foreignpolicy--2020-03-15--New York Officials Tell U.N. Coronavirus Has Spread Throughout City

New York Officials Tell U.N. Coronavirus Has Spread Throughout City New York City officials advised the U.N. diplomatic community on Saturday that the new coronavirus has spread widely through the city and could potentially linger as a threat to the health of residents until as late as September , according to four diplomatic sources .
“ Everyone in New York should assume that they have been in contact with COVID-19 , ” city officials told the foreign delegates , according to a readout of a conference call with New York-based diplomats , which was reviewed by Foreign Policy .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City commissioner in the Mayor ’ s Office for International Affairs , and included officials from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene , outlined a series of “ best practices ” to help foreign delegations get through the crisis , according to the account .
But they offered no assurance that the city would provide special services to foreign diplomats exposed to the virus in New York , including tests , according to the account .
“ There are no particular measures , ” officials told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was produced by a representative of a diplomatic mission who listened in on the briefing .
“ If you ’ re sick , stay home—this is how we save New York , ” they said , according to the readout .
The readout did not directly quote the briefers , who included Demetre Daskalakis , the deputy commissioner in the health department ’ s Division of Disease Control , and Maura Kennelly , the acting associate commissioner for external affairs at the health department .
It presented an overview of the meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the diplomats and answers from city officials .
The briefing to the diplomatic community came on a day when the number of confirmed cases of infections in New York state rose to 613 , including 269 in New York City .
They included a 65-year-old man from Rockland County and an 82-year-old Brooklyn woman , who were declared the state ’ s first coronavirus fatalities , and two New York State Assembly members , Helene Weinstein , 67 , and Charles Barron , 69 .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward with plans to “ offer telecommuting or a staggered work schedule for about 100,000 city employees , ” the New York Times reported .
De Blasio , however , has resisted calls for shutting down the city public school system , the largest in the country .
During the Saturday afternoon briefing , New York City medical officials emphasized that New York is “ in the mitigation phase of the outbreak , ” according to the readout .
“ This means that all individuals should assume that they have had some contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing ; most cases will be mild and medical care should only be sought in urgent , worsening , or vulnerable cases.
” The briefers characterized the most vulnerable as the elderly , particularly those over 70 years of age , and individuals over the age of 50 with underlying health conditions , according to the account .
City officials appeared to douse expectations , raised by President Donald Trump in a televised press conference with executives of major U.S. corporations , that testing would become widely available .
Asked if there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made available to foreign missions , the briefers said , “ No .
You will be tested if a doctor advises ; calling 311 can give access to a provider if patient doesn ’ t have one , ” according to the readout , which was shared widely with the New York-based diplomatic community .
“ Testing should be reserved for the sickest ( hospitalized ) patients , ” the account said .
The four-page readout was largely consistent with a separate written one-page account of the meeting made available to Foreign Policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account asserted that New York City officials told foreign delegates that the crisis could potentially continue through September .
“ New York City is trying to flatten the curve of infections , ” the account reported the city officials said .
The New York City officials said that the city has changed its strategy from the early days when the virus arrived in New York , when health authorities sought to track and contain small numbers of cases .
“ Testing is now less important—the danger of transmission is much higher as many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of people will only have mild symptoms , ” according to the readout .
The city ’ s strategy appeared inconsistent with the advice of the World Health Organization , which has urged governments to combine containment policies , such as contact tracing , with mitigation policies aimed at preventing the transmission of the virus through so-called social distancing and the prohibition of large public gatherings .
Those who exhibit symptoms associated with coronavirus—fever , dry coughs , difficulty breathing—should isolate themselves from others .
The sick should only seek a doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worsening or they experience shortness of breath .
Any doctor ’ s office , they added , has the authority to order a test if needed , according to the account .
The ill should avoid seeking emergency care “ except if advised by a doctor , and if co-morbidities are present such as cancer , elderly , etc.
, ” according to the first account .
They said that the Department of Health is no longer asking for information about infections unless they are part of a “ suspected high-risk cluster.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracing is not a good use of our resources when the virus is widespread , ” according to the readout .
“ There will be little emphasis on tracing.
” The city ’ s health officials said that those infected with coronavirus remain infectious for about 72 hours after their initial fever abates , but they should remain in isolation for an additional seven days after the symptoms subside .
“ We are hopeful that exposure to COVID will make people immune , but too early to say definitively , ” according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s candor in describing the crisis .
But they expressed some concern about the city ’ s commitment to address all their needs .
For instance , the delegations would be responsible for disinfecting their own missions in the event of an outbreak , noting that the city lacked sufficient supplies for them .
New York officials also said that it was unlikely they would notify foreign delegations if one of their nationals tested positive , citing the importance of maintaining patient privacy .
The officials said they were unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to observe delegations ’ diplomatic immunity to travel in restricted areas , saying they “ would have to balance immunities with the needs of the community.
” One senior diplomat , who spoke on condition of anonymity because the briefing was confidential , said the basic takeaway was : “ It ’ s your responsibility not to get infected , and your responsibility to stay home if you do .
Your odds of not dying are rather great—if you get close , ‘ Give us a call.
’ ” Correction , March 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this story incorrectly attributed a readout of a New York City briefing on the coronavirus to the New York City Mayor ’ s Office for International Affairs .
The readout was written by a representative of a foreign mission in New York and circulated widely in the U.N. diplomatic community .

New York City officials advised the U.N. diplomatic community on Saturday that the new coronavirus has spread widely through the city and could potentially linger as a threat to the health of residents until as late as September, according to four diplomatic sources.
New York City officials advised the U.N. diplomatic community on Saturday that the new coronavirus has spread widely through the city and could potentially linger as a threat to the health of residents until as late as September, according to four diplomatic sources.
“Everyone in New York should assume that they have been in contact with COVID-19,” city officials told the foreign delegates, according to a readout of a conference call with New York-based diplomats, which was reviewed by Foreign Policy.
The briefers—who were led by Penny Abeywardena, New York City commissioner in the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, and included officials from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, outlined a series of “best practices” to help foreign delegations get through the crisis, according to the account. But they offered no assurance that the city would provide special services to foreign diplomats exposed to the virus in New York, including tests, according to the account.
“There are no particular measures,” officials told the diplomats, according to the readout, which was produced by a representative of a diplomatic mission who listened in on the briefing. “If you’re sick, stay home—this is how we save New York,” they said, according to the readout.
The readout did not directly quote the briefers, who included Demetre Daskalakis, the deputy commissioner in the health department’s Division of Disease Control, and Maura Kennelly, the acting associate commissioner for external affairs at the health department. It presented an overview of the meeting in the form of paraphrased questions from the diplomats and answers from city officials.
[Mapping the Coronavirus Outbreak: Get daily updates on the pandemic and learn how it’s affecting countries around the world.]
The briefing to the diplomatic community came on a day when the number of confirmed cases of infections in New York state rose to 613, including 269 in New York City. They included a 65-year-old man from Rockland County and an 82-year-old Brooklyn woman, who were declared the state’s first coronavirus fatalities, and two New York State Assembly members, Helene Weinstein, 67, and Charles Barron, 69. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, meanwhile, announced the administration was moving forward with plans to “offer telecommuting or a staggered work schedule for about 100,000 city employees,” the New York Times reported. De Blasio, however, has resisted calls for shutting down the city public school system, the largest in the country.
During the Saturday afternoon briefing, New York City medical officials emphasized that New York is “in the mitigation phase of the outbreak,” according to the readout. “This means that all individuals should assume that they have had some contact with the virus and practice the maximum-possible social distancing; most cases will be mild and medical care should only be sought in urgent, worsening, or vulnerable cases.”
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The briefers characterized the most vulnerable as the elderly, particularly those over 70 years of age, and individuals over the age of 50 with underlying health conditions, according to the account.
City officials appeared to douse expectations, raised by President Donald Trump in a televised press conference with executives of major U.S. corporations, that testing would become widely available. Asked if there would be a list of testing centers made available to foreign missions, the briefers said, “No. You will be tested if a doctor advises; calling 311 can give access to a provider if patient doesn’t have one,” according to the readout, which was shared widely with the New York-based diplomatic community.
“Testing should be reserved for the sickest (hospitalized) patients,” the account said.
The four-page readout was largely consistent with a separate written one-page account of the meeting made available to Foreign Policy by two diplomatic sources. The second account asserted that New York City officials told foreign delegates that the crisis could potentially continue through September. “New York City is trying to flatten the curve of infections,” the account reported the city officials said.
The New York City officials said that the city has changed its strategy from the early days when the virus arrived in New York, when health authorities sought to track and contain small numbers of cases. “Testing is now less important—the danger of transmission is much higher as many people have now been exposed and the majority of people will only have mild symptoms,” according to the readout.
The city’s strategy appeared inconsistent with the advice of the World Health Organization, which has urged governments to combine containment policies, such as contact tracing, with mitigation policies aimed at preventing the transmission of the virus through so-called social distancing and the prohibition of large public gatherings.
Those who exhibit symptoms associated with coronavirus—fever, dry coughs, difficulty breathing—should isolate themselves from others.
The sick should only seek a doctor’s advice if symptoms are rapidly worsening or they experience shortness of breath. Any doctor’s office, they added, has the authority to order a test if needed, according to the account.
The ill should avoid seeking emergency care “except if advised by a doctor, and if co-morbidities are present such as cancer, elderly, etc.,” according to the first account. They said that the Department of Health is no longer asking for information about infections unless they are part of a “suspected high-risk cluster.”
“Interviews with confirmed cases and contact tracing is not a good use of our resources when the virus is widespread,” according to the readout. “There will be little emphasis on tracing.”
The city’s health officials said that those infected with coronavirus remain infectious for about 72 hours after their initial fever abates, but they should remain in isolation for an additional seven days after the symptoms subside. “We are hopeful that exposure to COVID will make people immune, but too early to say definitively,” according to the account.
Diplomats said they welcome the city’s candor in describing the crisis. But they expressed some concern about the city’s commitment to address all their needs. For instance, the delegations would be responsible for disinfecting their own missions in the event of an outbreak, noting that the city lacked sufficient supplies for them.
New York officials also said that it was unlikely they would notify foreign delegations if one of their nationals tested positive, citing the importance of maintaining patient privacy. The officials said they were unable to guarantee the city would be able to observe delegations’ diplomatic immunity to travel in restricted areas, saying they “would have to balance immunities with the needs of the community.”
One senior diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the briefing was confidential, said the basic takeaway was: “It’s your responsibility not to get infected, and your responsibility to stay home if you do. Your odds of not dying are rather great—if you get close, ‘Give us a call.’”
Correction, March 15, 2020: A previous version of this story incorrectly attributed a readout of a New York City briefing on the coronavirus to the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs. The readout was written by a representative of a foreign mission in New York and circulated widely in the U.N. diplomatic community.


foreignpolicy--2020-03-17--West African Leaders Are Rolling Back Democratic Gains

As much of the world ’ s attention was glued to the U.S. Democratic Party primaries and the continued spread of the new coronavirus , an unexpected announcement threw the democratic future of a West African country into further chaos earlier this month .
Guinea , home to almost 13 million people , postponed a referendum on a constitutional amendment that was due to take place the following weekend .
Guinean President Alpha Condé announced a “ slight postponement ” on Feb. 28 after concerns emerged days earlier over the integrity of the electoral rolls .
The Organisation Internationale de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French-speaking countries , said it found 2.49 million “ problematic ” names on the electoral register , which included dead people or those too young to vote .
The African Union had recalled its observer team ahead of the polls .
It ’ s unlikely that the postponement will change the outcome unless foreign and regional powers demand a transparent vote free of government intimidation and meddling .
The concerns over the voter rolls were legitimate , as were general worries over the integrity of the vote , considering an opposition coalition was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy security presence meant there were questions over whether it would be free and fair .
Although Condé is trying to extend his stay via the amendment under consideration , it ’ s beneficial for him if it appears to the outside world that due process was followed .
It ’ s unlikely , however , that the postponement will change the eventual outcome unless foreign and regional powers demand a transparent vote free of government intimidation and meddling .
Condé has been in power since 2010 , when he won Guinea ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He won a second and final constitutionally allowed five-year term in 2015 .
But in 2019 , Condé refused to rule out running for an unconstitutional third term in this year ’ s October polls .
Last December , a referendum on a constitutional amendment was officially announced .
The revised constitution would still include term limits but would increase each term from five to six years .
Crucially , Condé , 81 , would be eligible to run under the new law .
He ’ ll be 94 when he leaves office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Condé ’ s move is straight out of the playbook of undemocratic leaders seeking to extend their tenures by democratic means .
Just recently , Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed a plan in which he would become eligible to run for two more terms following a proposal by the lower house of parliament that restarts the clock on his candidacy , subject to an April referendum .
Changing the constitution is a tactic now increasingly employed in African countries where most institutions—parliament , the judiciary , and the electoral bodies—are weak and often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Civic groups , opposition parties , and ordinary citizens took to the streets of the Guinean capital Conakry to protest .
They were met by emboldened security forces who fired tear gas , arrested hundreds of people , and reportedly killed at least 36 protesters , according to Human Rights Watch .
Guinea witnessed decades of authoritarian rule and military coups before the return of democracy in 2010 , and , understandably , its citizens are not keen to return to those dark days .
A 2017 survey found more than eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the presidency , including 70 percent of those who supported Condé ’ s ruling party .
But it is unlikely the will of the people will be heeded , as Condé is expected to get his wish when the rescheduled referendum takes place .
Vote-tampering could occur through voter intimidation , where people refuse to turn up due to a heavy security presence .
And , according to an analyst , most of the problematic names on the rolls were found in regions where Condé already enjoys support .
If Condé does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worrying trend of increasing authoritarianism among West African leaders .
West Africa is regarded as having the most stable democracies on the continent , according to Freedom House , a think tank tracking democracy globally .
But the group has raised concerns over a shrinking democratic space in the region , characterized by military crackdowns and a lack of press freedom .
If Condé succeeds in extending his term , he ’ ll be following in the footsteps of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé , who secured a fourth term in office last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fraud by the opposition candidate Agbéyomé Kodjo , whose house was surrounded by military troops on Election Day .
Gnassingbé followed the now-familiar path to electoral success by first seeking a disputed constitutional amendment that put a cap on presidential term limits to two five-year terms .
As is now customary from Moscow to Lomé , the new law restarted the clock , clearing Gnassingbé to run in last month ’ s vote and in 2025 should he choose to do so .
The electorate returned Gnassingbé to office with more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure that “ strains credulity , ” as one expert put it .
Like Guineans , a vast majority of the Togolese population said in 2017 that they supported two-term limits and disapproved of Gnassingbé ’ s desire to run in the 2020 elections .
It seems highly unlikely that a population who rejected their president in opinion polls would then vote for him overwhelmingly in such a way that he increased his vote tally to over 70 percent from just 59 percent in 2015 .
On election day , the government deployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington-based National Democratic Institute on Feb. 18 , four days before the vote .
The largest independent civil society organization in Togo was barred from observing the vote , and an influential former archbishop of Lomé was put under house arrest after calling the elections a fraud .
It ’ s hard to believe these recent elections are anything but a choreographed attempt to keep a dictator in power through a facade of democracy .
Given that there were massive street protests when the amendment was first proposed that led to at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hard to believe these recent elections are anything but a choreographed attempt to keep a dictator in power through a facade of democracy .
The Togolese government even completely shut down the internet during anti-government protests in 2017 and 2018 , effectively silencing opposition groups given that protests are often organized on social media , especially WhatsApp , where the bulk of the population is active .
To make matters worse , Gnassingbé has been in power since 2005 , when he replaced his father , Gnassingbé Eyadéma , who himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sudden death .
For a large number of people in the small West African country , they have only had a Gnassingbé as president .
And if the current president stays in office until 2030 , as many expect , his family would have ruled for 63 years .
In Ivory Coast , it appeared that President Alassane Ouattara was also set to test the limits of his country ’ s fragile democracy late last year when he signaled his intention to run for an unconstitutional third term .
But if Condé and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demands made by the voting public through referendums , Ouattara made no such pretensions .
He was simply interested because his rivals , veterans of the country ’ s political scene , had designs on reclaiming power .
“ I want everyone in my generation to step aside , ” the 78-year-old Ouattara said at a rally last November .
But “ if they [ former presidents Laurent Gbagbo , 74 , and Henri Konan Bédié , 85 ] decide to be a candidate , then I will be a candidate.
” Ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he addressed lawmakers , citing his desire to hand over the helm .
“ I have decided not to be candidate in the Oct. 31 presidential election and to transfer power to a new generation , ” he said earlier this month .
Yet even that declaration rings hollow considering that the former rebel leader Guillaume Soro—47 , and decidedly of a new generation—is currently in hiding having declared his intention to contest .
He is currently the subject of an international arrest warrant after the government said it had evidence he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soro ’ s allies have since been arrested .
Ouattara ’ s initial suggestion that he was going to run was especially shocking because he was a beneficiary of a working democracy when he rose to power in 2010 .
When he decisively defeated Gbagbo in that year ’ s elections , the then-incumbent refused to leave office and triggered widespread violence that killed more than 3,000 people and culminated in his trial at The Hague .
It took a global clamor and an engaged citizenry for Ouattara to claim his rightful place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backing down ; running would have been hypocritical .
This is what makes Condé ’ s heel turn in Guinea surprising and shameful .
A longtime opposition leader , he was sentenced to death in absentia during the authoritarian rule of President Sékou Touré and only returned to the country in 1991 , seven years after Touré ’ s death .
A former proponent of democracy has now become a perpetrator of the worst excesses of authoritarianism .
What comes next for Guinea is unclear .
Unless there ’ s a massive change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly unlikely , the referendum will take place on March 22 .
The task of enforcing democratic rule falls on the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) , but there are few signs of an appetite to do so , although a delegation of leaders from neighboring countries plans to fly to Guinea next week .
Guinea ’ s plight has largely gone under the radar beyond attention from the usual U.S.-based development experts and Africa specialists .
And the African Union is historically weak on this issue and did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out its observers days before the polls .
ECOWAS can rightfully point to its successful effort to unseat Gambia ’ s Yahya Jammeh in 2017 after he initially refused to accept defeat to the little-known Adama Barrow in 2016 .
But the intervention only came after Jammeh ran roughshod over the country for 21 years , overseeing a period of corruption and gruesome human rights abuses .
There is also a strong case to be made that Jammeh was susceptible to military threats from ECOWAS , whose troops moved into Gambia and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he refused to leave as agreed .
He eventually left and is in exile in Equatorial Guinea .
As always , it is the people who bear the brunt of shrinking democratic spaces .
Freedoms , real and imagined , are curtailed as economic inequality deepens .
Internet shutdowns—a tool loved by autocrats—now harms citizens ’ economic well-being , with so many businesses now reliant on the internet .
The onus is on the African Union and ECOWAS to prevail on these leaders to leave when their time is up .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get them to cede power would be to negotiate an exit strategy that frees them from possible prosecution when they leave office .
Africa is hardly a priority of international organizations , and the Trump administration in the United States has no clearly defined policy regarding the continent beyond making up new countries and denigrating existing ones as “ shithole ” nations .
West Africa ’ s recent democratic progress is now under active threat and risks being lost to the selfish whims of autocratic leaders who should know better but have shown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cling to power .
Donors , global powers , and regional neighbors must now come to the aid of engaged citizens in their quest to force these leaders out of office .

As much of the world’s attention was glued to the U.S. Democratic Party primaries and the continued spread of the new coronavirus, an unexpected announcement threw the democratic future of a West African country into further chaos earlier this month. Guinea, home to almost 13 million people, postponed a referendum on a constitutional amendment that was due to take place the following weekend.
As much of the world’s attention was glued to the U.S. Democratic Party primaries and the continued spread of the new coronavirus, an unexpected announcement threw the democratic future of a West African country into further chaos earlier this month. Guinea, home to almost 13 million people, postponed a referendum on a constitutional amendment that was due to take place the following weekend.
Guinean President Alpha Condé announced a “slight postponement” on Feb. 28 after concerns emerged days earlier over the integrity of the electoral rolls. The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, an international organization of French-speaking countries, said it found 2.49 million “problematic” names on the electoral register, which included dead people or those too young to vote. The African Union had recalled its observer team ahead of the polls.
It’s unlikely that the postponement will change the outcome unless foreign and regional powers demand a transparent vote free of government intimidation and meddling.
The concerns over the voter rolls were legitimate, as were general worries over the integrity of the vote, considering an opposition coalition was boycotting it and the violent lead-up and heavy security presence meant there were questions over whether it would be free and fair.
Although Condé is trying to extend his stay via the amendment under consideration, it’s beneficial for him if it appears to the outside world that due process was followed. It’s unlikely, however, that the postponement will change the eventual outcome unless foreign and regional powers demand a transparent vote free of government intimidation and meddling.
Condé has been in power since 2010, when he won Guinea’s first-ever free and fair elections. He won a second and final constitutionally allowed five-year term in 2015. But in 2019, Condé refused to rule out running for an unconstitutional third term in this year’s October polls. Last December, a referendum on a constitutional amendment was officially announced.
The revised constitution would still include term limits but would increase each term from five to six years. Crucially, Condé, 81, would be eligible to run under the new law. He’ll be 94 when he leaves office if things go according to plan.
Condé’s move is straight out of the playbook of undemocratic leaders seeking to extend their tenures by democratic means. Just recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed a plan in which he would become eligible to run for two more terms following a proposal by the lower house of parliament that restarts the clock on his candidacy, subject to an April referendum.
Changing the constitution is a tactic now increasingly employed in African countries where most institutions—parliament, the judiciary, and the electoral bodies—are weak and often serve at the pleasure of the president.
Civic groups, opposition parties, and ordinary citizens took to the streets of the Guinean capital Conakry to protest. They were met by emboldened security forces who fired tear gas, arrested hundreds of people, and reportedly killed at least 36 protesters, according to Human Rights Watch.
Guinea witnessed decades of authoritarian rule and military coups before the return of democracy in 2010, and, understandably, its citizens are not keen to return to those dark days. A 2017 survey found more than eight in 10 Guineans favored a two-term limit for the presidency, including 70 percent of those who supported Condé’s ruling party.
But it is unlikely the will of the people will be heeded, as Condé is expected to get his wish when the rescheduled referendum takes place. Vote-tampering could occur through voter intimidation, where people refuse to turn up due to a heavy security presence. And, according to an analyst, most of the problematic names on the rolls were found in regions where Condé already enjoys support.
If Condé does succeed, he will be following the worrying trend of increasing authoritarianism among West African leaders.
West Africa is regarded as having the most stable democracies on the continent, according to Freedom House, a think tank tracking democracy globally. But the group has raised concerns over a shrinking democratic space in the region, characterized by military crackdowns and a lack of press freedom.
If Condé succeeds in extending his term, he’ll be following in the footsteps of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, who secured a fourth term in office last month. The elections were marked by accusations of fraud by the opposition candidate Agbéyomé Kodjo, whose house was surrounded by military troops on Election Day.
Gnassingbé followed the now-familiar path to electoral success by first seeking a disputed constitutional amendment that put a cap on presidential term limits to two five-year terms. As is now customary from Moscow to Lomé, the new law restarted the clock, clearing Gnassingbé to run in last month’s vote and in 2025 should he choose to do so.
The electorate returned Gnassingbé to office with more than 70 percent of the tally, a figure that “strains credulity,” as one expert put it. Like Guineans, a vast majority of the Togolese population said in 2017 that they supported two-term limits and disapproved of Gnassingbé’s desire to run in the 2020 elections. It seems highly unlikely that a population who rejected their president in opinion polls would then vote for him overwhelmingly in such a way that he increased his vote tally to over 70 percent from just 59 percent in 2015.
On election day, the government deployed 10,000 soldiers—and it expelled observers from the Washington-based National Democratic Institute on Feb. 18, four days before the vote. The largest independent civil society organization in Togo was barred from observing the vote, and an influential former archbishop of Lomé was put under house arrest after calling the elections a fraud.
It’s hard to believe these recent elections are anything but a choreographed attempt to keep a dictator in power through a facade of democracy.
Given that there were massive street protests when the amendment was first proposed that led to at least 16 deaths and several injuries, it’s hard to believe these recent elections are anything but a choreographed attempt to keep a dictator in power through a facade of democracy. The Togolese government even completely shut down the internet during anti-government protests in 2017 and 2018, effectively silencing opposition groups given that protests are often organized on social media, especially WhatsApp, where the bulk of the population is active.
To make matters worse, Gnassingbé has been in power since 2005, when he replaced his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who himself ruled the country from 1967 until his sudden death. For a large number of people in the small West African country, they have only had a Gnassingbé as president. And if the current president stays in office until 2030, as many expect, his family would have ruled for 63 years.
In Ivory Coast, it appeared that President Alassane Ouattara was also set to test the limits of his country’s fragile democracy late last year when he signaled his intention to run for an unconstitutional third term. But if Condé and Gnassingbé cloaked their antidemocratic efforts as popular demands made by the voting public through referendums, Ouattara made no such pretensions. He was simply interested because his rivals, veterans of the country’s political scene, had designs on reclaiming power.
“I want everyone in my generation to step aside,” the 78-year-old Ouattara said at a rally last November. But “if they [former presidents Laurent Gbagbo, 74, and Henri Konan Bédié, 85] decide to be a candidate, then I will be a candidate.”
Ultimately Ouattara decided against running last week when he addressed lawmakers, citing his desire to hand over the helm. “I have decided not to be candidate in the Oct. 31 presidential election and to transfer power to a new generation,” he said earlier this month.
Yet even that declaration rings hollow considering that the former rebel leader Guillaume Soro—47, and decidedly of a new generation—is currently in hiding having declared his intention to contest. He is currently the subject of an international arrest warrant after the government said it had evidence he was planning on overthrowing it. Several of Soro’s allies have since been arrested.
Ouattara’s initial suggestion that he was going to run was especially shocking because he was a beneficiary of a working democracy when he rose to power in 2010. When he decisively defeated Gbagbo in that year’s elections, the then-incumbent refused to leave office and triggered widespread violence that killed more than 3,000 people and culminated in his trial at The Hague. It took a global clamor and an engaged citizenry for Ouattara to claim his rightful place.
Ouattara made the right call by backing down; running would have been hypocritical. This is what makes Condé’s heel turn in Guinea surprising and shameful. A longtime opposition leader, he was sentenced to death in absentia during the authoritarian rule of President Sékou Touré and only returned to the country in 1991, seven years after Touré’s death. A former proponent of democracy has now become a perpetrator of the worst excesses of authoritarianism.
What comes next for Guinea is unclear. Unless there’s a massive change of heart from Condé, which is highly unlikely, the referendum will take place on March 22.
The task of enforcing democratic rule falls on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), but there are few signs of an appetite to do so, although a delegation of leaders from neighboring countries plans to fly to Guinea next week. Guinea’s plight has largely gone under the radar beyond attention from the usual U.S.-based development experts and Africa specialists. And the African Union is historically weak on this issue and did nothing to ensure fairness until it pulled out its observers days before the polls.
ECOWAS can rightfully point to its successful effort to unseat Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh in 2017 after he initially refused to accept defeat to the little-known Adama Barrow in 2016. But the intervention only came after Jammeh ran roughshod over the country for 21 years, overseeing a period of corruption and gruesome human rights abuses.
There is also a strong case to be made that Jammeh was susceptible to military threats from ECOWAS, whose troops moved into Gambia and were poised to swoop into the presidential quarters if he refused to leave as agreed. He eventually left and is in exile in Equatorial Guinea.
As always, it is the people who bear the brunt of shrinking democratic spaces. Freedoms, real and imagined, are curtailed as economic inequality deepens. Internet shutdowns—a tool loved by autocrats—now harms citizens’ economic well-being, with so many businesses now reliant on the internet.
The onus is on the African Union and ECOWAS to prevail on these leaders to leave when their time is up. Although not ideal, a good way to get them to cede power would be to negotiate an exit strategy that frees them from possible prosecution when they leave office. Africa is hardly a priority of international organizations, and the Trump administration in the United States has no clearly defined policy regarding the continent beyond making up new countries and denigrating existing ones as “shithole” nations.
West Africa’s recent democratic progress is now under active threat and risks being lost to the selfish whims of autocratic leaders who should know better but have shown they will use every means necessary to cling to power. Donors, global powers, and regional neighbors must now come to the aid of engaged citizens in their quest to force these leaders out of office.


foreignpolicy--2020-03-17--EU to Close Borders to Fight Coronavirus

Here is today ’ s Foreign Policy brief : The European Union moves to ban entry for 30 days , the markets dive again , and Vladimir Putin moves one step closer to remaining in power .
We welcome your feedback at morningbrief @ foreignpolicy.com .
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a 30-day ban on travel to the European Union and Schengen zone , as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic moves from Asia to Europe .
Von der Leyen announced the proposal during a teleconference with G-7 leaders on Monday .
As the crisis has worsened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own border checks and closures but this would be the first EU-wide attempt to halt travel into the bloc .
Von der Leyen said that “ essential ” workers would be exempt from the travel restrictions and that the impetus for the move comes from a need to “ do more to reduce the huge pressure on our healthcare system.
” For the ban to work , the EU would also need the support of the four countries outside the EU but within the Schengen zone : Iceland , Liechtenstein , Norway , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Although EU leaders still need to approve the proposal , moves to close the borders of the Schengen zone appear to already be in motion .
French president Emmanuel Macron confirmed the move , announcing “ All travel between non-EU countries and the European Union will be suspended for 30 days , ” beginning today .
French citizens , he added , would be able to return home .
Will closing borders help ?
Given the extremely high number of existing cases inside Europe , stopping arrivals from outside the bloc may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The infection rate in Italy and Spain , for example , is significantly higher than in China .
In a televised address to the French people , Macron declared the country was “ at war ” and movement within France will also be restricted beginning today through at least the end of March .
People have been instructed to stay home apart from essential activities like shopping for food .
Those violating the order face punishment .
Is Britain doing anything to slow the spread ?
Amid confusion over the United Kingdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus outbreak—which many public health experts have deemed reckless—Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave clearer recommendations Monday on how Britons should approach their daily lives .
“ Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel .
We need people to start working from home where they possibly can .
And you should avoid pubs , clubs , theaters and other such social venues , ” he said .
Unlike in other countries , no order to close such venues has been issued yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to drop yesterday as investors continue their sell-off with no end in sight .
The S & P 500 index , which fell nearly 12 percent Monday , dropped so low that it erased all gains made since January 2019 , as the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 13 percent—almost 3,000 points .
“ It ’ s not like a regular business cycle ; anything to slow the spread of the virus is the greatest economic stimulus you could have , and it ’ s now clear that U.S. government policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goolsbee , a professor of economics at the University of Chicago ’ s Booth School of Business told Foreign Policy .
Democracy Delayed ?
France will postpone the second round of its municipal elections , even as the first round took place last Sunday .
Fears of spreading the coronavirus have taken hold in France , with near-lockdowns now in place .
In the race for Paris mayor , incumbent Anne Hidalgo received 30 percent of the first round vote , 8 percent ahead of her nearest challenger .
A judge has rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to delay his state ’ s presidential primary .
The vote is expected to go ahead today even as poll workers have already begun dropping out , citing health concerns .
Long voter lines have characterized the primaries in many states , notably in Texas , where one man waited in line for 7 hours before he could vote .
Florida , Illinois , and Arizona all plan to hold their votes today as scheduled .
Meanwhile , Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said there is “ no necessity ” to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 presidential elections , even as the European continent endures some of the worst of the coronavirus pandemic .
The incumbent , President Andrzej Duda , enjoyed an approval rating of 60 percent in February .
Pompeo reacts to rocket attack .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi that U.S. forces will take “ additional action as necessary in self-defense ” in response to a second rocket attack on a military base in Iraq that wounded several U.S. and Iraqi service members .
Iraqi officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s attack .
Putin gets court approval .
Russia ’ s constitutional court has approved the constitutional amendments that would allow Vladimir Putin to remain as president of Russia until 2036 .
When the amendment was first suggested , Putin replied by saying that he would approve the changes as long as the constitutional court did , too .
The final step is now in the hands of Russia ’ s voters , who will vote to approve or reject the changes in a vote scheduled for April 22 .
Coronavirus vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Seattle gave volunteers the first injections of a potential coronavirus vaccine .
The National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. developed the trial vaccine , code-named mRNA-1273 .
Although the vaccine is already at this trial stage , experts expect a finished product to take at least another 12-18 months .
Just as the bulk retailer Costco is recording a sales bump following a surge in coronavirus-related panic purchasing , online mass-retailer Amazon is also one of the companies that stands to benefit from shifts in consumer behavior .
The company announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs in their distribution centers to cope with the demand for online purchasing as more and more Americans are forced to shop at home .
For more from FP , visit foreignpolicy.com , subscribe here , or sign up for our other newsletters .
Send your tips , comments , questions , or corrections to morningbrief @ foreignpolicy.com .

Here is today’s Foreign Policy brief: The European Union moves to ban entry for 30 days, the markets dive again , and Vladimir Putin moves one step closer to remaining in power.
Here is today’s Foreign Policy brief: The European Union moves to ban entry for 30 days, the markets dive again, and Vladimir Putin moves one step closer to remaining in power.
If you would like to receive Morning Brief in your inbox every weekday, please sign up here.
EU To Impose 30-Day Travel Ban
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a 30-day ban on travel to the European Union and Schengen zone, as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic moves from Asia to Europe. Von der Leyen announced the proposal during a teleconference with G-7 leaders on Monday.
As the crisis has worsened, European countries had already announced their own border checks and closures but this would be the first EU-wide attempt to halt travel into the bloc. Von der Leyen said that “essential” workers would be exempt from the travel restrictions and that the impetus for the move comes from a need to “do more to reduce the huge pressure on our healthcare system.”
For the ban to work, the EU would also need the support of the four countries outside the EU but within the Schengen zone: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
What’s next? Although EU leaders still need to approve the proposal, moves to close the borders of the Schengen zone appear to already be in motion. French president Emmanuel Macron confirmed the move, announcing “All travel between non-EU countries and the European Union will be suspended for 30 days,” beginning today. French citizens, he added, would be able to return home.
Will closing borders help? Given the extremely high number of existing cases inside Europe, stopping arrivals from outside the bloc may not slow the spread of the virus. The infection rate in Italy and Spain, for example, is significantly higher than in China. In a televised address to the French people, Macron declared the country was “at war” and movement within France will also be restricted beginning today through at least the end of March. People have been instructed to stay home apart from essential activities like shopping for food. Those violating the order face punishment.
Is Britain doing anything to slow the spread? Amid confusion over the United Kingdom’s seemingly nonchalant approach to combating the coronavirus outbreak—which many public health experts have deemed reckless—Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave clearer recommendations Monday on how Britons should approach their daily lives. “Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel. We need people to start working from home where they possibly can. And you should avoid pubs, clubs, theaters and other such social venues,” he said. Unlike in other countries, no order to close such venues has been issued yet.
What We’re Following Today
Markets dive, again. Markets continued to drop yesterday as investors continue their sell-off with no end in sight. The S&P 500 index, which fell nearly 12 percent Monday, dropped so low that it erased all gains made since January 2019, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 13 percent—almost 3,000 points. “It’s not like a regular business cycle; anything to slow the spread of the virus is the greatest economic stimulus you could have, and it’s now clear that U.S. government policy is not doing that,” Austan Goolsbee, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business told Foreign Policy.
Democracy Delayed? France will postpone the second round of its municipal elections, even as the first round took place last Sunday. Fears of spreading the coronavirus have taken hold in France, with near-lockdowns now in place. In the race for Paris mayor, incumbent Anne Hidalgo received 30 percent of the first round vote, 8 percent ahead of her nearest challenger.
A judge has rejected Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s call to delay his state’s presidential primary. The vote is expected to go ahead today even as poll workers have already begun dropping out, citing health concerns. Long voter lines have characterized the primaries in many states, notably in Texas, where one man waited in line for 7 hours before he could vote. Florida, Illinois, and Arizona all plan to hold their votes today as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said there is “no necessity” to change the date of Poland’s May 10 presidential elections, even as the European continent endures some of the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. The incumbent, President Andrzej Duda, enjoyed an approval rating of 60 percent in February.
Keep an Eye On
Pompeo reacts to rocket attack. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi that U.S. forces will take “additional action as necessary in self-defense” in response to a second rocket attack on a military base in Iraq that wounded several U.S. and Iraqi service members. Iraqi officials say 33 rockets were used in Saturday’s attack.
Putin gets court approval. Russia’s constitutional court has approved the constitutional amendments that would allow Vladimir Putin to remain as president of Russia until 2036. When the amendment was first suggested, Putin replied by saying that he would approve the changes as long as the constitutional court did, too. The final step is now in the hands of Russia’s voters, who will vote to approve or reject the changes in a vote scheduled for April 22.
Coronavirus vaccine trials begin. On Monday, scientists in Seattle gave volunteers the first injections of a potential coronavirus vaccine. The National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. developed the trial vaccine, code-named mRNA-1273. Although the vaccine is already at this trial stage, experts expect a finished product to take at least another 12-18 months.
Odds and Ends
Just as the bulk retailer Costco is recording a sales bump following a surge in coronavirus-related panic purchasing, online mass-retailer Amazon is also one of the companies that stands to benefit from shifts in consumer behavior. The company announced they would add 100,000 full-time and part-time jobs in their distribution centers to cope with the demand for online purchasing as more and more Americans are forced to shop at home.
That’s it for today.
For more from FP, visit foreignpolicy.com, subscribe here, or sign up for our other newsletters. Send your tips, comments, questions, or corrections to morningbrief@foreignpolicy.com.


foreignpolicy--2020-03-17--Pompeo Criticized for Failure to Communicate on Coronavirus

Pompeo Criticized for Failure to Communicate on Coronavirus U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is facing a groundswell of criticism over his response to the new coronavirus , angering some diplomats and senior lawmakers by not providing timely information on how America ’ s diplomatic corps is responding to a worldwide pandemic that has jolted the global economy and roiled international diplomacy .
“ It ’ s like pulling teeth … emails and requests for information are going essentially unanswered , or they just give us the runaround , ” one Democratic congressional staffer , speaking on condition of anonymity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s clear to us that [ the State Department ] is still woefully behind the curve.
” Considering the global nature of the pandemic , Pompeo ’ s handling of the coronavirus has outsized importance , officials say , both for coordinating a diplomatic response to the crisis and ensuring American citizens abroad can continue to rely on U.S. embassies and consulates for support .
It represents the latest test for President Donald Trump ’ s chief diplomat as the State Department finds itself on the front lines of pandemic response—even as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standoffs with Iran and North Korea , and the war in Syria .
Some diplomats and lawmakers have become frustrated by the relative lack of communication from Pompeo and his leadership team , according to interviews with six current and former officials .
Diplomats posted in Washington must navigate a raft of confusing bureaucratic rules to self-isolate and work from home as much as possible .
While top U.S. officials have advised people to work from home and avoid gatherings of over 10 people , federal government employees have still been directed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State Department .
Officials are also concerned that some of the hundreds of State Department employees evacuated from China were never administered tests for the coronavirus , even though they went into self-quarantine after returning home .
Some of them are already back working in the department ’ s headquarters in Washington , according to two officials familiar with the matter .
“ There ’ s lots of frustration with the ad hoc nature of the response by Pompeo and management … but also an acknowledgment that these are complicated and unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former U.S. diplomat and nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution .
As the department scrambles to protect its own personnel , it is already facing more calls to organize emergency evacuations for U.S. citizens elsewhere in the world , as it did in China in January and February .
On Tuesday , the U.S. Embassy in Moldova announced it was arranging an evacuation flight for U.S. citizens as the Eastern European country prepares to temporarily bar travel in and out of the country .
At a press conference on Tuesday , Pompeo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could to protect State employees as well as American citizens abroad , and he praised State Department employees for performing “ unbelievably ” in response to the pandemic .
He declined to offer many specifics on the department ’ s internal response , saying that the State Department has had “ a couple of employees—count them on one hand—who had positive tests ” and they are following all proper protocols .
Privately , several State Department officials say they expect there are more cases both at embassies abroad and in Washington , given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few tests have been administered in the United States .
( One official compared the headquarters to a “ petri dish ” for the virus . )
“ I don ’ t want to spend too much time talking about the intricacies of what the State Department is doing .
It is a rapidly evolving situation , ” Pompeo said at his press conference on Tuesday .
“ I stay as current as I can on what our support team is doing for our team .
State Department officials and every American should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything we can to take care of our team.
” Pompeo also declined to directly answer a question on whether the department had sent coronavirus test kits to embassies overseas .
“ We believe it is essential that Americans serving their country overseas receive full information about the scale and scope of the health challenges that they face in this current crisis .
Our colleagues need full transparency on the impact of the pandemic , ” said Eric Rubin , a senior foreign service officer and head of the American Foreign Service Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers .
“ If members of the U.S. Foreign Service have been diagnosed with the virus , we need to know that information .
Those who have been evacuated from overseas also need to know details on what the U.S. Government is doing to support them.
” Lawmakers and congressional staffers on the committees overseeing the State Department said it has been difficult to obtain information on how the department is responding to the crisis .
“ I am also concerned about the lack of transparency regarding the Department ’ s contingency planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Bob Menendez , the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , wrote in a letter to Pompeo on Monday .
“ Despite repeated requests from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , the Department has failed to provide any basic information or substantive responses on issues critical to the health and safety of our diplomatic corps and the American people they are on the front lines to serve.
” The department organized briefings with both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee staff on Tuesday—after Menendez sent his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the matter .
But the briefings didn ’ t offer many specifics and came only after weeks of prodding , several staffers said .
One also noted that it stood in stark contrast to how the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services were proactively briefing lawmakers on their response .
Others counter that the department has already taken steps to protect its employees and curb the effects of the virus on the department , including barring most travel abroad , issuing directives for employees to telework as much as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their assignments abroad if they wish without any backlash .
Some officials who spoke to Foreign Policy said they welcome these measures , though others said it has forced diplomats with children or loved ones to care for to burn through paid time off as schools and day cares close .
Most of the communication on this issue has come through the department ’ s undersecretary for management , Brian Bulatao .
“ We will communicate updates regarding confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the State Department workforce as they become available and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Department spokesperson told Foreign Policy .
“ The State Department ’ s Bureau of Medical Services follows [ Centers for Disease Control ] and [ World Health Organization ] recommendations regarding prevention , diagnosis , isolation , and treatment for all infectious diseases .
”

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is facing a groundswell of criticism over his response to the new coronavirus, angering some diplomats and senior lawmakers by not providing timely information on how America’s diplomatic corps is responding to a worldwide pandemic that has jolted the global economy and roiled international diplomacy.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is facing a groundswell of criticism over his response to the new coronavirus, angering some diplomats and senior lawmakers by not providing timely information on how America’s diplomatic corps is responding to a worldwide pandemic that has jolted the global economy and roiled international diplomacy.
“It’s like pulling teeth … emails and requests for information are going essentially unanswered, or they just give us the runaround,” one Democratic congressional staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Foreign Policy. “It’s clear to us that [the State Department] is still woefully behind the curve.”
Considering the global nature of the pandemic, Pompeo’s handling of the coronavirus has outsized importance, officials say, both for coordinating a diplomatic response to the crisis and ensuring American citizens abroad can continue to rely on U.S. embassies and consulates for support. It represents the latest test for President Donald Trump’s chief diplomat as the State Department finds itself on the front lines of pandemic response—even as it grapples with other administration priorities including standoffs with Iran and North Korea, and the war in Syria.
Some diplomats and lawmakers have become frustrated by the relative lack of communication from Pompeo and his leadership team, according to interviews with six current and former officials. Diplomats posted in Washington must navigate a raft of confusing bureaucratic rules to self-isolate and work from home as much as possible. While top U.S. officials have advised people to work from home and avoid gatherings of over 10 people, federal government employees have still been directed to show up for work, including at the State Department. Officials are also concerned that some of the hundreds of State Department employees evacuated from China were never administered tests for the coronavirus, even though they went into self-quarantine after returning home. Some of them are already back working in the department’s headquarters in Washington, according to two officials familiar with the matter.
[Mapping the Coronavirus Outbreak: Get daily updates on the pandemic and learn how it’s affecting countries around the world.]
“There’s lots of frustration with the ad hoc nature of the response by Pompeo and management … but also an acknowledgment that these are complicated and unprecedented problems,” said Molly Montgomery, a former U.S. diplomat and nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution.
As the department scrambles to protect its own personnel, it is already facing more calls to organize emergency evacuations for U.S. citizens elsewhere in the world, as it did in China in January and February. On Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Moldova announced it was arranging an evacuation flight for U.S. citizens as the Eastern European country prepares to temporarily bar travel in and out of the country.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Pompeo said the department was doing everything it could to protect State employees as well as American citizens abroad, and he praised State Department employees for performing “unbelievably” in response to the pandemic. He declined to offer many specifics on the department’s internal response, saying that the State Department has had “a couple of employees—count them on one hand—who had positive tests” and they are following all proper protocols.
Privately, several State Department officials say they expect there are more cases both at embassies abroad and in Washington, given how frequently diplomats travel abroad and how few tests have been administered in the United States. (One official compared the headquarters to a “petri dish” for the virus.)
“I don’t want to spend too much time talking about the intricacies of what the State Department is doing. It is a rapidly evolving situation,” Pompeo said at his press conference on Tuesday. “I stay as current as I can on what our support team is doing for our team. State Department officials and every American should know we’re going to do everything we can to take care of our team.”
Pompeo also declined to directly answer a question on whether the department had sent coronavirus test kits to embassies overseas.
“We believe it is essential that Americans serving their country overseas receive full information about the scale and scope of the health challenges that they face in this current crisis. Our colleagues need full transparency on the impact of the pandemic,” said Eric Rubin, a senior foreign service officer and head of the American Foreign Service Association, the union that represents foreign service officers. “If members of the U.S. Foreign Service have been diagnosed with the virus, we need to know that information. Those who have been evacuated from overseas also need to know details on what the U.S. Government is doing to support them.”
Lawmakers and congressional staffers on the committees overseeing the State Department said it has been difficult to obtain information on how the department is responding to the crisis. “I am also concerned about the lack of transparency regarding the Department’s contingency planning for pandemics such as COVID-19,” Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote in a letter to Pompeo on Monday. “Despite repeated requests from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Department has failed to provide any basic information or substantive responses on issues critical to the health and safety of our diplomatic corps and the American people they are on the front lines to serve.”
The department organized briefings with both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee staff on Tuesday—after Menendez sent his letter, according to congressional staffers familiar with the matter. But the briefings didn’t offer many specifics and came only after weeks of prodding, several staffers said. One also noted that it stood in stark contrast to how the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services were proactively briefing lawmakers on their response.
Others counter that the department has already taken steps to protect its employees and curb the effects of the virus on the department, including barring most travel abroad, issuing directives for employees to telework as much as possible, and telling staff they can curtail their assignments abroad if they wish without any backlash. Some officials who spoke to Foreign Policy said they welcome these measures, though others said it has forced diplomats with children or loved ones to care for to burn through paid time off as schools and day cares close. Most of the communication on this issue has come through the department’s undersecretary for management, Brian Bulatao.
“We will communicate updates regarding confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the State Department workforce as they become available and in compliance with privacy regulations,” a State Department spokesperson told Foreign Policy. “The State Department’s Bureau of Medical Services follows [Centers for Disease Control] and [World Health Organization] recommendations regarding prevention, diagnosis, isolation, and treatment for all infectious diseases.”


foreignpolicy--2020-03-17--Britain Drops Its Go-It-Alone Approach to Coronavirus

While continental Europeans were closing schools and putting soldiers on the streets to enforce strict quarantine rules , the British government ’ s official advice to its citizens was , essentially , just to keep calm and carry on .
Schools , restaurants , theaters , clubs , and sporting venues remained open ; only the over-70s and those with flu-like symptoms were advised to stay at home .
The low-key British response was driven by a controversial theory embraced by the U.K. government ’ s top scientists : that the best way to ease the long-term consequences of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spread naturally in order to build up the population ’ s herd immunity .
On Monday night , that theory collided with the facts .
A new analysis by immunologists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of the impact of the coronavirus in Italy suggested that up to 30 percent of patients hospitalized with the virus would require intensive care treatment .
Those numbers , if repeated in the U.K. , would quickly overwhelm Britain ’ s state-run National Health Service .
Within hours of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson appeared at a daily briefing at No .
10 Downing St. to reverse the herd immunity policy .
Acknowledging that “ drastic action ” was required , Johnson announced that from now on Britons should try to work from home and voluntarily refrain from unnecessary travel and social contact .
But Johnson ’ s tone , Britain ’ s policy , and indeed the reaction of many Britons remained in strong contrast to the rest of Europe—a striking echo of the prime minister ’ s go-it-alone approach to Brexit earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach closer to that of U.S. President Donald Trump—appealing to the public for voluntary cooperation rather than ordering it—than to that of the European Union .
In contrast , France ’ s President Emmanuel Macron , warning that his country was “ in a state of war ” with the coronavirus , announced that citizens would have to register their intention to leave their houses in a nationwide website or face a 38 euro ( $ 42 ) fine , enforced by 100,000 police officers .
Britain has not enforced any mandatory bans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars and places of entertainment .
Instead , Johnson said that the government was giving “ very strong advice that public venues such as theaters should no longer be visited ” but added , “ I don ’ t believe it will be necessary to use ” enforcement powers .
And on the evening of Johnson ’ s announcement , Twitter filled with images of many Britons cheerfully defying the government ’ s advice by drinking in pubs and clubs .
The following morning , the prime minister ’ s own father , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chat show that “ of course I ’ ll go to a pub if I need to go to a pub.
” Johnson ’ s go-it-alone strategy had been under fire for several days from both opposition leaders at home and officials abroad .
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn blasted the government for being “ complacent ” and “ well behind the curve ” in its handling of the coronavirus outbreak .
Singapore ’ s Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong told journalists Sunday that the “ U.K .
and Switzerland … have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus.
” Several top British doctors had questioned the scientific rationale behind Johnson ’ s herd immunity policy , urging the government to publish evidence for its refusal to follow the rest of Europe into immediate lockdown .
“ We have a small window of opportunity to protect our nation , to learn about this new emerging virus and to deal with this unprecedented threat to global health , ” wrote Arne Akbar , the president of the British Society for Immunology .
On a less rational level , the hashtag # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusing Johnson and his Conservative Party of deliberately allowing the sick and the elderly to die .
Government insiders insist that the criticism is unfair and that the Johnson administration has stuck strictly to the advice of the country ’ s best doctors .
“ Of course at a time like this people are going to blame the government for everything , ” said one senior civil servant who sees Johnson on a daily basis but is not authorized to speak on the record .
“ The truth is , what you [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear .
… Boris has actually been extremely straight .
He ’ s told the British people that there will be deaths .
He ’ s said that this is an extremely serious crisis and that our priority is to save lives , with the presumption that it ’ s too late to try to contain the outbreak.
” He added that the idea that the government has been playing down the crisis is “ nonsense … we have been acting on the best science that we have.
” Monday night ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how we respond , based on science … when the facts change , our policy changes.
” As soon as the working team from Imperial College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine submitted its new conclusions that the old go-slow approach would not work , “ there was no hesitation : we changed the official advice within three hours , ” said the source .
In a Monday night press conference coordinated with Johnson ’ s administration , Imperial College epidemiologist Azra Ghani explained that his team had been “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] we now realize it ’ s not possible to cope with that.
” The U.K. ’ s posture has , accordingly , officially shifted from containment to “ epidemic suppression … [ as ] the only viable strategy at the current time , ” Ghani told journalists .
Yet Britain ’ s response continues to differ markedly from the rest of the continent ’ s—as well as from many U.S. states and cities that have mandated full lockdowns .
As of Tuesday , Britain and Belarus remained the last two countries in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And the U.K. has refused to follow the EU ’ s lead and ban travel from outside Britain .
Though many British airlines have announced that they will be cutting capacity by up to 80 percent , airports , cross-channel ferries , and the Channel Tunnel remain open .
The U.K. government ’ s key rationale for not piling on mandatory restrictions on movement and social interactions has been the fear that Britons will develop “ behavioral fatigue ” and resume normal life before the outbreak is contained .
The logic is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more than a short period and will lead to new outbreaks of the virus as people defy the restrictions .
Last week over 200 prominent British scientists challenged the government ’ s approach in an open letter that questioned whether “ enough is known about ‘ behavioural fatigue ’ ” —and said , “ ‘ Carrying on as normal ’ for as long as possible undercuts [ the ] urgency ” of the anti-coronavirus message .
Reliance on sometimes-controversial behavioral science theories has long been a hallmark of a group of key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the successful Brexit campaign .
Dominic Cummings , chief advisor to Johnson and one of the most powerful figures in the administration , has frequently spoken and written about how data science and behavioral modeling are the key to successful campaigning and governance .
The British government ’ s approach to the coronavirus has reflected Cummings ’ s faith .
Last week , Susan Michie , the director of the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London and a member of the government ’ s advisory group on COVID-19 , confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s approach was modeled on the so called “ COM-B ” model .
This theory states that behavior change can only be achieved if a population has sufficient “ capability , opportunity , and motivation.
” “ Unless you can tick all three of those , the behavior is not going to happen , ” Michie told the Guardian .
“ If a big bunch of the population is not that concerned and you ’ re asking people to sacrifice quite a lot , it won ’ t be as effective if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other words , according to a source who works with Cummings who requested anonymity , “ just telling people to obey isn ’ t going to work.
” Insiders believe that the Johnson-Cummings approach of nudging and persuading people into coronavirus-limiting behaviors will ultimately be more effective than the European stance of banning social interaction and punishing lawbreakers .
“ That sort of government bossiness isn ’ t going to work with British people , ” Cummings ’ s colleague said .
“ The end result is the same , but it works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it.
” If the behavior of Johnson ’ s own family is anything to go by , there may be some truth to that logic .
If Britain ’ s new prime minister eventually succeeds in persuading his own father into respecting nationwide quarantine , he may succeed with the rest of the country , too .

LONDON—For a few days, Britain stood alone.
While continental Europeans were closing schools and putting soldiers on the streets to enforce strict quarantine rules, the British government’s official advice to its citizens was, essentially, just to keep calm and carry on. Schools, restaurants, theaters, clubs, and sporting venues remained open; only the over-70s and those with flu-like symptoms were advised to stay at home. The low-key British response was driven by a controversial theory embraced by the U.K. government’s top scientists: that the best way to ease the long-term consequences of the coronavirus pandemic was to allow the virus to spread naturally in order to build up the population’s herd immunity.
On Monday night, that theory collided with the facts. A new analysis by immunologists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of the impact of the coronavirus in Italy suggested that up to 30 percent of patients hospitalized with the virus would require intensive care treatment. Those numbers, if repeated in the U.K., would quickly overwhelm Britain’s state-run National Health Service.
Within hours of the report, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared at a daily briefing at No. 10 Downing St. to reverse the herd immunity policy. Acknowledging that “drastic action” was required, Johnson announced that from now on Britons should try to work from home and voluntarily refrain from unnecessary travel and social contact.
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But Johnson’s tone, Britain’s policy, and indeed the reaction of many Britons remained in strong contrast to the rest of Europe—a striking echo of the prime minister’s go-it-alone approach to Brexit earlier in the year. Johnson is now taking an approach closer to that of U.S. President Donald Trump—appealing to the public for voluntary cooperation rather than ordering it—than to that of the European Union.
In contrast, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, warning that his country was “in a state of war” with the coronavirus, announced that citizens would have to register their intention to leave their houses in a nationwide website or face a 38 euro ($42) fine, enforced by 100,000 police officers. Britain has not enforced any mandatory bans on movement or on the opening of bars and places of entertainment.
Instead, Johnson said that the government was giving “very strong advice that public venues such as theaters should no longer be visited” but added, “I don’t believe it will be necessary to use” enforcement powers. And on the evening of Johnson’s announcement, Twitter filled with images of many Britons cheerfully defying the government’s advice by drinking in pubs and clubs. The following morning, the prime minister’s own father, 79-year-old Stanley Johnson, defiantly told a chat show that “of course I’ll go to a pub if I need to go to a pub.”
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Johnson’s go-it-alone strategy had been under fire for several days from both opposition leaders at home and officials abroad. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn blasted the government for being “complacent” and “well behind the curve” in its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Singapore’s Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong told journalists Sunday that the “U.K. and Switzerland … have abandoned any measure to contain or restrain the virus.” Several top British doctors had questioned the scientific rationale behind Johnson’s herd immunity policy, urging the government to publish evidence for its refusal to follow the rest of Europe into immediate lockdown. “We have a small window of opportunity to protect our nation, to learn about this new emerging virus and to deal with this unprecedented threat to global health,” wrote Arne Akbar, the president of the British Society for Immunology. On a less rational level, the hashtag #ToryGenocide trended on Twitter, with users accusing Johnson and his Conservative Party of deliberately allowing the sick and the elderly to die.
Government insiders insist that the criticism is unfair and that the Johnson administration has stuck strictly to the advice of the country’s best doctors.
“Of course at a time like this people are going to blame the government for everything,” said one senior civil servant who sees Johnson on a daily basis but is not authorized to speak on the record. “The truth is, what you [the public] hear is what we hear. … Boris has actually been extremely straight. He’s told the British people that there will be deaths. He’s said that this is an extremely serious crisis and that our priority is to save lives, with the presumption that it’s too late to try to contain the outbreak.”
He added that the idea that the government has been playing down the crisis is “nonsense … we have been acting on the best science that we have.” Monday night’s U-turn was “an excellent example of how we respond, based on science … when the facts change, our policy changes.” As soon as the working team from Imperial College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine submitted its new conclusions that the old go-slow approach would not work, “there was no hesitation: we changed the official advice within three hours,” said the source. In a Monday night press conference coordinated with Johnson’s administration, Imperial College epidemiologist Azra Ghani explained that his team had been “expecting herd immunity to build [but] we now realize it’s not possible to cope with that.” The U.K.’s posture has, accordingly, officially shifted from containment to “epidemic suppression … [as] the only viable strategy at the current time,” Ghani told journalists.
Yet Britain’s response continues to differ markedly from the rest of the continent’s—as well as from many U.S. states and cities that have mandated full lockdowns. As of Tuesday, Britain and Belarus remained the last two countries in Europe where schools have not been closed. And the U.K. has refused to follow the EU’s lead and ban travel from outside Britain. Though many British airlines have announced that they will be cutting capacity by up to 80 percent, airports, cross-channel ferries, and the Channel Tunnel remain open.
The U.K. government’s key rationale for not piling on mandatory restrictions on movement and social interactions has been the fear that Britons will develop “behavioral fatigue” and resume normal life before the outbreak is contained. The logic is that strict social quarantine is not sustainable for more than a short period and will lead to new outbreaks of the virus as people defy the restrictions. Last week over 200 prominent British scientists challenged the government’s approach in an open letter that questioned whether “enough is known about ‘behavioural fatigue’”—and said, “‘Carrying on as normal’ for as long as possible undercuts [the] urgency” of the anti-coronavirus message.
Reliance on sometimes-controversial behavioral science theories has long been a hallmark of a group of key U.K. government advisors—many of whom previously worked on the successful Brexit campaign. Dominic Cummings, chief advisor to Johnson and one of the most powerful figures in the administration, has frequently spoken and written about how data science and behavioral modeling are the key to successful campaigning and governance. The British government’s approach to the coronavirus has reflected Cummings’s faith. Last week, Susan Michie, the director of the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London and a member of the government’s advisory group on COVID-19, confirmed that a key part of the government’s approach was modeled on the so called “COM-B” model. This theory states that behavior change can only be achieved if a population has sufficient “capability, opportunity, and motivation.”
“Unless you can tick all three of those, the behavior is not going to happen,” Michie told the Guardian. “If a big bunch of the population is not that concerned and you’re asking people to sacrifice quite a lot, it won’t be as effective if those two things are well-matched.” In other words, according to a source who works with Cummings who requested anonymity, “just telling people to obey isn’t going to work.”
Insiders believe that the Johnson-Cummings approach of nudging and persuading people into coronavirus-limiting behaviors will ultimately be more effective than the European stance of banning social interaction and punishing lawbreakers.
“That sort of government bossiness isn’t going to work with British people,” Cummings’s colleague said. “The end result is the same, but it works much better when people choose to do it.” If the behavior of Johnson’s own family is anything to go by, there may be some truth to that logic. If Britain’s new prime minister eventually succeeds in persuading his own father into respecting nationwide quarantine, he may succeed with the rest of the country, too.