liza, said his family in the UK, Trinidad and Malaysia “meant the world to him”. “Vish loved his work; to him it was so much more than a job and his colleagues are part of our family too.
“He treated every patient and family he cared for as his own. I couldn’t have been prouder of him.”
Dr Vishna Rasiah, the latest doctor to die from Covid-19 HuffPost UK
Lawrence, who has also been appointed Starmer’s race relations adviser, started work by convening a meeting of equalities groups including Operation Black Vote, the Muslim Council of Britain, the Royal College of Nursing, the Sikh Network, the Jewish Medical Association and the British Medical Association.
The head of the British Medical Association, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, and national medical director of NHS England, Professor Stephen Powis, are among those who have called for more investigation into the disproportionate impact of the pandemic.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has commissioned a study into the disproportionate death rates and promised to make its findings public, but campaigners believe more urgency is needed.
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People from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to suffer from health inequalities, and more likely to work in the NHS, but their high death rate among doctors is causing increasing concern.
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Lawrence said: “I am proud to take up this role at a critical moment for our country. The coronavirus pandemic has brought society together, but it has also exposed the gulf in living standards that still blights our communities.
“Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities have long been disadvantaged by the social and economic injustice which still exists in our country. There is a clear and tragic pattern emerging of the pandemic’s impact on those communities which must be better understood.”
Starmer said: “Doreen Lawrence has spent almost three decades campaigning against injustice. I have seen first-hand her drive and determination, and was proud to stand beside her in fighting for justice for Stephen.
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“In the face of this national emergency, Labour will continue to work constructively with the government. That includes shining a light on issues where it is clear more detailed understanding is needed.
“It is extremely concerning to see the disproportionate toll coronavirus is taking on our BAME communities. We cannot afford to treat this as an issue to investigate once the crisis is over. We must address it now.”
Marsha de Cordova, Labour’s shadow women and equalities secretary, said the “early signs” suggested BAME communities and healthcare workers were disproportionately bearing the brunt of coronavirus.
“Across our frontline are huge numbers of BAME doctors, nurses, bus drivers and other BAME key workers. Every day they put themselves in harm’s way to save and support the lives of others. We must do everything to protect them, their families and communities who have been hit hardest by the virus.”
Figures from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre released last week showed that 34.5% of patients in intensive care for Covid-19 were from BAME backgrounds.
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According to the most recent census data, the proportion of people in the wider proportion from BAME background is 14%.
BAME workers represent 44% of the NHS workforce, but account for about two thirds of the NHS staff known to have died with the virus. Every one of the 15 doctors reported to have died so far is from an ethnic minority.
Paying tribute to Dr Rasiah, known to his friends as Vish, Sarah-Jane Marsh, chief executive of the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Vish was an amazing doctor, leader, colleague and friend, passionate about the care of babies and their families.
“Losing him in such a cruel and unfair way will be too much to bear for many of us, in particular anyone involved in neonatal care, and of course his beautiful wife and daughter.
“As our tears flow, we must always remember the values that Vish stood for, and hold his vision, courage and compassion in our hearts. God bless you Vish, and may you rest in peace.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Trump Suggests Using Disinfectant and Heat to Treat Covid-19

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Trump Suggests Using Disinfectant and Heat to Treat Covid-19
President Trump suggested in a press briefing that healthcare professionals may use disinfectant and heat to treat Covid-19. The president seized upon research that looked at how coronavirus reacts in different temperatures, climates and on different surfaces but his task force coordinator Deborah Birx refused to support his ideas.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Coronavirus: Government Apologises After Website Runs Out Of Tests In Minutes

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The government’s much-lauded coronavirus testing website for essential workers ran out of capacity and had to be “closed” within minutes of opening on Friday morning.
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Health secretary Matt Hancock announced on Thursday he was expanding the UK’s testing programme to include key workers and people from their households.
It was a key part of the government’s strategy to meet the self-imposed target of carrying out 100,000 tests a day by the end of April – despite barely having reached a fifth of that figure as of Thursday morning.
Hancock said millions of people would be able to book an appointment online for a drive-through test at a centre close to their home.
A daily allowance of 5,000 home test kits – to be posted out to people – was to be made available as part of the push, but the gov.uk/coronavirus site ran out within two minutes.
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The testing programme for essential workers was “closed” within minutes of opening. Tests
As scores of people logged on to apply for a test, a message informed them: “Currently, only drive through tests are available.”
But then, just minutes later, it appeared that nobody was able to book a test at all, as the site told them: “Coronavirus test: applications closed.”
Hancock admitted on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme that the government had only finished coding the website yesterday.
The Department of Health and Social Care apologised and said because of “significant demand” it had run out of tests – but more would be available on Saturday.
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There has been significant demand for booking tests today.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
We are continuing to rapidly increase availability. More tests will be available tomorrow. — Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) April 24, 2020
Tests for key workers – which include teachers, refuse collectors and supermarket workers – can be delivered by Amazon within 24 hours or collected the next day by the Royal Mail.
Number 10 has said that the government is trusting that those applying for testing are key workers, with no eligibility checks in place for online bookings.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “As with many other aspects of the coronavirus response, we would expect the public to respond in good faith.
“That is what they have done with other aspects of the scheme, I think we’d expect it to be the same here.”
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Hancock has pledged that the government will be testing 100,000 people a day by the end of April. He said at Thursday’s press conference that the programme “was all part of getting Britain back on her feet”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--The Furlough Scheme Isn't Enough – I'm Still Worried How I'll Pay My Staff This Pay Day

I'm worried how I'll pay my staff, writes Ibrahim Dogus Getty Creative
It’s just days until payday and I’m worried. My family owns three restaurants, and our income has, like millions of others, been decimated by the measures brought in to slow the spread of coronavirus. We want to do the right thing for the brilliant staff who work for us – they are struggling too. But as we prepare a payroll for a month in which the restaurants have been shut, I wonder how long we can keep this up.
“For many like us, the government rhetoric is yet to match the reality.”
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The challenge we face is well understood by the government. I have watched open-mouthed at some of the daily press briefings. Who could have imagined a Conservative Chancellor pledging such a huge expansion of the state’s role in our country’s economy? Hundreds of billions to underwrite business loans and pay the wages of staff whose jobs would otherwise have disappeared. Few would doubt Rishi Sunak wants to do “whatever it takes”. But for many like us, the rhetoric is yet to match the reality. It’s all well and good announcing billions here and billions there, but if the action isn’t taken to get these schemes off the ground, small businesses like ours may well end up being another casualty of this national crisis.
Only around 6,000 UK businesses have accessed the loans announced a month ago, amounting to just £1.1bn, a paltry sum in the context of a complete halt to economic activity in some sectors. There are delays, heavy bureaucracy, anxiety over high interest rates and confusion over the personal guarantees required. There have been suggestions that the government shift policy, underwriting 100% of loans or moving towards offering more grants. Sunak has committed to looking at these proposals, but does he really have the luxury of time? Businesses need access to cash now, or they will go under - setting in train a wave of insolvencies, redundancies, unemployment and long-lasting damage to the health and wellbeing of millions of people.
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The furloughing scheme, whereby government guarantees 80% of wages for staff to be put on leave but kept on the payroll, is facing similar challenges. Applications opened on Monday, but lots of businesses are reporting problems with the website and the need to provide lots of information which isn’t easy to access quickly. And we can’t be sure when the money will actually land in our bank accounts. Days? Weeks? For too many, any delay will be catastrophic.
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“For now our priority is to get this month’s payroll sorted. I just hope this isn’t the last one we’re doing for a while.”
So what needs to happen now? As a starting point, the government should ensure businesses have the opportunity to borrow at least half their annual turnover, based on last year’s figures, with no interest charged for two years. Setting a basic framework like this would speed up the process of applying for loans, as well as remove uncertainty. Some banks have proposed interest rates of between 6-8%. This is totally unacceptable. During the 2008 financial crisis, many of them received huge bail-outs from the taxpayer. Why are they not stepping up now to support small business?
The Treasury should stop ‘reviewing’ or ‘considering’ proposals and make immediate moves to underwrite 100% of loans. They should also introduce a new programme to offer grants to small businesses in need, perhaps in the form of refunding the last 3 years of corporation tax paid.
There are nearly six million small businesses in the UK and we employ over 16 million people. Our survival is key to the country’s economic recovery. So I want to make a direct plea to the government: Please listen to us. Please don’t assume that we have endless savings to dip into – or that the lack of stored funds is an indication of a business that wouldn’t be viable in normal times. Many of us plan week by week, month by month, season by season. And please don’t assume we will simply bounce back when this is all over. Unless we get support now, lots of businesses will fold and never be able to return when this is all over.
I really hope there is a future for our restaurants. I can’t wait to see my staff and welcome customers again. But for now our priority is to get this month’s payroll sorted. I just hope this isn’t the last one we’re doing for a while.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Phoebe Waller-Bridge Reveals The Very Rude Prop She Kept From The Fleabag Set

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Phoebe Waller-Bridge has revealed she has the “penis wall” from the first series of Fleabag proudly on display in her home.
As fans of Phoebe’s hit show may recall the “penis wall” formed a part of Godmother’s “Sexhibition” in the series one finale, with Olivia Colman’s character inviting Fleabag to guess which one was her father’s, and her ex-boyfriend’s.
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During an interview from home in the latest lockdown edition of Graham Norton’s talk show – which will air on Friday night – Phoebe debuted the decorative prop, joking the moulded penises are “all here keeping me company”.
“We put it there temporarily because we didn’t know what to do with it,” she explained.
“Putting it in the kitchen felt too intense and putting it in one of the bedrooms can never go down well!”
Phoebe in character as Fleabag BBC
Sharing one awkward encounter the “penis wall” has provided her in recent years, Phoebe continued: “You know how things in your own house become invisible to you? I’d completely forgotten about the 12 massive penises by the front door and a while ago a delivery man came in and bashed against them.
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“Suddenly they became so visible to me and when I said sorry, he looked me in the eye and said, ‘It’s art. Never apologise for art’.”
Phoebe in the disastrous series one finale of Fleabag BBC
Earlier this month, the stage show of Fleabag was made available to watch online for the first time, with proceeds going towards The National Emergencies Trust, NHS Charities Together and Acting For Others, as well as the newly-launched Fleabag Support Fund, which will distribute grants of £2,500 to freelancers working in the UK theatre industry, which has been deeply impacted by the crisis.
“Last year’s stage show recording is the only bit of Fleabag that I haven’t completely rinsed dry out in the world!” she joked during her Graham Norton interview. “So why not do it for a good cause?”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--My Baby's Intestines Fell Out. Here's What I Wish I Had Known

HuffPost UK Courtesy of the author
My youngest son doesn’t have a belly button. Instead, there’s a line down his abdomen and a clump of scar tissue strategically made to look like a traditional navel. Bastian was born with gastroschisis, a birth defect involving a hole near his umbilical cord that allowed his intestines to spill out of his body and into the amniotic fluid. If it sounds terrifying, that’s because it is. But this is a story of triumph, not tragedy.
While the condition is rare, gastroschisis is becoming increasingly common, and no one knows why. Researchers say the number of cases in America has more than doubled since 1995, and many people speculate that environmental factors are to blame.
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Even though we found out about the gastroschisis early on in my pregnancy (it’s usually discovered in the second trimester via ultrasound), nothing prepared me for the sight of my own child hooked up to numerous tubes and wires, with some of his internal organs displayed in a plastic bag outside of his tiny body.
We’d met with surgeons in advance, had toured the NICU, and had been told what to expect during his procedures. Somehow, what that might actually look like didn’t compute.
I’d thought I was mentally and emotionally prepared, but I was naive. There’s so much I wish I would’ve known before I took on the scariest role of my life.
Every case is different. Sometimes there’s just a tiny bit of bowel bulging out; sometimes it’s all the intestines plus additional organs that have fallen out. Sometimes a baby can have her intestines returned and the tear closed up in a single procedure.
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Other times, as with Bastian, the surgeons can’t replace the bowels all at once without putting too much pressure on the lungs, so a plastic bag called a silo is placed over the intestines and stapled to the baby’s skin. Over time, (it took about a week for Bastian), gravity pulls the organs back in.
The doctor helped the process along by putting pressure at the top of the silo, squeezing a little bit of his intestines back into his body like it was nothing more than a tube of toothpaste. I’m the person who covers her eyes during a gory movie scene, but I forced myself to watch everything my son was enduring.
Bastian had to withstand more in the first few weeks of his existence than most people go through in a lifetime. Initially, the surgeon believed she could get all the intestines back in the first time around. When that didn’t happen, she thought it would only take a few days before she could do the second procedure. But then Bastian’s skin turned angry and red, becoming so swollen I thought it was going to split open in some places. (In addition to the fact that he was already split wide open down the middle.)
His second procedure had to be postponed for fear that the hole wouldn’t fully close, and that even if it did, the stitches would be pulled back apart. There was nothing they could do during this time but flush out his body and wait for it to start healing itself. At this stage, the opening in his abdomen was about the size of a fat orange.
Photo Courtesy Of Jennifer Scott Pickett Bastian, under a month old, right before his second surgery in April 2019.
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I knew there would be surgeries to correct the birth defect, but since he was born at 37 weeks and not technically premature, I didn’t know there would be so many other medical things done to him along the way. There was the special bed with a lid that had to stay closed in order to regulate his body temperature. There were the constant needle pricks on his tiny feet and the IV that had to repeatedly be replaced, because even sedated, he’d tug it out.
There was the nasogastric tube that removed the nasty green bile from his stomach since he couldn’t yet use his intestines. And there was the breathing tube crammed down his throat that kept him from even being able to cry out in his distress.
Have you ever seen a baby who is wailing with all of his might but not making a sound? His face all red and scrunched up, his mouth wide open with lips trembling, but completely, eerily silent? It’ll break your heart.
Bastian’s nutrition came from a PICC line linked to his heart, a device with potentially fatal risks such as infection and blood clots. At one point a nurse tried to reassure me by saying, “Don’t worry, the complications from a PICC line are rare.”
I remember thinking, “So is gastroschisis, but here we are.”
“Have you ever seen a baby who is wailing with all of his might but not making a sound? His face all red and scrunched up, his mouth wide open with lips trembling, but completely, eerily silent? It’ll break your heart.”
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I wish someone could have prepared me for how much anger I’d feel. I expected the sadness and the fear, but the fury was an unpleasant surprise. I wanted to rip out all the tubes, snatch my baby out of that sterile plastic box, and make a run for it. Obviously, that would only make everything worse, so I was stuck helplessly watching, my rage growing at warp speed.
I also felt guilty. Something as simple as eating a pack of Goldfish crackers while pumping breastmilk would reduce me to tears the moment I remembered my son wasn’t allowed to eat yet. And no matter how exhausted I was, I’d struggle to sleep, the guilt of leaving him at the hospital gnawing at me.
After Bastian finally received his second surgery to close the hole, we weren’t done. We had to wait for his intestine to “wake up.” Because they were unprotected in the amniotic fluid for so long, his bowels could be damaged or tangled. There are cases when the doctors can’t save them, so sections —sometimes large sections ― have to be cut out entirely.
The real test was could he poop? Never in my life did I expect to be so eager, so desperate for a dirty diaper. The night it finally happened, my husband and I literally jumped around, squealing with joy. We were way too loud for the gentle atmosphere of a NICU, but the nurses were kind about it and even celebrated with us.
Maybe most surprisingly of all, I had no idea how hard it would be to bring him home. As much as I hated the NICU, I’d come to rely on the security of the machines and the medical staff being readily available. Though Bastian is the youngest of three, I felt like a brand-new mom, completely intimidated and ill-equipped to take care of a newborn.
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Eleven months later, we’ve both made a lot of progress. There have been some hiccups ― a trip to the ER to drain fluid off his surgery site, and another procedure when he was around nine months old that required general anaesthesia and gave me intense flashbacks. But right now, as I type this, he is snuggled against me, milk-drunk and falling asleep. It’s his favourite place to be, and while it can be incredibly inconvenient at times, I can’t really blame him. Sometimes I think he’s still making up for lost time, for those days when he had to rely on a morphine drip for comfort instead of his mother’s arms.
We are about to celebrate Bastian’s first birthday, and it’s hard to believe that much time has passed. I look at this playful, charming, beautiful little human I helped create, and while I would’ve never wished that kind of trauma on him, I know he was worth everything I had to endure. He didn’t have a normal arrival, but he fought to be here, and I’m so deeply grateful for the pure strength he has.
My son doesn’t have a belly button, but that’s okay. Every warrior has a few scars.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Ricky Gervais Tears Into Celebrities Over Viral Imagine Video

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Ricky Gervais has shared his take on the viral video that showed an array of celebrities performing a cover of John Lennon’s Imagine, and we probably don’t need to tell you he was not impressed by it.
In March, Gal Gadot recruited a number of her famous pals including Kristen Wiig, Jamie Dornan, Natalie Portman and Cara Delevingne to each perform a line from the song in a bid to lift people’s spirits during lockdown.
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However, the video proved to be divisive at best, with many claiming the stars had missed the mark with their efforts.
Among the video’s critics is Ricky, who admitted he wasn’t a fan during an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Ricky Gervais Vera Anderson via Getty Images
“That Imagine video, it’s not that bad, they’re probably very nice people,” he explained.
“It was an awful rendition, but they might have been doing it for good reasons, to help these normal nobodies.”
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Ricky added: “But they’re going ‘My film’s coming up and I’m not on telly - I need to be in the public eye’, not all of them but some of them.
“You can see in their eye – ‘I could cry at the beauty of my personality, I’m just so beautiful for doing this’ and everyone sees that - we get it.”
Ricky called out celebrities for moaning about having to stay in their “mansions with swimming pools” during lockdown.
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“After this is over I never want to hear people moaning about the welfare state again,” he said. “I never want to hear people moaning about nurses again. Or porters. These people are doing 14-hour shifts and not complaining. Wearing masks, and being left with sores, after risking their own health and their families’ health selflessly.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--The Weeknd Urges Fans To Back Captain Tom Moore For Number One As Chart Battle Nears End

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Chart-topping singer The Weeknd has urged his fans to download and stream Captain Tom Moore’s song, as their chart battle nears its end.
The Weeknd has held the number one position in the UK charts for eight consecutive weeks now, with his hit Blinding Lights.
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However, on Thursday night, he encouraged his fans to get behind Captain Tom’s charity single – a cover of You’ll Never Walk Alone, on which he collaborated with Michael Ball – and get that to number one instead.
“everyone in the UK please support @captaintommoore / @mrmichaelball single so this incredible 99 yr old war veteran, walking for the British National Health Service @NHSuk & now raised $35 Million can have a No 1 for his 100th birthday in the UK!” he wrote. “We’re routing for you.”
The Weeknd performing on Saturday Night Live earlier this year NBC via Getty Images
The singer quickly added: “Nothing is more embarrassing than misspelling a word on Twitter... *rooting*”
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everyone in the UK please support @captaintommoore / @mrmichaelball single so this incredible 99 yr old war veteran, walking for the British National Health Service @NHSuk & now raised $35 Million can have a No 1 for his 100th birthday in the UK!We’re routing for you. XO! pic.twitter.com/P788bggQRn — The Weeknd (@theweeknd) April 23, 2020
nothing is more embarrassing than misspelling a word on twitter... *rooting* — The Weeknd (@theweeknd) April 23, 2020
Captain Tom wrote back: “My goodness, how gracious of you @theweeknd. [My grandson] Benji tells me you’re rather talented and very popular! What a kind gesture. Thank you!”
My goodness, how gracious of you @theweeknd
Benji tells me you're rather talented and very popular! What a kind gesture. Thank you! https://t.co/U9wHiHpW5h — Captain Tom Moore (@captaintommoore) April 23, 2020
On Thursday, it was reported that The Weeknd looked likely to hold onto the top spot for a ninth week, although just a few thousand sales remained between him and the 99-year-old veteran.
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Captain Tom Moore JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images
Captain Tom first made headlines earlier this month, when he raised millions of pounds for charities helping the NHS by doing laps of his back garden.
“I’m hearing this UK Christmas race is close,” he said at the time. “But the @Choir_NHS single is for charity. So… for 1 week it’s ok not to be #1. Let’s do the right thing & help them win. It’s Christmas”.
Eventually, the NHS Choir claimed the top spot, while The Biebs’ Love Yourself and Sorry occupied the number two and three slots.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Taylor Swift Accuses Scooter Braun Of 'Greed In The Time Of Coronavirus' As She Reignites Feud

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Taylor Swift has accused Scooter Braun and her former record label of “shameless greed in the time of coronavirus”, after it was revealed a live album of hers was being released without her approval.
On Thursday night, Taylor reignited her feud with the high-profile music manager, who she first took aim at last year when it was revealed that he had bought her old label, Big Machine, and therefore owned the masters to her first six albums.
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At the time, the chart-topping singer claimed that Scooter (and acts he managed) had “bullied” her for years, including at a time she said was her “lowest point”.
She’s now put him on blast once again, after Big Machine announced a new album of live performances was being put on sale.
Taylor Swift at the Golden Globes in January Daniele Venturelli via Getty Images
“I want to thank my fans for making me aware that my old record label is putting out an ‘album’ of live performances of mine tonight,” she wrote.
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“This recording is from a 2008 radio show performance I did when I was 18. Big Machine has listed the date as a 2017 release but they’re actually releasing it tonight at midnight.
“I’m always honest with you guys about this stuff so I just wanted to tell you that this release is not approved by me. It looks to me like Scooter and his financial backers… have seen the latest balance sheets and realised that paying $330 million (£268 million) for my music wasn’t exactly a wise choice and they need the money.”
Taylor added: “In my opinion… just another case of shameless greed in the time of coronavirus. So tasteless, but very transparent.”
Scooter Braun – best known as Justin Bieber's manager – owns the masters to Taylor's first six albums LISA O'CONNOR via Getty Images
But this isn’t the only ongoing feud of Taylor’s that has reopened in recent times.
Last month, she and Kim Kardashian both broke their silence after more of the infamous recorded phone call between Taylor and Kanye West was posted online.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--‘The Real Virus Is Bolsonaro’: Pandemic Helps Fuel Amazon Deforestation Surge In Brazil

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Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon increased to the highest monthly levels in more than a decade in March, according to data released this month by Brazil’s federal space agency, illustrating how environmental destruction has accelerated even after a record outbreak of fires hit the rainforest last year.
More than 200 square miles of forest were cleared in March, according to INPE, the Brazilian space agency that monitors deforestation via satellite.
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That marks the highest monthly total since April 2008, according to the environmental news site Mongabay. Forest destruction has increased by more than 50% over the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2019 when the fires drew global attention to the destructive environmental policies of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazil’s Indigenous tribes have expressed fears that illegal raids on protected tribal lands have also intensified during the global COVID-19 pandemic, as miners, loggers and agricultural interests emboldened by Bolsonaro’s promises to open up the forest continue their push into the Amazon region.
Brazil’s largest indigenous organisation and a Washington-based legal organisation that represents tribes across the Americas accused Bolsonaro of “severe and ongoing violations of the human rights of indigenous peoples” in letters sent to the United Nations and Organisation of American States last week.
A burned area of the Amazon rainforest in Prainha in the Brazilian state of Para on Nov. 23, 2019. After a rash of fires linked to increased deforestation in 2019, destruction has continued in the early months of 2020. AP Photo/Leo Correa
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The letters from the Coordination of Indigenous Organisations of the Brazilian Amazon, which represents tribes across Brazil, and the Indian Resource Law Centre appealed for “immediate action from the international community” in the fight to curb deforestation and protect indigenous lands, especially during a pandemic that could “threaten the very existence of indigenous peoples.”
The coronavirus pandemic has likely contributed to both problems, experts say, in large part because the outbreak has forced Brazil’s environmental agencies to curb enforcement actions to protect their agents’ health.
“The people who are promoting deforestation of the Amazon are not in quarantine,” said Marcio Astrini, a researcher at the Climate Observatory, a Sao Paulo-based environmental nonprofit. “They are enjoying [the opportunity] to make the situation worse, and to operate even easier than they were before.”
“The people who are promoting deforestation of the Amazon are not in quarantine. They are enjoying [the opportunity] to make the situation worse, and to operate even easier than they were before.” - Marcio Astrini, researcher at the Climate Observatory
After nearly a decade of ambitious efforts to curb emissions and deforestation, rates of destruction in the Amazon began increasing again in the years before Bolsonaro became president. Indigenous lands have long faced threats from miners, loggers and large companies seeking to exploit the forest’s resources.
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But both have worsened under the right-wing president, who has rolled back regulatory protections and gutted environmental agencies since taking office in 2019. Those cuts rendered efforts to protect the Amazon relatively toothless even before the pandemic further limited the agencies.
“The virus is not the forest’s problem,” Astrini said. “The real virus ― the real pandemic ― for the Amazon is the Bolsonaro government.”
Much like US President Donald Trump, who has targeted environmental regulations during the COVID-19 outbreak, Bolsonaro’s anti-environment efforts have continued as the public health situation worsens in Brazil, which has more than 45,000 confirmed cases, according to its health department.
Bolsonaro deemed environmental enforcement an essential service in March, but he has continued to back legislation that would open some Indigenous lands to mining. And the recent departure of a top environmental regulator who has denied reports that he was fired amid a dispute over his agency’s efforts to crack down on illegal miners has raised broader concerns about the Bolsonaro government’s willingness to protect the forest.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks during the swearing-in ceremony of his new health minister, Nelson Teich, at Planalto Palace in Brasilia on April 17, 2020. AP Photo/Andre Borges
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Last year’s fires caused international outrage over Bolsonaro’s actions in the Amazon and their effects on the global effort to combat climate change. He faced intense criticism from European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, while multiple countries cancelled contributions to the Amazon Fund, an international effort to protect the forest.
Protesters welcomed Bolsonaro to the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September, where he was treated as a pariah by nearly everyone other than Trump after he opened the event with a conspiratorial speech that denied that the fires and his policies were devastating the forest.
The rise in deforestation over the first three months of 2020 has Amazon experts worried that another outbreak of fires could be on the horizon, especially as Brazil’s dry season rapidly approaches.
“There is a high probability of experiencing fires as serious or more serious than those we faced in 2019,” Claudia Azevedo-Ramos, a researcher at Brazil’s Federal University of Para, told Reuters.
The most immediate effects of the destruction targeted Brazil’s already vulnerable Indigenous populations, whose land Bolsonaro vowed to stop protecting. At least seven tribal members were murdered during land raids in 2019, the deadliest year in more than two decades for the country’s Indigenous population.
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Now, tribes are facing the triple threat of a worsening pandemic, increasing levels of environmental destruction, and a rising number of raids on their lands, with similarly deadly consequences. The pandemic claimed its first Indigenous victim in early April when a member of the Yanomami tribe in northern Brazil died after contracting the virus and the number of COVID-related deaths tripled over the last week.
Multiple tribal members, meanwhile, have been found dead after apparent disputes with loggers, miners or farmers since the beginning of April.
“Indigenous lands are not protected. The invasions have continued, and these illegal actions contribute to contamination,” said Joênia Wapichana, a federal lawmaker from Roraima state in northern Brazil who in 2018 became the first Indigenous woman ever elected to the country’s Congress. “It’s illegal activity, and it doesn’t stop.”
Fearful of the pandemic’s potential to devastate Indigenous tribes, Wapichana has repeatedly met with tribal leaders as the outbreak worsens and has fought for budget increases for Indigenous health programs and agencies charged with protecting tribal lands in Congress.
But so far, she said, efforts from within Congress and the Bolsonaro government have fallen far short of what’s necessary to protect tribes and their lands.
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“They need help,” Wapichana told HuffPost. “They need the support of the government, but the government doesn’t understand what this means for the Indigenous. Protection is a constitutional obligation and a fundamental right for Indigenous peoples. Unfortunately, there is still a lot to do to protect Indigenous peoples and their rights.”
“The government doesn’t understand what this means for the Indigenous. Protection is a constitutional obligation and a fundamental right for Indigenous peoples.” - Joênia Wapichana, Brazilian federal lawmaker from Roraima state
FUNAI, the Brazilian government agency charged with protecting Indigenous human rights, has said that it is providing assistance to tribes to protect them, including food and aid deliveries.
But in their letters to the UN and OAS, which were sent to the secretaries-general of both organizations on April 15, the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon and Indian Resource Law Center said that FUNAI had recently implemented new regulations that will “weaken the territorial rights of indigenous peoples.”
The Bolsonaro government, their letters said, has failed to implement policies protecting Indigenous tribes and their land from raiders or to outline a strategy to safeguard Indigenous people from the COVID-19 outbreak. The letters also accused Bolsonaro’s government of failing to protect tribes from potential encroachment by evangelical missionaries seeking to convert Indigenous Brazilians to Christianity.
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“Each of these three policy decisions violate and put at risk indigenous peoples’ human rights, including their right to life, land rights, and rights of self-determination,” the letters said. “Illegal development and resource exploitation threaten their environmental rights, the Amazon ecosystem, and the global climate.”
“These actions would pose severe health risks to indigenous peoples by exposing them to threats, violence, and disease at any time,” the letters said. “For indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the risks from these policy choices are so severe as to threaten genocide.”
Their letter said that Bolsonaro has “taken no steps” to protect Indigenous tribes or the forest from illegal invaders, has “yet to adopt any strategy” for monitoring the outbreak among isolated Indigenous tribes that voluntarily avoid contact with outside communities, and has failed to adopt “any other effective public health measures to protect indigenous peoples during this pandemic.”
Environmental groups have similar complaints as the situation in the Amazon worsens.
Since the fires, the Bolsonaro government hasn’t “promoted any new policies to try to halt deforestation,” Astrini said. “They just took action to feed deforestation, and to make it worse.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Seven Things You Need To Know About Coronavirus Today

Get the latest on coronavirus. Sign up to the Daily Brief for news, explainers, how-tos, opinion and more.
The US president has been ridiculed for his latest coronavirus advice and war veteran Captain Tom Moore has reached number one with his track with Michael Ball to support the NHS.
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According to the latest figures:
A further 684 UK hospital deaths of patients who had tested positive for coronavirus have been recorded in 24 hours, bringing the total to 19,506. Wales earlier declared a further 110 deaths – a huge leap in fatalities for the country, which yesterday reported a daily increase of 17 deaths – but Public Health Wales said this was largely down to a single health board that had reported 84 deaths, stretching back as far as March 20, in one go.
The number of people who have tested positive in the UK has reached 143,464.
Here’s the latest:
Donald Trump says he was testing the media when he suggested disinfectant could cure coronavirus
President Donald Trump departs after speaking about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on Thursday ASSOCIATED PRESS
“I was asking sarcastically to reporters just like you to see what would happen,” he said.
It comes after Trump, referring to research that has found isopropyl alcohol is more effective than bleach at killing the virus, said: “And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute.
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“One minute! And is there a way we can do something, by an injection inside or almost a cleaning? Is there a way we can do something like that by injection, inside, or almost a cleaning?
“Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that. So, that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me.”
The company that makes Dettol later urged people not to try injecting disinfectants to treat coronavirus after the president’s comments.
Meanwhile, England’s deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said that while she didn’t have a particular message for Trump, “I’d have a specific message to anybody who suggested they should be injecting anything into their bodies”.
“Clearly we would not support from a medical professional perspective – it is really important that people use appropriate treatments that are evidence-based and tested.”
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Captain Tom tops the charts with record-breaking track
99-year-old war veteran Captain Tom Moore ASSOCIATED PRESS
War veteran Captain Tom Moore – who has already raised more than £28 million for the NHS by walking laps of his garden – has set a new chart record after his cover of You’ll Never Walk Alone with Michael Ball hit number one on Friday.
The 99-year-old has become the oldest artist to reach number one on the official UK singles chart in its 70-year history. The track, which was recorded in lockdown and features The NHS Voices Of Care Choir, will also be top of the charts when he hits his milestone 100th birthday next Thursday. Speaking from his home in Bedfordshire, Captain Tom said: “What wonderful news to receive today, a number one single and record-breaker too – my grandchildren can’t believe I am a chart topper! “I have to thank Michael Ball, the NHS Voices Of Care Choir and everyone behind the scenes, who shared their talents and expertise in order to raise money for the NHS, to whom we owe so much. “And, of course, the public for buying the single and donating – we’re in this together, and I am forever grateful for your support. “And this just proves you’ll never walk alone.”
Government’s flagship coronavirus website runs out of tests in two minutes
The government has said it will stagger the release of its coronavirus tests for essential workers each day after its much-lauded website ran out of capacity and had to be “closed” within minutes of opening on Friday morning.
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The Department of Health and Social Care said test booking slots and home testing kits would become available to order from 8am each day – but that the stock would be spread out through the day.
Health secretary Matt Hancock had announced on Thursday he was expanding the UK’s testing programme to include key workers and people from their households.
It was a key part of the government’s strategy to meet the self-imposed target of carrying out 100,000 tests a day by the end of April – despite barely having reached a fifth of that figure as of Thursday morning.
Hancock said millions of people would be able to book an appointment online for a drive-through test at a centre close to their home.
A daily allowance of 5,000 home test kits – to be posted out to people – was to be made available as part of the push, but the gov.uk/coronavirus site ran out within two minutes on Thursday morning.
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As scores of people logged on to apply for a test, a message informed them: “Currently, only drive through tests are available.”
But then, just minutes later, it appeared that nobody was able to book a test at all, as the site told them: “Coronavirus test: applications closed.”
Furloughed workers on parental leave will not have their payments cut
SeventyFour via Getty Images
Furloughed workers planning to take paid parental leave will be entitled to payments based on their usual earnings rather than their furloughed pay, the government has announced.
Legislation introduced on Friday means that workers whose leave begins on or after April 25 will be assessed on their usual, full pay, even if they have been furloughed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
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The changes will apply to those intending to take time off following the birth, adoption or death of a child, the government said.
Business minister Paul Scully said: “Maternity and other forms of parental leave are pivotal times in people’s lives, and they should absolutely be protected from the impacts of Covid-19.
“We are supporting workers and businesses in a way never seen before, in response to the unprecedented effects of Covid-19. These measures will ensure those on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme continue to receive the parental leave and pay they are entitled to.”
Boris Johnson ‘on the mend’
Health secretary Matt Hancock said the prime minister was “on the mend” but any return to work was a matter for Boris Johnson and his doctors.
Boris Johnson puts Britain on lockdown on March 23. The prime minister has not been seen for weeks after becoming seriously ill with Covid-19. He is expected to return to work soon ASSOCIATED PRESS
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He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I spoke to the prime minister yesterday. He’s definitely in good spirits and getting much better and so that is very good news.
“I’m sure the whole country looks forward to him coming out of his isolation.”
Asked whether there was pressure on Johnson to return earlier than he was ready, Hancock added: “I hope not. By his nature he is an extremely enthusiastic and hard working guy and he doesn’t like slouching.”
Retailers suffer record collapse in sales after coronavirus store closures
Retail sales reported the sharpest fall on record last month as clothing sales plunged by a third, according to new figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said total sales volumes dived 5.1% as many stores shut their doors in the face of the coronavirus.
It added that clothing store sales saw a particularly sharp fall when compared with February, moving 34.8% lower.
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In March 2020, retail sales volumes fell sharply by 5.1% as many stores ceased trading from the 23rd March, following official government guidance during the #coronavirus pandemic.
This was the largest fall since the series began https://t.co/s8b9bwOHHZ pic.twitter.com/9H2Mi7E0iq — Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) April 24, 2020
Meanwhile, food stores reported their strongest growth on record in March, as sales jumped 10.4% with shoppers stocking up on essential groceries.
Supermarkets saw sales volumes increase by 10.3% while alcohol-focused stores saw a 31.4% surge in volumes.
Meanwhile, the ONS said the total value of online food sales in March was more than double the same month last year, rising by 101%.
Government must be ready with clear guidance if lockdown eased, expert warns
Clear guidance on whether people can safely visit family and friends needs to be ready as soon as any easing of coronavirus lockdown rules is announced, a public health expert has warned.
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Indefinite shielding of vulnerable groups such as the over-70s would be “incredibly unpalatable and damaging to families”, Professor Linda Bauld said, as the public clamour for information on what the future might look like continues.
England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty has said the UK will likely have to live with some form of disruptive social measures for at least the rest of the year, PA Media reports.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon echoed his comments, adding that “a return to normal as we knew it is not on the cards in the near future”.
Prof Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, said international travel is likely to be “strongly discouraged” until the autumn but said clear guidance is needed on whether safe travel within the UK will be possible.
Earlier updates


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Too Hot To Handle & Making The Cut | Good Vibes Only: Lockdown

Too Hot To Handle & Making The Cut | Good Vibes Only: Lockdown
This week in entertainment we’re loving Netflix’s Too Hot To Handle, BBC’s Last Tango In Halifax and Amazon’s new fashion reality show, Making The Cut. Take part in our Amanda Holden quiz and watch the funniest clips on the internet with us.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Kate Garraway Says Husband Remains 'Critically Ill' As She Pays Tribute To NHS Workers

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Kate Garraway has shared a heartfelt tribute to the NHS staff members working on the frontline amid the coronavirus crisis, while her husband remains critically ill in hospital.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that the Good Morning Britain presenter’s husband, Derek Draper, had been admitted to hospital after contracting Covid-19.
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In an Instagram post on Thursday night, shared shortly after the nation took part in Clap For Carers at 8pm, Kate shared her own thanks to the NHS, as she revealed Derek remains “critically ill” and in intensive care.
“Another emotional #clapthecarers & never has it been more needed,” she wrote, alongside footage of people applauding. “If this pandemic #lockdown is dragging on for us, imagine what it is like for them. Shift after endlessly long shift , bravely going to work, to battle the virus and give our loved ones a chance.”
Derek and Kate in Australia last year, shortly after she left the I'm A Celebrity jungle James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock
She continued: “None of those keeping my Derek alive have ever made me feel it’s a chore, they want to win this as much as I want them to, but it must be so hard.
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“He is still critically ill in intensive care, but where there is life there is hope. Thank you #nhs from the bottom of my heart.”
Kate went on to thank her supporters for their “wonderful messages”, noting she’d be “gathering the things that have helped me” through her difficult experience and putting them on her website for free.
“I know I am not alone in struggling . We are all facing challenges , whether we have a sick loved one or not , so let’s stand together & I hope something on there helps YOU - even if it’s just to share!” she added.
The daytime star’s husband, a former political aide to then-Labour cabinet minister Peter Mandelson, was admitted to hospital on 30 March.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Donald Trump Has Suggested Injecting People With Disinfectant Could Cure Coronavirus

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The president of the United States stood before his nation yesterday and suggested injecting people with disinfectant could help fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Referring to research that has found isopropyl alcohol is more effective than bleach at killing the virus, Donald Trump said: “And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute.
“One minute! And is there a way we can do something, by an injection inside or almost a cleaning? Is there a way we can do something like that by injection, inside, or almost a cleaning?
“Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that. So, that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me.”
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MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
Senior US officials immediately clarified that there were no plans to inject disinfectant into Americans and experts lambasted the idea wholesale.
Pulmonologist Dr Vin Gupta told NBC News: “This notion of injecting or ingesting any type of cleansing product into the body is irresponsible and it’s dangerous.”
Berkeley professor Robert Reich said the president was “actively endangering the public’s health”.
Trump's briefings are actively endangering the public's health.
Boycott the propaganda. Listen to the experts. And please don't drink disinfectant. https://t.co/gRRn3sQ04T — Robert Reich (@RBReich) April 23, 2020
Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy struggles to hide a few giggles as he's asked about President Trump's comments on injecting disinfectant and sunlight as treatments for coronavirus.
Says it all, really @abcnews @politicsabc #auspol pic.twitter.com/mMpvegrusH — Matthew Doran (@MattDoran91) April 24, 2020
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The remarkable comments came during a press briefing on Thursday where the White House also pitched “emerging” research on the benefits of sunlight and humidity in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
Past studies have not found good evidence that the warmer temperatures and higher humidity of spring and summer will help diminish the spread of the virus.
But William Bryan of the Department of Homeland Security said that there are “emerging results” from new research that suggest solar light has a powerful effect in killing the virus on surfaces and in the air.
Dr. Birx’s reaction here is quite, quite beautiful (light is now a cure). But why on earth is nobody around Trump, part of the administration or adjacent, just taking one for the team & hugely calling him out. It’s like they’ve all got Stockholm syndrome. pic.twitter.com/cOfIc4J9Ux — Hannah Jane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) April 24, 2020
He said scientists have seen a similar effect from higher temperatures and humidity.
“The virus is dying at a much more rapid pace just from exposure to higher temperatures and just from exposure to humidity,” Bryan said.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--Trump's Most Gobsmacking Moments From The Coronavirus Outbreak

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Get the latest on coronavirus. Sign up to the Daily Brief for news, explainers, how-tos, opinion and more.
The UK government’s daily press conference features three figures standing behind a lectern giving a sober update on the current state of the coronavirus outbreak.
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By contrast, the US federal government’s daily briefly is dominated by a thin-skinned Donald Trump, who sometimes stretches self-congratulation and grievance over more than two hours while adopting a cavalier approach to the truth.
You could be mistaken for thinking America did not have the largest number Covid-19 cases in the world given how he appears to care more about the ratings than delivering a coherent message.
After saying it “would be interesting to check” whether injecting disinfectants could treat the illness, here’s a compilation of the most jaw-dropping moments from his White House performances. It’s worth noting the US death toll has risen to 50,243.
The meltdown
Perhaps the most unhinged performance came when the US president launched a full-throated propaganda campaign and attempted to rewrite history on his pandemic response.
So far, so normal. But Trump then surprised reporters by having the briefing room’s lights dimmed to show a video that began with a slide titled: “The Media Minimized the Risk From the Start.” To put it charitably, he has changed his tune.
Trump, Feb. 28: "The press is in hysteria mode" over coronavirus.
Trump April 13: "The media minimized the risk from the start."
Here we go again. 👇🏽 https://t.co/Pun6bIWp0D — Rula Jebreal (@rulajebreal) April 18, 2020
The propaganda video showed several newsreels of reporters and TV hosts downplaying the virus’s risk in January and early February. The video then showed a timeline of the White House’s response to the pandemic, with Trump’s first action being on January 31, when he announced travel restrictions on passengers from China. As Trump continued his tirade, US news networks including MSNBC and CNN made the decision to cut away ― but not before providing viewers with a slew of headlines (or chyrons as they are referred to in the US) accurately depicting the situation in the briefing room.
Four banners on @CNN over the last five minutes ... pic.twitter.com/UBxpCcY2vl — Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) April 13, 2020
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What a time to be alive and a chyron writer pic.twitter.com/LiXTuZPWHy — Tom Weber (@tweber) April 13, 2020
The chyrons included “Trump melts down in angry response to reports he ignored virus warnings”, “angry Trump uses propaganda video, produced by government employees at taxpayers’ expense” and “Trump uses task force briefing to try and rewrite history on coronavirus response”.
‘You know you’re a fake. You know that.’
At the same press conference, Paula Reid, of CBS, challenged Trump over what he did to help prevent the pandemic in the month between announcing travel restrictions from China and announcing that pharmaceutical companies were beginning to develop a vaccine. “The argument is that you bought yourself some time and you didn’t use it to prepare hospitals and you didn’t use it to ramp up testing,” Reid said, as Trump called her “disgraceful”. “Right now, literally 20 million people are unemployed. Tens of thousands of Americans are dead. How does this reel or this rant supposed to make people feel confident in an unprecedented crisis?”
Here's video of @PaulaReidCBS grilling Trump on what his administration did in the month leading up to the coronavirus crisis.
"You didn't use it to prepare hospitals. You didn't use it to ramp up testing." pic.twitter.com/3pvrn9EAug — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) April 13, 2020
“Your video has a complete gap,” Reid continued, referring to the video’s timeline jump from February 6 to March 2. “What did your administration do in February with the time that your travel ban bought you?” Trump responded by saying: “A lot.” Reid continued her questioning despite the president shouting over her, asking him what he did with the entire month he had to implement mitigation measures. “You know you’re a fake. You know that,” Trump told Reid, as a pattern begun to emerge of the president attacking female White House reporters.
‘I was never involved in a model ... at least this kind of a model.’
Despite being in the middle of a pandemic, Trump found time to crack a joke about being “involved” with models.
Trump was commenting on the number of people who would die from Covid-19 when he said: “The models show hundreds of thousands of people are going to die and you know what I want to do? I want to come way under the model. The professionals did the models and I was never involved in a model. At least this kind of a model.”
Trump: "The models show hundreds of thousands of people are going to die. And you know what I want to do? I want to come way under the model. The professionals did the models and I was never involved in a model ... at least this kind of a model." Stopped short of wink to camera pic.twitter.com/ywwzA4yRvM — Graeme Demianyk (@GraemeDemianyk) April 3, 2020
The ‘Chinese virus’
Trump has faced repeated accusations of racism as he has chosen to spend more time than most world leaders on blaming China for the outbreak.
In the most striking example of this, a photograph captured a Trump news conference script showing what appeared to be his own handwritten change from “corona” to “Chinese” to form “Chinese virus.”
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Washington Post photographer Jabin Botsford posted the close-up on Twitter amid criticism of Trump over his insistence this week on incorrectly calling coronavirus the “Chinese virus”.
Critics have slammed the implied racism of his tactic, which they say is aimed at blaming a nation and a race of people for the pandemic to distract the American public from the dangerous failings of his own administration to battle the virus.
A close up of Trump's notes shows where 'Corona' was crossed out and replaced with 'Chinese'. The Washington Post via Getty Images
Trump has dismissed the idea that the term “Chinese virus” is in any way racist. “It comes from China,” he said. “It’s not racist at all. I want to be accurate.”
However, Trump’s own top health advisers have said it is inappropriate and inaccurate to label the novel coronavirus as such.
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Questionable opinions on China are a recurring theme.
On March 23, his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, shared a Karate Kid-themed meme of his father beating the coronavirus on Instagram with the caption: “Hahahahaha ‘The Kung-Flu Kid.’”
The term “kung flu” gained traction last week after CBS alleged that a White House staffer had used it to describe the coronavirus. When asked about the term at a press conference, Trump senior insisted that calling the coronavirus the “kung flu” was neither wrong nor racist. “I wonder who said that (kung flu) .... I think they probably would agree with it 100%. It comes from China,” Trump mused. “There’s nothing not to agree with.”
‘Be nice.’
Even by the normal standards of politicians evading questions, Trump has gone further than most. The president spent a portion of one briefing attacking White House reporters who asked questions about his recent remarks about the crisis.
Rather than suggest he didn’t agree with the premise of the question, or that he couldn’t recall what he had said, Trump flatly denied saying the words. PBS NewsHour’s Yamiche Alcindor began her question by directly quoting Trump from a recent interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, in which the president said he does not believe New York needs all the ventilators that governor Andrew Cuomo said they did. “And you know a lot ― a lot of equipment’s being asked for that I don’t think they’ll need but I’m building,” Trump told Hannity, according to the transcript. “You know, we’re building four hospitals, four medical centers and many other things we’ve developed and sent thousands of ― thousands of ventilators.”
Here is the transcript of the portion from Fox News where Trump did say what he just told @Yamiche
he didn't say.
Q: The first is you said repeatedly that you think some of the equipment that governors are requesting, they don't actually need. You said -- Trump: I didn't say it pic.twitter.com/cvVw5lbvYl — Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) March 29, 2020
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When Alcindor asked Trump how that thinking will impact how he fills equipment orders, he replied: “I didn’t say it.” Why don’t “you people” act “a little more positive?” Trump told Alcindor as she continued to try and finish her question. He went on: “Let me tell you something. Be nice. Don’t be threatening, don’t be threatening. Be nice.” ’I want them to be appreciative″ As well as asking reporters to be more kind, he has requested governors to be more grateful. After slamming the governors of Washington and Michigan, he was asked what more he wants from them, Trump answered: “I want them to be appreciative.” Referring to his vice president Mike Pence, he went on: “I say, ‘Mike, don’t call the governor of Washington; you’re wasting your time with him. Don’t call the woman in Michigan. It doesn’t make any difference what happens.’” “If they don’t treat you right, I don’t call,” Trump added, noting Pence is a “different type of person” who will “call quietly anyway.” Naturally, he later denied saying this.
"Your statement is a lie" -- Trump attacks a CNN reporter for asking him to explain his direct quotes from Friday about how he wants Democratic governors to be more "appreciative" pic.twitter.com/uv6fowVLZw — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 29, 2020
The nasty questions Trump has proved himself to be sensitive in the briefings since the very beginning of the crisis. When given a softball question, an opportunity to express a heartfelt message the country, the president opted to call the inquiry “nasty” and tell the reporter he should be “ashamed”. NBC’s Peter Alexander asked the president: “What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now who are scared?” He responded: “I say that you are a terrible reporter, that’s what I say. It’s a very nasty question. It’s a very bad signal that you’re putting out to the American people. “The American people are looking for answers and looking for hope. You’re doing sensationalism.”
NBC's @PeterAlexander asks Trump what he'd say to Americans who are frightened.
Trump goes on rant against Alexander, says he asked a "nasty question," calls him a "terrible reporter" and attacks NBC and Comcast. pic.twitter.com/vZAk3M4mqR — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 20, 2020
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He then criticised NBC, telling Alexander: “You ought to be ashamed of yourself.” It was not the last “nasty” question. This month Trump lashed out at a reporter when she challenged him about the shutdown of a pandemic response unit within the National Security Council in 2018. He was asked to reconcile the elimination of the pandemic team with his insistence that he takes no responsibility for a critical dearth of testing in the US fight against coronavirus. The reporter noted that officials who had worked in the unit said the White House “lost valuable time” without it. “I just think it’s a nasty question,” Trump replied. “When you say ‘me,’ I didn’t do it ... You say we did that, I don’t know anything about it.”
‘Keep your voice down.’
In keeping with his habit of targeting women, Trump patronised CBS’s Weijia Jiang during last Sunday’s press briefing when she asked why he did not do more to prepare for the pandemic in February when he was holding large political rallies.
"Who are you with? ... nice and easy. Just relax ... keep your voice down, please. Keep your voice down" -- Trump tries to bully @weijia after she asks him a question about his statements downplaying the virus in February and his decisions to hold rallies that month pic.twitter.com/SCicdLN8Hv — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 19, 2020
“Why did you wait so long to warn them, and why did you not have social distancing until March 16?” she asked him.
“So if you look at what I did in terms of cutting off or banning China from coming in,” he began.
“Chinese nationals ... not Americans who were also coming from China,” she specified. With more than an air of condescension, he told her: “Nice and easy. Nice and easy. Just relax.”
He added: “We cut it off. People were amazed, these gentlemen, everybody was amazed that I did it.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--The Psychology Behind Why We Lose Track Of Time In Quarantine

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A common refrain during the Covid-19 pandemic: Life is a blur. The days all seem to blend together — is it Tuesday or Friday? And the line between work and leisure time is obscured when your living room doubles as your home office.
I wish days of the week underwear were still a thing so I knew what the hell day of the week it is. — Mommy Owl (@Lhlodder) April 1, 2020
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“Anytime we have a big change in routine, this happens,” psychologist Sherry Benton — professor emeritus at the University of Florida and the founder of online therapy platform TAO Connect — told HuffPost. “We are accustomed to a certain amount of structure to our days. Moving to working from home disrupts the structure.”
Know that if you’re constantly confused about what day it is, you’re not the only one.
“This is a very common phenomenon,“ said Zainab Delawalla, a clinical psychologist in Atlanta. “All my clients have reported it to some degree.”
We talked to psychologists to figure out why this is happening and what we can do to feel more grounded during a chaotic time.
Why Life Feels Like A Blur Right Now
JLGutierrez via Getty Images If you're never sure what day it is anymore, you're not the only one.
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Your normal routine has gone out the window.
Before the lockdown, your week likely consisted of a handful of recurring activities, obligations and other plans. On Monday night you got together with your book club, on Wednesday you had standing lunch plans with a co-worker, on Thursday morning you went to spin class, Friday was date night, and on Saturday you got your nails done. Without these markers, the week has turned into an amorphous blob.
“You naturally did something different on work-out days, for example, like pack a gym bag, or wake up earlier, which made those days distinctive,” Delawalla said. “You knew it was Thursday, not only by looking at your calendar but because on Thursdays, you set your alarm for 7 a.m. instead of 7.30am, or you picked up bagels for the team on your way in to work.”
“Without these distinctions, all the days ‘feel’ the same, and it’s hard to keep track,” she added.
There’s no separation between work hours and downtime.
Working from home means that you no longer need to commute to and from the office — a built-in ritual that helped delineate between on- and off-hours. Plus, physically being at the office signalled that you were in work mode, while being home meant it was time to relax.
“If you worked Monday through Friday at a certain location, then the weekends marked a change,“ said psychologist Rebecca Leslie of Living Fully Psychological Services in Atlanta. “If you are now working from home and have nothing different that happens on the weekend, there is nothing to signify a change in days.”
You may be working more than before.
Some of Leslie’s patients are putting in longer hours because they’re scared that doing anything less might mean losing their job. If you had a consistent work schedule prior to the outbreak, working well into the evening can throw off your sense of time.
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“They do not have a standard end time to their workday like they used to,” she said. “This can make the timing of days feel confusing.”
You’re spending more time looking at screens.
Whether it’s logging extra time on your work laptop, scrolling on your smartphone, binge-watching TV or playing video games all night, the increased exposure to these blue-light emitting devices can disrupt the body’s internal biological clock, known as the circadian clock.
Plus, many of the apps and games people turn to as an escape from stress are designed to pull you in and hold your attention for long stretches of time.
“And with much of our time spent indoors, we are limiting our exposure to natural light, which is an important external factor in resetting our circadian rhythms,” Delawalla said.
Your sleep schedule is out of sync.
These days, you may find yourself staying up later at night because you don’t have to get up as early in the morning or because anxiety-induced insomnia is making it hard to fall asleep.
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“What’s more, we may be staying in bed a bit longer after waking up, since there may no longer be an external push to get up and get going,” Delawalla said.
When your sleep schedule is all over the place, it also throws off your circadian rhythm, which contributes to you feeling out of sync.
“Not waking up at approximately the same time each day may also lead to distortions in how we experience time, since it leads to some days being a lot ‘shorter’ or ‘longer’ than others,” Delawalla said.
Here’s What To Do About It
Jamie Grill via Getty Images How to create structure and ground yourself in quarantine.
Create a new routine and stick to it.
Add some structure to life in quarantine by anchoring your days with certain rituals you do at the same time each day — like having coffee at 8 a.m., prepping a healthy lunch at 1 p.m. and taking a walk at 6 p.m. after you’ve finished the workday.
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“Think of other activities in relation to these activities,” Delawalla said. “For example, divide your day into ‘before lunch’ and ‘after lunch,’ and organise other activities into these smaller chunks of time. Instead of thinking, ‘I need to do laundry today,’ think ‘I need to do laundry before lunch.’”
“You can also tag activities to these anchoring activities,” Delawalla added. “For example, ‘after I take my daily walk around the neighbourhood, I start making dinner.’”
Then, to differentiate one day from the next, make new weekly traditions. That might be tacos for dinner on Tuesdays, a virtual yoga class on Thursdays and a Zoom wine night with friends on Fridays.
Make your workdays different from your days off.
“Plan specific fun activities you reserve for days off or things you only do on days off,” Leslie said.
“I have work-related books that I used to read on the weekend, and now I have been strict in telling myself to only read them during the week,” she added. “I know this is a little thing, but the little things can make a big difference to help you distinguish the work week from the weekend.”
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To the extent you can, resist the temptation to stay glued to your work email on the weekends. Put away your home office accessories and work materials on your days off so they’re not occupying your living space.
Set aside time for self-care.
Find little ways to care for yourself every day. Maybe that’s doing a guided meditation, taking a bath, writing in a journal or diving into a hobby like knitting.
“If possible, block out time each day to not work and do something enjoyable or focused on self-care,” Leslie said. “Keep this time consistent Monday through Friday.”
Get outside every day.
If the weather permits, “make sure you are getting exposure to sunlight during the day,” Leslie said. “This helps your body know what time it is. It also can help improve your mood.”
Try a grounding exercise.
“When our days are as unstructured as they currently are, getting ‘lost’ in this way can feel unnerving,” Delawalla said.
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In the moments you’re feeling overwhelmed by the state of things or anxious about the future, grounding techniques can soothe you and bring you into the present moment.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--I Dyed My Eight-Year-Old's Hair Goth-Black For Quarantine And She Loves It

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There’s something about lockdown that has everyone reaching for the hair dye.
Amanda Holden’s done it – the actress transformed her eight-year-old daughter Hollie’s hair from dark blonde to rose gold, and shared the video on instragram. And Victoria Beckham shaved 17-year-old son Romeo’s head herself, before dyeing 15-year old Cruz’s tips bright pink.
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Holly Willoughby posted a video explainer of how she dyes her own hair blonde at home, while Loose Women star Andrea McLean showed off her salon skills after doing a dye job on her entire family – husband Nick Feeney, and her teenagers, Finlay, 18, and Amy, 13.
Like Holden, I used a semi-permanent dye on my eight-year-old’s hair – with shocking results. Shocking, because she now looks exactly like me. By which I mean, the ‘me’ who dyed her hair jet-black for the best part of 20 years, before going platinum. As for ‘me’ in lockdown? Well, I’m currently bright blue. Yep.
I did it because she wanted to do something fun, new and exciting to her naturally dark-blonde bob. A friend gave us an unwanted box of indigo, wash-out dye – and my little girl couldn’t be happier with the results (this also follows a home haircut I gave her at the start of lockdown, four weeks ago, where I lopped off four inches).
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Oh, did I mention she’s been dressing me while we’ve been in lockdown, too?
Victoria Richards Victoria's daughter with dyed hair.
Dying kids’ hair can be controversial, with celebs such as Pink and Jessica Simpson criticised for sharing images of their children with coloured hair.
Last year, Simpson was mum-shamed when she posted photos of daughter Maxwell, then seven, with purple streaks; with some commenters saying, “Isn’t she too young to have her hair dyed?” – and, “So young it’s a shame.”
But fellow singer Pink leapt to Simpson’s defence by posting images of her her own child’s hair dyed blue – alongside a torrent of hashtags including #bluehairdontcare #getyourownkids and #illdyeyourhairtoolosers.
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There are valid concerns around the use of dyes containing the chemical Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) in under 16s. Dr Rahul Chodhari, spokesperson for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), previously told HuffPost UK that this can cause skin reactions, worsen asthma and, on rare occasions, result in systemic illness.
However, I cannot see the harm in letting your kids experiment a little, especially now that schools are closed (and with them school rulebooks). Just choose a safe and semi-permanent hair dye, and go wild with the colour.
After all, we’re living through a time where the measures of what we can and can’t do are stricter and more regimented than ever. Surely now is the time to give each other a bit of a break and stop with the parent-shaming?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--13 Online Classes, Tastings And Events To Keep You Busy For The Next Fortnight

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If you’ve baked all the banana bread you can muster and are frequently finding yourself twiddling your thumbs with nothing to do, listen up.
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There are loads of things to keep you busy on the internet in lockdown, you just need to know where to find them. Take, for example, Airbnb’s newly launched online experiences hub where you can buy tickets to events and masterclasses with teachers from around the world. Learn how to make fresh pasta, tapas, cocktails – you name it. There are also slightly more obscure sessions, like tuning in for a chat with a shark enthusiast. Hey, whatever floats your boat.
Elsewhere on the web, businesses are turning to Instagram Live to offer creative workshops and tutorials, while Yodomo has become a source of inspiration for those wanting to learn a new skill – it offers online courses, DIY kits and webinars.
So yes, there’s plenty to be cracking on with. Here are some suggestions to fill your time over the next few weeks.
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nadia_bormotova via Getty Images
1. Sweat it out
On Friday 24 April, ClassPass is hosting Together We Sweat, a series of free, live workouts broadcast around the world. All classes are 45 minutes and are taught in English. You don’t need any equipment and they’re suitable for all fitness levels. The line-up includes:
1. The Platform (Dubai) - HIIT @ 09:00am BST
2. Saints & Stars (Amsterdam) - Holy Box @ 11:00am BST
3. BLOK (London) - BLOKbarre @ 12:00pm BST
4. Rumble (NYC) - Boxing x HIIT @ 05:00pm BST
2. Experience Secret Cinema, from your sofa
Secret Cinema is bringing its immersive experience to a living room near you. Sign up with your email and then, every Tuesday, the ‘Secret Sofa’ of the week will be revealed. Sometimes they’ll tell you the title up front, other times they’ll keep you guessing.
In true Secret Cinema (sorry, Secret Sofa) style, the email you get will include all the tools needed to create your own pocket of movie universe at home – from character and costume suggestions to music, activities, and food and drink ideas. A new film is aired at 7.30pm (BST) every Friday.
3. Master your phone photography
We all want to make our lockdown lifestyles look good for the ’Gram. On Saturday 25 April at 11am, tune into Marguerite’s Instagram Live with fashion photographer Holly McGlynn, who’ll be sharing tips and tricks for taking amazing photos on your phone. You’ll need a phone, surface to take pics on, items of your choice (e.g. flowers, books, perfume bottles, jewellery) and some fabric (like a bed sheet). It’s free to attend and part of Marguerite’s series of creative workshops every weekend.
Alexander Spatari via Getty Images
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4. Learn how to draw plants
Another Insta workshop: this time you can learn to draw houseplants with Hackney Arts and Jennie Webber, of Wild Life Drawing. The session takes place at 11am on Maguerite’s Instagram on Sunday 26 April. You’ll need: paper, a houseplant (or picture of one), and something to draw with (a pencil, pen, charcoal, colouring pencils, whatever you fancy).
5. Whip up tasty tacos
Chef Graciela runs regular cooking classes in Mexico, but she’s coming to a kitchen near you, via Airbnb. You can learn how to make Mexican street tacos with her on a variety of dates in the coming weeks. Find the ingredients and utensils you’ll need online. Classes cost £7 per person and tend to be held in the evenings with up to 10 people.
6. Let go and life draw
If you’re after a more calming artistic experience, check out dynamic, intuitive life drawing with yoga teacher and artist Laurie Nouchka, which takes place between 6.20-7.30pm every Wednesday on Zoom. Sessions start with a mixture of breath work, meditation and gentle movement-based exercises to get you out of your head, followed by a range of drawing exercises with a model. Prepare to let go and enjoy the presence of moving your pen around the paper.
Laurie Nouchka Art by Laurie Nouchka.
7. Become a master baker
London-based bakery Bread Ahead is running daily baking classes at 2pm over on Instagram Live. On Sunday 26 April, you’ll learn how to make focaccia, Monday 27 April is all about the carrot cake, and on Wednesday 29 April you can learn how to bake brioche. We’re pumped for the sourdough pizza lesson on Saturday 2 May – see you there.
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8. Make sangria and be entertained
What more could you possibly want from your evening? This is a live cocktail class making Portuguese sangria with drag queens Teresa al Dente and co. Expect unique live performances and incredible costumes. Once the sangria is finished, you get to all hang out, toast to life and talk about Lisbon and drag culture.
Interested? You’ll need sangria ingredients: wine (your choice), sprite/seven-up or sparkling citrus water or soda, oranges, apples, lemons, fresh-mint, cinnamon sticks (or powder), ginger, sugar, citric liquors like triple sec or cointreau. Dates are available from Monday 4 May onwards, with tickets priced at £28 per person.
9. Get a taste of opera
On Friday 1 May, the Royal Opera House is re-showing The Winter’s Tale by The Royal Ballet (from 2014) on Facebook and YouTube – it’s a ballet based on Shakespeare’s play. Tune in for free at 7pm or scroll through and find other productions that have already gone live on YouTube.
5PH via Getty Images
10. Swot up on your wine knowledge
Honest Grapes has been running a series of online tasting sessions since the lockdown started. One you won’t want to miss is its exploration of Italy’s ‘Hidden Gems’. Led by Tom, this tasting will cover three wines from Sicily, Piedmont and Tuscany. Join from 6.30-7.30pm on 7 May. It costs £62.50 – and that includes the event ticket as well as three wines delivered to your door.
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11. Up your coffee game
Coffee snobs can pay just £4 for a coffee masterclass with Ricardo, the founder and CEO of Borola Café, who judges Mexico’s national coffee competitions.
Sessions are daily and kick off at 1.30pm (due to the time difference). You’ll need: a lime, a piece of fruit you love, 10g of cinnamon, 10g of sugar, 10g of salt and sparkling water (or regular water will also work). You also need all the equipment you use to brew your own coffee at home, one or two different coffee beans, any type of milk you like, and a pen or pencil and paper.
12. Make Polish pajaki chandeliers
Karolina Merska usually teaches people how to make beautiful Polish pajaki paper chandeliers from her London workshop (see below), and now she’s moved her classes online.
You can learn how to create a basic two-layered pajaki, with nine traditional Polish “kalinka” pom poms. The online course costs £59.99 and doesn’t include materials – you have to buy those in. But if you’re feeling crafty and have some cash to splash, it’s worth the effort and you’ll be left with a stunning decoration to hang in your home at the end of it.
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13. Join a virtual dog show


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--This Is How Anxiety And Panic Attacks Have Changed My Sex Life

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You’re reading Sex Diaries, a HuffPost UK Personal series about how we are (or aren’t) having sex. To share your story, get in touch on ukpersonal@huffpost.com.
I slip my dress off one shoulder, then the other. The cold air gives me goosebumps. I catch a glimpse of my naked back in the bedroom mirror. As I hear my partner’s footsteps climb the stairs and approach from behind me, I drop the dress to the floor with a naughty smirk. He wraps his arms around me. I turn in his embrace to kiss him.
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As soon as our lips touch, a pit forms in my stomach. I try and ignore it but it grows and grows, consuming me. I push him away and tears fall down my cheeks as I stand naked at the foot of the bed. Huge, ugly sobs rock through my body and I collapse to the ground. He tries to hug me and I fight to escape the weight of his love.
Sense and reason have fled my body. My ability to communicate is reduced to a dozen simple phrases that all roughly mean the same thing: “I can’t do this.” The ‘this’ I’m referring to is everything from having sex to taking the next breath. I can’t understand what’s happening and I can’t stop crying.
This isn’t my first panic attack and I know it won’t be my last.
I was diagnosed with anxiety four years ago, but I’d been struggling for much longer. It took years to realise that the way I was feeling wasn’t normal and to accept that I needed help dealing with it. When I finally went to see my doctor, she recommended antidepressants and gave me the details of the local talking therapy service.
“My anxiety is worst in situations where I don’t know what will happen or what someone else is thinking.”
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A side effect of those antidepressants, like many, is reduced sexual desire and difficulty having an orgasm. These are also symptoms of anxiety and depression, so you won’t be surprised to hear many people with mental health problems have trouble with sex.
My anxiety is worst in situations where I don’t know what will happen or what someone else is thinking. Sex, which is rarely planned out in advance and involves reading someone’s nonverbal cues to guess whether they’re having a good time, often triggers my anxiety.
Not knowing how my body will react during sex, as well as remembering previous panic attacks during sex, makes me anxious. Feeling anxious makes my body less likely to become physically aroused, which in turn only makes me more anxious. This vicious cycle is a perfect example of what makes dealing with mental health problems so difficult – treating anxiety is about breaking this pattern and training the brain to know there’s nothing to be scared of.
I have to give myself time to work through these feelings during sex: taking everything slowly, backing off when I’m starting to feel anxious and giving myself time to breathe and calm down. My logical brain knows there’s nothing to fear, but my subconscious is very willing to wrest charge of my emotions.
Having sex like this requires a lot of co-operation from a partner. Dealing with my anxiety would be harder still if I was single – if my anxiety around sex didn’t scare people off as much as I fear, it’d still be more difficult to have frequent sex, the regular exposure I need to get past this fear. Thankfully, my partner is understanding and patient with my anxiety. His complete acceptance of how I’m feeling and what I need has helped me to start to feel the same.
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“My favourite intimate activities are the ones that are the most intense so they fill my head and I can’t focus on anything else”
Sometimes, I’m able to defeat my anxiety completely and start to wonder why we’re taking things so sensitively. Let’s stop worrying about having sex and just have sex! This sounds easy but it takes a lot of work deconstructing fears and accepting whatever may happen to be able to finally push it aside.
When I don’t have the time or energy to do this, I go to the other extreme: jumping in quickly so I don’t have enough time for the thoughts to get into my head before I start enjoying myself. Some of my favourite intimate activities are the ones that are the most intense so they fill my head and I can’t focus on anything else; when my whole body is involved or multiple things are happening at once, it’s harder for my mind to wander.
When I’m struggling to escape my anxious thoughts, sometimes I just concentrate on my partner and his enjoyment. If my only aim is to make him feel good, I don’t have to worry about my own feelings and how anxiety is affecting them.
My anxiety has forced me to redefine what having sex – and what ‘failing’ to have sex – means. All I want from sex is to feel connected to my partner – through intimacy, vulnerability and, perhaps, pleasure. Anxiety may make certain types of sex more difficult but, even on my worst days, we can still feel connected by lying together naked on a bed and cuddling.
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That might not be everyone’s definition of sex, but I’m learning to accept that.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--9 Tweets You Need To See If You're Struggling To Laugh Today

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Another week down, another week of lockdown completed. We’re experiencing our fair share of highs and lows through the week, but can always make space for a little laughter.
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So thanks, as ever, to our Twitter comedians who – week in, week out – always manage to deliver the funny content we need to get us through the weirdness.
We got this, guys.
Alek_Koltukov via Getty Images Smiling emoticon vector logo on yellow background. Emoji joy in line art style illustration. World Smile Day, October 4th banner
1. The toddler-man child act is too good
Plus, a great way for parents of toddlers to fill a couple of hours. Just make sure they don’t, you know, fall off.
Why is playing with her like this 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/90Y4ZAaBYS — Dani.🦄💗 (@XoXoRihanna_) April 20, 2020
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2. Yet another Zoom disaster
The stories are endless. This one, featuring toilet humour, got us real good.
Tomorrow my twins turn 4.
Today during a zoom work call one of them sauntered in & told everyone on the call ‘Today mummy did a big poo. She was in the toilet for so long’
I just cannot wait for the day when they are a bit older & I can embarrass them. I have a lot of ideas. — Pragya Agarwal: SWAY Out Now (@DrPragyaAgarwal) April 22, 2020
3. The music teacher who can’t handle online learning
Her new song is quite the tune. Just wait till the end.
I’ve watched this 10 times and it just gets better every time. pic.twitter.com/AwzdPUGBFQ — luke i am your mother (@MommaUnfiltered) April 19, 2020
4. Just a goose in a dress.
We don’t know why, either.
sorry i can’t be her pic.twitter.com/NYlAPb7Pl6 — laurel (@releasethedoves) April 21, 2020
5. McDonald’s is, literally, a farm
It’s almost like this was planned.
This old McDonald's is now a farm. https://t.co/KvGxDD36LL — JA (@jaclark1315) April 21, 2020
6. Greg Wallace in some interesting poses
The way he’s looking at the camera though. Now we can’t unsee the fart pose idea.
Greg Wallace, aggressively pushing out farts in various poses, whilst maintaining eye contact. pic.twitter.com/39UI5XnieT — Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) April 19, 2020
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7. This at-home musical joy
Single in quarantine and having all the fun. Kick back, relax, and enjoy.
since I’m single in the quarantine I’ve decided to reenact moments from my favorite musicals so it feels like I’m in love — first is LES MISÉRABLES pic.twitter.com/Om11HKDZ30 — Mary Neely (@mneelzy) March 31, 2020
8. The quarantine Billie Jean tea dance
Can anything beat this?
Coffee. Quarantine. Billie Jean.
The internet is undefeated...😂😂pic.twitter.com/UEwK2kiMKU — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) April 22, 2020
9. Don’t pose with your post, guys
Our very own audience editor Becky shared the moment she thought the postman actually wanted her to pose with the post.
Reader, we couldn’t stop laughing.
Let me share a cringe moment that just happened... I just got delivered a big parcel & the delivery man needed to take a picture of it - delivered. And I thought he needed me to pick it up and pose with it. He did not need me to do that. I had to put it back on the floor. — Becky Barnes (@BeckyBarnesB) April 22, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-24--There Are 7 Types Of Lockdown Hangover – How Many Have You Had?

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“So pissed last night I can’t remember getting home from the living room,” read this tweet – and we can relate.
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In lockdown, sales of booze and baking ingredients have gone up, according to reports, while sales of makeup, plants and newspapers have all gone down.
Many of us are turning to wine, gin and homemade cocktails as we hold Zoom parties or catch-ups with friends – and the real upside? We don’t even have to put a brave face on the morning commute.
Here are the 7 types of hangover people are having in quarantine – how many have you experienced?
The Unashamedly Lazy One
Feel like staying in bed until noon? Well, what was once a distant dream is now a reality. You won’t feel any guilt at all about wasting the day – by staying in bed, you’re quite literally doing a national service. It’s the absolute dream. You’ll probably whack on a box-set and eat a Super Noodle sandwich – because you deserve it. Just make sure you change out of your pyjamas at bedtime (to another set, obvs).
The Dark, Dark One
Coupled with despair over the pandemic, a bad hangover can be a scary thing indeed. If a banging head and nausea wasn’t awful enough, now you’re suffering from existential dread, as well – because life itself is one big hangover, these days. You’ll get yourself in a funk on the sofa, not knowing what to do. You’ll struggle to even turn the TV on. If you find yourself staring into the vortex more often than not, it might be a good idea to stop drinking for a while. At least until tomorrow, anyway.
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The Stealthy One
You’ll wake up and feel okay. Too okay. This one sneaks up on you, when you least expect it. You’ll bounce out of bed, feeling smug, send a few giddy texts to pals to report back that you’re “not hungover at all, actually!” You’ll be aware, as you skip downstairs to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, that something is slightly off... that’s because you’re still drunk, babes. Go gently. It’s gonna hit you after lunch. Thankfully, because #lockdown, you can go back to bed and – sshhhh, whisper it – nobody need know a thing.
anniepaddington via Getty Images
The Parental One
Hungover, but still having to homeschool? Preach. You’re in for a bad day ahead and you know it. You’ll wake up and the realisation will hit you: and you’ll be desperate to go back to bed. Thank goodness for remote teaching (and thank you, teachers). If your kids are old enough to get on with their work unsupervised, count yourself lucky. You’ll sit on the sofa, chain-drinking coffee, until it’s time to go to sleep again. If not, screentime is your friend. Lockdown is hard, don’t beat yourself up over it. A ‘TV day’ isn’t going to hurt anyone.
The Antsy One
Is there any better cure for a terrible hangover than a cool, refreshing swim? Or a long, sweaty gym session? For you, starting the day off with exercise is the absolute best – but now we’re in lockdown, you can’t do that, and that can give a serious case of antsy feelings. You’ll feel the dread, the restlessness, the stress of not being able to shake it off. At least you can get outside once a day, so why not swap ‘swimming it off’ for ‘walking’ or ‘running’ it off, instead? Hey, whatever works for you.
g-stockstudio via Getty Images
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The Living Alone One
Drinking on Zoom felt great, last night. This morning? Not so much. Thinking back to student days – days when you’d lounge around with housemates, watching T4 and drinking endless cups of tea – can be tough when you’re stuck living alone during lockdown. You’ll be desperate for interaction, laying in bed wondering how you’ll get through this alone. Thankfully, Houseparty isn’t only for raucous nights in. Make a call to a beloved friend and share your beer fear, together.
The Teenage One