talkingpointsmemo--2020-03-24--Inside New York City’s Virus-Besieged Emergency Rooms

NEW YORK ( AP ) — A “ cacophony of coughing ” in packed emergency rooms .
Beds squeezed in wherever there is space .
Overworked , sleep-deprived doctors and nurses rationed to one face mask a day and wracked by worry about a dwindling number of available ventilators .
Such is the reality inside New York City ’ s hospitals , which have become the war-zone-like epicenter of the nation ’ s coronavirus crisis .
Faced with an infection rate that is five times that of the rest of the country , health workers are putting themselves at risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s getting worse by the day amid a shortage of needed supplies and promises of help from the federal government that have yet to fully materialize .
“ You ’ re on 100 % of the time — no matter what , ” said Dr. Jolion McGreevy , medical director of The Mount Sinai Hospital emergency department .
“ It ’ s been a month of full force , and that ’ s certainly very stressful.
” Patients initially showed up with fairly mild symptoms , ranging from a runny nose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
That shifted over the past week , McGreevy said , and now hospitals are receiving far sicker patients in need of life-saving intervention .
“ These are people in severe respiratory distress , needing to be intubated and needing the intensive care unit , ” he said .
“ We knew it was coming .
We saw it in Italy and other places so we were prepared for it , and now we ’ re seeing it.
” Columbia University chief surgeon Dr. Craig Smith wrote in a note to colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy seemed risible a week ago .
Not today.
” Nearly 14,800 people in New York City have been diagnosed with coronavirus as of Tuesday , accounting for more than half the cases in the hardest-hit state in the nation .
More than 2,200 people in the city were hospitalized because of the virus — double the figure from three days earlier — and more than 500 were being treated in intensive care .
The death toll rose to 131 , and officials from the governor on down warn it will get worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not slowing it .
And it is accelerating on its own , ” said Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , warning the state could be as close as two weeks away from a crisis that sees 40,000 people in intensive care .
Such a surge would overwhelm hospitals , which now have just 3,000 intensive care unit beds statewide .
“ One of the forecasters said we were looking at a freight train coming across the country .
We ’ re now looking at a bullet train , ” he said .
Bristling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Americans should be prepared to go back to work in as little as a week for the sake of the economy , Cuomo said that would essentially sacrifice the lives of the elderly and the most frail among us .
“ That ’ s not the American way , ” he said .
“ That ’ s not the New York way.
” And Cuomo appeared to mock the federal government for congratulating itself for sending the city 400 desperately needed ventilators from the national stockpile .
“ What am I going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need 30,000 ?
” he asked .
“ You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die because you only sent 400 ventilators.
” Khalid Amin , a doctor at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn , treated seven COVID-19 patients on Tuesday , ranging from 25 to 72 , and he is struck by the way the disease has laid each low in the same way — the fatigue , the way they grasp for air with the slightest movement .
One patient in his 50s , moving from the bathroom to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 feet , seemed to struggle at one point , his chest rising and falling rapidly .
“ You seem short of breath ?
” Amin asked .
Then came the reply , so low , Amin could barely hear him though he was inches away .
“ Yes.
” Moments later , a stethoscope on the patient ’ s back , Amin heard the same telltale sound he had been hearing in other patients that day : “ It ’ s a crackle , like crumpling paper.
” Dr. Craig Spencer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 and now is director of global health in emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center , tweeted Tuesday of a “ cacophony of coughing ” in the ER , saying nearly every patient he encounters has the same symptoms , regardless of age : Cough , shortness of breath and fever .
“ You ’ re afraid to take off the mask , ” he wrote .
“ It ’ s the only thing that protects you.
” Smith said hospitals in the New York-Presbyterian system are burning through about 40,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 10 times the normal amount — and have begun issuing staff members just one each day .
Mayor Bill De Blasio said about 2.2 million masks were delivered to hospitals Monday , with additional supplies en route from the state and federal governments .
But he said there would have to be a lot more where that came from .
“ If we run out of it , it ’ s like sending a soldier into war where everyone else has armor and we don ’ t have armor , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physician at NYU Langone Medical Center .
The city ’ s health department last week advised health professionals to continue working after exposure — rather than self-quarantining — unless they show symptoms .
“ The more we hear about doctors and nurses getting sick , the more we get nervous , ” said Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena , director of global health at Northwell Health .
“ It ’ s definitely on the mind of every health care worker in America .
We don ’ t want to be in a position where we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than the clinical care of patients.
” Cioe-Pena has been following what he calls a “ decontamination routine ” after every shift , in which he wipes down his phone and washes both his scrubs and street clothes .
“ We ’ ve ventured into a battle , ” he said .
Across the city , health care workers , hospital administrators and public officials were scrambling to preserve precious gear and find more treatment space before they were overwhelmed .
The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was being converted into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and equipped Naval hospital ship , the USNS Comfort , was expected to arrive within two weeks to provide another 1,000 beds , not for coronavirus patients but to provide relief to hospitals dealing with them .
NYU Langone ’ s Habboushe said that while ER physicians deal with potential danger all the time , there ’ s concern about what ’ s to come with the coronavirus .
While the vast majority recover from the illness , older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly vulnerable and could suffer more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taking care of this disease that we still don ’ t have our heads around , we ’ re not sure if any medications help , we ’ re not sure why it affects some people more than others , ” he said .
“ The anxiety and stress that I think all of us in society are feeling right now — we are feeling it all the more so in the hospital .
How can we deal with the idea that this is going to be worse and worse before it gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns , Habboushe said , is the prospect of medical professionals having to decide which patients get the potentially life-saving machines such as ventilators and which do not .
“ It ’ s one of those things you learn about .
It ’ s hard to imagine you actually would face that , ” he said .
“ And now we ’ re all realizing there ’ s a really high chance we ’ ll be facing that , and that breaks my heart.
” AP reporters Bernard Condon and Candice Choi contributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

NEW YORK (AP) — A “cacophony of coughing” in packed emergency rooms. Beds squeezed in wherever there is space. Overworked, sleep-deprived doctors and nurses rationed to one face mask a day and wracked by worry about a dwindling number of available ventilators.
Such is the reality inside New York City’s hospitals, which have become the war-zone-like epicenter of the nation’s coronavirus crisis.
Faced with an infection rate that is five times that of the rest of the country, health workers are putting themselves at risk to fight a tide of sickness that’s getting worse by the day amid a shortage of needed supplies and promises of help from the federal government that have yet to fully materialize.
“You’re on 100% of the time — no matter what,” said Dr. Jolion McGreevy, medical director of The Mount Sinai Hospital emergency department. “It’s been a month of full force, and that’s certainly very stressful.”
Patients initially showed up with fairly mild symptoms, ranging from a runny nose to a mild fever, concerned they contracted coronavirus. That shifted over the past week, McGreevy said, and now hospitals are receiving far sicker patients in need of life-saving intervention.
“These are people in severe respiratory distress, needing to be intubated and needing the intensive care unit,” he said. “We knew it was coming. We saw it in Italy and other places so we were prepared for it, and now we’re seeing it.”
Columbia University chief surgeon Dr. Craig Smith wrote in a note to colleagues: “To think we could mimic Italy seemed risible a week ago. Not today.”
Nearly 14,800 people in New York City have been diagnosed with coronavirus as of Tuesday, accounting for more than half the cases in the hardest-hit state in the nation.
More than 2,200 people in the city were hospitalized because of the virus — double the figure from three days earlier — and more than 500 were being treated in intensive care. The death toll rose to 131, and officials from the governor on down warn it will get worse before it gets better.
“We are not slowing it. And it is accelerating on its own,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, warning the state could be as close as two weeks away from a crisis that sees 40,000 people in intensive care. Such a surge would overwhelm hospitals, which now have just 3,000 intensive care unit beds statewide.
“One of the forecasters said we were looking at a freight train coming across the country. We’re now looking at a bullet train,” he said.
Bristling at President Donald Trump’s notion that Americans should be prepared to go back to work in as little as a week for the sake of the economy, Cuomo said that would essentially sacrifice the lives of the elderly and the most frail among us. “That’s not the American way,” he said. “That’s not the New York way.”
And Cuomo appeared to mock the federal government for congratulating itself for sending the city 400 desperately needed ventilators from the national stockpile.
“What am I going to do with 400 ventilators when I need 30,000?” he asked. “You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die because you only sent 400 ventilators.”
Khalid Amin, a doctor at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, treated seven COVID-19 patients on Tuesday, ranging from 25 to 72, and he is struck by the way the disease has laid each low in the same way — the fatigue, the way they grasp for air with the slightest movement.
One patient in his 50s, moving from the bathroom to his bed, a space of less than 12 feet, seemed to struggle at one point, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
“You seem short of breath?” Amin asked. Then came the reply, so low, Amin could barely hear him though he was inches away. “Yes.”
Moments later, a stethoscope on the patient’s back, Amin heard the same telltale sound he had been hearing in other patients that day: “It’s a crackle, like crumpling paper.”
Dr. Craig Spencer, who survived a bout of Ebola in 2014 and now is director of global health in emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, tweeted Tuesday of a “cacophony of coughing” in the ER, saying nearly every patient he encounters has the same symptoms, regardless of age: Cough, shortness of breath and fever.
“You’re afraid to take off the mask,” he wrote. “It’s the only thing that protects you.”
Smith said hospitals in the New York-Presbyterian system are burning through about 40,000 masks a day amid the crisis — about 10 times the normal amount — and have begun issuing staff members just one each day.
Mayor Bill De Blasio said about 2.2 million masks were delivered to hospitals Monday, with additional supplies en route from the state and federal governments. But he said there would have to be a lot more where that came from.
“If we run out of it, it’s like sending a soldier into war where everyone else has armor and we don’t have armor,” said Dr. Joseph Habboushe, an emergency room physician at NYU Langone Medical Center.
The city’s health department last week advised health professionals to continue working after exposure — rather than self-quarantining — unless they show symptoms.
“The more we hear about doctors and nurses getting sick, the more we get nervous,” said Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena, director of global health at Northwell Health. “It’s definitely on the mind of every health care worker in America. We don’t want to be in a position where we’re making decisions based on resources rather than the clinical care of patients.”
Cioe-Pena has been following what he calls a “decontamination routine” after every shift, in which he wipes down his phone and washes both his scrubs and street clothes.
“We’ve ventured into a battle,” he said.
Across the city, health care workers, hospital administrators and public officials were scrambling to preserve precious gear and find more treatment space before they were overwhelmed. The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was being converted into a 1,000-bed hospital, and a fully staffed and equipped Naval hospital ship, the USNS Comfort, was expected to arrive within two weeks to provide another 1,000 beds, not for coronavirus patients but to provide relief to hospitals dealing with them.
NYU Langone’s Habboushe said that while ER physicians deal with potential danger all the time, there’s concern about what’s to come with the coronavirus. While the vast majority recover from the illness, older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly vulnerable and could suffer more severe illness or even death.
“Taking care of this disease that we still don’t have our heads around, we’re not sure if any medications help, we’re not sure why it affects some people more than others,” he said.
“The anxiety and stress that I think all of us in society are feeling right now — we are feeling it all the more so in the hospital. How can we deal with the idea that this is going to be worse and worse before it gets better?”
Among the biggest looming concerns, Habboushe said, is the prospect of medical professionals having to decide which patients get the potentially life-saving machines such as ventilators and which do not.
“It’s one of those things you learn about. It’s hard to imagine you actually would face that,” he said. “And now we’re all realizing there’s a really high chance we’ll be facing that, and that breaks my heart.”
__
AP reporters Bernard Condon and Candice Choi contributed to this report.
___
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-03-24--Delaware Postpones Presidential Primary

Delaware Postpones Presidential Primary

Delaware Gov .
John Carney ( D ) postponed the state ’ s April 28 primary to June 2 in a modification to his state of emergency declaration .
“ The additional protections in this order are essential to help support Delawareans — especially our most vulnerable neighbors — as this situation evolves , ” he said in a statement .
“ This is an extremely challenging economic situation for many of our neighbors , and we need to do what we can to support them.
” In the same order , he barred landlords from evicting tenants , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibited utility providers from cutting off service or charging late fees .
He also pushed local school board elections from May 12 to June 16 .
On Monday , Rhode Island Gov .
Gina Raimondo ( D ) also delayed her state ’ s primary .
Per the Providence Journal , Raimonodo said over the weekend that the Army Corps of Engineers will deploy Monday to help get local hospitals up to “ surge capacity.
” Rhode Island currently has 83 cases of coronavirus , per the state ’ s department of health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Delaware join Maryland , Ohio , Kentucky , Louisiana , Indiana , Georgia and Connecticut in delaying their primaries in the hope that the coronavirus outbreak will abate in the meantime .

Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) postponed the state’s April 28 primary to June 2 in a modification to his state of emergency declaration.
“The additional protections in this order are essential to help support Delawareans — especially our most vulnerable neighbors — as this situation evolves,” he said in a statement. “This is an extremely challenging economic situation for many of our neighbors, and we need to do what we can to support them.”
In the same order, he barred landlords from evicting tenants, or charging late fees and interest, and prohibited utility providers from cutting off service or charging late fees. He also pushed local school board elections from May 12 to June 16.
On Monday, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) also delayed her state’s primary.
Last week, the Board of Elections requested that the presidential primary election be postponed from April 28 to June 2 and that the election take place primarily by mail ballot. I am following the advice of the Board of Elections, and will sign an executive order to do this. — Gina Raimondo (@GovRaimondo) March 23, 2020
Per the Providence Journal, Raimonodo said over the weekend that the Army Corps of Engineers will deploy Monday to help get local hospitals up to “surge capacity.”
Rhode Island currently has 83 cases of coronavirus, per the state’s department of health. Delaware has 104.
Rhode Island and Delaware join Maryland, Ohio, Kentucky, Louisiana, Indiana, Georgia and Connecticut in delaying their primaries in the hope that the coronavirus outbreak will abate in the meantime.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-03-24--Louisiana Gov Pleads For Federal Help, Predicts NOLA Will Be Out Of Hospital Beds By April

Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards ( D ) sent a letter to the White House Monday pleading for federal aid as his state drowns in coronavirus cases .
According to the letter , Louisiana has more than 1,172 cases of the virus — and only 381 intensive care unit beds to treat those infected .
“ For the New Orleans area , the current projections of hospitalization significantly exceed capacity beginning on April 4 , 2020 , ” he wrote .
Edwards is requesting a Major Disaster Declaration , which would allot federal assistance to the state to supplement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House has not responded to the letter , per Edwards spokesperson Christina Stephens .
“ We do anticipate that he will approve it , ” she added .
“ California , New York and Washington have been approved.
” Edwards had already declared a state of emergency and issued a “ Stay at Home Order ” on Sunday .
In the letter , he added that the state government has also begun contracting to “ build out hotels ” in order to make up for diminished hospital capacity , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three state parks to house quarantined patients .
“ We have seen a ten-fold increase in cases over the last two weeks , ” he wrote .
Edwards tried to alert President Donald Trump to the increasingly dire state of affairs in Louisiana on Thursday in a conference call with an assortment of governors .
“ My fear , based on modeling I ’ ve received today , is that as early as seven days we can start to exceed our capacity to deliver healthcare , ” he said , per the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surging , we may only get an additional three days .
And so I ’ m asking for help in terms of surging our medical capacity .
”

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) sent a letter to the White House Monday pleading for federal aid as his state drowns in coronavirus cases.
According to the letter, Louisiana has more than 1,172 cases of the virus — and only 381 intensive care unit beds to treat those infected.
“For the New Orleans area, the current projections of hospitalization significantly exceed capacity beginning on April 4, 2020,” he wrote.
Edwards is requesting a Major Disaster Declaration, which would allot federal assistance to the state to supplement lackluster state and local resources.
The White House has not responded to the letter, per Edwards spokesperson Christina Stephens. “We do anticipate that he will approve it,” she added. “California, New York and Washington have been approved.”
Edwards had already declared a state of emergency and issued a “Stay at Home Order” on Sunday. In the letter, he added that the state government has also begun contracting to “build out hotels” in order to make up for diminished hospital capacity, as well as setting up “isolation sites” at three state parks to house quarantined patients.
“We have seen a ten-fold increase in cases over the last two weeks,” he wrote.
Edwards tried to alert President Donald Trump to the increasingly dire state of affairs in Louisiana on Thursday in a conference call with an assortment of governors.
“My fear, based on modeling I’ve received today, is that as early as seven days we can start to exceed our capacity to deliver healthcare,” he said, per the White House transcript. “And even after surging, we may only get an additional three days. And so I’m asking for help in terms of surging our medical capacity.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-03-24--Trump Still Laser-Focused On Economy, Wants To Reopen US By Easter

President Trump went further with his recent remarks advocating for the reopening of the U.S. economy , despite a spike in coronavirus cases , during a “ virtual town hall ” on Fox News Tuesday .
On Monday night , Trump repeatedly said during his coronavirus task force briefing at the White House that “ our country wasn ’ t built to be shut down , ” referring to the extreme measures that some cities , states and even the federal government have suggested or enforced in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus .
The President added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be open for business , ” which he said would be “ a lot sooner than three or four months , that somebody was suggesting.
” According to Johns Hopkins University , there are over 50,000 confirmed cases and at least 600 total deaths in the U.S. alone from COVID-19 as of Tuesday afternoon .
The President didn ’ t stray far from his Monday night remarks during Fox News ’ “ virtual town hall ” the next morning , which also featured members of the White House coronavirus task force , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the U.S. economy back up by Easter ( April 12 ) .
“ We ’ re opening up this incredible country because we have to do that .
I would love to have it open by Easter , ” Trump said .
“ I would love to have that .
It ’ s such an important day for other reasons , but I ’ d love to make it an important day for this .
I would love to have the country opened up , and rarin ’ to go by Easter.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal , Trump said that social distancing and going back to work is possible , but we ’ ll have to “ work a little harder.
” “ You can clean your hands five times more than you use to , ” Trump said .
“ You don ’ t have to shake hands anymore with people — that might be something good coming out of this.
” In an interview with Fox News ’ Bill Hemmer after the “ virtual town hall ” later Tuesday , Trump said that Easter Sunday would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans to get back to work because there will be “ packed churches ” all over the country .
“ It is just about the timeline that I think is right , ” Trump said .
“ Gives us more chance to work on what we ’ re doing and I ’ m not sure that ’ s going to be the day , but I would love to aim it right at Easter Sunday so we are open for church service and services generally on Easter Sunday — that would be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks come as public health experts have warned that relaxing social distancing could prompt a surge in millions of deaths , which would further overwhelm the U.S. health care system .

President Trump went further with his recent remarks advocating for the reopening of the U.S. economy, despite a spike in coronavirus cases, during a “virtual town hall” on Fox News Tuesday.
On Monday night, Trump repeatedly said during his coronavirus task force briefing at the White House that “our country wasn’t built to be shut down,” referring to the extreme measures that some cities, states and even the federal government have suggested or enforced in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The President added that “America will again and soon be open for business,” which he said would be “a lot sooner than three or four months, that somebody was suggesting.”
According to Johns Hopkins University, there are over 50,000 confirmed cases and at least 600 total deaths in the U.S. alone from COVID-19 as of Tuesday afternoon.
The President didn’t stray far from his Monday night remarks during Fox News’ “virtual town hall” the next morning, which also featured members of the White House coronavirus task force, by saying that he wants to “open” the U.S. economy back up by Easter (April 12).
“We’re opening up this incredible country because we have to do that. I would love to have it open by Easter,” Trump said. “I would love to have that. It’s such an important day for other reasons, but I’d love to make it an important day for this. I would love to have the country opened up, and rarin’ to go by Easter.”
Minutes before declaring his Easter deadline goal, Trump said that social distancing and going back to work is possible, but we’ll have to “work a little harder.”
“You can clean your hands five times more than you use to,” Trump said. “You don’t have to shake hands anymore with people — that might be something good coming out of this.”
In an interview with Fox News’ Bill Hemmer after the “virtual town hall” later Tuesday, Trump said that Easter Sunday would be a “beautiful time” for Americans to get back to work because there will be “packed churches” all over the country.
“It is just about the timeline that I think is right,” Trump said. “Gives us more chance to work on what we’re doing and I’m not sure that’s going to be the day, but I would love to aim it right at Easter Sunday so we are open for church service and services generally on Easter Sunday — that would be a beautiful thing.”
Trump explains why Easter Sunday is a "beautiful time" for Americans to be working again pic.twitter.com/lwg5cayiKB — Talking Points Memo (@TPM) March 24, 2020
Trump’s latest remarks come as public health experts have warned that relaxing social distancing could prompt a surge in millions of deaths, which would further overwhelm the U.S. health care system.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-03-24--New York Faces A Desperate Situation As COVID-19 Cases Top 25,000

New York has nowhere near the number of hospital beds , ventilators or health care professionals needed to meet the demand created by the COVID-19 pandemic , the state ’ s governor said Tuesday .
As cases there passed 25,000 and new diagnoses were projected to continue accelerating , the COVID-19 footprint in New York is roughly 10 times the next most-impacted states of New Jersey , California and Washington .
And the rate is “ doubling about every three days , ” New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said at a press briefing .
“ We ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its own , ” he said .
Flanked by Gens .
Raymond Shields of the New York National Guard and Patrick Murphy , commissioner of the state ’ s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services , Cuomo ’ s war footing for the COVID-19 response reflected a crisis in the state that was growing by the hour .
Cuomo spoke from the Javits Center , which was being transformed into an emergency hospital to accommodate the swelling sick population , as doctors and nurses in the city were instructed to re-use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Several New York hospitals on Tuesday , in an attempt to stem the spread , prohibited even birthing partners from being present during labor .
While state experts had previously projected that New York would need 110,000 hospital beds at the disease ’ s apex in the state — already more than double the capacity of existing hospitals in the state — the accelerating rate of diagnoses had pushed that number higher still .
“ The new projection suggests that the number of hospital beds needed could be as high as 140,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40,000 would need to be intensive care beds with ventilators .
State experts also now estimated the disease would peak in New York sometime between two and three weeks from Tuesday — sooner than previously thought .
In other words , the governor said , efforts to “ flatten the curve ” through social distancing — that is , to distribute hospitalizations from the disease over a longer timeline , in order to avoid overwhelming hospitals — were failing .
There ’ s also a shortage of health care workers in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those who might help fill the void .
“ We ’ re contacting all retirees in the health care field , we ’ re calling all professionals in the health care field , whether or not they work in a hospital , ” Cuomo said .
“ They can work in an insurance company , a clinic , or whatever , but we want to enlist as many staff as we can and as many back-up staff.
” The state ’ s stock of equipment , and especially ventilators , is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave of serious COVID-19 cases .
There were 3,000-4,000 existing machines in the state and New York has acquired roughly 7,000 more Cuomo said — and still , roughly 30,000 more are needed .
Citing news reports — and , though he didn ’ t say so , a tweet from President Donald Trump Tuesday morning — Cuomo referenced the 400 ventilators that the federal government said Tuesday it was making available to New York .
“ Four hundred ventilators ?
I need 30,000 ventilators !
” he said .
“ You ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the problem is defined by the magnitude.
” To beef up New York ’ s supply , Cuomo urged the feds to dig deeper into the national stockpile and use the Defense Production Act to force private industry to produce the machines .
While volunteerism from corporations is nice , he said , only the federal government had the authority to compel — and quickly fund — the manufacturing necessary .
So far , Trump has only used the wartime law to bolster the nation ’ s supply of test kits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced Tuesday morning .
At one point Tuesday , Cuomo addressed Trump ’ s ( and plenty of others ’ ) argument that the American economy couldn ’ t sustain the plummet it had entered as a result of COVID-19 mitigation measures .
Or as Trump put it Sunday night , “ WE CAN NOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF.
” “ I understand what the President is saying , ” Cuomo said .
“ This is unsustainable that we close down the economy and we continue to spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing for COVID-19 antibodies was available , those who ’ d survived the disease and had developed an immunity to it should be allowed to go back to work .
“ But if you ask the American people to choose between public health and the economy , then it ’ s no contest , ” he said .
“ No American is going to say accelerate the economy at the cost of human life , because no American is going to say how much a life is worth .
”

New York has nowhere near the number of hospital beds, ventilators or health care professionals needed to meet the demand created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s governor said Tuesday.
As cases there passed 25,000 and new diagnoses were projected to continue accelerating, the COVID-19 footprint in New York is roughly 10 times the next most-impacted states of New Jersey, California and Washington. And the rate is “doubling about every three days,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a press briefing.
“We’re not slowing it, and it is accelerating on its own,” he said.
Flanked by Gens. Raymond Shields of the New York National Guard and Patrick Murphy, commissioner of the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Cuomo’s war footing for the COVID-19 response reflected a crisis in the state that was growing by the hour.
Cuomo spoke from the Javits Center, which was being transformed into an emergency hospital to accommodate the swelling sick population, as doctors and nurses in the city were instructed to re-use personal protective equipment amid a dire shortage. Several New York hospitals on Tuesday, in an attempt to stem the spread, prohibited even birthing partners from being present during labor.
While state experts had previously projected that New York would need 110,000 hospital beds at the disease’s apex in the state — already more than double the capacity of existing hospitals in the state — the accelerating rate of diagnoses had pushed that number higher still.
“The new projection suggests that the number of hospital beds needed could be as high as 140,000,” Cuomo said, of which 40,000 would need to be intensive care beds with ventilators.
“Those are troubling and astronomical numbers.”
State experts also now estimated the disease would peak in New York sometime between two and three weeks from Tuesday — sooner than previously thought.
In other words, the governor said, efforts to “flatten the curve” through social distancing — that is, to distribute hospitalizations from the disease over a longer timeline, in order to avoid overwhelming hospitals — were failing.
There’s also a shortage of health care workers in New York, even as the state reaches out to those who might help fill the void.
“We’re contacting all retirees in the health care field, we’re calling all professionals in the health care field, whether or not they work in a hospital,” Cuomo said.
“They can work in an insurance company, a clinic, or whatever, but we want to enlist as many staff as we can and as many back-up staff.”
The state’s stock of equipment, and especially ventilators, is also far too low to accommodate the breaking wave of serious COVID-19 cases. There were 3,000-4,000 existing machines in the state and New York has acquired roughly 7,000 more Cuomo said — and still, roughly 30,000 more are needed.
Citing news reports — and, though he didn’t say so, a tweet from President Donald Trump Tuesday morning — Cuomo referenced the 400 ventilators that the federal government said Tuesday it was making available to New York.
“Four hundred ventilators? I need 30,000 ventilators!” he said.
“You’re missing the magnitude of the problem, and the problem is defined by the magnitude.”
To beef up New York’s supply, Cuomo urged the feds to dig deeper into the national stockpile and use the Defense Production Act to force private industry to produce the machines.
While volunteerism from corporations is nice, he said, only the federal government had the authority to compel — and quickly fund — the manufacturing necessary.
So far, Trump has only used the wartime law to bolster the nation’s supply of test kits, an action FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor announced Tuesday morning.
At one point Tuesday, Cuomo addressed Trump’s (and plenty of others’) argument that the American economy couldn’t sustain the plummet it had entered as a result of COVID-19 mitigation measures.
Or as Trump put it Sunday night, “WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF.”
“I understand what the President is saying,” Cuomo said. “This is unsustainable that we close down the economy and we continue to spend money.”
He suggested that once widespread testing for COVID-19 antibodies was available, those who’d survived the disease and had developed an immunity to it should be allowed to go back to work.
“But if you ask the American people to choose between public health and the economy, then it’s no contest,” he said.
“No American is going to say accelerate the economy at the cost of human life, because no American is going to say how much a life is worth.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-03-24--Local Officials Decry Liberty U’s Decision To Bring Students Back As ‘Reckless’

Local officials in Lynchburg , Virginia are condemning Liberty University President Jerry Falwell ’ s decision to let students back into the dorms after spring break as a “ reckless ” broken promise .
Falwell ’ s choice stands in contrast to colleges across the country that have sent students home , switched to virtual learning or closed altogether for the school year .
To hear Falwell tell it , local government had fully signed on to his plan to welcome the students back .
Per the school website , Falwell said that Lynchburg Mayor Treney Tweedy and City Manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that decision.
” But Tweedy struck a very different tone in a Tuesday statement .
“ Liberty University is an important part of this community ; however , I believe it was a reckless decision to bring students back on campus at this time , ” Tweedy said .
“ It is unfortunate that President Falwell chose to not keep his word to us and to this community.
” She added that “ at no time did I or the City Manager endorse having the students return to Liberty University , ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposite.
” She said that all she thanked him for was letting her know that campus had to remain open to house international students , certain lab classes and the School of Aviation , when she asked him to close campus completely .
The school has moved most classes online and limited the gym and cafeteria to 10 people at a time .
Elsewhere , signs have been posted to encourage social distancing .
“ I was very surprised and disappointed to later learn of President Falwell ’ s most recent decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she added .
“ The Governor is concerned by these reports , and members of the administration have already spoken directly with Jerry Falwell Jr , ” she told TPM .
“ All Virginia colleges and universities have a responsibility to comply with public health directions and protect the safety of their students , faculty , and larger communities .
Liberty University is no exception.
” One member of faculty , Associate Professor of English Marybeth Baggett , has also made her feelings known about Falwell ’ s decision .
She pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the weekend .
“ It is true that young people seem less susceptible to COVID-19 complications , but their presence in Lynchburg and activity on campus , especially interacting with faculty and staff who will go back home each night to their families and community , opens the door to what seems to me and to many a preventable tragedy , ” she wrote .
“ Yet many Liberty faculty and staff hold back from expressing their concern publicly for fear of repercussions.
” Below , she posted anonymous comments from members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their fear .
“ That thread shows how difficult it will be for people to speak out , ” she told TPM .
“ But it will also show you the heartbreaking positions of people at the school.
” Baggett also wrote an op-ed pointing to Falwell ’ s nonchalant attitude towards the disease as the catalyst for the decision to leave the school open .
On the Todd Starnes radio show earlier in the week , Falwell sang Trump ’ s praises while downplaying the seriousness of coronavirus .
“ Shame on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , ” he said of the pandemic .
“ They ’ re willing to destroy the American economy just to hurt Trump.
” On young people congregating in large groups for spring break , Falwell chuckled and said that he too felt “ invincible ” at that age .
Falwell ’ s decision comes as Northam is escalating precautionary measures in Virginia .
On Monday , as he ordered all public schools in the state to close and shuttered non-essential businesses , he issued a somber warning .
“ These numbers unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We are in this for months , not weeks.
” As of Tuesday afternoon , the state had 290 confirmed cases .

Local officials in Lynchburg, Virginia are condemning Liberty University President Jerry Falwell’s decision to let students back into the dorms after spring break as a “reckless” broken promise.
Falwell’s choice stands in contrast to colleges across the country that have sent students home, switched to virtual learning or closed altogether for the school year.
To hear Falwell tell it, local government had fully signed on to his plan to welcome the students back. Per the school website, Falwell said that Lynchburg Mayor Treney Tweedy and City Manager Bonnie Svrcek “thanked us for making that decision.”
But Tweedy struck a very different tone in a Tuesday statement.
“Liberty University is an important part of this community; however, I believe it was a reckless decision to bring students back on campus at this time,” Tweedy said. “It is unfortunate that President Falwell chose to not keep his word to us and to this community.”
She added that “at no time did I or the City Manager endorse having the students return to Liberty University,” and that they actually advocated for “just the opposite.”
She said that all she thanked him for was letting her know that campus had to remain open to house international students, certain lab classes and the School of Aviation, when she asked him to close campus completely. The school has moved most classes online and limited the gym and cafeteria to 10 people at a time. Elsewhere, signs have been posted to encourage social distancing.
“I was very surprised and disappointed to later learn of President Falwell’s most recent decision to allow students back on campus,” she added.
Gov. Ralph Northam (D) shares the local officials’ disapproval, per press secretary Alena Yarmosky.
“The Governor is concerned by these reports, and members of the administration have already spoken directly with Jerry Falwell Jr,” she told TPM. “All Virginia colleges and universities have a responsibility to comply with public health directions and protect the safety of their students, faculty, and larger communities. Liberty University is no exception.”
One member of faculty, Associate Professor of English Marybeth Baggett, has also made her feelings known about Falwell’s decision. She pointed TPM to a Facebook post she wrote over the weekend.
“It is true that young people seem less susceptible to COVID-19 complications, but their presence in Lynchburg and activity on campus, especially interacting with faculty and staff who will go back home each night to their families and community, opens the door to what seems to me and to many a preventable tragedy,” she wrote. “Yet many Liberty faculty and staff hold back from expressing their concern publicly for fear of repercussions.”
Below, she posted anonymous comments from members of the Lynchburg and Liberty communities expressing their fear.
“That thread shows how difficult it will be for people to speak out,” she told TPM. “But it will also show you the heartbreaking positions of people at the school.”
Baggett also wrote an op-ed pointing to Falwell’s nonchalant attitude towards the disease as the catalyst for the decision to leave the school open.
On the Todd Starnes radio show earlier in the week, Falwell sang Trump’s praises while downplaying the seriousness of coronavirus.
“Shame on the media for trying to fan it up,” he said of the pandemic. “They’re willing to destroy the American economy just to hurt Trump.”
On young people congregating in large groups for spring break, Falwell chuckled and said that he too felt “invincible” at that age.
Falwell’s decision comes as Northam is escalating precautionary measures in Virginia. On Monday, as he ordered all public schools in the state to close and shuttered non-essential businesses, he issued a somber warning.
“These numbers unfortunately will continue to rise,” he said. “We are in this for months, not weeks.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the state had 290 confirmed cases.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-03-24--How Do We Solve This Without Knowing Who Is Already Immune?

Picture this : people are being asked to return to work .
The novel coronavirus has stopped spreading — social distancing has worked .
But there ’ s still no vaccine .
The virus is still out there in the world .
The problem ?
We don ’ t know who is already immune , and who remains vulnerable .
That ’ s the scenario posed by everyone from New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to medical researchers advocating for speeding up antibodies tests , to determine who might already have acquired immunity and can be sent back into society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the short-term economic and psychological impact of asking people to stay home , and as the White House appears to be weighing a plan of action in which people would return to work sooner than later — a move that could cause the virus ’ spread to continue unfettered .
“ We also have to start to plan the pivot back to economic functionality , right ?
You can ’ t stop the economy forever , ” Cuomo said on Monday .
“ Can we test for those who had the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can they start to go back to work ?
” Some experts and columnists have echoed Cuomo ’ s calls for such a test , saying it could be a way to speed up the return to normalcy .
In a scenario proposed in a New York Times op-ed on Friday by Yale professor Dr. David Katz , the government would isolate vulnerable populations while letting the virus spread throughout the population to naturally develop “ herd immunity.
” A test to determine immunity would likely take a blood sample to determine if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
There have already been developments on that front .
Scientists last week created a model procedure for a blood test that could find antibodies in people who have already been infected .
But how the test would help from an epidemiological standpoint is murky .
While determining who is already immune can be useful in clinical situations , it ’ s not clear if a blood test would be a silver bullet in combating the disease .
The issue is one of size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the U.S. at the current moment that asking — and answering — the question of who is already immune in a way comes too early , when the priority remains interrupting further spread .
Put differently : in a situation where infection rates are skyrocketing , it ’ s irrelevant for the purposes of stopping further spread to determine who has already acquired immunity .
“ You ’ d get to see the spectrum of the disease as it happened already , ” Gary Slutkin , an epidemiologist and former WHO official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TPM , adding that it would provide a valuable contribution to the clinical understanding of the illness .
“ It will give us a better idea of how much asymptomatic or mild disease there is or was as compared to the serious and severe disease that showed up.
” “ But I don ’ t know how it would change what we need to do now , ” he added , referring to attempts to stop the disease ’ s spread .
Slutkin went on to say that the issue goes in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s spread .
In a place like New York City , where the virus could spread freely amid a densely packed population , resources devoted to determining who is already immune would be better spent on determining who is sick right now , in order to isolate — and interrupt — the outbreak .
The question also goes to the length of the outbreak .
If a vaccine that ends the spread of novel coronavirus once and for all is 12 to 18 months away , a blood test could be used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus without presenting symptoms could learn that they ’ ve acquired immunity , and return to work .
Those who also back a so-called “ herd immunity ” approach — as was briefly adopted by the British government — also see value in the proposition of a blood test .
The concept is distinct from blood testing for immunity , but related : determining who had acquired immunity from the novel coronavirus could be determined by a blood test .
Vulnerable communities could then be kept isolated , until enough people had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A blood test would help determine when a given population had hit a critical mass of immunity , preventing further spread .
But it would also be incredibly inefficient .
In the early phase of exponential case growth that we ’ re in now where , as Slutkin pointed out , the number of infections are doubling every three days , “ it wouldn ’ t be practical to find out , ” and it would fail to interrupt the spread of the illness .
Rather , the model that some Asian countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been infected and then isolating them and tracing their contacts would be more efficient .
Slutkin argued that the herd immunity approach in general was dangerous .
It was “ being promulgated by people who have never been in epidemics , and who have never seen the deaths , and who are sitting in armchairs and at desks and who have learned a term that is of value largely in the context of immunization.
” It also depends on the assumption that coronavirus immunity is more than temporary , he noted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 percent of children from measles , or letting 90 percent of children contract measles “ and then see how many of them die for the purpose of herd immunity .
”

Picture this: people are being asked to return to work. The novel coronavirus has stopped spreading — social distancing has worked. But there’s still no vaccine. The virus is still out there in the world.
The problem? We don’t know who is already immune, and who remains vulnerable.
That’s the scenario posed by everyone from New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to medical researchers advocating for speeding up antibodies tests, to determine who might already have acquired immunity and can be sent back into society.
The thinking comes amid anxiety over the short-term economic and psychological impact of asking people to stay home, and as the White House appears to be weighing a plan of action in which people would return to work sooner than later — a move that could cause the virus’ spread to continue unfettered.
“We also have to start to plan the pivot back to economic functionality, right? You can’t stop the economy forever,” Cuomo said on Monday. “Can we test for those who had the virus, resolved and are now immune, and can they start to go back to work?”
Some experts and columnists have echoed Cuomo’s calls for such a test, saying it could be a way to speed up the return to normalcy. In a scenario proposed in a New York Times op-ed on Friday by Yale professor Dr. David Katz, the government would isolate vulnerable populations while letting the virus spread throughout the population to naturally develop “herd immunity.”
A test to determine immunity would likely take a blood sample to determine if the person had developed antibodies to counter COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
There have already been developments on that front. Scientists last week created a model procedure for a blood test that could find antibodies in people who have already been infected.
But how the test would help from an epidemiological standpoint is murky. While determining who is already immune can be useful in clinical situations, it’s not clear if a blood test would be a silver bullet in combating the disease.
The debate speaks to how little we know about the novel coronavirus. What immunity – if any – humans might be able to acquire after contracting the novel coronavirus remains unclear. Immunity may be temporary, allowing people to be reinfected after a short time.
The issue is one of size: there is so much infection spreading through the U.S. at the current moment that asking — and answering — the question of who is already immune in a way comes too early, when the priority remains interrupting further spread.
Put differently: in a situation where infection rates are skyrocketing, it’s irrelevant for the purposes of stopping further spread to determine who has already acquired immunity.
“You’d get to see the spectrum of the disease as it happened already,” Gary Slutkin, an epidemiologist and former WHO official who worked on reversing disease spread told TPM, adding that it would provide a valuable contribution to the clinical understanding of the illness. “It will give us a better idea of how much asymptomatic or mild disease there is or was as compared to the serious and severe disease that showed up.”
“But I don’t know how it would change what we need to do now,” he added, referring to attempts to stop the disease’s spread.
Slutkin went on to say that the issue goes in part to the magnitude of the disease’s spread.
In a place like New York City, where the virus could spread freely amid a densely packed population, resources devoted to determining who is already immune would be better spent on determining who is sick right now, in order to isolate — and interrupt — the outbreak.
The question also goes to the length of the outbreak. If a vaccine that ends the spread of novel coronavirus once and for all is 12 to 18 months away, a blood test could be used to taper the response. People who had coronavirus without presenting symptoms could learn that they’ve acquired immunity, and return to work.
Those who also back a so-called “herd immunity” approach — as was briefly adopted by the British government — also see value in the proposition of a blood test.
The concept is distinct from blood testing for immunity, but related: determining who had acquired immunity from the novel coronavirus could be determined by a blood test.
Vulnerable communities could then be kept isolated, until enough people had the illness to have naturally developed antibodies. A blood test would help determine when a given population had hit a critical mass of immunity, preventing further spread.
But it would also be incredibly inefficient. In the early phase of exponential case growth that we’re in now where, as Slutkin pointed out, the number of infections are doubling every three days, “it wouldn’t be practical to find out,” and it would fail to interrupt the spread of the illness.
Rather, the model that some Asian countries have followed of testing to see who has been infected and then isolating them and tracing their contacts would be more efficient.
Slutkin argued that the herd immunity approach in general was dangerous. It was “being promulgated by people who have never been in epidemics, and who have never seen the deaths, and who are sitting in armchairs and at desks and who have learned a term that is of value largely in the context of immunization.” It also depends on the assumption that coronavirus immunity is more than temporary, he noted.
He likened the approach to either vaccinating 90 percent of children from measles, or letting 90 percent of children contract measles “and then see how many of them die for the purpose of herd immunity.”
“Superficially, that’s a good idea,” he added. “But it’s horrible. It’s wrong. It’s lethal.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-03-24--Fauci Insists He And Trump Aren’t At Odds Over Coronavirus Response

Dr. Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , claimed on Tuesday morning that he and President Donald Trump are on the same page with regards to the COVID-19 outbreak .
Fauci told Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese , the co-hosts of WMAL ’ s “ Morning on the Mall ” radio program , that the media ’ s reports of his clashes with Trump were “ really unfortunate.
” “ I would wish that that would stop because we have a much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out differences , ” he said .
The doctor insisted there “ fundamentally ” weren ’ t any disparities between his approach to the coronavirus and that of Trump .
“ The President has listened to what I have said and what other people on the task force have said , ” Fauci told Walter and Coglianese .
“ When I ’ ve made recommendations , he ’ s taken them .
He ’ s never countered or overridden me.
” “ The idea of just pitting one against the other is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet Fauci admitted in a Science Magazine interview as recently as this Sunday that it was challenging for him to juggle his role in the task force while contending with Trump ’ s mistruths and exaggerations during the daily press conferences .
“ I can ’ t jump in front of the microphone and push him down , ” Fauci said .
But there was one close example of him doing so on Saturday when he confirmed to a CNN reporter that there was a medical supply shortage–even though Trump had denied it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been privately trying to steer Trump away from his inclination toward lifting the White House ’ s social distancing recommendations to boost the economy , according to the Washington Post .
And now the New York Times is reporting that Fauci is on thin ice with Trump , who is becoming irritated with the doctor for not falling in line with Trump ’ s efforts to downplay the coronavirus .
Listen to Fauci below ( his comments begin at around the 6:10 timestamp ) :

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, claimed on Tuesday morning that he and President Donald Trump are on the same page with regards to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Fauci told Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese, the co-hosts of WMAL’s “Morning on the Mall” radio program, that the media’s reports of his clashes with Trump were “really unfortunate.”
“I would wish that that would stop because we have a much bigger problem here than trying to point out differences,” he said.
The doctor insisted there “fundamentally” weren’t any disparities between his approach to the coronavirus and that of Trump.
“The President has listened to what I have said and what other people on the task force have said,” Fauci told Walter and Coglianese. “When I’ve made recommendations, he’s taken them. He’s never countered or overridden me.”
“The idea of just pitting one against the other is just not helpful,” he added.
Yet Fauci admitted in a Science Magazine interview as recently as this Sunday that it was challenging for him to juggle his role in the task force while contending with Trump’s mistruths and exaggerations during the daily press conferences.
“I can’t jump in front of the microphone and push him down,” Fauci said.
But there was one close example of him doing so on Saturday when he confirmed to a CNN reporter that there was a medical supply shortage–even though Trump had denied it several minutes earlier.
Fauci has also been privately trying to steer Trump away from his inclination toward lifting the White House’s social distancing recommendations to boost the economy, according to the Washington Post.
And now the New York Times is reporting that Fauci is on thin ice with Trump, who is becoming irritated with the doctor for not falling in line with Trump’s efforts to downplay the coronavirus.
Listen to Fauci below (his comments begin at around the 6:10 timestamp):


talkingpointsmemo--2020-03-24--Here Are The Pundits And Pols Willing To Trade COVID-19 Deaths For Economic Gains

For weeks , as the novel coronavirus has spread across the globe and infected hundreds of thousands of people , there have been the skeptics — those who say “ social distancing , ” while proven to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives , isn ’ t worth the economic cost .
President Donald Trump has leaned into that view lately , becoming its most high-profile proponent .
“ We ’ re not going to let the cure be worse than the problem , ” he said at a press briefing Monday .
Later , referring to social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ probably more death from that than anything we ’ re talking about with respect to the virus.
” But pundits and politicians prioritizing the tanking market over pandemic response is a weeks-old custom by now .
The notion was perhaps first articulated for a mass audience in the United States by Rick Santelli , the CNBC pundit who also infamously declared the start of a new “ Tea Party ” on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 2009 .
“ Maybe we ’ d be just better off if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a month it would be over , ” Santelli said on-air on March 6 .
“ Because the mortality rate of this probably isn ’ t going to be any different if we did it that way than the long-term picture , but the difference is we ’ re wreaking havoc on global and domestic economies.
” In reality , there ’ s a huge difference : If cases spike all at once , hospitals will be completely overwhelmed , leading to mass death that could otherwise be avoided if cases spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the disease .
As the tolls of social distancing on domestic and global markets have grown over time , the calls for abandoning the strategy have become more bracing .
On Sunday night , Fox News host Steve Hilton said it was easy for the U.S. government ’ s top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci to encourage “ overreacting ” to COVID-19 — because “ he ’ ll still have a job at the end of this , whatever happens.
” “ Our ruling class and their TV mouthpieces whipping up fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an indefinite shutdown , ” Hilton , a former advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron , said .
“ Working Americans can ’ t , they ’ ll be crushed by it .
You know that famous phrase , ‘ The cure is worse than the disease ’ ?
That is exactly the territory we are hurtling towards.
” Hilton compared the COVID-19 response , bafflingly , to British austerity measures , which one study found were to blame for 130,000 otherwise-avoidable deaths between 2012 and 2017 .
“ The years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this shutdown will be worse , ” he said .
Around the same time , former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein tweeted that “ extreme measures ” to slow the virus ’ spread were sensible — “ for a time.
” “ But crushing the economy , jobs and morale is also a health issue-and beyond , ” he added .
“ Within a very few weeks let those with a lower risk to the disease return to work.
” And when the President echoed Hilton ’ s language on Sunday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF , ” the floodgates opened .
In perhaps the harshest rendition of this argument , one that ’ s since been erased from the internet , the California attorney Scott A. McMillan tweeted about the “ fundamental problem ” of social distancing for the sake of the sick and vulnerable .
“ The fundamental problem is whether we are going to tank the entire economy to save 2.5 % of the population which is ( 1 ) generally expensive to maintain , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wrote , soliciting a barrage of criticism for effectively waiving away the deaths of eight million people .
“ Reality check , ” Rep. Jody Hice ( R-GA ) tweeted the next morning .
“ - Booming economy , gone -Businesses closing -Unemployment soaring -Hysteria & fear rule.
” “ Which is worse , the illness or our ‘ fix ’ ?
Americans stand up to challenges , ” he added .
“ Don ’ t succumb to fear !
Trust in God .
Protect yourself and others , and move forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top economic thinker , Larry Kudlow , who ’ s been consistently wrong in his public remarks about COVID-19 , staked another bold claim Monday .
“ We can ’ t shut in the economy , the economic costs to individuals is just too great , ” he said on CNBC , adding : “ The President is right , the cure can ’ t be worse than the disease , and we ’ re going to have to make some difficult trade-offs.
” In an interview with Fox News ’ Tucker Carlson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Dan Patrick played martyr , saying “ I don ’ t want the whole country to be sacrificed ” for the sake of slowing the disease ’ s spread .
“ Those of us who are 70+ , we ’ ll take care of ourselves but don ’ t sacrifice the country , ” he added .
“ Don ’ t do that .
Don ’ t ruin this great American Dream.
” “ There ’ s something that would be worse than dying ?
” Carlson pressed .
The lieutenant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made his point clear : “ I intend to be around a long time on your show , but it ’ s worth whatever it takes to save the country.
” And on Tuesday , Stuart Varney , the Fox Business Network host , made the point by animating “ the market ” into a living being — one whose thriving ought to be weighed against potentially thousands of its fellow citizens .
“ Concentrate your restrictions on the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions who are most at risk , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an easing of restrictions , but an imposition of more restrictions on that risk group.
” “ That ’ s a potential compromise here , ” Varney said .
“ And that ’ s what the market likes .
”

For weeks, as the novel coronavirus has spread across the globe and infected hundreds of thousands of people, there have been the skeptics — those who say “social distancing,” while proven to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, isn’t worth the economic cost.
President Donald Trump has leaned into that view lately, becoming its most high-profile proponent. “We’re not going to let the cure be worse than the problem,” he said at a press briefing Monday. Later, referring to social distancing, he added that there would be “probably more death from that than anything we’re talking about with respect to the virus.”
But pundits and politicians prioritizing the tanking market over pandemic response is a weeks-old custom by now.
The notion was perhaps first articulated for a mass audience in the United States by Rick Santelli, the CNBC pundit who also infamously declared the start of a new “Tea Party” on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 2009.
“Maybe we’d be just better off if we gave it to everybody and then in a month it would be over,” Santelli said on-air on March 6. “Because the mortality rate of this probably isn’t going to be any different if we did it that way than the long-term picture, but the difference is we’re wreaking havoc on global and domestic economies.”
In reality, there’s a huge difference: If cases spike all at once, hospitals will be completely overwhelmed, leading to mass death that could otherwise be avoided if cases spread slowly, allowing hospitals to keep up with the disease.
As the tolls of social distancing on domestic and global markets have grown over time, the calls for abandoning the strategy have become more bracing.
On Sunday night, Fox News host Steve Hilton said it was easy for the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci to encourage “overreacting” to COVID-19 — because “he’ll still have a job at the end of this, whatever happens.”
“Our ruling class and their TV mouthpieces whipping up fear over this virus, they can afford an indefinite shutdown,” Hilton, a former advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron, said. “Working Americans can’t, they’ll be crushed by it. You know that famous phrase, ‘The cure is worse than the disease’? That is exactly the territory we are hurtling towards.”
Hilton compared the COVID-19 response, bafflingly, to British austerity measures, which one study found were to blame for 130,000 otherwise-avoidable deaths between 2012 and 2017. “The years of austerity for America to pay the costs for this shutdown will be worse,” he said.
Around the same time, former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein tweeted that “extreme measures” to slow the virus’ spread were sensible — “for a time.”
“But crushing the economy, jobs and morale is also a health issue-and beyond,” he added. “Within a very few weeks let those with a lower risk to the disease return to work.”
And when the President echoed Hilton’s language on Sunday night, tweeting that, “WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF,” the floodgates opened.
In perhaps the harshest rendition of this argument, one that’s since been erased from the internet, the California attorney Scott A. McMillan tweeted about the “fundamental problem” of social distancing for the sake of the sick and vulnerable.
“The fundamental problem is whether we are going to tank the entire economy to save 2.5% of the population which is (1) generally expensive to maintain, and (2) not productive,” he wrote, soliciting a barrage of criticism for effectively waiving away the deaths of eight million people.
“Reality check,” Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA) tweeted the next morning. “- Booming economy, gone -Businesses closing -Unemployment soaring -Hysteria & fear rule.”
“Which is worse, the illness or our ‘fix’? Americans stand up to challenges,” he added. “Don’t succumb to fear! Trust in God. Protect yourself and others, and move forward!”
The White House’s top economic thinker, Larry Kudlow, who’s been consistently wrong in his public remarks about COVID-19, staked another bold claim Monday.
“We can’t shut in the economy, the economic costs to individuals is just too great,” he said on CNBC, adding: “The President is right, the cure can’t be worse than the disease, and we’re going to have to make some difficult trade-offs.”
In an interview with Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Monday night, the 69-year-old Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick played martyr, saying “I don’t want the whole country to be sacrificed” for the sake of slowing the disease’s spread.
“Those of us who are 70+, we’ll take care of ourselves but don’t sacrifice the country,” he added. “Don’t do that. Don’t ruin this great American Dream.”
“There’s something that would be worse than dying?” Carlson pressed. The lieutenant governor hemmed and hawed, but eventually made his point clear: “I intend to be around a long time on your show, but it’s worth whatever it takes to save the country.”
And on Tuesday, Stuart Varney, the Fox Business Network host, made the point by animating “the market” into a living being — one whose thriving ought to be weighed against potentially thousands of its fellow citizens.
“Concentrate your restrictions on the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions who are most at risk,” he proposed. “That will be an easing of restrictions, but an imposition of more restrictions on that risk group.”
“That’s a potential compromise here,” Varney said. “And that’s what the market likes.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-03-24--India’s Population Of 1.3 Billion Under ‘Total Lockdown’ For Three Weeks

NEW DELHI ( AP ) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a “ total lockdown ” in the country @ @ @ @ @ a televised address Tuesday night , the most extensive stay-at-home order yet in the world @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
The 21-day lockdown was set to begin at midnight .
“ To @ @ @ @ @ , there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes , ” @ @ @ @ @ if the county failed to manage the next 21 days , it would be set @ @ @ @ @ Indian health officials have reported 469 actives cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by @ @ @ @ @ deaths .

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a “total lockdown” in the country of 1.3 billion people during a televised address Tuesday night, the most extensive stay-at-home order yet in the world’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The 21-day lockdown was set to begin at midnight.
“To save India and every Indian, there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes,” Modi said, adding that if the county failed to manage the next 21 days, it would be set back by 21 years.
Indian health officials have reported 469 actives cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and 10 deaths.