washingtontimes--2020-04-18--Virus patients at one Israeli hospital are not dying alone

JERUSALEM ( AP ) - Elisheva Stern wasn ’ t ready to say goodbye to her ailing father , who was succumbing to the coronavirus in an Israeli hospital .
But knowing countless others around the world are not given the chance to say their last farewells to sick relatives , she decided to enter the virus ward and be by her father ’ s bedside , even if only for a brief moment , before he died .
Stern ’ s father , Simha Benshai , 75 , died at Tel Aviv ’ s Sourasky Medical Center , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus patients the rare opportunity to say goodbye in person .
“ None of us want to say bye to the people who we love .
But I ’ m actually happy that they gave me the opportunity to say bye to my father , ” said Stern .
“ I was able to see him and to tell him I ’ m sorry and I love him.
” The practice is in contrast to many hospitals around the world that don ’ t allow final family visits as a precaution against spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients to die alone and forces families to grieve from afar .
Recognizing this peculiar tragedy wrought by the virus , Sourasky Medical Center officials opted to spare much-needed protective gear , take careful measures to ward off infection and offer grieving families a chance to say goodbye .
“ The stories of patients dying alone are horrifying , ” said Roni Gamzu , the hospital ’ s chief executive .
“ This is our moral duty as medical staff and as human beings .
No one shall be allowed to die alone.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ kin who want to visit a patient with head-to-toe protective wear - gear in demand around the world and often reserved for health care workers - and allows them about 15 minutes to say goodbye .
It then assists them in removing the mask , cap , robe , gloves and boots with the utmost caution needed to prevent infection .
Elsewhere , family and friends are bidding tortuous goodbyes remotely , often with the help of hospital workers entrusted to speak the families ’ final words , or supplying their phones as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relative .
The issue has gripped health care workers around the world .
“ Families beg to see their loved ones before they die .
A seemingly simple request , which in other times would be encouraged , has become an ethical and health care dilemma , ” a group of medical residents from the Detroit area wrote this week in the New England Medical Journal , calling for creative solutions to address the problem .
The virus has infected over 2 million people worldwide and has killed more than 140,000 .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most patients , who recover within a few weeks .
But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death , particularly in older people or those with underlying health problems .
Unlike epicenters like New York or Italy , Israel ’ s outbreak has so far seen manageable numbers of seriously ill patients .
The country has more than 13,000 coronavirus cases , among them 158 deaths .
Hospitals are not deluged with patients , meaning Sourasky is likely not under as much pressure as other facilities in virus hotbeds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gear for the final encounters .
Four families have so far agreed to enter the coronavirus ward in the two weeks since the hospital ’ s project began .
Dror Maor visited his dying mother-in-law at the hospital recently .
Entering the hospital room in full protective gear , he saw Segula Yanai , 81 , who was sedated and breathing through a ventilator and flanked by other patients in similar condition .
He recited a Jewish prayer and psalms at her bedside .
“ Despite the difficult scene , I felt my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she felt mine .
It was an act of devotion that I am happy to have carried out , ” he said .

JERUSALEM (AP) - Elisheva Stern wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her ailing father, who was succumbing to the coronavirus in an Israeli hospital.
But knowing countless others around the world are not given the chance to say their last farewells to sick relatives, she decided to enter the virus ward and be by her father’s bedside, even if only for a brief moment, before he died.
Stern’s father, Simha Benshai, 75, died at Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center, which offers the next of kin of dying coronavirus patients the rare opportunity to say goodbye in person.
“None of us want to say bye to the people who we love. But I’m actually happy that they gave me the opportunity to say bye to my father,” said Stern. “I was able to see him and to tell him I’m sorry and I love him.”
The practice is in contrast to many hospitals around the world that don’t allow final family visits as a precaution against spreading the highly contagious virus. That leaves patients to die alone and forces families to grieve from afar.
Recognizing this peculiar tragedy wrought by the virus, Sourasky Medical Center officials opted to spare much-needed protective gear, take careful measures to ward off infection and offer grieving families a chance to say goodbye.
“The stories of patients dying alone are horrifying,” said Roni Gamzu, the hospital’s chief executive. “This is our moral duty as medical staff and as human beings. No one shall be allowed to die alone.”
The hospital provides immediate next of kin who want to visit a patient with head-to-toe protective wear - gear in demand around the world and often reserved for health care workers - and allows them about 15 minutes to say goodbye. It then assists them in removing the mask, cap, robe, gloves and boots with the utmost caution needed to prevent infection.
Elsewhere, family and friends are bidding tortuous goodbyes remotely, often with the help of hospital workers entrusted to speak the families’ final words, or supplying their phones as a bridge to communicate with the virus-stricken relative.
The issue has gripped health care workers around the world.
“Families beg to see their loved ones before they die. A seemingly simple request, which in other times would be encouraged, has become an ethical and health care dilemma,” a group of medical residents from the Detroit area wrote this week in the New England Medical Journal, calling for creative solutions to address the problem.
The virus has infected over 2 million people worldwide and has killed more than 140,000. It causes mild to moderate flu-like symptoms in most patients, who recover within a few weeks. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death, particularly in older people or those with underlying health problems.
Unlike epicenters like New York or Italy, Israel’s outbreak has so far seen manageable numbers of seriously ill patients. The country has more than 13,000 coronavirus cases, among them 158 deaths. Hospitals are not deluged with patients, meaning Sourasky is likely not under as much pressure as other facilities in virus hotbeds and can spare the time and protective gear for the final encounters.
Four families have so far agreed to enter the coronavirus ward in the two weeks since the hospital’s project began.
Dror Maor visited his dying mother-in-law at the hospital recently. Entering the hospital room in full protective gear, he saw Segula Yanai, 81, who was sedated and breathing through a ventilator and flanked by other patients in similar condition. He recited a Jewish prayer and psalms at her bedside.
“Despite the difficult scene, I felt my mother-in-law’s presence and I believe that she felt mine. It was an act of devotion that I am happy to have carried out,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-04-18--Friday Sports in Brief

Friday Sports in Brief

Commissioner Adam Silver said it remains impossible for the NBA to make any decisions about whether to resume this season and that it is unclear when that will change .
But in a sign that at least some of the 259 remaining regular-season games that were not played because of the coronavirus pandemic will not be rescheduled , the league announced Friday it will withhold 25 % of player pay starting with their May 15 checks .
Silver , speaking after the league ’ s regularly scheduled April board of governors meeting said all options remain on the table for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a champion .
The salary decision was made in concert with the National Basketball Players Association , the league saying it would “ provide players with a more gradual salary reduction schedule ” if games are officially canceled or the rest of the season is totally lost .
NEW YORK ( AP ) - Isaiah Todd has become the second player to jump from high school to the G League this week , signing with the league with the intent of joining its new elite program .
Todd ’ s signing was announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became the first in the program .
Todd was a highly recruiting forward at Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh , North Carolina .
He was a McDonald ’ s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic selection this year .
The G League is still working on many details of the new program and says players like Todd and Green will have “ a chance to begin their professional careers while receiving mentorship and life skills training.
” NEW YORK ( AP ) - Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu was the No .
1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected .
When she ’ ll play for the New York Liberty is unclear .
With sports on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic , it was a draft Friday night like no other with players in their own homes instead of a central location , Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced selections from her home in New Jersey , holding up the jersey of the player being chosen .
Ionescu set the NCAA record for triple-doubles and was the first college player to have over 2,000 points , 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three first round picks for New York , which also had Nos .
9 and 12 .
“ I ’ ve been working for this for my entire basketball career and super excited to see that come to fruition , ” Ionescu said .
“ I ’ m very humbled and excited for the opportunity.
” Ducks teammate Satou Sabally went second to Dallas .
Lauren Cox went third to Indiana , and Chennedy Carter was the fourth pick by Atlanta .
Dallas took Bella Alarie with the fifth pick .
The Princeton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player to be drafted that high .
TOKYO ( AP ) - Nippon Professional Baseball ’ s season openers will not take place in May due to the new coronavirus pandemic , with no firm date set for the start .
Representatives of the 12 teams decided Friday to also scrap interleague play .
The removal of 18 interleague games from each team ’ s calendar would make for a 125-game regular season .
Although no specific date had been set to start the season , the representatives agreed in an online meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May .
The interleague games between the Central and Pacific leagues have started in May since the format was established in 2005 .
Dustin Byfuglien and the Winnipeg Jets agreed to mutually terminate his contract Friday , potentially marking the end of a playing career for “ Big Buff.
” The agreement ended a lengthy dispute between Byfuglien and the organization over his absence this season .
Because there was no financial settlement as part of the termination , the defenseman walked away from the $ 14 million remaining on his contract with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The episode ended seven months after Byfuglien told the Jets he ’ d lost the desire to play and following surgery in October to repair an ankle injury , which prompted a grievance filed through the NHL Players ’ Association and settled Friday .
SAN DIEGO ( AP ) - Guard Malachi Flynn , a consensus All-American and the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year , will forgo his senior season at San Diego State and enter the NBA draft .
Flynn became the most decorated player in Aztecs history in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Washington State and sitting out a year .
He led SDSU to a 30-2 record , the regular-season MWC title and a No .
6 ranking .
Flynn transferred to SDSU because he wanted to be part of a winning program .
He never got a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament .
The Aztecs were projected as a No .
1 or 2 seed before this year ’ s tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic .
RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) - NASCAR has suspended its May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not give an indication on when the season will resume .
When NASCAR suspended racing four events into the season , it listed the event in Virginia as its return date .
But Virginia is under a stay-at-home order until June 10 .
NASCAR in a statement said it is considering restarting the season without fans in May .
It has privately told teams that NASCAR is hopeful to race May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the Coca-Cola 600 .
Marion Hollins financed and developed a golf course for women in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fabled golf courses in California .
And with one determined swing , she set in motion plans for the famous par-3 16th at Cypress Point .
A visionary in golf course architecture , a confidante of Alister Mackenzie and a U.S. Women ’ s Amateur champion , Hollins now takes her place among the greats in the game .
She was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame through through the contributor ’ s category , joining a 2021 class that so far includes Tiger Woods .
The Hall of Fame announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned for March in Florida .
NEW YORK ( AP ) - Women ’ s golf has lost another senior major because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The Senior LPGA Championship has been canceled .
It was scheduled to be played July 30-Aug. 1 at French Lick Resort in Indiana .
The USGA previously canceled the U.S. Senior Women ’ s Open .
The Senior LPGA will stay at French Lick in 2021 .
The new dates will be determined later .
SURREY , England ( AP ) - The BMW International Open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golf tournaments were canceled on Friday because of the coronavirus pandemic , and the Scottish Open was postponed .
Both the BMW International Open , which was to be played in Munich from June 25-28 , and the Open de France , which was scheduled to take place a week later , fell victim to bans on major events in their countries .
The Scottish Open was scheduled to be played from July 9-12 .
All European Tour tournaments up to the end of July have been canceled or postponed because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing back restarting the season to at least June 8 and says it is also discussing possible salary cuts with the players ’ union .
Teams had played two matches before the season was suspended on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic and the league had been looking at possibly resuming play in mid-May .
The league would still like to play a full season .
MLS also said it is exploring possible “ changes to player compensation ” because of the financial hit the league and teams are facing .
LONDON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clubs on Friday discussed the coronavirus testing required and scenarios that could allow the season to resume from June at the earliest , with the aim of completing all fixtures .
Executives from the 20 clubs held a conference call a day after Britain ’ s lockdown was extended by the government for another three weeks to May 7 .
The aspiration of the league is restarting after a three-month absence on June 8 , presenting an optimistically tight timeframe for players to regain match fitness if social distancing is relaxed .
Clubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Premier League have been told by the English Football League that May 16 is the earliest training sessions are recommended to start .
Premier League teams have up to nine games remaining , including Liverpool , which has a 25-point lead in its quest to end a 30-year title drought .
MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Mexican league soccer owners voted Friday to suspend relegation and promotion between the country ’ s top two divisions for five years , citing economic problems for the second division that have been aggravated by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bonilla , making his first public appearance since announcing March 20 he had tested positive for COVID-19 , also said during the online news conference that the current season of the second division , known as Ascenso MX , would be canceled .
The two divisions were suspended March 15 .
The owners of the 18 Liga MX franchises voted remotely , days after the second-division Ascenso MX clubs approved the suspension .
Each Ascenso MX team will receive $ 845,000 a year for the five seasons .
It will be the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams will be move between the divisions .
INDIANAPOLIS ( AP ) - USA Track and Field has laid off seven people from its 65-person staff and CEO Max Siegel is taking a 20 % pay cut to offset lost revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The organization that runs the country ’ s largest summer sport has been forced to cancel dozens of events , including the Olympic trials , which were scheduled for June .
In 2016 , trials produced around $ 5 million in revenue .
They will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which have been pushed into 2021 .
Sports Business Daily reported that all the cuts came in divisions that support the 8,000 live events the USATF sanctions each year .
LADUE , Mo .
( AP ) - Bob Hermann , the soccer executive who launched the Hermann Trophy given annually to the top college soccer players in the United States , has died at age 97 .
His family said he died Monday at his home in the St. Louis suburb of Ladue .
A key figure in the rise of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1960s , Hermann was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001 .
LEEDS , England ( AP ) - Norman Hunter , a former Leeds defender who was part of England ’ s World Cup-winning squad in 1966 , died Friday with COVID-19 .
He was 76 .
Hunter , who earned the nickname “ Bites Yer Legs ” because of his tough tackling , was admitted to the hospital last week and died early Friday , Leeds said .
Hunter made 726 appearances for Leeds and won two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also played 28 times for England .

NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver said it remains impossible for the NBA to make any decisions about whether to resume this season and that it is unclear when that will change.
But in a sign that at least some of the 259 remaining regular-season games that were not played because of the coronavirus pandemic will not be rescheduled, the league announced Friday it will withhold 25% of player pay starting with their May 15 checks.
Silver, speaking after the league’s regularly scheduled April board of governors meeting said all options remain on the table for trying to resume play and eventually crowning a champion.
The salary decision was made in concert with the National Basketball Players Association, the league saying it would “provide players with a more gradual salary reduction schedule” if games are officially canceled or the rest of the season is totally lost.
NEW YORK (AP) - Isaiah Todd has become the second player to jump from high school to the G League this week, signing with the league with the intent of joining its new elite program.
Todd’s signing was announced Friday, one day after Jalen Green became the first in the program.
Todd was a highly recruiting forward at Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was a McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic selection this year.
The G League is still working on many details of the new program and says players like Todd and Green will have “a chance to begin their professional careers while receiving mentorship and life skills training.”
WNBA
NEW YORK (AP) - Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, as expected.
When she’ll play for the New York Liberty is unclear.
With sports on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was a draft Friday night like no other with players in their own homes instead of a central location, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced selections from her home in New Jersey, holding up the jersey of the player being chosen.
Ionescu set the NCAA record for triple-doubles and was the first college player to have over 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in her career. Ionescu was one of three first round picks for New York, which also had Nos. 9 and 12.
“I’ve been working for this for my entire basketball career and super excited to see that come to fruition,” Ionescu said. “I’m very humbled and excited for the opportunity.”
Ducks teammate Satou Sabally went second to Dallas. Lauren Cox went third to Indiana, and Chennedy Carter was the fourth pick by Atlanta. Dallas took Bella Alarie with the fifth pick. The Princeton star was only the second Ivy League player to be drafted that high.
BASEBALL
TOKYO (AP) - Nippon Professional Baseball’s season openers will not take place in May due to the new coronavirus pandemic, with no firm date set for the start.
Representatives of the 12 teams decided Friday to also scrap interleague play. The removal of 18 interleague games from each team’s calendar would make for a 125-game regular season.
Although no specific date had been set to start the season, the representatives agreed in an online meeting to not start before the end of May. The interleague games between the Central and Pacific leagues have started in May since the format was established in 2005.
HOCKEY
Dustin Byfuglien and the Winnipeg Jets agreed to mutually terminate his contract Friday, potentially marking the end of a playing career for “Big Buff.”
The agreement ended a lengthy dispute between Byfuglien and the organization over his absence this season. Because there was no financial settlement as part of the termination, the defenseman walked away from the $14 million remaining on his contract with no guarantee he’ll play again.
The episode ended seven months after Byfuglien told the Jets he’d lost the desire to play and following surgery in October to repair an ankle injury, which prompted a grievance filed through the NHL Players’ Association and settled Friday.
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Guard Malachi Flynn, a consensus All-American and the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, will forgo his senior season at San Diego State and enter the NBA draft.
Flynn became the most decorated player in Aztecs history in his one season at SDSU after transferring from Washington State and sitting out a year. He led SDSU to a 30-2 record, the regular-season MWC title and a No. 6 ranking.
Flynn transferred to SDSU because he wanted to be part of a winning program. He never got a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. The Aztecs were projected as a No. 1 or 2 seed before this year’s tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
NASCAR
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - NASCAR has suspended its May 9 race at Martinsville Speedway and did not give an indication on when the season will resume.
When NASCAR suspended racing four events into the season, it listed the event in Virginia as its return date. But Virginia is under a stay-at-home order until June 10.
NASCAR in a statement said it is considering restarting the season without fans in May. It has privately told teams that NASCAR is hopeful to race May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the Coca-Cola 600.
GOLF
Marion Hollins financed and developed a golf course for women in New York and was the brains behind two fabled golf courses in California. And with one determined swing, she set in motion plans for the famous par-3 16th at Cypress Point.
A visionary in golf course architecture, a confidante of Alister Mackenzie and a U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, Hollins now takes her place among the greats in the game.
She was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame through through the contributor’s category, joining a 2021 class that so far includes Tiger Woods.
The Hall of Fame announced her election Friday. The induction is planned for March in Florida.
NEW YORK (AP) - Women’s golf has lost another senior major because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Senior LPGA Championship has been canceled. It was scheduled to be played July 30-Aug. 1 at French Lick Resort in Indiana.
The USGA previously canceled the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
The Senior LPGA will stay at French Lick in 2021. The new dates will be determined later.
SURREY, England (AP) - The BMW International Open in Germany and the Open de France golf tournaments were canceled on Friday because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Scottish Open was postponed.
Both the BMW International Open, which was to be played in Munich from June 25-28, and the Open de France, which was scheduled to take place a week later, fell victim to bans on major events in their countries.
The Scottish Open was scheduled to be played from July 9-12.
All European Tour tournaments up to the end of July have been canceled or postponed because of the virus outbreak.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer is pushing back restarting the season to at least June 8 and says it is also discussing possible salary cuts with the players’ union.
Teams had played two matches before the season was suspended on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic and the league had been looking at possibly resuming play in mid-May. The league would still like to play a full season.
MLS also said it is exploring possible “changes to player compensation” because of the financial hit the league and teams are facing.
LONDON (AP) - English Premier League clubs on Friday discussed the coronavirus testing required and scenarios that could allow the season to resume from June at the earliest, with the aim of completing all fixtures.
Executives from the 20 clubs held a conference call a day after Britain’s lockdown was extended by the government for another three weeks to May 7.
The aspiration of the league is restarting after a three-month absence on June 8, presenting an optimistically tight timeframe for players to regain match fitness if social distancing is relaxed.
Clubs in the three professional leagues below the Premier League have been told by the English Football League that May 16 is the earliest training sessions are recommended to start.
Premier League teams have up to nine games remaining, including Liverpool, which has a 25-point lead in its quest to end a 30-year title drought.
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexican league soccer owners voted Friday to suspend relegation and promotion between the country’s top two divisions for five years, citing economic problems for the second division that have been aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Liga MX President Enrique Bonilla, making his first public appearance since announcing March 20 he had tested positive for COVID-19, also said during the online news conference that the current season of the second division, known as Ascenso MX, would be canceled. The two divisions were suspended March 15.
The owners of the 18 Liga MX franchises voted remotely, days after the second-division Ascenso MX clubs approved the suspension. Each Ascenso MX team will receive $845,000 a year for the five seasons.
It will be the first time since the 1951-52 season that no teams will be move between the divisions.
TRACK AND FIELD
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - USA Track and Field has laid off seven people from its 65-person staff and CEO Max Siegel is taking a 20% pay cut to offset lost revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The organization that runs the country’s largest summer sport has been forced to cancel dozens of events, including the Olympic trials, which were scheduled for June. In 2016, trials produced around $5 million in revenue. They will be rescheduled to mesh with the Olympics, which have been pushed into 2021.
Sports Business Daily reported that all the cuts came in divisions that support the 8,000 live events the USATF sanctions each year.
OBITUARY
LADUE, Mo. (AP) - Bob Hermann, the soccer executive who launched the Hermann Trophy given annually to the top college soccer players in the United States, has died at age 97.
His family said he died Monday at his home in the St. Louis suburb of Ladue.
A key figure in the rise of the professional sport in the U.S. in the 1960s, Hermann was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001.
LEEDS, England (AP) - Norman Hunter, a former Leeds defender who was part of England’s World Cup-winning squad in 1966, died Friday with COVID-19. He was 76.
Hunter, who earned the nickname “Bites Yer Legs” because of his tough tackling, was admitted to the hospital last week and died early Friday, Leeds said.
Hunter made 726 appearances for Leeds and won two league titles and the FA Cup. He also played 28 times for England.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-04-18--App helps consumers know what’s ‘InStock’ at grocery stores

ORLANDO , Fla. ( AP ) - Two Orlando developers have built an app that could limit shoppers ’ potential exposure to coronavirus by telling them what ’ s on the shelves at nearby grocery stores .
The free InStock app is available for iPhone , and the developers say they expect to release it for Android devices soon .
The project was born after Andrew Dushane could not find a small freezer at a Sam ’ s Club shortly before awareness of coronavirus spread in early March .
An employee asked him to call the store later , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Club had started coronavirus preparations , meaning his call went straight to an automated message .
“ It was just a festering idea , ” said Dushane , a software developer who first launched the app in the Lake Nona neighborhood .
The app , which is available anywhere in the U.S. , isn ’ t widely in use yet , having been downloaded by just 2,500 people .
It relies on crowdsourced information .
For instance , if you go to a Publix and see there are 10 rolls of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the app and share that number .
Users in Orlando , New York City , San Antonio and others have filled the app with data about their own local grocery stores .
When users open the app , it automatically looks for nearby stores and a list of items that have been reported to be available there pops up .
The user can then add items or see which items have not been reported by scrolling or hitting a button .
To report , they choose a store and item from a list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lists can be limited because of the small number of users so far .
InStock has been helpful to Stephany Cornelius , who lives in Lake Nona .
“ When I first heard of it , I thought it ’ s basically the Waze of grocery stores , ” said Cornelius , referring to the navigation app built from crowdsourced information on local traffic .
“ I liked that but because it ’ s brand new and community-driven , there weren ’ t a lot of stores.
” Cornelius usually uses delivery apps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Walmart ’ s .
But on the rare occasion that they don ’ t show stock of specific items in the app because it hasn ’ t been updated , perhaps after a morning shipment , she has found the items on InStock .
“ It ’ s a huge deal because it saves a lot of time , which can be frustrating and mean more potential exposure , ” Cornelius said .
“ Because of the app , I know I can skip Walgreens or CVS and go right to Walmart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” While tossing around the idea , Dushane called Matthew Dupree , a fellow developer who he had known through local tech groups .
It did not take long for Dupree , whose wife is a nurse at Orlando Regional Medical Center , to jump into the project with Dushane .
“ If people spend less time grocery-store hopping , looking for what they need , they spend less time in places where they could be exposed , ” Dupree said .
Medical experts and political leaders say social-distancing - keeping people away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus to run its course quicker .
So apps like InStock can help slow the spread , said Dr. Jason Littleton , a family physician who says technology will help in the battle against coronavirus .
“ Tech is the secret weapon , ” he said .
“ It gives us the ability to allow people to connect from home , and that is the point .
It is peace of mind to know you can obtain resources by flipping on your computer.
” It also limits logjams caused by a rush for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic in the streets and prevents us from doing our job , which is to flatten the curve , ” he said .
“ Large crowds defeat the purpose of social distancing.
” The InStock app started with a surge of about 1,200 users within the first few days .
That caused Dushane and Dupree to slow its development briefly as they dealt with unexpected traffic problems .
The fixes and development have so far cost them about $ 1,200 out of their own pockets .
They have not decided whether they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurricane supply information - once the coronavirus disappears .
Both have full-time developer jobs that allow them to work from home .
“ If it helps people during this desperate time and nothing else comes of it , that ’ s just fine , ” Dushane said .
“ If it turns out we can help more people , that ’ s cool , too .
We are trying to help during a difficult time , and that ’ s good enough for us to spend the time and money on it .
@

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Two Orlando developers have built an app that could limit shoppers’ potential exposure to coronavirus by telling them what’s on the shelves at nearby grocery stores.
The free InStock app is available for iPhone, and the developers say they expect to release it for Android devices soon.
The project was born after Andrew Dushane could not find a small freezer at a Sam’s Club shortly before awareness of coronavirus spread in early March.
An employee asked him to call the store later, but by the time he did, Sam’s Club had started coronavirus preparations, meaning his call went straight to an automated message.
“It was just a festering idea,” said Dushane, a software developer who first launched the app in the Lake Nona neighborhood.
The app, which is available anywhere in the U.S., isn’t widely in use yet, having been downloaded by just 2,500 people.
It relies on crowdsourced information. For instance, if you go to a Publix and see there are 10 rolls of paper towels, you can fire up the app and share that number.
Users in Orlando, New York City, San Antonio and others have filled the app with data about their own local grocery stores.
When users open the app, it automatically looks for nearby stores and a list of items that have been reported to be available there pops up.
The user can then add items or see which items have not been reported by scrolling or hitting a button.
To report, they choose a store and item from a list and put a quantity in. The lists can be limited because of the small number of users so far.
InStock has been helpful to Stephany Cornelius, who lives in Lake Nona.
“When I first heard of it, I thought it’s basically the Waze of grocery stores,” said Cornelius, referring to the navigation app built from crowdsourced information on local traffic. “I liked that but because it’s brand new and community-driven, there weren’t a lot of stores.”
Cornelius usually uses delivery apps like Instacart, Shipt or store apps like Walmart’s.
But on the rare occasion that they don’t show stock of specific items in the app because it hasn’t been updated, perhaps after a morning shipment, she has found the items on InStock.
“It’s a huge deal because it saves a lot of time, which can be frustrating and mean more potential exposure,” Cornelius said. “Because of the app, I know I can skip Walgreens or CVS and go right to Walmart or wherever the app says items are.”
While tossing around the idea, Dushane called Matthew Dupree, a fellow developer who he had known through local tech groups.
It did not take long for Dupree, whose wife is a nurse at Orlando Regional Medical Center, to jump into the project with Dushane.
“If people spend less time grocery-store hopping, looking for what they need, they spend less time in places where they could be exposed,” Dupree said.
Medical experts and political leaders say social-distancing - keeping people away from each other - will allow the virus to run its course quicker.
So apps like InStock can help slow the spread, said Dr. Jason Littleton, a family physician who says technology will help in the battle against coronavirus.
“Tech is the secret weapon,” he said. “It gives us the ability to allow people to connect from home, and that is the point. It is peace of mind to know you can obtain resources by flipping on your computer.”
It also limits logjams caused by a rush for certain products.
“That creates more traffic in the streets and prevents us from doing our job, which is to flatten the curve,” he said. “Large crowds defeat the purpose of social distancing.”
The InStock app started with a surge of about 1,200 users within the first few days.
That caused Dushane and Dupree to slow its development briefly as they dealt with unexpected traffic problems. The fixes and development have so far cost them about $1,200 out of their own pockets.
They have not decided whether they will adapt InStock for other uses - perhaps hurricane supply information - once the coronavirus disappears.
Both have full-time developer jobs that allow them to work from home.
“If it helps people during this desperate time and nothing else comes of it, that’s just fine,” Dushane said. “If it turns out we can help more people, that’s cool, too. We are trying to help during a difficult time, and that’s good enough for us to spend the time and money on it.”


washingtontimes--2020-04-18--Pub removes $10K stapled to walls, for unemployed staff

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. ( AP ) - The history of Fort Lauderdale restaurant Hott Leggz is written with magic marker on thousands of dollar bills stapled to the walls and ceiling .
On one bill , “ Da Bears ” is scrawled in Navy blue above George Washington ’ s mug , reflecting the pub ’ s Windy City roots .
Another single , from a Jackson , Va. , visitor , exclaims “ I ate gator tail !
” as a nod to the alligator-inspired menu .
Because this is also a sports bar , most scrawled messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lettuce Turnip the Beet !
” ) to raunchy and unprintable .
For nine years patrons have written these personal memories on enough cash to wallpaper every inch of the pub .
Co-owner Juliana Sodre ’ s favorite dollar bill contains four words : “ I love you forever.
” “ It was a message my sister-in-law , who worked here , wrote to my nephew , ” Sodre says .
“ She passed away last year.
” When South Florida restaurants shut down last month to halt the spread of the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off all but three of the pub ’ s 25 employees as they pivoted to takeout and delivery .
Then Sodre struck on a way to help her now-unemployed staff .
“ We were like , there ’ s literally money on the walls , so let ’ s donate it all to the employees , ” Sodre says .
“ We always had a running joke that if something went wrong with the bar , at least we had worst-case-scenario money .
Well , this is a worst-case scenario.
” Down came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sodre and volunteers have carefully unstuck and cleaned thousands of bills , one by one .
One bill , caked in years of bar dust , had 16 staples in it , Sodre says .
By unofficial tally , they harvested about $ 10,000 , with stacks of dirty bills stretched across the bar countertop .
“ It ’ s important for us to take care of our employees , ” says Ky Novak , co-owner of Hott Leggz .
“ At the end of the day , it ’ s not life-changing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the next week or two.
” A Chicago Bears stronghold from the moment it opened in 2011 , Hott Leggz dishes nine gourmet burgers , Chicago beef and sausage sandwiches , salads and alligator po ’ boys .
Novak , a part-time Fort Lauderdale resident who operates a 50-year-old rib joint in Chicago , quickly realized the power of customers leaving “ their personal mark ” on the walls of the 2,000-square-foot pub .
For now , Novak is keeping mum about the exact amount peeled off the walls .
Customers can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 with their pickup or takeout order through Monday , April 20 , and the closest will receive a $ 100 gift card , he says .
Novak , who estimates daily revenues are down 80 % at the bar , says his bar will “ probably survive ” the pandemic .
But Hott Leggz won ’ t look the same when the dining room eventually re-opens to customers .
Prying bills off the walls revealed layers of dirt underneath dating back a decade .
Employees have spent weeks scrubbing stains and replacing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of paint .
“ Then we ’ ll start the dollar bills all over again , ” Novak says .
“ Everyone should leave their mark .
”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - The history of Fort Lauderdale restaurant Hott Leggz is written with magic marker on thousands of dollar bills stapled to the walls and ceiling.
On one bill, “Da Bears” is scrawled in Navy blue above George Washington’s mug, reflecting the pub’s Windy City roots. Another single, from a Jackson, Va., visitor, exclaims “I ate gator tail!” as a nod to the alligator-inspired menu. Because this is also a sports bar, most scrawled messages range from punny and PG-rated (“Lettuce Turnip the Beet!”) to raunchy and unprintable.
For nine years patrons have written these personal memories on enough cash to wallpaper every inch of the pub.
Co-owner Juliana Sodre’s favorite dollar bill contains four words: “I love you forever.”
“It was a message my sister-in-law, who worked here, wrote to my nephew,” Sodre says. “She passed away last year.”
When South Florida restaurants shut down last month to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, Hott Leggz complied, laying off all but three of the pub’s 25 employees as they pivoted to takeout and delivery. Then Sodre struck on a way to help her now-unemployed staff.
“We were like, there’s literally money on the walls, so let’s donate it all to the employees,” Sodre says. “We always had a running joke that if something went wrong with the bar, at least we had worst-case-scenario money. Well, this is a worst-case scenario.”
Down came the dollars. Since March 21, Sodre and volunteers have carefully unstuck and cleaned thousands of bills, one by one. One bill, caked in years of bar dust, had 16 staples in it, Sodre says. By unofficial tally, they harvested about $10,000, with stacks of dirty bills stretched across the bar countertop.
“It’s important for us to take care of our employees,” says Ky Novak, co-owner of Hott Leggz. “At the end of the day, it’s not life-changing money, but it can get them through the next week or two.”
A Chicago Bears stronghold from the moment it opened in 2011, Hott Leggz dishes nine gourmet burgers, Chicago beef and sausage sandwiches, salads and alligator po’boys. Novak, a part-time Fort Lauderdale resident who operates a 50-year-old rib joint in Chicago, quickly realized the power of customers leaving “their personal mark” on the walls of the 2,000-square-foot pub.
For now, Novak is keeping mum about the exact amount peeled off the walls. Customers can hazard a guess by chipping in $1 with their pickup or takeout order through Monday, April 20, and the closest will receive a $100 gift card, he says.
Novak, who estimates daily revenues are down 80% at the bar, says his bar will “probably survive” the pandemic.
But Hott Leggz won’t look the same when the dining room eventually re-opens to customers. Prying bills off the walls revealed layers of dirt underneath dating back a decade. Employees have spent weeks scrubbing stains and replacing the walls with shiplap and fresh coats of paint.
“Then we’ll start the dollar bills all over again,” Novak says. “Everyone should leave their mark.”


washingtontimes--2020-04-18--Judge halts sale of bleach marketed as coronavirus treatment

MIAMI ( AP ) - A federal judge in South Florida has ordered a Colombia-based church to stop selling an industrial bleach marketed as a treatment for the new coronavirus and other ailments .
Judge Kathleen Williams entered a temporary injunction Friday halting Genesis II Church of Health and Healing ’ s sale of Miracle Mineral Solution in the U.S. Genesis sells MMS through its websites , according to a U.S. Justice Department civil complaint filed Thursday in the Southern District of Florida .
Prosecutors say Genesis markets the solution as a treatment for COVID-19 , as well as Alzheimer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis .
The Food and Drug Administration has previously issued public warnings that MMS can cause nausea , vomiting , diarrhea and severe dehydration .
The chemical product , chlorine dioxide , becomes a powerful bleach when combined with the included activator , officials said .
“ We will zealously pursue perpetrators of fraud schemes seeking to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic , ” U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan said in a statement .
Disease-related treatment claims for MMS are unsupported by any well-controlled clinical studies or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint .
Genesis didn ’ t immediately respond to a message from the Associated Press seeking comment .

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge in South Florida has ordered a Colombia-based church to stop selling an industrial bleach marketed as a treatment for the new coronavirus and other ailments.
Judge Kathleen Williams entered a temporary injunction Friday halting Genesis II Church of Health and Healing’s sale of Miracle Mineral Solution in the U.S.
Genesis sells MMS through its websites, according to a U.S. Justice Department civil complaint filed Thursday in the Southern District of Florida. Prosecutors say Genesis markets the solution as a treatment for COVID-19, as well as Alzheimer’s, autism, brain cancer, HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis. The Food and Drug Administration has previously issued public warnings that MMS can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and severe dehydration. The chemical product, chlorine dioxide, becomes a powerful bleach when combined with the included activator, officials said.
“We will zealously pursue perpetrators of fraud schemes seeking to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic,” U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan said in a statement.
Disease-related treatment claims for MMS are unsupported by any well-controlled clinical studies or other credible scientific substantiation, according to the complaint.
Genesis didn’t immediately respond to a message from the Associated Press seeking comment.


washingtontimes--2020-04-18--Property appraiser charged with $200,000 fraud

CRAWFORDVILLE , Fla. ( AP ) - A county property appraiser in Florida illegally paid himself more than $ 176,000 @ @ @ @ @ nearly $ 27,000 in fraudulent charges on his government-issued credit card , authorities said .
@ @ @ @ @ Harvey , 45 , was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of organized scheme @ @ @ @ @ the Florida Department of Law Enforcement .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis signed an executive order @ @ @ @ @ office .
Harvey took office in 2016 with an annual salary of over $ 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ that he had been issuing himself additional checks , investigators found .
He gave himself @ @ @ @ @ extra the first year , more than $ 49,000 the second year and nearly $ @ @ @ @ @ according to an arrest report .
Investigators said Harvey used his work credit card to @ @ @ @ @ his family on a cruise in 2017 .
Records also showed he had used the @ @ @ @ @ services for his personal vehicles .

CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A county property appraiser in Florida illegally paid himself more than $176,000 over three years and made nearly $27,000 in fraudulent charges on his government-issued credit card, authorities said.
Wakulla County Property Appraiser Brad Harvey, 45, was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of organized scheme to defraud, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Friday evening suspending Harvey from office.
Harvey took office in 2016 with an annual salary of over $100,000. Other staff members discovered that he had been issuing himself additional checks, investigators found. He gave himself an more than $50,000 extra the first year, more than $49,000 the second year and nearly $77,000 the third year, according to an arrest report.
Investigators said Harvey used his work credit card to pay $3,200 to take his family on a cruise in 2017. Records also showed he had used the card 11 times for automotive services for his personal vehicles.
Jail records didn’t list an attorney for Harvey.


washingtontimes--2020-04-18--AP PHOTOS: For Milan nurse, virus patients enter the soul

MILAN ( AP ) - The coronavirus brings with it forced isolation : Family members can not visit hospitalized patients .
Nursing homes bar their doors to outsiders .
People with mild cases or who have been in contact with infected persons must stay in quarantine .
Cristina Settembrese spends her days caring for COVID-19 patients in a hospital ward , and when she goes home , her personal isolation begins by her own choice .
The 54-year-old has been a nurse since she was 18 .
Two months ago , the infectious disease ward where she works at San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 patients .
Suddenly , she had to learn how to operate machines she likens to “ helmets ” to help patients breathe .
She studied the operating instructions at home in a kind of self-taught cram course .
While patients with coronavirus often experience mild or moderate symptoms , possible complications like pneumonia can put their lives at risk .
Two days after Italy ’ s first confirmed case in late February , Settembrese sent her 24-year-old daughter , Rebecca , from their home in the Milan suburb of Basiglio to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried she might inadvertently infect her daughter .
She chats with Rebecca , who leans over a first-floor balcony , whenever Settembrese can pass by .
A single parent , her only companion now in her apartment is her chihuahua , Pepe , who gets bundled in a faux leopard-skin coat for a walk .
On her way to the hospital 8 kilometers ( 5 miles ) away , Settembrese stops at her parents ’ bakery .
From the sidewalk , Settembrese waves to her mother with a rubber-gloved hand .
Her mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them a casatiello , a kind of braided bread studded with eggs and salami that ’ s a specialty of her parents ’ native Naples .
Walking Pepe and chatting with fellow dog owners at a safe distance “ is my only social life , ” Settembrese says .
The northern region of Lombardy is the area of Italy with the country ’ s most cases and deaths .
But Settembrese speaks of her new family - her patients and colleagues - with whom she has forged bonds in these past fraught weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone .
Sometimes they die alone , ’ ’ Settembrese says .
Before she leaves work for the night , she reviews with her colleagues how the patients are faring .
Not just how well they are breathing but whether they feel angry or distraught because relatives have died from COVID-19 .
Once off duty , the nurses call each other to ask how their patients are doing .
“ We feel a little like we ’ re their family , ” Settembrese says .
“ They are patients who enter into your @ @ @

MILAN (AP) - The coronavirus brings with it forced isolation: Family members can’t visit hospitalized patients. Nursing homes bar their doors to outsiders. People with mild cases or who have been in contact with infected persons must stay in quarantine.
Cristina Settembrese spends her days caring for COVID-19 patients in a hospital ward, and when she goes home, her personal isolation begins by her own choice.
The 54-year-old has been a nurse since she was 18. Two months ago, the infectious disease ward where she works at San Paolo Hospital in Milan started treating only COVID-19 patients. Suddenly, she had to learn how to operate machines she likens to “helmets” to help patients breathe. She studied the operating instructions at home in a kind of self-taught cram course.
While patients with coronavirus often experience mild or moderate symptoms, possible complications like pneumonia can put their lives at risk.
Two days after Italy’s first confirmed case in late February, Settembrese sent her 24-year-old daughter, Rebecca, from their home in the Milan suburb of Basiglio to live with her sister. The nurse was worried she might inadvertently infect her daughter.
She chats with Rebecca, who leans over a first-floor balcony, whenever Settembrese can pass by. A single parent, her only companion now in her apartment is her Chihuahua, Pepe, who gets bundled in a faux leopard-skin coat for a walk.
On her way to the hospital eight kilometers (five miles) away, Settembrese stops at her parents’ bakery. From the sidewalk, Settembrese waves to her mother with a rubber-gloved hand. Her mother makes treats for her co-workers, among them a casatiello, a kind of braided bread studded with eggs and salami that’s a specialty of her parents’ native Naples.
Walking Pepe and chatting with fellow dog owners at a safe distance “is my only social life,” Settembrese says. The northern region of Lombardy is the area of Italy with the country’s most cases and deaths.
But Settembrese speaks of her new family - her patients and colleagues - with whom she has forged bonds in these past fraught weeks.
The patients “live their life alone. Sometimes they die alone,’’ Settembrese says.
Before she leaves work for the night, she reviews with her colleagues how the patients are faring. Not just how well they are breathing but whether they feel angry or distraught because relatives have died from COVID-19.
Once off-duty, the nurses call each other to ask how their patients are doing.
“We feel a little like we’re their family,” Settembrese says. “They are patients who enter into your soul.”
___
Frances D’Emilio reported from Rome.
___
This is the second in a three-part series looking at front-line medical personnel at work and at home in Italy.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-04-18--Nations debate easing lockdown as economic hardship grows

BERLIN ( AP ) - Facing rising unemployment and with many of their citizens struggling to make ends meet , governments around the world are wrestling with when and how to ease the restrictions designed to control the coronavirus pandemic .
Mandatory lockdowns to stop the spread of the new virus , which has so far infected more than 2.2 million people and for which there is no vaccine , have brought widespread hardship .
In a joint statement Saturday , a group of 13 countries including Canada , Brazil , Italy and Germany called for global cooperation to lessen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It is vital that we work together to save lives and livelihoods , ” they said .
The group , which also includes Britain , France Indonesia , Mexico , Morocco , Peru , South Korea , Singapore and Turkey , said it was committed to “ work with all countries to coordinate on public health , travel , trade , economic and financial measures in order to minimize disruptions and recover stronger.
” This includes maintaining “ air , land and marine transportation links ” to ensure the continued flow of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the return home of travelers , they said .
In the United States , the debate has taken on partisan tones ahead of this fall ’ s presidential elections .
Republican President Donald Trump urged supporters to “ liberate ” three states led by Democratic governors , tweeting the kind of rhetoric some have used to demand an end to stay-at-home orders that have thrown millions out of work .
There have been tentative signs that measures to curb the outbreak are working , with the rate of new infections slowing across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In France and Spain , some field hospitals were starting to be dismantled , while Germany said the number of people infected by each person with COVID-19 fell below one for the first time this week .
Still , most governments and public health officials remain cautious about relaxing the shutdowns , despite the mounting economic toll .
“ It ’ s wrong , sensationally wrong to communicate that there is a kind of conflict with health and safety on one side and economic resumption , ” said Domenico Arcuri , Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency .
Arcuri told reporters Saturday that “ without health , the ( economic ) revival will disappear in the batting of an eyelash.
” The Italian government ’ s decree , shutting down nonessential industries and businesses , runs through May 3 .
Health experts are advising that any easing must be gradual in the country that ’ s seen the most deaths so far in Europe , with nearly 23,000 fatalities and over 172,000 known cases .
Some Asian nations that until recently appeared to have the outbreak under control , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fresh surge in cases Saturday .
Japan ’ s total case number rose above 10,000 on Saturday .
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed concern Friday that people were not observing social distancing and announced a 100,000-yen ( $ 930 ) cash handout to each resident as an incentive to stay home .
Iran , hard hit by the virus and international sanctions , allowed some businesses in the capital and nearby towns to re-open Saturday after weeks of lockdown .
Gyms , restaurants , shopping malls and Tehran ’ s grand bazaar will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world ’ s poorest regions , the pandemic is only just getting underway .
The continent has now recorded more than 1,000 coronavirus deaths , among them the Nigerian president ’ s chief of staff .
Top leaders of China ’ s ruling Communist Party called for deficit spending and a more flexible monetary policy after the economy shrank 6.8 % in the first three months of the year .
France ’ s lower house of parliament approved an emergency budget overnight that takes into account the government ’ s 110 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to save the economy from virus-related collapse .
The government has warned that France ’ s economy , one of the world ’ s biggest , could shrink 8 % this year and see its worst recession since World War II .
South Korea ’ s health minister , Kim Gang-lip , said Saturday that new guidelines could be issued soon that officials have said would allow people to engage in “ certain levels of economic and social activity.
” The East Asian country was among the 13 nations to issue the joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declaration also stressed “ the importance and critical role of the scientific community in providing guidance to governments.
” While most of those sickened by the virus recover , the outbreak has killed at least 154,000 people worldwide , according to a Johns Hopkins University tally based on figures supplied by government health authorities around the globe .
The number all but certainly underestimates the actual toll .
Authorities said that almost everywhere , thousands have died with COVID-19 symptoms - many in nursing homes - without being tested for the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain , with an official count of about 14,600 dead , the country ’ s statistics agency said the actual number could be around 15 % higher .
China on Saturday reported a nearly 40 % increase in its death toll to 4,632 victims , reflecting a major upward revision made the previous day by authorities in Wuhan , the nation ’ s hardest-hit city .
An Associated Press tally from news media reports and state health departments indicates 6,912 U.S. deaths have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been releasing a count .
The official death toll in the U.S. has topped 35,000 , with more than 700,000 confirmed infections .
Protesters fed up with the economy-strangling restrictions have taken to the streets in several U.S. states .
In Idaho , where the governor is a Republican , scores of protesters not wearing masks stood shoulder-to-shoulder Friday .
Some carried signs claiming the coronavirus is a hoax .
“ LIBERATE MINNESOTA !
” “ LIBERATE MICHIGAN !
” “ LIBERATE VIRGINIA , ” Trump said in a tweet-storm in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , a Democrat , for criticizing the federal response .
Cuomo “ should spend more time ‘ doing ’ and less time ‘ complaining , ’ ” the president said .
Texas and Florida , which both have Republican governors , took first steps toward easing restrictions .
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott said stores could begin selling curbside , nonessential surgery could resume and state parks could reopen .
In Florida , Gov .
Ron DeSantis said municipalities could reopen beaches and parks if they could do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press journalists from around the world contributed to this report .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Stores in Texas can soon begin selling merchandise with curbside service, and hospitals can resume nonessential surgeries. In Florida, people are returning to a few beaches and parks. And protesters are clamoring for more.
Governors eager to rescue their economies and feeling heat from President Donald Trump are moving to ease restrictions meant to control the spread of the coronavirus, even as new hot spots emerge and experts warn that moving too fast could prove disastrous.
Adding to the pressure are protests against stay-at-home orders organized by small-government groups and Trump supporters. They staged demonstrations Saturday in several cities after the president urged them to “liberate” three states led by Democratic governors.
Protests happened in Republican-led states, too, including at the Texas Capitol and in front of the Indiana governor’s home. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott already said that restrictions will begin easing next week. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb - who signed an agreement with six other Midwestern states to coordinate reopening - said he would extend his stay-at-home order until May 1.
For the first time in weeks, people were able to visit some Florida beaches, but they were still subject to restrictions on hours and activities. Beaches in big cities stayed closed.
Meanwhile, infections kept surging in the Northeast.
Rhode Island, between the hot spots of Massachusetts and New York, has seen a steady daily increase in infections and deaths, with nursing home residents accounting for more than 90 of the state’s 118 deaths. The state’s death rate of around 10 people per 100,000 is among the nation’s highest per capita, according to data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project.
Massachusetts had its highest number of deaths in a single day on Friday, with 159. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, citing health experts’ advice, said states should wait until infection rates and hospitalizations decline for about two weeks before acting.
Trump, whose administration waited months to bolster stockpiles of key medical supplies and equipment, appeared to back protesters.
“LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” “LIBERATE VIRGINIA, ” Trump said in a tweet-storm in which he also lashed out at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, for criticizing the federal response. Cuomo “should spend more time ‘doing’ and less time ‘complaining,’” the president said.
At his Saturday briefing with reporters, Cuomo cited more progress. The state’s daily increase in deaths fell below 550 for the first time in more than two weeks as hospitalizations continued to decline.
But the crisis is far from over: Hospitals are still reporting nearly 2,000 new COVID-19 patients per day, and nursing homes remain a “feeding frenzy for this virus,” he said.
“We are not at a point when we are going to be reopening anything immediately,” Cuomo said.
Several hundred people rallied in Texas’ capital, chanting “Let us work!” Many clamored for an immediate lifting of restrictions in a state where more than 1 million have filed for unemployment since the crisis began.
The rally was organized by a host of Infowars, owned by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who joined protesters on the Capitol steps. Jones is being sued in Austin over using his show to promote falsehoods that the 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre in Connecticut was a hoax.
In Indianapolis, more than 200 people stood close together outside the governor’s mansion, carrying American flags and signs demanding that Gov. Holcomb lift restrictions. Indiana’s state health department reported 529 new cases between April 7 and midday Friday, raising the total to more than 10,600. The number of deaths rose by 26, to 545.
Elsewhere, a few hundred demonstrators waved signs outside the Statehouse in New Hampshire, which has had nearly 1,300 cases of the virus and more than three dozen deaths.
“Even if the virus were 10 times as dangerous as it is, I still wouldn’t stay inside my home. I’d rather take the risk and be a free person,” said one of the protesters, talk show host Ian Freeman.
Trump is pushing to relax the U.S. lockdown by May 1, a plan that hinges partly on more testing.
Public health officials said the ability to test enough people and trace contacts of the infected is crucial before easing restrictions, and that infections could surge anew unless people continue to take precautions.
Vice President Mike Pence delivered a commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, a trip aimed at showing the country is on course to gradually reopen.
Major cities in Brazil also saw protests Saturday by hundreds of people denouncing pandemic lockdown measures also opposed by President Jair Bolsonaro, a fierce critic of stay-at-home measures imposed by state governments.
In Asia, some nations that until recently appeared to have the outbreak under control reported fresh flareups.
Singapore reported a sharp, one-day spike of 942 infections, the highest in Southeast Asia, mostly among foreign workers staying in crowded dormitories. That brought the total to almost 6,000 in the city-state of 6 million.
Total cases topped 10,000 in Japan, where Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he’s concerned that people are not observing social distancing and announced a 100,000-yen ($930) cash handout to each resident as an incentive to stay home.
There have been tentative signs that measures to curb the outbreak are working, with the rate of new infections slowing across Europe.
France and Spain started dismantling some field hospitals, while the number of active cases in Germany has slowly declined over the past week as people recover.
France’s national health agency said Saturday that the number of virus patients in intensive care dropped for the 10th straight day, and overall virus hospitalizations have fallen for three consecutive days. The country has seen almost 20,000 virus deaths.
The agency urged the French public to stick to strict confinement measures, which have been extended until at least May 11: “Don’t relax our efforts at the moment when confinement is bearing fruit.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his government will seek to extend the state of emergency to May 9 but begin easing the total confinement of children beginning April 27.
Children are thought to be a major source of transmission even if they rarely fall ill from the virus. They’ve been confined to their homes for five weeks, prompting parents to ask that they be allowed to at least take a daily walk.
Sánchez announced in a televised news conference late Saturday that kids would be able “to get out of their houses for a period on a daily basis,” but the specifics needed to be ironed out with experts.
The national lockdown would be rolled back only when Spain’s embattled health system is ready for a possible rebound of infections, he said.
The virus is believed to have infected more than 2.3 million people worldwide. While most recover, the outbreak has killed at least 155,000 people, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally based on figures supplied by health authorities around the globe.
The number almost certainly underestimates the actual toll. Nearly everywhere, thousands have died with COVID-19 symptoms - many in nursing homes - without being tested for the virus, and have thus gone uncounted.
___
Jordans reported from Berlin. Associated Press journalists from around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-04-18--Horse racing gets more TV time with other sports on hold

Socially distanced crews in New York and California are keeping horse racing on television in the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic .
Horse racing is one of the few sports ongoing , albeit in a limited capacity at a handful of empty tracks , but its TV presence has expanded because of the dearth of other options .
The New York Racing Association helps produce “ America ’ s Day at the Races ” on Fox Sports , TVG has partnered with NBC Sports for a dozen hours of coverage each week and the hope is the fledgling industry can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these trying times .
“ Horse racing has been a welcome substitute for other events that are currently unavailable , ” Fox Sports executive vice president Mike Mulvihill said .
“ Viewing of horse racing has tripled over last year .
Online sign-ups for new bettors are up .
Betting handle at the tracks we present is up .
It ’ s been a nice bit of normalcy when the rest of the sports world is anything but.
” For a sport that usually only garners national attention from the Kentucky Derby through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefiting from being the only game in town .
Total viewership on Fox Sports 1 , Fox Sports 2 and NBC Sports Network is up 206 % in 2020 from the same time last year .
Different kinds of viewers are tuning in , too , and TVG CEO Kip Levin said the tone of broadcasts changed quickly to accommodate that .
“ Hats off to our production and talent team : Literally within days they had shifted from talking to the fan that knew a lot about the sport to talking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which we don ’ t normally do , ” Levin said .
More causal bettors are signing up for NYRA ’ s program , as well as FanDuel Racing .
NYRA chief revenue officer Tony Allevato said it had signed up seven times the amount of people over the past three weeks than the rest of the year combined and has offered things like $ 20 free bets to get beginners familiar with the sport .
New fans are able to get familiar by watching on TV thanks to just a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Long Island and Southern California studios .
NYRA director of TV operations Eric Donovan oversees a third of his usual staff spread out among multiple areas at Belmont Park , while TVG ’ s usual crew of 45-50 is down to less than 10 people , all in their own workplaces .
On-air broadcasters are either stationed apart on set or working from home .
Officials said workers are observing CDC and local guidelines on distancing while doing their jobs to put races on the air .
“ We ’ ve spaced everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are not in close proximity with each other , we ’ re constantly cleaning the facility , so we ’ re operating in a safe way , ” Allevato said .
Live racing at Aqueduct Park in Queens was suspended in mid-March after a backstretch worker tested positive for the coronavirus .
Groom Martin Zapata , 63 , died in early April from COVID-19 complications .
But non-New York races have always been part of the NYRA broadcasts , and now the racing comes from places like Florida ’ s Gulfstream Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oaklawn Park , Oklahoma ’ s Remington Park and Nebraska ’ s Fonner Park .
Belmont Park ’ s backstretch remains open for almost 600 workers to take care of the horses , and Allevato said NYRA as a nonprofit continues to broadcast races , not to make money but to take care of its employees and help the industry at large .
“ We ’ re keeping them employed , and we ’ re keeping food on the table for these people , ” he said .
“ We are in horse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our goal is to see New York horse racing thrive , and for horse racing to be successful in New York , it needs to be successful across the country and there ’ s a massive ecosystem that ’ s involved here with tens and tens of thousands of jobs .
”

Socially distanced crews in New York and California are keeping horse racing on television in the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic.
Horse racing is one of the few sports ongoing, albeit in a limited capacity at a handful of empty tracks, but its TV presence has expanded because of the dearth of other options.
The New York Racing Association helps produce “America’s Day at the Races” on Fox Sports, TVG has partnered with NBC Sports for a dozen hours of coverage each week and the hope is the struggling industry can stay afloat and gain more exposure during these trying times.
“Horse racing has been a welcome substitute for other events that are currently unavailable,” Fox Sports executive vice president Mike Mulvihill said. “Viewing of horse racing has tripled over last year. Online sign-ups for new bettors are up. Betting handle at the tracks we present is up. It’s been a nice bit of normalcy when the rest of the sports world is anything but.”
For a sport that usually only garners national attention from the Kentucky Derby through Triple Crown season, horse racing is benefiting from being the only game in town. Total viewership on Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2 and NBC Sports Network is up 206% in 2020 from the same time last year.
Different kinds of viewers are tuning in, too, and TVG CEO Kip Levin said the tone of broadcasts changed quickly to accommodate that.
“Hats off to our production and talent team: Literally within days they had shifted from talking to the fan that knew a lot about the sport to talking to and really educating the audience in ways in which we don’t normally do,” Levin said.
More casual bettors are signing up for NYRA’s program, as well as FanDuel Racing. NYRA chief revenue officer Tony Allevato said it had signed up seven times the amount of people over the past three weeks than the rest of the year combined and has offered things like $20 free bets to get beginners familiar with the sport.
New fans are able to get familiar by watching on TV thanks to just a few dozen people working at Belmont Park on Long Island and Southern California studios. NYRA director of TV operations Eric Donovan oversees a third of his usual staff spread out among multiple areas at Belmont Park, while TVG’s usual crew of 45-50 is down to less than 10 people, all in their own workplaces.
On-air broadcasters are either stationed apart on set or working from home. Officials said workers are observing CDC and local guidelines on distancing while doing their jobs to put races on the air.
“We’ve spaced everybody out throughout our TV trucks so that people are not in close proximity with each other, we’re constantly cleaning the facility, so we’re operating in a safe way,” Allevato said.
Live racing at Aqueduct in Queens was suspended in mid-March after a backstretch worker tested positive for the coronavirus. Belmont Park-based groom Martin Zapata, 63, died in early April from COVID-19 complications.
But non-New York races have always been part of the NYRA broadcasts, and now the racing comes from places like Florida’s Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, Arkansas’ Oaklawn Park, Oklahoma’s Remington Park and Nebraska’s Fonner Park. Belmont Park’s backstretch remains open for almost 600 workers to take care of the horses, and Allevato said NYRA as a nonprofit continues to broadcast races, not to make money but to take care of its employees and help the industry at large.
“We’re keeping them employed, and we’re keeping food on the table for these people,” he said. “We are in horse racing for the long haul, and our goal is to see New York horse racing thrive, and for horse racing to be successful in New York, it needs to be successful across the country and there’s a massive ecosystem that’s involved here with tens and tens of thousands of jobs.”
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-04-18--Russia tries again to win UN approval for virus resolution

UNITED NATIONS ( AP ) - Russia is trying again to win U.N. General Assembly approval for a resolution on the coronavirus pandemic , dropping a call to end unilateral sanctions without U.N. Security Council approval but still calling for an end to protectionist practices .
The 193-member world body has until noon EDT on Wednesday to consider the revised Russian draft resolution , which is called a “ Declaration of solidarity of the United Nations in the face of the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease.
” The General Assembly instituted new voting rules because it isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Normally , assembly resolutions are adopted by majority votes or by consensus , but now if a single country objects a resolution is defeated .
The original Russian draft resolution , which was co-sponsored by Central African Republic , Cuba , Nicaragua and Venezuela , failed to win apporoval on April 2 .
Diplomats said the European Union , United Kingdom , United States and Ukraine objected to it .
The revised Russian draft resolution , which was sent to member states Friday by General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande , significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 , drops a call to end trade wars , and adds a number of new provisions .
One addition expresses grave concern at “ the negative impact of the spread of COVID-19 on public health and the global economy , ” and makes a commitment to pursue “ coordinated and decisive actions aimed at defeating the pandemic , guided by the spirit of solidarity and international cooperation.
” Another welcomes the April 3 statement by the Group of 77 and China - the main group of developing countries at the United Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on COVID-19 , calling it “ a strong message of solidarity in the face of the pandemic from the developing world.
” The G-77 statement includes a call on the international community “ to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate the use of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries , ” saying that at this juncture they have “ a negative impact ” on the ability of countries to respond to the pandemic .
The General Assembly adopted a resolution on COVID-19 on April 2 sponsored by Ghana , Indonesia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It recognizes “ the unprecedented effects ” of the coronavirus pandemic and calls for “ intensified international cooperation to contain , mitigate and defeat ” the COVID-19 disease .
Muhammad-Bande , the assembly president , sent a Mexican-drafted resolution to member nations on Thursday calling for global action to rapidly scale up development , manufacturing and access to medicine , vaccines and medical equipment to confront the coronavirus pandemic .
Member states have until 5 p.m. EDT on Monday to object .
South African and Egypt are also reportedly preparing draft resolutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some diplomats believe the world body should draft an omnibus measure instead of considering many separate ones .
Its resolutions are not legally binding but are an important gauge of world opinion .
The more powerful 15-member Security Council , whose resolutions are legally binding , has not adopted a resolution since the pandemic began circling the globe , infecting more than 2.1 million people and killing more than 140,000 worldwide , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
Its five permanent members , who have been divided on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a French-drafted resolution while its 10 elected members have their own draft .
Diplomats said discussions have started on merging the rival texts .

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Russia is trying again to win U.N. General Assembly approval for a resolution on the coronavirus pandemic, dropping a call to end unilateral sanctions without U.N. Security Council approval but still calling for an end to protectionist practices.
The 193-member world body has until noon EDT on Wednesday to consider the revised Russian draft resolution, which is called a “Declaration of solidarity of the United Nations in the face of the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease.”
The General Assembly instituted new voting rules because it isn’t holding meetings as a result of the pandemic. Normally, assembly resolutions are adopted by majority votes or by consensus, but now if a single country objects a resolution is defeated.
The original Russian draft resolution, which was co-sponsored by Central African Republic, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, failed to win apporoval on April 2. Diplomats said the European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Ukraine objected to it.
The revised Russian draft resolution, which was sent to member states Friday by General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, significantly increases the number of co-sponsors to about 30, drops a call to end trade wars, and adds a number of new provisions.
One addition expresses grave concern at “the negative impact of the spread of COVID-19 on public health and the global economy,” and makes a commitment to pursue “coordinated and decisive actions aimed at defeating the pandemic, guided by the spirit of solidarity and international cooperation.”
Another welcomes the April 3 statement by the Group of 77 and China - the main group of developing countries at the United Nations which now has 134 member states - on COVID-19, calling it “a strong message of solidarity in the face of the pandemic from the developing world.”
The G-77 statement includes a call on the international community “to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate the use of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries,” saying that at this juncture they have “a negative impact” on the ability of countries to respond to the pandemic.
The General Assembly adopted a resolution on COVID-19 on April 2 sponsored by Ghana, Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland. It recognizes “the unprecedented effects” of the coronavirus pandemic and calls for “intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat” the COVID-19 disease.
Muhammad-Bande, the assembly president, sent a Mexican-drafted resolution to member nations on Thursday calling for global action to rapidly scale up development, manufacturing and access to medicine, vaccines and medical equipment to confront the coronavirus pandemic. Member states have until 5 p.m. EDT on Monday to object.
South African and Egypt are also reportedly preparing draft resolutions on COVID-19 to put before the assembly.
Some diplomats believe the world body should draft an omnibus measure instead of considering many separate ones. Its resolutions are not legally binding but are an important gauge of world opinion.
The more powerful 15-member Security Council, whose resolutions are legally binding, has not adopted a resolution since the pandemic began circling the globe, infecting more than 2.1 million people and killing more than 140,000 worldwide, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Its five permanent members, who have been divided on how to address the pandemic, are discussing a French-drafted resolution while its 10 elected members have their own draft. Diplomats said discussions have started on merging the rival texts.