washingtontimes--2020-05-06--Asia Today: Cruise ship in Philippine waters to return crew

BANGKOK ( AP ) - A cruise ship being investigated in Australia for sparking coronavirus infections has sailed into Philippine waters to bring Filipino crewmen home .
The Philippine coast guard said Thursday the Ruby Princess will drop anchor in Manila Bay , where at least 16 other cruise ships have converged since last month while waiting for more than 5,000 Filipino crewmembers to be tested for the coronavirus before disembarking .
Coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said 214 Filipino crewmen on board the Ruby Princess will be tested .
The Ruby Princess has been linked to 19 deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An Australian government inquiry is underway into why 2,700 passengers and crew were allowed to disembark in Sydney on March 19 before the test results of sick passengers were known .
Many passengers flew from Sydney overseas .
Two died at home in the United States , including Los Angeles resident Chung Chen , whose family is suing Princess Cruises for more than $ 1 million in a lawsuit alleging it failed to alert passengers to the risk .
- BACK IN THE AIR : South Korea ’ s largest airline will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cargo transport and prepare for a possible increase in travelers as countries ease their coronavirus restrictions .
Despite the increased flights , Korean Air said it will still be operating only 32 of its 110 international routes in June .
Korean Air has said the coronavirus pandemic has pushed South Korean airlines into an existential crisis and called for stronger government support .
The company is currently rotating 70 % of its 20,000 workers on six months paid leave .
- SINGAPORE CASES SURGE : The number of people infected in Singapore surged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in crowded dormitories were diagnosed .
The city-state reported 788 new cases to take its total to 20,198 .
Foreign workers living in dorms accounted for nearly 90 % of the cases .
Officials expected the upsurge as they test residents in the locked-down dormitories .
Singapore will let selected businesses operate from May 12 in a gradual easing of a two-month lockdown that is due to end June 1 .

BANGKOK (AP) - A cruise ship being investigated in Australia for sparking coronavirus infections has sailed into Philippine waters to bring Filipino crewmen home.
The Philippine coast guard said Thursday the Ruby Princess will drop anchor in Manila Bay, where at least 16 other cruise ships have converged since last month while waiting for more than 5,000 Filipino crew members to be tested for the coronavirus before disembarking.
Coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said 214 Filipino crewmen on board the Ruby Princess will be tested.
The Ruby Princess has been linked to 19 deaths in Australia and two in the United States. An Australian government inquiry is underway into why 2,700 passengers and crew were allowed to disembark in Sydney on March 19 before the test results of sick passengers were known.
Many passengers flew from Sydney overseas. Two died at home in the United States, including Los Angeles resident Chung Chen, whose family is suing Princess Cruises for more than $1 million in a lawsuit alleging it failed to alert passengers to the risk.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
- CHINA RESPONDS TO POMPEO: China is firing back at U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s claim that there is “enormous evidence” that the coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory, accusing him of “making up lies and covering up a lie by fabricating more lies.” The strong language from foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying came as President Donald Trump and his allies back an unsubstantiated theory linking the outbreak to a possible accident at a Chinese lab. U.S. officials say they are still exploring the subject and describe the evidence as purely circumstantial. But aides say Trump has embraced the notion to highlight China’s lack of transparency. “Under the situation that no scientists and experts can even draw any conclusions, why did Secretary Pompeo want to rush to the conclusion to hold the Wuhan laboratory accountable? Where is his evidence?,” Hua told reporters, while defending the integrity of the Wuhan lab. “Show us. If he can’t, is he still in the middle of concocting this so-called evidence?”
- BACK IN THE AIR: South Korea’s largest airline will resume some flights next month to expand cargo operations and prepare for a possible increase in travelers as countries ease coronavirus restrictions. Despite the increased flights, Korean Air said it will be operating only 32 of its 110 international routes in June. It has said the coronavirus pandemic has pushed South Korean airlines into an existential crisis and called for stronger government support. The company is currently rotating 70% of its 20,000 workers on six months’ paid leave.
- JAPAN APPROVES REMDESIVIR: Japan has approved Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug remdesivir for coronavirus treatment in a fast-track review just four days after the U.S. company submitted an application. The drug is the first approved in Japan for the coronavirus. It was originally developed for Ebola and could block the coronavirus from replicating itself in the human body. It will mainly be used for seriously ill patients. It was authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for coronavirus treatment last Friday. Japan is also testing a Japanese-made influenza drug, favipiravir, that is also designed to inhibit viral replication but could cause birth defects.
- CHINA DOWNGRADES VIRUS RISK: The government on Thursday declared all areas of the vast country have been downgraded from high to low virus risk, as the numbers of new cases falls to near zero and no new deaths have been reported in more than three weeks. The last region to be downgraded was Linkou county in Heilongjiang province bordering Russia and where the most recent spike in cases occurred. Authorities shut an emergency field hospital in the region after the closing of the border and strict social distancing measures brought the number of new cases to zero. China reported just two new coronavirus cases on Thursday, both from overseas, and said 295 people remained in hospitals. China has reported 4,633 deaths among 82,885 cases.
- INDONESIA’S GROWTH SLOWS: Indonesia posted its slowest economic growth in two decades as the coronavirus affected exports, investment and consumption. Gross domestic product in Southeast Asia’s largest economy expanded by only 2.97% in January-March from a year earlier. That compares to a 4.99% expansion in the last quarter of last year. It was Indonesia’s slowest growth since the fourth quarter of 2001. The government has revised its growth projection to 2.3% this year from its original 5.3%.
- SRI LANKA REIMPOSES CURFEW, AGAIN: Sri Lanka has again reimposed a 24-hour countrywide curfew until next Monday, as part of stringent measures to contain the coronavirus. The blanket curfew was imposed Wednesday night after a surge in new infections during the last few days. There are now 797 reported COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka including nine deaths. Of the total, 460 cases were reported after April 22, including 372 navy sailors or their close contacts. Authorities have isolated the main navy camp and quarantined about 4,000 personnel there.
- NEW ZEALAND TO REOPEN BARS, SALONS: New Zealand could reopen bars, retail stores and hair salons from next week and allow domestic travel. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday outlined what the country would look like under a further relaxation of its lockdown rules. Much of the nation would return to a semblance of normality. Senior lawmakers will decide Monday whether to go ahead with the plan starting Wednesday. Under the plan, schools could reopen from the following week. The country’s borders will remain shut. Professional sports would start again, although without the crowds. Gatherings would be restricted to 100 people and social distancing protocols observed.
- VIETNAM IMPORTED CASES RISE: Vietnam reported 17 new imported coronavirus cases as it brings back more citizens who were stranded overseas. The health ministry said Thursday all of the new patients returned to Vietnam from various countries. They were put in quarantine upon arrival. After three weeks with no local cases reported, Vietnam has reopened schools, businesses, factories and tourist attractions. It has confirmed 288 infections and no deaths.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--Reopening plan has big changes for California restaurants

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - California restaurants have drafted a plan to allow the industry to reopen for sit-down dining with an array of safeguards while avoiding possible requirements that customers have their temperature taken and the number of tables be dramatically limited .
The recommendations , obtained by The Associated Press , are to be submitted to Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Thursday .
They envision a changed world within dining rooms , as an industry built on face-to-face contact and crowded tables looks for ways to safely conduct business and avoid the spread of coronavirus .
Only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would sit at the same table .
Buffets , salad bars and shared bread baskets would be out .
Salt and pepper shakers could be replaced by bottles of hand sanitizer .
And meals could arrive from food servers sheathed in face masks .
Restaurant dining rooms were shuttered in California in March as part of broad orders to deter spread of the virus , though takeout and delivery remained .
The move devastated the industry and sent droves into unemployment lines in a state with an internationally known food culture .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in partnership with the California Conference of Local Health Officers and the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health , will give Newsom a potential framework for reopening dining rooms as he begins to ease lockdown orders this week for retail shops , bookstores , florists and sporting goods businesses .
The association wants Newsom to set only broad guidelines in four areas - employee health , social distancing , public education and improved sanitation and disinfection .
Cities and counties would be left to determine the rules within each category , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might not in Eureka or Bakersfield .
For example , the recommendations urge local governments to consider such measures as requiring temperature checks for restaurant employees , requiring mandatory hand-washing schedules for workers and face coverings for employees who interact with the public .
In the area of social distancing , local jurisdictions will need to establish specific measures for keeping tables apart or setting up barriers between them , and limiting tables to family and household members but not to exceed 10 people .
Restaurants could consider a phone or text-based reservation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enter until the table is ready .
In Florida this week , restaurants in all but three South Florida counties were allowed to reopen their inside dining rooms at 25 % capacity .
The California restaurants are seeking to avoid an across-the-board percentage limit on how many people could be inside , instead allowing local officials to account for differences in restaurant designs and layouts .
“ The risk is different in every county , ” association CEO Jot Condie said .
“ The layout plans are all unique and different.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants to open their doors , though he has hinted in some areas that changes could be coming soon .
In Los Angeles , San Francisco and other congested urban areas , businesses are likely to remain shuttered longer .
For restaurants , the return to business would mean a dramatic shift from what customers have taken for granted .
“ It ’ s not a mass reopening , ” Condie said .
With all the coming changes and virus-related requirements “ they are all startups.
” Condie predicted that diners would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think they are going to come to expect it.
” In some reopened eateries around the country , restaurants are checking customers ’ temperatures , a possible indicator of infection .
The California restaurants are recommending local governments consider requiring temperature checks - but only for employees .
Nothing would prevent a county from requiring customer temperature checks , but Condie said “ policing guests ” was ultimately left off the recommendations .
Part of the concern for restaurants centered on liability : customers who believe they were wrongly turned away could file @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in changes that run from common sense to socially awkward .
In a tightly spaced restaurant , diners could end up looking at each other through plastic walls separating tables .
Cleaning crews could be on routine patrols , swiping doorknobs and counter tops with sanitizer .
Owners might wince at the changes , and the added costs could be substantial , but they “ understand the importance of this , ” Condie said .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - For Marc Simon, the president of Rubio’s Coastal Grill, the challenge for restaurants amid the coronavirus crisis is not just reopening their doors, it’s rebuilding trust with customers.
“If we don’t do that - we don’t rebuild confidence - this way back is going to be much longer than any of us would like and many of us can afford,” he told Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday during an online forum.
“The way to do that … is to ensure the safety and the well-being of our team members and our guests. For us it starts and stops there,” he said.
Simon’s assessment came as the state prepares to release guidelines next week to gradually reopen California restaurant dining rooms, shuttered since mid-March to deter the spread of the virus.
It’s likely to be a disjointed process, with restaurants in rural areas opening first, and eateries in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other urban areas that have been hot spots for infections remaining closed longer.
“Not every part of the state will be able to do that right away,” Newsom said during the forum, acknowledging that there would be different timelines around the state.
Earlier Thursday, Newsom announced restaurants in certain counties could begin opening within a week or two, but with restrictions. No specific dates were set, and counties must first meet a set of benchmarks that show the spread of the virus is in check.
It wasn’t clear what counties could meet that threshold or how soon.
California restaurants have drafted a plan to allow the industry to reopen for sit-down dining with an array of safeguards, while avoiding possible requirements imposed in other states that customers have their temperature taken or the number of tables be dramatically limited.
The recommendations were submitted to Newsom on Thursday. They envision a changed world within dining rooms, as an industry built on face-to-face contact and crowded tables looks for ways to safely conduct business and avoid the spread of coronavirus.
According to the proposal, tables would be limited to no more than 10 people. Salad bars, buffets and shared bread baskets would be out. Salt and pepper shakers could be replaced by bottles of hand sanitizer. And meals could arrive from food servers sheathed in face masks.
Restaurant dining rooms were shuttered in California in March as part of broad orders to deter the spread of the virus, though takeout and delivery remained. The move devastated the industry and sent droves into unemployment lines in a state with an internationally known food culture.
The recommendations drafted by the California Restaurant Association, in partnership with the California Conference of Local Health Officers and the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health, will give Newsom a potential framework for reopening dining rooms as he begins to ease lockdown orders this week for retail shops, bookstores, florists and sporting goods businesses.
The association wants Newsom to set only broad guidelines in four areas - employee health, social distancing, public education and improved sanitation and disinfection.
Cities and counties would be left to determine the rules within each category, because what makes sense in San Diego might not in Eureka or Bakersfield.
For example, the recommendations urge local governments to consider such measures as requiring temperature checks for restaurant employees, requiring mandatory hand-washing schedules for workers and face coverings for employees who interact with the public.
In the area of social distancing, local jurisdictions will need to establish specific measures for keeping tables apart or setting up barriers between them, and limiting tables to no more than 10 people.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The vast majority of people recover.
In Florida this week, restaurants in all but three South Florida counties were allowed to reopen their inside dining rooms at 25% capacity. The California restaurants are seeking to avoid an across-the-board percentage limit on how many people could be inside, instead allowing local officials to account for differences in restaurant designs and layouts.
“The risk is different in every county,” association CEO Jot Condie said.
Newsom raised the issue briefly Thursday during an online forum with restaurant industry workers. But he gave no indication whether state health officials intended to set across-the-board limits on occupancy.
For restaurants, the return to business would mean a dramatic shift from what customers have taken for granted.
Condie predicted that diners would not only accept the changes, but “I think they are going to come to expect it.”
In some reopened eateries around the country, restaurants are checking customers’ temperatures, a possible indicator of infection. The California restaurants are recommending local governments consider requiring temperature checks - but only for employees.
Nothing would prevent a county from requiring customer temperature checks, but Condie said “policing guests” was ultimately left off the recommendations. Part of the concern for restaurants centered on liability: Customers who believe they were wrongly turned away could file a lawsuit.
A small number of communities around the state have allowed restaurants to reopen in advance of state guidelines.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--Prosecutors reduce charge in Los Angeles cop shooting case

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Prosecutors charged a Los Angeles police officer with felony assault with a firearm Wednesday after he allegedly shot a fellow officer during an off-duty , weekend camping trip .
The charge is a reduced offense from when he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder .
Ismael Tamayo , 44 , of Ontario , pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Wednesday in the San Bernardino County Superior Court in Victorville .
Tamayo attended the hearing by video , wearing a mask in jail as his attorney spoke in court .
The judged reduced Tamayo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 250,000 .
The felony assault charge comes with enhancements for allegedly using a firearm , a Glock .40 caliber handgun , and inflicting great bodily injury on the victim .
The 48-year-old victim , identified in court papers as Mark Mascareno , was shot early Sunday in his upper body in the desert south of Barstow , the San Bernardino County Sheriff ’ s Department said .
He was expected to survive .
It ’ s unclear why he was shot .
An off-duty police supervisor was with Tamayo and Mascareno @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has not been identified , was not injured .
Authorities say the three friends were camping and shooting guns at Stoddard Wells Off-Highway Vehicle Area about 120 miles ( 194 kilometres ) northeast of downtown Los Angeles .
Stoddard Wells , which offers off-road trails on federal Bureau of Land Management property , is open during the coronavirus pandemic .
Mike Bires , a spokesman for the San Bernardino County district attorney , said prosecutors chose not to use the attempted murder offense Tamayo was booked on and instead went with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a review of the statements , evidence and investigation , this charge was more applicable , ” he said in a statement , declining to comment further .
Tamayo ’ s attorney , Gregory Yacoubian , said the charge reduction was a move “ in the right direction , ” and he ’ s confident his client will be cleared of any wrongdoing .
“ He wants to be back at home with his family , ” Yacoubian said .
“ He wishes no ill will to anybody.
” Tamayo served in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle infantryman from 1995 to 1998 , according to Army records .
He was an infantryman with the California Army National Guard from 1999 to 2015 , during which he served in Iraq from September 2007 to February 2008 .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Prosecutors charged a Los Angeles police officer with felony assault with a firearm Wednesday after he allegedly shot a fellow officer during an off-duty, weekend camping trip. The charge is a reduced offense from when he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Ismael Tamayo, 44, of Ontario, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Wednesday in the San Bernardino County Superior Court in Victorville. Tamayo attended the hearing by video, wearing a mask in jail as his attorney spoke in court.
The judged reduced Tamayo’s bail from $1 million to $250,000. The felony assault charge comes with enhancements for allegedly using a firearm, a Glock .40 caliber handgun, and inflicting great bodily injury on the victim.
The 48-year-old victim, identified in court papers as Mark Mascareno, was shot early Sunday in his upper body in the desert south of Barstow, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said. He was expected to survive. It’s unclear why he was shot.
An off-duty police supervisor was with Tamayo and Mascareno on the camping trip. The supervisor, who has not been identified, was not injured.
Authorities say the three friends were camping and shooting guns at Stoddard Wells Off-Highway Vehicle Area about 120 miles (194 kilometres) northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Stoddard Wells, which offers off-road trails on federal Bureau of Land Management property, is open during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mike Bires, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County district attorney, said prosecutors chose not to use the attempted murder offense Tamayo was booked on and instead went with an assault charge.
“Based on a review of the statements, evidence and investigation, this charge was more applicable,” he said in a statement, declining to comment further.
Tamayo’s attorney, Gregory Yacoubian, said the charge reduction was a move “in the right direction,” and he’s confident his client will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
“He wants to be back at home with his family,” Yacoubian said. “He wishes no ill will to anybody.”
Tamayo served in the Army as a staff sergeant and fighting vehicle infantryman from 1995 to 1998, according to Army records. He was an infantryman with the California Army National Guard from 1999 to 2015, during which he served in Iraq from September 2007 to February 2008.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--Inquiry: Pell knew of abuse by Australian pedophile priest

CANBERRA , Australia ( AP ) - Australian Cardinal George Pell knew a priest had been moved decades ago because he had sexually abused children and should have suspended an unstable priest in another parish , a government inquiry concluded .
A report from the inquiry on child sexual abuse had been released in 2017 , but findings concerning Pope Francis ’ former finance minister had been redacted until Thursday to avoid prejudicing juries in any future prosecutions .
The government decided to release the full report after the High Court last month overturned convictions against Pell on charges alleging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cathedral in the late 1990s when he was an archbishop .
The 78-year-old cleric spent 13 months in prison before being cleared and released last month .
The rejected Pell ’ s evidence in 2016 that he was deceived and lied to by Catholic Church officials about Australia ’ s worst pedophile priest , Gerald Ridsdale , and Melbourne parish priest Peter Searson .
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse findings related to Pell ’ s knowledge of abuse allegations while a priest and adviser to the local bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Melbourne bishop in the 1970s and 1980s .

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australian Cardinal George Pell knew that a notorious pedophile priest had been sexually abusing children years before his arrest and had been aware of the Catholic Church’s clergy abuse problem since the early 1970s, a government inquiry concluded.
A report from the inquiry on child sexual abuse had been released in 2017, but findings concerning Pell - who was formerly Pope Francis’ finance minister and at one time the third-highest ranking cleric in the Vatican - had been redacted until Thursday to avoid prejudicing juries in any future prosecutions.
The government decided to release the full report after the High Court last month overturned convictions against Pell on charges he molested two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral in the late 1990s when he was an archbishop. The 78-year-old cleric spent 13 months in prison before being released last month.
The findings undermine Pell’s criticisms of what he described as the church’s inadequate response to the global abuse crisis and concealing its extent.
Pell, who now lives in a Sydney seminary, said in a statement that he was “surprised by some of the views” of the inquiry about his actions.
“These views are not supported by evidence,” Pell said.
The inquiry rejected Pell’s evidence given by video link from Rome in 2016 that he was deceived and lied to by church officials about Australia’s worst pedophile priest, Gerald Ridsdale, and disturbed Melbourne parish priest Peter Searson.
Ridsdale is in prison on convictions for sexually abusing boys over three decades.
The 85-year-old pleaded guilty last week to sexually abusing four boys aged 7 to 16 in the 1970s, bringing the number of his known victims to 69. He has been behind bars since 1994 and will become eligible for parole on a 34-year sentence in April 2022.
His lawyers have urged a judge not to increase Ridsdale’s non-parole period when he is sentenced on the latest convictions next week.
Searson died in 2009 without being charged over allegations that he had also molested children in several parishes over a decade.
Pell told the inquiry that he did not become aware that Ridsdale was a pedophile until 1993 when he was first convicted.
The inquiry rejected Pell’s evidence that Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns had not explained that Ridsdale had been removed from the Mortlake parish in 1982 because he had sexually abused children there. Pell was one of the bishop’s priest advisers at the time, known as consultors, who regularly met to discuss diocese matters.
“Cardinal Pell’s evidence that ‘pedophilia was not mentioned’ and that the ‘true’ reason was not given is not accepted,” the report said.
Pell said in his statement that none of his fellow consultors told the inquiry that they had been aware of Ridsdale’s offending in 1982.
The inquiry also found that Pell had “turned his mind to the prudence” of Ridsdale taking boys camping in 1973, because “if priests were one-on-one with a child, then they could sexually abuse a child, or at least provoke gossip about such a prospect.”
“We are also satisfied that by 1973 Cardinal Pell was not only conscious of child sexual abuse by clergy, but that he also had considered measures of avoiding situations which might provoke gossip about it,” the three authors of the report wrote.
Pell was a Melbourne auxiliary bishop when he met with a staff delegation from a Catholic primary school to discuss complaints about Searson, whom the inquiry described as an “unstable and disturbed individual.”
Complaints included that Searson harassed staff and parents, killed and tortured animals in front of children, threatened children with a pistol and a knife, showed children a body in a coffin and used the children’s toilets.
The inquiry found Pell should have advised Melbourne Archbishop Frank Little to remove Searson.
Pell responded in his statement that the school delegation “did not mention sexual assaults and did not ask for Season’s removal.”
Pell said that after he replaced Little as Melbourne archbishop in 1996, he placed Searson on leave and later removed him from the parish where the complaints arose.
Clare Leaney, chief executive of Good Faith Foundation, a charity focused on helping abuse victims recover, said Pell knew about offending in the church since 1973 and failed to act.
“Today’s released findings confirm what survivors and advocates already knew to be true - there has been a systematic failure of leadership within the Catholic Church for decades,” Leaney said.
Timothy Green, who testified at the inquiry that as a boy of 12 or 13 he told Pell in Ballarat in 1974 that Christian Brother Edward Dowlan was “touching little boys,” welcomed the findings, his lawyer Vivian Waller said.
Green told the inquiry that Pell had replied: “Don’t be ridiculous,” and walked away. Pell did not deny Green’s account.
Green, who is suing the Christian Brothers order over abuses Dowlan committed, regrets not doing more to expose the crimes at the time, Waller said.
“It is utterly heartbreaking that his complaint was not acted upon,” Waller said. “His worry that he has not done enough for others is equally heartbreaking.”
Dowlan was convicted in 2015 of 16 counts of indecent assault against 11 boys, including Green, at four Christian Brothers’ schools. He was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. Waller said Green had given permission for his name to be published, despite being a sexual assault victim.
Pell was one of a number of senior Australian church officials criticized by the inquiry over their handling of abuse complaints or allegations against numerous priests and Christian Brothers in Melbourne and Ballarat.
The failures were led by Little and Mulkearns, whom the inquiry found prioritized protecting the church’s reputation over the welfare of children. Both are now dead.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--Illegal pot farm found on Northern California tribal land

COVELO , Calif. ( AP ) - Ten people were held after authorities found thousands of marijuana plants being grown illegally on an American Indian reservation in Northern California , the Mendocino County Sheriff ’ s Office said Wednesday .
Investigators on Tuesday raided a growing operation at the Round Valley Indian Reservation and found 55 plastic greenhouses along with swimming pools set up to water the plants , along with waste such as burned household trash and chemicals used in pot cultivation , according to a Sheriff ’ s Office statement .
Deputies destroyed more than 22,000 plants ranging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials said .
The sheriff and staff have met “ numerous times ” with the Tribal Council about “ non-native persons ” setting up large marijuana growing operations on the reservation , the Sheriff ’ s Office said .
“ Community members , including many of the tribal elders , have voiced their fear about this activity as there has been a marked increase in gunfire and acts of intimidation associated with the large marijuana gardens , ” the office said .
A 69-year-old Covelo man and a 24-year-old man from Monroe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posting cash bail under state Judicial Council rules designed to limit the number of people in jails to prevent the spread of the coronavirus , authorities said .
Eight other people were identified and released and their cases will be sent to the county district attorney ’ s office for possible prosecution , according to the Sheriff ’ s Office .

COVELO, Calif. (AP) - Ten people were held after authorities found thousands of marijuana plants being grown illegally on an American Indian reservation in Northern California, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Investigators on Tuesday raided a growing operation at the Round Valley Indian Reservation and found 55 plastic greenhouses along with swimming pools set up to water the plants, along with waste such as burned household trash and chemicals used in pot cultivation, according to a Sheriff’s Office statement.
Deputies destroyed more than 22,000 plants ranging from 1 foot to 4 feet tall, officials said.
The sheriff and staff have met “numerous times” with the Tribal Council about “non-native persons” setting up large marijuana growing operations on the reservation, the Sheriff’s Office said.
“Community members, including many of the tribal elders, have voiced their fear about this activity as there has been a marked increase in gunfire and acts of intimidation associated with the large marijuana gardens,” the office said.
A 69-year-old Covelo man and a 24-year-old man from Monroe, Washington were arrested but released without posting cash bail under state Judicial Council rules designed to limit the number of people in jails to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, authorities said.
Eight other people were identified and released and their cases will be sent to the county district attorney’s office for possible prosecution, according to the Sheriff’s Office.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--San Francisco delivers alcohol, tobacco to addicts in hotels

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco is using private donations to deliver alcohol , tobacco and medical marijuana to a few dozen people dealing with addiction as they isolate or quarantine in city-leased hotel rooms during the pandemic , officials confirmed Wednesday .
There are about 270 people , mostly homeless , staying in hotel rooms to recover from COVID-19 or to wait out possible exposure to the virus .
Nearly a dozen people have received alcohol and more than two dozen have received tobacco , the San Francisco Chronicle reported .
City officials said that private donations pay for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , opioid and alcohol cravings ensures that recovering people don ’ t go out and possibly infect others .
Dr. Grant Colfax , San Francisco ’ s public health director , said the harm-reduction approach is widespread and based on decades of sound public health policy .
“ Our focus needs to be on supporting them , ” he said of the people who are isolating or under quarantine .
For people experiencing alcohol withdrawal , the Department of Public Health calculates the minimum amount needed and delivers them with meals .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people trying to kick heroin .
The department does not help procure recreational marijuana .
KTVU-TV was the first to report on the practice .

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco is using private donations to deliver alcohol, tobacco and medical marijuana to a few dozen people dealing with addiction as they isolate or quarantine in city-leased hotel rooms during the pandemic, officials confirmed Wednesday.
There are about 270 people, mostly homeless, staying in hotel rooms to recover from COVID-19 or to wait out possible exposure to the virus. Nearly a dozen people have received alcohol and more than two dozen have received tobacco, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
City officials said that private donations pay for the items, and that helping manage nicotine, opioid and alcohol cravings ensures that recovering people don’t go out and possibly infect others.
Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s public health director, said the harm-reduction approach is widespread and based on decades of sound public health policy. “Our focus needs to be on supporting them,” he said of the people who are isolating or under quarantine.
For people experiencing alcohol withdrawal, the Department of Public Health calculates the minimum amount needed and delivers them with meals. The department also facilitates delivery of medication for people trying to kick heroin. The department does not help procure recreational marijuana.
KTVU-TV was the first to report on the practice.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--Defeat Disinfo to use AI to battle Trump tweets, boost counter messages with influencers

A new anti-Trump PAC plans to sink President Trump ’ s reelection using artificial intelligence to spot and drown out his messaging online .
The group Defeat Disinfo says it will use technology to track the online debate of Mr. Trump ’ s claims and then boost counter messages with a network of paid influencers .
Retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal is advising the political action committee , which is being led by Curtis Hougland , who runs the New York-based technology firm Main Street One that wages information wars online .
“ President Donald Trump is the largest amplifier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mr. Hougland said in a recent statement announcing the PAC ’ s launch .
“ People are dying as a result of his political agenda .
Trump ’ s expressions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate how a few words from the President result in real-world damage , again and again .
Defeat Disinfo will protect the American people by coordinating emotional topical , visual , and personal narratives in response to the president ’ s disinformation through Election Day.
” Mr. Hougland previously worked with the Defense Advanced Research Projects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DARPA said the anti-Trump PAC ’ s online strategy isn ’ t the product of government-sponsored technology .
Press reports touted the technology at issue in Mr. Hougland ’ s work with DARPA as foundational to his new anti-Trump political agenda , which DARPA disputed .
“ Hougland ’ s technology does not benefit from agency funding any more than does his use of other DARPA technologies like the internet or mobile phone , ” DARPA told The Washington Times .
“ Curtis Hougland ’ s claim that he received initial funding from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart of his political work is very misleading , ” said Jared B. Adams , DARPA spokesperson in an email .
“ Hougland had a tertiary consulting role advising an agency program on how to explore new and better ways to counter America ’ s adversaries online .
He was not consulted for technical expertise to design artificial intelligence or network analysis tools , nor certainly anything remotely political.
” Gen. McChrystal told The Washington Post that his interest in the project was to ensure accurate information for the American people through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsed presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden .
Defeat Disinfo , however , has outlined a three-step process to wipe out Mr. Trump .
First , the group will map the president ’ s tweets spreading “ disinformation on issues such as COVID-19.
” Next , the group said it will identify “ digital narratives ” that prove most effective in combating Mr. Trump ’ s agenda .
Last , the group will seek to amplify its counternarratives through a network of online influencers , including several who are paid .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defeat Disinfo will not use bots or sock puppets , falsify media , utilize models , or make up information , ” the group said .
“ Instead , the organization will rely on real stories from real people.
” While Defeat Disinfo ’ s initial aim will focus squarely on information surrounding coronavirus , the group has said it intends to expand its portfolio to , “ develop the largest repository of digital narratives countering Trump ’ s disinformation for use by any organization invested in protecting our democracy.
” Defeat Disinfo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including how much funding it has at its disposal .

A new anti-Trump PAC plans to sink President Trump’s reelection using artificial intelligence to spot and drown out his messaging online.
The group Defeat Disinfo says it will use technology to track the online debate of Mr. Trump’s claims and then boost counter messages with a network of paid influencers.
Retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal is advising the political action committee, which is being led by Curtis Hougland, who runs the New York-based technology firm Main Street One that wages information wars online.
“President Donald Trump is the largest amplifier of disinformation in the United States,” Mr. Hougland said in a recent statement announcing the PAC’s launch. “People are dying as a result of his political agenda. Trump’s expressions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate how a few words from the President result in real-world damage, again and again. Defeat Disinfo will protect the American people by coordinating emotional topical, visual, and personal narratives in response to the president’s disinformation through Election Day.”
Mr. Hougland previously worked with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to fight terrorist propaganda overseas.
DARPA said the anti-Trump PAC’s online strategy isn’t the product of government-sponsored technology.
Press reports touted the technology at issue in Mr. Hougland’s work with DARPA as foundational to his new anti-Trump political agenda, which DARPA disputed.
“Hougland’s technology does not benefit from agency funding any more than does his use of other DARPA technologies like the internet or mobile phone,” DARPA told The Washington Times.
“Curtis Hougland’s claim that he received initial funding from DARPA to develop the technology at the heart of his political work is very misleading,” said Jared B. Adams, DARPA spokesperson in an email. “Hougland had a tertiary consulting role advising an agency program on how to explore new and better ways to counter America’s adversaries online. He was not consulted for technical expertise to design artificial intelligence or network analysis tools, nor certainly anything remotely political.”
Gen. McChrystal told The Washington Post that his interest in the project was to ensure accurate information for the American people through the election. He said he has not endorsed presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden.
Defeat Disinfo, however, has outlined a three-step process to wipe out Mr. Trump.
First, the group will map the president’s tweets spreading “disinformation on issues such as COVID-19.” Next, the group said it will identify “digital narratives” that prove most effective in combating Mr. Trump’s agenda. Last, the group will seek to amplify its counternarratives through a network of online influencers, including several who are paid.
“Unlike Russians and the Republican Right, Defeat Disinfo will not use bots or sock puppets, falsify media, utilize models, or make up information,” the group said. “Instead, the organization will rely on real stories from real people.”
While Defeat Disinfo’s initial aim will focus squarely on information surrounding coronavirus, the group has said it intends to expand its portfolio to, “develop the largest repository of digital narratives countering Trump’s disinformation for use by any organization invested in protecting our democracy.”
Defeat Disinfo refused to answer questions from The Times, including how much funding it has at its disposal.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--Mexico allows cruise ship, crew to dock at Puerto Vallarta

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - The Mexican government said Wednesday it has allowed a cruise ship with no passengers @ @ @ @ @ Pacific coast resort of Puerto Vallarta for “ humanitarian reasons.
” The Regent Seven Seas @ @ @ @ @ with only 125 crew members aboard of various nationalities , and Mexico ’ s Transportation @ @ @ @ @ ship would be in port for 30 days for port services .
The department said @ @ @ @ @ ’ s crew would be reviewed and monitored .
The luxury cruiser is scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ Mexico ’ s Baja California Sur state on June 6 .
Mexico has over 27,600 @ @ @ @ @ deaths .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - The Mexican government said Wednesday it has allowed a cruise ship with no passengers aboard to dock at the Pacific coast resort of Puerto Vallarta for “humanitarian reasons.”
The Regent Seven Seas Splendor sailed from Los Angeles with only 125 crew members aboard of various nationalities, and Mexico’s Transportation Department said Wednesday that the ship would be in port for 30 days for port services.
The department said the health of the ship’s crew would be reviewed and monitored.
The luxury cruiser is scheduled to sail for La Paz in Mexico’s Baja California Sur state on June 6.
Mexico has over 27,600 coronavirus cases and over 2,700 deaths.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--Gavin Newsom China mask deal hits snag

Gavin Newsom China mask deal hits snag

SACRAMENTO , Calif. — Millions of protective masks that were to arrive in California this week as part of the state ’ s nearly $ 1 billion deal with a Chinese company have been delayed , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Wednesday .
The governor said the N95 masks made by BYD , an electric vehicle manufacturer with a California manufacturing plant , were stalled in the federal certification process .
He did not explain further , and his office did not respond to a request for more information .
Last month , Newsom announced the deal to great fanfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big ” effort in the state ’ s fight against the coronavirus .
He said the deal would result in 500 million masks that were a mixture of traditional surgical masks and the more protective N95 models to the state over the next 2.5 months .
The state took the unusual step of paying about half the contract up front to cover about 300 million N95 masks at $ 3.30 per mask .
The payment was made to Global Healthcare Product Solutions , a subsidiary of BYD .
The price per mask was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times and based on purchasing documents from the state treasurer ’ s office .
The total contract also included looser-fitting surgical masks , though details on those were not part of the initial payment , said Brian Ferguson , a spokesman for the Office of Emergency Services .
Tens of millions of surgical masks have already arrived , but the N95 masks were delayed , Newsom said .
Last week , the state paid an additional $ 104.7 million for those first shipments .
Newsom said last month that the state and federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in China auditing and visiting BYD ’ s factories .
“ We are looking to make sure we do not procure what is not authorized and ultimately is not validated , ” he said .
The masks must be certified through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , and were to be be tested and validated in Utah , he said .
Newsom has provided few details of the BYD deal , prompting criticism from some lawmakers .
The Associated Press and other news agencies have sought the documents through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Tuesday , the state ’ s Office of Emergency Services and Department of General Services denied the AP request .
“ Given the unprecedented emergency conditions created by COVID-19 and the scarcity of equipment and supplies needed to protect lives , the State has a paramount interest in ensuring the safe procurement , transportation , storage , and distribution of necessary supplies , ” Ryan Gronsky , senior counsel in the office of legal affairs at the Office of Emergency Services , wrote .
“ Publishing the agreement now - before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would introduce substantial and unnecessary risk to the State ’ s ability to secure necessary supplies.
” Gronsky said the AP could refile a request for the document once the terms of the contract were completed .
On Wednesday , Newsom said the contract would be released “ this week.
” He blamed lawyers for holding up the disclosure and said he ’ s frustrated because “ I want to share it with you.
” “ We want to be as transparent as possible , ” he said .
Newsom said he wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see what a great price the state paid .
The lack of information on the mask deal prompted criticism from state lawmakers , who said they would have had more time to vet the deal under normal circumstances .
Documents from the treasurer ’ s office indicated Newsom ’ s administration hadn ’ t finished vetting BYD before Newsom publicly announced the contract or before his administration asked the state treasurer ’ s office to prepare $ 495 million in an initial wire transfer .
When the treasurer ’ s office asked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 8 , the day after Newsom announced the deal on MSNBC , Thomas Todd in the Department of Finance said “ they ’ re vetting the vendor as we speak.
” The next day , an employee at the Office of Emergency Services told the treasury department that the state had worked with a “ reliable ” nonprofit organization to vet BYD and that the federal government and “ large medical supply companies ” also vetted the company .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Millions of protective masks that were to arrive in California this week as part of the state’s nearly $1 billion deal with a Chinese company have been delayed, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.
The governor said the N95 masks made by BYD, an electric vehicle manufacturer with a California manufacturing plant, were stalled in the federal certification process. He did not explain further, and his office did not respond to a request for more information.
Last month, Newsom announced the deal to great fanfare, calling it a “bold and big” effort in the state’s fight against the coronavirus. He said the deal would result in 500 million masks that were a mixture of traditional surgical masks and the more protective N95 models to the state over the next 2.5 months.
The state took the unusual step of paying about half the contract up front to cover about 300 million N95 masks at $3.30 per mask. The payment was made to Global Healthcare Product Solutions, a subsidiary of BYD.
The price per mask was first reported Wednesday by the Los Angeles Times and based on purchasing documents from the state treasurer’s office. The total contract also included looser-fitting surgical masks, though details on those were not part of the initial payment, said Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the Office of Emergency Services.
Tens of millions of surgical masks have already arrived, but the N95 masks were delayed, Newsom said. Last week, the state paid an additional $104.7 million for those first shipments.
Newsom said last month that the state and federal governments had “teams on the ground” in China auditing and visiting BYD’s factories.
“We are looking to make sure we do not procure what is not authorized and ultimately is not validated,” he said.
The masks must be certified through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and were to be be tested and validated in Utah, he said.
Newsom has provided few details of the BYD deal, prompting criticism from some lawmakers. The Associated Press and other news agencies have sought the documents through public records requests and have been denied.
On Tuesday, the state’s Office of Emergency Services and Department of General Services denied the AP request.
“Given the unprecedented emergency conditions created by COVID-19 and the scarcity of equipment and supplies needed to protect lives, the State has a paramount interest in ensuring the safe procurement, transportation, storage, and distribution of necessary supplies,” Ryan Gronsky, senior counsel in the office of legal affairs at the Office of Emergency Services, wrote. “Publishing the agreement now - before performance under the contract is complete - would introduce substantial and unnecessary risk to the State’s ability to secure necessary supplies.”
Gronsky said the AP could refile a request for the document once the terms of the contract were completed.
On Wednesday, Newsom said the contract would be released “this week.” He blamed lawyers for holding up the disclosure and said he’s frustrated because “I want to share it with you.”
“We want to be as transparent as possible,” he said.
Newsom said he wants to share the contract so people can see what a great price the state paid.
The lack of information on the mask deal prompted criticism from state lawmakers, who said they would have had more time to vet the deal under normal circumstances. Documents from the treasurer’s office indicated Newsom’s administration hadn’t finished vetting BYD before Newsom publicly announced the contract or before his administration asked the state treasurer’s office to prepare $495 million in an initial wire transfer.
When the treasurer’s office asked for confirmation the vendor had been vetted on April 8, the day after Newsom announced the deal on MSNBC, Thomas Todd in the Department of Finance said “they’re vetting the vendor as we speak.”
The next day, an employee at the Office of Emergency Services told the treasury department that the state had worked with a “reliable” nonprofit organization to vet BYD and that the federal government and “large medical supply companies” also vetted the company.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--Treasurer will retire after backlash from missed payment

GAFFNEY , S.C. ( AP ) - A South Carolina county elected treasurer said she would step down from her role after failing to deliver a $ 1 million payment to a neighboring county for nearly two years .
Cherokee County Treasurer Jackie Williams wrote a letter to Gov .
Henry McMaster this week stating she would retire on June 30 , news outlets reported .
Her announcement came after news outlet reported she failed to give Spartanburg County its share of 2018 tax revenue from a business park that straddles county lines .
Spartanburg County Administrator Cole Alverson told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to Cherokee when their share of the 2018 revenue never showed up .
They finally got their money in April after Cherokee County Administrator Steve Bratton learned about the delay and met with Williams .
In previous years , auditors found that Williams failed to provide them with necessary information in previous years , which caused the county to pay more than $ 50,000 in penalties and interest for late payments in 2018 .
Williams served as treasurer since 2005 .
She said the missed payment was “ an oversight.
” Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county was looking to hire someone to do a “ significant portion ” of Williams ‘ job .
McMaster will have to find a replacement for Williams until the November election .

GAFFNEY, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina county elected treasurer said she would step down from her role after failing to deliver a $1 million payment to a neighboring county for nearly two years.
Cherokee County Treasurer Jackie Williams wrote a letter to Gov. Henry McMaster this week stating she would retire on June 30, news outlets reported.
Her announcement came after news outlet reported she failed to give Spartanburg County its share of 2018 tax revenue from a business park that straddles county lines.
Spartanburg County Administrator Cole Alverson told the Spartanburg Herald Journal that they reached out to Cherokee when their share of the 2018 revenue never showed up. They finally got their money in April after Cherokee County Administrator Steve Bratton learned about the delay and met with Williams.
In previous years, auditors found that Williams failed to provide them with necessary information in previous years, which caused the county to pay more than $50,000 in penalties and interest for late payments in 2018.
Williams served as treasurer since 2005. She said the missed payment was “an oversight.”
Before Williams’ announcement, Bratton said the county was looking to hire someone to do a “significant portion” of Williams’ job.
Bratton declined to comment on Williams’ retirement.
McMaster will have to find a replacement for Williams until the November election.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--NFL sets protocols for reopening of team facilities

The NFL has set protocols for reopening team facilities and has told the 32 teams to have them in place by May 15 .
In a memo sent by Commissioner Roger Goodell and obtained Wednesday night by The Associated Press , several phases of the protocols were laid out .
The first phase to deal with the coronavirus pandemic would involve a limited number of non-player personnel , initially 50 % of the non-player employees ( up to a total of 75 ) on any single day , being approved to be at the facility .
But state or local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The individual clubs would decide which employees could return to the facility and when once facilities reopen .
No players would be permitted in the facility except to continue therapy and rehabilitation for injuries that was underway when facilities were ordered closed in late March by Goodell .
“ While these protocols have been carefully developed and reflect best practices , ” Goodell wrote , “ they can also be adapted and supplemented to ensure compliance with any state and local public health requirements.
” Goodell noted that the league is actively working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will involve both more staffers , and players .
He said the players ’ union is also being consulted on these steps .
Those protocols are not yet fully developed .
Dr. Allen Sills , the NFL ’ s medical director , will speak with each team physician and the infection control officer to discuss implementation and medical aspects of the protocols .
—Local and state government officials must consent to reopening .
—The team must implement all operational guidelines set by the league to minimize the risk of virus transmission among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amounts of needed supplies as prescribed by the league .
—An Infection Response Team with a written plan for newly diagnosed coronavirus cases .
—An Infection Control Officer to oversee all aspects of the implementation of the listed guidelines .
—Each employee who returns to work at the club facility must receive COVID-19 safety and hygiene training prior to using the facility , and agree to report health information to the ICO .
-The response team must consist of a local physician with expertise in common infectious disease principles ; the team physician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the response team will be the infection control officer , the team ’ s head athletic trainer ; the team physician , if he or she is not serving as the local physician ; the human resources director ; the team ’ s chief of security ; its mental health clinician or someone with equivalent clinical expertise ; and a member of the club ’ s operations staff such as the facility manager .
The league also is establishing workplace protocols that require face coverings unless a person is in a closed office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sufficient distancing , the gradual and phased return to in-person work , and continued “ telework ” and remote meetings to reduce the number of people at the facility .
That includes adjusted hours and even shifts across all employees .
Business travel is discouraged unless essential .
Visitors and service providers on site will be limited and there will be no direct contact with fans - no retail activity or in- person ticket sales .
Employees , including players , of course , will be encouraged to take their temperature routinely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility and to remain at home if their temperature is elevated .
There will be daily screenings for all employees reporting to work , as well as visitors , contractors , and service providers who enter the club facility .
“ We will continue to work in a deliberate and thoughtful way to plan for the 2020 season , including with ( Thursday night ’ s ) schedule release , ” Goodell said , “ and we will be prepared to address any contingencies as they arise .
”

The NFL has set protocols for reopening team facilities and has told the 32 teams to have them in place by May 15.
In a memo sent by Commissioner Roger Goodell and obtained Wednesday night by The Associated Press, several phases of the protocols were laid out. The first phase to deal with the coronavirus pandemic would involve a limited number of non-player personnel, initially 50% of the non-player employees (up to a total of 75) on any single day, being approved to be at the facility. But state or local regulations could require a lower number.
The individual clubs would decide which employees could return to the facility and when once facilities reopen. No players would be permitted in the facility except to continue therapy and rehabilitation for injuries that was underway when facilities were ordered closed in late March by Goodell.
“While these protocols have been carefully developed and reflect best practices,” Goodell wrote, “they can also be adapted and supplemented to ensure compliance with any state and local public health requirements.”
Goodell noted that the league is actively working on the next phase of reopening, which will involve both more staffers, and players. He said the players’ union is also being consulted on these steps. Those protocols are not yet fully developed.
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s medical director, will speak with each team physician and the infection control officer to discuss implementation and medical aspects of the protocols.
The step-by-step requirements are:
—Local and state government officials must consent to reopening.
—The team must implement all operational guidelines set by the league to minimize the risk of virus transmission among employees.
—Each club must acquire adequate amounts of needed supplies as prescribed by the league.
—An Infection Response Team with a written plan for newly diagnosed coronavirus cases. —An Infection Control Officer to oversee all aspects of the implementation of the listed guidelines.
—Each employee who returns to work at the club facility must receive COVID-19 safety and hygiene training prior to using the facility, and agree to report health information to the ICO.
-The response team must consist of a local physician with expertise in common infectious disease principles; the team physician can fill that role. Also on the response team will be the infection control officer, the team’s head athletic trainer; the team physician, if he or she is not serving as the local physician; the human resources director; the team’s chief of security; its mental health clinician or someone with equivalent clinical expertise; and a member of the club’s operations staff such as the facility manager.
The league also is establishing workplace protocols that require face coverings unless a person is in a closed office. The orders also stress minimum contact, sufficient distancing, the gradual and phased return to in-person work, and continued “telework” and remote meetings to reduce the number of people at the facility. That includes adjusted hours and even shifts across all employees.
Business travel is discouraged unless essential. Visitors and service providers on site will be limited and there will be no direct contact with fans - no retail activity or in- person ticket sales.
Employees, including players, of course, will be encouraged to take their temperature routinely at home before heading to the team facility and to remain at home if their temperature is elevated. There will be daily screenings for all employees reporting to work, as well as visitors, contractors, and service providers who enter the club facility.
“We will continue to work in a deliberate and thoughtful way to plan for the 2020 season, including with (Thursday night’s) schedule release,” Goodell said, “and we will be prepared to address any contingencies as they arise.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--State offficials to review complaint against Florida sheriff

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. ( AP ) - State law enforcement officials will review a complaint against a Florida sheriff appointed by the governor after the 2018 Parkland high school massacre following accusations that he should have disclosed he fatally shot another teenager when he was 14 in Philadelphia .
Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger told the Sun Sentinel on Wednesday that the agency has received a complaint against Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony and plans to review it .
“ We do not have an active investigation , ” Plessinger said .
The FDLE didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it were to open an investigation , it may have to determine whether the sheriff lied in paperwork about killing a man when he was a teenager .
Tony signed an affidavit this January , a year after Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis appointed him sheriff .
The notarized document is kept in his employment file .
The form is meant to verify that a law enforcement officer meets the state ’ s qualifications .
The paperwork is among the various application forms and questionnaires that Tony completed as part of his law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend that he didn ’ t see the need to disclose the 1993 killing to DeSantis or on other applications during his law enforcement career because he was a juvenile and he was cleared because it was self-defense .
The shooting came to light Saturday in an article published by the Florida Bulldog website , further roiling the August Democratic primary race between Tony and the fired sheriff he replaced , Scott Israel .
DeSantis , days after he took office , fired Israel in January 2019 because of the sheriff ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feb. 14 , 2018 , Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre that left 17 dead and replaced him with the little-known Tony .
The former Coral Springs police sergeant had quit that department in 2016 to operate a consulting firm that specialized in active shooter training .
The two former Republicans are the leading candidates in the primary that will likely decide the race in the heavily Democratic county .
The shooting happened at the Tony family home in the Badlands neighborhood of Philadelphia , an area known for its violence and open-air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend that the shooting happened after an argument he and his brother had with 18-year-old Hector Rodriguez , a drug dealer with a criminal record .

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - State law enforcement officials will review a complaint against a Florida sheriff appointed by the governor after the 2018 Parkland high school massacre following accusations that he should have disclosed he fatally shot another teenager when he was 14 in Philadelphia.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger told the Sun Sentinel on Wednesday that the agency has received a complaint against Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony and plans to review it.
“We do not have an active investigation,” Plessinger said.
The FDLE didn’t elaborate on the complaint. If it were to open an investigation, it may have to determine whether the sheriff lied in paperwork about killing a man when he was a teenager.
Tony signed an affidavit this January, a year after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him sheriff. The notarized document is kept in his employment file. The form is meant to verify that a law enforcement officer meets the state’s qualifications. The paperwork is among the various application forms and questionnaires that Tony completed as part of his law enforcement career.
Tony told reporters over the weekend that he didn’t see the need to disclose the 1993 killing to DeSantis or on other applications during his law enforcement career because he was a juvenile and he was cleared because it was self-defense.
The shooting came to light Saturday in an article published by the Florida Bulldog website, further roiling the August Democratic primary race between Tony and the fired sheriff he replaced, Scott Israel.
DeSantis, days after he took office, fired Israel in January 2019 because of the sheriff’s office’s mishandling of the Feb. 14, 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre that left 17 dead and replaced him with the little-known Tony. The former Coral Springs police sergeant had quit that department in 2016 to operate a consulting firm that specialized in active shooter training. The two former Republicans are the leading candidates in the primary that will likely decide the race in the heavily Democratic county.
The shooting happened at the Tony family home in the Badlands neighborhood of Philadelphia, an area known for its violence and open-air drug dealing. Tony told reporters over the weekend that the shooting happened after an argument he and his brother had with 18-year-old Hector Rodriguez, a drug dealer with a criminal record.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--San Francisco gets alcohol, tobacco for addicts in hotels

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - San Francisco is using private donations to deliver alcohol , tobacco and medical marijuana to a few dozen people dealing with addiction as they isolate or quarantine in city-leased hotel rooms during the pandemic , officials confirmed Wednesday .
There are about 270 people , mostly homeless , staying in hotel rooms to recover from COVID-19 or to wait out possible exposure to the virus .
Nearly a dozen people have received alcohol and more than two dozen have received tobacco , the San Francisco Chronicle reported .
City officials said that private donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping manage nicotine , opioid and alcohol cravings ensures that recovering people don ’ t go out and possibly infect others .
Dr. Grant Colfax , San Francisco ’ s public health director , said the harm-reduction approach is widespread and based on decades of sound public health policy .
“ Our focus needs to be on supporting them , ” he said of the people who are isolating or under quarantine .
For people experiencing alcohol withdrawal , the Department of Public Health calculates the minimum amount needed and delivers them with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of medication for people trying to kick heroin .
The department does not help procure recreational marijuana .
KTVU-TV was the first to report on the practice .

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco is using private donations to deliver alcohol, tobacco and medical marijuana to a few dozen people dealing with addiction as they isolate or quarantine in city-leased hotel rooms during the pandemic, officials confirmed Wednesday.
There are about 270 people, mostly homeless, staying in hotel rooms to recover from COVID-19 or to wait out possible exposure to the virus. Nearly a dozen people have received alcohol and more than two dozen have received tobacco, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
City officials said that private donations pay for the items, and that helping manage nicotine, opioid and alcohol cravings ensures that recovering people don’t go out and possibly infect others.
Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s public health director, said the harm-reduction approach is widespread and based on decades of sound public health policy. “Our focus needs to be on supporting them,” he said of the people who are isolating or under quarantine.
For people experiencing alcohol withdrawal, the Department of Public Health calculates the minimum amount needed and delivers them with meals. The department also facilitates delivery of medication for people trying to kick heroin. The department does not help procure recreational marijuana.
KTVU-TV was the first to report on the practice.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--Tate Reeves, Mississippi governor: Coronavirus no excuse to release inmates

JACKSON , Miss .
— Mississippi Gov .
Tate Reeves said Wednesday that the state will not consider early release for prisoners during the coronavirus pandemic , even with inmates living in conditions that make social distancing difficult .
“ Unlike many other states , I do not believe we ought to use the excuse of a pandemic to change our sentencing structure in our criminal justice system , ” the Republican governor said in response to questions during a news conference .
Mississippi has one of the highest incarceration rates in the United States .
An advocacy group for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coalition , issued an open letter to Reeves this week .
It demanded that the state release all juveniles , elderly and medically fragile people from custody .
It also demanded release of all inmates who have been granted parole and are awaiting release and all inmates with less than two years left to serve .
“ The men and women who are incarcerated remain fearful for their lives and are counting on you to help measure that don ’ t turn their sentences into a matter of life or death , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nsombi Lambright is executive director of One Voice , a human rights group that ’ s part of the coalition .
She told The Associated Press on Wednesday that inmates and prison employees need to be protected from the highly contagious virus .
“ All of their lives are at risk , ” Lambright said .
Empower Mississippi , a group aligned with Reeves on issues such as support of charter schools , has also called for the state to enact policy changes to reduce long prison sentences .
Its director of employability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told the AP on Wednesday that Mississippi needs to offer more coronavirus testing in prisons and provide easy-to-find information about results .
Some other states have such information online ; Mississippi does not .
“ Prisons are a perfect breeding ground for this virus , ” Robertson said .
Reeves said Wednesday that 37 Mississippi inmates have been tested for the virus , and four of those tested positive .
He said 43 Department of Corrections staff members have been tested , and seven of those tested positive .
Mississippi has more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said testing has been done on inmates or prison employees showing symptoms of the virus .
The state said last week that inmates and prison employees have received masks and gloves .
Some of the masks were donated by REFORM Alliance , a group affiliated with entertainment mogul Jay-Z .
Jay-Z , rapper Yo Gotti and Team Roc , the philanthropic arm of Jay-Z ’ s Roc Nation , are paying for two federal lawsuits filed early this year to challenge living conditions in the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman .
The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had begun investigating Mississippi ’ s prison system after several inmates were killed or injured in outbursts of violence in late December and early January .
State health inspections have shown repeated problems in Parchman with broken sinks and toilets and moldy showers .
The state Health Department said Wednesday that Mississippi - with a population of about 3 million - had at least 8,424 confirmed cases and 374 deaths from the coronavirus as of Tuesday evening .
That was an increase of 217 cases and 32 deaths from the previous day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For others , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , the virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal .
The Health Department said Wednesday that more than 80,300 coronavirus tests had been done in Mississippi as of Tuesday .
The department said at least 1,008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes , with at least 163 deaths from it in those facilities .
Reeves is easing some restrictions on restaurants .
Starting Thursday , they may serve food in their dining rooms or in outdoor areas with limited numbers of customers .
Servers must wear masks .
The Legislature is returning to the Capitol on Thursday to consider aid to businesses hurt by the pandemic .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Wednesday that the state will not consider early release for prisoners during the coronavirus pandemic, even with inmates living in conditions that make social distancing difficult.
“Unlike many other states, I do not believe we ought to use the excuse of a pandemic to change our sentencing structure in our criminal justice system,” the Republican governor said in response to questions during a news conference.
Mississippi has one of the highest incarceration rates in the United States. An advocacy group for inmate safety, the Mississippi Prison Reform Coalition, issued an open letter to Reeves this week. It demanded that the state release all juveniles, elderly and medically fragile people from custody. It also demanded release of all inmates who have been granted parole and are awaiting release and all inmates with less than two years left to serve.
“The men and women who are incarcerated remain fearful for their lives and are counting on you to help measure that don’t turn their sentences into a matter of life or death,” the coalition said in the letter.
Nsombi Lambright is executive director of One Voice, a human rights group that’s part of the coalition. She told The Associated Press on Wednesday that inmates and prison employees need to be protected from the highly contagious virus.
“All of their lives are at risk,” Lambright said.
Empower Mississippi, a group aligned with Reeves on issues such as support of charter schools, has also called for the state to enact policy changes to reduce long prison sentences. Its director of employability and criminal justice reform, J. Robertson, told the AP on Wednesday that Mississippi needs to offer more coronavirus testing in prisons and provide easy-to-find information about results. Some other states have such information online; Mississippi does not.
“Prisons are a perfect breeding ground for this virus,” Robertson said.
Reeves said Wednesday that 37 Mississippi inmates have been tested for the virus, and four of those tested positive. He said 43 Department of Corrections staff members have been tested, and seven of those tested positive. Mississippi has more than 18,000 prisoners in custody. Reeves said testing has been done on inmates or prison employees showing symptoms of the virus.
The state said last week that inmates and prison employees have received masks and gloves. Some of the masks were donated by REFORM Alliance, a group affiliated with entertainment mogul Jay-Z.
Jay-Z, rapper Yo Gotti and Team Roc, the philanthropic arm of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, are paying for two federal lawsuits filed early this year to challenge living conditions in the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. The U.S. Justice Department announced in February that it had begun investigating Mississippi’s prison system after several inmates were killed or injured in outbursts of violence in late December and early January. State health inspections have shown repeated problems in Parchman with broken sinks and toilets and moldy showers.
The state Health Department said Wednesday that Mississippi - with a population of about 3 million - had at least 8,424 confirmed cases and 374 deaths from the coronavirus as of Tuesday evening. That was an increase of 217 cases and 32 deaths from the previous day.
The number of coronavirus infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal.
The Health Department said Wednesday that more than 80,300 coronavirus tests had been done in Mississippi as of Tuesday. The department said at least 1,008 cases of the virus had been confirmed in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, with at least 163 deaths from it in those facilities.
Reeves is easing some restrictions on restaurants. Starting Thursday, they may serve food in their dining rooms or in outdoor areas with limited numbers of customers. Servers must wear masks.
The Legislature is returning to the Capitol on Thursday to consider aid to businesses hurt by the pandemic.
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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--US sees 1st detained immigrant death from coronavirus

SAN DIEGO ( AP ) - A 57-year-old person in immigration custody died Wednesday from complications related to the coronavirus , authorities said , marking the first reported death from the virus among about 30,000 people in immigration custody .
The detainee had been held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego and hospitalized since late April , said Craig Sturak , a spokesman for the San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency .
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would neither confirm nor deny the death .
CoreCivic Inc. , the private company that operates the detention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a request for comment .
Otay Mesa has been a hotbed for the spread of COVID-19 , with nearly one of five detainees who have tested positive nationwide .
As of Wednesday , 132 of ICE ’ s 705 positive cases were at the San Diego facility .
Additionally , 10 of 39 ICE detention employees who have tested positive are at Otay Mesa .
Two guards at an immigration detention center in Monroe , Louisiana , died late last month from the coronavirus - Carl Lenard , 62 , and Stanton Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detainees had been reported dead .
A Justice Department attorney , Samuel Bettwy , said at a hearing on Monday that the San Diego detainee was intubated at a hospital with a prognosis that was not good .
While the death came as no surprise , advocacy groups that have been pressing ICE to release detainees on bond swiftly criticized the agency .
“ This tragic news is even more evidence that failing to act will result in cruel and needless death , ” said Monika Langarica , an attorney at the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Imperial Counties , which successfully sued to force the release of dozens of older and medically vulnerable detainees at Otay Mesa .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .
The frequency of testing may have something to do with Otay Mesa ’ s elevated infection rate .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 119 of 171 , or 70 % , of detainees tested at Otay Mesa were positive .
ICE says only that it has tested 705 detainees nationwide , without breaking testing down by detention center .
The first positive case at Otay Mesa was a guard , whose test result was announced March 31 .
The facility is designed to hold up to 1,970 ICE detainees and U.S .
Marshals Service inmates but has lowered its count in recent weeks .
As of April 26 , it held 662 immigration detainees and 325 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released this week under a court order .

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A 57-year-old man in immigration custody died Wednesday from complications related to the coronavirus, authorities said, marking the first reported death from the virus among about 30,000 people in immigration custody.
The detainee had been held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego and hospitalized since late April, said Craig Sturak, a spokesman for the San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would neither confirm nor deny the death. CoreCivic Inc., the private company that operates the detention center, didn’t respond to a request for comment.
A family representative identified the deceased as Carlos Ernesto Escobar, a diabetic who left El Salvador with his mother and sisters in 1980 and lived in the Los Angeles area. Alex Guzman of the Otay Mesa Detention Resistance advocacy group said he had been detained at the San Diego facility since January.
Escobar’s sisters told The San Diego Union-Tribune that he received a blood transfusion Tuesday but his body had already been too weakened by the virus.
“My brother was a one-of-a-kind,” Maribel Escobar told the newspaper.
Otay Mesa has been a hotbed for the spread of COVID-19, with nearly one of five detainees who have tested positive nationwide. As of Wednesday, 132 of ICE’s 705 positive cases were at the San Diego facility. Additionally, 10 of 39 ICE detention employees who have tested positive are at Otay Mesa.
Two guards at an immigration detention center in Monroe, Louisiana, died late last month from the coronavirus - Carl Lenard, 62, and Stanton Johnson, 51. Until Wednesday, no detainees had been reported dead.
A Justice Department attorney, Samuel Bettwy, said at a hearing on Monday that the San Diego detainee was on a ventilator at a hospital and his prognosis was not good. While the death came as no surprise, advocacy groups that have been pressing ICE to release detainees on bond swiftly criticized the agency.
“This tragic news is even more evidence that failing to act will result in cruel and needless death,” said Monika Langarica, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego & Imperial Counties, which successfully sued to force the release of dozens of older and medically vulnerable detainees at Otay Mesa.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
The frequency of testing may have something to do with Otay Mesa’s elevated infection rate. At Monday’s hearing, authorities said 119 of 171, or 70%, of detainees tested at Otay Mesa were positive. ICE says only that it has tested 705 detainees nationwide, without breaking testing down by detention center.
The first positive case at Otay Mesa was a guard, whose test result was announced March 31. The facility is designed to hold up to 1,970 ICE detainees and U.S. Marshals Service inmates but has lowered its count in recent weeks.
As of April 26, it held 662 immigration detainees and 325 Marshals Service inmates. Dozens are being released this week under a court order.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--AP source: FIU's Garcia defers salary in virus response

MIAMI ( AP ) - A person with knowledge of the situation says Florida International University athletic director Pete Garcia has decided to defer one year of salary as part of the school ’ s response to financial concerns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic .
FIU also is furloughing about 22 athletic department employees into July and dissolved its men ’ s indoor track and field team , according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the school did not disclose any of the moves publicly .
The school did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it could not be determined how much money the school was hoping to save with the moves , or how many jobs were spared because of Garcia ’ s decision to forgo his salary .
The athletic department also had no immediate comment .
Garcia ’ s salary is listed in public documents as $ 435,689 .
The deferment would likely be for two years , or around the time that his current contract is set to expire .
He has held the title of FIU ’ s executive director of sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s indoor track and field team competed in five meets this past season , and most members of that team also compete in outdoor track .
FIU still plans to offer outdoor track and cross country for men , as well as both of those sports and indoor track for women .
School records show FIU has a budget of about $ 28 million for athletics , or roughly 2 % of the university ’ s overall budget for the current fiscal year .
The coronavirus pandemic has triggered fears of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The cancellation of the NCAA men ’ s basketball tournament alone cost schools $ 375 million and more losses are expected , especially if football season is disrupted in the fall .

MIAMI (AP) - A person with knowledge of the situation says Florida International University athletic director Pete Garcia has decided to defer one year of salary as part of the school’s response to financial concerns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
FIU also is furloughing about 22 athletic department employees into July and dissolved its men’s indoor track and field team, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the school did not disclose any of the moves publicly.
The school did not immediately respond to a request for comment and it could not be determined how much money the school was hoping to save with the moves, or how many jobs were spared because of Garcia’s decision to forgo his salary.
The athletic department also had no immediate comment.
Garcia’s salary is listed in public documents as $435,689. The deferment would likely be for two years, or around the time that his current contract is set to expire. He has held the title of FIU’s executive director of sports and entertainment since 2006.
The men’s indoor track and field team competed in five meets this past season, and most members of that team also compete in outdoor track. FIU still plans to offer outdoor track and cross country for men, as well as both of those sports and indoor track for women.
School records show FIU has a budget of about $28 million for athletics, or roughly 2% of the university’s overall budget for the current fiscal year.
The coronavirus pandemic has triggered fears of an economic meltdown on campuses around the country. The cancellation of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament alone cost schools $375 million and more losses are expected, especially if football season is disrupted in the fall.


washingtontimes--2020-05-06--California governor expands health coverage in virus cases

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed an executive order allowing employees across California ’ s economy to apply for worker ’ s compensation if they contract the coronavirus , with a presumption that it was work-related unless employers can prove otherwise .
The presumption applies for the next 60 days and is retroactive to March 19 , when Newsom first ordered all but essential workers to stay at home to ease the risk of transmitting the virus .
He said the change is needed now as California prepares to relax those orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debates are happening in Congress and across the nation as leaders debate how much legal protection to give companies whose employees are infected .
Employees in California will be eligible if they tested positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after being at work , the maximum known incubation period .
And they must have exhausted other state and federal benefits .
The state ’ s Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau previously said such a decision could cost from $ 2.2 billion to $ 33.6 billion annually , depending on the details .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion is about 60 % of the entire annual estimated cost of the state ’ s workers ’ compensation system before the pandemic .
Employers pay for the program , but in turn employees give up their right to sue for liability .
Business , insurers and local government organizations objected that employees already were covered under California ’ s no fault , employer-funded system if they could show they contracted the virus on the job .
Newsom ’ s order flips that burden of proof by creating the legal presumption that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise under what the governor called “ strict criteria.
” Victoria Hassid , chief deputy director at the California Department of Industrial Relations that oversees the program , said the state will provide more details in coming days .
She said the presumption will apply to workers including “ our nurses , our first-responders , janitors , warehouse workers , farm workers , grocery store workers , and all of those that are putting themselves on the line.
” There is no limit on job classifications in the executive order , and Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returning to work in coming days are confident that they have protection if they are infected .
“ As we move into this second phase , we want to keep workers healthy and keep them safe .
The worst thing we can do is have a worker that has tested positive but doesn ’ t want to tell anybody and can spread the disease because he or she can ’ t afford not to work , ” Newsom said .
“ And so that ’ s why expanding to all sectors of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so important , because we want people to feel confident and comfortable , they ’ ll have their benefits.
” Newsom , a Democrat , said the discussions leading to his decision were “ very passionate ” and involved labor and business leaders , who were split in their response .
The California Chamber of Commerce said many employees already are covered under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program without putting more strain on the state ’ s employers .
Newsom ’ s order “ will unnecessarily and significantly drive up costs for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance rates at a time when they are struggling to keep Californians employed , ” the chamber said in a statement .
American Property Casualty Insurance Association president David A. Sampson said it potentially “ jeopardizes the stability of the workers compensation system.
” But the Service Employees ’ International Union hailed his decision as an important protection for health care workers , many of them racial minorities , who daily face the threat of infection on the job .
“ The last thing an ill worker or the family of a fallen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court to secure the health care and other benefits they need to keep food on the table during the hardest time in their lives , ” said April Verrett , a local president and SEIU executive board member .
For most people , the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness and death .
The state Legislature , overwhelming dominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering several similar actions .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed an executive order allowing employees across California’s economy to apply for worker’s compensation if they contract the coronavirus, with a presumption that it was work-related unless employers can prove otherwise.
The presumption applies for the next 60 days and is retroactive to March 19, when Newsom first ordered all but essential workers to stay at home to ease the risk of transmitting the virus. He said the change is needed now as California prepares to relax those orders in coming days and weeks.
Similar debates are happening in Congress and across the nation as leaders debate how much legal protection to give companies whose employees are infected.
Employees in California will be eligible if they tested positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after being at work, the maximum known incubation period. And they must have exhausted other state and federal benefits.
The state’s Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau previously said such a decision could cost from $2.2 billion to $33.6 billion annually, depending on the details. The mid-range estimate of about $11 billion is about 60% of the entire annual estimated cost of the state’s workers’ compensation system before the pandemic.
Employers pay for the program, but in turn employees give up their right to sue for liability.
Business, insurers and local government organizations objected that employees already were covered under California’s no fault, employer-funded system if they could show they contracted the virus on the job.
Newsom’s order flips that burden of proof by creating the legal presumption that the infection was job-related unless employers can show otherwise under what the governor called “strict criteria.”
Victoria Hassid, chief deputy director at the California Department of Industrial Relations that oversees the program, said the state will provide more details in coming days. She said the presumption will apply to workers including “our nurses, our first-responders, janitors, warehouse workers, farm workers, grocery store workers, and all of those that are putting themselves on the line.”
There is no limit on job classifications in the executive order, and Newsom said it is important that all employees returning to work in coming days are confident that they have protection if they are infected.
“As we move into this second phase, we want to keep workers healthy and keep them safe. The worst thing we can do is have a worker that has tested positive but doesn’t want to tell anybody and can spread the disease because he or she can’t afford not to work,” Newsom said. “And so that’s why expanding to all sectors of our economy this workers’ comp presumption is so important, because we want people to feel confident and comfortable, they’ll have their benefits.”
Newsom, a Democrat, said the discussions leading to his decision were “very passionate” and involved labor and business leaders, who were split in their response.
The California Chamber of Commerce said many employees already are covered under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program without putting more strain on the state’s employers.
Newsom’s order “will unnecessarily and significantly drive up costs for California employers through increased workers’ compensation insurance rates at a time when they are struggling to keep Californians employed,” the chamber said in a statement.
American Property Casualty Insurance Association president David A. Sampson said it potentially “jeopardizes the stability of the workers compensation system.”
But the Service Employees’ International Union hailed his decision as an important protection for health care workers, many of them racial minorities, who daily face the threat of infection on the job.
“The last thing an ill worker or the family of a fallen worker needs is to spend months in court to secure the health care and other benefits they need to keep food on the table during the hardest time in their lives,” said April Verrett, a local president and SEIU executive board member.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.
The state Legislature, overwhelming dominated by Democratic lawmakers, had already been considering several similar actions.