freedomdaily--2020-04-21--Trump Administration Extends Travel Ban On Mexico Border For Another Month

The Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) announced that the ban on all non-essential travel along the Mexican and Canadian borders will be extended for an additional 30 days .
Acting DHS secretary Chad wolf on Monday said that the governments of Mexico , Canada , and the U.S. have mutually agreed to keep their borders closed off to non-essential traffic for another month as they continue to fight the spread of the coronavirus .
The announcement came just two days after Prime Minister Trudeau said the U.S.-Canada border ban would be extended .
“ In close collaboration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have each agreed to extend restrictions on non-essential travel across their shared borders for 30 additional days , ” Wolf said in a prepared statement .
“ As President Trump stated last week , border control , travel restrictions and other limitations remain critical to slowing the spread and allowing the phased opening of the country , ” he continued .
Wolf , upon orders from the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) , first declared a ban on many forms of travel along the country ’ s northern and southern borders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included the immediate turnaround of illegal entrants into the country .
Since that time , positive cases for COVID-19 have only increased in all three countries .
As of Monday morning , Mexico has reported 8,261 cases , Canada has reported 34,777 cases , and the United States had the highest with 753,317 cases , according to New York Times global tracking map .
Trudeau had already announced an extension over the weekend concerning the northern border .
“ The agreement is the same terms .
It ’ s just extended for another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Saturday .
“ It will ensure we continue to get essential goods and services back and forth across the border.
” While leisure cross-border travel is forbidden during the lockdown , all three governments have agreed that economic trade and other “ essential ” travel can still go on .
Some examples of essential movement include travel for medical and educational purposes , emergency response operations , public health services , and anyone engaged in “ lawful cross-border trade , ” according to the administration .
Customs and Border Protection said $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place between the three countries every day .
The travel ban was expected to expire this week , but as the coronavirus pandemic rages on throughout the globe , the North American leaders deemed it best to keep the restrictions in place .


freedomdaily--2020-04-21--China Suppressed The Truth About Coronavirus. Top WHO Officials Keep Praising China’s ‘Transparency’

Despite the fact that Chinese authorities misled the world about coronavirus , top World Health Organization ( WHO ) officials have repeatedly gone out of their way to praise China ’ s “ transparency ” in handling COVID-19 .
Chinese authorities silenced doctors , whistleblowers and journalists who sought to warn the public about the virus .
China could have limited the global spread of the virus by up to 95 % if it had acted three weeks earlier to combat the virus , according to one study .
Even now , top White House coronavirus task force official Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident at all ” that China is accurately reporting its coronavirus cases yet .
And yet , top WHO officials have repeatedly portrayed China to the world as a model of transparency and cooperation .
At a Jan. 23 press conference , for example , WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he “ would like to thank the government of the People ’ s Republic of China for its cooperation and transparency.
” “ We appreciate the seriousness with which China is taking this outbreak , especially the commitment from top leadership , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including sharing data and genetic sequence of the virus , ” he said .
The next day , Jan. 29 , Tedros again fawned over Chinese authorities , who he said “ identified the pathogen in record time and shared it immediately , which led to the rapid development of diagnostic tools .
They are completely committed to transparency , both internally and externally.
” The WHO director-general won his position in 2017 with China ’ s backing and has repeatedly provided cover for China ’ s propaganda campaign denying responsibility for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone at the WHO , which didn ’ t return a request for comment , in echoing China ’ s talking points .
WHO official Bruce Aylward , who went viral for ending an interview with a Hong Kong journalist who asked about Taiwan , has become a key cog in China ’ s propaganda machine .
When asked on Feb. 24 whether China censored early coronavirus data , Aylward said he “ didn ’ t look.
” WHO official Dr. Michael Ryan has similarly repeated Chinese propaganda about the regime ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jan. 29 press event that the “ Chinese government deserve [ s ] huge credit ” for its coronavirus response “ and for the transparency in which they have dealt with this.
” Ryan also aligned with the Chinese regime in rebuking Trump on March 22 for referring to coronavirus as the “ Chinese virus.
” “ Viruses know no borders and they don ’ t care about your ethnicity , the color of your skin or how much money you have in the bank , ” said Ryan , the executive director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He added : “ This is a time for solidarity , this is a time for facts , this is a time to move forward together , to fight this virus together .
There is no blame in this.
” Ryan also implied that criticism of China was motivated by bigotry , saying on April 1 : “ I think we need to be very careful also to not to be profiling certain parts of the world as being uncooperative or non-transparent.
” Ryan said the world is “ over-focused ” on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A WHO emergency committee released a statement on Jan. 30 saying the committee “ welcomed the leadership and political commitment of the very highest levels of Chinese government , their commitment to transparency , and the efforts made to investigate and contain the current outbreak.
” Tedros said that same day : “ The speed with which China detected the outbreak , isolated the virus , sequenced the genome , and shared it with WHO and the world are very impressive , and beyond words .
So is China ’ s commitment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As you know , I was in China just a few days ago , where I met with President Xi Jinping , ” he added .
“ I left in absolutely no doubt about China ’ s commitment to transparency and to protecting the world ’ s people .
”

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freedomdaily--2020-04-21--Georgia Will Reopen Some Businesses Like Gyms, Hair And Nail Salons Friday

Republican Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp announced Monday that some Georgia businesses will reopen Friday .
Georgia will allow businesses such as gyms , hair and nail salons , to reopen on Friday , the governor announced Monday , noting that these businesses must stagger shifts , screen workers for any respiratory illnesses , and keep workspaces six feet apart from each other , the Hill reports .
“ By taking this measured action , we will get Georgians back to work safely without undermining the progress we all have made in this battle against COVID-19 , ” Kemp said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .
Republican Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp announced Monday that some Georgia businesses will reopen Friday .
Though bars and nightclubs will remain closed , private social clubs , restaurants , and theaters may open on April 27 , according to the Hill .
The move comes the same day South Carolina Republican Gov .
Henry McMaster issued an executive order formally announcing the reopening of some retail stores , such as furniture , clothing , jewelry , and department stores , and removing restrictions on state beaches , public piers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The stores may reopen as of 5 p.m. Monday but must follow strict social distancing guidelines .
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freedomdaily--2020-04-21--‘Misleading’: HHS Calls Out WaPo Story Implying Trump Lied About Coronavirus Knowledge

The Department of Health and Human Services criticized the Washington Post Monday for a “ misleading ” story that implies President Donald Trump ’ s administration lied about knowledge of the coronavirus .
The Washington Post ran a Sunday story describing how 17 Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) employees worked at the World Health Organization ’ s ( WHO ) headquarters in Geneva , Switzerland , including 16 staff members from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
The story notes Trump ’ s accusations that the WHO failed to communicate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump had “ real-time information ” about the virus transmitted through HHS workers present at the WHO .
HHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley told the Daily Caller News Foundation in an email that “ the Washington Post story is misleading , ” and particularly emphasized that the following sentence is misleading : “ The presence of so many U.S. officials undercuts President Trump ’ s charge that the WHO ’ s failure to communicate the extent of the threat , born of a desire to protect China , is largely responsible for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States.
” Oakley said that the presence of CDC staffers at WHO “ allows the United States to develop global health strategies and bring our scientific expertise to global health.
” There were seventeen HHS staff present at WHO in January 2020 , Oakley said , noting that “ these people were not all working on COVID-19 and had no role in decisions made by WHO leaders ( emphasis hers ) .
” “ Furthermore , I ’ d add that just because you have Americans embedded in WHO providing technical assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting from WHO leadership , ” Oakley added .
“ We have learned now that WHO information was incorrect and relied too heavily on China.
” Both HHS and the CDC offered “ multiple times ” to send a team of American experts to China during the months of January and February , Oakley said , noting that HHS Secretary Alex Azar pushed World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus “ to have the WHO get boots on the ground ASAP.
” But this did not happen until February 16 , after China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus , she added , providing the DCNF a timeline of both WHO ’ s and China ’ s procrastination .
On January 3 , CDC Director Redfield both emailed and spoke directly with Director of the China CDC Dr. George Gao , Oakley said , after which Redfield spoke with Azar and HHS notified the National Security Council ( NSC ) .
The following day , Redfield again emailed Gao and offered CDC assistance , saying , “ I would like to offer CDC technical experts in laboratory and epidemiology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and China CDC in identification of this unknown and possibly novel pathogen.
” On January 6 , Redfield sent a formal letter to the China CDC offering full U.S. CDC assistance at the request of Azar , Oakley said .
On January 14 , WHO tweeted that “ preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel # coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) identified in # Wuhan , # China , ” a tweet relying on information from Chinese authorities which has been demonstrated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 , an international joint mission led by WHO arrived in China and met with their colleagues from China for the first time , according to Oakley .
This mission included Cliff Lane from the National Institute of Health ( NIH ) and Weigong Zhou from the CDC , Oakley said .
WHO , rather than criticize China for the delay in providing information on the virus , has repeatedly regurgitated Chinese propaganda and appears to have run interference for them during the global pandemic .
Tedros even praised China for the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus – though China attempted to cover-up the outbreak .
“ We should tell the truth , ” Tedros said in February when asked if the Chinese government “ approached the WHO to ask it to stand up and say that China is doing a good job ” in preventing the outbreak .
“ And that ’ s the truth .
China doesn ’ t need to ask to be praised.
” “ China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response , ” he also said on Jan. 30 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO leadership not press China harder and publicly for transparency , and why did it accept blindly the information China was producing , ” Oakley asked .
“ The lack of transparency aided and abided by WHO leadership hampered understanding of the virus and delayed the global response.
” President Donald Trump has not directly criticized China in recent weeks , but he frequently has criticized the World Health Organization ( WHO ) for being “ China-centric , ” and cut off U.S. funding for the WHO on Tuesday .
“ The WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclosures likely caused a twenty-fold increase in cases worldwide , and it may be much more than that , ” Trump said April 14 .
“ The WHO has not addressed a single one of these concerns nor provided a serious explanation that acknowledges its own mistakes , of which there are many.
” The Washington Post has not responded to a request for comment from the DCNF .


freedomdaily--2020-04-21--Former CIA Moscow Chief Not Surprised By Evidence Of Russian Disinformation In Steele Dossier

Daniel Hoffman , a former CIA chief of station for Moscow , was not surprised by revelations last week that Kremlin operatives may have fed disinformation to dossier author Christopher Steele .
More than two years ago , Hoffman was a lone voice among former intelligence community veterans when he floated the theory that Russians fed disinformation to Steele , a former MI6 officer who investigated Donald Trump on behalf of the DNC and Clinton campaign .
“ The Steele dossier fits the Kremlin playbook , ” was the title of a Jan. 28 , 2018 opinion piece Hoffman wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The dossier was part of a Russian espionage disinformation plot targeting both parties and America ’ s political process , ” the former clandestine services officer wrote .
At the time Hoffman published the piece , Steele ’ s explosive allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government had neither been debunked nor verified .
But Democrats and many in the media touted Steele ’ s reports as strong evidence of a Trump-Russia conspiracy , citing the retired spy ’ s supposed reputation as a top-flight intelligence operative .
Hoffman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Steele ’ s information inaccurate , but that it was the product of a Kremlin disinformation campaign aimed at sowing political discord in the U.S .
The theory largely failed to break through the media chatter that saw Trump-Russia collusion as all but a foregone conclusion .
But Hoffman ’ s theory received a major boost last week with the declassification of footnotes from the Justice Department inspector general ’ s ( IG ) report of the FBI ’ s Crossfire Hurricane probe.The footnotes contained three bombshell revelations .
One said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Russian operatives may have fed disinformation to Steele for two of the dossier ’ s most explosive allegations : that former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen visited Prague in August 2016 to meet with Kremlin operatives , and that Russia had a sex videotape of Trump with prostitutes in Moscow .
Another footnote said that the U.S. intelligence community gave the FBI a report in June 2017 that said two Russian intelligence operatives knew in July 2016 that Steele was investigating Trump .
A third footnote said that the FBI knew in 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five Russian oligarchs .
“ This is a very , very valuable little operation , a classic example of asymmetric information that cost Vladimir Putin hardly nothing , ” Hoffman told The Daily Caller News Foundation on Monday .
“ The benefit for Putin is he ’ s trying to make our intelligence services , trying to take a shot at them , because that ’ s the biggest threat to Russia , the FBI and CIA.
” Hoffman also said that the Russian disinformation campaign was likely aimed at dividing the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as Democrats and Republicans .
“ That is the multifaceted benefit of the Steele dossier for Putin , ” Hoffman told the DCNF .
Hoffman ’ s theory has been that the Kremlin was well-positioned to detect Steele ’ s investigation of Trump given his past position with MI6 .
Russia ’ s infiltration of the DNC ’ s email system also could have provided an avenue for the Kremlin to learn that Steele was working for Democrats .
Hoffman asserts that the Kremlin would have exploited its awareness of Steele ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ When they saw that , they would never expose it that they know it .
They would simply use it to their advantage , ” he says .
“ That ’ s the way they work.
” Hoffman also questions the role played by his former boss , former CIA Director John Brennan .
“ This is a Russia thing .
CIA should know all about Russia , ” Hoffman says .
“ Brennan should have stopped it , and he could have prevented it from being a self-inflicted wound .
@


freedomdaily--2020-04-21--Linking self-driving cars to traffic signals might help pedestrians give them the green light

The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work .
Automated vehicles don ’ t have human operators to communicate their driving intentions to pedestrians at intersections .
My team ’ s research on pedestrians ’ perceptions of safety shows their trust of traffic lights tends to override their fear of self-driving cars .
This suggests one way to help pedestrians trust and safely interact with autonomous vehicles may be to link the cars ’ driving behavior to traffic lights .
In a recent study by my team at the University of Michigan , we focused on communication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to study how people might react to self-driving cars in different situations .
We set up a virtual-reality simulator that let people experience street intersections and make choices about whether to cross the street .
In different simulations , self-driving cars acted either more or less like an aggressive driver .
In some cases there was a traffic light controlling the intersection .
In the more aggressive mode , the car would stop abruptly at the last possible second to let the pedestrian cross .
In the less aggressive mode , it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it would stop for them .
Aggressive driving reduced pedestrians ’ trust in the autonomous vehicle and made them less likely to cross the street .
However , this was true only when there was no traffic light .
When there was a light , pedestrians focused on the traffic light and usually crossed the street regardless whether the car was driving aggressively .
This indicates that pedestrians ’ trust of traffic lights outweighs any concerns about how self-driving cars behave .
Introducing autonomous vehicles might be one way to make roads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use nonverbal communication to negotiate safe passage at crosswalks , though , and cars without drivers can ’ t communicate in the same way .
This could in turn make pedestrians and other road users less safe , especially since autonomous vehicles aren ’ t yet designed to communicate with systems that make streets safer , such as traffic lights .
Other research being done in the field Some researchers have tried to find ways for self-driving cars to communicate with pedestrians .
They have tried to use parts that cars already have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new ones , such as LED signs on the vehicle .
However , unless every car does it the same way , this strategy won ’ t work .
For example , unless automakers agreed on how headlights should communicate certain messages or the government set rules , it would be impossible to make sure pedestrians understood the message .
The same holds for new technology like LED message boards on cars .
There would need to be a standard set of messages all pedestrians could understand without learning multiple systems .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , several cars approaching an intersection and making independent decisions about stopping could cause confusion .
Imagine three to five autonomous vehicles approaching a crosswalk , each displaying its own message .
The pedestrian would need to read each of these messages , on moving cars , before deciding whether to cross .
Our results suggest a better approach would be to have the car communicate directly with the traffic signal , for two reasons .
First , pedestrians already look to and understand current traffic lights .
Second , a car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing much sooner by checking in over a wireless network than by waiting until its camera can see the light .
This technology is still being developed , and scholars at Michigan ’ s Mcity mobility research center and elsewhere are studying problems like how to send and prioritize messages between cars and signals .
It might effectively put self-driving cars under traffic lights ’ control , with ways to adapt to current conditions .
For example , a traffic light might tell approaching cars that it was about to turn red , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On a slippery road , a car might ask the light to stay green a few seconds longer so an abrupt stop isn ’ t necessary .
To make this real , engineers and policymakers would need to work together on developing technologies and setting rules .
Each would have to better understand what the other does .
At the same time , they would need to understand that not every solution works in every region or society .
For example , the best way for traffic lights and self-driving cars to communicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where roads and driving practices are far different .
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Lionel Peter Robert Jr receives funding from Toyota Research Institute ( “ TRI ” ) to assist the authors with their research but this article solely reflects the opinions and conclusions of its authors and not TRI or any other Toyota entity .


freedomdaily--2020-04-21--Pharmacists could be front-line fighters in battle against opioid epidemic

When you stop at your local pharmacy to pick up a toothbrush or an antacid , soon you may also be able to buy an over-the-counter drug to reverse an opioid overdose .
The lifesaving drug , naloxone , currently requires a prescription , but it may become available as an over-the-counter purchase in 2020 .
Despite the national decrease in opioid prescriptions since 2012 , the opioid crisis continues .
Access to prescription opioids have decreased due to stricter legislation , insurance regulations and the Centers for Disease Control Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and illegally manufactured synthetic opioids , such as fentanyl and counterfeit prescription opioids , has escalated .
In addition , nearly 80 % of opioid overdoses involve multiple substances , compounding the risk of a fatal overdose .
This reinforces the need for widespread , convenient naloxone access accompanied by training on how to administer this reversal drug .
As a professor of pharmacy and pharmacist , I believe that many more pharmacists can be engaged in providing naloxone for their patients .
An opioid overdose can depress a person ’ s respiratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , resulting in death .
Naloxone can reverse this effect within minutes .
With minimal training , anyone can safely administer naloxone in various forms – nasal spray , auto-injector or intramuscular injection – to effectively buy more time and get medical help for someone who has overdosed .
Naloxone has been used in hospitals for more than 40 years to reverse excess sleepiness and respiratory depression from opioid anesthesia and pain medication or to treat overdoses in the emergency room .
During the 1990s , naloxone use expanded into communities to first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to people who use drugs to reverse opioid overdoses .
The U.S. surgeon general issued an advisory in April 2018 encouraging family , friends and individuals at risk for an opioid overdose to carry naloxone and be trained to administer it .
Research shows that wider access to naloxone is associated with fewer deaths .
Naloxone could successfully reverse every witnessed opioid overdose , but only if naloxone is in the hands of a trained bystander .
The challenge has been how to get naloxone to the people who need it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbia , pharmacists are now able to dispense naloxone under a standing order that does not require a physician ’ s prescription , or they can directly prescribe naloxone .
But people may still be hesitant to ask for naloxone .
Opioid use disorder is a chronic , relapsing , lifelong condition .
Managing opioid use disorder requires sustained treatment and support , similar to other chronic conditions , such as diabetes and heart disease .
But opioid use disorder often carries a social stigma , which can make people hesitant about seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People may be afraid to request a prescription for naloxone because they may be accused of misusing drugs .
Others may not know how or where to obtain naloxone , particularly if they don ’ t have a regular health care provider .
People who use drugs report feeling stigmatized , while providers including pharmacists may be uncomfortable starting a conversation with patients about the importance of carrying naloxone .
Yet the greater the access to naloxone , the more likely this lifesaving drug will be administered to reverse an overdose .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideally positioned as a local resource to obtain naloxone .
Community pharmacies have evolved into neighborhood health centers where individuals can access a variety of services outside a traditional clinical setting including immunizations , health screenings and lab monitoring .
Pharmacists can recommend and provide naloxone , opioid education and overdose prevention information to high-risk individuals and their support network .
Pharmacists can make their pharmacy a safe and nonjudgmental resource , where people obtain and learn to administer naloxone , seek self-care advice and reduce harm from drug use , including clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well positioned to provide connections to local programs for recovery and support .
They can make referrals to supportive health care providers and provide “ whole person ” care for vulnerable individuals .
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recognizes the importance of addressing opioid use disorder and the opioid crisis with a 5-point strategy .
This includes better access to opioid use disorder treatment , research funding , improved pain management and expanded naloxone availability in health care and community settings .
While naloxone is not yet available for purchase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Drug Administration supports this simple access and has developed a “ drug facts naloxone label ” with pictures making it easy for anyone to effectively administer the correct dose .
Manufacturers can apply for over-the-counter status , and naloxone is expected to become available as an over-the-counter drug this year .
The availability to purchase naloxone without a prescription and over the counter can remove the perceived stigma of having to request it from a health care provider or pharmacist .
Naloxone alone will not mitigate the opioid crisis .
Yet the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having someone nearby who carries and can administer naloxone – allows the survivor another chance to enter treatment that addresses the social , structural , genetic , behavioral and individual factors of opioid use disorder .
Pharmacists have an important role in helping to remove the stigma associated with requesting and carrying naloxone by openly discussing its benefits and making naloxone available to all patients .
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freedomdaily--2020-04-21--How much coronavirus testing is enough? States could learn from retailers as they ramp up

As states develop plans to restart their economies , the big fear is that coronavirus cases will surge again .
To keep the pandemic under control , strategic testing systems will be needed , and they will need to be scaled up fast .
But how many people should be tested ?
Who should be tested ?
And what should that testing system look like ?
There isn ’ t one simple answer .
The notion of “ widespread testing ” has a different meaning for big metropolitan areas , such as New York City and Detroit , than for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For testing systems to be efficient , they need to be tailored to the demographics , circumstances and disease spread patterns for each .
As policymakers figure out the best design for each state or county , they could learn a lot from the retail industry , where strategic decisions such as where to locate warehouses and distribution centers are being made by companies like Amazon in the face of uncertain customer demand .
I have been researching complex systems design in health care , transportation and energy supply management and have found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can help design such systems , even with the kind of information uncertainty we see with the new coronavirus spread .
It isn ’ t as simple as ‘ test everyone ’ Policymakers and researchers have floated several plans for reopening the country , with a range of ideas for how to conduct coronavirus testing .
On one end of the spectrum , a plan sketched out by Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Romer calls for 7 % of the U.S. population to be tested at random daily .
That ’ s roughly 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , released Monday by a team coordinated by Harvard University ’ s center for ethics , recommended 5 million tests per day by early June and 20 million a day by August .
While random testing of that magnitude can provide a broad snapshot of the disease , it is not realistic for a country the size of the U.S. in the short term .
Countries that are conducting random testing on large percentages of their populations , such as Singapore , Iceland and South Korea , have far fewer people and less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. also has had serious challenges with its testing system , including a flawed diagnostic test approved by the CDC , scarce supplies for manufacturing test kits and running tests , and limited access to screening .
As of mid-April , U.S. public and corporate labs together were only testing about 150,000 coronavirus samples a day .
In all , some 4 million tests had been conducted in the U.S. , about 20 % of them positive .
That high rate of positive tests , 20 % , suggests that many COVID-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The World Health Organization recommends conducting enough tests that no more than 10 % come back positive .
In the U.S. , that would require more than 500,000 per day , according to recent estimates from Harvard public health researchers .
At this point , the U.S. needs to get the most value out of the limited testing capability it has .
Some options include prioritizing states with the most infections and deaths from COVID-19 ; areas where health systems are overwhelmed ; or groups that have the most contact with others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clerks .
Who should be tested ?
One purpose of the mathematical models I work with is to help policymakers determine which population groups should be prioritized and how .
There are different reasons to prioritize different groups .
For example , older adults and people with chronic illnesses have a higher likelihood of developing severe conditions if they get COVID-19 .
First responders , health workers , teachers and others who have close contact with large numbers of people also have a high chance of getting and spreading the disease .
People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes or prisons also run a high risk of infection .
Once priority groups are identified , models can show where to locate testing facilities and how to allocate the tests kits and other resources most efficiently .
There is a large body of research that has traditionally been used to site retail stores , optimize inventory and production and manage stock levels as demand for products fluctuates by season .
Establishing a testing system for COVID-19 presents a similar set of challenges .
The same mathematical models used to help retail companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wide range of products could incorporate test-manufacturing capacities , the needs of different populations and goals such as increasing testing speed and coverage .
One question is where to conduct COVID-19 testing .
Another set of questions involves the capacity of those facilities , such as how many test kits they need and what their staffing levels should be to process enough tests while minimizing people ’ s travel distance .
There is one big point of uncertainty , and it ’ s the same question that widespread testing is helping to clarify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Retail companies know the demand patterns for most of their products quite well , given repeated orders and seasonal trends .
But U.S. public health officials have only a few months of partial data on the spread and impact of this new coronavirus .
Adding to the complications , test results can create a biased picture of the pandemic depending on how many tests are done in each area and who was tested .
An iterative process is necessary to learn to analyze the data and predict the disease ’ s spread .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast enough to keep the coronavirus spread under control mainly relies on strategic testing capabilities and how well we can design that testing system .
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Siqian Shen does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-04-21--How South Korea flattened the coronavirus curve with technology

As countries around the world consider how best to reopen their countries , it ’ s worth considering how South Korea has been able to “ flatten the curve ” and even hold parliamentary elections without resorting to lockdowns .
After seeing an initial spike in COVID-19 infections in February , South Korea implemented several measures to bring the disease ’ s spread under control , a progression I ’ ve followed as a researcher on public policy .
South Korea was able to lower the number of new infections from 851 on March 3 to 22 infections as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 hovers around 2 % .
Several measures contribute to Korea ’ s success , but two measures were critical in the country ’ s ability to flatten the curve : extensive testing for the disease and a national system for promptly and effectively tracking people infected with COVID-19 .
From the 2015 MERS outbreak , Korea learned that infection to medical staff sapped the ability to control the virus as infected citizens in hospitals turned them into hotspots for infection .
As a result , at the onset of COVID-19 infection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment was provided to avoid infection to the medical staff .
It also created physically separated testing and treatment sites for health care workers .
Once safe testing and treatment facilities were secured , the government began testing for COVID-19 at massive scale – over 440,000 people – which essentially covered all those with symptoms .
People who test positive are quarantined in COVID-19 special units and treated .
South Korea focuses attention on treating people with severe symptoms and therefore less likelihood of recovery , rather than focusing on people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortality rate of COVID-19 , as some of the most vulnerable populations with severe symptoms recovered .
Countries focusing their effort on treating patients with a greater likelihood of survival may lead to a higher mortality rate as more vulnerable patients perish .
Extensive testing is a crucial step in identifying the state of the infection in the country – where the outbreaks are taking place , who is infected and who is not .
This data then becomes a stepping stone for identifying any hotspots of infection in the country and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in contact with those infected .
What distinguishes the Korean model in controlling COVID-19 is its ability to trace individuals diagnosed with the disease who may have come into contact with the infected individuals .
It ’ s known as the COVID-19 Smart Management System ( SMS ) .
South Korea ’ s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) runs the contact tracing system that uses data from 28 organizations such as National Police Agency , The Credit Finance Association , three smartphone companies , and 22 credit card companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
This system takes 10 minutes to analyze the movement of the infected individuals .
For people who come in contact with an infected person , the KCDC informs the local public health center near the infected citizen ’ s residence and the health center sends the notification to them .
If they test positive , they are hospitalized at the COVID-19 special facilities .
Those without symptoms are asked to remain self-quarantined for 14 days .
The legal basis for accessing such personal information was prepared after the 2015 MERS outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement of infected individuals and people who came in contact with them is crucial .
As a safety measure , only epidemic investigators at KCDC can access the location information and once the COVID-19 outbreak is over , the personal information used for the contact tracing will be purged .
Could the US emulate South Korea ?
South Korea ’ s model – relying on rapid testing availability , safe COVID-19 medical facilities and a government-run contact tracing system – helps avoid an authoritarian approach of shutting down an entire city as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown has democratic and human consequences of restricting individual freedom and stockpiling .
It may have lasting consequences in the post-COVID-19 world such as the abuse of political power and the threat to freedom through intrusive surveillance .
Currently , the U.S. is considering re-opening the country or states out of concern over the economy .
But without effective measures in place to contain the virus , it may lead to exponential growth in infection again .
Epidemiologists have said the key in defeating COVID-19 pandemic is in identifying hotspots of infection and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An effective contact tracing system is a crucial component in this approach and this can be potentially emulated in the U.S .
The U.S. has the necessary technology and data and the government could form a partnership with the relevant entities , such as credit card and telecommunications companies , law enforcement , health care , and other related public and private organizations to create a COVID-19 contact tracing system .
With the help of such system , the government could identify the infected population and hotspots , trace and quarantine them for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with government ’ s continued effort , supplied with the necessary PPE .
At the citizen level , the practice of wearing masks and social distancing should be strongly encouraged to prevent infection while the government tries to flatten the curve .
Currently , there is a sense of normalcy returning to South Korea .
No cities are under lockdown , the restaurants , churches , bars , gyms and learning institutes are allowed to open if they observe the government quarantine guidelines , trains and buses run on schedule , grocery stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just successfully held parliamentary elections in mid-April .
Citizens wear masks and exercise social distancing at all times which helps preventing further infection .
South Korea ’ s approach to COVID-19 with its focus on technology suggests a possible path for the U.S. in reopening the country without having to subject citizens to the coercive authority of the state and compromise our democratic ideal .
[ You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic , and we can help .
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Michael Ahn does not work for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-04-21--The coronavirus pandemic might make buildings sick, too

While millions of people are under orders to stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic , water is sitting in the pipes of empty office buildings and gyms , getting old and potentially dangerous .
When water isn ’ t flowing , organisms and chemicals can build up in the plumbing .
It can happen in underused gyms , office buildings , schools , shopping malls and other facilities .
These organisms and chemicals can reach unsafe levels when water sits in water pipes for just a few days .
But , what happens when water sits for weeks or months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the risks and only minimal guidance to help building owners prepare their water for use again after a long shutdown .
As researchers involved in building water safety , we study these risks and advise building owners and public officials on actions they can take to reduce the potential for widespread waterborne disease .
A new paper highlights these issues and our concerns that the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders may increase the chance of harmful water exposure when people return .
What happens when water gets old ?
Just like food that sits in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that sits in a building ’ s pipes for too long can make people sick .
Harmful organisms , like the bacteria that cause Legionnaire ’ s disease , can grow .
If not maintained , devices like filters , water tanks , heaters and softeners can become organism incubators .
With certain pipe materials , water can accumulate unsafe levels of lead and copper , which can cause learning disabilities , cardiovascular effects , nausea and diarrhea .
Drinking this water is a problem , but infections can also result from inhaling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ splashes and becomes an aerosol , as can happen in showers , hot tubs and pools and when flushing toilets or washing hands .
Some of these organisms can cause pneumonia-like diseases , especially in people who have weakened immune systems .
Water inside a building does not have an expiration date : Problems can develop within days at individual faucets , and all buildings with low water use are at risk .
To avoid water issues , “ fresh ” water must regularly flow to a building ’ s faucets .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the water they deliver to kill organisms , but this chemical disappears over time .
Medical facilities , with their vulnerable populations , are required to have a building water safety plan to keep water fresh and prevent growth .
Schools , which have long periods of low use during the summer , are advised to keep water fresh to reduce water ’ s lead levels .
Health agencies in the U.S. , Canada , England , Europe and some states have released recommendations in recent weeks , advising that building water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There ’ s some debate over the best way to do that , but the core message is the same : Do not let water sit in buildings .
If water isn ’ t being used in a building , intentionally flushing the building to replace all the old water with new water can be done at least weekly .
It also helps remove sediments that accumulate along pipe walls .
Faucets , water heaters and softeners , appliances such as refrigerators , toilets and other water systems , including cooling towers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some of these can require specialized attention .
Faucet aerators should be removed because they accumulate materials and slow down the flow .
How long flushing takes depends on the building ’ s piping design , devices and the speed of water exiting the faucets .
All buildings are different .
It took more than 80 minutes of flushing to draw fresh water to the farthest faucet of one 10,000-square-foot building .
In another building , it took 60 minutes just to get fresh water from the water meter to the basement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street .
A single large building may take hours or days to clear .
Easier to avoid contamination than clean it up For building managers who haven ’ t been running the water during the pandemic , the water sitting in pipes may already have significant problems .
To perform flushing , safety equipment , including masks , currently in short supply , might be needed to protect workers .
A slow “ ramp-up ” of the economy means buildings will not reach normal water use for some time .
These buildings may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinfection , adding a high level of disinfectant chemical to the plumbing to kill organisms living in it , may also be necessary .
This is required for new buildings and is sometimes done when water in new buildings sits still for too long .
Inexpensive chemical disinfectant tests can help determine if the water is “ fresh.
” Testing for harmful organisms is recommended by some organizations .
It can take several days and requires expertise to interpret results .
Metals testing might be needed , too .
Public health departments can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions and communication of risks .
The need for standards and water safety Water left sitting in the pipes of buildings can present serious health risks .
Standards are lacking and very much needed for restarting plumbing and ensuring continued water safety after the pandemic passes .
Right now , building managers can take immediate action to prevent people from becoming sick when they return .
[ You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic , and we can help .
Read The Conversation ’ s newsletter . ]
Caitlin R. Proctor receives funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Science Foundation , and Warm Springs Foundation .
Andrew J. Whelton receives funding from the US National Science Foundation ( CBET 2027049 ) , US Environmental Protection Agency ( R836890 ) , Warm Springs Foundation , and Water Research Foundation .
William Rhoads receives funding from the National Science Foundation ( CBET 1706733 ) .
He is affiliated with the American Waterworks Association .


freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Wall Street Journal Leaves Out Crucial Detail In Report On China’s ‘Bat Woman’

The Wall Street Journal left out a critical detail in its report Tuesday about China ’ s top virologist on bat-borne viruses saying her lab in Wuhan has no connection to the coronavirus outbreak .
The Journal did not include in its report that the virologist told the Scientific American in March she lost sleep worrying about the possibility that her Wuhan lab , which studies coronaviruses , could have been responsible for the release of the novel coronavirus when she first learned of the outbreak in late December .
Shi Zhengli , known by her colleagues as the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American that she frantically searched for any evidence that laboratory records from her lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology could have been mishandled when she first learned of the spread of viral pneumonia in Wuhan .
“ I had never expected this kind of thing to happen in Wuhan , in central China , ” Shi said , adding that she remembered thinking if coronavirus was responsible for the pneumonia outbreak , “ could they have come from our lab ?
” The Wuhan Institute of Virology is situated a handful of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected to be the origin of the coronavirus outbreak .
Shi contributed to a study published in February reporting that the novel coronavirus is 96.2 % identical to a viral strain that her team detected in 2013 from horseshoe bats in China ’ s Yunnan province , some 800 miles away from Wuhan .
The virologist told the Scientific American she was able to breathe a sigh of relief when results came back showing that the sequences for the novel coronavirus did not match any of the strains her team had sampled from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her lab in Wuhan is connected to the release of the novel coronavirus .
The virologist wrote on Chinese social media in early February that she could “ guarantee on my life ” that her lab has no connection to the outbreak , adding : “ I advise those who believe and spread rumors from harmful media sources … to shut their stinking mouths.
” Shi ’ s boss , a senior official at the Wuhan lab , told Chinese state television in April that “ there ’ s no way this virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Journal .
U.S. Embassy officials issued two warnings in January 2018 about inadequate safety at the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
One of the cables mentioned Shi directly and her research into SARS-like coronaviruses .
Fox News reported last week that the U.S. is conducting a full-scale investigation into whether the coronavirus could have entered the population due to a leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
Wall Street Journal Leaves Out Crucial Detail In Report On China ’ s ‘ Bat Woman ’ is original content from Conservative Daily News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News , Political Cartoons and more .


freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Russia, China, Iran Acting In Tandem To Paint COVID-19 As An American Bioweapon, State Dept Report S

Russia, China, Iran Acting In Tandem To Paint COVID-19 As An American Bioweapon, State Dept Report Suggests

China , Russia , and Iran are acting in tandem to promote propaganda suggesting the coronavirus is an American bio weapon and that the U.S. economy is buckling under the strain of lockdowns , a new report shows .
All three governments are pushing the message that the virus originated in the U.S. and not Wuhan , China , according to a State Department report obtained by Politico .
The report , which is not public , suggests China and Russia ’ s disinformation campaign began to coalesce around February .
The pandemic has allowed the countries to act in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lea Gabrielle , who helms the Global Engagement Center ( GEC ) , which crafted the report .
The GEC is responsible for fleshing out and analyzing global disinformation campaigns .
“ What we saw as the health crisis started to come under control in China is that the CCP really started pushing a concerted effort to try to re-shape that narrative , ” Gabrielle told Politico , referring to China ’ s communist party .
The State Department has not yet responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period of time the CCP went from letting Russian disinformation claiming the U.S. was the source of the virus proliferate in Chinese social media , ” Gabrielle said before noting that China eventually evolved to embrace the message that the U.S. was responsible for the virus .
Politico ’ s report noted that a Chinese embassy spokesperson flagged to the media outlet an interview Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai did in which the former argued the United States is taking “ political advantage of other people ’ s sufferings.
” “ The U.S. medias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinformation spread by the administration in the lead up to the virus creating a tragic pandemic in almost every state in America , ” a spokesperson for Iran ’ s mission to the United Nations told Politico.Politico did not reveal the name of the spokesperson .
A spokesperson for Russia ’ s embassy in the U.S. directed Politico to lashing out at the Department of Defense for accusing Russia of spreading disinformation regarding the virus , which officials believe originated in China and killed more than 150,000 people worldwide .
Politico ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also highlighted a March story from ZVEDA , a media company controlled by Russia ’ s armed forces .
The story is headlined : “ Bill Gates , a secret laboratory and a conspiracy of pharmaceutical companies : who can benefit from coronavirus.
” That ZVEDA story suggests Gates had knowledge fo the virus beforehand and also claims that the virus is biologically engineered to target “ the Mongoloid race.
” The State Department ’ s report comes after The Daily Caller News Foundation show China ’ s propaganda is taking hold in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a British tabloid , published dozens of articles in recent months related to the coronavirus that were based on stories originating from People ’ s Daily , the communist party ’ s official newspaper , the DCNF reported in March .
Russia , China , Iran Acting In Tandem To Paint COVID-19 As An American Bioweapon , State Dept Report Suggests is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news , current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News , Political Cartoons and @ @


freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Democrat Who Endorsed Trump Says He’s Stepping Down After Being ‘Harassed’ By Democratic Party

Georgia State Rep. Vernon Jones announced that he is stepping down from office , citing attacks and harassment from his party following his endorsement of President Donald Trump for re-election .
Jones shocked the Georgia political establishment when he became the first state-elected Democrat to endorse Trump earlier this month .
While the move drew quick recognition and applause from the White House , Democratic leaders closer to home immediately disavowed him , and pledged to help unseat him from office .
Jones now says the blowback from his party is too much , and he is stepping down from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 91st House District .
“ I ’ m sick and tired of me and my family being attacked and harassed by the Democrat Party for putting my country before my party , ” Jones said in a statement released Wednesday , and first obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
“ I take pride in being an independent thinker , ” Jones continued in his resignation announcement .
“ I intend to help the Democrat Party get rid of its bigotry against Black people that are independent and conservative.
” Jones first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s handling of the economy , support for historically black colleges , and his criminal justice reform initiatives .
All of these issues , he said , drew him toward Trump ’ s campaign .
Jones represents the 91st House District in the Georgia General Assembly — a majority-minority district in the suburbs south of Atlanta that is overwhelmingly Democratic .
Before entering the Georgia House of Representatives , Jones served as the CEO of DeKalb County , and served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not well received by his colleagues .
“ Vernon Jones is an embarrassment to the Democratic Party and does not stand for our values , ” Georgia Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikema Williams said in a prepared statement .
“ He chose to stand with the racist president who has made an all-out assault on black Americans … during the most important election of our lifetimes.
” Immediately after Jones ’ s endorsement , Fair Fight — a group launched by failed gubernatorial candidate and romance novelist Stacey Abrams — announced it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rhonda Taylor .
Jones ’ s announcement on Wednesday suggested that it is Trump ’ s likely opponent , former vice president Joe Biden , who has enacted racist policies .
“ I endorsed the White guy ( Donald J. Trump ) that let Blacks out of jail , and they endorsed the White guy ( Joe Biden ) that put Blacks in jail , ” he said .
While the state representative said he is stepping down from office , he is not leaving the Democratic Party , noting that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold them accountable to how they are treating black people ( and ) root out the bigotry.
” “ I will remain woke and vigilant in educating and fighting for my people , ” Jones said .


freedomdaily--2020-04-22--A smart second skin gets all the power it needs from sweat

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work .
Skin is the largest organ of the human body .
It conveys a lot of information , including temperature , pressure , pleasure and pain .
Electronic skin ( e-skin ) mimics the properties of biological skin .
Recently developed e-skins are capable of wirelessly monitoring physiological signals .
They could play a crucial role in the next generation of robotics and medical devices .
My lab at Caltech is interested in studying human biology and monitoring human health by using advanced bioelectronic devices .
The e-skin we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and molecular composition of human sweat , it ’ s fully powered by chemicals in sweat .
Existing e-skins and wearable devices primarily focus on monitoring physiological parameters like heart rate and can ’ t assess health information at the molecular level .
Moreover , they typically require batteries to power them , and the batteries need to be recharged frequently .
Despite recent efforts to harvest energy from the human body , there are no reports of self-powered e-skins that are able to perform biosensing and transmit the information via standard Bluetooth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of power efficiency .
There is a need for a self-powered device that can continuously collect molecular as well as physical information and wirelessly transmit the information to other devices .
How we do this work The approach we take to harvesting energy from the human body is based on biofuel cells .
Fuel cells convert chemical energy to electricity .
The biofuel cells we developed for our e-skin convert the lactic acid in human sweat to electricity .
In addition to the biofuel cells , the e-skin contains biosensors that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urea and pH levels , to monitor for diabetes , ischaemia another health conditions , as well as physical information like skin temperature .
The e-skin , made of soft materials and attached to a person ’ s skin , performs real-time biosensing , powered solely by sweat .
Previously developed wearable biofuel cells don ’ t produce a lot of power and aren ’ t very stable .
We greatly improved the power output and stability of the biofuel cells by using novel nanomaterials for the cell ’ s two electrodes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ composed of a mesh of carbon nanotubes decorated with nanoparticles containing platinum and cobalt .
The anode is a nanocomposite material that contains an enzyme that breaks down lactic acid .
The biofuel cells can generate a continuous , stable output as high as several milliwatts per square centimeter over multiple days in human sweat .
That ’ s enough to power the biosensors as well as wireless communication .
We demonstrated our e-skin by monitoring glucose , pH , ammonium ions and urea levels in studies using human subjects .
We also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to control the motion of a robotic arm and a prosthetic leg .
We plan to further improve the power output of the biofuel cells and integrate different biosensors .
The development of fully self-powered e-skin opens the door to numerous robotic and wearable health care possibilities .
Wearable sensor arrays could be used for health monitoring , early disease diagnosis and potentially nutritional intervention .
In addition , self-powered e-skin could be used to design and optimize next generation prosthetics .
[ Deep knowledge , daily .
Sign up for The Conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receives funding from the National Institute of Health .


freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Trump Instructs Navy To Open Fire And ‘Destroy’ Iranian Gunboats If They ‘Harass Our Ships’

President Donald Trump said in a tweet Wednesday that he told the United States Navy to shoot and destroy Iranian gunboats that provoke American military ships .
“ I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea , ” Trump told his Twitter followers .
The president ’ s tweet comes after reports Wednesday suggest Iran ’ s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched a military satellite into orbit .
Iran ’ s provocative move also comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the nuclear deal and after a U.S. drone strike in Iraq killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in January .
Trump is also dealing with heavy economic headwinds as governors and mayors continue a series of economic lockdowns as a means of slowing the coronavirus spread , which has killed more than 45,000 people in the U.S. A report Tuesday from the State Department noted that Russia , Iran , and China are launching misinformation campaigns accusing the U.S. of creating the virus .
The report also suggests the trio of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns are providing a fatal blow to the U.S. economy .
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freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Coronavirus Could Be ‘More Difficult’ In The Winter, CDC Director Says

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that coronavirus could prove “ more difficult ” in the winter than the current wave of the pandemic , and that protests against stay-at-home orders are “ not helpful.
” Dr. Robert Redfield , in an interview with The Washington Post , said that a wave of the coronavirus in the winter mixed with the spread of the seasonal flu could overwhelm the health system .
“ There ’ s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through , ” Redfield told The Post .
“ We ’ re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time.
” The Trump administration is working to ramp up testing across the U.S. to track and trace clusters of coronavirus in order to prevent larger outbreaks .
Most health experts expect that coronavirus will begin transmitting again after social distancing measures are relaxed over the next couple of months .
The White House coronavirus task force has set up guidelines to begin relaxing restrictions in states where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some health experts have expressed concern that a premature return to normalcy will lead to more outbreaks of the virus across the U.S .
Most experts expect the virus to begin transmitting again once businesses reopen , but the Trump administration hopes to use widespread testing to spot coronavirus clusters before they turn into larger outbreaks .
Dr. Deborah Birx , the White House coronavirus task force coordinator , was asked about Redfield ’ s remarks about a press briefing on Tuesday .
“ I don ’ t know if it will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty bad .
When you see what happened in New York , that was very bad , ” she told reporters .
“ I believe that we ’ ll have early warning signals both from our surveillance that we ’ ve been talking about in these vulnerable populations .
We ’ re going to continue that surveillance from now all the way through to be able to give us that early warning signal.
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freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Intended For US Citizens, Education Department Says

Coronavirus funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund is intended for U.S. citizens , the Education Department told the Daily Caller News Foundation Tuesday .
The CARES Act ties funding in the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to Pell-eligibility and requires Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to use the same systems to distribute these funds as she uses to distribute funds under Title IV of the Higher Education Act .
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) recipients are prevented from receiving funding under Title IV of the Higher Education Act , Department of Education Press Secretary Angela @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recipients ineligible to receive Higher Education Emergency Relief .
Morabito emphasized that such funding is intended for United States citizens .
“ The CARES Act makes clear that this taxpayer funded relief fund should be targeted to US citizens , which is consistently echoed throughout the law , ” said Morabito in a statement to the DCNF .
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced an additional $ 6.2 billion is available for higher education institutions Tuesday .
This follows the Department of Education making more than $ 6 billion available for colleges and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students , according to an Education Department press release .
“ This pandemic has made clear every single education institution should make important investments to ensure learning continues when unexpected circumstances arise , ” DeVos said in a statement .
“ Accordingly , the additional funds made available today can be used to expand remote learning programs , build IT capacity , and train faculty and staff to operate in a remote learning environment so that at any moment institutions can pivot quickly.
” “ I hope that institutions that already have robust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding to support additional emergency cash grants for students , ” she added .
The CARES Act prescribes a formula whereby school allocations are set , weighted significantly by the number of Pell-eligible students , according to the Education Department .
The formula also weighs the total population of the school and the number of students who were not enrolled online full time before the coronavirus pandemic .


freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Cracks in COVID-19 treatment reveal need to bolster primary care

Every day the COVID-19 crisis reveals just how unprepared the U.S. health care system was .
But it ’ s not only the shortage of masks , tests and ventilators , nor our chaotic and contradictory public health response , evident across every level of government .
COVID-19 has also brought into sharp relief how fragmented and disorganized the American health care system really is .
The U.S. system is often referred to as the dispersed model of care – less structured , with minimal central planning .
This model encourages competition over collaboration .
Indeed , many patients today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consulting their primary care provider .
COVID-19 has shed light on these organizational problems – and the inability of our health care system to respond to growing demand .
As an associate professor of health policy and management working on comparative health systems reforms , I ’ d like to highlight what primary care can offer in the U.S. , especially in the context of a crisis like this one .
While being able to go directly to a specialist may sound like a good deal for the patient , this model has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s in part due to the fact that specialists stay in business by performing diagnostic examinations such as MRI examinations , and surgical procedures , such as coronary artery bypass grafts .
And , these specialists compete with each other and try to maximize revenue .
The health care industry as a whole spent US $ 30 billion on advertising .
This competitive model encourages provision of high cost services at a higher volume .
These services are not only expensive but are also associated with higher rates of complications and avoidable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher rates of hospital-acquired infections .
All of these factors point to waste and major inefficiencies in the health care provision and a lack of communication between providers .
How primary care doctors would help In the current crisis , governors , health officials and the public have placed much attention on 911 and hospital bed capacity .
Cities and state governments are coming up with their own response plans without much support from public health agencies and federal government .
One example : A fire department battalion chief in Paterson , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person to assess possible COVID-19 cases ; he determined whether a specialized ambulance should follow up .
Primary care providers could support this triaging work on the front lines and possibly save lives .
They also could identify and contact high-risk patients and educate them about the symptoms of COVID-19 before they get sick .
They could facilitate at-home testing – of course , depending on the availability of tests .
If patients have COVID-19 , primary care doctors can manage their care at home through telemedicine or by phone , and refer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As the crisis deepens and then abates , primary care doctors will need to educate their patients and encourage behaviors that prevent the spread of disease .
And , they can also play a key role for recovering patients in care teams deciding the discharge procedures and help integrate with social care services .
These would be essential services for recovering nursing home residents or homeless individuals .
But because of our dispersed model , many people don ’ t even have a primary care doctor .
And for those of us who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee that we will be able to receive much needed services .
Some practices are struggling to remain open , due to staff shortages and financial difficulties , while others change their delivery practices such as switching to telemedicine or canceling well and chronic care visits to accommodate need .
A recent survey by Primary Care Collaborative , conducted April 3-6 , 2020 with more than 1,000 primary care physicians , nurse practitioners and physician assistants , shows primary care services are “ dangerously under-resourced ” : 58 % of participants report the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment at their practice , while 29 % of clinicians report no capacity for COVID-19 testing and 39 % have only limited capacity .
Nearly half of practices have clinical care team members out sick or quarantined , while 40 % report their clinical staff being redeployed within the health system .
The use of telemedicine is growing , but 72 % of clinicians reported that “ patients most vulnerable do not have capabilities for virtual visits ” due to not having a computer or internet access .
In addition , 43 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatening practice closure .
Especially small , independent practices are struggling with a severe drop in visits , and close to 60 % are not sure the majority of care they are provided is reimbursable .
Similarly , community health centers that provide care to medically underserved urban and rural communities are struggling to survive .
I do not think that these are just small hiccups .
Rather , I think these are the reasons we urgently need a renewed debate on universal health coverage , with primary care as its cornerstone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary care providers , ranging from gatekeepers to quarterbacks .
I would suggest another familiar analogy – that of a large , shiny building representing the American health care system .
Primary care is often considered as one of the pillars holding the building or the foundation that addresses majority of the health care needs and refers patients to higher levels for complex cases .
I would like to add that primary care is also the control center in charge of ensuring an integrated , people-centered system of care .
Primary care system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an organized response that protects the workforce , ensures financial sustainability and facilitates access to accurate information .
To focus on their care management and integration responsibilities , primary care providers need assistance to field questions about COVID-19 symptoms and triaging patients .
There are some initiatives we can learn from such as the British health care system ’ s NHS911 hotline or COVID-19 Connected Care Center created in partnership with the Oregon Health & Science University in the U.S. Our COVID-19 response does not have to be another instance of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of our medical and public health systems , but instead , a system-building effort that will better serve us during times of crisis .
[ You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic , and we can help .
Read The Conversation ’ s newsletter . ]
Tuba Agartan does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Teens are wired to resent being stuck with parents and cut off from friends during coronavirus lockd

Teens are wired to resent being stuck with parents and cut off from friends during coronavirus lockdown

“ Can ’ t I just go see one friend ?
” “ I need to hang out with my friends.
” “ You are being overprotective and unreasonable !
” Social distancing is both necessary and hard .
If my Facebook news feed and anecdotal experience in my own family are at all representative of larger trends , adolescents are especially feeling the pain .
Separating from others goes against basic human needs for companionship and connection that everyone feels , yet the challenge of social distancing may be especially difficult for teenagers .
Social distancing contradicts much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As a psychology professor who studies adolescents ’ peer relationships , I find it helpful to think about this reality from a developmental perspective – assuming certain tasks arise at different periods during development , and that mastering them contributes to well-being and happiness .
The typical changes that come with adolescence and the developmental tasks that confront adolescents help explain why they ’ re having a particularly hard time with social distancing .
Adolescence is a time when forming and maintaining close , intimate friendships is a critical developmental task – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an adolescent .
Teens are socially and emotionally prepared for this task , and achieving it provides them abilities they need for meeting the challenges ahead .
Teens spend much of their waking time with peers and friends .
Psychology research suggests that those relationships have important implications for adjustment and well-being .
In friendships , teens learn and practice social and emotional skills that are important now and for their success in future relationships .
They learn how to give and ask for help and support ; they work on conflict resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about closeness , intimacy and reliability ; and they figure out how to make others laugh and have fun together .
Each time they practice these skills with their friends , they ’ re working on perfecting competencies that will be crucial for successful relationships throughout the rest of their lives .
So much of this happens during face-to-face interactions when teens gather in the basement , legs and arms entwined as three or four pile on a couch talking and hanging out , or at the school lunch table when a dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for half as many .
Social distancing runs counter to what teens want and need to be doing with their peers and friends .
Becoming their own people Another important task of adolescence is developing emotional and behavioral autonomy – feeling , thinking and acting as a self-governing person .
Demands from parents and other authorities to stay home and practice social distancing make many teens bristle .
They want to make those decisions for themselves .
As adolescents ’ brains develop , their cognitive skills are advancing .
Their decision-making abilities improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abstractly and about multiple perspectives simultaneously .
Those advances certainly help them better understand the global challenges we ’ re all confronting with COVID-19 than younger children might .
Yet , those advances also come with greater tendencies to see things as relative instead of absolute , to question adults and to be better arguers than when they were younger .
And teens famously experience a type of egocentrism that can involve a feeling of uniqueness and invulnerability that might make them downplay the importance of social distancing .
Although teens are developing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally more likely to make risky decisions than adults are .
An adolescent and an adult may both think about the positive and negative consequences of social distancing , yet adults and teens may value them differently .
A teen may emphasize the rewards of seeing friends , while an adult may put more weight on the health risks of contracting or spreading the virus .
Together , the social and emotional tasks of adolescence – developing intimate friendships and achieving autonomy – make teens uniquely resistant to calls for social distancing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ part responsible for the laments I ’ ve heard from parents of my 16-year-old ’ s friends , describing the endless arguing about parents ’ draconian mandates to engage in social distancing .
I recognize that many people are confronting life-and-death situations or serious economic consequences for their families and do not have the luxury of worrying about angsty and argumentative teens .
Nevertheless , it is important to consider the potential unintended consequences that accompany social distancing .
So what ’ s a parent to do ?
First , recognize that teens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends is reasonable and exactly what they should want to do .
Second , encourage their social connections and help them figure out how to maintain those interactions , albeit from a distance .
Perhaps relax prohibitions against screen time when it is used to connect with friends through FaceTime and Google Hangouts .
For younger teens , actively help them host a Zoom dance party with their friends and think creatively about ways to maintain social interactions with technology .
Third , continue to talk with teens about the coronavirus and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Help them engage their developing critical thinking skills around news reports and graphs of data and other evidence about the beneficial effects of social distancing .
And finally , understand that teens ’ push for autonomy , their arguing about the unreasonableness of what they ’ re not allowed to do and their lack of unbridled excitement about forced family time all fit with the social , emotional and cognitive tasks that define adolescence .
[ You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic , and we can help .
Read The Conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Blood sugar levels may influence vulnerability to coronavirus, and controlling them through conventi

Blood sugar levels may influence vulnerability to coronavirus, and controlling them through conventional means might be protective

Can watching your blood sugar help fight COVID-19 ?
Sugar is not only something that sweetens our food .
It is also something that is an essential part of the proteins that make up our bodies .
That led me to believe , as I wrote in the Journal of Medical Virology , that control of blood glucose by diet and exercise , as well as better control of blood sugar in diabetics , especially when ill with COVID-19 , may possibly help control the severity of the disease and even its spread .
I have worked in the field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and my colleagues and I have been trying to use a drug called hydroxychloroquine in clinical trials .
The goal : reduce the number of breast cancer cells in the bone marrow and prevent their re-emergence many years later to cause recurrence – what ’ s called tumor dormancy .
You probably have heard a lot about the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine in recent months as it has been suggested as a treatment for COVID-19 .
No conclusive evidence to date proves that hydroxychloroquine is effective .
But , it turns out , hydroxychloroquine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metformin .
Colleagues of mine have shared that many of their COVID-19 patients not only had diabetes but some were undiagnosed diabetics as well .
Knowing the drug ’ s potential to lower blood sugar , coupled with reports of high blood sugar in COVID-19 patients , led me to put both together to try to explain some things about COVID-19 and how blood sugar may interact with the virus .
Blood sugar and how the virus enters cells The new coronavirus infects cells by attaching to the surface through a receptor called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACE2 .
Both the ACE2 and the virus need sugar molecules bound to their protein for this to work properly .
My idea , which I have described in a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Medical Virology , is that COVID-19 infection and its severity is influenced by the concentration of sugar-coated virus and the concentration of sugar-coated ACE2 receptors in the lung tissues .
The degree and control of the lungs ’ immune response may also depend on how much sugar is attached to virus ’ s spike protein approximately eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which may vary depending on your age and sex Researchers already know that people with diabetes are more vulnerable to COVID-19 .
What is unusual is that when I talked to physicians around the country taking care of COVID-19 patients , they told me that a lot of their patients in the hospital not only had diabetes and prediabetes but others had high blood sugar , without being aware of it .
There is a recent report from Wuhan , China , that finds that is true there as well .
COVID-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control .
People with SARS – which is related to the new coronavirus – seem to get high blood sugar temporarily when they get infected as well .
This makes sense because there are a lot of ACE2 receptors on the so-called islet cells of the pancreas .
These are the cells that make insulin – which is critical for controlling blood sugar .
If the virus infects these cells , then they stop making insulin and you can get a temporary diabetes with COVID-19 .
High blood sugar increases the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diabetic mice .
So not only are the number of receptors greater , but also there are more sugars attached to them .
This makes it easier for the virus to infect cells .
When there is more insulin , or through diet or exercise , there is less sugar , so there are fewer ACE2 receptors and less sugar on each one , and this may reduce the amount of virus getting into the cell .
That suggests that a high blood sugar test called hemoglobin A1c – which can be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – could be used as a marker for patients at risk for COVID-19 disease .
In fact , 3.8 % of the U.S. population has a high A1c .
Hydroxychloroquine may work by blocking processes in the cell that add sugars to proteins .
This the opposite of what high blood sugar seems to do .
This would theoretically impede the virus from interacting with its receptor and modulate the inflammatory response to the virus .
It is unclear whether hydroxychloroquine will work for everyone , or even in a small group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical trials to tell us once and for all if hydroxychloroquine works in COVID-19 , the interesting thing to me is that this debate may have brought us a possible hypothesis as to why high blood sugar may make the disease worse , and possibly what to do about it .
A lot of new drugs and theories are emerging about COVID-19 and the science is advancing rapidly .
It is important to have theories explaining what you are seeing clinically and scientifically to see if they fit – and then test them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is the thinking and the testing that will allow us to beat COVID-19 .
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Adam M. Brufsky does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Chronic conditions worsen coronavirus risk – here’s how to manage them amid the pandemic

Amid the stress and confusion of coronavirus shutdowns and social distancing orders , it can seem to older patients as though everything is on pause .
Clinics have postponed regular office visits .
Patients worry about going to pharmacies and grocery stores .
There ’ s even anecdotal evidence that people with serious issues such as chest pain are avoiding emergency rooms .
One important fact must not get overlooked amid this pandemic : Chronic health conditions still need attention .
If you had diabetes before the pandemic , you still have diabetes and should be monitoring your blood sugar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow a low-salt diet before the pandemic to control your blood pressure , you still need to follow a low-salt diet during what my spouse calls “ the duration.
” If you had to check in with your doctor if your weight increased from underlying congestive heart failure , you still need to check your weight daily and call your doctor .
As I remind my geriatric patients , taking care of chronic conditions is even more critical right now as the new coronavirus raises the risk for people with underlying medical problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you become infected with the coronavirus , you ’ ll likely face an increased risk of developing severe symptoms .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at a sample of U.S. patients with COVID-19 and found that 89 % of those hospitalized in March had underlying conditions .
The percentage rose to 94 % for patients age 65 and older .
COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs , and people with lung diseases , such as COPD , have less “ pulmonary reserve , ” which is like having a backup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power goes out .
So , what might have been a mild infection for someone else can develop into a severe infection for someone with lung problems .
Beyond the lungs , doctors and scientists are starting to see signs that COVID-19 may have devastating effects on the kidneys and heart .
An extreme immune system response known as a cytokine storm can damage organs , and mini blood clots have developed in some patients .
High blood pressure , congestive heart failure or diabetes can also increase the risk of developing severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sample , 73 % of older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 also had hypertension , about a third had diabetes and just over half had cardiovascular disease .
How to keep seeing your doctor Managing chronic conditions amid a pandemic is not easy .
It requires adjusting daily routines and dealing with new obstacles .
One of the challenges is medical appointments .
During the pandemic , most geriatric clinics have postponed in-person visits for routine check-ups to avoid exposing patients or staff to the coronavirus .
But that doesn ’ t mean your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My clinic , for example , has transitioned most patient appointments to telehealth .
This allows us to keep in touch with our patients and their symptoms and to adjust treatment plans in real time .
Online portals with “ virtual waiting rooms ” allow for video visits between patient and doctor .
For patients who don ’ t have access to the internet or aren ’ t as comfortable with the technology , the telephone works , too .
Patients can send photos of injuries .
Over 90 % of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now by telephone .
We schedule time for the clinic appointment , the clinic staff registers the patient , and then I call the patient for the check-up .
I was in the middle of one of these visits recently when a patient asked me if I thought they should try telehealth .
I was surprised by the question , and the patient was surprised by my answer – we were in the middle of a telehealth visit .
I realized that the common picture of telehealth conveys a complex process , perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Telehealth is typically arranged with your own doctor – same doctor , same relationship – just a different physical connection .
Even if a clinic no longer has routine patient appointments , the office is probably still staffed .
Patients can call the clinic and may also be able to request medication refills online .
Patients should check if their insurance company will allow 90-day supplies rather the usual 30 days so they can limit trips to the pharmacy .
Some pharmacies are also providing medication delivery or curbside pickup now so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk inside the store .
Diet is often one of the toughest adjustments needed for controlling chronic medical conditions .
Watching what we eat can be even more challenging during a pandemic .
Following a low-carb diet for diabetes , following a low-salt diet for congestive heart failure or following a low-cholesterol diet for heart disease isn ’ t simple when people are sitting at home with stocked pantries and unable to get to the grocery store for fresh produce .
To avoid snacking out of boredom , try creating a daily meal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also help .
Hormones that tell us when we need to drink something don ’ t respond as well as we age , so our bodies may need water rather than an unhealthy snack .
If getting to the grocery store is a challenge , check if the store has senior-only hours , delivery or curbside pickup .
A friend , neighbor or family member might be able to go grocery shopping for you .
Many people are eager to help and just need to be asked .
Staying out of the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , it is still critically important that you continue to manage your chronic medical conditions .
When chronic conditions aren ’ t managed , patients run a higher risk of ending up in the emergency room and hospital – places where COVID-19 patients are likely also being treated and that have become overburdened amid the pandemic .
One of the best ways to help them is to take care of yourself .
Stay home .
Stay well .
Stay connected .
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Laurie Archbald-Pannone does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-04-22--Robots are playing many roles in the coronavirus crisis – and offering lessons for future disasters

A cylindrical robot rolls into a treatment room to allow health care workers to remotely take temperatures and measure blood pressure and oxygen saturation from patients hooked up to a ventilator .
Another robot that looks like a pair of large fluorescent lights rotated vertically travels throughout a hospital disinfecting with ultraviolet light .
Meanwhile a cart-like robot brings food to people quarantined in a 16-story hotel .
Outside , quadcopter drones ferry test samples to laboratories and watch for violations of stay-at-home restrictions .
These are just a few of the two dozen ways robots have been used during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and out of hospitals , automation of testing , supporting public safety and public works , to continuing daily work and life .
The lessons they ’ re teaching for the future are the same lessons learned at previous disasters but quickly forgotten as interest and funding faded .
The best robots for a disaster are the robots , like those in these examples , that already exist in the health care and public safety sectors .
Research laboratories and startups are creating new robots , including one designed to allow health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and perform mouth swabs .
These prototypes are unlikely to make a difference now .
However , the robots under development could make a difference in future disasters if momentum for robotics research continues .
As roboticists at Texas A & M University and the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue , we examined over 120 press and social media reports from China , the U.S. and 19 other countries about how robots are being used during the COVID-19 pandemic .
We found that ground and aerial robots are playing a notable role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
In hospitals , doctors and nurses , family members and even receptionists are using robots to interact in real time with patients from a safe distance .
Specialized robots are disinfecting rooms and delivering meals or prescriptions , handling the hidden extra work associated with a surge in patients .
Delivery robots are transporting infectious samples to laboratories for testing .
Outside of hospitals , public works and public safety departments are using robots to spray disinfectant throughout public spaces .
Drones are providing thermal imagery to help identify infected citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Robots are even rolling through crowds , broadcasting public service messages about the virus and social distancing .
At work and home , robots are assisting in surprising ways .
Realtors are teleoperating robots to show properties from the safety of their own homes .
Workers building a new hospital in China were able work through the night because drones carried lighting .
In Japan , students used robots to walk the stage for graduation , and in Cyprus , a person used a drone to walk his dog without violating stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the experience of using robots for the COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to finally learn three lessons documented over the past 20 years .
One important lesson is that during a disaster robots do not replace people .
They either perform tasks that a person could not do or do safely , or take on tasks that free up responders to handle the increased workload .
The majority of robots being used in hospitals treating COVID-19 patients have not replaced health care professionals .
These robots are teleoperated , enabling the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compassion to sick and isolated patients remotely .
A small number of robots are autonomous , such as the popular UVD decontamination robots and meal and prescription carts .
But the reports indicate that the robots are not displacing workers .
Instead , the robots are helping the existing hospital staff cope with the surge in infectious patients .
The decontamination robots disinfect better and faster than human cleaners , while the carts reduce the amount of time and personal protective equipment nurses and aides must spend on ancillary tasks .
The second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency are usually already in common use before the disaster .
Technologists often rush out well-intentioned prototypes , but during an emergency , responders – health care workers and search-and-rescue teams – are too busy and stressed to learn to use something new and unfamiliar .
They typically can ’ t absorb the unanticipated tasks and procedures , like having to frequently reboot or change batteries , that usually accompany new technology .
Fortunately , responders adopt technologies that their peers have used extensively and shown to work .
For example , decontamination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many locations for preventing hospital-acquired infections .
Sometimes responders also adapt existing robots .
For example , agricultural drones designed for spraying pesticides in open fields are being adapted for spraying disinfectants in crowded urban cityscapes in China and India .
A third lesson follows from the second .
Repurposing existing robots is generally more effective than building specialized prototypes .
Building a new , specialized robot for a task takes years .
Imagine trying to build a new kind of automobile from scratch .
Even if such a car could be quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cars would be produced at first and they would likely lack the reliability , ease of use and safety that comes from months or years of feedback from continuous use .
Alternatively , a faster and more scalable approach is to modify existing cars or trucks .
This is how robots are being configured for COVID-19 applications .
For example , responders began using the thermal cameras already on bomb squad robots and drones – common in most large cities – to detect infected citizens running a high fever .
While the jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is effective , the point is that existing public safety robots were rapidly repurposed for public health .
The broad use of robots for COVID-19 is a strong indication that the health care system needed more robots , just like it needed more of everyday items such as personal protective equipment and ventilators .
But while storing caches of hospital supplies makes sense , storing a cache of specialized robots for use in a future emergency does not .
This was the strategy of the nuclear power industry , and it failed during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ robots stored by the Japanese Atomic Energy Agency for an emergency were outdated , and the operators were rusty or no longer employed .
Instead , the Tokyo Electric Power Company lost valuable time acquiring and deploying commercial off-the-shelf bomb squad robots , which were in routine use throughout the world .
While the commercial robots were not perfect for dealing with a radiological emergency , they were good enough and cheap enough for dozens of robots to be used throughout the facility .
Hopefully , COVID-19 will accelerate the adoption of existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it might also lead to new robots .
Laboratory and supply chain automation is emerging as an overlooked opportunity .
Automating the slow COVID-19 test processing that relies on a small set of labs and specially trained workers would eliminate some of the delays currently being experienced in many parts of the U.S .
Automation is not particularly exciting , but just like the unglamorous disinfecting robots in use now , it is a valuable application .
If government and industry have finally learned the lessons from previous disasters , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side by side with the health care workers on the front lines when the next pandemic arrives .
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The authors do not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .