buzzfeed--2020-04-02--The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Set Off A Massive Expansion Of Government Surveillance. Civil Libertari

The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Set Off A Massive Expansion Of Government Surveillance. Civil Libertarians Aren't Sure What To Do.

As nations around the world take on sweeping new powers to fight the disease , critics are n't sure what 's necessary and what 's too far .
The coronavirus pandemic , which has grown to over 740,000 cases and 35,000 deaths around the world , has been so singular an event that even some staunch advocates for civil liberties say they ’ re willing to accept previously unthinkable surveillance measures .
“ I ’ m very concerned ” about civil liberties , writer Glenn Greenwald , cofounder of the Intercept , who built his career as a critic of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But at the same time , I 'm also much more receptive to proposals that in my entire life I never expected I would be , because of the gravity of the threat.
” Greenwald won a Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for his reporting on the disclosures by NSA contractor Edward Snowden , who revealed a vast secret infrastructure of US government surveillance .
But like others who have spent years raising concerns about government overreach , he now accepts the idea that surveilling people who have contracted the coronavirus could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The kind of digital surveillance that I spent a lot of years — even before Snowden , and then obviously , the two or three years during Snowden — advocating against is now something I think could be warranted principally to stave off the more brute solutions that were used in China , ” Greenwald said .
Greenwald said he was still trying to understand how to balance his own views on privacy against the current unprecedented situation .
“ We have to be very careful not to get into that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hey , because your actions affect the society collectively , we have the right now to restrict it in every single way.
’ We 're in this early stage where our survival instincts are guiding our thinking , and that can be really dangerous .
And I ’ m trying myself to calibrate that.
” And he is far from the only prominent civil libertarian and opponent of surveillance trying to calibrate their response as governments around the world are planning or have already implemented location-tracking programs to monitor coronavirus transmission , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping people indoors .
Broad expansions of surveillance power that would have been unimaginable in February are being presented as fait accompli in March .
That has split an international community that would have otherwise been staunchly opposed to such measures .
Is the coronavirus the kind of emergency that requires setting aside otherwise sacrosanct commitments to privacy and civil liberties ?
Or like the 9/11 attacks before it , does it mark a moment in which panicked Americans will accept new erosions on their freedoms , only to regret it when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumstances ?
Yeah , go for it , Facebook .
You know , go for it , Google , ” Gary Johnson , the former governor of New Mexico and 2016 Libertarian Party presidential candidate , told BuzzFeed News .
“ But then , when the crisis goes away , how is that going to apply given that it 's in place ?
I mean , these are the obvious questions , and no , that would not be a good thing.
” `` My fear is that , historically , in any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want massive surveillance powers will finally have an avenue and an excuse to get them , ” Matthew Guariglia , an analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation , told BuzzFeed News .
Marc Rotenberg , president and executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center ( EPIC ) , told BuzzFeed News that it ’ s possible to find a solution that protects privacy and prevents the spread of the virus .
“ People like to say , 'well , we need to strike a balance between protecting public health and safeguarding privacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong way to think about it , ” Rotenberg said .
“ You really want both .
And if you 're not getting both , there 's a problem with the policy proposal.
” Beyond the sick and dead , the most immediate effects that the pandemic has visited upon the United States have been broad constraints that state and local governments have imposed on day-to-day movement .
Those are in keeping with public health experts ’ recommendations to practice social distancing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t announced a nationwide stay-at-home order like France and Italy have , large parts of the US are under some degree of lockdown , with nonessential businesses shuttered and nonessential activities outside the home either banned or discouraged .
And while President Trump and his allies have focused on the economic devastation wrought by this shutdown , some libertarians have raised concerns about the damage those decrees have done to people 's freedoms .
Appearing on libertarian former Texas lawmaker and two-time Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul ’ s YouTube show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massie pointed to a Kentucky man who , after testing positive for the coronavirus , refused to self-isolate , and whom sheriff 's deputies forced to stay home .
( Massie later came under bipartisan criticism for attempting to hold up the coronavirus stimulus bill in the House . )
“ What would they do if that man walked out and got in his car ?
Would they shoot him ?
Would they suit up in hazmat uniforms and drag him off ?
” Massie said .
“ Those are the images we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everybody was appalled at those images .
And now we ’ re literally , we could be five minutes away from that happening in the United States , here in Kentucky.
” “ It ’ s crazy , and what concerns me the most is that once people start accepting that , in our own country , the fact that somebody could immobilize you without due process , that when this virus is over people will have a more paternalistic view of government and more tolerance for ignoring the Constitution , ” Massie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son , Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul , announced that he had tested positive for the disease , only a few days after Ron Paul wrote in his online column that the pandemic could be a “ big hoax ” pushed by “ fearmongers ” to put more power in government hands .
But the elder Paul 's concerns are not shared among some of his fellow former Libertarian Party nominees for president .
Johnson said measures to encourage people to stay in their homes and temporarily shutter businesses taken by states like New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to believe that they 're dealing with [ this ] in the best way that they possibly can , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
“ And I think it 's also telling that most of them are following the same route.
” Johnson added that although it was easy to raise criticisms , as a former governor , he saw few other options .
“ You 're just not hearing it : What are the alternatives ?
” Johnson said .
“ I do n't know , not having [ currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what the options were .
And given that every state appears to be doing the same thing , I have to believe that everything is based on the best available information.
” Gaming out the role of intense surveillance during a pandemic isn ’ t just a theoretical political debate on YouTube .
Surveillance at previously politically unimaginable scales has reached countries around the world .
Imagine opening an app , scanning a QR code , and creating a profile that ’ s instantly linked with information about your health and where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you if you ’ ve been in close contact with someone sick with the coronavirus .
This software already exists in China .
Developed by the Electronics Technology Group Corporation and the Chinese government , it works by tapping into massive troves of data collected by the private sector and the Chinese government .
In South Korea , the government is mapping the movements of COVID-19 patients using data from mobile carriers , credit card companies , and the Institute of Public Health and Environment .
In Israel , Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tap into a previously undisclosed cache of cellphone data to trace the movements of infected persons in that country and in the West Bank .
And in the Indian state of Karnataka , the government is requiring people in lockdown to send it selfies every hour to prove they are staying home .
No such tools currently exist in the United States — but some in the tech community who might have been expected to oppose such capacities have found themselves favoring these previously unthinkable steps .
Maciej Cegłowski , the founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech companies ’ intrusions into privacy , wrote a blog post arguing for a “ massive surveillance program ” to fight the virus .
“ My frustration is that we have this giant surveillance network deployed and working , '' Cegłowski told BuzzFeed News .
`` We have location tracking .
We have people carrying tracking devices on them all the time .
But we ’ re using it to sell skin cream — you know , advertising .
And we ’ re using it to try to persuade investors to put more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we have this crisis right now , let ’ s put it to use to save lives.
” This position is a major departure for Ceglowski , who has warned of how tech companies have invaded our “ ambient privacy ” and argued that tech giants ’ reach into our lives is as pernicious a force as government surveillance .
“ We put up with the fire department breaking down our door if there ’ s a fire at our neighbor ’ s house or in our house because we know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cegłowski said .
“ I think similarly if we can have a sense that we ’ ll have real privacy regulation , then in emergency situations like this we can decide , hey , we ’ re going to change some things.
” Those doors are already being broken down .
The COVID-19 Mobility Data Network — a collaboration between Facebook , Camber Systems , Cuebiq , and health researchers from 13 universities — will use corporate location data from mobile devices to give local officials `` consolidated daily situation reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Representatives from the COVID-19 Mobility Data Network did not respond to requests for comment .
Lots of companies claim that they have the technology to save people ’ s lives .
But critics worry that they are taking advantage of a vulnerable time in American society to sign contracts that wo n't easily be backed out of when the threat passes .
“ Sometimes people have an almost sacrificial sense about their privacy , ” Rotenberg told BuzzFeed News .
“ They say things like , ‘ Well , if it 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my data , of course , I should do that.
’ But that 's actually not the right way to solve a problem .
Particularly if asking people to sacrifice their privacy is not part of an effective plan to save lives.
” In response to the pandemic , some data analytics and facial recognition companies have offered new uses for existing services .
Representatives from data analytics company have reportedly been working with the CDC on collecting and integrating data about COVID-19 , while Clearview AI has reportedly been in talks with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Neither Palantir nor Clearview AI responded to requests for comment , but the appearance of these controversial companies has raised alarms among those in the privacy community .
“ The deployment of face recognition , as a way of preventing the spread of virus , is something that does not pass the sniff test at all , ” Guariglia said .
“ Even the companies themselves , I do n't think , can put out a logical explanation as to how face recognition , especially Clearview , would help.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ design tools for law enforcement have tried to offer tools to combat COVID-19 as well .
Banjo , which combines social media and satellite data with public information , like CCTV camera footage , 911 calls , and vehicle location , to detect criminal or suspicious activity , will be releasing a tool designed to respond to the outbreak .
“ We are working with our partners to finalize a new tool that would provide public health agencies and hospitals with HIPAA-compliant information that helps identify potential outbreaks and more efficiently apply resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson told BuzzFeed News , adding that the company strips personally identifiable information from the data it processes .
Those efforts cause concerns for people like Evan Greer , the deputy director of digital rights activist group Fight for the Future , who told BuzzFeed News that such tools , once deployed , would inevitably be used for more purposes than to fight the pandemic .
“ We have so much history that shows us that mass surveillance generally is n't very effective , and mission creep is inevitable , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question of if data that was handed over to the government because of this crisis would be repurposed .
It 's a matter of when.
” In addition to those companies , many camera makers have been making a bold claim : Using just an infrared sensor , they can detect fevers , helping venues filter out the sick from the healthy .
These firms include Dahua Technology in Israel , Guide Infrared in China , Diycam in India , Rapid-Tech Equipment in Australia , and Athena Security in the US .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had donated about $ 144,000 worth of equipment that could “ warn users when fever is detected ” to Japan .
The company said its devices would be used in Japanese “ hospitals and epidemic prevention stations.
” Although Guide Infrared claimed that its “ temperature measurement solutions ” have helped in emergencies including SARS , H1N1 , and Ebola , the Chinese army and government authorities are “ some of its major customers , ” according to the South China Morning Post .
It ’ s been used in railway stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s also partnered with Hikvision , a Chinese company blacklisted by the US over its work outfitting Chinese detention centers with surveillance cameras .
Australian company Rapid-Tech Equipment claims that its fever-detection cameras can be used in `` minimizing the spread [ of ] coronavirus infections . ''
Its cameras are being used in Algeria , France , Egypt , Greece , Morocco , Saudi Arabia , Turkey , and “ many more ” countries , according to its website .
UK camera maker Westminster International said that it has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Coronavirus , Ebola & Flu . ''
US company Testo Thermal Imaging sells two cameras with a “ FeverDetection assistant.
” A section of its website titled “ Why fever detection ?
” argues that managers of high-traffic venues have a responsibility to filter for fevers : “ Whether ebola , SARS or coronavirus : no-one wants to imagine the consequences of an epidemic or even a pandemic.
” A Testo spokesperson told BuzzFeed News that the company has seen a “ massive increase in demand ” for its products in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being used “ worldwide.
” The spokesperson declined to provide specific examples or name specific countries .
While the appetite for fever-detecting cameras is clearly there , civil liberties advocates have concerns .
Guariglia said that , regardless of their thermal imaging capabilities , surveillance cameras are surveillance cameras .
“ More surveillance cameras always have dubious implications for civil liberties .
Even if their contract with thermal imaging ends at the end of six months , ” Guariglia said , “ I bet those cameras are gon na stay up.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cato Institute and commentator on digital surveillance and privacy issues , told BuzzFeed News he was willing to accept measures he might otherwise have concerns about to limit the spread of the virus .
“ I ’ m about as staunch a privacy guy as it gets , ” Sanchez said .
“ In the middle of an epidemic outbreak , there are a number of things I ’ m willing to countenance that I would normally object to , on the premise that they are temporary and will save a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficacy of some of the current proposals : There ’ s “ a ton of snake oil being pitched by surveillance vendors , ” he said .
More than that , he had concerns about what would happen to civil liberties after the pandemic passed , but the measure put in place to combat it did not .
“ I think a lot of civil liberties advocates would say , ‘ Well , if this is very tightly restricted , and only for this purpose , and it 's temporary , then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right .
Maybe we ’ re able to accept that , if we ’ re confident it 's for this purpose , and then it ends , ’ ” Sanchez said .
“ The question is whether that 's the case.
” Sanchez worried that the coronavirus , like the war on terror , is an open-ended threat with no clear end — inviting opportunities for those surveillance measures to be abused long after the threat has passed .
In the same week that he spoke , the US Senate voted to extend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act , originally passed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks 19 years ago .
●

Beyond the sick and dead, the most immediate effects that the pandemic has visited upon the United States have been broad constraints that state and local governments have imposed on day-to-day movement. Those are in keeping with public health experts’ recommendations to practice social distancing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
While the US hasn’t announced a nationwide stay-at-home order like France and Italy have, large parts of the US are under some degree of lockdown, with nonessential businesses shuttered and nonessential activities outside the home either banned or discouraged. And while President Trump and his allies have focused on the economic devastation wrought by this shutdown, some libertarians have raised concerns about the damage those decrees have done to people's freedoms.
Appearing on libertarian former Texas lawmaker and two-time Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul’s YouTube show on March 19, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie pointed to a Kentucky man who, after testing positive for the coronavirus, refused to self-isolate, and whom sheriff's deputies forced to stay home. (Massie later came under bipartisan criticism for attempting to hold up the coronavirus stimulus bill in the House.)
“What would they do if that man walked out and got in his car? Would they shoot him? Would they suit up in hazmat uniforms and drag him off?” Massie said. “Those are the images we saw in China two months ago and everybody was appalled at those images. And now we’re literally, we could be five minutes away from that happening in the United States, here in Kentucky.”
“It’s crazy, and what concerns me the most is that once people start accepting that, in our own country, the fact that somebody could immobilize you without due process, that when this virus is over people will have a more paternalistic view of government and more tolerance for ignoring the Constitution,” Massie said.
Last Monday, Paul's son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, announced that he had tested positive for the disease, only a few days after Ron Paul wrote in his online column that the pandemic could be a “big hoax” pushed by “fearmongers” to put more power in government hands.
But the elder Paul's concerns are not shared among some of his fellow former Libertarian Party nominees for president.
Johnson said measures to encourage people to stay in their homes and temporarily shutter businesses taken by states like New York were appropriate. “I really have to believe that they're dealing with [this] in the best way that they possibly can,” he told BuzzFeed News. “And I think it's also telling that most of them are following the same route.”
Johnson added that although it was easy to raise criticisms, as a former governor, he saw few other options.
“You're just not hearing it: What are the alternatives?” Johnson said. “I don't know, not having [currently] sat at the table as governor, what the options were. And given that every state appears to be doing the same thing, I have to believe that everything is based on the best available information.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-31--Coronavirus Cases Have Surged, But The US Is Refusing To Take The World’s Most Available Masks

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As hospitals around the country desperately seek N95 respirator masks to protect health care workers treating COVID-19 patients , the federal government has blocked imports of what might be the world ’ s most abundant alternative .
That mask is designed to filter out at least 95 % of particles that are 0.3 microns or larger in size — the same measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like the N95 , it fits closely around the nose and mouth , creating a seal that decreases the risk of infection .
And the Centers for Disease Control has said it ’ s as effective as N95 , which is certified under US testing standards .
But this second type of mask , called the KN95 , complies with slightly different norms and is made in factories that have not been certified by the US government .
By law , masks , along with most medical devices , can ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without the Food and Drug Administration ’ s say-so .
Last week , to ease the national shortfall of protective gear , the FDA issued an emergency authorization for non-N95 respirators that had been certified by five foreign countries as well as the European Union .
It conspicuously left the KN95 masks out of the emergency authorization .
The omission was all the more startling because in late February the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that KN95 masks were one of numerous “ suitable alternatives ” to N95 masks “ when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to multiple requests for comment .
A significant majority of all respirator masks , including both the N95 and KN95 , are manufactured in China .
During the height of that country ’ s outbreak , China restricted exports of virtually all respirator masks , keeping them for domestic use .
As that country ’ s infection numbers have slowed it has eased those restrictions , but now the US must compete with dozens of other countries desperate to acquire masks .
Allowing the importation and use of KN95 could help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The KN95 masks are far more readily available , ” said Bob Tilton , who owns a New Jersey–based cosmetics packaging importer and earlier this month decided to use his familiarity with Chinese supply chains to bring in masks and other personal protective equipment to sell to hospitals .
“ The N95s are much harder to grab.
” Yet without the FDA ’ s seal of approval , importers are hesitant to order KN95 masks because they worry they ’ ll get held up at customs .
Many hospitals are refusing to accept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they fear legal liability should a health care worker get ill while using a nonpermitted device .
Under ordinary circumstances , N95 masks — which are certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health — are abundant , available at hardware stores and pharmacies for around $ 1 apiece and for as little as 35 cents apiece wholesale .
But in just two months , the coronavirus pandemic has depleted the world ’ s supply , creating a gray market that has driven prices for a single mask as high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in turn , has opened the door to unscrupulous actors running internet scams that take payment for N95 masks they never deliver , and to others selling counterfeit or mislabeled N95 masks , which could put health care workers at serious risk of infection .
Meanwhile , masks made under the newly permitted US standards — Australia , Brazil , Japan , Korea , Mexico , and the EU — are not made in as great quantities as the N95 or KN95 , according to industry experts .

As hospitals around the country desperately seek N95 respirator masks to protect health care workers treating COVID-19 patients, the federal government has blocked imports of what might be the world’s most abundant alternative.
That mask is designed to filter out at least 95% of particles that are 0.3 microns or larger in size — the same measure used for the scarce N95 mask. Like the N95, it fits closely around the nose and mouth, creating a seal that decreases the risk of infection. And the Centers for Disease Control has said it’s as effective as N95, which is certified under US testing standards. But this second type of mask, called the KN95, complies with slightly different norms and is made in factories that have not been certified by the US government.
By law, masks, along with most medical devices, can’t be imported or sold in the United States without the Food and Drug Administration’s say-so. Last week, to ease the national shortfall of protective gear, the FDA issued an emergency authorization for non-N95 respirators that had been certified by five foreign countries as well as the European Union. It conspicuously left the KN95 masks out of the emergency authorization.
The omission was all the more startling because in late February the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that KN95 masks were one of numerous “suitable alternatives” to N95 masks “when supplies are short.”
The FDA did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
A significant majority of all respirator masks, including both the N95 and KN95, are manufactured in China. During the height of that country’s outbreak, China restricted exports of virtually all respirator masks, keeping them for domestic use. As that country’s infection numbers have slowed it has eased those restrictions, but now the US must compete with dozens of other countries desperate to acquire masks.
Allowing the importation and use of KN95 could help to greatly alleviate the scarcity.
“The KN95 masks are far more readily available,” said Bob Tilton, who owns a New Jersey–based cosmetics packaging importer and earlier this month decided to use his familiarity with Chinese supply chains to bring in masks and other personal protective equipment to sell to hospitals. “The N95s are much harder to grab.”
Yet without the FDA’s seal of approval, importers are hesitant to order KN95 masks because they worry they’ll get held up at customs. Many hospitals are refusing to accept them, even as free donations, because they fear legal liability should a health care worker get ill while using a nonpermitted device.
Under ordinary circumstances, N95 masks — which are certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health — are abundant, available at hardware stores and pharmacies for around $1 apiece and for as little as 35 cents apiece wholesale. But in just two months, the coronavirus pandemic has depleted the world’s supply, creating a gray market that has driven prices for a single mask as high as $12 or more. That, in turn, has opened the door to unscrupulous actors running internet scams that take payment for N95 masks they never deliver, and to others selling counterfeit or mislabeled N95 masks, which could put health care workers at serious risk of infection.
Meanwhile, masks made under the newly permitted US standards — Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and the EU — are not made in as great quantities as the N95 or KN95, according to industry experts.


buzzfeed--2020-03-30--The Disorienting Quiet In New York During The Coronavirus Pandemic

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“ So now we come to New York City , the incomparable , the brilliant star city of cities , ” begins a chapter in a 1946 survey of the country called Inside U.S.A .
Here in the star city of cities , as the coronavirus pandemic continues , the sound of sirens is way up .
But sirens are , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hears outside anymore in New York .
The coronavirus pandemic is like an invisible natural disaster happened — a situation where , weirdly , the physical world remains unchanged , but inside hospitals and homes , people suffer terribly , and stunning economic destruction takes place .
As the weeks have progressed , however , there has been a physical change here , even if the sun still shines and daffodils still shoot up .
You ’ ve almost definitely seen photos of various notable locations ( Times Square , the bridges ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reduced the city in tangible waves , in less notable places : New York becomes quieter and quieter .
The result is bizarre and foreign , like walking through a giant false-front movie set .
Generally , the ongoing state of New York is noise : cars , bars , music up from the street , silverware clinking and gently thudding in restaurants with sidewalk tables , people spilling out of those restaurants and waiting for tables on the curb , teen crisis and romance on the subway platform , the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catch the accompanying ambient scenes of life all the time — e.g.
, a father , in pristine Jordans , carefully decking out a picnic table for his daughter ’ s birthday party ( pink tablecloth , pink plates , pink cups , pink balloons ) in Brooklyn Bridge Park last summer — just with , maybe , a higher frequency of good scenes and bad scenes because of the sheer crush of humanity .
But above all : the endless , glowing hum of noise .
The back of my apartment sits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings ; all morning , shouts from the playground on the block echo between the buildings and up through my window .
But that space is silent now .
There ’ s no music up from the street in my colleague ’ s neighborhood .
The basketball courts in Brooklyn Bridge Park sit silent and empty on a pier in the East River .
Remaining on the streets , besides the walkers , are medical professionals ( who don ’ t have adequate protections ) ; UPS , FedEx , and postal workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections ) ; home health aides headed to work ( who don ’ t have adequate protections ) ; delivery people ( who don ’ t have adequate protections ) ; construction workers ( worried about spreading the virus ) ; and police officers ( who can ’ t isolate as the city enforces the physical distance measures ) .
At night , familiar blocks can carry the vibe of passing through a suburban neighborhood you ’ ve never been in before — minimal cars , minimal people , a nagging disorientation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Emptiness and absence contradict the very concept of the city , ” as the New Yorker put it last week .
The quiet is strange ; it seems obvious to say , but you don ’ t know how much you miss people you don ’ t know until they ’ re not around .
Four years ago , the New York Times interviewed kids about what defined a New York City kid .
“ I like the noise ; it helps me sleep at night , ” one subject , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bronx neighborhood .
“ I feel like I know the city is still awake and protecting me .
”

“So now we come to New York City, the incomparable, the brilliant star city of cities,” begins a chapter in a 1946 survey of the country called Inside U.S.A.
Here in the star city of cities, as the coronavirus pandemic continues, the sound of sirens is way up. But sirens are, also, one of the few things anyone hears outside anymore in New York.
The coronavirus pandemic is like an invisible natural disaster happened — a situation where, weirdly, the physical world remains unchanged, but inside hospitals and homes, people suffer terribly, and stunning economic destruction takes place. As the weeks have progressed, however, there has been a physical change here, even if the sun still shines and daffodils still shoot up. You’ve almost definitely seen photos of various notable locations (Times Square, the bridges) suddenly devoid of people. But March has reduced the city in tangible waves, in less notable places: New York becomes quieter and quieter.
The result is bizarre and foreign, like walking through a giant false-front movie set.
Generally, the ongoing state of New York is noise: cars, bars, music up from the street, silverware clinking and gently thudding in restaurants with sidewalk tables, people spilling out of those restaurants and waiting for tables on the curb, teen crisis and romance on the subway platform, the whole thing. Like anywhere else, you catch the accompanying ambient scenes of life all the time — e.g., a father, in pristine Jordans, carefully decking out a picnic table for his daughter’s birthday party (pink tablecloth, pink plates, pink cups, pink balloons) in Brooklyn Bridge Park last summer — just with, maybe, a higher frequency of good scenes and bad scenes because of the sheer crush of humanity. But above all: the endless, glowing hum of noise.
The back of my apartment sits across from and adjacent to several other buildings; all morning, shouts from the playground on the block echo between the buildings and up through my window. But that space is silent now. There’s no music up from the street in my colleague’s neighborhood. The basketball courts in Brooklyn Bridge Park sit silent and empty on a pier in the East River.
Remaining on the streets, besides the walkers, are medical professionals (who don’t have adequate protections); UPS, FedEx, and postal workers (who don’t have adequate protections); home health aides headed to work (who don’t have adequate protections); delivery people (who don’t have adequate protections); construction workers (worried about spreading the virus); and police officers (who can’t isolate as the city enforces the physical distance measures).
At night, familiar blocks can carry the vibe of passing through a suburban neighborhood you’ve never been in before — minimal cars, minimal people, a nagging disorientation, buildings sapped of all their energy.
“Emptiness and absence contradict the very concept of the city,” as the New Yorker put it last week. The quiet is strange; it seems obvious to say, but you don’t know how much you miss people you don’t know until they’re not around.
Four years ago, the New York Times interviewed kids about what defined a New York City kid.
“I like the noise; it helps me sleep at night,” one subject, then 11, told the Times about her Bronx neighborhood. “I feel like I know the city is still awake and protecting me.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-28--Nearly A Fifth Of Religious Americans Say They Are Still Attending Services, Despite The Coronavirus

Nearly A Fifth Of Religious Americans Say They Are Still Attending Services, Despite The Coronavirus Pandemic

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As of Friday , nearly half of the states in the US were subject to stay-at-home orders of varying degrees in attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic , and the federal government has advised against holding any gatherings of more than 10 people .
Yet while many churches , temples , and other houses of worship have switched to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their congregations are still gathering .
According to a poll conducted this week by three political scientists and provided to BuzzFeed News , 22 % of respondents said that they had been “ encouraged ” to attend in-person worship “ because of the virus , ” and 17 % said they were still attending worship services in person .
The survey polled 1,038 people from all over the country , who said they attend a house of worship “ more often than never.
” The poll-takers were from both rural and urban areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national population .
The survey , conducted over three days ( Monday through Wednesday ) by Paul Djupe ( Denison University ) , Ryan Burge ( Eastern Illinois University ) , and Andrew Lewis ( University of Cincinnati ) , included responses about Sunday service attendance .
The survey results had about a 3 % margin of error .
The vast majority of the people who responded to the poll — 88 % — said that either their religious services had been canceled or their house of worship had been closed due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they had still been encouraged to attend worship in person .
Djupe speculated that some of these respondents , and some of the 17 % who said they were still attending in-person services , may have been referring to smaller worship groups outside of their churches or temples , though this was not a question that had been asked in the survey .
The results of this poll come days after news broke that nearly three dozen people who attended a recent church event at First Assemblies of God Church in Greers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported Monday .
The event was held in early March , and 31 of the 34 people who tested positive are either on the church staff or are members of the church .
And on Friday , a church in the Chicago suburbs told ABC ’ s local affiliate that following a service on March 15 , 43 people had reported symptoms related to COVID-19 , and 10 people had tested positive for the disease so far .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to houses of worship , at least six states have included some sort of exemption .
New York , Pennsylvania , Michigan , California , Louisiana , and Ohio have all issued stay-at-home orders at the beginning of this week or last , but each has a specific stipulation pertaining to houses of worship , either designating them as “ essential , ” saying that they are not ordered to be closed , or exempting them from penalties .
For example , Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer on Monday banned all gatherings outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place of religious worship , when used for religious worship , is not subject to penalty '' for violating the order .
In several cases , churches and religious leaders have taken advantage of these exemptions , only to be reprimanded by the state ’ s leaders and law enforcement .
Louisiana ’ s stay-at-home order includes exemptions for travel `` to and from an individual 's place of worship , ” but when a Baton Rouge pastor hosted a service of more than 300 people Tuesday night , local news channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the church to break up the gathering .
The pastor , Tony Spell , told CNN that he believes coronavirus to be “ politically motivated ” and claimed that more than 1,000 people attended his Sunday service .
Ohio evangelical megachurch Solid Rock , which has hosted several events in support of President Donald Trump , held two services Sunday , and publicly stated on their Facebook page Friday that they plan to keep their doors open unless the “ laws of our nation should ever change with respect to our first amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever was a time in the history of our world when we all need God ’ s help , it is now , ” the post continued .
“ For that reason , we believe that the doors of Solid Rock Church should remain open.
” Religious gatherings were explicitly exempted by Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s Sunday order against gatherings of more than 10 people .
However , DeWine also tweeted a plea to religious leaders Sunday .
“ We did not order religious organizations to close , but my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious , ” DeWine wrote .
“ When you are coming together , whether in a church or wherever - this is dangerous .
”

As of Friday, nearly half of the states in the US were subject to stay-at-home orders of varying degrees in attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, and the federal government has advised against holding any gatherings of more than 10 people. Yet while many churches, temples, and other houses of worship have switched to virtual religious services, some Americans say their congregations are still gathering.
According to a poll conducted this week by three political scientists and provided to BuzzFeed News, 22% of respondents said that they had been “encouraged” to attend in-person worship “because of the virus,” and 17% said they were still attending worship services in person.
The survey polled 1,038 people from all over the country, who said they attend a house of worship “more often than never.” The poll-takers were from both rural and urban areas, and spanned demographics that reflect the national population. The survey, conducted over three days (Monday through Wednesday) by Paul Djupe (Denison University), Ryan Burge (Eastern Illinois University), and Andrew Lewis (University of Cincinnati), included responses about Sunday service attendance. The survey results had about a 3% margin of error.
The vast majority of the people who responded to the poll — 88% — said that either their religious services had been canceled or their house of worship had been closed due to the coronavirus.
However, 22% said they had still been encouraged to attend worship in person. Djupe speculated that some of these respondents, and some of the 17% who said they were still attending in-person services, may have been referring to smaller worship groups outside of their churches or temples, though this was not a question that had been asked in the survey.
The results of this poll come days after news broke that nearly three dozen people who attended a recent church event at First Assemblies of God Church in Greers Ferry, Arkansas, had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported Monday. The event was held in early March, and 31 of the 34 people who tested positive are either on the church staff or are members of the church. And on Friday, a church in the Chicago suburbs told ABC’s local affiliate that following a service on March 15, 43 people had reported symptoms related to COVID-19, and 10 people had tested positive for the disease so far.
While many states’ stay-at-home orders apply to houses of worship, at least six states have included some sort of exemption. New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, Louisiana, and Ohio have all issued stay-at-home orders at the beginning of this week or last, but each has a specific stipulation pertaining to houses of worship, either designating them as “essential,” saying that they are not ordered to be closed, or exempting them from penalties. For example, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday banned all gatherings outside the home, but added that “a place of religious worship, when used for religious worship, is not subject to penalty" for violating the order.
In several cases, churches and religious leaders have taken advantage of these exemptions, only to be reprimanded by the state’s leaders and law enforcement. Louisiana’s stay-at-home order includes exemptions for travel "to and from an individual's place of worship,” but when a Baton Rouge pastor hosted a service of more than 300 people Tuesday night, local news channel WTVY reported, police showed up at the church to break up the gathering. The pastor, Tony Spell, told CNN that he believes coronavirus to be “politically motivated” and claimed that more than 1,000 people attended his Sunday service.
Ohio evangelical megachurch Solid Rock, which has hosted several events in support of President Donald Trump, held two services Sunday, and publicly stated on their Facebook page Friday that they plan to keep their doors open unless the “laws of our nation should ever change with respect to our first amendment right to assemble.”
“If there ever was a time in the history of our world when we all need God’s help, it is now,” the post continued. “For that reason, we believe that the doors of Solid Rock Church should remain open.”
Religious gatherings were explicitly exempted by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s Sunday order against gatherings of more than 10 people. However, DeWine also tweeted a plea to religious leaders Sunday.
“We did not order religious organizations to close, but my message to EVERYONE is that this is serious,” DeWine wrote. “When you are coming together, whether in a church or wherever - this is dangerous.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-31--Federal Student Loan Payments Will Be Suspended Through Sept. 30 Due To 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 .
WASHINGTON — Americans will get a six-month reprieve from federal student loan payments as the coronavirus pandemic leads to job losses and economic turmoil nationwide .
As part of the coronavirus relief bill passed through Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on Friday , lenders must stop all payments for federally held student loans through Sept. 30 .
During that time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans and nonpayment during that period can not be used to affect credit scores or a person ’ s qualification for loan forgiveness .
According to the bill ’ s text , “ each month for which a loan payment was suspended ” will be treated as if “ the borrower of the loan had made a payment.
” The bill also suspends any wage garnishment or tax refund reduction for people who have defaulted on their federal student loans .
It does not , however , have any effect on private student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 1.64 trillion in student debt in the US is federal .
Private loans made up about 12 % of all education loans in 2018–2019 , according to the College Board .
The student loan provisions will take effect immediately , according to a staffer on the House Education and Labor Committee .
However , the staffer later confirmed that borrowers with Perkins and commercially held Federal Family Education Loans will not qualify for suspended payments .
Insider Higher Education reported Friday that some 1.2 million borrowers will not qualify , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to 9 million .
Lenders will have to notify borrowers that their federal student loan payments were suspended within 15 days of Trump signing the bill , which he did Friday evening .
Beginning Aug. 1 , lenders are also required to notify borrowers when their student loan payments will start up again with at least six notices .
Over the next six months , borrowers will still have the opportunity to continue making payments on their loans ( such as making payments on the principal ) , should they choose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had already set federal student loan interest rates at 0 % for a 60-day period beginning March 20 .
The House had proposed legislation that would go even further in providing relief to federal student loan borrowers but instead passed the Senate ’ s bill Friday in order to release $ 2 trillion in coronavirus relief to American individuals and businesses more quickly .
In addition to ceasing federal student loan payments and interest , the House bill would have required the Department of Education to make monthly payments for all federal student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a minimum of $ 10,000 per loan .
If the total monthly payments did not reach $ 10,000 by the end of the national emergency , the department would have been required to pay down the remainder toward the borrower ’ s remaining balance , the committee aide told BuzzFeed News .
That provision has not passed Congress , though the House could try to pass it later on .
Congress is now in recess , and members are heading back to their districts .
The Senate is not planning to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unclear when the House will come back .
But both chambers have said they are likely to pass more coronavirus relief legislation in the future , when House Democrats hope to pass at least some of the plans from their bill through both chambers .

WASHINGTON — Americans will get a six-month reprieve from federal student loan payments as the coronavirus pandemic leads to job losses and economic turmoil nationwide.
As part of the coronavirus relief bill passed through Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on Friday, lenders must stop all payments for federally held student loans through Sept. 30. During that time, interest will not accrue on the loans and nonpayment during that period cannot be used to affect credit scores or a person’s qualification for loan forgiveness. According to the bill’s text, “each month for which a loan payment was suspended” will be treated as if “the borrower of the loan had made a payment.”
The bill also suspends any wage garnishment or tax refund reduction for people who have defaulted on their federal student loans. It does not, however, have any effect on private student loans, though the vast majority of the $1.64 trillion in student debt in the US is federal. Private loans made up about 12% of all education loans in 2018–2019, according to the College Board.
The student loan provisions will take effect immediately, according to a staffer on the House Education and Labor Committee. However, the staffer later confirmed that borrowers with Perkins and commercially held Federal Family Education Loans will not qualify for suspended payments. Insider Higher Education reported Friday that some 1.2 million borrowers will not qualify, though some advocacy groups believe the number is closer to 9 million.
Lenders will have to notify borrowers that their federal student loan payments were suspended within 15 days of Trump signing the bill, which he did Friday evening. Beginning Aug. 1, lenders are also required to notify borrowers when their student loan payments will start up again with at least six notices.
Over the next six months, borrowers will still have the opportunity to continue making payments on their loans (such as making payments on the principal), should they choose to do so. The Department of Education had already set federal student loan interest rates at 0% for a 60-day period beginning March 20.
The House had proposed legislation that would go even further in providing relief to federal student loan borrowers but instead passed the Senate’s bill Friday in order to release $2 trillion in coronavirus relief to American individuals and businesses more quickly.
In addition to ceasing federal student loan payments and interest, the House bill would have required the Department of Education to make monthly payments for all federal student loan borrowers during the coronavirus national emergency for a minimum of $10,000 per loan. If the total monthly payments did not reach $10,000 by the end of the national emergency, the department would have been required to pay down the remainder toward the borrower’s remaining balance, the committee aide told BuzzFeed News. That provision has not passed Congress, though the House could try to pass it later on.
Congress is now in recess, and members are heading back to their districts. The Senate is not planning to return until April 20, and it’s unclear when the House will come back. But both chambers have said they are likely to pass more coronavirus relief legislation in the future, when House Democrats hope to pass at least some of the plans from their bill through both chambers.


buzzfeed--2020-03-27--The $2 Trillion Coronavirus Aid Bill Has Passed The House And Been Signed Into Law

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks with reporters as she arrives at the Capitol on March 27 .
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 .
`` I came here to make sure our republic does n't die by unanimous consent in an empty chamber , and I request a recorded vote , '' Massie said on the House floor .
The House had passed the bill by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan that would have allowed members to stay home .
However , Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie , who opposed the bill , attempted to force a full recorded vote .
President Trump signed the bill into law at a White House ceremony at around 5 p.m. Friday .
The House of Representatives passed a historic $ 2 trillion coronavirus aid bill Friday afternoon , approving hundreds of billions in support to businesses and $ 1,200 cash payments to most people who live in the US .
For his plan to work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the House — at least 216 members — were not present .
But hundreds of members had already traveled from across the country to the Capitol to block his procedural move .
They gathered into the House chamber keeping as much distance between themselves as possible .
With a majority of members present , Massie 's attempt failed .
The bill was passed through the House on a voice vote .
The Senate previously passed the aid package Wednesday 96–0 .
Massie tweeted that party leaders were blocking a recorded vote `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACCOUNTABILITY . ''
He took heat from members of both parties , and President Trump went on Twitter to denounce Massie as “ a third rate Grandstander ” and “ a disaster for America.
” Trump called for Massie to be kicked out of the Republican Party .
The bill authorizes direct payments of $ 1,200 to every US resident with a Social Security number who makes up to $ 75,000 per year .
Those who make more than that will see smaller checks , and the payments are phased out entirely for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will also give $ 500 for every child in the household .
Other provisions include $ 500 billion in loans to distressed businesses , $ 350 billion for small businesses to retain employees , $ 100 billion for hospitals , and $ 600 per week in unemployment insurance for laid-off workers , on top of state benefits , for up to four months .
Party leaders celebrated passing the legislation but simultaneously said they expect more aid will be needed as a nationwide shutdown continues for an unknown amount of time .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until April 20 .
Other key parts of the bill include : • A tax credit of up to $ 10,000 for wages paid by businesses hit hard by the coronavirus , to incentivize keeping staff on the payroll • None More than $ 3 billion in emergency funding for childcare • None Funding for states to immediately begin paying out unemployment benefits when someone is laid off • None Allowing employers ( but not employees ) to defer paying their share of Social Security tax on wages ; that tax would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years • None $ 16 billion to acquire ventilators and other medical equipment • None $ 4 billion for homeless assistance ( although SNAP , the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as food stamps , was not expanded in the bill )

For his plan to work, Massie needed to show that a majority of the House — at least 216 members — were not present. But hundreds of members had already traveled from across the country to the Capitol to block his procedural move. They gathered into the House chamber keeping as much distance between themselves as possible.
With a majority of members present, Massie's attempt failed. The bill was passed through the House on a voice vote. The Senate previously passed the aid package Wednesday 96–0.
Massie tweeted that party leaders were blocking a recorded vote "just to insulate members of Congress from ACCOUNTABILITY." He took heat from members of both parties, and President Trump went on Twitter to denounce Massie as “a third rate Grandstander” and “a disaster for America.” Trump called for Massie to be kicked out of the Republican Party.
The bill authorizes direct payments of $1,200 to every US resident with a Social Security number who makes up to $75,000 per year. Those who make more than that will see smaller checks, and the payments are phased out entirely for incomes over $99,000. The government will also give $500 for every child in the household.
Other provisions include $500 billion in loans to distressed businesses, $350 billion for small businesses to retain employees, $100 billion for hospitals, and $600 per week in unemployment insurance for laid-off workers, on top of state benefits, for up to four months.
Party leaders celebrated passing the legislation but simultaneously said they expect more aid will be needed as a nationwide shutdown continues for an unknown amount of time. The Senate is scheduled to be in recess until April 20.
Other key parts of the bill include:


buzzfeed--2020-03-28--A Single Republican Is Forcing Hundreds Of Members To Come Back To Washington For The Coronavirus Ai

A Single Republican Is Forcing Hundreds Of Members To Come Back To Washington For The Coronavirus Aid Vote

Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie will call for a recorded vote , requiring at least 216 members to make the trek to the Capitol to pass the $ 2 trillion coronavirus relief bill .
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 .
UPDATE : Thomas Massie 's attempt to force a recorded vote failed and the House passed the coronavirus relief bill Friday afternoon .
A sole Republican representative is forcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Washington , DC , to vote on the historic $ 2 trillion coronavirus aid package .
Party leaders had hoped to avoid exposing so many members , many of them elderly , to the risks of traveling across the country during the coronavirus pandemic .
Since the bill was assured to pass easily they planned for a handful of members to pass it via a voice vote .
But any one member can call for a full recorded vote , and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie did just that .
Massie ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a lack of quorum , meaning a majority of members — at least 216 representatives — are not present .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy quickly launched into Plan B .
Members began showing up to the House floor , attempting to social distance as much as possible , in order to be present .
Once a majority is hit , they can shut down Massie ’ s request without needing to conduct a full vote .
In text messages to a Washington Post reporter , Massie said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ so they can conceal the identity of those who didn ’ t come here.
” Normally the House floor is packed during a recorded vote , but if they are forced to vote , they will spend hours voting in small groups at a time in order to allow for social distancing .
The bill passing is almost certain , but how long it will take is up in the air .
Massie ’ s move enraged leadership in both parties , who had pushed hard to avoid a recorded vote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday in a unanimous vote of 96–0 .
President Trump went on Twitter to call Massie “ a disaster for America ” and said he should be thrown out of the Republican Party .
“ It is ‘ HELL ’ dealing with the Dems , had to give up some stupid things in order to get the ‘ big picture ’ done .
90 % GREAT !
WIN BACK HOUSE , but throw Massie out of the Republican Party !
” Massie helped lead the Republican coup of former speaker John Boehner and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party ’ s leaders since then .
But he has avoided picking fights with Trump and staunchly defended him during impeachment proceedings .
Massie had attacked the bill for how much debt it will add to America ’ s books .
The bill authorizes direct payments of $ 1,200 to every US resident with a Social Security number who makes up to $ 75,000 per year .
Those who make more than that will see smaller checks , and the payments are phased out entirely for incomes over $ 99,000 .
The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child in the household .
Other provisions include $ 500 billion in loans to distressed businesses , $ 350 billion for small businesses to retain employees , $ 100 billion for hospitals , and $ 600 per week in unemployment insurance for laid-off workers , on top of state benefits , for up to four months .
This is a developing story .
Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter .

UPDATE: Thomas Massie's attempt to force a recorded vote failed and the House passed the coronavirus relief bill Friday afternoon.
A sole Republican representative is forcing hundreds of House members to fly back to Washington, DC, to vote on the historic $2 trillion coronavirus aid package.
Party leaders had hoped to avoid exposing so many members, many of them elderly, to the risks of traveling across the country during the coronavirus pandemic. Since the bill was assured to pass easily they planned for a handful of members to pass it via a voice vote. But any one member can call for a full recorded vote, and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie did just that. Massie’s ability to do this rests on there being a lack of quorum, meaning a majority of members — at least 216 representatives — are not present.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy quickly launched into Plan B. Members began showing up to the House floor, attempting to social distance as much as possible, in order to be present. Once a majority is hit, they can shut down Massie’s request without needing to conduct a full vote. In text messages to a Washington Post reporter, Massie said party leaders were blocking a full vote “so they can conceal the identity of those who didn’t come here.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-29--CVS Stores Are Staying Open During The Coronavirus Pandemic, But Employees Said They Feel Unsafe

“ We had a single bottle of Lysol spray , which I finished using three days ago , since we 're constantly cleaning the counters . ''
WASHINGTON — With several states under shelter-in-place orders , thousands of nonessential businesses closed , and millions of people self-quarantining due to the coronavirus outbreak , workers at grocery stores and pharmacies are on the front lines , staffing some of the few essential businesses remaining open as the pandemic spreads .
For many people across the country , CVS is one of the last open places to pick up food , cleaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees who are risking their health to keep the pharmacies open .
But some CVS employees say the company isn ’ t doing enough to protect them from getting sick while working through the outbreak .
Workers from stores in several different states — including New York , which has the highest number of cases in the nation — said they are working without masks and gloves and running low on vital cleaning supplies .
( Employees at Amazon and Costco have voiced similar concerns to BuzzFeed News . )
Many of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked to be kept anonymous , saying they were worried the company would retaliate against people who spoke publicly about their concerns .
“ There 's one little box of gloves .
I don ’ t know if they ’ re still there , ” one 21-year-old Virginia CVS employee said in a recent phone call .
“ But other than that , it 's like , literally nothing .
There 's some spray bottles [ with powered cleaning mix ] … but that 's about it.
” The worker said he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to provide any additional cleaning and health supplies and couldn ’ t get a clear answer .
The air conditioning in the store has also been broken for several months , he said , and hasn ’ t been fixed despite the pandemic .
“ Who knows who 's gon na have the coronavirus , ” he said .
“ From higher-ups , it 's kind of like business as usual .
It ’ s scary , I 'm always going in the bathroom and washing my hands.
” The Virginia employee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go into work because he ’ s increasingly worried about getting sick , but he needs to get paid , so he continues to go in .
“ I 'm not really , like , confident in like my higher-ups to kind of protect me , ” he said .
Another employee , a 33-year-old working in a New York store , told BuzzFeed News in a Twitter DM that they did not have gloves or masks until this week , when there were already thousands of cases in the area .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” they wrote .
“ I know we had a single bottle of Lysol spray , which I finished using three days ago , since we 're constantly cleaning the counters .
We ca n't clean after every person though , there is simply no way to do so.
” Last week , the New York employee said , a customer came in and said they had tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , but that they had no one to come pick up their medication for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , I was , thankfully , across the pharmacy .
But I did make sure to tell the person checking her out , where I was sure the customer would n't hear or know what I was doing , ” they said .
“ I had the other tech move to another register once he was done with her — so I could clean up .
I cleaned the whole counter down with Lysol and the area [ where the customer had ] been standing waiting , as well as where she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night , the employee said , a manager called corporate about the incident and was on hold for two hours .
Later , the manager told the employee who spoke to BuzzFeed News that the store would stay open and they would continue to clean the same way they had been .
The employee said they are concerned about what might happen , especially because they live with their parents , who are both over 60 .
“ The company as a whole seems to not honestly care about people ’ s health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but rather profits , ” the New York employee wrote .
“ In a crisis like this they should n't be caring about that as much .
They would rather keep us open , not limit people , or anything which may put even a dent into the profits.
” It ’ s not just employee health on the line , the person noted , writing , “ I worry if they wind up sitting and waiting for medication who they may come into contact with .
Someone elderly ?
A cancer patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” “ The biggest challenge we ’ re having is access to personal protective equipment , like masks and gloves , ” Merlo said in a recent interview with Barron ’ s .
“ We ’ ve been pursuing all avenues to secure those products .
We ’ re prioritizing highly impacted areas to get those products to our pharmacists , technicians , and front-line employees .
But there ’ s more work to be done on that.
” In an email to BuzzFeed News , Mike DeAngelis , CVS ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that all store employees are receiving masks this week and that they have instituted hourly protocols for cleaning hard surfaces and “ more frequent cleaning of commonly handled items.
” “ Pharmacies are a critical resource for communities across the country , and we ’ ll continue to be here for customers and patients in these trying times , ” DeAngelis wrote .
“ We 're working around the clock to increase availability of supplies and update protocols to ensure our stores are safe for employees and customers alike.
” In a follow-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are providing our stores with the necessary cleaning supplies and re-supplying as needed.
” CVS has eliminated delivery fees for medication , and employees said they hope people will take advantage of the service instead of coming into the stores .
Others said they wanted to institute curbside pickup so employees with protective gear could deliver prescriptions and other products from the store to people in their cars .
Other CVS employees said they felt management and the company is at least trying to keep employees safe .
Jason Reinhardt , a CVS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees at his store have gloves and hand sanitizer .
“ I would like for them to provide [ us ] with masks during this time , but I understand the difficulties in obtaining them in a crisis , ” Reinhardt said in an email .
But another California employee said there ’ s no requirement that employees wear gloves or masks , adding that he thinks it is up to the pharmacists in any given store to decide whether employees have to wear them .
( CVS did not respond to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case . )
Linda Fajardo , a 20-year-old CVS employee in Pembroke Pines , Florida , said her manager recently instituted a system where employees write down everything they touch to help the staff clean effectively .
Employees at her store don ’ t have masks yet either , but so far Fajardo said they have enough cleaning supplies to sanitize as needed .
She said she has also started a system for herself where she doesn ’ t touch any products when she rings people up and has customers bag their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of comfortable about it .
We were keeping up very well with the sanitation of everything , ” she said .
“ People actually follow the rule — it 's a 6-foot rule — that everyone actually stays their distance … A lot of the customers come in with their gloves and their masks and they ’ re actually sanitizing as they pick up the products as well.
” Another employee said they would like the company to allow them to hang signs saying what products they ’ re out of ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gloves ) and when the next shipment will come , to keep people looking for them out of the store until the products are stocked .
“ You would think that these signs would be helpful in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and promote social distancing .
It gives some of us a mixed message , ” the employee wrote in a DM .
“ The message I am getting is that they want us to practice self distancing , protect ourselves and the public from getting sick , and limit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time they want profits , aka people coming into the store and buying something.
” The same employee said they have no masks provided to them at their store , and if they want to wear them , they have to bring their own .
Many employees said they ’ ve been using the CVS subreddit to vent their frustrations .
The page is riddled with horror stories from CVS employees around the country .
“ Before my shift at 3pm today we found out one of our Pharmacists has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our upper management has said ‘ It 's alright .
She has n't been at the store for over 5 days , ’ ” one user wrote this week .
“ My [ store manager ] was in close contact with them for over 45 mins the day before she came down with all the symptoms ... which in turn we 've been in close contact with our SM .
So my store will continue operating even though a fair number of us have all been exposed .
No cleaning or closing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to concerns about safety and cleanliness , many employees said they ’ re confused about when and if they will get bonuses promised by CVS .
In the Barron ’ s interview , Merlo said , “ Our colleagues feel tremendous purpose in wanting to help their communities .
We ’ re providing cash bonuses to pharmacists , store associates , managers , and hourly store employees.
” “ First time I ’ m hearing of this as it hasn ’ t been discussed at my store , ” the Virginia employee said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee said they ’ d heard talk about bonuses as well , but added , “ I ’ m not too sure about that , if it ’ s just a rumor or actually true.
” The 33-year-old New York employee said they hadn ’ t heard any details either .
“ I know I 've seen a petition going about , for CVS workers to sign , asking for hazard pay , ” they wrote .
“ The bonuses they are saying we 'll get wo n't be till May .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people at risk of getting sick ?
What if they get sick and rack up bills ?
” In an email , DeAngelis , the CVS spokesperson , wrote , “ The bonuses were just announced this week and further details will be communicated directly to employees.
” But the New York employee thinks that , at this point , it might all be too little , too late .
“ We 've seen on the news what was happening in other countries , ” they said in a message .
“ Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on things ?
We knew it would hit us and we could predict it would hit bigger cities hard .
Why not act fast ?
… I think we could have really taken a spotlight role , but we failed to . ''

It’s not just employee health on the line, the person noted, writing, “I worry if they wind up sitting and waiting for medication who they may come into contact with. Someone elderly? A cancer patient? A mom with a young child?”
Even CVS CEO Larry Merlo acknowledged it’s a problem.
“The biggest challenge we’re having is access to personal protective equipment, like masks and gloves,” Merlo said in a recent interview with Barron’s. “We’ve been pursuing all avenues to secure those products. We’re prioritizing highly impacted areas to get those products to our pharmacists, technicians, and front-line employees. But there’s more work to be done on that.”
In an email to BuzzFeed News, Mike DeAngelis, CVS’s senior director for corporate communications, said that all store employees are receiving masks this week and that they have instituted hourly protocols for cleaning hard surfaces and “more frequent cleaning of commonly handled items.”
“Pharmacies are a critical resource for communities across the country, and we’ll continue to be here for customers and patients in these trying times,” DeAngelis wrote. “We're working around the clock to increase availability of supplies and update protocols to ensure our stores are safe for employees and customers alike.”
In a follow-up email, DeAngelis added, “We are providing our stores with the necessary cleaning supplies and re-supplying as needed.”
CVS has eliminated delivery fees for medication, and employees said they hope people will take advantage of the service instead of coming into the stores. Others said they wanted to institute curbside pickup so employees with protective gear could deliver prescriptions and other products from the store to people in their cars.
Other CVS employees said they felt management and the company is at least trying to keep employees safe. Jason Reinhardt, a CVS employee in Murrieta, California, said employees at his store have gloves and hand sanitizer.
“I would like for them to provide [us] with masks during this time, but I understand the difficulties in obtaining them in a crisis,” Reinhardt said in an email.
But another California employee said there’s no requirement that employees wear gloves or masks, adding that he thinks it is up to the pharmacists in any given store to decide whether employees have to wear them. (CVS did not respond to a BuzzFeed News question about whether this is the case.)
Linda Fajardo, a 20-year-old CVS employee in Pembroke Pines, Florida, said her manager recently instituted a system where employees write down everything they touch to help the staff clean effectively. Employees at her store don’t have masks yet either, but so far Fajardo said they have enough cleaning supplies to sanitize as needed. She said she has also started a system for herself where she doesn’t touch any products when she rings people up and has customers bag their own purchases.
“I feel actually kind of comfortable about it. We were keeping up very well with the sanitation of everything,” she said. “People actually follow the rule — it's a 6-foot rule — that everyone actually stays their distance … A lot of the customers come in with their gloves and their masks and they’re actually sanitizing as they pick up the products as well.”
Another employee said they would like the company to allow them to hang signs saying what products they’re out of (like hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, and gloves) and when the next shipment will come, to keep people looking for them out of the store until the products are stocked.
“You would think that these signs would be helpful in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and promote social distancing. It gives some of us a mixed message,” the employee wrote in a DM. “The message I am getting is that they want us to practice self distancing, protect ourselves and the public from getting sick, and limit the amount of people at the stores but at the same time they want profits, aka people coming into the store and buying something.”
The same employee said they have no masks provided to them at their store, and if they want to wear them, they have to bring their own.
Many employees said they’ve been using the CVS subreddit to vent their frustrations. The page is riddled with horror stories from CVS employees around the country.
“Before my shift at 3pm today we found out one of our Pharmacists has tested positive. Steps were taken and our upper management has said ‘It's alright. She hasn't been at the store for over 5 days,’” one user wrote this week. “My [store manager] was in close contact with them for over 45 mins the day before she came down with all the symptoms...which in turn we've been in close contact with our SM. So my store will continue operating even though a fair number of us have all been exposed. No cleaning or closing, just keep tagging seasonal.”
In addition to concerns about safety and cleanliness, many employees said they’re confused about when and if they will get bonuses promised by CVS.
In the Barron’s interview, Merlo said, “Our colleagues feel tremendous purpose in wanting to help their communities. We’re providing cash bonuses to pharmacists, store associates, managers, and hourly store employees.”
“First time I’m hearing of this as it hasn’t been discussed at my store,” the Virginia employee said in a text message. A California employee said they’d heard talk about bonuses as well, but added, “I’m not too sure about that, if it’s just a rumor or actually true.”
The 33-year-old New York employee said they hadn’t heard any details either.
“I know I've seen a petition going about, for CVS workers to sign, asking for hazard pay,” they wrote. “The bonuses they are saying we'll get won't be till May. But what about right now? What about people at risk of getting sick? What if they get sick and rack up bills?”
In an email, DeAngelis, the CVS spokesperson, wrote, “The bonuses were just announced this week and further details will be communicated directly to employees.” But the New York employee thinks that, at this point, it might all be too little, too late.
“We've seen on the news what was happening in other countries,” they said in a message. “Why did CVS wait and drag their feet on things? We knew it would hit us and we could predict it would hit bigger cities hard. Why not act fast? … I think we could have really taken a spotlight role, but we failed to."


buzzfeed--2020-03-30--This Southern County Is Blocking All Visitors — Even Part-Time Residents — During The Coronavirus Pa

This Southern County Is Blocking All Visitors — Even Part-Time Residents — During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Police check cars and pedestrians at a checkpoint at the entrance to the Village of Key Biscayne , Fla. , which has enacted similar visitor rules .
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 .
As some Americans flee crowded urban centers like New York City to ride out the coronavirus pandemic , rural residents have urged them to stay away .
Now , at least a few jurisdictions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
Counties in North Carolina and Florida told BuzzFeed News they will soon set up roadblocks to barricade against visitors , unless they have evidence of a home , job , or other necessity inside the county .
The standout is Dare County , North Carolina , where officials have implemented what may be the strictest ban of its type in the nation : Police have set up roadblocks to stop visitors from entering the coastal beach haven — even people who own vacation homes there .
“ We have basically two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at checkpoints , ” Dorothy Hester , a spokesperson for Dare County , told BuzzFeed News .
Officials are granting entry permits to workers , full-time residents , and those who prove a need to enter .
But she said police have been turning away anyone trying to reach the county ’ s 25,000 empty properties used as secondary vacation homes or rentals — violators can be charged with a misdemeanor .
“ With each of those owners , you bring family , extended family , ” said Hester , who noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ban .
“ We are just not set up to sustain that , especially if we were to get some type of community spread of the coronavirus.
” One case of coronavirus had been reported in Dare County , population 35,000 , as of Wednesday evening .
With tens of thousands of vacation homes dotting the county ’ s barrier islands along the Atlantic Ocean , visitors can easily outnumber the year-round residents .
“ Many of our visitors come from New York and Virginia , ” said Bobby Outten , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Outer Banks Hospital — the only hospital there — has just 20 beds and no intensive care unit .
“ In the summertime , when we have several hundred thousand people , and people cut their foot on the beach or get a fish hook in them , we can handle that , ” he said .
The county ’ s southern island is a three-hour drive to Norfolk , Virginia , which can take in seriously ill patients .
“ When you talk about coronavirus spreading here , we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transfer them , ” Outten said .
Civil liberties advocates have watched travel bans related to the coronavirus cautiously , noting that the government can have legitimate reasons to restrict access during emergencies , but in general , the orders must be temporary .
“ The constitutional right to travel is really important , and turning counties into gated communities is a dangerous precedent , ” Kristi Graunke , legal director of ACLU of North Carolina , told BuzzFeed News .
“ Not that you can ’ t restrict movement in times of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conscious of the long-term ramifications.
” The coronavirus pandemic has thrust the nation into fresh legal territory : This is the most widespread infringement on civil liberties in the country ’ s modern history , with shelter-in-place orders and shutdowns affecting hundreds of millions of Americans .
And yet , the government has rarely , if ever , had such a compelling interest to do so .
Outten compared the current travel ban to emergency measures during a hurricane .
“ When things are safe , ” he said , “ you open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot different than that.
” North Carolina emergency law extends particular power for cities and counties to shut down access during crises , without the governor ’ s or legislature ’ s approval — a useful tool for localities along the often storm-battered Atlantic Coast .
A March 17 declaration banning visitors and gatherings due to the coronavirus by the Dare County Control Group , which includes county officials and mayors of six towns , cited the “ unprecedented public health threat.
” In similar thinking , the island of North Haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ strongly encourage ” visitors to steer clear .
In heavily forested Graham County , North Carolina , three checkpoints are planned for early next week , though travelers will be allowed to pass through on at least one highway and visit their vacation homes .
County Manager Rebecca Garland told BuzzFeed News the county of 8,500 can ’ t provide medical care : “ We have no hope of having a hospital .
And so far , we have not had a confirmed case of coronavirus , but we know it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few hospitals in the Florida Keys , an archipelago connected by a single highway , police will create a checkpoint there “ by Friday morning for sure , ” according to Kristen Livengood , the spokesperson for Monroe County , Florida .
Stationed near the top of Florida ’ s island chain , officers will allow entry to residents , including people who own secondary homes , and those with work — but not visitors who are simply trying to escape the densely populated cities to the north .
“ Miami-Dade County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Livengood said .
“ They have had an explosion of cases.
” She fears those travelers could usurp medical resources in Monroe County , which had 12 cases by Thursday morning .
“ So many people are not working , and their kids are not in school , so they come to the Keys to enjoy some time off , ” she said .
“ And it ’ s not safe for anyone to be traveling at this point.
” Livengood continued : “ We speak to the hospitals and urgent care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared , but we want to make sure if we have an outbreak , our residents need the hospitals — that there are enough beds , not in addition to the visitors.
” Daniel Tilley , legal director for the ACLU of Florida , said in a statement to BuzzFeed News that governments can restrict travel during an emergency , “ but they must ensure that any travel restrictions or prohibitions are no more restrictive than necessary .
Public officials must also provide adequate notice of the restrictions and provide a hearing process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such policies a fair opportunity to explain why they should not be subjected to the policy.
” New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy on Twitter this week urged residents not to head to the Jersey Shore .
And the New York Times reported that residents of some popular tourist towns are trying to stave off city folk , saying the interlopers raid store shelves and bring “ bugs .
”

As some Americans flee crowded urban centers like New York City to ride out the coronavirus pandemic, rural residents have urged them to stay away. Now, at least a few jurisdictions are enacting severe new rules to keep them out.
Counties in North Carolina and Florida told BuzzFeed News they will soon set up roadblocks to barricade against visitors, unless they have evidence of a home, job, or other necessity inside the county.
The standout is Dare County, North Carolina, where officials have implemented what may be the strictest ban of its type in the nation: Police have set up roadblocks to stop visitors from entering the coastal beach haven — even people who own vacation homes there.
“We have basically two roads leading in and have deputies stationed at checkpoints,” Dorothy Hester, a spokesperson for Dare County, told BuzzFeed News. Officials are granting entry permits to workers, full-time residents, and those who prove a need to enter. But she said police have been turning away anyone trying to reach the county’s 25,000 empty properties used as secondary vacation homes or rentals — violators can be charged with a misdemeanor.
“With each of those owners, you bring family, extended family,” said Hester, who noted that there’s no expiration date on the ban. “We are just not set up to sustain that, especially if we were to get some type of community spread of the coronavirus.”
One case of coronavirus had been reported in Dare County, population 35,000, as of Wednesday evening. With tens of thousands of vacation homes dotting the county’s barrier islands along the Atlantic Ocean, visitors can easily outnumber the year-round residents.
“Many of our visitors come from New York and Virginia,” said Bobby Outten, the Dare County manager, who noted that Outer Banks Hospital — the only hospital there — has just 20 beds and no intensive care unit.
“In the summertime, when we have several hundred thousand people, and people cut their foot on the beach or get a fish hook in them, we can handle that,” he said. The county’s southern island is a three-hour drive to Norfolk, Virginia, which can take in seriously ill patients. “When you talk about coronavirus spreading here, we don’t have the capacity to treat them or transfer them,” Outten said.
Civil liberties advocates have watched travel bans related to the coronavirus cautiously, noting that the government can have legitimate reasons to restrict access during emergencies, but in general, the orders must be temporary.
“The constitutional right to travel is really important, and turning counties into gated communities is a dangerous precedent,” Kristi Graunke, legal director of ACLU of North Carolina, told BuzzFeed News. “Not that you can’t restrict movement in times of emergency, but you have to be conscious of the long-term ramifications.”
The coronavirus pandemic has thrust the nation into fresh legal territory: This is the most widespread infringement on civil liberties in the country’s modern history, with shelter-in-place orders and shutdowns affecting hundreds of millions of Americans. And yet, the government has rarely, if ever, had such a compelling interest to do so.
Outten compared the current travel ban to emergency measures during a hurricane. “When things are safe,” he said, “you open the county, and this is not a lot different than that.”
North Carolina emergency law extends particular power for cities and counties to shut down access during crises, without the governor’s or legislature’s approval — a useful tool for localities along the often storm-battered Atlantic Coast. A March 17 declaration banning visitors and gatherings due to the coronavirus by the Dare County Control Group, which includes county officials and mayors of six towns, cited the “unprecedented public health threat.”
In similar thinking, the island of North Haven, Maine, passed a resolution to “strongly encourage” visitors to steer clear.
In heavily forested Graham County, North Carolina, three checkpoints are planned for early next week, though travelers will be allowed to pass through on at least one highway and visit their vacation homes. County Manager Rebecca Garland told BuzzFeed News the county of 8,500 can’t provide medical care: “We have no hope of having a hospital. And so far, we have not had a confirmed case of coronavirus, but we know it’s coming.”.
While there are a few hospitals in the Florida Keys, an archipelago connected by a single highway, police will create a checkpoint there “by Friday morning for sure,” according to Kristen Livengood, the spokesperson for Monroe County, Florida.
Stationed near the top of Florida’s island chain, officers will allow entry to residents, including people who own secondary homes, and those with work — but not visitors who are simply trying to escape the densely populated cities to the north.
“Miami-Dade County and Broward County are above us,” Livengood said. “They have had an explosion of cases.”
She fears those travelers could usurp medical resources in Monroe County, which had 12 cases by Thursday morning. “So many people are not working, and their kids are not in school, so they come to the Keys to enjoy some time off,” she said. “And it’s not safe for anyone to be traveling at this point.”
Livengood continued: “We speak to the hospitals and urgent care, and everyone says they are adequately prepared, but we want to make sure if we have an outbreak, our residents need the hospitals — that there are enough beds, not in addition to the visitors.”
Daniel Tilley, legal director for the ACLU of Florida, said in a statement to BuzzFeed News that governments can restrict travel during an emergency, “but they must ensure that any travel restrictions or prohibitions are no more restrictive than necessary. Public officials must also provide adequate notice of the restrictions and provide a hearing process that allows individuals who are impacted by such policies a fair opportunity to explain why they should not be subjected to the policy.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Twitter this week urged residents not to head to the Jersey Shore. And the New York Times reported that residents of some popular tourist towns are trying to stave off city folk, saying the interlopers raid store shelves and bring “bugs.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-26--Planned Parenthood Sued Texas For Banning Nearly All Abortions During The Coronavirus Outbreak

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 .
Days after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ordered a ban on nearly all abortions in the state during the coronavirus pandemic , Planned Parenthood filed a emergency lawsuit in federal court attempting to overturn the order .
The lawsuit , filed Wednesday night on behalf of eight reproductive health clinics in Texas , claims that Paxton ’ s order is unconstitutional and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and demands an immediate temporary restraining order to keep the doors of Texas ’ s abortion clinics open .
“ It ’ s unconscionable that the Texas Attorney General is exploiting this pandemic to end abortion in the state , ” Nancy Northup , head of the Center for Reproductive Rights , a legal nonprofit joining the lawsuit , said in a call with press Wednesday evening .
“ Abortion care is time-sensitive and essential health care that has a profound impact on a person ’ s health and life , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right.
” Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott issued an executive order Sunday , demanding that any “ medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures ” be canceled during the coronavirus outbreak through April 21 in order to ensure that all the medical resources possible could be devoted to mitigating and treating patients with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
Following Abbott ’ s order , his Attorney General ’ s Office issued a press release explicitly saying that the order applied to “ any type of abortion that is not medically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother , ” and that anyone found in violation of the order would “ be met with the full force of the law , ” including a $ 1,000 fine or up to 180 days in jail .
“ The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demands for hospital beds and has created a shortage of personal protective equipment [ PPE ] needed to protect health care professionals and stop transmission of the virus , ” Paxton ’ s statement read .
“ Postponing surgeries and procedures that are not immediately medically necessary will ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering from COVID-19 and that PPEs are available for health care professionals.
” Texas is currently the only state to explicitly attempt to ban the procedure during the coronavirus pandemic .
Last week , Ohio ’ s deputy attorney general , Jonathan Fulkerson , sent letters to several abortion clinics in the state accusing them of being in violation of the order , but the clinics ’ lawyers quickly responded assuring Fulkerson ’ s office that they were in compliance with the order and were taking all necessary precautions .
Abortion clinics in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been canceled , and so far the clinics are not being penalized .
In the lawsuit , filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas , the reproductive rights organizations pointed out that Paxton ’ s phrasing implies that even medication abortion ( taking an abortion pill by mouth , which can be done at home by telemedicine ) , which is not surgery or a procedure , is banned under his order .
“ This appears to be the only oral medication targeted in this manner , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s interpretation of Abbott ’ s order was made with the explicit aim of limiting abortion access , even in cases where it would have no effect on medical resources available for treating COVID-19 cases .
If the interpretation were to go into effect , “ patients will not be able to obtain an abortion for weeks or even months , given that the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to last far beyond the order ’ s stated expiration date , ” the lawsuit states .
“ Some will not be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to carry pregnancies to term.
” If many women in Texas were made to give birth against their will , the lawsuit argues , the order would not only infringe on their personal freedoms , but it would be economically damaging to the state , imposing “ far greater strains on an already-taxed healthcare system , as prenatal care and delivery involve much greater exhaustion of hospital health care services and PPE than abortions .
”

Days after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ordered a ban on nearly all abortions in the state during the coronavirus pandemic, Planned Parenthood filed a emergency lawsuit in federal court attempting to overturn the order.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday night on behalf of eight reproductive health clinics in Texas, claims that Paxton’s order is unconstitutional and in violation of Roe v. Wade, and demands an immediate temporary restraining order to keep the doors of Texas’s abortion clinics open.
“It’s unconscionable that the Texas Attorney General is exploiting this pandemic to end abortion in the state,” Nancy Northup, head of the Center for Reproductive Rights, a legal nonprofit joining the lawsuit, said in a call with press Wednesday evening. “Abortion care is time-sensitive and essential health care that has a profound impact on a person’s health and life, which is why it is protected as a constitutional right.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Sunday, demanding that any “medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures” be canceled during the coronavirus outbreak through April 21 in order to ensure that all the medical resources possible could be devoted to mitigating and treating patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Following Abbott’s order, his Attorney General’s Office issued a press release explicitly saying that the order applied to “any type of abortion that is not medically necessary to preserve the life of the mother,” and that anyone found in violation of the order would “be met with the full force of the law,” including a $1,000 fine or up to 180 days in jail.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demands for hospital beds and has created a shortage of personal protective equipment [PPE] needed to protect health care professionals and stop transmission of the virus,” Paxton’s statement read. “Postponing surgeries and procedures that are not immediately medically necessary will ensure that hospital beds are available for those suffering from COVID-19 and that PPEs are available for health care professionals.”
Texas is currently the only state to explicitly attempt to ban the procedure during the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, Ohio’s deputy attorney general, Jonathan Fulkerson, sent letters to several abortion clinics in the state accusing them of being in violation of the order, but the clinics’ lawyers quickly responded assuring Fulkerson’s office that they were in compliance with the order and were taking all necessary precautions. Abortion clinics in Ohio remain open, appointments have not been canceled, and so far the clinics are not being penalized.
In the lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, the reproductive rights organizations pointed out that Paxton’s phrasing implies that even medication abortion (taking an abortion pill by mouth, which can be done at home by telemedicine), which is not surgery or a procedure, is banned under his order.
“This appears to be the only oral medication targeted in this manner,” the lawsuit reads, extrapolating that Paxton’s interpretation of Abbott’s order was made with the explicit aim of limiting abortion access, even in cases where it would have no effect on medical resources available for treating COVID-19 cases.
If the interpretation were to go into effect, “patients will not be able to obtain an abortion for weeks or even months, given that the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to last far beyond the order’s stated expiration date,” the lawsuit states. “Some will not be able to access abortion at all and will be forced to carry pregnancies to term.”
If many women in Texas were made to give birth against their will, the lawsuit argues, the order would not only infringe on their personal freedoms, but it would be economically damaging to the state, imposing “far greater strains on an already-taxed healthcare system, as prenatal care and delivery involve much greater exhaustion of hospital health care services and PPE than abortions.”