buzzfeed--2020-05-16--Here’s Why Everyone On Facebook Is Talking About Woodstock And The Coronavirus

We are stardust .
We are golden .
And we 've got to stop sharing unhelpful memes .
A surprising narrative about COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , is spreading : that fears of the pandemic are overblown because in 1969 , the Woodstock music festival was held during a flu pandemic .
The claim has been shared thousands of times via Facebook posts and memes .
“ Instead of shutting everything down , they held Woodstock , ” one version of the meme reads .
As the majority of the country rides out the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploded , and with it online misinformation about the coronavirus .
On Facebook viral content has been circulating , regardless of its truthfulness — like the misleading “ Plandemic ” video , which was viewed millions of times before it was taken down by the platform ’ s moderators last week .
And while the “ Plandemic ” video presented a conspiratorial worldview steeped in anti-vaccination and extremist tropes , the Woodstock/flu meme is something different : nostalgic and gauzy , although still inaccurate .
The meme argues that the current lockdown due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product of the media spreading unnecessary fear and panic .
Many iterations of it are followed by comments by those who were alive at the time about how Americans in 1968 and 1969 didn ’ t change their lives to deal with an influenza pandemic The Woodstock narrative originated in a May 1 article titled “ Woodstock Occurred in the Middle of a Pandemic ” by the American Institute for Economic Research , a conservative research institute .
In it , the AIER ’ s editorial director Jeffrey A. Tucker argued that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influenza sickened the planet , the economy did not shut down , and , for the 400,000 people who gathered at Max Yasgur 's farm in upstate New York , there was some music .
“ Nothing was closed by force .
Schools mostly stayed open .
Businesses did too .
You could go to the movies .
You could go to bars and restaurants , ” Tucker wrote .
`` If we used government lockdowns then like we use them now , Woodstock ( which changed music forever and still resonates today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much prosperity , culture , tech , etc .
are losing in this calamity ? ''
he added .
Tucker ’ s piece , published on May 1 , 2020 , is now full of updates and corrections .
The original version claimed that no schools had closed due to H3N2 , which isn ’ t true — 23 states faced school and college closures .
The original version also , most crucially , didn ’ t include the detail that the influenza pandemic started in 1968 , came in two large seasonal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while it lasted until 1969 , Woodstock happened in August , between the waves of the pandemic .
On May 7 , the Reuters Fact Check team labeled the AIER article “ misleading , ” writing : “ the Woodstock music festival took place months after the first season of the Hong Kong flu had ended in the United States .
Although there was to be a second wave in the US the following winter , it is misleading to say it happened ‘ in the middle of a pandemic.
’ ” Columbia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that while there were some similarities between COVID-19 and H3N2 , the most important difference was that the death rate during the 1968–1969 flu pandemic — 100,000 in the US — was totally different from COVID-19 .
“ That 's basically the same number of deaths you get in a typical flu season in the US , ” Rasmussen said .
“ We 're on track to hit 100,000 deaths [ from COVID-19 ] next week , if not the end of the month.
” But regardless of whether the comparison between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fair one , the idea has spread on Facebook , particularly within right-wing groups and pages .
The Rabbit Hole , a right-wing Facebook page , was the biggest source of traffic to the AIER story , according to social metrics site CrowdTrangle .
“ What we did n't do in the past was panic like a bunch of scared children and allow the government to ruin people 's lives , ” the page wrote .
“ Please read this article , it shows you the stupidity of what our Governments are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hole has over 100,000 likes on its page , which promotes misinformation about COVID-19 , like the claim that masks can ’ t protect you from the virus .
AIER ’ s article also received a huge amount of traffic from right-wing news site CNSNews.com , which had a post about it shared almost 10,000 times .
Houston-based conservative radio talk show host Michael Berry shared the AIER article , writing on Facebook , “ We did n't always destroy our economy , our life savings , our small businesses , our jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pandemics.
” “ Is it coincidence that an America that has locked its children indoors because of media-hyped fear of the bogeyman is now locking itself indoors over fear of this virus ?
” asked one of Berry ’ s followers in the comment section .
As for how users can avoid falling for misleading or harmful information about COVID-19 , Rasmussen said that many people who share misinformation tend to bristle when they are fact-checked .
“ A lot of times when these types of ‘ oh here 's a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and when they are debunked , the people really double down — the people who wrote them or people who are sharing them widely , ” she said .
“ It 's almost like the debunking does n't really have an effect .
It makes people more inclined to believe it.
” “ We 're starved for information that will allow us to take some actionable societal measures like , ‘ let 's reopen and have Woodstock because they did that in 1969 and everything was fine , ’ ” Rasmussen said @

The Woodstock narrative originated in a May 1 article titled “Woodstock Occurred in the Middle of a Pandemic” by the American Institute for Economic Research, a conservative research institute. In it, the AIER’s editorial director Jeffrey A. Tucker argued that in 1969, while an H3N2 strain of influenza sickened the planet, the economy did not shut down, and, for the 400,000 people who gathered at Max Yasgur's farm in upstate New York, there was some music.
“Nothing was closed by force. Schools mostly stayed open. Businesses did too. You could go to the movies. You could go to bars and restaurants,” Tucker wrote.
"If we used government lockdowns then like we use them now, Woodstock (which changed music forever and still resonates today) would never have occurred. How much prosperity, culture, tech, etc. are losing in this calamity?" he added.
Tucker’s piece, published on May 1, 2020, is now full of updates and corrections. The original version claimed that no schools had closed due to H3N2, which isn’t true — 23 states faced school and college closures. The original version also, most crucially, didn’t include the detail that the influenza pandemic started in 1968, came in two large seasonal waves during the winter months, and while it lasted until 1969, Woodstock happened in August, between the waves of the pandemic.
On May 7, the Reuters Fact Check team labeled the AIER article “misleading,” writing: “the Woodstock music festival took place months after the first season of the Hong Kong flu had ended in the United States. Although there was to be a second wave in the US the following winter, it is misleading to say it happened ‘in the middle of a pandemic.’”
Columbia University virologist Angela Rasmussen told BuzzFeed News that while there were some similarities between COVID-19 and H3N2, the most important difference was that the death rate during the 1968–1969 flu pandemic — 100,000 in the US — was totally different from COVID-19.
“That's basically the same number of deaths you get in a typical flu season in the US,” Rasmussen said. “We're on track to hit 100,000 deaths [from COVID-19] next week, if not the end of the month.”


buzzfeed--2020-05-17--TikTokers Are Saying If A Ring Leaves A Black Mark On Your Face, You're Anemic — So We Talked To A D

TikTokers Are Saying If A Ring Leaves A Black Mark On Your Face, You're Anemic — So We Talked To A Doctor To Get The Truth

Dr. Pathak explained that anemia is a name for any condition where you do n't have enough healthy red blood @ @ @ @ @ common cause of anemia is iron deficiency anemia , '' she said .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ have enough iron in your body to create healthy blood cells and happens in pregnant @ @ @ @ @ menstrual periods , and people that may have a slow bleeding ulcer or other inflammation @ @ @ @ @ stomach or intestines .
Other causes of anemia are vitamin deficiencies like vitamin B12 , @ @ @ @ @ anemia . ''

Dr. Pathak explained that anemia is a name for any condition where you don't have enough healthy red blood cells. "The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency anemia," she said. "This is where you don't have enough iron in your body to create healthy blood cells and happens in pregnant women, women with heavy menstrual periods, and people that may have a slow bleeding ulcer or other inflammation in the lining of the stomach or intestines. Other causes of anemia are vitamin deficiencies like vitamin B12, and conditions like sickle cell anemia."


buzzfeed--2020-05-13--News O'Clock: States Are Blocking Abortions During The Pandemic

So Cal State universities are going to be online-only through the rest of 2020 , but a ten-year-old in Florida @ @ @ @ @ his school system ’ s account - cool .
Plus we look at some of @ @ @ @ @ that are near and dear to our hearts AND we talk to NARAL Pro-Choice president @ @ @ @ @ states are using the pandemic to limit women 's access to abortion .
You can @ @ @ @ @ above or check it out on the iHeartRadio app , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , @ @ @ @ @ listen to your favorite shows .
Lastly , if you have any thoughts on our @ @ @ @ @ at all that you want to share , feel free to send us an email @ @ @ @ @ You can either write down your brilliant opinion , OR even better , record it @ @ @ @ @ email it to us , or DM us on Twitter , we ’ re @ @ @

So Cal State universities are going to be online-only through the rest of 2020, but a ten-year-old in Florida can hack into everyone in his school system’s account - cool.
Plus we look at some of the biggest box office flops that are near and dear to our hearts AND we talk to NARAL Pro-Choice president Ilyse Hogue about how some states are using the pandemic to limit women's access to abortion.
You can listen to today's episode above or check it out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Lastly, if you have any thoughts on our show, or have anything at all that you want to share, feel free to send us an email at newsoclock@buzzfeed.com! You can either write down your brilliant opinion, OR even better, record it as a voice memo and email it to us, or DM us on Twitter, we’re @NewsOClock.


buzzfeed--2020-05-29--They’re Working In Healthcare During A Pandemic. They Don’t Get Health Insurance.

“ As a nurse or a doctor , at least you 're getting paid a decent amount of money to risk your life , '' one hospital clerical worker earning $ 15 an hour told BuzzFeed News .
As the novel coronavirus began spreading in the United States in February and March , a clerical worker at the University Medical Center New Orleans was spending her shifts going in and out of patients ’ rooms , collecting insurance information .
It didn ’ t take long for her to get sick .
In early March , as coronavirus cases began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she came down with chills , body aches , and shortness of breath .
When she finally got a test three weeks later , it came back negative for COVID-19 .
But there are concerns about some tests returning false negatives , and she doesn ’ t trust that hers was performed correctly .
Nearly two months and several hospital visits later , she said she has been stuck at home and hasn ’ t fully recovered .
When she was risking infection at work , the woman , who asked not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from her employer , was earning just $ 15 an hour .
As she is not a full-time employee , unlike the clinical staff at her hospital , she doesn ’ t get paid sick time or vacation days .
She also doesn ’ t get health insurance .
The only reason she isn ’ t saddled with thousands of dollars of medical debt is that she made so little working at the hospital that she qualified for the state ’ s Medicaid program , which was recently expanded to include adults earning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nurse or a doctor , at least you 're getting paid a decent amount of money to risk your life , ” the woman told BuzzFeed News .
“ It pisses me off because they 're not looking out for the most vulnerable people who do n't have benefits.
” She added : “ They want people to risk their lives and get paid little to nothing .
It 's not worth it .
It 's just not.
” The New Orleans staffer is a part of the healthcare industry ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home health aides , records clerks , nursing assistants , and hospital janitors — who are risking their lives during the coronavirus pandemic with little or no safety net .
More than 800,000 healthcare workers and almost 1.1 million of their children live in poverty across the US , according to a 2019 study published in the American Journal of Public Health .
The researchers found that roughly 18.5 million people are employed in the US health industry .
And nearly 10 % of them — 1.7 million — earn so little that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.4 million have no health insurance at all .
Women of color , like the New Orleans staffer , are overrepresented in the industry 's lowest-paid rungs .
Researchers found that nearly half of black and Latina women healthcare workers earned less than $ 15 an hour .
“ It 's a vast , unseen , low-paid workforce , ” said Atheendar Venkataramani , a professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the study ’ s authors .
“ There 's a tremendous amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these low-wage jobs are held by women and underrepresented minorities.
” Venkataramani became interested in the topic several years ago when he was a primary care doctor in Massachusetts .
One of his patients was a home health aide who earned little more than the state minimum wage and only sporadically had health insurance .
“ It seemed incredibly unfair to me that this person , who is at some level a colleague of mine — we 're both in the same industry , but to provide her medical care required dealing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socioeconomic circumstances , ” he said .
“ It was kind of an eye-opening experience for me .
It did n't seem particularly fair.
” Hospitals employ low-paid workers in a range of different jobs .
Some are performing administrative work or answering phones , while others are cooking meals or cleaning rooms or working as security guards .
All face a risk of infection during the coronavirus pandemic .
Just last week , the New York Times reported on three hospital administrative staffers who were part of the “ invisible army ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment at Queens ’ Elmhurst Hospital Center and replenishing supplies .
All three contracted the coronavirus and died .
Sepia Coleman , a healthcare worker in Memphis , has spent 30 years working in the industry .
She still works two jobs , one as a home health aide at $ 10.50 an hour , and another on the night shift at a nursing home at $ 12 an hour .
`` We are in the room when no one else is , ” said Coleman .
“ Doctors and nurses only come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; we 're there all the time .
We have to make sure their vitals are OK. We have to watch them to see if they have any change in behavior or color .
We are beyond essential .
We are the main component of the healthcare system , but we get no credit for that.
” Neither of her jobs offers paid sick leave ; if she contracts the virus , she has no idea how she will pay her bills .
`` I work with sick patients .
That 's what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick pay ?
” Coleman told BuzzFeed News .
“ I 'm disgusted and I 'm really hurt .
I knew the healthcare system was broken , but this pandemic has shown their true colors with all the greed and neglect — not just of residents , but of us , too .
It 's just like they do n't care.
” Joyce Barnes of Richmond , Virginia , has also worked in healthcare for over 30 years .
Even in the best of times , she said , working as a home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You do n't get any raises .
You do n't get any vacation time .
You do n't get paid sick time .
You have to work all the time , ” she said .
“ I 've always felt like we 're not getting the respect that we deserve , ” she said .
“ I 've always said home care workers are the forgotten ones — but now with this COVID-19 going on , it 's even worse.
” Barnes works two jobs from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid $ 9.40 an hour , the other $ 8.25 an hour .
Both of her clients ’ care is paid for through Virginia ’ s Medicaid program .
She doesn ’ t receive benefits through either job and makes slightly too much to qualify for Medicaid herself .
She does not have health insurance .
Venkataramani , the health policy professor , believes the coronavirus pandemic should force a reckoning in the industry .
“ We have to have a tough conversation about whether we are fairly compensating workers who are doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are essential for the functioning of the hospital , ” he said .
“ We have to ask ourselves , ‘ Are we in this multibillion-dollar industry valuing the work that these folks do properly ?
’ ” As she gets better , the New Orleans worker is at a crossroads .
At $ 15 an hour , she makes more at her hospital job than she could get working in a hotel or restaurant — income she needs to take care of her son .
But she wonders whether it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health , which runs the hospital , said it is committed to taking care of all of its employees , whether or not they have health insurance .
“ If an LCMC Health employee contracts COVID-19 as a result of work exposure , LCMC Health is committed to paying all medical expenses as it relates to treatment and recovery , ” said Mary Beth Romig-Haskins , head of marketing and public affairs .
“ A top priority is to also ensure our employees have the resources they need to seek screening , testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Employee Health program.
” Still , the hospital staffer can ’ t help wonder what might happen to her family if she dies .
“ I 'm scared because there 's too much uncertainty with this virus , ” she said .
“ Right now , hospitals have to step up and pay people a lot more and have to at least offer some kind of life insurance benefits if we die on the job .
”

As the novel coronavirus began spreading in the United States in February and March, a clerical worker at the University Medical Center New Orleans was spending her shifts going in and out of patients’ rooms, collecting insurance information.
It didn’t take long for her to get sick.
In early March, as coronavirus cases began exploding in the city after Mardi Gras, she came down with chills, body aches, and shortness of breath. When she finally got a test three weeks later, it came back negative for COVID-19. But there are concerns about some tests returning false negatives, and she doesn’t trust that hers was performed correctly. Nearly two months and several hospital visits later, she said she has been stuck at home and hasn’t fully recovered.
When she was risking infection at work, the woman, who asked not to be identified as she feared reprisal from her employer, was earning just $15 an hour. As she is not a full-time employee, unlike the clinical staff at her hospital, she doesn’t get paid sick time or vacation days. She also doesn’t get health insurance. The only reason she isn’t saddled with thousands of dollars of medical debt is that she made so little working at the hospital that she qualified for the state’s Medicaid program, which was recently expanded to include adults earning low incomes like her.
“As a nurse or a doctor, at least you're getting paid a decent amount of money to risk your life,” the woman told BuzzFeed News. “It pisses me off because they're not looking out for the most vulnerable people who don't have benefits.”
She added: “They want people to risk their lives and get paid little to nothing. It's not worth it. It's just not.”
The New Orleans staffer is a part of the healthcare industry’s often overlooked class of hourly workers — home health aides, records clerks, nursing assistants, and hospital janitors — who are risking their lives during the coronavirus pandemic with little or no safety net.
More than 800,000 healthcare workers and almost 1.1 million of their children live in poverty across the US, according to a 2019 study published in the American Journal of Public Health. The researchers found that roughly 18.5 million people are employed in the US health industry. And nearly 10% of them — 1.7 million — earn so little that they get healthcare through Medicaid. Another 1.4 million have no health insurance at all.


buzzfeed--2020-05-13--This Man’s Leg Was Amputated Just Before The Coronavirus Hit. Now When He Falls, There’s Nobody To H

This Man’s Leg Was Amputated Just Before The Coronavirus Hit. Now When He Falls, There’s Nobody To Help Him Up.

When Jamshid Rahimi Azar fell down last month , there was nobody to help him .
`` As I was going out I had a fall on the asphalt in the front yard , '' he told BuzzFeed News .
`` I was experiencing sharp pains and had to crawl back to the stairs as I was feeling extremely light headed . ''
Rahimi Azar ’ s right leg was amputated above the knee in December 2019 , after treatment for a cancerous tumour in his muscles was unsuccessful .
At the time of his surgery , the Iranian man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years for his refugee claim to be heard by the Australian government .
Then the coronavirus pandemic struck .
Now as he is learning to live without his leg , even the limited support he was expecting is out of reach .
`` The prosthetic leg is not the right fit for me and I am constantly falling and injuring myself , '' Rahimi Azar told BuzzFeed News .
`` I have lost all self-confidence and hope . ''
Restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 mean most of his medical appointments have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written by his treating psychologist in April .
`` He has not received appropriate treatments such as physiotherapy for adapting his amputated organ to the prosthesis .
This has caused him to fall many times during the previous month , '' wrote psychologist Dr Hoda Barazandeh .
She concluded that his isolation and physical condition have left his mental health in a critical condition .
`` I feel I have fallen into a well , '' Rahimi Azar said .
`` I have no support and I have no ability to get out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychologist wrote that Rahimi Azar was still learning to move with one foot and was unable to do daily tasks such as cleaning and cooking .
He lives in a sharehouse , but he is not close with his housemates and they are out at work during the day .
His house also has stairs that are difficult for him to navigate .
He is no longer able to drive .
Rahimi Azar is one of 13,000 asylum seekers on bridging visas in the Australian community waiting for their status to be resolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not access the National Disability Insurance Scheme ( NDIS ) .
He has a caseworker , but they are not medically qualified .
He is desperate for a carer , more appropriate accommodation , and equipment including a better-fitting prosthetic and a wheelchair .
Without a carer , Rahimi Azar would normally rely on friends for support .
But even that is difficult right now .
`` Due to the social distancing rules , his friends stopped visiting him and he feels much more isolated and forgotten , '' Barazandeh ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have anyone in Australia to support him , he is feeling isolated , hopeless and helpless . ''
Rahimi Azar used to work as a chef and pay taxes in Australia , but is now unable to work and struggling financially .
According to a January 2020 letter from a doctor at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre , Rahimi Azar will be unfit to work in any capacity for the next two years .
He receives $ 820 a month in an asylum seeker payment from Centrelink , of which $ 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already struggling to pay for medication to treat his asthma .
Both the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre 's letter and the psychologist ’ s letter advocate for Rahimi Azar to receive the disability support pension , which is double the payment he currently receives .
But Australia 's welfare agency Centrelink has told Rahimi Azar 's caseworker he is ineligible for the disability pension because of his visa status .
As an asylum seeker , he is ineligible even for the JobSeeker unemployment payment .
Rahimi Azar , 41 , has lived in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Darwin ’ s detention centre for three months .
Asylum seekers who arrived by boat around that time — known as the “ legacy caseload ” — were barred from applying for protection until receiving a formal invitation from a government minister , which could take up to four years .
And even then , they could only apply for temporary visas .
In April 2017 Rahimi Azar was finally able to apply for a five-year safe haven enterprise visa .
But he is still waiting for an interview with the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to BuzzFeed News ' questions about the lengthy wait , but it is not uncommon : at the start of April 2020 , almost 6,000 people from the same broad cohort of boat arrivals were waiting for the department to decide on their applications .
Even if his claim succeeds and Australia recognises him as a refugee , the fact that Rahimi Azar arrived by boat means he will only be eligible for a temporary visa , and therefore wo n't be able to access the NDIS or the disability pension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get the `` special benefit '' welfare payment — equivalent to Jobseeker — and the coronavirus supplement .
The only other alternative is for home affairs minister Peter Dutton or acting immigration minister Alan Tudge to exercise their so-called `` God powers '' to grant him a visa .
Rahimi Azar began to experience pain in his leg in December 2018 .
That pain was only diagnosed as cancer in mid-2019 .
By that time , the cancer was already metastatic in the muscles of his right leg .
It was amputated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 at a Melbourne hospital .
The decision to amputate has brought him `` intensive psychological pain '' , his psychologist wrote , `` and he has been unable to get used to a life with one leg '' .
Rahimi Azar told BuzzFeed News that the loss of his leg makes him feel `` defenceless '' .
`` I keep the lights on at night as I am afraid I will not be able to defend myself if something were to happen , '' he said .
`` I sincerely plead publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister to consider my needs with compassion .
May they hear me . ''

When Jamshid Rahimi Azar fell down last month, there was nobody to help him.
"As I was going out I had a fall on the asphalt in the front yard," he told BuzzFeed News. "I was experiencing sharp pains and had to crawl back to the stairs as I was feeling extremely light headed."
Rahimi Azar’s right leg was amputated above the knee in December 2019, after treatment for a cancerous tumour in his muscles was unsuccessful. At the time of his surgery, the Iranian man had been waiting for more than six years for his refugee claim to be heard by the Australian government.
Then the coronavirus pandemic struck. Now as he is learning to live without his leg, even the limited support he was expecting is out of reach.
"The prosthetic leg is not the right fit for me and I am constantly falling and injuring myself," Rahimi Azar told BuzzFeed News. "I have lost all self-confidence and hope."
Restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 mean most of his medical appointments have been cancelled, according to a report written by his treating psychologist in April.
"He has not received appropriate treatments such as physiotherapy for adapting his amputated organ to the prosthesis. This has caused him to fall many times during the previous month," wrote psychologist Dr Hoda Barazandeh.
She concluded that his isolation and physical condition have left his mental health in a critical condition.
"I feel I have fallen into a well," Rahimi Azar said. "I have no support and I have no ability to get out of this deep hole."
His psychologist wrote that Rahimi Azar was still learning to move with one foot and was unable to do daily tasks such as cleaning and cooking. He lives in a sharehouse, but he is not close with his housemates and they are out at work during the day. His house also has stairs that are difficult for him to navigate. He is no longer able to drive.
Rahimi Azar is one of 13,000 asylum seekers on bridging visas in the Australian community waiting for their status to be resolved. As an asylum seeker, he cannot access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). He has a caseworker, but they are not medically qualified. He is desperate for a carer, more appropriate accommodation, and equipment including a better-fitting prosthetic and a wheelchair.
Without a carer, Rahimi Azar would normally rely on friends for support. But even that is difficult right now.
"Due to the social distancing rules, his friends stopped visiting him and he feels much more isolated and forgotten," Barazandeh’s report stated. "Since he does not have anyone in Australia to support him, he is feeling isolated, hopeless and helpless."
Rahimi Azar used to work as a chef and pay taxes in Australia, but is now unable to work and struggling financially. According to a January 2020 letter from a doctor at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Rahimi Azar will be unfit to work in any capacity for the next two years. He receives $820 a month in an asylum seeker payment from Centrelink, of which $200 is left after rent. He was already struggling to pay for medication to treat his asthma.
Both the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre's letter and the psychologist’s letter advocate for Rahimi Azar to receive the disability support pension, which is double the payment he currently receives.
But Australia's welfare agency Centrelink has told Rahimi Azar's caseworker he is ineligible for the disability pension because of his visa status. As an asylum seeker, he is ineligible even for the JobSeeker unemployment payment.
Rahimi Azar, 41, has lived in Melbourne since 2013, after being held at Darwin’s detention centre for three months.
Asylum seekers who arrived by boat around that time — known as the “legacy caseload” — were barred from applying for protection until receiving a formal invitation from a government minister, which could take up to four years. And even then, they could only apply for temporary visas.
In April 2017 Rahimi Azar was finally able to apply for a five-year safe haven enterprise visa. But he is still waiting for an interview with the Department of Home Affairs. The department did not respond to BuzzFeed News' questions about the lengthy wait, but it is not uncommon: at the start of April 2020, almost 6,000 people from the same broad cohort of boat arrivals were waiting for the department to decide on their applications.
Even if his claim succeeds and Australia recognises him as a refugee, the fact that Rahimi Azar arrived by boat means he will only be eligible for a temporary visa, and therefore won't be able to access the NDIS or the disability pension. However, he might be able to get the "special benefit" welfare payment — equivalent to Jobseeker — and the coronavirus supplement. The only other alternative is for home affairs minister Peter Dutton or acting immigration minister Alan Tudge to exercise their so-called "God powers" to grant him a visa.
Rahimi Azar began to experience pain in his leg in December 2018. That pain was only diagnosed as cancer in mid-2019. By that time, the cancer was already metastatic in the muscles of his right leg. It was amputated 10cm above his right knee in December 2019 at a Melbourne hospital.
The decision to amputate has brought him "intensive psychological pain", his psychologist wrote, "and he has been unable to get used to a life with one leg".
Rahimi Azar told BuzzFeed News that the loss of his leg makes him feel "defenceless".
"I keep the lights on at night as I am afraid I will not be able to defend myself if something were to happen," he said. "I sincerely plead publicly for the home affairs minister and immigration minister to consider my needs with compassion. May they hear me."


buzzfeed--2020-05-18--Women Are Sharing What Their Breast Milk Tastes Like And It Is A Lot To Take In

... people who had not had kids were in shock that it tasted like the Fruity Pebbles cereal and because @ @ @ @ @ it does !
!
!

...people who had not had kids were in shock that it tasted like the Fruity Pebbles cereal and because other moms were agreeing that it does!!!


buzzfeed--2020-05-15--16 Funny Vagina Tweets You're Only Allowed To Read If You Have A Vagina

Before lockdown , I had laser hair removal on my lady parts .
They only did the top half and @ @ @ @ @ to go back for the bottom half .
Now my vag is bare up top @ @ @ @ @ below .
My vagina has a mullet .

Before lockdown, I had laser hair removal on my lady parts. They only did the top half and I didn’t get to go back for the bottom half. Now my vag is bare up top, and a bush down below. My vagina has a mullet.


buzzfeed--2020-05-13--Here's How The Whole "Wear A Face Mask" Thing Is Going In Southern California — AKA Terribly

So , you know , in case you need to hear this : WE 'RE STILL NOT ON THE OTHER @ @ @ @ @ So wear your mask in public !

So, you know, in case you need to hear this: WE'RE STILL NOT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS YET. So wear your mask in public!


buzzfeed--2020-05-12--Bryan Adams Is Facing Backlash Calling Him "Racist" For Comments He Made About The Coronavirus's Ori

Bryan Adams Is Facing Backlash Calling Him "Racist" For Comments He Made About The Coronavirus's Origins

The `` wet market '' Bryan is referring to is the seafood market in Wuhan , China .
Several of @ @ @ @ @ in Wuhan were tied to the market , but the actual origins of the virus @ @ @ @ @ have been circling online of bat-eating being the origin of COVID-19 , making Asians targets @ @

The "wet market" Bryan is referring to is the seafood market in Wuhan, China. Several of the first COVID-19 cases reported in Wuhan were tied to the market, but the actual origins of the virus are still unknown . Hoaxes have been circling online of bat-eating being the origin of COVID-19, making Asians targets of harassment


buzzfeed--2020-05-15--This TikTok Video Of Babies With Purple Mouths Went Viral After This Mom Said They Ate Sharpies

Christel said that a couple of years ago , she took her daughter to the doctor because her mouth was @ @ @ @ @ white substance .
`` At first I thought maybe her tongue was just coated from @ @ @ @ @ noticed it got thicker and it would still be on her tongue for hours after @ @ @ @ @ said .
After she took her daughter to the doctor , she was told it @ @ @

Christel said that a couple of years ago, she took her daughter to the doctor because her mouth was coated in a thick, white substance. "At first I thought maybe her tongue was just coated from her formula, but I noticed it got thicker and it would still be on her tongue for hours after a bottle," she said. After she took her daughter to the doctor, she was told it was oral thrush


buzzfeed--2020-05-09--Tell Us About A Time When You Realized You — Or Someone You Know — Were Doing Personal Hygiene Wrong

Whatever it is , tell us so we can help the world learn how to properly take care of themselves @ @ @ @ @ hygiene habit you have seen or realized and you could be featured in an upcoming @ @ @ @

Whatever it is, tell us so we can help the world learn how to properly take care of themselves! Share the poor personal hygiene habit you have seen or realized and you could be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post!


buzzfeed--2020-05-11--The US, Struggling Under The Pressure Of The Coronavirus, Is Still Taking Refugees From Australia

Three refugees flew from immigration detention in Australia to start new lives in the United States this week , despite the coronavirus pandemic placing a chokehold on international resettlement .
The men , two from Sudan and one from Pakistan , jetted together from Melbourne through Qatar to the US , where they parted ways before reaching their final destinations of Tennessee , Maryland and Pennsylvania .
The US took them under the refugee swap deal between the two countries .
The flights went ahead despite a global pause on refugee resettlements announced by the United Nations High Commission on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspended its refugee program because of the coronavirus on March 19 , with the exception of emergency cases .
The ongoing operation of the resettlement program in the US leaves refugees in Australia and its offshore detention camps who have been accepted under the program with an invidious choice : to stay in detention , where many have been for the past seven years , or start a new life in the US as it is ravaged by a deadly pandemic .
For Sali , a Sudanese refugee who landed in Maryland on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 hours , the choice was easy .
“ Of course there is the coronavirus , but what can I do ?
If you die inside , is that better ?
It ’ s better to die outside .
You ’ re free , ” he told BuzzFeed News by telephone from the house where he will be in quarantine alone for the next fortnight .
Having explained that his family did not know his situation , and that he could not be fully identified in a news story , Sali was asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He initially offered a code : Q1K 022 .
That is his “ boat ID ” — the number Australia assigned to asylum-seekers who sought safety on its shores in 2013 and 2014 , and who were sent to detention camps in Papua New Guinea and on Nauru .
Sali had been called by his boat ID since October 2013 , one of the many ways he said the Australian government treated him like an animal .
After initially insisting he be called by his Boat ID in this article , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Sudanese refugee , 30 , spent six years in brutal conditions on Papua New Guinea ’ s Manus Island before being transferred to an Australian detention centre for medical treatment .
For the last eight months , he said , he could not sleep at night and stayed in his room all day to avoid the ever-present guards .
He says he did not get proper medical treatment in Australia , even for the chest pains he has experienced for the last three years .
The only thing that gave him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was finally notified that he would fly out , four days before his journey , he felt happy .
“ I have been in jail for seven years and I was tired of that situation , ” he said .
In Maryland , Sali plans to continue his studies in electrical engineering , find a job , get married , have a family and eventually explore the US .
He used to play soccer as a striker back in Sudan .
He doesn ’ t know if he is still any good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his new country .
The coronavirus pandemic and the economic fallout make those plans more complicated .
New arrivals receive support from casework organisations , including assistance with rent , health insurance , and finding work and health insurance , when they first land .
But the level of support varies depending on the state and the organisation .
Volunteer group Ads-Up , run and staffed by Australian expats in the US , works to contact new arrivals under the Australia-US deal and support them with advice , social contact and fundraisers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winsor , told BuzzFeed News over 100 refugees already in the US had contacted them about the coronavirus , many because they had lost their jobs .
The group is running GoFundMe fundraisers for those families in the most critical need .
“ To say that feelings are mixed would be an understatement , ” Winsor said of the fact that resettlements are still going ahead .
“ On the one hand , people who ’ ve been indefinitely detained for upwards of seven years are finally getting a chance at freedom .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s response [ to the coronavirus ] has been such a clusterfuck , and they ’ re dropping vulnerable refugees right in the middle of it with barely more than the clothes on their back.
” Australia ’ s neighbour New Zealand — which , like Australia , has successfully flattened the coronavirus curve — has a longstanding offer to take 150 people from the offshore population each year .
Australia has never accepted the offer , citing the ease with which people can travel between the two countries , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade to start up once more .
“ The dichotomy of either going to the epicentre of the coronavirus in the world with no support , and being indefinitely detained on the other hand , is a choice that the Australian government has forced on these people , ” Winsor said .
S , a refugee who spent six years on Manus Island and is now detained in Brisbane , is conflicted about his flight to the US later this month .
He was brought to Australia for treatment for numerous medical issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not yet seen a specialist .
He is worried about the number of coronavirus cases in America , and does not know if he will be able to receive the treatment he needs there .
He is thinking about asking to postpone his flight , but does not know when he would be able to go next .
“ I ’ m confused , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
“ I don ’ t know what I ’ ll do.
” Hundreds more refugees in Australia ’ s care could be confronted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many have been approved for resettlement and are waiting for flights .
Others have not yet heard back about their applications .
Others still had flights booked that were cancelled last-minute as the coronavirus crisis sharpened in February and March .
( Sali was originally due to fly on March 23 , but his flight was cancelled . )

Three refugees flew from immigration detention in Australia to start new lives in the United States this week, despite the coronavirus pandemic placing a chokehold on international resettlement.
The men, two from Sudan and one from Pakistan, jetted together from Melbourne through Qatar to the US, where they parted ways before reaching their final destinations of Tennessee, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The US took them under the refugee swap deal between the two countries.
The flights went ahead despite a global pause on refugee resettlements announced by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees in mid-March. The US also suspended its refugee program because of the coronavirus on March 19, with the exception of emergency cases.
The ongoing operation of the resettlement program in the US leaves refugees in Australia and its offshore detention camps who have been accepted under the program with an invidious choice: to stay in detention, where many have been for the past seven years, or start a new life in the US as it is ravaged by a deadly pandemic.
For Sali, a Sudanese refugee who landed in Maryland on Wednesday after a journey lasting more than 24 hours, the choice was easy.
“Of course there is the coronavirus, but what can I do? If you die inside, is that better? It’s better to die outside. You’re free,” he told BuzzFeed News by telephone from the house where he will be in quarantine alone for the next fortnight.
Having explained that his family did not know his situation, and that he could not be fully identified in a news story, Sali was asked what pseudonym he would prefer to use. He initially offered a code: Q1K 022. That is his “boat ID” — the number Australia assigned to asylum-seekers who sought safety on its shores in 2013 and 2014, and who were sent to detention camps in Papua New Guinea and on Nauru.
Sali had been called by his boat ID since October 2013, one of the many ways he said the Australian government treated him like an animal. After initially insisting he be called by his Boat ID in this article, he agreed to use his nickname, Sali.
The Sudanese refugee, 30, spent six years in brutal conditions on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island before being transferred to an Australian detention centre for medical treatment.
For the last eight months, he said, he could not sleep at night and stayed in his room all day to avoid the ever-present guards. He says he did not get proper medical treatment in Australia, even for the chest pains he has experienced for the last three years. The only thing that gave him hope was the US.
So when he was finally notified that he would fly out, four days before his journey, he felt happy.
“I have been in jail for seven years and I was tired of that situation,” he said.
In Maryland, Sali plans to continue his studies in electrical engineering, find a job, get married, have a family and eventually explore the US. He used to play soccer as a striker back in Sudan. He doesn’t know if he is still any good but hopes to join a team in his new country.
The coronavirus pandemic and the economic fallout make those plans more complicated. New arrivals receive support from casework organisations, including assistance with rent, health insurance, and finding work and health insurance, when they first land. But the level of support varies depending on the state and the organisation.
Volunteer group Ads-Up, run and staffed by Australian expats in the US, works to contact new arrivals under the Australia-US deal and support them with advice, social contact and fundraisers. The group’s founder, Ben Winsor, told BuzzFeed News over 100 refugees already in the US had contacted them about the coronavirus, many because they had lost their jobs. The group is running GoFundMe fundraisers for those families in the most critical need.
“To say that feelings are mixed would be an understatement,” Winsor said of the fact that resettlements are still going ahead.
“On the one hand, people who’ve been indefinitely detained for upwards of seven years are finally getting a chance at freedom. On the other hand, the Trump administration’s response [to the coronavirus] has been such a clusterfuck, and they’re dropping vulnerable refugees right in the middle of it with barely more than the clothes on their back.”
Australia’s neighbour New Zealand — which, like Australia, has successfully flattened the coronavirus curve — has a longstanding offer to take 150 people from the offshore population each year. Australia has never accepted the offer, citing the ease with which people can travel between the two countries, and the fear it would cause the people-smuggling trade to start up once more.
“The dichotomy of either going to the epicentre of the coronavirus in the world with no support, and being indefinitely detained on the other hand, is a choice that the Australian government has forced on these people,” Winsor said.
S, a refugee who spent six years on Manus Island and is now detained in Brisbane, is conflicted about his flight to the US later this month. He was brought to Australia for treatment for numerous medical issues more than six months ago but has not yet seen a specialist. He is worried about the number of coronavirus cases in America, and does not know if he will be able to receive the treatment he needs there. He is thinking about asking to postpone his flight, but does not know when he would be able to go next. “I’m confused,” he told BuzzFeed News. “I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Hundreds more refugees in Australia’s care could be confronted by this choice in coming months. Many have been approved for resettlement and are waiting for flights. Others have not yet heard back about their applications. Others still had flights booked that were cancelled last-minute as the coronavirus crisis sharpened in February and March. (Sali was originally due to fly on March 23, but his flight was cancelled.)


buzzfeed--2020-05-13--This Woman's Boyfriend Says There's "No Point" In Giving Her An Orgasm — Should She Dump Him?

You should fess up , but you do n't need to be overly apologetic or contrite about it .
This @ @ @ @ @ you thought would be inconsequential , not some major betrayal for which you need to @ @ @ @ @ beg forgiveness .
Simply let him know that , early on in your relationship , @ @ @ @ @ never had an orgasm before because you thought it would take the pressure off him @ @ @ @ @ this was a mistake , and you 'd like to speak more openly about what @ @ @ @ @ for you moving forward .

You should fess up, but you don't need to be overly apologetic or contrite about it. This was a small fib that you thought would be inconsequential, not some major betrayal for which you need to get on your knees and beg forgiveness. Simply let him know that, early on in your relationship, you told him you'd never had an orgasm before because you thought it would take the pressure off him — but you now realize this was a mistake, and you'd like to speak more openly about what does and doesn't work for you moving forward.


buzzfeed--2020-05-12--Cobie Smulders Revived Robin Sparkles With A Quarantine Version of "Let's Go To The Mall" From "How

Cobie Smulders Revived Robin Sparkles With A Quarantine Version of "Let's Go To The Mall" From "How I Met Your Mother"

`` Here it is .
I hope it takes your mind off some things .
It certainly did for me @ @ @ @ @ the video .

BuzzFeed Bring Me
Obsessed with travel? Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me!


buzzfeed--2020-05-10--17 Lessons My Dog Taught Me About Mental Health

I do n't know about you , but I 've felt anxious , scared , sad and disoriented for weeks @ @ @ @ @ only things getting me through is my ridiculous shih tzu , Bertie .
If you @ @ @ @ @ their unexpected wisdom , then you may find these 17 self-care tips from my dog @ @

10.
Tell your friends you'd still like to be invited to parties (virtual or otherwise), even if you don't have it in you to always show up.


buzzfeed--2020-05-08--Everyone Has A Mood Ring Color That Matches Their Personality — Here's Yours

Take this quiz live with your friends and see everyone 's results !


buzzfeed--2020-05-08--All Periods Are Awful — But How Truly Bad Is Yours?

You 've been in a public restroom with no garbage can , so you had to take your used tampon @ @ @ @ @ it out .


buzzfeed--2020-05-07--Women Wanting An Abortion Face Two Major Barriers In Australia. Now There's A Third: The Coronavirus

Women Wanting An Abortion Face Two Major Barriers In Australia. Now There's A Third: The Coronavirus.

Fiona had just survived a brutal bushfire season and moved into a small tin shed with her two toddlers and partner while they built their family home when the coronavirus outbreak hit .
“ Then I found out I was pregnant , ” Fiona — a pseudonym to protect her privacy — told BuzzFeed News .
“ That was a surprise.
” The last thing the 26-year-old Adelaide Hills mother needed was an unplanned pregnancy in the only Australian state where you can ’ t legally access medical abortion drugs over the phone .
The couple discussed their options and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pregnancy .
Fiona had no idea how or where to get an abortion in South Australia , but a friend of a friend told her about the Pregnancy Advisory Centre ( PAC ) , the only facility in the state to provide consultations for abortion full-time .
She decided not to have a medical termination , for which she would have to travel to one of just a handful of hospitals in the state to see two doctors and get the two pills , because she was worried about recovering while living in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there could be quite a bit of bleeding and we don ’ t have a good bathroom , we ’ re in a shed with a portaloo and a portashower.
” She booked in for a surgical abortion last week .
South Australia ’ s tardiness in updating its abortion law — it was last updated 50 years ago , before the abortion drug mifepristone had been invented — means if Fiona had wanted to terminate her pregnancy with RU486 , she would have had to travel to one of a few approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in every other Australian jurisdiction where telehealth referrals are available .
Other states have different problems .
Right now , if Fiona had been in Launceston , Tasmania , she would have to travel 200km south to terminate her pregnancy because the local hospital doesn ’ t provide abortion .
If she lived in Rockhampton , Queensland , she would have relied on a private abortion provider chartering a private flight for a doctor to fly in and see her .
If she was a migrant without a healthcare card she would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her pregnancy .
Two major barriers to abortion access exist in Australia : its patchwork of laws and the lack of public provisions in hospitals .
Both force women to leave their city — and in some cases , their state — to access a termination at a private provider .
And both are being impacted by the coronavirus pandemic .
Although Tasmania decriminalised abortion before other states ( 2013 ) , it has struggled with access issues .
In 2018 , a single surgical abortion provider closed after 17 years , severely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national conversation about abortion access .
Patients were forced to travel interstate , sometimes at a personal cost of thousands of dollars , to terminate a pregnancy .
Women can now access surgical abortions in Hobart , but for women in the state ’ s north , that means travelling in a pandemic .
Family Planning Tasmania chief executive Cedric Manen said the lack of local provision outside of Hobart is disadvantaging patients , especially in the state ’ s northwest , where a higher number of COVID-19 cases prompted hospital closures and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional access is an ongoing issue , ” Manen told BuzzFeed News .
“ With the closure of the northwest coast , essential travel to Hobart to access this important health right is putting communities and individuals at greater risk of infection.
” The solution is something reproductive healthcare experts and advocates have long campaigned for : widespread public provision of abortion in Australia .
“ We need to open up better access through the Launceston General Hospital for women particularly in the north , ” Manen said .
“ It would need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services throughout the hospital system.
” The Labor party promised it in the last Federal election but lost , and the prime minister refuses to talk about it at all .
The reality is that even with the recent decriminalisation of abortion in NSW and Queensland ( where the government is working with hospitals to map out referral pathways into the public system ) , a patient ’ s ability to access an abortion through a public hospital or clinic at little to no cost completely depends on their postcode .
In South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free through the public system and have been able to do so for decades ; in much of the rest of the country women still fork out hundreds or thousands of dollars to pay a private provider to terminate a pregnancy .
Manen said there had been an increase in demand for medical abortion drugs ( over surgical ) before the pandemic and it had only increased over the past few months .
Offering medical termination of pregnancy is costly and the rebates offer providers little incentive to continue .
Manen wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can to the patient .
“ We have one of the lowest socioeconomic demographic populations in the country and I think any form of cost is a barrier , ” he said .
“ At the end of the day , we still need to have a robust service that is sustainable .
It is not presently sustainable.
” Meanwhile in Queensland , Australia ’ s biggest abortion provider , Marie Stopes Australia , has been chartering private flights from Brisbane to Rockhampton and Townsville for the past fortnight to provide terminations amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to travel restrictions .
“ A lot of the issues that we have seen during the pandemic are issues that existed before COVID-19 , ” MSA ’ s chief executive Jamal Hakim told BuzzFeed News .
“ However travel restrictions have magnified access issues.
” Hakim said that as Australia recovered the government needs to focus on the access gaps that existed before the pandemic .
“ Increasing access to medical abortion to 70 days [ currently you can only legally access it up to 63 days ] , [ and ] access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to play an important part post the COVID-19 pandemic.
” Last month BuzzFeed News revealed MSA only had two weeks until its supply of face masks and hand sanitiser for carrying out surgical abortions would dry up .
A number of MSA ’ s orders from private personal protective equipment ( PPE ) providers were cancelled or refused in the coronavirus pandemic , and the Australian government has also refused to supply MSA with PPE .
Things have since improved and the organisation now has PPE , Hakim said .

Fiona had just survived a brutal bushfire season and moved into a small tin shed with her two toddlers and partner while they built their family home when the coronavirus outbreak hit.
“Then I found out I was pregnant,” Fiona — a pseudonym to protect her privacy — told BuzzFeed News. “That was a surprise.”
The last thing the 26-year-old Adelaide Hills mother needed was an unplanned pregnancy in the only Australian state where you can’t legally access medical abortion drugs over the phone.
The couple discussed their options and decided they wouldn’t continue the pregnancy. Fiona had no idea how or where to get an abortion in South Australia, but a friend of a friend told her about the Pregnancy Advisory Centre (PAC), the only facility in the state to provide consultations for abortion full-time.
She decided not to have a medical termination, for which she would have to travel to one of just a handful of hospitals in the state to see two doctors and get the two pills, because she was worried about recovering while living in the shed.
“I was told there could be quite a bit of bleeding and we don’t have a good bathroom, we’re in a shed with a portaloo and a portashower.”
She booked in for a surgical abortion last week.
South Australia’s tardiness in updating its abortion law — it was last updated 50 years ago, before the abortion drug mifepristone had been invented — means if Fiona had wanted to terminate her pregnancy with RU486, she would have had to travel to one of a few approved hospitals to take two pills, unlike in every other Australian jurisdiction where telehealth referrals are available.
Other states have different problems. Right now, if Fiona had been in Launceston, Tasmania, she would have to travel 200km south to terminate her pregnancy because the local hospital doesn’t provide abortion. If she lived in Rockhampton, Queensland, she would have relied on a private abortion provider chartering a private flight for a doctor to fly in and see her. If she was a migrant without a healthcare card she would have to pay an enormous premium to terminate her pregnancy.
Two major barriers to abortion access exist in Australia: its patchwork of laws and the lack of public provisions in hospitals. Both force women to leave their city — and in some cases, their state — to access a termination at a private provider. And both are being impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Although Tasmania decriminalised abortion before other states (2013), it has struggled with access issues. In 2018, a single surgical abortion provider closed after 17 years, severely limiting options for women and sparking a national conversation about abortion access. Patients were forced to travel interstate, sometimes at a personal cost of thousands of dollars, to terminate a pregnancy. Women can now access surgical abortions in Hobart, but for women in the state’s north, that means travelling in a pandemic.
Family Planning Tasmania chief executive Cedric Manen said the lack of local provision outside of Hobart is disadvantaging patients, especially in the state’s northwest, where a higher number of COVID-19 cases prompted hospital closures and tighter restrictions.
“The lack of regional access is an ongoing issue,” Manen told BuzzFeed News. “With the closure of the northwest coast, essential travel to Hobart to access this important health right is putting communities and individuals at greater risk of infection.”
The solution is something reproductive healthcare experts and advocates have long campaigned for: widespread public provision of abortion in Australia.
“We need to open up better access through the Launceston General Hospital for women particularly in the north,” Manen said. “It would need consistent government policy around access to termination services throughout the hospital system.”
The Labor party promised it in the last Federal election but lost, and the prime minister refuses to talk about it at all. The reality is that even with the recent decriminalisation of abortion in NSW and Queensland (where the government is working with hospitals to map out referral pathways into the public system), a patient’s ability to access an abortion through a public hospital or clinic at little to no cost completely depends on their postcode.
In South Australia women can have surgical abortions for free through the public system and have been able to do so for decades; in much of the rest of the country women still fork out hundreds or thousands of dollars to pay a private provider to terminate a pregnancy.
Manen said there had been an increase in demand for medical abortion drugs (over surgical) before the pandemic and it had only increased over the past few months. Offering medical termination of pregnancy is costly and the rebates offer providers little incentive to continue. Manen wants to pass on as little cost as he can to the patient.
“We have one of the lowest socioeconomic demographic populations in the country and I think any form of cost is a barrier,” he said. “At the end of the day, we still need to have a robust service that is sustainable. It is not presently sustainable.”
Meanwhile in Queensland, Australia’s biggest abortion provider, Marie Stopes Australia, has been chartering private flights from Brisbane to Rockhampton and Townsville for the past fortnight to provide terminations amid a drop in commercial airline flights due to travel restrictions.
“A lot of the issues that we have seen during the pandemic are issues that existed before COVID-19,” MSA’s chief executive Jamal Hakim told BuzzFeed News. “However travel restrictions have magnified access issues.”
Hakim said that as Australia recovered the government needs to focus on the access gaps that existed before the pandemic.
“Increasing access to medical abortion to 70 days [currently you can only legally access it up to 63 days], [and] access to nurse-led services and telehealth services will continue to play an important part post the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Last month BuzzFeed News revealed MSA only had two weeks until its supply of face masks and hand sanitiser for carrying out surgical abortions would dry up. A number of MSA’s orders from private personal protective equipment (PPE) providers were cancelled or refused in the coronavirus pandemic, and the Australian government has also refused to supply MSA with PPE. Things have since improved and the organisation now has PPE, Hakim said.


buzzfeed--2020-05-10--21 Relationship Memes That Are Actually Funny And Very Wholesome

Relationships can be a funny , funny thing .
And if you 're in one , you 'll probably relate @ @ @ @ @ all ) these memes .
ENJOY .


buzzfeed--2020-05-07--15 Moving Photos That Showcase How Hard Nurses Are Working Right Now

Right now , you 've gone above and beyond what your job requires of you in order to make sure @ @ @ @ @ minimized .

Right now, you've gone above and beyond what your job requires of you in order to make sure the spreading of COVID-19 is minimized.


buzzfeed--2020-05-10--This Girl Was Showering With Her Boyfriend When She Realized He Never Washes His Buttcrack, And Appa

This Girl Was Showering With Her Boyfriend When She Realized He Never Washes His Buttcrack, And Apparently It's Somewhat Common

`` And I said , 'Yeah , you poop out of your butthole , so you need to clean the @ @ @ @ @ he said , 'Really ?
No one ever told me this .
Why would this @ @ @ @ @ ask the boys in this group chat . '
''

"And I said, 'Yeah, you poop out of your butthole, so you need to clean the surrounding areas.' And he said, 'Really? No one ever told me this. Why would this be true? Let me ask the boys in this group chat.'"


buzzfeed--2020-05-08--Hospitals Expect To Lose More Than $200 Billion Because Of The Coronavirus

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 .
“ It is a catastrophic number , ” Aaron Wesolowski , the AHA ’ s vice president of policy research , analytics , and strategy , told BuzzFeed News .
“ It ’ s clear there are going to be serious financial consequences for hospitals and health systems.
” The country ’ s hospitals and health systems are expected to lose $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 , according to a new report from the American Hospital Association , which is advocating for federal relief funds for hospitals .
The United States ' health care industry is losing billions of dollars every week during the coronavirus pandemic , resulting in widespread layoffs and furloughs as waiting rooms lie paradoxically empty during an unprecedented health crisis .
Other than treating the coronavirus , hospitals have come to a virtual standstill during the outbreak .
Governors around the country have asked hospitals to cancel nonessential procedures and elective surgeries , operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital revenues .
Meanwhile , stay-at-home orders have discouraged people from making doctors ’ visits .
As a consequence , hospitals around the country have announced layoffs , reduced hours , and furloughs of doctors , nurses , technicians , administrative staffers , and other workers to offset the losses .
The AHA said hospitals are also racking up expenses , such as purchasing personal protective equipment and supporting frontline workers ' childcare , transportation , housing , and screening and treatment for COVID-19 .
Those impacts are being felt in other parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just hospitals .
Across the industry , employment declined by 1.4 million jobs in April , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , including large job losses in offices of dentists ( 503,000 ) and physicians ( 243,000 ) .
“ It ’ s been pretty devastating to nurse practitioners .
Many have been furloughed , ” Sophia Thomas , president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners , who also works as a nurse practitioner in New Orleans , told BuzzFeed News .
“ Most nurse practitioners work in the outpatient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow right now .
They ’ re trying to switch to telehealth , but in certain places it ’ s been very slow on the uptake primarily due to the technological limitation of patients.
” Federal stimulus money could prop up the industry and stanch the bleeding but might not be able to do more .
The bills passed in the wake of the pandemic allocated $ 175 billion to hospitals and other health care providers , but the losses have “ exceed [ ed ] the funds hospitals have received in relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the total amount of potential relief payments for them as well , ” said Wesolowski .
A report released Tuesday by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security drew a similar conclusion : “ Until there is a vaccine , there will be ongoing public fear of contagion at healthcare settings , which may result in sustained decreases in patient volume beyond the immediate response and recovery to the pandemic .
It is not clear that the funds authorized so far are enough to cover all the losses incurred to date , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health sector will continue to experience.
” Wesolowski said : “ I think it ’ s reasonable to expect that it ’ s going to take a while to rebound .
When hospitals start offering elective surgeries again , all of that volume won ’ t come back in at once .
And it depends on whether there are subsequent waves [ of the coronavirus ] .
” Like the pandemic , the financial toll has not been evenly distributed across the country .
Rural hospitals , which had been struggling financially for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their revenue when they suspended elective procedures and outpatient care .
Alan Morgan , CEO of the National Rural Health Association , told BuzzFeed News that the federal stimulus money was helping , but only barely .
“ Rural hospitals nationwide now are able to keep their doors open through the end of June , '' he said .
It 's still unclear how the pandemic will play out in the rest of 2020 ; there could be sustained small outbreaks or a large second wave .
Health systems may take a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased availability of testing .
Eric Toner , senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security , told BuzzFeed News hospitals could make more informed decisions about if and when to cancel nonessential and elective procedures .
“ The problem was in , say , rural Texas , you canceled elective surgeries and for two months the hospitals were empty , '' he said .
`` There was nothing for their staff to do , so they ended up furloughing them . ''
With increased testing capacity , “ they could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their communities before they cancel those surgeries .
”

Other than treating the coronavirus, hospitals have come to a virtual standstill during the outbreak. Governors around the country have asked hospitals to cancel nonessential procedures and elective surgeries, operations that account for a significant share of hospital revenues. Meanwhile, stay-at-home orders have discouraged people from making doctors’ visits.
As a consequence, hospitals around the country have announced layoffs, reduced hours, and furloughs of doctors, nurses, technicians, administrative staffers, and other workers to offset the losses. The AHA said hospitals are also racking up expenses, such as purchasing personal protective equipment and supporting frontline workers' childcare, transportation, housing, and screening and treatment for COVID-19.
Those impacts are being felt in other parts of the health care sector, not just hospitals. Across the industry, employment declined by 1.4 million jobs in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, including large job losses in offices of dentists (503,000) and physicians (243,000).
“It’s been pretty devastating to nurse practitioners. Many have been furloughed,” Sophia Thomas, president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, who also works as a nurse practitioner in New Orleans, told BuzzFeed News. “Most nurse practitioners work in the outpatient setting, and those clinics are very slow right now. They’re trying to switch to telehealth, but in certain places it’s been very slow on the uptake primarily due to the technological limitation of patients.”
Federal stimulus money could prop up the industry and stanch the bleeding but might not be able to do more. The bills passed in the wake of the pandemic allocated $175 billion to hospitals and other health care providers, but the losses have “exceed[ed] the funds hospitals have received in relief payments to date, and are larger than the total amount of potential relief payments for them as well,” said Wesolowski.
A report released Tuesday by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security drew a similar conclusion: “Until there is a vaccine, there will be ongoing public fear of contagion at healthcare settings, which may result in sustained decreases in patient volume beyond the immediate response and recovery to the pandemic. It is not clear that the funds authorized so far are enough to cover all the losses incurred to date, much less the ongoing losses that the health sector will continue to experience.”
Wesolowski said: “I think it’s reasonable to expect that it’s going to take a while to rebound. When hospitals start offering elective surgeries again, all of that volume won’t come back in at once. And it depends on whether there are subsequent waves [of the coronavirus].”
Like the pandemic, the financial toll has not been evenly distributed across the country. Rural hospitals, which had been struggling financially for decades, lost up to 80% of their revenue when they suspended elective procedures and outpatient care. Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, told BuzzFeed News that the federal stimulus money was helping, but only barely. “Rural hospitals nationwide now are able to keep their doors open through the end of June," he said.
It's still unclear how the pandemic will play out in the rest of 2020; there could be sustained small outbreaks or a large second wave. Health systems may take a different approach at that time due to increased availability of testing.
Eric Toner, senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told BuzzFeed News hospitals could make more informed decisions about if and when to cancel nonessential and elective procedures.
“The problem was in, say, rural Texas, you canceled elective surgeries and for two months the hospitals were empty," he said. "There was nothing for their staff to do, so they ended up furloughing them." With increased testing capacity, “they could wait until they saw evidence of COVID in their communities before they cancel those surgeries.”


buzzfeed--2020-05-09--Miley Cyrus Said She Has "No Idea" What The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Really Like Because Of Her Privi

Miley Cyrus Said She Has "No Idea" What The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Really Like Because Of Her Privilege As A Celebrity

`` My life has been pushed pause on , but really I have no idea what this pandemic is like @ @ @ @ @ activist added .
`` I am comfortable in my space and able to put food @ @ @ @ @ I am ] financially stable , and that 's just not the story for a @ @ @ @ @

"My life has been pushed pause on, but really I have no idea what this pandemic is like," the singer and activist added. "I am comfortable in my space and able to put food on my table and [I am] financially stable, and that's just not the story for a lot of people."


buzzfeed--2020-05-06--Is It OK To Go To A Park Or Beach? We Asked Seven Experts.

Images of people in New York crowding a park and not wearing masks went viral this weekend .
Here ’ s what coronavirus experts say about parks and beach trips .
On a weekend in which more than 500 New Yorkers died of the coronavirus , according to the state ’ s governor , thousands more people headed to public parks to enjoy the city ’ s first warm weather in some time .
With most New Yorkers having been in lockdown for more than two months , families and friends could be seen enjoying the outdoors and picnicking as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several photos went viral over the weekend that showed throngs of people not wearing masks who had crowded into the Christopher Street Pier parks in Manhattan in apparent defiance of social distancing .
It ’ s important , of course , to remember that some photos of crowds can be deceptive .
Indeed , pictures taken by Gothamist appeared to show at least some distance between some of the people at Christopher Street Pier .
But the viral photos — as well as images of large groups of people enjoying some beaches in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fueled anger among people who are doing their best to stay home as much as possible .
Some experts told BuzzFeed News they were also alarmed by the apparent crowding on display by people not wearing masks .
“ The images of New Yorkers close to each other in parks , without face masks , is disturbing , ” said Vincent Racaniello , professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University .
“ They should either be maintaining social distance , or ideally , wearing face masks.
” “ I ’ m very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Glatt , a doctor at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital and a spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America ( IDSA ) .
“ If people aren ’ t going to keep appropriate social distancing and appropriate wearing of masks , we will unfortunately see a resurgence of this illness.
” BuzzFeed News asked seven doctors , scientists , and public health experts about whether they would visit an open park or a beach with their families — and what precautions they would take if doing so .
We also reached out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and New York for comment .
The offices of Gov .
Gavin Newsom of California and Gov .
Andrew Cuomo of New York responded , referring to comments they had made at press briefings .
( Some comments have been edited and condensed for clarity . )
CAN I VISIT A PARK OR BEACH AS LONG AS I AM STAYING SIX FEET AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE ?
Rosie Redfield , microbiologist at the University of British Columbia ’ s Department of Zoology : I ’ ve been thinking about this a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the open air , the only real concern is that you might inhale dried-up respiratory particles ( droplet nuclei ) carrying infectious virus .
These float in the air ( they don ’ t fall ) and are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes , but also when they shout or even talk loudly .
Separation by 6 feet gives large droplets that haven ’ t yet dried up time and space to fall to the ground , and provides a lot of air volume for the dried particles to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security : For those that are in high-risk groups or are in contact with high-risk groups , then the decision-making may be different for somebody that ’ s not .
I don ’ t think there ’ s going to be a one-size-fits-all decision that people make .
Susan Kline , a professor of medicine with the University of Minnesota ’ s Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine and another IDSA spokesperson : Well , I think that if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then there ’ s potential for the spread of coronavirus .
I think if people go out in public , there likely are safe ways to do it and unsafe ways to do it .
I think we have to keep in mind that somewhat arbitrary distance of 6 feet .
But I think 6 feet or farther is definitely safer than closer than 6 feet to people .
So I think distancing is one measure that can help .
I think the other measure that can help is limiting the time that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with other people .
Gerardo Chowell , professor of epidemiology with Georgia State University ’ s School of Public Health : I think it ’ s completely OK to go to the park , but you need to plan for it and be careful .
We need our time to go to the park and have a walk , otherwise we ’ re going to start seeing mental health issues .
But we can do it in ways that are not hard .
It ’ s just about being conscious of this virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that and keeping our guard up .
In this high-temperature weather , it ’ s a very low-risk environment .
Obviously , if you want to reduce the risk even further , bring a face mask .
Gov .
Newsom ( speaking at a Monday press briefing ) : There ’ s been some reporting ... that parks somehow are closed .
We have over 200 state parks that have been open that remain open .
… There are some that have partial closures — parking lots and the like — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of these parks , large and small , across the state and across our beaches .
But again with the modifications in place .
… More information on these modifications will come to light ... on Thursday .
( Newsom also referenced two Orange County beaches that had reopened to allow active recreation — e.g.
, swimming and running — but would not allow sunbathing or gatherings with coolers . )
WOULD YOU TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO A BEACH OR PARK ?
Robin Patel , president of the American Society of Microbiology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my household to an uncrowded park , but would leave if we were not able to comfortably stay at least 6 feet away from others at all times .
I would also factor in how we would get to the park without risking an exposure .
Glatt : I would only go with my family to a place where I could appropriately keep social distancing .
A walk in the park , a walk on the street , is a beautiful way to spend time with your family , get fresh air , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ but ” there — it has to be done in a way that ’ s socially responsible .
I will not do it if I ’ m going to be in close proximity to a lot of people and I certainly won ’ t do it if I ’ m going to be in close proximity to people who aren ’ t wearing a mask .
I even try to stay further away than that , but certainly a minimum of 6 feet .
[ I try to stay ] as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m taking a walk with my wife and I see people I know across the street , we stay across the street and wave .
We don ’ t try to get close .
Adalja : As long as none of them had any kind of health problems that made them vulnerable or were going to be around people that had health problems , then yes .
As long as people are being careful and using common sense .
Chowell : I would take them , yes — with precautions .
If I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would make sure that we bring a face mask .
It would not be a lot of fun .
I would go to the park for a walk but I wouldn ’ t stay there for too long — a walk for 30 minutes and then return .
That ’ s probably the type of trip I would make to the park .
Gov .
Cuomo ( speaking at an April 16 press briefing ) : I 've been on Coney Island on that beach many times – hundreds of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't see that happening anytime soon .
So then , obviously , you could have a situation where people can go to the beach to walk along the beach , but not in large numbers anytime soon .
We still have to observe social distancing .
I know people are doing that now .
But the notion of having lifeguards and people coming to the beach like normal , we do n't have that in our sights yet .
I think it 's going to be tough to project .
Right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expectations — just for everyone 's sanity , lower expectations .
HOW CROWDED WOULD IT NEED TO BE BEFORE YOU FELT UNCOMFORTABLE ?
Adalja : I ’ m an infectious disease clinical care physician , so I ’ m taking care of these patients and getting exposed at a higher degree than most other people .
So I have a very high risk tolerance .
I think I probably have antibodies to it because I ’ ve been around enough patients .
So I think that ’ s going to differ for each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk tolerance is different .
Redfield : Thinking rationally ( not “ feelings ” ) , the risk of infection in a park would be higher if a ) the park was packed with people , all exactly 6 feet apart ; b ) the air was still ( no wind to disperse the particles ) ; and c ) the incidence of active COVID-19 infections in my community was high .
If all of these were true , I ’ d stay home .
Kline : This weekend I did go out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Minneapolis–Saint Paul , and there were quite a few people out walking or riding their bikes .
I did see some people on beaches down by the Mississippi River , but I think when you ’ re on a bike path you have to pass people closely .
Two things you can do is keep that passing time to the shortest time possible and the other would be to have a mask on when you have to pass .
I did notice that at some of the parks I went to there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably family groups or close friends , but for the most part they were a couple people or small groups , so I think that type of gathering is OK as long you ’ re 6–10 feet away from other small groups .
Chowell : You can put a piece of fabric or rope on the floor and mark your space .
… Marking your space is more important than ever and respecting other spaces is equally important .
Wearing a face mask is also a sign of respect for others .
Racaniello @ @ @ @ @ @ @ park or beach if I were not holed up in front of my computer seven days a week !
I would make sure that we all wear face masks .
With face masks , you can get closer to people ( which can happen accidentally ) without risking infection .
Otherwise , keep 6 feet away !
Chowell : If I fall into a higher risk group , then I should be wearing a mask .
I may run into someone .
What am I going to do ?
Start running ?
Obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the park , you must bring a face mask because you can not control your space all the time .
People may run into your 6-feet radius sphere .
If it ’ s crowded and you still want to go to the park , yes , bring your mask .
There ’ s no other way .
If it ’ s not crowded and you ’ re going to be walking on the outskirts , it ’ s probably fine [ not to wear a mask ] .
But if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet with people not in your household , then I must wear a face mask , particularly if you ’ re going to spend a substantial amount of time talking .
Adalja : A lot of these places have their own regulations and I think that depends on what the regulation is .
Obviously , if it ’ s private property and you ’ re at a private park or beach and that ’ s the requirement to enter , then I think you have to wear it .
But ideally , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of someone else , you shouldn ’ t necessarily have to wear a mask .
I would also say there ’ s not great data that shows that wearing masks actually decreases transmission , especially the homemade masks that people are wearing .
I ’ m less of a supporter of the mask policy .
However , I think that it is something that has been universally accepted by many people .
Gov .
Cuomo ( speaking at a press briefing on Monday ) : You don ’ t wear a mask for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect me .
I wear a mask to protect you .
We owe each other a certain amount of reasonableness and respect in society , and I owe you that level of respect .
Wear a mask if you may be in a situation where you can ’ t socially distance .
If you go for a walk in the woods , you don ’ t have to be wearing a mask .
If you come to a point where you ’ re going to be in a parking lot or there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear the mask .
Redfield : I hate masks ( maybe irrationally ) ; most don ’ t provide much protection from infection , and if they do ( well designed , tightly fitting ) they ’ re hot and stuffy .
If the risk of infection was high enough to warrant wearing masks I ’ d probably stay home .
I ’ m also not convinced that they provide much protection from spreading the virus if you yourself are infected ( a sneeze or cough will blow right by them ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a crowd in a space where you can ’ t keep a distance , wear a mask , and ideally everyone should wear one to minimize the spread .
WOULD YOU GO OR NOT GO TO A PARK OR BEACH ON CERTAIN DAYS OR CERTAIN TIMES ?
Adalja : If you ’ re trying to social distance and go to the beach , if you go at hours when it ’ s less crowded , then that ’ s always going to make it easier to social-distance .
Kline : I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safer — going out when there are less likely to be crowds that would force you to be in closer contact to other people .
Glatt : It certainly is appropriate whenever you ’ re going out to avoid other people as much as possible .
So I wouldn ’ t walk in an area where you knew it was very crowded .
It doesn ’ t make sense .
People are trying so hard to isolate , it would be a shame to ruin it .
Chowell : Try to go during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect to see the peak activity , definitely .
Maybe earlier or towards the end of the day .
Patel : I would avoid peak times when there are likely to be a lot of people around .
This can vary widely based on the location .
City parks become easily overwhelmed and may be best to avoid , especially on weekends or peak times such as during lunch hours , whereas [ the ] Minnesota state park where I hiked this weekend was virtually empty .
WOULD YOU MEET FRIENDS IN THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DISTANCE ?
Adalja : I do think we 've gotten to a place now where people are calling each other out for failing to adhere to social distancing norms .
There ’ s a tendency for people to get into shaming-type behavior that might not be warranted .
I do think we ’ re going to go through this cycle where people are being shamed for not following social distancing and I think that ’ s going to be an unfortunate side effect .
The only thing we can do is explain to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going anywhere .
We still have to be smart , but now [ that ] we ’ re in a somewhat better place than we were two months ago , we ’ re going to see people ’ s risk perceptions change .
Chowell : I think that is definitely a reason to be annoyed after the amount of deaths that have been caused by a virus over just a few weeks and the fact that the epidemic is not over by any stretch of the imagination .
The virus is still around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s the reality .
It ’ s definitely annoying and disrespectful for all those folks who have stayed at home and done their homework and followed the protocols .
Seeing these pictures , it ’ s a sign of disrespect of society in a way and definitely disappointing — particularly to the most vulnerable , to those who are at high risk of death .
Due to this small fraction of people that for some reason are not yet educated about this virus , we could waste all of the progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kline : I ’ m not sure it ’ s helpful to be angry .
It ’ s valid to raise your concerns and I think if you ’ re putting other people at risk , then it ’ s probably a valid concern to raise publicly .
But I do think that being angry or berating people is probably not a helpful response , or shaming them .
I don ’ t think that ’ s likely to change behavior .
I think reinforcing what safe social distancing guidelines should be is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear standards and expectations .

Rosie Redfield, microbiologist at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Zoology: I’ve been thinking about this a lot. … At 6 feet apart, in the open air, the only real concern is that you might inhale dried-up respiratory particles (droplet nuclei) carrying infectious virus. These float in the air (they don’t fall) and are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, but also when they shout or even talk loudly. Separation by 6 feet gives large droplets that haven’t yet dried up time and space to fall to the ground, and provides a lot of air volume for the dried particles to disperse in.
Amesh Adalja, infectious diseases physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security: For those that are in high-risk groups or are in contact with high-risk groups, then the decision-making may be different for somebody that’s not. I don’t think there’s going to be a one-size-fits-all decision that people make.
Susan Kline, a professor of medicine with the University of Minnesota’s Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine and another IDSA spokesperson: Well, I think that if the people are very close to each other then there’s potential for the spread of coronavirus. I think if people go out in public, there likely are safe ways to do it and unsafe ways to do it.
I think we have to keep in mind that somewhat arbitrary distance of 6 feet. But I think 6 feet or farther is definitely safer than closer than 6 feet to people. So I think distancing is one measure that can help.
I think the other measure that can help is limiting the time that you’re closer than 6 feet with other people.
Gerardo Chowell, professor of epidemiology with Georgia State University’s School of Public Health: I think it’s completely OK to go to the park, but you need to plan for it and be careful.
We need our time to go to the park and have a walk, otherwise we’re going to start seeing mental health issues. But we can do it in ways that are not hard. It’s just about being conscious of this virus that generates asymptomatic conditions and being aware of that and keeping our guard up.
In this high-temperature weather, it’s a very low-risk environment. Obviously, if you want to reduce the risk even further, bring a face mask.
Gov. Newsom (speaking at a Monday press briefing): There’s been some reporting ... that parks somehow are closed. We have over 200 state parks that have been open that remain open. … There are some that have partial closures — parking lots and the like — but still [there are] activities in all of these parks, large and small, across the state and across our beaches. But again with the modifications in place. … More information on these modifications will come to light ... on Thursday. (Newsom also referenced two Orange County beaches that had reopened to allow active recreation — e.g., swimming and running — but would not allow sunbathing or gatherings with coolers.)
WOULD YOU TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO A BEACH OR PARK?


buzzfeed--2020-05-27--This TikTok Of A Girl With Severe OCD Eating Breakfast Is Heartbreaking

`` A lot of people think that OCD is just about cleanliness — that 's actually so far from the @ @ @ @ @ people with OCD are just 'clean freaks ' is actually so damaging to the mental @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .
`` It 's very hard to explain the fear and @ @ @ @ @ confuse cleanliness with OCD and think that my disorder only has to do with wiping @ @ @ @ @ confuse society as a whole as to what the disease actually means . ''

"A lot of people think that OCD is just about cleanliness — that's actually so far from the truth. The idea that people with OCD are just 'clean freaks' is actually so damaging to the mental health community and to awareness," she said. "It's very hard to explain the fear and shame, so when people confuse cleanliness with OCD and think that my disorder only has to do with wiping counters, it tends to confuse society as a whole as to what the disease actually means."