buzzfeed--2020-04-16--A Video Shows A Sheriff’s Deputy Choking An Inmate. The Inmate Says He Faced Retaliation For Repeate

A Video Shows A Sheriff’s Deputy Choking An Inmate. The Inmate Says He Faced Retaliation For Repeatedly Asking For Medical Care.

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
In the video , a sheriff ’ s deputy is seen holding Skinner by the neck before pushing his body down on a railing as two other prison employees hold him and place leg shackles on him .
The deputy then holds Skinner by the back of his neck .
Skinner ’ s arms fall limp while he is held over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing handcuffs or some other wrist restraint .
When Skinner is pulled back up , he slumps onto the ground as other inmates gather around .
BuzzFeed News obtained a one-minute video that shows part of the April 4 incident in which an officer is seen choking Skinner ; the source of the video requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation .
The East Baton Rouge Sheriff ’ s Office , which runs the prison , confirmed the video is authentic , but said in a statement to BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved , and had previously made an escape attempt and tried to punch an employee .
Skinner said when he tried to ask a different official for help , the first official threatened him with a riot incitement charge and called in additional deputies .
He said that was the last thing he remembered before being choked and restrained by a sheriff ’ s deputy and other prison facility employees .
Bradford Skinner , an inmate in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison , said he began asking for medical care on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to an account relayed to BuzzFeed News through his lawyers .
He said an official sent him away with ingredients to make tea , and dismissed him when he asked for care again the next day .
WASHINGTON — An inmate at a Louisiana prison was choked by a sheriff ’ s deputy and appeared to lose consciousness later in the struggle , according to video footage obtained by BuzzFeed News .
The inmate says it was retaliation for repeatedly requesting medical assistance for symptoms commonly associated with the novel coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing that to that man , ” a person is heard saying in the background of the video .
Later , someone in the background says , “ That man can ’ t breathe , look.
” Sheriff ’ s office spokesperson Casey Hicks declined to comment on Skinner ’ s medical status .
Skinner ’ s lawyer William Most told BuzzFeed News in an email that the sheriff ’ s office confirmed to Skinner ’ s lawyers on April 8 that he had been tested for COVID-19 , the disease caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 , which was the last time Most said he spoke with Skinner , Most said neither Skinner nor his lawyers had gotten the results .
Skinner said he was feeling better but still coughing and feeling chest pain , according to Most .
“ I am being punished for being sick .
If this was n't on camera , it would have been swept under the rug and fell on deaf ears , ” Skinner said in a statement provided by his lawyers .
Hicks would not confirm that Skinner was tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information , but said that as of April 15 he was being held in a section of the prison that does not house inmates who have COVID-19 or who are waiting for test results .
Most said Skinner previously had been held in a quarantine section of the prison .
Lawyers across the country have been urging state and federal government officials to release inmates who , like Skinner , were convicted of nonviolent crimes to try to slow the spread of COVID-19 in jails and prisons .
There were “ approximately ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison where Skinner is being held as of April 15 , and 18 inmates who also tested positive had been moved to a section of the maximum-security prison in Angola , Louisiana , designated for confirmed cases from across the state , according to Hicks .
Lacie Dauzat , the pretrial release unit supervisor in the East Baton Rouge Office of the Public Defender , told BuzzFeed News that her office had been working to get nonviolent inmates released from the parish prison where Skinner is being held .
The facility houses arrestees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convicted of crimes .
“ If anything comes out of this pandemic , it may be shining a light on criminal justice reform and how it 's needed more than ever , ” Dauzat said .
“ No one is realizing that the majority of people housed in parish jails are pretrial , they have not been found guilty .
They ’ re in there simply because they can ’ t afford bond amounts.
” Before the April 4 incident , Skinner had been in a work-release program facility located near the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a five-year sentence after pleading guilty to drug possession charges , according to court records .
Most , Skinner ’ s lawyer , said the sentence reflected that Skinner had violated parole .
According to the account that Skinner gave his lawyers , he began experiencing chest pains and difficulty breathing on April 3 .
That day , Skinner asked a warden — he did not name the official he spoke with — for medical care .
Skinner said the official gave him a lemon , ginger , and honey to make tea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official the next day because he was still experiencing symptoms and they again dismissed his request , so he asked a captain — also unnamed in Skinner ’ s account — for help .
The captain contacted the warden , who directed the captain to write up Skinner for inciting a riot , according to Skinner .
Skinner said he asked to call his family , and that other sheriff ’ s deputies then arrived .
That was the last thing Skinner said he remembers before the events depicted in the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two dangerous epidemics in our country – police brutality and COVID-19 – both targeting black Americans in alarming numbers , ” Sarah Chervinsky , who is also representing Skinner , wrote in an email to BuzzFeed News .
“ It is unacceptable for three law enforcement officers to participate in choking an unarmed man into unconsciousness , especially when that man has COVID-19 symptoms and requested medical help . ''
Warden Dennis Grimes said in a statement that Skinner had “ attempted to escape by jumping from a moving van and attempted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again and incite a riot.
” Grimes did not address Skinner ’ s allegations that he was refused medical care after reporting possible COVID-19 symptoms .
“ The inmate continued to refuse compliance and then would not move for transportation .
He was taken to our facility and checked out by medical and cleared for booking into the prison where he currently remains in good health .
Louisiana Workforce staff stated that he will additionally be charged with Escape , Assault and Inciting a Riot , ” Grimes said .
Hicks told BuzzFeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged escape attempt , which took place at the work-release facility site , Skinner was placed in handcuffs and taken behind the facility , where the staff managing the program “ could not place him [ in ] leg restraints due to his combative actions ... they called our prison for assistance and the video takes places [ sic ] after that.
” Most said Skinner hadn ’ t given his lawyers information about the warden ’ s account , so they were not in a position to deny or confirm what Grimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camera .
But in response to Grimes ’ statement , Most said the sheriff ’ s office ’ s timeline confirms that Skinner was choked and restrained after he had been handcuffed and was refusing to cooperate with being moved .
“ Choking someone to the point of unconsciousness by the throat while they ’ re wearing handcuffs and exhibiting passive resistance is illegal , full stop , ” Most said .
Dauzat , who regularly works in the parish prison and had been there shortly before speaking with BuzzFeed News on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware of Skinner ’ s allegations .
She said inmates have been scared about the spread of COVID-19 and worried about having enough supplies to limit the risk of infection , but that officials had made face masks , soap , and hand sanitizer available .
The prison has also made it possible for inmates to telephone their lawyers , which hadn ’ t been the case before the pandemic , she said .
In response to the coronavirus threat , the prison had taken a variety of extra sanitation measures , provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitations in March , instituted routine temperature checks for staff and anyone else coming into the prison , and waived all medical and prescription drug fees , according to Hicks .
Rev .
Alexis Anderson , a member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition , said she didn ’ t have firsthand knowledge of Skinner ’ s allegations , but family members of inmates had been calling the coalition “ in a panic because [ inmates ] are sick or have preexisting conditions and couldn ’ t get anyone to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials were placing too many restrictions on who could be eligible for release during the pandemic .
Earlier this week , the head of Louisiana 's Department of Public Safety and Corrections announced that a special panel would be considering certain inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes for temporary release if they were in the final six months of their sentence , according to the Advocate .
“ The idea that they literally are creating new ways to not let these people out , we just think that everybody is going to be accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @

“That man in handcuffs, they doing that to that man,” a person is heard saying in the background of the video. Later, someone in the background says, “That man can’t breathe, look.”
Sheriff’s office spokesperson Casey Hicks declined to comment on Skinner’s medical status. Skinner’s lawyer William Most told BuzzFeed News in an email that the sheriff’s office confirmed to Skinner’s lawyers on April 8 that he had been tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. As of April 14, which was the last time Most said he spoke with Skinner, Most said neither Skinner nor his lawyers had gotten the results. Skinner said he was feeling better but still coughing and feeling chest pain, according to Most.
“I am being punished for being sick. If this wasn't on camera, it would have been swept under the rug and fell on deaf ears,” Skinner said in a statement provided by his lawyers.
Hicks would not confirm that Skinner was tested for COVID-19 or share any other medical information, but said that as of April 15 he was being held in a section of the prison that does not house inmates who have COVID-19 or who are waiting for test results. Most said Skinner previously had been held in a quarantine section of the prison.
Lawyers across the country have been urging state and federal government officials to release inmates who, like Skinner, were convicted of nonviolent crimes to try to slow the spread of COVID-19 in jails and prisons. There were “approximately” 12 confirmed COVID-19 cases at the parish prison where Skinner is being held as of April 15, and 18 inmates who also tested positive had been moved to a section of the maximum-security prison in Angola, Louisiana, designated for confirmed cases from across the state, according to Hicks.
Lacie Dauzat, the pretrial release unit supervisor in the East Baton Rouge Office of the Public Defender, told BuzzFeed News that her office had been working to get nonviolent inmates released from the parish prison where Skinner is being held. The facility houses arrestees waiting for trial as well as individuals convicted of crimes.
“If anything comes out of this pandemic, it may be shining a light on criminal justice reform and how it's needed more than ever,” Dauzat said. “No one is realizing that the majority of people housed in parish jails are pretrial, they have not been found guilty. They’re in there simply because they can’t afford bond amounts.”
Before the April 4 incident, Skinner had been in a work-release program facility located near the main parish prison complex. He is serving a five-year sentence after pleading guilty to drug possession charges, according to court records. Most, Skinner’s lawyer, said the sentence reflected that Skinner had violated parole.
According to the account that Skinner gave his lawyers, he began experiencing chest pains and difficulty breathing on April 3. That day, Skinner asked a warden — he did not name the official he spoke with — for medical care. Skinner said the official gave him a lemon, ginger, and honey to make tea.
Skinner said he went back to the official the next day because he was still experiencing symptoms and they again dismissed his request, so he asked a captain — also unnamed in Skinner’s account — for help. The captain contacted the warden, who directed the captain to write up Skinner for inciting a riot, according to Skinner. Skinner said he asked to call his family, and that other sheriff’s deputies then arrived. That was the last thing Skinner said he remembers before the events depicted in the video.
“This disturbing video lays bare two dangerous epidemics in our country – police brutality and COVID-19 – both targeting black Americans in alarming numbers,” Sarah Chervinsky, who is also representing Skinner, wrote in an email to BuzzFeed News. “It is unacceptable for three law enforcement officers to participate in choking an unarmed man into unconsciousness, especially when that man has COVID-19 symptoms and requested medical help."
Warden Dennis Grimes said in a statement that Skinner had “attempted to escape by jumping from a moving van and attempted to assault a guard before trying to escape again and incite a riot.” Grimes did not address Skinner’s allegations that he was refused medical care after reporting possible COVID-19 symptoms.
“The inmate continued to refuse compliance and then would not move for transportation. He was taken to our facility and checked out by medical and cleared for booking into the prison where he currently remains in good health. Louisiana Workforce staff stated that he will additionally be charged with Escape, Assault and Inciting a Riot,” Grimes said.
Hicks told BuzzFeed News in an email that after the alleged escape attempt, which took place at the work-release facility site, Skinner was placed in handcuffs and taken behind the facility, where the staff managing the program “could not place him [in] leg restraints due to his combative actions... they called our prison for assistance and the video takes places [sic] after that.”
Most said Skinner hadn’t given his lawyers information about the warden’s account, so they were not in a position to deny or confirm what Grimes said happened before the events recorded on camera. But in response to Grimes’ statement, Most said the sheriff’s office’s timeline confirms that Skinner was choked and restrained after he had been handcuffed and was refusing to cooperate with being moved.
“Choking someone to the point of unconsciousness by the throat while they’re wearing handcuffs and exhibiting passive resistance is illegal, full stop,” Most said.
Dauzat, who regularly works in the parish prison and had been there shortly before speaking with BuzzFeed News on April 15, said she wasn’t aware of Skinner’s allegations. She said inmates have been scared about the spread of COVID-19 and worried about having enough supplies to limit the risk of infection, but that officials had made face masks, soap, and hand sanitizer available. The prison has also made it possible for inmates to telephone their lawyers, which hadn’t been the case before the pandemic, she said.
In response to the coronavirus threat, the prison had taken a variety of extra sanitation measures, provided free family calls to inmates after stopping visitations in March, instituted routine temperature checks for staff and anyone else coming into the prison, and waived all medical and prescription drug fees, according to Hicks.
Rev. Alexis Anderson, a member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition, said she didn’t have firsthand knowledge of Skinner’s allegations, but family members of inmates had been calling the coalition “in a panic because [inmates] are sick or have preexisting conditions and couldn’t get anyone to take them seriously.”
Anderson said state officials were placing too many restrictions on who could be eligible for release during the pandemic. Earlier this week, the head of Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections announced that a special panel would be considering certain inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes for temporary release if they were in the final six months of their sentence, according to the Advocate.
“The idea that they literally are creating new ways to not let these people out, we just think that everybody is going to be accountable for this,” Anderson said.


buzzfeed--2020-04-16--These Pictures Show Huge Crowds Protesting Against Coronavirus Lockdowns At State Capitols

Gabriel H. Sanchez is the Senior Photo Essay Editor for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York City .
@ @ @ @ @ Submit it here .

These Pictures Show Crowds Protesting Against Coronavirus Lockdowns At State Capitols
Conservative demonstrators gathered at the capitol buildings of Michigan, Kentucky, and North Carolina to protest against stay-at-home orders during a pandemic that has already left more than 26,000 Americans dead.


buzzfeed--2020-04-16--With Congress Gone, Rep. Max Rose Spent Two Weeks In The Reserves Helping Build A Hospital For Coron

With Congress Gone, Rep. Max Rose Spent Two Weeks In The Reserves Helping Build A Hospital For Coronavirus Patients

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
WASHINGTON — Rep. Max Rose of New York spent two weeks setting up an emergency hospital on Staten Island to help fight the coronavirus pandemic and if there ’ s a single thing that he took away from the experience it ’ s the idea that “ this is war.
” Rose , a captain in the National Guard , began voluntary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployed to the South Beach Hospital facility on Staten Island , where he oversaw logistical operations for a repurposed 252-bed facility for patients with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
When asked if he would compare the pandemic to war as President Donald Trump has during his daily press conferences , Rose told BuzzFeed News , “ Absolutely.
” Rose , a veteran , earned a Bronze Star , a Combat Infantry Badge , and Purple Heart for his active-duty service in Afghanistan during 2012 and 2013 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Rose said Thursday , adding that people on the ground are pleading with the president “ to utilize all the tools at his disposal , to engage in the war and to win it.
” “ Let me be very plain and simple here , ” the Democrat continued .
“ Nothing would make me happier than to see this president as the commander in chief that he is , win this war — and if that means that he wins the election as well — so be it , so be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about politics right now.
” The five-story facility Rose worked on was converted from a never opened state psychiatric center to a pre- and post-COVID-19 intensive care unit at Northwell Health ’ s South Beach Hospital Facility on Staten Island .
Within a week , the team created a functional emergency center that received its first 27 patients on April 7 .
They expect to admit a second round of COVID-19 patients on Thursday .
“ I think about the people who I ’ ve met and got to know during these last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BuzzFeed News who served alongside his old infantry unit — the 69th Infantry Regiment , a unit in the New York Army National Guard — during his two-week deployment .
“ Doctors whose own family members are sick , those who have lost family members and are still serving all day and all night fighting this war .
People who haven ’ t seen their family member , haven ’ t hugged their kids in months because they ’ re self-quarantined because they don ’ t want to get their families sick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people is the resources they need.
” Hospital administrators welcomed the first-term member of Congress and while he did not work with patients firsthand , they lauded his “ brass tacks ” approach to management .
“ You could tell he ’ d been in the military , ” Dr. Brahim Ardolic , executive director of Staten Island University Hospital , told BuzzFeed News .
“ And for gosh sake , we opened a hospital in five days.
” The new facility will relieve the overflow from the only two Staten Island hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency unit is functioning at more than 3 times its capacity .
Part of the refurbishing process required the operations team to hire staff , retrofit oxygen in each room and swap bedding that would be convenient for senior patients who are suffering from the disease .
Rose said this particular hospital is providing patients with iPads so that patients can FaceTime with family members , a problem many hospitals have struggled to address because of the disease ’ s contagion .
In New York City , there have been more than 10,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ densely populated than the city ’ s other boroughs ; with a little more than 450,000 residents , the death rate hovered around 400 as of Tuesday while 8,298 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 .
Hospital administrators also told BuzzFeed News the extra facility gives them room to schedule other important procedures that have been sidelined amid the current health crisis .
“ I was just told about a patient that actually has a significant cancer in their stomach , that they ’ ve actually been delaying because it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t do it , ” Ardolic told BuzzFeed News during a phone interview .
“ He needs to get it done and there are probably thousands of people around the country just like this poor man.
” Rose also talked about the future as it relates to a pandemic and measures the country ’ s lawmakers should take to become better prepared .
“ We got to be prepared to make sure to not let this happen again , ” Rose said .
“ We have to have an infrastructure in place for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have enough testing in place to prevent that second surge from occurring .
”

WASHINGTON — Rep. Max Rose of New York spent two weeks setting up an emergency hospital on Staten Island to help fight the coronavirus pandemic and if there’s a single thing that he took away from the experience it’s the idea that “this is war.”
Rose, a captain in the National Guard, began voluntary reserve duty on April 1 and was deployed to the South Beach Hospital facility on Staten Island, where he oversaw logistical operations for a repurposed 252-bed facility for patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
When asked if he would compare the pandemic to war as President Donald Trump has during his daily press conferences, Rose told BuzzFeed News, “Absolutely.”
Rose, a veteran, earned a Bronze Star, a Combat Infantry Badge, and Purple Heart for his active-duty service in Afghanistan during 2012 and 2013. “I compare this to total war,” Rose said Thursday, adding that people on the ground are pleading with the president “to utilize all the tools at his disposal, to engage in the war and to win it.”
“Let me be very plain and simple here,” the Democrat continued. “Nothing would make me happier than to see this president as the commander in chief that he is, win this war — and if that means that he wins the election as well — so be it, so be it! You can’t think about politics right now.”
The five-story facility Rose worked on was converted from a never opened state psychiatric center to a pre- and post-COVID-19 intensive care unit at Northwell Health’s South Beach Hospital Facility on Staten Island. Within a week, the team created a functional emergency center that received its first 27 patients on April 7. They expect to admit a second round of COVID-19 patients on Thursday.
“I think about the people who I’ve met and got to know during these last couple of weeks,” Rose told BuzzFeed News who served alongside his old infantry unit — the 69th Infantry Regiment, a unit in the New York Army National Guard — during his two-week deployment. “Doctors whose own family members are sick, those who have lost family members and are still serving all day and all night fighting this war. People who haven’t seen their family member, haven’t hugged their kids in months because they’re self-quarantined because they don’t want to get their families sick. The least that we can give these people is the resources they need.”
Hospital administrators welcomed the first-term member of Congress and while he did not work with patients firsthand, they lauded his “brass tacks” approach to management. “You could tell he’d been in the military,” Dr. Brahim Ardolic, executive director of Staten Island University Hospital, told BuzzFeed News. “And for gosh sake, we opened a hospital in five days.”
The new facility will relieve the overflow from the only two Staten Island hospitals, including the nearby Northwell facility whose emergency unit is functioning at more than 3 times its capacity. Part of the refurbishing process required the operations team to hire staff, retrofit oxygen in each room and swap bedding that would be convenient for senior patients who are suffering from the disease.
Rose said this particular hospital is providing patients with iPads so that patients can FaceTime with family members, a problem many hospitals have struggled to address because of the disease’s contagion.
In New York City, there have been more than 10,000 deaths. Staten Island is considerably less densely populated than the city’s other boroughs; with a little more than 450,000 residents, the death rate hovered around 400 as of Tuesday while 8,298 residents have tested positive for COVID-19.
Hospital administrators also told BuzzFeed News the extra facility gives them room to schedule other important procedures that have been sidelined amid the current health crisis.
“I was just told about a patient that actually has a significant cancer in their stomach, that they’ve actually been delaying because it’s a very complicated procedure and they couldn’t do it,” Ardolic told BuzzFeed News during a phone interview. “He needs to get it done and there are probably thousands of people around the country just like this poor man.”
Rose also talked about the future as it relates to a pandemic and measures the country’s lawmakers should take to become better prepared.
“We got to be prepared to make sure to not let this happen again,” Rose said. “We have to have an infrastructure in place for a second surge and we got to have enough testing in place to prevent that second surge from occurring.”


buzzfeed--2020-04-17--These Pictures Show Huge Crowds Protesting Against Coronavirus Lockdowns At State Capitols


buzzfeed--2020-04-17--Trump Called Ukrainians “Terrible People.” They Are Airlifting Tons Of Lifesaving Medical Supplies T

Trump Called Ukrainians “Terrible People.” They Are Airlifting Tons Of Lifesaving Medical Supplies To The US With The Biggest Cargo Planes In The World.

Over the course of the next month , planes owned by the state-run Antonov Airlines will carry medical masks and other supplies on 11 trips from Asian countries to the US .
In May 2019 , President Donald Trump described Ukraine as being full of “ terrible people ” who “ tried to take me down.
” Two months later , he was on the phone with his newly elected counterpart , Volodymyr Zelensky , asking him to “ do us a favor.
” The favor Trump wanted — opening investigations into his political rival , Joe Biden , now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never came , and Trump withheld important military aid to the war-torn country for months .
The rest , as they say , is history .
But months later , as the coronavirus pandemic ravages the US , Ukraine is doing Trump a huge favor : The country is using its cargo planes — the biggest in the world — to ferry crucial personal protective equipment ( PPE ) from Asia to medical professionals on the front line of the health crisis in the US .
Over the course of the next month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its giant An-225 Mriya and An-124 Ruslan planes on at least 11 trips from Asian countries to the continental US , Vitaliy Shost , Antonov ’ s deputy director , told BuzzFeed News from the company ’ s headquarters in Kyiv .
“ Our first flight to the US is planned for next week — with a flight from Shanghai to Columbus , Ohio , ” Shost said .
The cargo consists mostly of medical masks , protective clothing , and disinfectant agents , he said .
Aivaras Abromavicius , CEO of Ukroboronprom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversees Antonov , told BuzzFeed News from Kyiv that some flights could include ventilators .
The deliveries come as the coronavirus crisis in the US drags on and hospitals across the country continue to report shortages of basic medical supplies .
Shost declined to disclose commercially sensitive information such as how the flights to the US were paid for and how much they cost .
He said the company operates “ through brokers ” and has “ no direct contact or very limited connection with the cargo owners.
” Use of the Mriya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and may run as high as $ 1 million in total , depending on the type of cargo carried and the distance needed to travel .
If you 're someone who is seeing the impact of the coronavirus firsthand , we ’ d like to hear from you .
Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels .
At 275 feet in length and weighing 310 tons completely empty , the Mriya — Ukrainian for “ dream ” — is the world ’ s largest and heaviest cargo aircraft .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wings , it ’ s capable of carrying another 275 tons — strapped to its top , as it did with the Soviet Union ’ s Buran space shuttle , or in its cargo hold .
To get a sense of just how big that space is , consider this BBC description : The length of its cargo hold is longer than the Wright brothers ’ first flight , from takeoff to landing .
It ’ s also the only Mriya ever produced ; a second one remains unfinished in a hangar in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything but small ; at 226 feet and weighing 200 tons , it is the largest military cargo plane in the world .
And Antonov owns five of them , including one model that can carry 120 tons of cargo and a second that is reinforced and able to lift 165 tons .
Often the planes are used to transport oversize cargo , such as military tanks , plane engines , and even smaller aircraft fuselages .
They are loaded on board through an opening in the nose of the planes .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current health risks , Abromavicius said “ the utmost care is needed in planning these flights , loading the cargo , following the flight instructions and quarantine instructions.
” He said everything has to run with the “ precision of a Swiss watch.
” All models of the Antonov planes will be used in the US deliveries between mid-April and mid-May , Shost said .
He said there is the possibility that more flights to the US could be made later as well .
The planes are in high demand elsewhere .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries have chartered either the Mriya or the Ruslans to shuttle supplies to their coronavirus-stricken nations .
They include Canada , Austria , the Czech Republic , Denmark , France , Germany , Greece , Ireland , Kuwait , Poland , Portugal , Qatar , Slovakia , Spain , and Switzerland .
A video published on Tuesday shows the Mriya landing in Warsaw , where it delivered tons of medical supplies purchased from China by the Polish government .
The livestream shared by Chopin Airport was watched by more than 80,000 people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which Shost boasted as being “ part of our Ukrainian heritage , ” are seen by aviation enthusiasts as big events .
Heads of government and even royalty turn out to see the behemoth in action , Shost said .
The Mriya ’ s next medical supply delivery is in Paris on Saturday .
The global demand for the planes has translated to a 40 % jump in orders for Antonov Airlines .
That means all of its planes are booked through much of May .
“ Thіs April , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of the flight time , ” Shost said .
For instance , the Ruslan planes alone clocked 1,001 hours halfway through the month .
“ This is fantastic , but it ’ s not done magically , ” Shost said .
“ Our relatively small team works really hard to arrange all the flights and requests .
”

In May 2019, President Donald Trump described Ukraine as being full of “terrible people” who “tried to take me down.” Two months later, he was on the phone with his newly elected counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, asking him to “do us a favor.”
The favor Trump wanted — opening investigations into his political rival, Joe Biden, now the presumptive Democratic nominee for president — never came, and Trump withheld important military aid to the war-torn country for months. The rest, as they say, is history.
But months later, as the coronavirus pandemic ravages the US, Ukraine is doing Trump a huge favor: The country is using its cargo planes — the biggest in the world — to ferry crucial personal protective equipment (PPE) from Asia to medical professionals on the front line of the health crisis in the US.
Over the course of the next month, Ukrainian state-run Antonov Airlines will send its giant An-225 Mriya and An-124 Ruslan planes on at least 11 trips from Asian countries to the continental US, Vitaliy Shost, Antonov’s deputy director, told BuzzFeed News from the company’s headquarters in Kyiv.
“Our first flight to the US is planned for next week — with a flight from Shanghai to Columbus, Ohio,” Shost said. The cargo consists mostly of medical masks, protective clothing, and disinfectant agents, he said.
Aivaras Abromavicius, CEO of Ukroboronprom, the Ukrainian state defense conglomerate that oversees Antonov, told BuzzFeed News from Kyiv that some flights could include ventilators.


buzzfeed--2020-04-17--These Pictures Show Crowds Protesting Against Coronavirus Lockdowns At State Capitols


buzzfeed--2020-04-18--The NLRB Is Looking Into Claims That Amazon Violated Employees' Rights During The Coronavirus Pandem

The NLRB Is Looking Into Claims That Amazon Violated Employees' Rights During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Former injured Amazon employees join labor organizers and community activists to demonstrate and hold a press conference outside of an Amazon Go store in the loop to express concerns about what they claim is the company 's `` alarming injury rate '' among warehouse workers on December 10 , 2019 in Chicago .
The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Employees in Chicago allege that instead of responding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their warehouse after two workers tested positive for the coronavirus , Amazon instead retaliated against them .
The company , they charged , is going after labor leaders on the pretext that they violated new social distancing rules .
Workers in other places , including New York and Minnesota , have accused the company of similar tactics in recent weeks .
The labor board ’ s inquiry , which experts say is unusual , comes as Amazon is under national scrutiny for firing at least four employees who engaged in walkouts and work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Federal labor regulators have indicated that they will be watching Amazon after workers in Chicago filed charges against the company alleging it retaliated against them for participating in protests about working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic , according to public documents filed this week .
“ They ’ re just trying to pressure us and intimidate us so that we don ’ t try to do this type of activity again . ''
“ They ’ re just trying to pressure us and intimidate us so that we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , ” said Samir Quasir , an Amazon employee in Chicago who filed a charge with labor regulators this week alleging that the company retaliated against him after he participated in two protests and one walkout earlier this month .
His bosses , he said , alleged that he had violated six feet of social distancing , a rule he said he may have inadvertently violated but that Amazon selectively enforces .
“ There ’ s a pattern here , ” he said .
“ I do feel targeted.
” Regarding these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comment on individual employees , but said it “ respect [ s ] the rights of employees to protest and recognize their legal right to do so ; however , these rights do not provide blanket immunity against bad actions , particularly those that endanger the health , well-being or safety of their colleagues.
” The workers ’ allegations are part of an effort on behalf of workers in Amazon facilities across the country to push the country ’ s largest online retailer to offer higher wages and better working conditions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge with the labor board , and dozens of other complaints have been withdrawn by workers or dismissed by the board in the last decade .
In Chicago , the effort is being led by a group called DCH1 Amazonians United , one of whose members , Ted Miin , filed a charge February alleging that his manager had singled him out for distributing pamphlets about workers rights .
Such distribution is protected under federal laws that protect employees ’ right to discuss working conditions .
On Thursday , the labor board ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a written response that an Amazon manager had unlawfully interrogated Miin about his workplace organizing , but declined to punish Amazon because the incident was “ isolated in nature ” , and “ because there have not been any meritorious charges against the Employer within the past several years.
” However , the regional director also said that he would consider levying punishments “ If a meritorious charge involving other unfair labor practices is filed against ” Amazon within the next six months .
Workers in Chicago are flooding the board with similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees in Chicago have filed additional allegations of retaliation against Amazon with the National Labor Relations Board .
Among them is one from Quasir , who said he was called into a meeting with HR after participating in walkouts demanding improved coronavirus protections .
Quasir said he was asked to sign a written statement about the walkouts , which Quasir said he feared could be used against him .
After he refused , Amazon gave him a “ final written warning ” for allegedly violating six foot social distancing rules meant to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a verbal warning , and then a couple written warnings , and then a final written warning , and then they can terminate you after that .
But I never got a verbal warning , ” Quasir told BuzzFeed News .
“ [ It was ] straight to a final written warning.
” A second employee who requested anonymity out of fear of further retaliation said she was written up for entering the Amazon delivery station where she works without a badge when she and other protesters were delivering a petition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A third employee also filed a charge of retaliation this week .
The labor board is in the process of investigating those charges , and two additional employees are planning to file new charges soon , sources told BuzzFeed News .
Do you have questions you want answered ?
You can always get in touch .
And if you 're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand , we ’ d also love to hear from you ( you can reach out to us via one of our tip line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair of the National Labor Relations Board , said the decision in Chicago is an unusual one , and a sign that the regional director there is “ leaving the door open that if there ’ s more conduct that occurs , that he would add this one in to other events to allege as unlawful.
” “ To a certain extent , he ’ s invited them to file more charges , ” Liebman said .
The Amazon employee terminations could be taken into account in the eventuality of a hearing before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the board ultimately has little power to actually punish a company of Amazon ’ s size should its behavior be determined to be unlawful .
“ All they can do is get a slap on the hand , ” she said .
As people on lockdown across the country turn to Amazon for household supplies and food while avoiding brick-and-mortar stores , Amazon 's sales have skyrocketed .
But employees say the company hasn ’ t done enough to protect them from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for Amazon to take better care of its employees , the company has scrambled to implement safety procedures including temperature checks and the distribution of face masks , and is experimenting with disinfectant fogging and even creating its own COVID-19 test .
On Friday Amazon Senior Vice President of Global Affairs Jay Carney told CNN that he doesn ’ t know how many Amazon employees have tested positive for COVID-19 .
But the Athena Coalition , an alliance of organizations focused on Amazon , claims employees at more than 75 Amazon facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Amazon has declined to shutter the vast majority of these facilities for disinfection , and employees in New York , Chicago , and Michigan organized protests and walkouts in opposition to that decision .
At the end of March , Amazon fired Chris Smalls , a New York based employee who the company said terminated for entering an Amazon facility in violation of company orders to self-quarantine .
Last week , the company fired Maren Costa and Emily Cunningham , two Seattle-based corporate employees and organizers of the Amazon Employees for Climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of warehouse workers demanding better protections from Amazon .
And an Amazon employee and workplace organizer in Minnesota , Bashir Mohamed , told BuzzFeed News on Monday that he ’ d been fired by Amazon after collecting signatures on a petition related to the coronavirus .
Amazon said at the time that it respects workers rights to voice their concerns , and that all three of those employees were fired for violating company policies .
Though no Amazon employees in Chicago have been fired , members of DCH1 Amazonians United say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other facilities and the targeting and retaliation they ’ re experiencing following the four walkouts they held , one of which was captured on video and involved a caravan of community members whose cars temporarily shut down the delivery station and ultimately were dispersed by police .
“ Management has been harassing and targeting individual DCH1 workers who participated in the four protest actions , ” the group said in a petition published Friday evening .
“ .
They are violating our rights , and are trying to intimidate us and bully us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon clear the involved employees ' records and reinstate fired workers in other states .
DCH1 Amazonians United credits their protests and petitions for what they say are somewhat improved safety conditions at Amazon : workers said they ’ re now provided with masks , their temperatures are checked before they start work , and while the building still hasn ’ t been closed for cleaning , the housekeeping crew has increased their efforts .
But they also said it ’ s difficult to adhere to six-foot social distancing rules while rushing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to , and workers who participated in the walkouts say those rules are being enforced selectively to target them .

“They’re just trying to pressure us and intimidate us so that we don’t try to do this type of activity again,” said Samir Quasir, an Amazon employee in Chicago who filed a charge with labor regulators this week alleging that the company retaliated against him after he participated in two protests and one walkout earlier this month. His bosses, he said, alleged that he had violated 6 feet of social distancing, a rule he said he may have inadvertently violated, but that Amazon selectively enforces. “There’s a pattern here,” he said. “I do feel targeted.”
Regarding these claims, a spokesperson for Amazon declined to comment on individual employees, but said it “respect[s] the rights of employees to protest and recognize their legal right to do so; however, these rights do not provide blanket immunity against bad actions, particularly those that endanger the health, well-being or safety of their colleagues.”
The workers’ allegations are part of an effort on behalf of workers in Amazon facilities across the country to push the country’s largest online retailer to offer higher wages and better working conditions. Amazon has previously settled at least one charge with the labor board, and dozens of other complaints have been withdrawn by workers or dismissed by the board in the last decade.
In Chicago, the effort is being led by a group called DCH1 Amazonians United, one of whose members, Ted Miin, filed a charge February alleging that his manager had singled him out for distributing pamphlets about workers rights. Such distribution is protected under federal laws that protect employees’ right to discuss working conditions.
On Thursday, the labor board’s regional director in Chicago announced in a written response that an Amazon manager had unlawfully interrogated Miin about his workplace organizing, but declined to punish Amazon because the incident was “isolated in nature” and “because there have not been any meritorious charges against the Employer within the past several years.”
However, the regional director also said that he would consider levying punishments “If a meritorious charge involving other unfair labor practices is filed against” Amazon within the next six months.
Workers in Chicago are flooding the board with similar complaints. Already this week, three employees in Chicago have filed additional allegations of retaliation against Amazon with the National Labor Relations Board.
Among them is one from Quasir, who said he was called into a meeting with HR after participating in walkouts demanding improved coronavirus protections. Quasir said he was asked to sign a written statement about the walkouts, which Quasir said he feared could be used against him. After he refused, Amazon gave him a “final written warning” for allegedly violating 6-foot social distancing rules meant to protect employees from infection.
“Usually you get a verbal warning, and then a couple written warnings, and then a final written warning, and then they can terminate you after that. But I never got a verbal warning,” Quasir told BuzzFeed News. “[It was] straight to a final written warning.”
A second employee who requested anonymity out of fear of further retaliation said she was written up for entering the Amazon delivery station where she works without a badge when she and other protesters were delivering a petition to Amazon management during one of the walkouts.
A third employee also filed a charge of retaliation this week. The labor board is in the process of investigating those charges, and two additional employees are planning to file new charges soon, sources told BuzzFeed News.
Do you have questions you want answered? You can always get in touch. And if you're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand, we’d also love to hear from you (you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels).
Wilma Liebman, former chair of the National Labor Relations Board, said the decision in Chicago is an unusual one, and a sign that the regional director there is “leaving the door open that if there’s more conduct that occurs, that he would add this one in to other events to allege as unlawful.”
“To a certain extent, he’s invited them to file more charges,” Liebman said.
The Amazon employee terminations could be taken into account in the eventuality of a hearing before a labor board judge, Liebman said, but the board ultimately has little power to actually punish a company of Amazon’s size should its behavior be determined to be unlawful. “All they can do is get a slap on the hand,” she said.
As people on lockdown across the country turn to Amazon for household supplies and food while avoiding brick-and-mortar stores, Amazon's sales have skyrocketed. But employees say the company hasn’t done enough to protect them from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. As lawmakers and labor groups have called for Amazon to take better care of its employees, the company has scrambled to implement safety procedures including temperature checks and the distribution of face masks, and is experimenting with disinfectant fogging and even creating its own COVID-19 test.
On Friday Amazon Senior Vice President of Global Affairs Jay Carney told CNN that he doesn’t know how many Amazon employees have tested positive for COVID-19. But the Athena Coalition, an alliance of organizations focused on Amazon, claims employees at more than 75 Amazon facilities so far have tested positive for COVID-19. Amazon has declined to shutter the vast majority of these facilities for disinfection, and employees in New York, Chicago, and Michigan organized protests and walkouts in opposition to that decision.
At the end of March, Amazon fired Chris Smalls, a New York–based employee who the company said terminated for entering an Amazon facility in violation of company orders to self-quarantine. Last week, the company fired Maren Costa and Emily Cunningham, two Seattle-based corporate employees and organizers of the Amazon Employees for Climate Justice group who had spoken out in support of warehouse workers demanding better protections from Amazon. And an Amazon employee and workplace organizer in Minnesota, Bashir Mohamed, told BuzzFeed News on Monday that he’d been fired by Amazon after collecting signatures on a petition related to the coronavirus. Amazon said at the time that it respects workers' rights to voice their concerns and that all three of those employees were fired for violating company policies.
Though no Amazon employees in Chicago have been fired, members of DCH1 Amazonians United say they see a connection between the terminations at other facilities and the targeting and retaliation they’re experiencing following the four walkouts they held, one of which was captured on video and involved a caravan of community members whose cars temporarily shut down the delivery station and ultimately were dispersed by police.
“Management has been harassing and targeting individual DCH1 workers who participated in the four protest actions,” the group said in a petition published Friday evening. “They are violating our rights, and are trying to intimidate us and bully us into submission.” The group is demanding Amazon clear the involved employees' records and reinstate fired workers in other states.
DCH1 Amazonians United credits its protests and petitions for what it says are somewhat improved safety conditions at Amazon: Workers said they’re now provided with masks, their temperatures are checked before they start work, and while the building still hasn’t been closed for cleaning, the housekeeping crew has increased their efforts.
But they also said it’s difficult to adhere to 6-foot social distancing rules while rushing to move packages as fast as Amazon expects them to, and workers who participated in the walkouts say those rules are being enforced selectively to target them.


buzzfeed--2020-04-18--Trump Called Ukrainians “Terrible People.” They Are Airlifting Tons Of Lifesaving Medical Supplies T


buzzfeed--2020-04-20--When Will Your State Reopen? Here’s The Data Being Used To Decide.

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
The easiest of the White House criteria to assess is the two-week decline in the number of new reported cases of COVID-19 per day .
To help you judge how close your state is to meeting that goal , BuzzFeed News has plotted the trajectory of new cases for each US state and territory .
“ You need an infrastructure of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracing , ” Ezekiel Emanuel , vice provost of global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania and a former health policy adviser to the Obama administration , told BuzzFeed News .
“ Those are absolutely essential for going forward.
” But the criteria don ’ t explicitly include a provision for widespread population testing and tracing of the contacts of people who test positive — which many experts say is crucial .
The White House ’ s criteria for states to start reopening their economies have three components : They should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 days ; reports of symptoms that might represent undiagnosed COVID-19 should have been in decline for the same period ; and hospitals should have enough capacity to handle cases without operating in crisis mode and have a “ robust testing program ” for health care workers .
But in a departure from his administration ’ s own reopening plan , the next day Trump tweeted “ LIBERATE MINNESOTA !
” followed by similar tweets about Michigan and Virginia — calling out states with Democratic governors under lockdowns and apparently giving his approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets to protest stay-at-home orders .
“ We must have a working economy , and we want to get it back very , very quickly , and that ’ s what ’ s going to happen , ” Trump said on April 16 .
That day , the White House released guidelines for “ Opening Up America Again , ” intended to help state and local officials judge when it ’ s safe to start relaxing social distancing rules .
Measures taken by many states including stay-at-home orders and business closures are credited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and saving lives , but that has come with a high economic cost .
With the US economy taking a battering from COVID-19 lockdowns , President Donald Trump wants states to get back to business as soon as possible .
While some states may decide on relaxing their COVID-19 restrictions individually , others — including Michigan and Minnesota — have joined regional alliances to coordinate their plans .
Few states currently have a clearly declining trajectory of new cases .
Of those targeted by Trump ’ s “ liberate ” tweets , only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing a peak in the number of new cases around April 7 .
New cases in Minnesota and Virginia still seem to be on the rise .
We have highlighted the worst-affected state , New York , the most populous , California , and the three states targeted in Trump ’ s tweets , plus two states that were badly affected but are now on a declining trajectory of new cases : Washington and Louisiana .
Other states and territories are shown in gray .
You can search for any of the grayed-out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of the chart — start typing its name or use the dropdown menu , and the state ’ s trajectory of new cases will appear in black .
Because delays in reporting cases can cause spikes and dips in the data , this chart plots the daily average number of new cases recorded over the preceding seven days to show a smoother trajectory .
The vertical axis has a logarithmic scale , which makes the difference between 10 and 100 take up the same height on the chart as the difference between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easier to see the trajectories for the states with fewer cases , which would otherwise be clustered together at the bottom of the chart .
This chart shows the trajectory of new cases for these regional groupings .
The Western group comprises California , Oregon , and Washington ; the Midwest group includes Illinois , Indiana , Kentucky , Michigan , Minnesota , Ohio , and Wisconsin ; and the Northeast group is Connecticut , Delaware , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York , Pennsylvania , and Rhode Island .
So far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decline in new cases is the Western grouping .
On April 14 , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom warned state residents against expecting a rapid return to normal , even after restrictions start to be lifted .
“ You may be having dinner with a waiter wearing gloves , maybe a face mask , dinner where the menu is disposable , where ... half the tables in that restaurant no longer appear , where your temperature is checked before you walk into the establishment , ” he said .
Some experts question whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases is the best measure for deciding whether to reopen , however .
Emanuel said that a declining trajectory of new cases may not be enough to safely relax restrictions , if the number of cases is still high .
Computational epidemiologist Maia Majumder of Harvard University warned that daily counts of new cases may be an unreliable indicator of whether the epidemic is subsiding , given differences in the extent of testing from state-to-state and over time .
Across the nation , the number of tests being conducted each day seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to data collected by the COVID Tracking Project .
This means that a decline in the number of new cases in some states could reflect a falloff in testing , rather than a real decline in transmission of the coronavirus .
“ New deaths per day might be the better metric to watch , given that deaths from COVID-19 are less likely to be misclassified , ” Majumder told BuzzFeed News by email .
( There are also concerns that deaths may have been undercounted , and states are taking different positions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died as a result of COVID-19 without a positive diagnosis . )
In addition to a decline in new cases , a second White House criterion suggests that states should wait for a 14-day decline in reports of symptoms that might represent undiagnosed COVID-19 cases .
But those numbers may also be difficult to reliably assess .
The CDC ’ s FluView surveillance program each week calculates the percentage of outpatient consultations for a sample of health care providers in each state that involve patients reporting a fever and a cough or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than influenza .
Those numbers likely include some people who actually have COVID-19 .
But the pandemic may have changed the way in which people seek medical help , potentially biasing the numbers .
The CDC has warned that its surveillance systems “ are currently being affected by recent changes in health care seeking behavior , including increasing use of telemedicine.
” The White House ’ s third criterion addresses the need for hospitals to be able to cope with treating COVID-19 patients , including robust testing of health care workers .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has been infected and beaten off the virus , which could help identify workers who may have some immunity .
But meeting this goal will also be difficult : Few of the available tests have been approved for use by the FDA and their accuracy is far from guaranteed .
It ’ s also unclear whether having antibodies against the coronavirus will give people complete immunity .
The White House criteria are broadly similar to other recommendations made to state governors by public health experts .
On April 17 , the Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released a report co-authored by former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb that also suggested states should consider starting to reopen their economies after the number of new cases has declined for at least 14 days .
In addition , it suggested states must have the ability to test , at minimum , all people with COVID-19 symptoms , be able to safely care for all patients and provide personal protective equipment for health care workers .
Finally , the report said that states must be able to trace contacts of all new cases — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers to conduct this laborious work across the country .
The White House guidelines don ’ t include a provision for widespread testing and contact tracing as an explicit criterion for starting to reopen a state ’ s economy .
Instead , this is included under a separate heading of “ Core State Preparedness Responsibilities.
” Although the guidelines put responsibility for testing and contact tracing onto the states , the slow rollout of testing across the nation has widely been blamed on bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the federal government and the distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC .
Experts consulted by BuzzFeed News urged states to concentrate on improving their capacity for testing before relaxing their COVID-19 restrictions .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ s a responsible expert out there that thinks we ’ ve done enough testing , ” Emanuel said .
Emanuel wants to see testing expanded to people without symptoms who may be spreading COVID-19 , including essential workers like grocery clerks and bus drivers who could infect many people .
Exact estimates differ , but asymptomatic cases may make up as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to CDC director Robert Redfield .
Both the White House and Center for Health Security guidelines call for a phased reopening of facilities including schools , restaurants , and other businesses .
But it ’ s still unclear which aspects of the current restrictions are doing the most to limit transmission of COVID-19 .
That means states should carefully monitor the effects of reopening to see which moves cause transmission to ramp up again and which have relatively small effects , according to Jessica Metcalf , a demographer at Princeton University who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ One of the big questions is which pieces of social distancing policies are having the largest effects , ” Metcalf told BuzzFeed News .
“ Amazingly , we do n't really know.
” Learning which policies have the biggest effect in limiting viral spread is important because most experts predict that we may need several cycles of social distancing and relaxation of these controls before an effective vaccine is developed and it becomes safe to go back to something resembling normality .
“ We just can ’ t squander any opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @

This chart shows the trajectory of new cases for these regional groupings. The Western group comprises California, Oregon, and Washington; the Midwest group includes Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin; and the Northeast group is Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
The Western grouping has seen a slight decline in new cases. On April 14, California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned state residents against expecting a rapid return to normal, even after restrictions start to be lifted. “You may be having dinner with a waiter wearing gloves, maybe a face mask, dinner where the menu is disposable, where ... half the tables in that restaurant no longer appear, where your temperature is checked before you walk into the establishment,” he said.
Some experts question whether a decline in the number of new cases is the best measure for deciding whether to reopen, however. Emanuel said that a declining trajectory of new cases may not be enough to safely relax restrictions, if the number of cases is still high.
Computational epidemiologist Maia Majumder of Harvard University warned that daily counts of new cases may be an unreliable indicator of whether the epidemic is subsiding, given differences in the extent of testing from state-to-state and over time.
Across the nation, the number of tests being conducted each day seems to be plateauing or even declining, according to data collected by the COVID Tracking Project. This means that a decline in the number of new cases in some states could reflect a falloff in testing, rather than a real decline in transmission of the coronavirus.
“New deaths per day might be the better metric to watch, given that deaths from COVID-19 are less likely to be misclassified,” Majumder told BuzzFeed News by email. (There are also concerns that deaths may have been undercounted, and states are taking different positions on whether to count people presumed to have died as a result of COVID-19 without a positive diagnosis.)
In addition to a decline in new cases, a second White House criterion suggests that states should wait for a 14-day decline in reports of symptoms that might represent undiagnosed COVID-19 cases. But those numbers may also be difficult to reliably assess.
The CDC’s FluView surveillance program each week calculates the percentage of outpatient consultations for a sample of health care providers in each state that involve patients reporting a fever and a cough or a sore throat without a known cause other than influenza. Those numbers likely include some people who actually have COVID-19. But the pandemic may have changed the way in which people seek medical help, potentially biasing the numbers. The CDC has warned that its surveillance systems “are currently being affected by recent changes in health care seeking behavior, including increasing use of telemedicine.”
The White House’s third criterion addresses the need for hospitals to be able to cope with treating COVID-19 patients, including robust testing of health care workers. This criterion suggests using antibody tests to reveal who has been infected and beaten off the virus, which could help identify workers who may have some immunity.
But meeting this goal will also be difficult: Few of the available tests have been approved for use by the FDA and their accuracy is far from guaranteed. It’s also unclear whether having antibodies against the coronavirus will give people complete immunity.
The White House criteria are broadly similar to other recommendations made to state governors by public health experts. On April 17, the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University released a report co-authored by former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb that also suggested states should consider starting to reopen their economies after the number of new cases has declined for at least 14 days.
In addition, it suggested states must have the ability to test, at minimum, all people with COVID-19 symptoms, be able to safely care for all patients and provide personal protective equipment for health care workers. Finally, the report said that states must be able to trace contacts of all new cases — which may require tens of thousands of workers to conduct this laborious work across the country.
The White House guidelines don’t include a provision for widespread testing and contact tracing as an explicit criterion for starting to reopen a state’s economy. Instead, this is included under a separate heading of “Core State Preparedness Responsibilities.”
Although the guidelines put responsibility for testing and contact tracing onto the states, the slow rollout of testing across the nation has widely been blamed on bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the federal government and the distribution of faulty test kits manufactured by the CDC.
Experts consulted by BuzzFeed News urged states to concentrate on improving their capacity for testing before relaxing their COVID-19 restrictions. “I don’t think there’s a responsible expert out there that thinks we’ve done enough testing,” Emanuel said.
Emanuel wants to see testing expanded to people without symptoms who may be spreading COVID-19, including essential workers like grocery clerks and bus drivers who could infect many people. Exact estimates differ, but asymptomatic cases may make up as much as 25% of total cases, according to CDC director Robert Redfield.
Both the White House and Center for Health Security guidelines call for a phased reopening of facilities including schools, restaurants, and other businesses. But it’s still unclear which aspects of the current restrictions are doing the most to limit transmission of COVID-19.
That means states should carefully monitor the effects of reopening to see which moves cause transmission to ramp up again and which have relatively small effects, according to Jessica Metcalf, a demographer at Princeton University who studies the dynamics of infectious disease.
“One of the big questions is which pieces of social distancing policies are having the largest effects,” Metcalf told BuzzFeed News. “Amazingly, we don't really know.”
Learning which policies have the biggest effect in limiting viral spread is important because most experts predict that we may need several cycles of social distancing and relaxation of these controls before an effective vaccine is developed and it becomes safe to go back to something resembling normality.
“We just can’t squander any opportunity to learn,” Metcalf said.


buzzfeed--2020-04-20--The University Of California Will Suspend Payments On Student Loans That It Holds Through Sept. 30

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
WASHINGTON — The University of California is suspending student loan payments for some alumni of the massive state public university system during the coronavirus pandemic , allowing thousands of borrowers who were left behind by a law passed by Congress last month to take nearly six months off of payments .
Borrowers who took out student loans from the UC system will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their loans from April 15 through Sept. 30 .
This includes federal Perkins loans ( a needs-based loan program that ended in 2017 ) , California DREAM Loans ( for undocumented students ) , and other institutional loans that were borrowed from the UC system .
Through Sept. 30 , all UC system loans will have 0 % interest rates and won ’ t have any penalties , fees , or collections for nonpayment .
The system contacted borrowers through their loan servicer about the move on April 15 .
The move lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , passed by Congress in March , which canceled payments and set a 0 % interest rate for federally held student loans through the end of September .
But that law left behind borrowers with some other types of federal and institutional loans , so the UC system decided to “ provide some similar relief ” for its own borrowers , Shawn Brick , University of California systemwide director of student financial support , told BuzzFeed News Friday .
“ Our intent with this was to make sure that we did all that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for students , ” Brick said , estimating that $ 140 million in loans taken out by about 40,000 UC alumni will qualify for suspended payments .
“ This is small in comparison to the direct loan program , ” he said , but UC wanted to extend relief to borrowers whose loans they have control over given the coronavirus pandemic .
As with federally held loans affected by the CARES Act , the UC system is putting loans in administrative forbearance .
That means that not paying will not affect a borrower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , commercially held federal loans , and other loans that were not taken out from the UC system will not be affected .
( See our guide on how to know if you qualify for federal student loan relief and what “ commercially held ” and “ federally held ” actually mean here . )
Borrowers will have to opt in to put their loan payments on hold , but Brick said anyone who misses payments during this period will have their loans automatically put in administrative forbearance and there ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the system decided to have borrowers opt-in , Brick said , is to avoid the “ hassle ” of having to set up automatic payments again for people who want to continue paying off their loans during this 0 % interest period .
The UC system plans to contact borrowers who take advantage of the suspended payments in September about reconnecting automatic payments .

WASHINGTON — The University of California is suspending student loan payments for some alumni of the massive state public university system during the coronavirus pandemic, allowing thousands of borrowers who were left behind by a law passed by Congress last month to take nearly six months off of payments.
Borrowers who took out student loans from the UC system will no longer have to make payments on their loans from April 15 through Sept. 30. This includes federal Perkins loans (a needs-based loan program that ended in 2017), California DREAM Loans (for undocumented students), and other institutional loans that were borrowed from the UC system.
Through Sept. 30, all UC system loans will have 0% interest rates and won’t have any penalties, fees, or collections for nonpayment. The system contacted borrowers through their loan servicer about the move on April 15.
The move lines up with benefits from the CARES Act, passed by Congress in March, which canceled payments and set a 0% interest rate for federally held student loans through the end of September. But that law left behind borrowers with some other types of federal and institutional loans, so the UC system decided to “provide some similar relief” for its own borrowers, Shawn Brick, University of California systemwide director of student financial support, told BuzzFeed News Friday.
“Our intent with this was to make sure that we did all that we could to level the playing field for students,” Brick said, estimating that $140 million in loans taken out by about 40,000 UC alumni will qualify for suspended payments. “This is small in comparison to the direct loan program,” he said, but UC wanted to extend relief to borrowers whose loans they have control over given the coronavirus pandemic.
As with federally held loans affected by the CARES Act, the UC system is putting loans in administrative forbearance. That means that not paying will not affect a borrower’s credit.
Private student loans, commercially held federal loans, and other loans that were not taken out from the UC system will not be affected. (See our guide on how to know if you qualify for federal student loan relief and what “commercially held” and “federally held” actually mean here.)
Borrowers will have to opt in to put their loan payments on hold, but Brick said anyone who misses payments during this period will have their loans automatically put in administrative forbearance and there’s no penalty for doing so. The reason the system decided to have borrowers opt-in, Brick said, is to avoid the “hassle” of having to set up automatic payments again for people who want to continue paying off their loans during this 0% interest period. The UC system plans to contact borrowers who take advantage of the suspended payments in September about reconnecting automatic payments.