talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-23--How Germany And South Korea Have Battled Coronavirus Better Than Others

BERLIN ( AP ) — Derided by many economists for years for insisting on a balanced budget and criticized for a health care system seen as bloated and overly expensive , Germany has found itself well equipped now to weather the coronavirus pandemic .
Already applauded for early actions such as social-distancing regulations and aggressive testing seen as helping keep the death toll comparatively low , Europe ’ s largest economy has had the financial flexibility to launch a massive rescue plan to help businesses and keep workers paid .
As the country moves to relax some restrictions this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the example of South Korea , which relied on its experience fighting a different coronavirus five years ago to combat COVID-19 , as the way forward .
Meantime in the U.S. , some protesters have taken to the streets — supported by President Donald Trump ’ s tweets — to demand an end to virus-related shutdowns to help the faltering economy , which has caused tens of millions to lose their jobs , even if it could lead to an increase in deaths as the health care system struggles .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand , has probably hit the U.S. where it is most vulnerable , namely health care , ” said Carsten Brzeski , ING bank ’ s chief Eurozone economist .
“ While at the same time it has hit the German economy where it ’ s the strongest.
” Brzeski was among those who argued for Germany to spend more to stimulate the economy as growth ground toward stagnation , but concedes now the country is in a fortunate position .
For years , balanced budget proponents argued it was prudent during good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house in order to be prepared for a crisis .
So in announcing a 1 trillion euro ( $ 1.1 trillion ) rescue plan for the country ’ s 83 million people last month , Finance Minister Olaf Scholz was able to assure there was more money available , if needed .
And while Italy and Spain were faced at the height of the crisis with having to decide whether to allocate precious ICU beds to elderly patients with the most urgent need or to younger patients with the greatest chance of survival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has even taken in patients from other European countries .
“ They had the means , but then they also had the political will , and also the very good analytical insights to use the means , ” Brzeski , said , noting Merkel was a scientist before entering politics .
“ I can ’ t imagine any government better than Angela Merkel ’ s to deal with this.
” Germany is now taking baby steps to ease restrictions , allowing smaller shops to reopen this week while sticking to strict social-distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transport and in stores .
The effect will be analyzed after two weeks to see whether infections have again started to significantly climb .
“ We must not overwhelm our health care system , ” Merkel said , warning restrictions could be snapped back .
“ The best path is one that is careful , and not taken light-heartedly.
” The far-right Alternative for Germany party has criticized Merkel ’ s go-slow approach as “ ruining our country , ” but the chancellor ’ s popularity has been steadily rising and Germans overwhelmingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positively .
Opening her Berlin toy store Wednesday for the first time in over a month , Galina Hooge said she had already received government aid and the process was “ surprisingly quick and uncomplicated.
” She said it only covered the store ’ s rent and bills , but she felt relatively secure thanks to Germany ’ s universal health insurance and strong social safety net .
“ The main thing is that everyone stays healthy and the situation doesn ’ t become like America , ” she said , referring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States .
Besides help for small businesses , Germany ’ s aid package is designed to keep the unemployment rate down and allow workers to return quickly when possible .
While Washington is sending out one-time stimulus checks to Americans , the German government plan pays at least 60 % of the salary of employees who are on reduced or no hours .
As restrictions are eased , Merkel has pointed to South Korea as an example of how Germany will have to improve measures to “ get ahead ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracking of cases to slow the infection rate .
Experts say one reason South Korea has managed to avoid lockdowns or business bans was because of its aggressive testing and contact-tracing program that draws from its experience of fighting a different coronavirus — MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome — in 2015 .
Following that outbreak , which killed 36 people and sickened around 200 , South Korea rewrote its infectious disease law to allow health authorities quick access to a broad range of personal information to fight infectious diseases .
Amid criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercised such powers during the COVID-19 pandemic , aggressively tracing virus carriers ’ contacts with tools such as smartphone GPS tracking , credit card records and surveillance video .
People ’ s movements before they were diagnosed are published on websites and relayed via smartphone alerts to inform others whether they have crossed paths with a carrier .
The government is also using smartphone tracking apps to monitor the tens of thousands of people placed under self-quarantine at home and plans to use electronic wristbands on people who defy quarantine orders .
South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus , the 21st day in a row that the daily jump in infections came below 100 .
The approach has meant South Korea has managed to slow the spread of the virus without imposing massive lockdowns or banning nonessential businesses , so there has never been any debate over “ reopening ” its economy .
In the U.S. , there has been growing impatience over virus-related shutdowns that have led tens of millions to lose their jobs , and the U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved nearly $ 500 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing , on top of a $ 2.2 trillion package passed last month in the country of some 328 million .
Trump ’ s administration has issued guidelines advising relaxation of restrictions only after prerequisites , like a two-week downward trajectory of cases , are met .
Trump himself , however , has grumbled “ our country wasn ’ t meant to be shut down ” and has tweeted support for anti-shutdown protests , and some states are moving ahead with plans to begin reopening as early as this week .
The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45,000 deaths so far , including some 15,000 fatalities in New York City alone .
Often at odds with Trump , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has warned against relaxing restrictions too early and risking a new spike in infections , no matter how badly the economy is faring .
“ We ’ re not going to accept a premise that human life is disposable , ” Cuomo said .
“ And we ’ re not going to put a dollar figure on human life.
” Germany has registered some 150,000 infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries of Italy , with more than 180,000 cases , and Spain with about 205,000 .
But where around 5,000 people have died in Germany , Spain ’ s toll is nearly 22,000 and Italy ’ s has passed 25,000 .
At the height of the crisis in Spain and Italy the sheer numbers overwhelmed their health care systems , and painful decisions had to be made on who to treat .
Domenico Arcuri , Italy ’ s extraordinary commissioner for the COVID-19 crisis , told reporters Tuesday that for the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more respirators than patients in ICU beds , and lamented the “ anguish ” officials faced deciding who to treat in the early weeks .
“ Each night , we had to decide where to send these instruments , which , in the end , save lives , ” he said .
“ I ’ ll keep that with me for all my life , and I wouldn ’ t wish anyone else to experience ” the dilemma of choosing which hospital received them .
With the numbers of new infections now stabilizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Italy can start reopening on May 4 , but he doused any hopes of a total loosening of some of the strictest lockdown measures in a Western democracy .
Spain , which has turned hotels into makeshift hospitals and converted a Madrid skating rink into a morgue , has not yet announced plans on relaxing restrictions , with Health Minister Salvador Illa saying it will hinge on advances made in treatment and vaccines to “ ensure there ’ s no second wave.
” Spain is “ still in a difficult place , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said Tuesday .
In announcing a tentative easing of restrictions in the Netherlands , allowing elementary schools to reopen with reduced class sizes starting May 11 , Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he had faced “ devil ’ s dilemmas ” in trying to decide how to move forward .
The Netherlands was projected to have a budget surplus of 3.4 billion euros in 2020 , however , and Rutte said the government could afford to take a cautious approach as he ordered bars and restaurants to remain closed until at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ’ s good financial position , it can offer first aid to companies , independent business owners and affected sectors , ” his government said .
Frank Jordans in Berlin , Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul , South Korea , and reporters around the world contributed .

BERLIN (AP) — Derided by many economists for years for insisting on a balanced budget and criticized for a health care system seen as bloated and overly expensive, Germany has found itself well equipped now to weather the coronavirus pandemic.
Already applauded for early actions such as social-distancing regulations and aggressive testing seen as helping keep the death toll comparatively low, Europe’s largest economy has had the financial flexibility to launch a massive rescue plan to help businesses and keep workers paid.
As the country moves to relax some restrictions this week, Chancellor Angela Merkel is pointing to the example of South Korea, which relied on its experience fighting a different coronavirus five years ago to combat COVID-19, as the way forward.
Meantime in the U.S., some protesters have taken to the streets — supported by President Donald Trump’s tweets — to demand an end to virus-related shutdowns to help the faltering economy, which has caused tens of millions to lose their jobs, even if it could lead to an increase in deaths as the health care system struggles.
“This is a crisis which, on the one hand, has probably hit the U.S. where it is most vulnerable, namely health care,” said Carsten Brzeski, ING bank’s chief Eurozone economist. “While at the same time it has hit the German economy where it’s the strongest.”
Brzeski was among those who argued for Germany to spend more to stimulate the economy as growth ground toward stagnation, but concedes now the country is in a fortunate position.
For years, balanced budget proponents argued it was prudent during good economic times to bring Germany’s house in order to be prepared for a crisis. So in announcing a 1 trillion euro ($1.1 trillion) rescue plan for the country’s 83 million people last month, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz was able to assure there was more money available, if needed.
And while Italy and Spain were faced at the height of the crisis with having to decide whether to allocate precious ICU beds to elderly patients with the most urgent need or to younger patients with the greatest chance of survival, Germany has never had a shortage and has even taken in patients from other European countries.
“They had the means, but then they also had the political will, and also the very good analytical insights to use the means,” Brzeski, said, noting Merkel was a scientist before entering politics.
“I can’t imagine any government better than Angela Merkel’s to deal with this.”
Germany is now taking baby steps to ease restrictions, allowing smaller shops to reopen this week while sticking to strict social-distancing guidelines and requiring face masks on public transport and in stores. The effect will be analyzed after two weeks to see whether infections have again started to significantly climb.
“We must not overwhelm our health care system,” Merkel said, warning restrictions could be snapped back. “The best path is one that is careful, and not taken light-heartedly.”
The far-right Alternative for Germany party has criticized Merkel’s go-slow approach as “ruining our country,” but the chancellor’s popularity has been steadily rising and Germans overwhelmingly see her government’s crisis management positively.
Opening her Berlin toy store Wednesday for the first time in over a month, Galina Hooge said she had already received government aid and the process was “surprisingly quick and uncomplicated.”
She said it only covered the store’s rent and bills, but she felt relatively secure thanks to Germany’s universal health insurance and strong social safety net.
“The main thing is that everyone stays healthy and the situation doesn’t become like America,” she said, referring to the large number of cases and deaths in the United States.
Besides help for small businesses, Germany’s aid package is designed to keep the unemployment rate down and allow workers to return quickly when possible. While Washington is sending out one-time stimulus checks to Americans, the German government plan pays at least 60% of the salary of employees who are on reduced or no hours.
As restrictions are eased, Merkel has pointed to South Korea as an example of how Germany will have to improve measures to “get ahead” of the pandemic with more testing and tracking of cases to slow the infection rate.
Experts say one reason South Korea has managed to avoid lockdowns or business bans was because of its aggressive testing and contact-tracing program that draws from its experience of fighting a different coronavirus — MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome — in 2015.
Following that outbreak, which killed 36 people and sickened around 200, South Korea rewrote its infectious disease law to allow health authorities quick access to a broad range of personal information to fight infectious diseases.
Amid criticism from privacy advocates, authorities have fully exercised such powers during the COVID-19 pandemic, aggressively tracing virus carriers’ contacts with tools such as smartphone GPS tracking, credit card records and surveillance video. People’s movements before they were diagnosed are published on websites and relayed via smartphone alerts to inform others whether they have crossed paths with a carrier.
The government is also using smartphone tracking apps to monitor the tens of thousands of people placed under self-quarantine at home and plans to use electronic wristbands on people who defy quarantine orders.
South Korea on Wednesday reported 11 new cases of the coronavirus, the 21st day in a row that the daily jump in infections came below 100.
The approach has meant South Korea has managed to slow the spread of the virus without imposing massive lockdowns or banning nonessential businesses, so there has never been any debate over “reopening” its economy.
In the U.S., there has been growing impatience over virus-related shutdowns that have led tens of millions to lose their jobs, and the U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved nearly $500 billion in new aid for businesses, hospitals and testing, on top of a $2.2 trillion package passed last month in the country of some 328 million.
Trump’s administration has issued guidelines advising relaxation of restrictions only after prerequisites, like a two-week downward trajectory of cases, are met. Trump himself, however, has grumbled “our country wasn’t meant to be shut down” and has tweeted support for anti-shutdown protests, and some states are moving ahead with plans to begin reopening as early as this week.
The U.S. has registered more than 825,000 infections and 45,000 deaths so far, including some 15,000 fatalities in New York City alone. Often at odds with Trump, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has warned against relaxing restrictions too early and risking a new spike in infections, no matter how badly the economy is faring.
“We’re not going to accept a premise that human life is disposable,” Cuomo said. “And we’re not going to put a dollar figure on human life.”
Germany has registered some 150,000 infections, not far behind the worst-hit European countries of Italy, with more than 180,000 cases, and Spain with about 205,000. But where around 5,000 people have died in Germany, Spain’s toll is nearly 22,000 and Italy’s has passed 25,000.
At the height of the crisis in Spain and Italy the sheer numbers overwhelmed their health care systems, and painful decisions had to be made on who to treat.
Domenico Arcuri, Italy’s extraordinary commissioner for the COVID-19 crisis, told reporters Tuesday that for the first time during the pandemic the nation now has more respirators than patients in ICU beds, and lamented the “anguish” officials faced deciding who to treat in the early weeks.
“Each night, we had to decide where to send these instruments, which, in the end, save lives,” he said. “I’ll keep that with me for all my life, and I wouldn’t wish anyone else to experience” the dilemma of choosing which hospital received them.
With the numbers of new infections now stabilizing, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte confirmed Tuesday that Italy can start reopening on May 4, but he doused any hopes of a total loosening of some of the strictest lockdown measures in a Western democracy.
Spain, which has turned hotels into makeshift hospitals and converted a Madrid skating rink into a morgue, has not yet announced plans on relaxing restrictions, with Health Minister Salvador Illa saying it will hinge on advances made in treatment and vaccines to “ensure there’s no second wave.”
Spain is “still in a difficult place, with some hard weeks ahead,” he said Tuesday.
In announcing a tentative easing of restrictions in the Netherlands, allowing elementary schools to reopen with reduced class sizes starting May 11, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he had faced “devil’s dilemmas” in trying to decide how to move forward.
The Netherlands was projected to have a budget surplus of 3.4 billion euros in 2020, however, and Rutte said the government could afford to take a cautious approach as he ordered bars and restaurants to remain closed until at least May 19.
“Thanks to the government’s good financial position, it can offer first aid to companies, independent business owners and affected sectors,” his government said.
____
Frank Jordans in Berlin, Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, and reporters around the world contributed.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-23--This Hospital Has Only 8 Nurses. They Are Also the Janitors.

This story first appeared at ProPublica and The Frontier .
ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom .
Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox .
Eight nurses at the lone hospital in the rural Oklahoma town of Stigler now double as the cleaning crew .
They stabilize patients with life-threatening conditions , mop floors and scrub toilets .
The nurses , along with an office manager and a part-time maintenance worker , are the only remaining employees at the Haskell County Community Hospital , which two years ago had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest-paying jobs in the southeastern Oklahoma town .
Andrea Randall , a nurse who also serves as the hospital ’ s interim administrator , has watched it claw through years of financial turmoil in the decade since she started working .
None , she said , have been as difficult as the past two years .
And now , the novel coronavirus is threatening to scuttle a sale that would help the bankrupt hospital escape closure .
Before the Haskell County hospital entered bankruptcy in 2019 , many employees went weeks without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the staff was laid off to save money and entice buyers at a bankruptcy auction .
For the past several months , the hospital ’ s remaining employees have performed housekeeping duties and avoided taking time off when they ’ ve been sick .
The facility barely has enough employees to comply with state and federal laws , which require the emergency room to be staffed with at least two nurses and an on-call physician .
“ We know we can ’ t do this forever , ” Randall said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praying for a new owner to take over and “ help bring us back to life.
” But the future of the 25-bed hospital , which has been whittled down to operating only an emergency room during the bankruptcy , is increasingly grim .
In January , Haskell Regional Hospital Inc. , a company controlled by a spine surgeon from Indiana , submitted the sole bid of $ 200,000 at a bankruptcy auction to purchase the hospital .
The sale was to be finalized in March .
William Janvier , an attorney for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a March hearing that the coronavirus ’ damage to the economy upended the proposed investment .
The company had enough money to buy the hospital but couldn ’ t afford to operate it , Janvier said .
“ Our expected source of operating capital has obviously gotten very concerned because of the events that have been going on , ” Janvier said .
He asked for more time to gather the needed money .
“ We are very hopeful that we will be able to close on the deal , but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closures in the nearby towns of Eufaula and Wilburton in the past four years have made access to health care more urgent in Stigler , a community of about 2,700 people .
The closest hospital is now an hour away , a distance that could be life-threatening for residents experiencing a stroke or a heart attack .
The Haskell hospital is one of many Oklahoma rural medical centers trying to remain open under financial conditions that can feel insurmountable and suffocating for the communities trying to save them .
Nearly 130 rural hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past decade while contending with razor-thin margins caused by a declining and aging patient pool , a greater dependence on lower reimbursement rates from the federal government and higher numbers of uninsured patients .
Last year , rural hospitals suffered their largest blow with 19 closures , according to data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research .
Nine rural hospitals have already shut their doors in 2020 .
The Maine-based Chartis Center for Rural Health released a study in February identifying about 450 rural hospitals that are vulnerable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up those closures , said Michael Topchik , a national leader for the company .
In Oklahoma , rural hospitals are navigating the higher costs of treating COVID-19 cases while suffering a loss of revenue after being forced to halt elective medical procedures .
More than 60 % of the 2,894 COVID-19 cases in the state and 70 % of the 170 deaths come from communities outside of Oklahoma City and Tulsa .
“ We ’ ve essentially shut our business down , ” said Jay Johnson , chairman of the Oklahoma Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re all surviving is on whatever cash we had.
” The Haskell County hospital had already reduced medical services , including elective procedures , by the time the coronavirus began reaching rural communities across the country .
Nurses perform some laboratory tests and stabilize patients before transferring them to better-equipped facilities about 50 miles away .
But the number of patients still declined .
Before the coronavirus pandemic , the Haskell County emergency room treated three to four patients daily .
That number has dwindled to two or three patients a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital has no patients at all .
Waiting on the Promise of a Sale By the time the Haskell County hospital entered bankruptcy in 2019 , it was about $ 6 million in debt .
It operated at a loss of more than $ 193,000 that year .
The hospital still owes money to the employees who worked up to six weeks without pay to keep it open .
“ I was so angry and I was so bitter over all of it , ” Darla Barger , a former human resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Frontier and ProPublica .
“ I finally just had to let it go for my own mental health.
” The Haskell County hospital is one of 18 facilities owned or connected with EmpowerHMS , a private management company , that entered bankruptcy or closed in the past five years .
Many of the hospitals experienced financial problems after insurance companies flagged ballooning laboratory costs as fraud .
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the company , which allegedly took advantage of higher reimbursement rates designated for rural communities by billing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not perform .
Representatives for the now-defunct company could not be reached for comment .
In court filings , the company denied wrongdoing , saying it followed federal guidelines .
Three of the former EmpowerHMS hospitals that sold at auction are still waiting for buyers to finalize the deals .
Several companies received extensions after failing to come up with the money .
The company purchasing the Haskell hospital is the only one that pointed to the coronavirus as the reason for the delay .
Thomas Waldrep , the trustee overseeing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on April 8 that the buyer was waiting to secure federal stimulus money to help finance the purchase .
Waldrep said in an email that he didn ’ t know what type of stimulus funding the Haskell buyer was seeking .
Oklahoma hospitals this month received nearly $ 500 million as part of a $ 30 billion federal rescue package to help health care providers with the loss of revenue from the coronavirus pandemic .
This month , Waldrep said he expected the sale of the Haskell hospital to be completed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Tuesday , Waldrep , who would only answer questions via email , could not provide a specific date of sale .
If the deal fails , Waldrep would have to find a new buyer or close the hospital and use any remaining money and assets to pay off debts .
Brent King , a bankruptcy trustee who in 2019 oversaw the successful sale of another former EmpowerHMS hospital in Hillsboro , Kansas , said it ’ s a challenge to find buyers even without the threat of an ongoing global pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ EmpowerHMS , have already closed .
King says he expects more will soon suffer the same fate .
“ We can only be hopeful that those hospitals can stay open but , bottom line , I suspect some of them won ’ t , ” King said .
“ I Have to Believe That We Have a Future Here ” A sale doesn ’ t guarantee financial stability for the Haskell County hospital , which will need an infusion of money to reopen parts of the facility and hire additional employees .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its remaining employees .
“ I have to believe that we have a future here and we have to just keep moving as if it ’ s going to happen , ” Randall said .
Barry Smith , CEO of Cohesive Healthcare Management and Consulting , which has been running the Haskell hospital during the bankruptcy , said revenue from the emergency room is not enough to sustain operations .
The temporary fix that came in October 2019 was meant only to save money and meet the minimum state and federal requirements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed , Smith said .
If the hospital closed during the bankruptcy , it would lose its critical access status , a federal designation that qualifies remote communities like Haskell County to receive higher Medicare payments than many other facilities .
The hospital could also struggle to reopen under current building code requirements .
“ Every day that they don ’ t come in makes it harder , ” Smith said .
Smith initially said that if a sale of the hospital wasn ’ t finalized by mid-April , financial losses would force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later reversed course , saying the company understood the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus and would not place deadlines on its commitment to the hospital .
Court documents filed in March say Cohesive is owed $ 3.3 million for 2019 , about half of which is management fees .
The remaining amount owed is for other expenses paid by the company , including payroll and health benefits for employees .
“ We can maintain the status quo for a while , ” Smith said in a text .
“ Hopefully , much sooner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found for the hospital.
” For Randall , maintaining the status quo means wrestling with the possibility of closure while juggling duties that include cleaning out the ice machine , planning for an influx of patients with COVID-19 and contending with new costs , including fixing the hospital ’ s leaky roof .
But Randall said she ’ ll keep working , as she did when the hospital stopped paying her salary and when nearly all of the staff was laid off .
“ If you don ’ t show up for work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Randall said .
Help us investigate : Do you live near or work with rural hospitals in Oklahoma ?
ProPublica and The Frontier want to connect with you to learn about your experiences .
Email us at OKhospitals @ propublica.org or text us at ( 949 ) 439-4855 and one of our reporters will follow-up with you .

This story first appeared at ProPublica and The Frontier. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
Eight nurses at the lone hospital in the rural Oklahoma town of Stigler now double as the cleaning crew. They stabilize patients with life-threatening conditions, mop floors and scrub toilets.
The nurses, along with an office manager and a part-time maintenance worker, are the only remaining employees at the Haskell County Community Hospital, which two years ago had a staff of 68 and provided some of the highest-paying jobs in the southeastern Oklahoma town.
Andrea Randall, a nurse who also serves as the hospital’s interim administrator, has watched it claw through years of financial turmoil in the decade since she started working. None, she said, have been as difficult as the past two years.
And now, the novel coronavirus is threatening to scuttle a sale that would help the bankrupt hospital escape closure.
Before the Haskell County hospital entered bankruptcy in 2019, many employees went weeks without pay. In October, about 85% of the staff was laid off to save money and entice buyers at a bankruptcy auction.
For the past several months, the hospital’s remaining employees have performed housekeeping duties and avoided taking time off when they’ve been sick. The facility barely has enough employees to comply with state and federal laws, which require the emergency room to be staffed with at least two nurses and an on-call physician.
“We know we can’t do this forever,” Randall said in an interview. She’s been praying for a new owner to take over and “help bring us back to life.”
But the future of the 25-bed hospital, which has been whittled down to operating only an emergency room during the bankruptcy, is increasingly grim.
In January, Haskell Regional Hospital Inc., a company controlled by a spine surgeon from Indiana, submitted the sole bid of $200,000 at a bankruptcy auction to purchase the hospital. The sale was to be finalized in March.
William Janvier, an attorney for the company, told a bankruptcy court at a March hearing that the coronavirus’ damage to the economy upended the proposed investment. The company had enough money to buy the hospital but couldn’t afford to operate it, Janvier said.
“Our expected source of operating capital has obviously gotten very concerned because of the events that have been going on,” Janvier said. He asked for more time to gather the needed money. “We are very hopeful that we will be able to close on the deal, but we’re not there yet.”
Hospital closures in the nearby towns of Eufaula and Wilburton in the past four years have made access to health care more urgent in Stigler, a community of about 2,700 people. The closest hospital is now an hour away, a distance that could be life-threatening for residents experiencing a stroke or a heart attack.
The Haskell hospital is one of many Oklahoma rural medical centers trying to remain open under financial conditions that can feel insurmountable and suffocating for the communities trying to save them.
Nearly 130 rural hospitals have closed across the country in the past decade while contending with razor-thin margins caused by a declining and aging patient pool, a greater dependence on lower reimbursement rates from the federal government and higher numbers of uninsured patients. Last year, rural hospitals suffered their largest blow with 19 closures, according to data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
Nine rural hospitals have already shut their doors in 2020. The Maine-based Chartis Center for Rural Health released a study in February identifying about 450 rural hospitals that are vulnerable to closures. The coronavirus threatens to speed up those closures, said Michael Topchik, a national leader for the company.
In Oklahoma, rural hospitals are navigating the higher costs of treating COVID-19 cases while suffering a loss of revenue after being forced to halt elective medical procedures. More than 60% of the 2,894 COVID-19 cases in the state and 70% of the 170 deaths come from communities outside of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
“We’ve essentially shut our business down,” said Jay Johnson, chairman of the Oklahoma Hospital Association. “The only way we’re all surviving is on whatever cash we had.”
The Haskell County hospital had already reduced medical services, including elective procedures, by the time the coronavirus began reaching rural communities across the country. Nurses perform some laboratory tests and stabilize patients before transferring them to better-equipped facilities about 50 miles away.
But the number of patients still declined. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the Haskell County emergency room treated three to four patients daily. That number has dwindled to two or three patients a day in the past month.
Some days the hospital has no patients at all.
Waiting on the Promise of a Sale
By the time the Haskell County hospital entered bankruptcy in 2019, it was about $6 million in debt. It operated at a loss of more than $193,000 that year. The hospital still owes money to the employees who worked up to six weeks without pay to keep it open.
“I was so angry and I was so bitter over all of it,” Darla Barger, a former human resources manager, said in an interview with The Frontier and ProPublica. “I finally just had to let it go for my own mental health.”
The Haskell County hospital is one of 18 facilities owned or connected with EmpowerHMS, a private management company, that entered bankruptcy or closed in the past five years. Many of the hospitals experienced financial problems after insurance companies flagged ballooning laboratory costs as fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the company, which allegedly took advantage of higher reimbursement rates designated for rural communities by billing for blood and urine tests that the hospitals did not perform.
Representatives for the now-defunct company could not be reached for comment. In court filings, the company denied wrongdoing, saying it followed federal guidelines.
Three of the former EmpowerHMS hospitals that sold at auction are still waiting for buyers to finalize the deals. Several companies received extensions after failing to come up with the money.
The company purchasing the Haskell hospital is the only one that pointed to the coronavirus as the reason for the delay.
Thomas Waldrep, the trustee overseeing the Haskell sale, said in court documents on April 8 that the buyer was waiting to secure federal stimulus money to help finance the purchase.
Waldrep said in an email that he didn’t know what type of stimulus funding the Haskell buyer was seeking.
Oklahoma hospitals this month received nearly $500 million as part of a $30 billion federal rescue package to help health care providers with the loss of revenue from the coronavirus pandemic.
This month, Waldrep said he expected the sale of the Haskell hospital to be completed by the end of the month.
But as of Tuesday, Waldrep, who would only answer questions via email, could not provide a specific date of sale. If the deal fails, Waldrep would have to find a new buyer or close the hospital and use any remaining money and assets to pay off debts.
Brent King, a bankruptcy trustee who in 2019 oversaw the successful sale of another former EmpowerHMS hospital in Hillsboro, Kansas, said it’s a challenge to find buyers even without the threat of an ongoing global pandemic.
Eight rural hospitals, previously operated by EmpowerHMS, have already closed. King says he expects more will soon suffer the same fate.
“We can only be hopeful that those hospitals can stay open but, bottom line, I suspect some of them won’t,” King said.
“I Have to Believe That We Have a Future Here”
A sale doesn’t guarantee financial stability for the Haskell County hospital, which will need an infusion of money to reopen parts of the facility and hire additional employees.
But it would provide some sense of stability for its remaining employees.
“I have to believe that we have a future here and we have to just keep moving as if it’s going to happen,” Randall said.
Barry Smith, CEO of Cohesive Healthcare Management and Consulting, which has been running the Haskell hospital during the bankruptcy, said revenue from the emergency room is not enough to sustain operations.
The temporary fix that came in October 2019 was meant only to save money and meet the minimum state and federal requirements to remain open while a sale was completed, Smith said.
If the hospital closed during the bankruptcy, it would lose its critical access status, a federal designation that qualifies remote communities like Haskell County to receive higher Medicare payments than many other facilities. The hospital could also struggle to reopen under current building code requirements.
“Every day that they don’t come in makes it harder,” Smith said.
Smith initially said that if a sale of the hospital wasn’t finalized by mid-April, financial losses would force the company to walk away. He later reversed course, saying the company understood the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus and would not place deadlines on its commitment to the hospital.
Court documents filed in March say Cohesive is owed $3.3 million for 2019, about half of which is management fees. The remaining amount owed is for other expenses paid by the company, including payroll and health benefits for employees.
“We can maintain the status quo for a while,” Smith said in a text. “Hopefully, much sooner than later, a long-term solution is found for the hospital.”
For Randall, maintaining the status quo means wrestling with the possibility of closure while juggling duties that include cleaning out the ice machine, planning for an influx of patients with COVID-19 and contending with new costs, including fixing the hospital’s leaky roof.
But Randall said she’ll keep working, as she did when the hospital stopped paying her salary and when nearly all of the staff was laid off.
“If you don’t show up for work, people are going to die,” Randall said.
Help us investigate: Do you live near or work with rural hospitals in Oklahoma? ProPublica and The Frontier want to connect with you to learn about your experiences.
Email us at [email protected] or text us at (949) 439-4855 and one of our reporters will follow-up with you.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-24--WATCH LIVE: Trump Holds Coronavirus Press Briefing

TPM is making our COVID-19 coverage free to all readers during this national health crisis .
If you ’ d @ @ @ @ @ reporters , editors and staff , the best way to do so is to become @ @ @

President Donald Trump speaks during the daily briefing on COVID-19 in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on March 31, 2020. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-24--Three Governor-Mayor Standoffs Over Reopening Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Governors and mayors of major cities nationwide are at odds over when and how to reopen their states amid the coronavirus pandemic .
So far , the standoffs have largely — but not always — mirrored the partisan divide : A Republican governor versus Democratic mayor , sometimes vice versa .
These state-level battles are likely harbingers for more to come over the next month , especially as Republican governors seek to reopen business in their states , staunch the economic bleeding , and in some cases cozy up to President Trump , while Democrats warn of the health risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s industry open for business on Friday , including gyms , nail salons and bowling alleys .
He is leading the pack on the reopenings , even earning President Donald Trump ’ s ( coerced ) disapproval : “ I wasn ’ t happy with Brian Kemp , ” he said Thursday .
Neither was Keisha Bottoms , mayor of Atlanta and one of the loudest voices pushing back on Kemp ’ s preemptive decision .
“ There is nothing essential about going to a bowling alley or getting a manicure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s necessary that we continue to distance ourselves , ” Bottoms said Friday on “ Good Morning America.
” “ We have been aggressive , especially in the metro-Atlanta area , and socially distancing and asking people to stay home.
” She has even alluded to possible legal action .
Kemp has stood by his decision , calling it a “ measured step.
” Predictably , Fulton County , which contains Atlanta , has the most cases of coronavirus anywhere in the state .
As of Friday afternoon , it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state health department .
Sitt is following a similar , though slightly slower , schedule to Kemp ’ s : he is allowing barbershops and nail salons to open on Friday , followed by another wave of movie theaters and restaurants on May 1 .
Clark , mayor of the state ’ s third largest city which is home to the University of Oklahoma , has had harsh words for the governor .
“ We don ’ t have enough testing .
We don ’ t have a plan for contact tracing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Clark said to the local Fox affiliate .
“ Where are the tests ?
What ’ s the plan for contact tracing ?
Is it a state level ?
Is it a county level ?
Is it a city level ?
Nobody ’ s told me.
” The mayors of Oklahoma ’ s other major cities have also pushed back , albeit more quietly .
Oklahoma Mayor David Holt ( R ) is disregarding the governor ’ s announcement and keeping a shelter-in-place order effective until May .
“ As was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interest of public health , our city ’ s shelter in place proclamation lasts through April 30th , as does the closure of personal care services , ” he wrote on Twitter .
He added that he “ dearly hopes ” that the data allows city businesses to open up on May 1 , as the governor has green-lit .
Tulsa Mayor G.T .
Bynum ( R ) said at his press conference Friday that the city ’ s shelter-in-place order will also not be lifted until the end of April , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opening of golf courses and tennis courts on May 1 .
Earlier this week , Goodman gave a series of truly bizarre interviews where she declared her desire for all casinos in the state to open ( while candidly admitting that she had no plan for how to do that safely ) , asserted that businesses crushed by COVID-19 would just be the free market at work and offered up the city as a control group for relaxing mitigation efforts .
“ I will not allow the citizens of Nevada , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control group , placebo , whatever she wants to call that , ” he said on CNN .
“ I will not allow that.
” The powerful Vegas Culinary Workers Union joined in the governor ’ s disapproval , calling Goodman ’ s comments “ outrageous.
” On a slightly lower level of state governance , Patrick bawled Hidalgo out this week for mandating that all Texans in her county wear masks in public places for 30 days starting Monday .
Her order comes as Gov .
Greg Abbott ( R ) is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , promising a coming order to open restaurants , churches and movie theaters .
“ Her abuse of the use of executive orders is the ultimate government overreach .
These kind of confused government policies fuel public anger – and rightfully so , ” Patrick said in a statement .
Harris County is the most populous in Texas and includes Houston .
Per the state department of health , it has so far had 5,330 cases and 82 deaths .

Governors and mayors of major cities nationwide are at odds over when and how to reopen their states amid the coronavirus pandemic.
So far, the standoffs have largely — but not always — mirrored the partisan divide: A Republican governor versus Democratic mayor, sometimes vice versa.
These state-level battles are likely harbingers for more to come over the next month, especially as Republican governors seek to reopen business in their states, staunch the economic bleeding, and in some cases cozy up to President Trump, while Democrats warn of the health risks.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) vs. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms (D)
Kemp declared huge swaths of the state’s industry open for business on Friday, including gyms, nail salons and bowling alleys. He is leading the pack on the reopenings, even earning President Donald Trump’s (coerced) disapproval: “I wasn’t happy with Brian Kemp,” he said Thursday.
Neither was Keisha Bottoms, mayor of Atlanta and one of the loudest voices pushing back on Kemp’s preemptive decision.
“There is nothing essential about going to a bowling alley or getting a manicure in the middle of a pandemic. It’s necessary that we continue to distance ourselves,” Bottoms said Friday on “Good Morning America.” “We have been aggressive, especially in the metro-Atlanta area, and socially distancing and asking people to stay home.”
She has even alluded to possible legal action.
Kemp has stood by his decision, calling it a “measured step.”
Predictably, Fulton County, which contains Atlanta, has the most cases of coronavirus anywhere in the state. As of Friday afternoon, it had 2,468 cases and 90 deaths, per the state health department.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Sitt (R) vs. Norman Mayor Breea Clark (D)
Sitt is following a similar, though slightly slower, schedule to Kemp’s: he is allowing barbershops and nail salons to open on Friday, followed by another wave of movie theaters and restaurants on May 1.
Clark, mayor of the state’s third largest city which is home to the University of Oklahoma, has had harsh words for the governor.
“We don’t have enough testing. We don’t have a plan for contact tracing. This is entirely irresponsible and dangerous,” Clark said to the local Fox affiliate. “Where are the tests? What’s the plan for contact tracing? Is it a state level? Is it a county level? Is it a city level? Nobody’s told me.”
The mayors of Oklahoma’s other major cities have also pushed back, albeit more quietly.
Oklahoma Mayor David Holt (R) is disregarding the governor’s announcement and keeping a shelter-in-place order effective until May.
“As was announced three weeks ago, and in the interest of public health, our city’s shelter in place proclamation lasts through April 30th, as does the closure of personal care services,” he wrote on Twitter. He added that he “dearly hopes” that the data allows city businesses to open up on May 1, as the governor has green-lit.
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum (R) said at his press conference Friday that the city’s shelter-in-place order will also not be lifted until the end of April, though he was more prepared to promise the opening of golf courses and tennis courts on May 1.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) vs. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman (I)
Earlier this week, Goodman gave a series of truly bizarre interviews where she declared her desire for all casinos in the state to open (while candidly admitting that she had no plan for how to do that safely), asserted that businesses crushed by COVID-19 would just be the free market at work and offered up the city as a control group for relaxing mitigation efforts.
Gov. Sisolak responded the following day.
“I will not allow the citizens of Nevada, our Nevadans, to be used as a control group, placebo, whatever she wants to call that,” he said on CNN. “I will not allow that.”
The powerful Vegas Culinary Workers Union joined in the governor’s disapproval, calling Goodman’s comments “outrageous.”
Bonus: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) vs. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (D)
On a slightly lower level of state governance, Patrick bawled Hidalgo out this week for mandating that all Texans in her county wear masks in public places for 30 days starting Monday. Her order comes as Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is planning to relax restrictions in the state, promising a coming order to open restaurants, churches and movie theaters.
“Her abuse of the use of executive orders is the ultimate government overreach. These kind of confused government policies fuel public anger – and rightfully so,” Patrick said in a statement.
Harris County is the most populous in Texas and includes Houston. Per the state department of health, it has so far had 5,330 cases and 82 deaths.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-24--DeSantis Keeps FL Election Planners Guessing On What Rules Will Be Relaxed For Pandemic

When local elections officials in Florida sounded the alarm that they needed the governor to make changes to the state ’ s election policies in light of the pandemic , they put in bold and underlined type that they wanted action from him “ as soon as possible.
” Nearly three weeks later , they ’ re still waiting to find out from him what , if any , of their requests the governor is willing to grant .
Across the country , election officials are scrambling to scale up their vote-by-mail programs , predicting that many voters , under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , will prefer to avoid polling places .
At the same time , officials are figuring out how to make in-person voting safer for those who still use the option during the pandemic .
In some ways , Florida was better positioned than most other states , because a third of its electorate already votes by mail .
So when its association of supervisors of elections sent DeSantis a letter on April 7 warning that a full mail-in election wouldn ’ t be possible and asking him for assistance , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials in most of the country faced steep challenges .
While Florida ’ s next statewide election isn ’ t until August , the supervisors association said that staffing and logistical decisions were being made now .
They ’ ve suggested that the governor , via executive order , could relax a handful of the state ’ s elections rules .
The tweaks would help them handle the influx of absentee voting they ’ re expecting , while adjusting in-person voting in a way that will help them deal with the staffing shortages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from becoming too crowded .
“ Basically , it ’ s a lot of planning that we ’ re having to cram into a very short timeframe , ” association head Tammy Jones , who is also Levy County ’ s election supervisor , told TPM .
“ And we ’ re waiting on the governor to see if he ’ s gon na give us some flexibility , which could possibly change the scheme of the landscape.
” Part of the urgency is many face deadlines for county budget requests — some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 — that will cover what they can spend for the Nov. 3 election .
“ Budgeting is hard enough , ” Palm Beach County Supervisor of Election Wendy Sartory Link told TPM .
“ But we are now having to budget under a couple of different assumptions .
We have no idea whether the governor will permit some or all … of the requests that have been made .
It ’ s really hard to guess what you ’ re budgeting for.
” Supervisors were hopeful they ’ d get an answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d be willing to approve , and said that the secretary of state ’ s office had been in conversations with them about the proposals .
But the lack of clarity is also frustrating voting rights groups as they work on retooling their operations and want to know what the terrain will look like .
“ The state needs to start stepping up and letting the supervisors of elections and the public know that we are going to have efficient and fair elections in the state of Florida , ” Patti Brigham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voters-Florida , told TPM .
“ The governor needs to respond publicly about these changes that are being asked for.
” Days after the supervisors sent their requests , her group and several others sent the governor their own list of proposed actions the state could take .
Some of the groups are concerned about any major reductions in the number of polling places .
“ We are being met with silence , ” Brigham said .
The supervisors are seeking various “ flexibilities ” within state ’ s election rules — flexibilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by an executive order .
They want to lengthen the period during which absentee ballots are sent out , and have asked for the ability to begin processing those completed ballots sooner .
They ’ re also seeking the option to extend early in-person voting , and want to utilize on Election Day early voting sites , which operate like vote centers , in that voters can go to any site in their county rather than their assigned precinct .
In doing so , officials may seek to consolidate some Election Day precinct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the in-person traffic each polling place would get , making it easier for voters to socially distance .
DeSantis has not told the supervisors if he will approve some or all of these requested changes , even as his administration has worked with local officials on other election issues related to the pandemic .
A major question facing election administrators as they plan for the fall election is how they ’ ll staff voting sites , as poll workers tend to be older residents .
Knowing how many polling locations they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with this challenge , they told TPM .
“ We know now there ’ s gon na be an issue with staffing adequately polling places themselves , ” said Brian Corley , Pasco County ’ s supervisor of elections .
He said he ’ s preparing a budget proposal with “ a huge asterisk ” that ’ s “ TBD based on what the governor allows us to do.
” “ It ’ s problematic when you don ’ t know what the layout is going to be , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to whether the changes could be done just by executive order or if the legislature would need to make them .
Jones said the association used as a template the elections-related actions the governor has approved on the local level after hurricanes , adding that , “ we weren ’ t trying to reinvent the wheel.
” When TPM reached out to the governor ’ s office about the lack of response to the letter , a DeSantis spokesperson on Friday passed TPM along to the Secretary of State Laurel Lee ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to the specific questions TPM sent Friday morning .
But , earlier this week , in a response to TPM ’ s inquiry for a separate story , Lee ’ s spokesperson said in a statement that her office had discussed the “ proposed accommodations ” with the supervisors and that “ we appreciate ” their “ input.
” “ We continue to work with them on the issues that confront their individual counties and Florida ’ s elections as a whole , ” the statement said .
Supervisors told TPM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with them in the state ’ s effort to secure additional election funding through recent federal COVID-19 legislation , and had taken their message about the April 7 letter to the governor .
“ Talking to the Secretary of State , I know they ’ ve been in talks with the governor ’ s office and stressing the importance of the need for the timeline situation we ’ re in , ” Jones said , adding that “ we have to prepare and be ready .
”

When local elections officials in Florida sounded the alarm that they needed the governor to make changes to the state’s election policies in light of the pandemic, they put in bold and underlined type that they wanted action from him “as soon as possible.”
Nearly three weeks later, they’re still waiting to find out from him what, if any, of their requests the governor is willing to grant.
Across the country, election officials are scrambling to scale up their vote-by-mail programs, predicting that many voters, under stay-at-home orders to prevent the spread of the virus, will prefer to avoid polling places. At the same time, officials are figuring out how to make in-person voting safer for those who still use the option during the pandemic. In some ways, Florida was better positioned than most other states, because a third of its electorate already votes by mail.
So when its association of supervisors of elections sent DeSantis a letter on April 7 warning that a full mail-in election wouldn’t be possible and asking him for assistance, it was taken as a sign that election officials in most of the country faced steep challenges.
While Florida’s next statewide election isn’t until August, the supervisors association said that staffing and logistical decisions were being made now. They’ve suggested that the governor, via executive order, could relax a handful of the state’s elections rules. The tweaks would help them handle the influx of absentee voting they’re expecting, while adjusting in-person voting in a way that will help them deal with the staffing shortages they anticipate and prevent individual polling locations from becoming too crowded.
“Basically, it’s a lot of planning that we’re having to cram into a very short timeframe,” association head Tammy Jones, who is also Levy County’s election supervisor, told TPM. “And we’re waiting on the governor to see if he’s gonna give us some flexibility, which could possibly change the scheme of the landscape.”
Part of the urgency is many face deadlines for county budget requests — some by May 1, some by June 1 — that will cover what they can spend for the Nov. 3 election.
“Budgeting is hard enough,” Palm Beach County Supervisor of Election Wendy Sartory Link told TPM. “But we are now having to budget under a couple of different assumptions. We have no idea whether the governor will permit some or all … of the requests that have been made. It’s really hard to guess what you’re budgeting for.”
Supervisors were hopeful they’d get an answer from the governor soon on what he’d be willing to approve, and said that the secretary of state’s office had been in conversations with them about the proposals. But the lack of clarity is also frustrating voting rights groups as they work on retooling their operations and want to know what the terrain will look like.
“The state needs to start stepping up and letting the supervisors of elections and the public know that we are going to have efficient and fair elections in the state of Florida,” Patti Brigham, president of the League of Women Voters-Florida, told TPM. “The governor needs to respond publicly about these changes that are being asked for.”
Days after the supervisors sent their requests, her group and several others sent the governor their own list of proposed actions the state could take. Some of the groups are concerned about any major reductions in the number of polling places.
“We are being met with silence,” Brigham said.
The supervisors are seeking various “flexibilities” within state’s election rules — flexibilities they think the governor could grant just by an executive order.
They want to lengthen the period during which absentee ballots are sent out, and have asked for the ability to begin processing those completed ballots sooner.
They’re also seeking the option to extend early in-person voting, and want to utilize on Election Day early voting sites, which operate like vote centers, in that voters can go to any site in their county rather than their assigned precinct. In doing so, officials may seek to consolidate some Election Day precinct locations, while also spreading out some of the in-person traffic each polling place would get, making it easier for voters to socially distance.
DeSantis has not told the supervisors if he will approve some or all of these requested changes, even as his administration has worked with local officials on other election issues related to the pandemic.
A major question facing election administrators as they plan for the fall election is how they’ll staff voting sites, as poll workers tend to be older residents. Knowing how many polling locations they’ll need to staff will help them deal with this challenge, they told TPM.
“We know now there’s gonna be an issue with staffing adequately polling places themselves,” said Brian Corley, Pasco County’s supervisor of elections. He said he’s preparing a budget proposal with “a huge asterisk” that’s “TBD based on what the governor allows us to do.”
“It’s problematic when you don’t know what the layout is going to be,” he said.
There are some legal questions as to whether the changes could be done just by executive order or if the legislature would need to make them. Jones said the association used as a template the elections-related actions the governor has approved on the local level after hurricanes, adding that, “we weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel.”
When TPM reached out to the governor’s office about the lack of response to the letter, a DeSantis spokesperson on Friday passed TPM along to the Secretary of State Laurel Lee ’s office. Lee’s spokesperson did not respond to the specific questions TPM sent Friday morning.
But, earlier this week, in a response to TPM’s inquiry for a separate story, Lee’s spokesperson said in a statement that her office had discussed the “proposed accommodations” with the supervisors and that “we appreciate” their “input.”
“We continue to work with them on the issues that confront their individual counties and Florida’s elections as a whole,” the statement said. Supervisors told TPM Lee’s office had also been working with them in the state’s effort to secure additional election funding through recent federal COVID-19 legislation, and had taken their message about the April 7 letter to the governor.
“Talking to the Secretary of State, I know they’ve been in talks with the governor’s office and stressing the importance of the need for the timeline situation we’re in,” Jones said, adding that “we have to prepare and be ready.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-24--Navy Recommends Reinstating Captain Who Warned About COVID, But Decision Is Esper’s

The Navy captain who was relieved of command after ringing the alarm bell over coronavirus infections on an aircraft carrier should be given his job back , Navy officials recommended on Friday .
But the final decision on reinstating of Capt .
Brett Crozier ’ s command of the U.S.S .
Theodore Roosevelt rests with Defense Secretary Mark Esper .
And per The New York Times , which first reported the Navy officals ’ recommendation to Esper Friday , the Pentagon chief has asked for additional time to consider whether to sign-off on Crozier ’ s reinstatement .
Crozier was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter he wrote expressing alarm about the spread of the disease on the Roosevelt , and asking to isolate the bulk of his crew on-shore to avoid spreading the virus , leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle .
After the letter became headline news , the Navy disembarked the vast majority of the ship ’ s sailors .
The captain became a viral sensation when video from aboard the Roosevelt showed the ship ’ s crew cheering their captain as he left his command .
Esper said a few days later that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision to relieve Crozier , and so did President Trump ; “ This isn ’ t a class on literature , ” the President said of Crozier ’ s leaked memo .
But when a tape of Modly calling Crozier “ too naïve or too stupid ” to command the ship leaked to the media , the tables turned .
After delivering a non-apology of sorts to Crozier , Modly resigned .
A few days later , Esper said in an interview that he was open to reinstating Crozier depending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Times reported Friday that the recommendation to reinstate Crozier came from the chief of Naval Operations , Adm. Michael Gilday , and Acting Navy Secretary James McPherson .
Esper ’ s decision not to make an announcement about Crozier ’ s fate Friday afternoon interrupted the Pentagon ’ s plans .
According to The Wall Street Journal , Gilday and Esper were scheduled to meet for 30 minutes midday Friday , after which the Pentagon had planned a congressional briefing on the Defense secretary ’ s decision .
Esper ’ s own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary trusted the Navy ’ s judgment and would likely back its conclusion about Crozier , the Journal reported .
But ultimately , Gilday and Esper met for two hours , the Journal reported , and the Pentagon chief still has not made a decision .
The Times noted that at the time Crozier rang the alarm about the spread of COVID-19 on Roosevelt , just more than 100 sailors had tested positive for the disease .
The number now stands at 840 .
On April 13 , a sailor on the Roosevelt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been updated .

The Navy captain who was relieved of command after ringing the alarm bell over coronavirus infections on an aircraft carrier should be given his job back, Navy officials recommended on Friday.
But the final decision on reinstating of Capt. Brett Crozier’s command of the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt rests with Defense Secretary Mark Esper. And per The New York Times, which first reported the Navy officals’ recommendation to Esper Friday, the Pentagon chief has asked for additional time to consider whether to sign-off on Crozier’s reinstatement.
Crozier was relieved of command earlier this month after a letter he wrote expressing alarm about the spread of the disease on the Roosevelt, and asking to isolate the bulk of his crew on-shore to avoid spreading the virus, leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle.
After the letter became headline news, the Navy disembarked the vast majority of the ship’s sailors. The captain became a viral sensation when video from aboard the Roosevelt showed the ship’s crew cheering their captain as he left his command.
Esper said a few days later that he supported then-Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly’s decision to relieve Crozier, and so did President Trump; “This isn’t a class on literature,” the President said of Crozier’s leaked memo.
But when a tape of Modly calling Crozier “too naïve or too stupid” to command the ship leaked to the media, the tables turned. After delivering a non-apology of sorts to Crozier, Modly resigned.
A few days later, Esper said in an interview that he was open to reinstating Crozier depending on the outcome of a Navy review. The Times reported Friday that the recommendation to reinstate Crozier came from the chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Michael Gilday, and Acting Navy Secretary James McPherson.
Esper’s decision not to make an announcement about Crozier’s fate Friday afternoon interrupted the Pentagon’s plans.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Gilday and Esper were scheduled to meet for 30 minutes midday Friday, after which the Pentagon had planned a congressional briefing on the Defense secretary’s decision. Esper’s own spokesperson said before the meeting that the secretary trusted the Navy’s judgment and would likely back its conclusion about Crozier, the Journal reported.
But ultimately, Gilday and Esper met for two hours, the Journal reported, and the Pentagon chief still has not made a decision.
The Times noted that at the time Crozier rang the alarm about the spread of COVID-19 on Roosevelt, just more than 100 sailors had tested positive for the disease. The number now stands at 840. On April 13, a sailor on the Roosevelt died of COVID-19-related complications.
This post has been updated.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-24--Cuomo Swings At McConnell Again: ‘Just Give Me My Money Back, Senator’

Evidently still furious over Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s ( R-KY ) disparaging comments about “ blue state bailouts , ” New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) doubled down on his criticism .
Cuomo once again pointed out that Kentucky benefits from the tax revenue New York state gives the federal government .
“ Just give me my money back , senator , ” Cuomo said during his daily press conference .
“ Just give me my money back !
” The Democratic governor also thunderously dared McConnell to make good on his stated position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go bankrupt .
“ Okay senator , pass the bill that authorizes states to declare bankruptcy , ” Cuomo said , voice still raised .
“ Sign the bill , Mr. President.
” “ ‘ Economy ’ s coming back .
We ’ re doing great .
Pent-up demand , stock market wants to take off , ' ” he added , mocking Republicans ’ rosy framing of the country ’ s economic crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ Good , pass a bill allowing states to be bankrupt , ” Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s watch how the stock market takes off at that great news about our economic resilience.
” The governor ’ s comments on Friday were the second time he had put McConnell on blast after the GOP leader smeared Democratic states as broke freeloaders that don ’ t deserve assistance ( or “ blue state bailouts ” ) from the federal government .
Cuomo ’ s first response to McConnell ’ s attacks was to point out on Thursday that New York is one of the biggest contributors to the federal piggy bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while Kentucky does the opposite .
“ Senator McConnell , who ’ s getting bailed out here ?
” the governor asked .
“ It ’ s your state that is living on the money that we generate.
” When asked for McConnell ’ s response to Cuomo on Friday , the senator ’ s communications director David Popp directed TPM to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt ’ s Washington Post op-ed , which defended McConnell by arguing that blue states have been “ grievously mismanaged .
”

Evidently still furious over Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) disparaging comments about “blue state bailouts,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) doubled down on his criticism. Cuomo once again pointed out that Kentucky benefits from the tax revenue New York state gives the federal government.
“Just give me my money back, senator,” Cuomo said during his daily press conference. “Just give me my money back!”
The Democratic governor also thunderously dared McConnell to make good on his stated position that states ought to be allowed to go bankrupt.
“Okay senator, pass the bill that authorizes states to declare bankruptcy,” Cuomo said, voice still raised. “Sign the bill, Mr. President.”
“‘Economy’s coming back. We’re doing great. Pent-up demand, stock market wants to take off,'” he added, mocking Republicans’ rosy framing of the country’s economic crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Good, pass a bill allowing states to be bankrupt,” Cuomo declared. “And then let’s watch how the stock market takes off at that great news about our economic resilience.”
The governor’s comments on Friday were the second time he had put McConnell on blast after the GOP leader smeared Democratic states as broke freeloaders that don’t deserve assistance (or “blue state bailouts”) from the federal government.
Cuomo’s first response to McConnell’s attacks was to point out on Thursday that New York is one of the biggest contributors to the federal piggy bank and takes less than what it gives, while Kentucky does the opposite.
“Senator McConnell, who’s getting bailed out here?” the governor asked. “It’s your state that is living on the money that we generate.”
When asked for McConnell’s response to Cuomo on Friday, the senator’s communications director David Popp directed TPM to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt’s Washington Post op-ed, which defended McConnell by arguing that blue states have been “grievously mismanaged.”
Watch Cuomo below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-24--Feds Bring First COVID DPA Case Against Long Island Shoe Salesman

A Long Island athletic shoe salesman illegally sold thousands of N95 masks and sanitary gowns at jacked up rates , federal prosecutors alleged in a criminal complaint filed on Friday .
The price-gouging and hoarding case against Amardeep “ Bobby ” Singh constitutes the first prosecution brought under the Defense Production Act during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Korean War-era law allows the government to designate needed supplies – like filtering facemasks and disinfectant – “ critical , ” giving the feds control .
Prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York alleged that Singh used his two shoe-selling businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where he purportedly hoarded PPE and resold them “ at huge markups.
” Singh did not immediately return a request for comment , when contacted at one of his stores .
The complaint – filed on Friday by a U.S. postal inspector – says that the Long Island resident began in mid-March to sell medical gowns , sanitizing fluids , facemasks , and other protective gear to the public .
Singh ’ s Instagram accounts – linked to in the complaint – show that his two businesses were posting about pandemic-related gear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from March 17 – offers N95 masks at the price of $ 8 for two , saying in the caption , “ we are not price gauging in anyway ( sic ) .
” The complaint charged that Singh ’ s pricing of N95 masks – from between $ 3.99 to $ 4.99 – constituted price-gouging , in part because he allegedly received a markup of 59 percent to 99 percent on the sales .
The complaint also noted that some of the masks were expired per Centers for Disease Control guidelines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their original packaging and were being sold individually in Ziploc bags or were being sold without proper instructions .
The county continued to issue citations ( a total of six ) before the New York state attorney general jumped in , sending a cease-and-desist letter on April 1 to Singh over price-gouging .
The federal complaint alleged that Singh continued to accumulate PPE , including 2.2 tons of surgical gowns and 1.8 tons of hand sanitizer .
Postal service inspectors took possession of a portion of the PPE while executing a search warrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint .
That search allegedly turned up 75,500 surgical masks , as well as 711,400 vinyl gloves .
It is not clear how Singh obtained the supplies .
Hospitals and state governments around the country continue to scramble for the scare materials , as importers report mysterious cases of the federal government apparently taking possession of such shipments upon arrival at American ports of entry .
TPM profiled one such case which occurred in New Jersey in early April .
In that case , a DPA order was issued but not executed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were headed to large hospitals .
But Singh appears to have focused his business on selling to the public .
The complaint alleges that Singh sold in bulk to organizations that represent “ uniquely vulnerable populations.
” Prosecutors claim that on April 1 – the same day as the New York attorney general cease-and-desist letter – Singh sold 500 KN-95 face masks at a 185 percent markup ( $ 4.99 a pop ) to the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens , for example .
Numerous photos on his Instagram accounts show Long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sanitizer , surrounded by stacks of sneakers .
“ We have hand sanitizers , face masks , disinfectant sprays , gloves , toilet paper , food , drinks , and tons of other cleaning supplies/essentials , ” one post reads .
“ Most importantly Yeezy and Jordans .
”

A Long Island athletic shoe salesman illegally sold thousands of N95 masks and sanitary gowns at jacked up rates, federal prosecutors alleged in a criminal complaint filed on Friday.
The price-gouging and hoarding case against Amardeep “Bobby” Singh constitutes the first prosecution brought under the Defense Production Act during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Korean War-era law allows the government to designate needed supplies – like filtering facemasks and disinfectant – “critical,” giving the feds control.
Prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York alleged that Singh used his two shoe-selling businesses as a “COVID-19 Essentials” store, where he purportedly hoarded PPE and resold them “at huge markups.”
Singh did not immediately return a request for comment, when contacted at one of his stores.
The complaint – filed on Friday by a U.S. postal inspector – says that the Long Island resident began in mid-March to sell medical gowns, sanitizing fluids, facemasks, and other protective gear to the public.
Singh’s Instagram accounts – linked to in the complaint – show that his two businesses were posting about pandemic-related gear from mid-March onwards.
One post – from March 17 – offers N95 masks at the price of $8 for two, saying in the caption, “we are not price gauging in anyway (sic).”
The complaint charged that Singh’s pricing of N95 masks – from between $3.99 to $4.99 – constituted price-gouging, in part because he allegedly received a markup of 59 percent to 99 percent on the sales.
The complaint also noted that some of the masks were expired per Centers for Disease Control guidelines, while others had been taken out of their original packaging and were being sold individually in Ziploc bags or were being sold without proper instructions.
Singh first ran into trouble on March 18, when the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs issued his companies a citation for “unconscionable trade practices,” according to the federal complaint.
The county continued to issue citations (a total of six) before the New York state attorney general jumped in, sending a cease-and-desist letter on April 1 to Singh over price-gouging.
The federal complaint alleged that Singh continued to accumulate PPE, including 2.2 tons of surgical gowns and 1.8 tons of hand sanitizer.
Postal service inspectors took possession of a portion of the PPE while executing a search warrant on April 14, according to the complaint. That search allegedly turned up 75,500 surgical masks, as well as 711,400 vinyl gloves.
It is not clear how Singh obtained the supplies.
Hospitals and state governments around the country continue to scramble for the scare materials, as importers report mysterious cases of the federal government apparently taking possession of such shipments upon arrival at American ports of entry.
TPM profiled one such case which occurred in New Jersey in early April. In that case, a DPA order was issued but not executed, after the government determined that the supplies were headed to large hospitals.
But Singh appears to have focused his business on selling to the public. The complaint alleges that Singh sold in bulk to organizations that represent “uniquely vulnerable populations.” Prosecutors claim that on April 1 – the same day as the New York attorney general cease-and-desist letter – Singh sold 500 KN-95 face masks at a 185 percent markup ($4.99 a pop) to the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, for example.
Numerous photos on his Instagram accounts show Long Islanders purchasing PPE supplies and huge amounts of sanitizer, surrounded by stacks of sneakers.
“We have hand sanitizers, face masks, disinfectant sprays, gloves, toilet paper, food, drinks, and tons of other cleaning supplies/essentials,” one post reads. “Most importantly Yeezy and Jordans.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-24--Trump Insists He Suggested Injecting Disinfectant ‘Sarcastically’

President Donald Trump used his go-to excuse on Friday afternoon to walk back his astonishing suggestion that people inject disinfectant to cure COVID-19 .
“ I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen , ” Trump said in the Oval Office , according to a pool report .
When asked if he was encouraging such use of disinfectant , the President replied “ Of course not.
” He said using disinfectant on one ’ s hands “ could have a very good effect.
” It was Trump ’ s effort to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference the previous day that because “ disinfectant knocks [ COVID-19 ] out in a minute , ” there should be “ a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning.
” Dr. Deborah Birx , a prominent member of the White House COVID-19 task force , looked positively aghast at his comments while listening in the background , and Reckitt Benckiser , the producer of Lysol , had to release a statement emphatically urging people to not stick their product into the bloodstream .
The “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refrain from the President over the past several years .
It ’ s a card he ’ s played more than once after drawing controversy over a particularly shocking remark or claim .

President Donald Trump used his go-to excuse on Friday afternoon to walk back his astonishing suggestion that people inject disinfectant to cure COVID-19.
“I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen,” Trump said in the Oval Office, according to a pool report.
When asked if he was encouraging such use of disinfectant, the President replied “Of course not.”
He said using disinfectant on one’s hands “could have a very good effect.”
It was Trump’s effort to do damage control after arguing during a press conference the previous day that because “disinfectant knocks [COVID-19] out in a minute,” there should be “a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning.”
Dr. Deborah Birx, a prominent member of the White House COVID-19 task force, looked positively aghast at his comments while listening in the background, and Reckitt Benckiser, the producer of Lysol, had to release a statement emphatically urging people to not stick their product into the bloodstream.
The “sarcasm” defense has become a familiar refrain from the President over the past several years. It’s a card he’s played more than once after drawing controversy over a particularly shocking remark or claim.
Watch Trump below: