buzzfeed--2020-03-12--Men In An Australian Detention Centre Are Washing Their Hands With Shampoo To Protect From The Coron

Men In An Australian Detention Centre Are Washing Their Hands With Shampoo To Protect From The Coronavirus

Men held in a hotel doubling as a detention centre are washing their hands with 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner in an attempt to protect themselves , as the coronavirus outbreak spreads across Australia .
Asad* , a Somali refugee who has been held in the Mantra Bell City hotel in Melbourne for the past five months , told BuzzFeed News the Turning Point product was the only thing reliably supplied to the detainees .
It was only on Thursday — seven weeks after a case of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , was first reported in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the hotel , another man told BuzzFeed News .
The men are held in close quarters in the hotel .
Although they can buy soap in the canteen , most of the men are smokers and they can not afford soap as well as cigarettes under the points-based system they use to make purchases , Asad said .
Refugees and immigrants held in detention centres , and so-called `` alternative places of detention '' like hotels , around Australia were told on Wednesday that they will no longer be able to hug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new rules to protect them from the coronavirus pandemic .
The rules are due to be implemented on Thursday .
Detainees will also have to sit a distance apart from their guests .
Asad said that before Wednesday , the men in the Mantra had not been given any advice or information about coronavirus from official channels .
The dozens of men held in hotels in Melbourne and Brisbane have mostly been brought to Australia from offshore detention on Nauru and in Papua New Guinea for medical treatment , including for a range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of guys who are living with asthma , and are more vulnerable than other guys , '' Asad said .
`` There are some guys who are really very weak . ''
Asad said he was concerned that there was a `` lack of responsibility '' from medical contractor International Health and Medical Services ( IHMS ) .
`` They are supposed to give us awareness , and tell people to be more hygienic .
They 're the medical experts , '' he said .

Men held in a hotel doubling as a detention centre are washing their hands with 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner in an attempt to protect themselves, as the coronavirus outbreak spreads across Australia.
Asad*, a Somali refugee who has been held in the Mantra Bell City hotel in Melbourne for the past five months, told BuzzFeed News the Turning Point product was the only thing reliably supplied to the detainees.
It was only on Thursday — seven weeks after a case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, was first reported in Australia — that hand sanitiser bottles appeared in the hotel, another man told BuzzFeed News.
The men are held in close quarters in the hotel. Although they can buy soap in the canteen, most of the men are smokers and they cannot afford soap as well as cigarettes under the points-based system they use to make purchases, Asad said.
Refugees and immigrants held in detention centres, and so-called "alternative places of detention" like hotels, around Australia were told on Wednesday that they will no longer be able to hug their visitors or shake their hands under new rules to protect them from the coronavirus pandemic.
The rules are due to be implemented on Thursday. Detainees will also have to sit a distance apart from their guests.
Asad said that before Wednesday, the men in the Mantra had not been given any advice or information about coronavirus from official channels.
The dozens of men held in hotels in Melbourne and Brisbane have mostly been brought to Australia from offshore detention on Nauru and in Papua New Guinea for medical treatment, including for a range of physical conditions.
"There's a number of guys who are living with asthma, and are more vulnerable than other guys," Asad said. "There are some guys who are really very weak."
Asad said he was concerned that there was a "lack of responsibility" from medical contractor International Health and Medical Services (IHMS). "They are supposed to give us awareness, and tell people to be more hygienic. They're the medical experts," he said.


buzzfeed--2020-03-12--Boris Johnson Warns Many Families Will Lose Loved Ones In The "Worst Public Health Crisis For A Gene

Boris Johnson Warns Many Families Will Lose Loved Ones In The "Worst Public Health Crisis For A Generation"

Boris Johnson has warned that `` many families are going to lose loved ones before their time '' as he escalated the UK 's response to the coronavirus , which he called `` the worst public health crisis for a generation '' .
Addressing people who are showing coronavirus symptoms — a cough and high temperature , however mild — the prime minister said the medical advice was that they should now stay at home and not leave their house for 7 days from when symptoms started .
Patrick Vallance , the chief scientific adviser , said : `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks as though we are about four weeks behind Italy '' .
The Italian government has put its country in lockdown , closing restaurants , bars and most shops , leaving open only essential services such as pharmacies and grocers .
He warned that while the official number of confirmed UK coronavirus cases stood at 590 on Thursday , experts ' modelling showed the true number of current cases in Britain was likely to be 5,000 to 10,000 .
`` The most dangerous period is some weeks away , '' Johnson said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he prepared the public for more dramatic restrictions on day-to-day life .
The government is advising against travelling abroad for cruises and school trips .
`` We are likely to go further than these measures in the coming weeks '' , he said .
The prime minister insisted that the scientific advice was that there was little benefit to banning mass gatherings and sporting events at this time , but added that the government was considering this action and may do so `` at the right time '' .
Johnson said the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` this may change as the disease spreads '' .
Speaking directly to elderly people , Johnson said the country would `` mobilise millions of people '' to help them battle the virus .
Updated government advice said that anyone showing mild symptoms of the virus should : • ask your employer , friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home .
• stay at least 2 metres ( about 3 steps ) away from other people in your home whenever possible .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds , each time using soap and water .
• stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible .

Boris Johnson has warned that "many families are going to lose loved ones before their time" as he escalated the UK's response to the coronavirus, which he called "the worst public health crisis for a generation".
Addressing people who are showing coronavirus symptoms — a cough and high temperature, however mild — the prime minister said the medical advice was that they should now stay at home and not leave their house for 7 days from when symptoms started.
Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, said: "We are now on a trajectory where it looks as though we are about four weeks behind Italy".
The Italian government has put its country in lockdown, closing restaurants, bars and most shops, leaving open only essential services such as pharmacies and grocers.
He warned that while the official number of confirmed UK coronavirus cases stood at 590 on Thursday, experts' modelling showed the true number of current cases in Britain was likely to be 5,000 to 10,000.
"The most dangerous period is some weeks away," Johnson said at a press conference in Westminster, as he prepared the public for more dramatic restrictions on day-to-day life.
The government is advising against travelling abroad for cruises and school trips.
"We are likely to go further than these measures in the coming weeks", he said.
The prime minister insisted that the scientific advice was that there was little benefit to banning mass gatherings and sporting events at this time, but added that the government was considering this action and may do so "at the right time".
Johnson said the UK would not close schools currently, but that "this may change as the disease spreads".
Speaking directly to elderly people, Johnson said the country would "mobilise millions of people" to help them battle the virus.
Updated government advice said that anyone showing mild symptoms of the virus should:


buzzfeed--2020-03-31--Even The US Is Doing More Coronavirus Tests Than The UK. Here Are The Reasons Why.

Both German and South Korean officials and experts have stressed the importance of mass testing behind their respective approaches to fighting the coronavirus .
The UK ’ s lab capacity dedicated to COVID-19 , and the way those labs are structured , appears not to have been geared up enough to handle the scale of the pandemic .
Public Health England has expanded its testing capacity from one to 12 labs and is supporting the NHS to test at greater capacity in their 29 laboratory networks — which a spokesperson described as `` the fastest deployment of a novel test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , including in the Swine flu pandemic in 2009 ” .
But the UK has a more centralised approach to lab testing compared to Germany , and this has limited its ability to scale and process results at the same speed as other countries , despite its efforts to ramp up capacity .
“ The roll-out of additional capacity requires properly trained staff , equipment and a supply of consumables as well as a thorough validation process for the lab to ensure the results are correct , ” the PHE spokesperson added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , professor Sharon Peacock , the director of the national infection service at Public Health England ( PHE ) , told a Science and Technology Committee hearing of MPs last week : “ Laboratories in this country have largely been merged , so we have a smaller number of larger laboratories .
The alternative is to have a single large testing site .
From my perspective , it is more efficient to have a bigger testing site than dissipating our efforts into a lot of laboratories around the country.
” Greg Clark , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told BuzzFeed News : `` We have lots of labs in this country , we are scientifically a very well endowed country .
We have many universities across the country , the vast majority of which have laboratories that can test , so it ’ s not that we have less capacity than others it 's that we took an approach of having tests done in a very centralised way , first of all at a single laboratory and then rolled out to 12 public health laboratories and only recently involving hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He added : `` Our resources are not significantly less than Germany and it wouldn ’ t surprise me if we were ahead of them but we didn ’ t deploy them until relatively late in the pandemic . ''
All positive tests in the UK were initially validated by one PHE lab in Colindale , north-west London , though a PHE spokesperson said that was no longer the case .
The UK approach to testing was revised as the virus spread .
When the first few coronavirus cases hit the UK in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strict programme of contact tracing and testing potential cases .
This early testing enabled the UK to “ gain 3 or 4 weeks on Italy ” , according to a source familiar with the government ’ s approach .
This was similar to the more aggressive efforts that are continuing in Germany , South Korea and elsewhere .
But the UK policy changed after a few weeks when Britain started to run out of testing kits and lab capacity , and its senior government scientists moved from what they called the “ contain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , the source said .
Instead of testing , the UK government decided to prioritise intensive care unit and ventilator capacity at hospitals , believing that this was the best way to save the lives of those worst affected by the disease , rather than widespread tests , two sources told BuzzFeed News .
Prioritising ICU capacity and ventilator procurement over testing was the right strategy , the second source argued , because while data on overall cases may be useful overall , it is a secondary concern compared to ensuring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although the UK is now increasing testing following widespread criticism , that new capacity will be focused primarily on NHS workers so they can keep working , rather than the general population , one of the sources said .
Data from the areas hardest hit by the outbreak , such as Italy and Spain , shows that frontline health workers are among the worst affected .
Speaking at Tuesday evening 's government press conference , deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries confirmed that the UK would prioritise its testing on NHS clinicians rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who would test positive would not require treatment , Harries said , so it would not be the best use of resources .
At the science committee last week , Imperial College professor Neil Ferguson , who has been a key adviser to the government on the COVID-19 , explained : `` Testing has always been discussed significantly .
The reason it was not included in initial modelling was about the projections by PHE of how quickly this country could ramp up testing capacity .
“ If we have to transit from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to something this country can maintain long term , undoubtedly much more widespread testing , contact tracing and other methods will have to be deployed .
“ If we are talking about back in January/February/early March , it was very clear from messages from Public Health England that we would have nowhere near enough testing capacity to adopt that strategy . ''
This testimony was endorsed by one of the health sources who spoke to BuzzFeed News .
The UK had a “ massive shortage of tests ” , they said , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capabilities of other countries at the moment .

Both German and South Korean officials and experts have stressed the importance of mass testing behind their respective approaches to fighting the coronavirus.
The UK’s lab capacity dedicated to COVID-19, and the way those labs are structured, appears not to have been geared up enough to handle the scale of the pandemic.
Public Health England has expanded its testing capacity from one to 12 labs and is supporting the NHS to test at greater capacity in their 29 laboratory networks — which a spokesperson described as "the fastest deployment of a novel test to PHE and NHS labs in recent history, including in the Swine flu pandemic in 2009”.
But the UK has a more centralised approach to lab testing compared to Germany, and this has limited its ability to scale and process results at the same speed as other countries, despite its efforts to ramp up capacity.
“The roll-out of additional capacity requires properly trained staff, equipment and a supply of consumables as well as a thorough validation process for the lab to ensure the results are correct,” the PHE spokesperson added.
Explaining the UK’s setup, professor Sharon Peacock, the director of the national infection service at Public Health England (PHE), told a Science and Technology Committee hearing of MPs last week: “Laboratories in this country have largely been merged, so we have a smaller number of larger laboratories. The alternative is to have a single large testing site. From my perspective, it is more efficient to have a bigger testing site than dissipating our efforts into a lot of laboratories around the country.”
Greg Clark, the Tory MP who chairs the committee, told BuzzFeed News: "We have lots of labs in this country, we are scientifically a very well endowed country. We have many universities across the country, the vast majority of which have laboratories that can test, so it’s not that we have less capacity than others it's that we took an approach of having tests done in a very centralised way, first of all at a single laboratory and then rolled out to 12 public health laboratories and only recently involving hospital labs and others in universities."
He added: "Our resources are not significantly less than Germany and it wouldn’t surprise me if we were ahead of them but we didn’t deploy them until relatively late in the pandemic."
All positive tests in the UK were initially validated by one PHE lab in Colindale, north-west London, though a PHE spokesperson said that was no longer the case.
The UK approach to testing was revised as the virus spread. When the first few coronavirus cases hit the UK in January, Public Health England began a strict programme of contact tracing and testing potential cases. This early testing enabled the UK to “gain 3 or 4 weeks on Italy”, according to a source familiar with the government’s approach.
This was similar to the more aggressive efforts that are continuing in Germany, South Korea and elsewhere. But the UK policy changed after a few weeks when Britain started to run out of testing kits and lab capacity, and its senior government scientists moved from what they called the “contain” phase to the “delay phase”, the source said.
Instead of testing, the UK government decided to prioritise intensive care unit and ventilator capacity at hospitals, believing that this was the best way to save the lives of those worst affected by the disease, rather than widespread tests, two sources told BuzzFeed News.
Prioritising ICU capacity and ventilator procurement over testing was the right strategy, the second source argued, because while data on overall cases may be useful overall, it is a secondary concern compared to ensuring the elderly and vulnerable can receive treatment.
Although the UK is now increasing testing following widespread criticism, that new capacity will be focused primarily on NHS workers so they can keep working, rather than the general population, one of the sources said. Data from the areas hardest hit by the outbreak, such as Italy and Spain, shows that frontline health workers are among the worst affected.
Speaking at Tuesday evening's government press conference, deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries confirmed that the UK would prioritise its testing on NHS clinicians rather than the wider public. Most of those who would test positive would not require treatment, Harries said, so it would not be the best use of resources.
At the science committee last week, Imperial College professor Neil Ferguson, who has been a key adviser to the government on the COVID-19, explained: "Testing has always been discussed significantly. The reason it was not included in initial modelling was about the projections by PHE of how quickly this country could ramp up testing capacity.
“If we have to transit from the suppression strategy and the lockdown strategy to something this country can maintain long term, undoubtedly much more widespread testing, contact tracing and other methods will have to be deployed.
“If we are talking about back in January/February/early March, it was very clear from messages from Public Health England that we would have nowhere near enough testing capacity to adopt that strategy."
This testimony was endorsed by one of the health sources who spoke to BuzzFeed News. The UK had a “massive shortage of tests”, they said, and was simply unable to replicate the testing capabilities of other countries at the moment.


buzzfeed--2020-03-18--Eurovision's Been Cancelled And People Are Saying Iceland Should Be Crowned The Winner Because Their

Eurovision's Been Cancelled And People Are Saying Iceland Should Be Crowned The Winner Because Their Song's An Absolute Banger

Along with a series of other big events in Europe , including the Euro2020 football tournament and Glastonbury festival , @ @ @ @ @ the contest while Europe is struggling with a widespread outbreak of coronavirus .
People have @ @ @ @ @ gatherings and not to travel unless it 's essential , which made it hard for @ @ @ @ @ .

Along with a series of other big events in Europe, including the Euro2020 football tournament and Glastonbury festival, organisers decided not to hold the contest while Europe is struggling with a widespread outbreak of coronavirus.
People have been advised against attending mass gatherings and not to travel unless it's essential, which made it hard for the contest to go ahead.


buzzfeed--2020-03-18--Medical Students Are Being Graduated Early And Fast-Tracked To Hospitals

Final-year medical students in the UK are being awarded early graduation this week and fast-tracked to hospitals to help fight the coronavirus pandemic , according to emails from medical schools seen by BuzzFeed News .
The newly graduated students will be able to carry out some hospital tasks such as patient assessments and blood tests , but their responsibilities will be limited and they will not have the full legally defined duties of a doctor .
Final-year students who were close to completing their studies before the virus struck are being given early graduation over the coming days .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be brought forward by health secretary Matt Hancock tomorrow .
A government source said the measures were in line with their plans to get people with skills and expertise to the frontline to help patients .
“ There is a particular national imperative to ensure that as many Final Year medical students as possible can progress through to graduation and enter Foundation training , as valued healthcare professionals , ” an email from one medical school to final-year students said .
A second medical school outlined to its students what their hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be expected to carry out “ almost ” the duties of a first-year foundation doctor .
“ You will not be working as an FY1 as you are not able to do the legally defined duties of a doctor , such as prescribing or death certification , nor be responsible for final decision making , such as discharge , ” the school said in an email .
“ However , we expect that you will be using your ‘ almost FY1 ’ skills - e.g .
involved in activities such as patient assessment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provisional treatment plans such as working as part of a medical team.
” “ We expect you to be medically supervised in your activities and provided with guidance at all times , ” the email said .
The school said it expected newly graduated students to largely work away from intensive treatment units , and be stationed in other wards so full first-year foundation doctors can be moved to ITUs .
At the weekend , the Medical Schools Council urged the government to allow current students to work as call handlers for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in other noncritical roles to relieve frontline pressure .

Final-year medical students in the UK are being awarded early graduation this week and fast-tracked to hospitals to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, according to emails from medical schools seen by BuzzFeed News.
The newly graduated students will be able to carry out some hospital tasks such as patient assessments and blood tests, but their responsibilities will be limited and they will not have the full legally defined duties of a doctor.
Final-year students who were close to completing their studies before the virus struck are being given early graduation over the coming days.
The developments come ahead of new emergency legislation to be brought forward by health secretary Matt Hancock tomorrow. A government source said the measures were in line with their plans to get people with skills and expertise to the frontline to help patients.
“There is a particular national imperative to ensure that as many Final Year medical students as possible can progress through to graduation and enter Foundation training, as valued healthcare professionals,” an email from one medical school to final-year students said.
A second medical school outlined to its students what their hospital duties would entail, saying they would be expected to carry out “almost” the duties of a first-year foundation doctor.
“You will not be working as an FY1 as you are not able to do the legally defined duties of a doctor, such as prescribing or death certification, nor be responsible for final decision making, such as discharge,” the school said in an email.
“However, we expect that you will be using your ‘almost FY1’ skills - e.g. involved in activities such as patient assessment, note-taking, bloods, forms and provisional treatment plans such as working as part of a medical team.”
“We expect you to be medically supervised in your activities and provided with guidance at all times,” the email said.
The school said it expected newly graduated students to largely work away from intensive treatment units, and be stationed in other wards so full first-year foundation doctors can be moved to ITUs.
At the weekend, the Medical Schools Council urged the government to allow current students to work as call handlers for the NHS’s 111 phone service and in other noncritical roles to relieve frontline pressure.


buzzfeed--2020-03-18--This Is What Prime Minister's Questions Looks Like In The Age Of Coronavirus

The PM was grilled over why the UK was not testing as many people for coronavirus as some other countries , and about the reported widespread shortages of protective equipment for NHS frontline workers .
Johnson announced that the UK would be moving towards 25,000 tests a day and insisted that healthcare workers would be a priority for those tests .
He also insisted there were `` stockpiles '' of personal protective equipment , known as PPE .
The half-hour session , held every Wednesday , is usually the liveliest moment in the parliamentary week , with MPs standing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs to stay away , unless their names were on the order paper to ask the prime minister a question .
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pointed out that the World Health Organisation had said `` test , test , test '' — and said NHS workers must get these tests first to safeguard themselves and their patients .
`` Sadly those workers have no idea if they are actually transmitting the virus themselves , '' he said .
`` Can the prime minister please explain why the government is n't prioritising testing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these workers were a priority and said the UK was ahead of other countries in the number of tests it was doing .
Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan , who is also an emergency doctor , made a heartfelt plea for more testing and protection for her NHS colleagues .

The PM was grilled over why the UK was not testing as many people for coronavirus as some other countries, and about the reported widespread shortages of protective equipment for NHS frontline workers.
Johnson announced that the UK would be moving towards 25,000 tests a day and insisted that healthcare workers would be a priority for those tests. He also insisted there were "stockpiles" of personal protective equipment, known as PPE.
The half-hour session, held every Wednesday, is usually the liveliest moment in the parliamentary week, with MPs standing in the aisles. But party whips ordered MPs to stay away, unless their names were on the order paper to ask the prime minister a question.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pointed out that the World Health Organisation had said "test, test, test" — and said NHS workers must get these tests first to safeguard themselves and their patients.
"Sadly those workers have no idea if they are actually transmitting the virus themselves," he said. "Can the prime minister please explain why the government isn't prioritising testing of all healthcare staff?"
Johnson said these workers were a priority and said the UK was ahead of other countries in the number of tests it was doing.
Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan, who is also an emergency doctor, made a heartfelt plea for more testing and protection for her NHS colleagues.


buzzfeed--2020-03-18--Private Citizens Are Running Websites And Twitter Accounts Tracking The Spread Of COVID-19

Australia has at least 454 cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
At least , that 's the latest figure released by the nation 's Department of Health .
But if you ask others , Australia has significantly more than that .
Some people have been publishing their own count — and more — in near real-time , using publicly available information .
These independent coronavirus trackers are filling the information vacuum left by the government , which they say is n't doing a good job of keeping citizens informed .
Before March 15 , Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website with regularly updated numbers of coronavirus cases .
And while the government has started publishing figures on its website , the independent coronavirus tracking resources are providing more information — such as ages , genders , even the sources of location transmissions — all in one place and updated more often .
Juliette O'Brien is a journalist and a communications consultant who runs covid19data.com.au , which tracks information about the spread of the coronavirus in Australia .
She came up with the idea a few weeks ago when she was at work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her colleagues were searching for a graph of how many cases had been confirmed in Australia with a state-by-state breakdown — but there was no central source for this information .
O'Brien began to go through the news reports of cases one-by-one and came up with the idea of creating the website to share the information with the public .
`` I think the people in newsrooms and in health departments were so tapped in that they did n't realise it , '' she said .
`` Because if you 're in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into every minute of the news cycle , you 're getting lost in the swamp of information . ''

Australia has at least 454 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. At least, that's the latest figure released by the nation's Department of Health.
But if you ask others, Australia has significantly more than that. Some people have been publishing their own count — and more — in near real-time, using publicly available information.
These independent coronavirus trackers are filling the information vacuum left by the government, which they say isn't doing a good job of keeping citizens informed.
Before March 15, Australia's federal government didn't have a website with regularly updated numbers of coronavirus cases. And while the government has started publishing figures on its website, the independent coronavirus tracking resources are providing more information — such as ages, genders, even the sources of location transmissions — all in one place and updated more often.
Juliette O'Brien is a journalist and a communications consultant who runs covid19data.com.au, which tracks information about the spread of the coronavirus in Australia.
She came up with the idea a few weeks ago when she was at work at the Sydney Morning Herald. She and her colleagues were searching for a graph of how many cases had been confirmed in Australia with a state-by-state breakdown — but there was no central source for this information.
O'Brien began to go through the news reports of cases one-by-one and came up with the idea of creating the website to share the information with the public.
"I think the people in newsrooms and in health departments were so tapped in that they didn't realise it," she said. "Because if you're in the public and you're not tapped into every minute of the news cycle, you're getting lost in the swamp of information."


buzzfeed--2020-03-18--You Probably Saw This Hoax About Australia Enforcing A Mandatory Lockdown. Here's The Story Behind I

You Probably Saw This Hoax About Australia Enforcing A Mandatory Lockdown. Here's The Story Behind It.

On Wednesday , Australian prime minister Scott Morrison announced the government 's latest efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ a ban on non-essential indoor gatherings with more than 100 people and recommendations to avoid @ @ @ @ @ it did not include was the enforcement of an `` Australia wide lock down '' @ @ @ @ @ spread through social media networks , instant messaging applications and by text message like wildfire @ @ @ @ @ versions of the hoax — which falsely claimed all gatherings , schools , universities , @ @ @ @ @ be shut down for two weeks — claim to have heard from `` a good @ @ @ @ @ `` a friend who works in parliament '' or an unnamed cabinet leaker .

On Wednesday, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison announced the government's latest efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Morrison's speech included a ban on non-essential indoor gatherings with more than 100 people and recommendations to avoid all international travel.
What it did not include was the enforcement of an "Australia wide lock down" — even though this message spread through social media networks, instant messaging applications and by text message like wildfire on Tuesday evening.
Different versions of the hoax — which falsely claimed all gatherings, schools, universities, and non-essential government services would be shut down for two weeks — claim to have heard from "a good source in government", "a friend who works in parliament" or an unnamed cabinet leaker.


buzzfeed--2020-03-18--Everyone In Iceland Can Get Tested For The Coronavirus. Here's How The Results Could Help All Of Us.

As countries around the world scramble to fight back the spread of the coronavirus , Iceland is doing things a little differently from the rest — and the approach could have a much larger impact on our understanding of the virus .
The small island nation of 364,000 is carrying out large-scale testing among its general population , making it the latest country to put aggressive testing at the heart of its fight against the pandemic .
But — crucially — the testing also includes people who show no symptoms of the disease .
Iceland ’ s government said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its citizens than anywhere else in the world .
The number of individuals tested by the country ’ s health authorities and the biotechnology firm deCode Genetics — 3,787 — roughly translates to 10,405 per million , which compares to about 5,203 in South Korea , 2478 in Italy , and 764 in the UK .
`` Iceland ’ s population puts it in the unique position of having very high testing capabilities with help from the Icelandic medical research company deCode Genetics , who are offering to perform large scale testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s chief epidemiologist , told BuzzFeed News .
`` This effort is intended to gather insight into the actual prevalence of the virus in the community , as most countries are most exclusively testing symptomatic individuals at this time . ''
Of 3,787 individuals tested in the country , a total of 218 positive cases have been identified so far .
`` At least half of those infected contracted the virus while travelling abroad , mostly in high-risk areas in the European Alps ( at least 90 ) , '' the government said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first results of the voluntary tests on people with no symptoms , which started last Friday .
The first batch of 1,800 tests produced 19 positive cases , or about 1 % of the sample .
`` Early results from deCode Genetics indicate that a low proportion of the general population has contracted the virus and that about half of those who tested positive are non-symptomatic , ” said Guðnason .
“ The other half displays very moderate cold-like symptoms . ''
“ This data can also become a valuable resource for scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he added .

As countries around the world scramble to fight back the spread of the coronavirus, Iceland is doing things a little differently from the rest — and the approach could have a much larger impact on our understanding of the virus.
The small island nation of 364,000 is carrying out large-scale testing among its general population, making it the latest country to put aggressive testing at the heart of its fight against the pandemic.
But — crucially — the testing also includes people who show no symptoms of the disease.
Iceland’s government said it has so far tested a higher proportion of its citizens than anywhere else in the world.
The number of individuals tested by the country’s health authorities and the biotechnology firm deCode Genetics — 3,787 — roughly translates to 10,405 per million, which compares to about 5,203 in South Korea, 2478 in Italy, and 764 in the UK.
"Iceland’s population puts it in the unique position of having very high testing capabilities with help from the Icelandic medical research company deCode Genetics, who are offering to perform large scale testing," Thorolfur Guðnason, Iceland’s chief epidemiologist, told BuzzFeed News.
"This effort is intended to gather insight into the actual prevalence of the virus in the community, as most countries are most exclusively testing symptomatic individuals at this time."
Of 3,787 individuals tested in the country, a total of 218 positive cases have been identified so far. "At least half of those infected contracted the virus while travelling abroad, mostly in high-risk areas in the European Alps (at least 90)," the government said on Monday.
Those numbers include the first results of the voluntary tests on people with no symptoms, which started last Friday. The first batch of 1,800 tests produced 19 positive cases, or about 1% of the sample.
"Early results from deCode Genetics indicate that a low proportion of the general population has contracted the virus and that about half of those who tested positive are non-symptomatic,” said Guðnason. “The other half displays very moderate cold-like symptoms."
“This data can also become a valuable resource for scientific studies of the virus in the future,” he added.


buzzfeed--2020-03-21--Misleading Positive News About The Coronavirus Is Going Viral On WhatsApp

Dykstra sent BuzzFeed News a link to a webpage which even included sources for each point in this list .
Most of these sources are valid news sites and more or less substantiate the claims .
But many of the points lack vital context and give a misleading overall picture , and because of this , is more likely to go viral than something flagrantly fake that is easier to debunk .
This sort of misleading information is more subtle .
For example , it is true that Israeli scientists announced a breakthrough in the development of a vaccine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of tests and experiments that may last many months before the vaccination is deemed effective or safe to use , ” according to Haaretz , the Israeli newspaper that reported on this .
Most people do not have medical or scientific training so are not equipped to assess how likely , or how quickly , a small-scale trial might develop a genuine global vaccine or treatment for the deadly virus , says Claire Wardle .
So while it is also true that a San Diego biotech company is working on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world — the list neglects to mention that vaccines generally require at least a year of testing to make sure they are safe .
Some of the other items in the list are factually accurate but provide a distorted view of the global pandemic .
It has been reported that one patient in Tulsa County recovered from the virus – just as patients are recovering all around the world .
But this one single case in Oklahoma presented as `` good news '' seems rather minor considering the massive death tolls racking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day .
Facebook says it is removing harmful misinformation relating to coronavirus from its platform .
“ It ’ s not misinformation but it ’ s just a tiny kernel truth of being that ’ s been exaggerated , and it ’ s misleading , '' said Wardle .

Dykstra sent BuzzFeed News a link to a webpage which even included sources for each point in this list.
Most of these sources are valid news sites and more or less substantiate the claims.
But many of the points lack vital context and give a misleading overall picture, and because of this, is more likely to go viral than something flagrantly fake that is easier to debunk. This sort of misleading information is more subtle.
For example, it is true that Israeli scientists announced a breakthrough in the development of a vaccine.
However, “the development process requires a series of tests and experiments that may last many months before the vaccination is deemed effective or safe to use,” according to Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper that reported on this.
Most people do not have medical or scientific training so are not equipped to assess how likely, or how quickly, a small-scale trial might develop a genuine global vaccine or treatment for the deadly virus, says Claire Wardle.
So while it is also true that a San Diego biotech company is working on a vaccine — like many other labs around the world — the list neglects to mention that vaccines generally require at least a year of testing to make sure they are safe.
Some of the other items in the list are factually accurate but provide a distorted view of the global pandemic.
It has been reported that one patient in Tulsa County recovered from the virus – just as patients are recovering all around the world.
But this one single case in Oklahoma presented as "good news" seems rather minor considering the massive death tolls racking up around the world which are increasing every day.
Facebook says it is removing harmful misinformation relating to coronavirus from its platform.
“It’s not misinformation but it’s just a tiny kernel truth of being that’s been exaggerated, and it’s misleading," said Wardle.


buzzfeed--2020-03-21--23 Facts About Hospital Ships That Are Honestly Fascinating

And finally , believe it or not , medical ships have been around for more than 200 years — some @ @ @ @ @ were actually converted paddlewheel steamboats used during the Civil War

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


buzzfeed--2020-03-21--Survivors Of The AIDS Crisis Are Revealing How We Can Get Through The Coronavirus Pandemic

“ You develop coping strategies , ” says Jonathan Blake .
“ And you sort of go back to those .
My coping strategies were to keep myself busy , doing things .
My idea was that I would outrun the virus .
It was a crazy idea , but that ’ s what I did.
” He also didn ’ t cope alone .
“ It was something that was shared , ” he says .
“ One wasn ’ t at home , isolated .
That network kept you going , even in the bleak times .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There were places you could go to get the help , and they ’ ve all gone .
With this pandemic , it ’ s not like there are places you can go.
” Not everyone shares Blake ’ s sense of fortitude .
When asked how he got through the AIDS crisis and how others could cope now , Simon Watney stops before answering .
His voice flattens .
“ I don ’ t know that I did get through , ” he says .
“ A large part of me didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s probably true of a lot of people I know.
” What has begun to happen , however , is that those who fought AIDS 30 years ago have been reconnecting .
Watney has been hearing from friends from that time more , bound once again .
He sees them liking his Facebook posts about today ’ s crisis .
“ I find it rather moving , ” he says .
“ Those of us who were active in those early years are aware of the irony of our sudden vulnerability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But this group , who survived a war no one won , have not been called upon now for their expertise .
This is despite successfully challenging governments , industry , the media , the general public , and stigma itself to change public health and behaviour — all while promoting lifesaving messages on an unfathomable scale .
Now , say many , the lessons learnt then have not been applied .
“ One of them is the importance of altruism , ” says Watney .
He mentions the buddying system , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped those who were struggling ( and often dying of AIDS ) , bringing them food and care , sometimes when no one else was there .
But , he says , “ the main lesson [ from those times ] is that you don ’ t need to see people dropping dead in front of you to promote behavioural change .
The one thing the history of the HIV epidemic taught us is that risk reduction can work.
” Blake agrees — particularly with some of the governmental AIDS awareness campaigns that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear in people is , I don ’ t think , a good way to change behaviour , ” he says .
“ You have to really explain it to them.
” What people can not be prepared for , says Guy-Bray , is the loss of life .
That comes only from experience , one that changed survivors of HIV .
“ My attitude towards death is very different from what it used to be , ” says Spink .
“ And that ’ s because of all my friends that died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about dying .
I don ’ t want to , but I ’ m OK about it .
I feel a lot more in control this time round.
” One of the great differences between now and then is the reach of the coronavirus .
Cairns warns that it will affect everyone .
But Blake , perhaps the pluckiest of survivors , who retains by some quirky miracle an air of lightness , remains hopeful .
“ Human beings are remarkably resourceful , resilient , and generally they ’ re kind , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ generally ” .
He looks up , as if looking over the top of this new pandemic .
“ I think we ’ ll get through it .
”

“You develop coping strategies,” says Jonathan Blake. “And you sort of go back to those. My coping strategies were to keep myself busy, doing things. My idea was that I would outrun the virus. It was a crazy idea, but that’s what I did.” He also didn’t cope alone. “It was something that was shared,” he says. “One wasn’t at home, isolated. That network kept you going, even in the bleak times. There was a lot of mutual support. There were places you could go to get the help, and they’ve all gone. With this pandemic, it’s not like there are places you can go.”
Not everyone shares Blake’s sense of fortitude. When asked how he got through the AIDS crisis and how others could cope now, Simon Watney stops before answering. His voice flattens. “I don’t know that I did get through,” he says. “A large part of me didn’t. And I think that’s probably true of a lot of people I know.”
What has begun to happen, however, is that those who fought AIDS 30 years ago have been reconnecting. Watney has been hearing from friends from that time more, bound once again. He sees them liking his Facebook posts about today’s crisis. “I find it rather moving,” he says. “Those of us who were active in those early years are aware of the irony of our sudden vulnerability to his new virus,” he says.
But this group, who survived a war no one won, have not been called upon now for their expertise. This is despite successfully challenging governments, industry, the media, the general public, and stigma itself to change public health and behaviour — all while promoting lifesaving messages on an unfathomable scale.
Now, say many, the lessons learnt then have not been applied. “One of them is the importance of altruism,” says Watney. He mentions the buddying system, which was a network of carers who helped those who were struggling (and often dying of AIDS), bringing them food and care, sometimes when no one else was there. But, he says, “the main lesson [from those times] is that you don’t need to see people dropping dead in front of you to promote behavioural change. The one thing the history of the HIV epidemic taught us is that risk reduction can work.”
Blake agrees — particularly with some of the governmental AIDS awareness campaigns that lit stigma ablaze. “To instil fear in people is, I don’t think, a good way to change behaviour,” he says. “You have to really explain it to them.”
What people cannot be prepared for, says Guy-Bray, is the loss of life. That comes only from experience, one that changed survivors of HIV.
“My attitude towards death is very different from what it used to be,” says Spink. “And that’s because of all my friends that died. So I’m quite OK about dying. I don’t want to, but I’m OK about it. I feel a lot more in control this time round.”
One of the great differences between now and then is the reach of the coronavirus. Cairns warns that it will affect everyone. But Blake, perhaps the pluckiest of survivors, who retains by some quirky miracle an air of lightness, remains hopeful.
“Human beings are remarkably resourceful, resilient, and generally they’re kind,” he says with a wry emphasis on “generally”. He looks up, as if looking over the top of this new pandemic.
“I think we’ll get through it.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-21--10 Days That Changed Britain: "Heated" Debate Between Scientists Forced Boris Johnson To Act On Coro

10 Days That Changed Britain: "Heated" Debate Between Scientists Forced Boris Johnson To Act On Coronavirus

While the scientific debate was raging last week between experts , officials , and ministers in face-to-face meetings and over emails and text messages , Johnson ’ s government was publicly insisting that the scientific advice showed the UK did not yet have to bring in more stringent measures to fight the virus .
Political aides tacitly criticised other countries who had taken more dramatic steps , claiming Britain was being “ guided by the science ” rather than politics .
Towards the end of last week , some ministers and political aides at the top of the government were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home isolation of suspect cases — but no real restrictions on wider society — was correct , despite almost every other European country taking a much tougher approach , and increasing alarm among SAGE experts .
The thought of months or even a year of social distancing was simply not feasible , some in Johnson ’ s team still thought at that point .
They continued to privately defend the controversial “ herd immunity ” approach outlined to the media by Vallance , even as other aides scrambled to claim the UK had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And there was fury behind the scenes among members of Johnson ’ s team at the likes of Rory Stewart and Jeremy Hunt , who had been publicly saying the government had got it wrong .
But data from Italy — presented to the government before it was published by experts at Imperial College on Monday — changed all that .
Their report confirmed the earlier fears of the epidemiologists who had been calling for more drastic action .
It showed that the NHS would indeed soon be overwhelmed if the UK ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The country had to move right away to a “ suppression ” approach with much more social distancing and restrictions on normal life , Imperial concluded .
Vallance and Johnson accepted the chilling findings and the prime minister finally advised social distancing on Monday .
The experts who had been demanding this for days wondered what the lost time would mean in terms of deaths .
They also raised concerns that the government must be completely transparent with the public , questioning why Vallance later chose to describe the difference between the mitigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This will all come out in the mother of public inquiries , ” a source said .
`` If you want to know how much we underestimated this , last Wednesday Rishi 's budget gave a £30 billion stimulus for the economy , six days later he had to spend another £330 billion , '' said a Whitehall official .
Allies of Johnson strongly defended his performance over the last two weeks to BuzzFeed News .
They said no British government since the Second World War had been forced to deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and stressed that both the volume of decisions that had to be taken and the enormity of those decisions meant that they could not get everything right straight away .
Johnson ’ s own personal views on the role of the state have also been a major factor , according to those familiar with his thinking .
The prime minister has held deep ideological reservations about turning Britain into an effective police state , as some other countries have done .
On Wednesday , Johnson told a press conference that the UK was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but warned he would take further measures to enforce social distancing if necessary .
A lockdown at least in part reminiscent of what has happened in Italy and France is still being considered at the top of government if the situation worsens in the weeks ahead , despite Downing Street denying that it would happen .
“ This will be the hardest decision he will ever make , ” a source said of the PM .
While the crisis that Johnson faces is undoubtedly unprecedented , there is significant criticism of Number 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government and the Conservative Party .
Chief among them is the view — expressed by several ministers and Tory MPs to BuzzFeed News over the last few days — that Johnson and his chief aide Dominic Cummings have effectively “ outsourced ” the government ’ s decision-making process to Vallance , the chief medical officer Chris Whitty , and a small team of scientific advisers .
While Downing Street ’ s deference to the experts won plaudits early on , this approach has turned out to be lacking , the ministers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disagreed on what to do .
One minister said that it was then the political responsibility of Johnson and Number 10 to decide which scientists to back , but described a “ vacuum of leadership ” among aides .
The minister told BuzzFeed News that Cummings and Vallance were “ close allies ” and claimed the government had “ bet ” the future of the UK on advice from a very small group of scientists that for a long time differed from the wider international consensus , and other members of SAGE .

While the scientific debate was raging last week between experts, officials, and ministers in face-to-face meetings and over emails and text messages, Johnson’s government was publicly insisting that the scientific advice showed the UK did not yet have to bring in more stringent measures to fight the virus.
Political aides tacitly criticised other countries who had taken more dramatic steps, claiming Britain was being “guided by the science” rather than politics.
Towards the end of last week, some ministers and political aides at the top of the government were still arguing that the original strategy of home isolation of suspect cases — but no real restrictions on wider society — was correct, despite almost every other European country taking a much tougher approach, and increasing alarm among SAGE experts.
The thought of months or even a year of social distancing was simply not feasible, some in Johnson’s team still thought at that point. They continued to privately defend the controversial “herd immunity” approach outlined to the media by Vallance, even as other aides scrambled to claim the UK had never considered it to be policy.
And there was fury behind the scenes among members of Johnson’s team at the likes of Rory Stewart and Jeremy Hunt, who had been publicly saying the government had got it wrong.
But data from Italy — presented to the government before it was published by experts at Imperial College on Monday — changed all that. Their report confirmed the earlier fears of the epidemiologists who had been calling for more drastic action.
It showed that the NHS would indeed soon be overwhelmed if the UK’s “mitigation” strategy continued. The country had to move right away to a “suppression” approach with much more social distancing and restrictions on normal life, Imperial concluded.
Vallance and Johnson accepted the chilling findings and the prime minister finally advised social distancing on Monday. The experts who had been demanding this for days wondered what the lost time would mean in terms of deaths.
They also raised concerns that the government must be completely transparent with the public, questioning why Vallance later chose to describe the difference between the mitigation and suppression strategies as “semantics”. “This will all come out in the mother of public inquiries,” a source said.
"If you want to know how much we underestimated this, last Wednesday Rishi's budget gave a £30 billion stimulus for the economy, six days later he had to spend another £330 billion," said a Whitehall official.
Allies of Johnson strongly defended his performance over the last two weeks to BuzzFeed News. They said no British government since the Second World War had been forced to deal with a crisis on this scale, and stressed that both the volume of decisions that had to be taken and the enormity of those decisions meant that they could not get everything right straight away.
Johnson’s own personal views on the role of the state have also been a major factor, according to those familiar with his thinking. The prime minister has held deep ideological reservations about turning Britain into an effective police state, as some other countries have done. On Wednesday, Johnson told a press conference that the UK was a “land of liberty”, but warned he would take further measures to enforce social distancing if necessary.
A lockdown at least in part reminiscent of what has happened in Italy and France is still being considered at the top of government if the situation worsens in the weeks ahead, despite Downing Street denying that it would happen. “This will be the hardest decision he will ever make,” a source said of the PM.
While the crisis that Johnson faces is undoubtedly unprecedented, there is significant criticism of Number 10’s handling of the situation across the government and the Conservative Party.
Chief among them is the view — expressed by several ministers and Tory MPs to BuzzFeed News over the last few days — that Johnson and his chief aide Dominic Cummings have effectively “outsourced” the government’s decision-making process to Vallance, the chief medical officer Chris Whitty, and a small team of scientific advisers.
While Downing Street’s deference to the experts won plaudits early on, this approach has turned out to be lacking, the ministers and MPs said, because the scientists themselves disagreed on what to do. One minister said that it was then the political responsibility of Johnson and Number 10 to decide which scientists to back, but described a “vacuum of leadership” among aides.
The minister told BuzzFeed News that Cummings and Vallance were “close allies” and claimed the government had “bet” the future of the UK on advice from a very small group of scientists that for a long time differed from the wider international consensus, and other members of SAGE.


buzzfeed--2020-03-19--An Immigration Detention Centre Guard Has Tested Positive For COVID-19

A detention centre guard in Brisbane has been diagnosed with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus , heightening fears about the spread of the virus in immigration detention .
Refugees , asylum seekers and other immigrants held at the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation ( BITA ) centre and the Kangaroo Point Central hotel , which is being used as a detention facility , were told of the Serco staffer 's positive test on Wednesday night .
The guard has not worked in the facility since March 7 , an Australian Border Force ( ABF ) officer told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` That is 11 days ago , I think that 's important , '' she can be heard saying in video published on social media .
It is not clear whether the sick Serco staffer worked at Kangaroo Point or at BITA , or across the two facilities .
A refugee , H , who has been held at Kangaroo Point for months after being brought to Australia from Papua New Guinea for medical treatment , told BuzzFeed News the 80 or so men detained in the hotel were sitting in the dining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were told to go to the common room for an urgent meeting with ABF .
The men were informed that a single officer had contracted the coronavirus , and were told they would get more information on Thursday or Friday .
The ABF staff who spoke to them took questions but could not share much information , H said .
`` The last time he came to work was like March 7 , but maybe he had it before that and he was still coming to work , but we are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The men asked about the government 's directive that non-essential gatherings of 100 or more should stop , H said , but were told that only applied to 100 or more people in the one room .
`` We 're eating in one room , '' H said , estimating that over 100 people were in the dining room at dinner time , including detainees and staff .
In the Wednesday announcement , the officer also said the Department of Home Affairs had implemented new health measures in detention centres , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-contact visits , and additional cleaning of high traffic areas .
In a statement to BuzzFeed News , an ABF spokesperson said there were no confirmed cases among detainees .
`` The department and its service providers are working with and on the advice of Queensland health officials and will undertake any contact tracing they identify as necessary , '' they said .
But anxiety is high among refugees and asylum seekers in detention , as there is little they can do to protect themselves from exposure to the virus .
Many have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to medical conditions that could make them particularly vulnerable .
H said he could not sleep last night because he had a sore throat and was worried about the virus .
`` Everyone is scared , '' he said .
Social distancing is proving difficult in detention .
`` They said you should [ leave ] 1.5 metres distance between each person , '' H said . ''
But we are stuck .
It 's too small , we 're just sitting very closely to each other . ''
People held in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BuzzFeed News of their concerns that security guards , medical workers and other detention staff are not subject to rigorous screening when they come to work , and that they are handling food without wearing gloves .

A detention centre guard in Brisbane has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, heightening fears about the spread of the virus in immigration detention.
Refugees, asylum seekers and other immigrants held at the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation (BITA) centre and the Kangaroo Point Central hotel, which is being used as a detention facility, were told of the Serco staffer's positive test on Wednesday night.
The guard has not worked in the facility since March 7, an Australian Border Force (ABF) officer told detainees in the announcement at BITA. "That is 11 days ago, I think that's important," she can be heard saying in video published on social media.
It is not clear whether the sick Serco staffer worked at Kangaroo Point or at BITA, or across the two facilities.
A refugee, H, who has been held at Kangaroo Point for months after being brought to Australia from Papua New Guinea for medical treatment, told BuzzFeed News the 80 or so men detained in the hotel were sitting in the dining room after dinner on Wednesday night when they were told to go to the common room for an urgent meeting with ABF.
The men were informed that a single officer had contracted the coronavirus, and were told they would get more information on Thursday or Friday.
The ABF staff who spoke to them took questions but could not share much information, H said. "The last time he came to work was like March 7, but maybe he had it before that and he was still coming to work, but we are not really sure," he said.
The men asked about the government's directive that non-essential gatherings of 100 or more should stop, H said, but were told that only applied to 100 or more people in the one room.
"We're eating in one room," H said, estimating that over 100 people were in the dining room at dinner time, including detainees and staff.
In the Wednesday announcement, the officer also said the Department of Home Affairs had implemented new health measures in detention centres, including the screening of all staff, restrictions on non-contact visits, and additional cleaning of high traffic areas.
In a statement to BuzzFeed News, an ABF spokesperson said there were no confirmed cases among detainees.
"The department and its service providers are working with and on the advice of Queensland health officials and will undertake any contact tracing they identify as necessary," they said.
But anxiety is high among refugees and asylum seekers in detention, as there is little they can do to protect themselves from exposure to the virus. Many have been transferred to Australia from offshore detention due to medical conditions that could make them particularly vulnerable.
H said he could not sleep last night because he had a sore throat and was worried about the virus. "Everyone is scared," he said.
Social distancing is proving difficult in detention. "They said you should [leave] 1.5 metres distance between each person," H said." But we are stuck. It's too small, we're just sitting very closely to each other."
People held in various detention centres and hotels have told BuzzFeed News of their concerns that security guards, medical workers and other detention staff are not subject to rigorous screening when they come to work, and that they are handling food without wearing gloves.


buzzfeed--2020-03-18--26 Eerie Pictures Of Famous Landmarks From Around The World Before And After The Coronavirus Outbrea

26 Eerie Pictures Of Famous Landmarks From Around The World Before And After The Coronavirus Outbreak

The esplanade between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on March 16 ( this is only the fourth time in its @ @ @ @ @ been forced to close ) :

18.
The esplanade between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on March 16 (this is only the fourth time in its history that the park has been forced to close):


buzzfeed--2020-03-04--Here's The Latest Advice From Experts About Coronavirus And HIV

In Britain , the regularity with which HIV-positive people are tested for their CD4 counts has reduced in recent years as experts focus on the viral load as the chief indicator for overall health and control of the condition .
Most patients would be tested at least annually , however , giving a reasonable indication of their current levels .
While over 90 % of British patients are on antiretroviral treatment and have undetectable viral loads , in the US the proportion is much lower with just 53 % of people who have tested positive being virally suppressed .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free universal healthcare and patchy , expensive coverage by insurance companies .
According to UNAIDS , only 62 % of people living with HIV globally had access to treatment .
Last week , the British HIV Association ( BHIVA ) advised that those with high CD4 counts should not be any more concerned about coronavirus than the general public , and encouraged clinicians and patients to follow the regularly updated advice from official public health bodies .
While understanding of the combined effect of HIV and coronavirus is only just emerging , doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous virus outbreaks helps inform the advice about coronavirus .
`` It 's not so different , '' said McCormack .
`` There are other similar viruses that give you some insight – SARS and MERS . ''
But as the coronavirus spread intensifies , clinicians who work in HIV have told BuzzFeed News that they are trying to manage the balance between imparting information that encourages good practice and precaution — hand hygiene in particular — with avoiding mass panic .
Dr Michael Brady , medical director of the Terrence Higgins Trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , agreed with McCormack that HIV-positive people with a healthy CD4 count “ don ’ t need to worry ” , but he disagreed with her advice that those with low CD4 counts and who are not virally suppressed necessarily need to avoid crowded spaces at this stage .
“ It just makes it more important you ’ re following that [ general ] information , ” he told BuzzFeed News , before adding , “ We might be saying something different in a couple of days.
” As well as hand washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said , “ make sure you ’ ve got your other vaccinations up to date like flu and pneumococcal ” — which protects against pneumonia .
The latest official advice is that everyone with HIV should have a “ single dose of pneumococcal vaccination ” with a second jab for the over-65s and those with other illnesses .
The only reason Brady did not agree that patients with a low CD4 count should avoid public transport was that there was n't yet a significant spread of the COVID-19 in the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is so rapidly changing that tomorrow or later in the week that may be very different .
It feels like we ’ re potentially on the verge of much more population-level restrictions , but we ’ re not there yet.
” If HIV-positive people with a low CD4 were concerned and it wasn ’ t “ overly impactful ” on their life then limiting one ’ s travel would not be unreasonable , he said , and if the situation escalated to an extent that avoiding crowded public spaces became the general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more used to it .

In Britain, the regularity with which HIV-positive people are tested for their CD4 counts has reduced in recent years as experts focus on the viral load as the chief indicator for overall health and control of the condition. Most patients would be tested at least annually, however, giving a reasonable indication of their current levels.
While over 90% of British patients are on antiretroviral treatment and have undetectable viral loads, in the US the proportion is much lower with just 53% of people who have tested positive being virally suppressed. This is partly due to the lack of free universal healthcare and patchy, expensive coverage by insurance companies. According to UNAIDS, only 62% of people living with HIV globally had access to treatment.
Last week, the British HIV Association (BHIVA) advised that those with high CD4 counts should not be any more concerned about coronavirus than the general public, and encouraged clinicians and patients to follow the regularly updated advice from official public health bodies.
While understanding of the combined effect of HIV and coronavirus is only just emerging, doctors believe that data and knowledge gathered from previous virus outbreaks helps inform the advice about coronavirus. "It's not so different," said McCormack. "There are other similar viruses that give you some insight – SARS and MERS."
But as the coronavirus spread intensifies, clinicians who work in HIV have told BuzzFeed News that they are trying to manage the balance between imparting information that encourages good practice and precaution — hand hygiene in particular — with avoiding mass panic.
Dr Michael Brady, medical director of the Terrence Higgins Trust and a UK government LGBT health adviser, agreed with McCormack that HIV-positive people with a healthy CD4 count “don’t need to worry”, but he disagreed with her advice that those with low CD4 counts and who are not virally suppressed necessarily need to avoid crowded spaces at this stage.
“It just makes it more important you’re following that [general] information,” he told BuzzFeed News, before adding, “We might be saying something different in a couple of days.”
As well as hand washing and avoiding areas of high infection rates, he said, “make sure you’ve got your other vaccinations up to date like flu and pneumococcal” — which protects against pneumonia. The latest official advice is that everyone with HIV should have a “single dose of pneumococcal vaccination” with a second jab for the over-65s and those with other illnesses.
The only reason Brady did not agree that patients with a low CD4 count should avoid public transport was that there wasn't yet a significant spread of the COVID-19 in the UK. But, he said, "this is so rapidly changing that tomorrow or later in the week that may be very different. It feels like we’re potentially on the verge of much more population-level restrictions, but we’re not there yet.”
If HIV-positive people with a low CD4 were concerned and it wasn’t “overly impactful” on their life then limiting one’s travel would not be unreasonable, he said, and if the situation escalated to an extent that avoiding crowded public spaces became the general advice, then those individuals may be more used to it.


buzzfeed--2020-05-11--Why Are Australians Chanting “Arrest Bill Gates” At Protests? This Wild Facebook Group Has The Answe

Why Are Australians Chanting “Arrest Bill Gates” At Protests? This Wild Facebook Group Has The Answers.

Many watching had the same question : Why Gates ?
Why did a protest against lockdowns involve so many unrelated — and imported — conspiracy theories ?
One speaker , Fanos Panayides , is the founder of an extremely active Facebook group called `` 99 % unite Main Group 'it 's us or them ' '' that has rapidly become one of the biggest hubs of resistance against Australia 's coronavirus response .
It is populated by a colourful mix of coronavirus deniers , anti-vaxxers , 5G truthers , sovereign citizens , QAnon believers and other fringe conspiracy theorists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and converged to create a virulent — if not entirely coherent — umbrella movement against coronavirus lockdown measures .
The anti-lockdown movement remains small in Australia but , according to one poll , 1 in 10 people think social distancing measures should be removed immediately .
The restrictions are already being gradually eased across the country , following a largely successful response to the coronavirus , with fewer than 100 deaths and a major slowing of new cases .
But in Panayides ’ s group , that doesn ’ t matter .
Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group has grown to more than 37,000 members who have made more than 900,000 posts , comments and reactions , according to social media analytics site Crowdtangle .
Sunday ’ s protest originated with a fringe , far-right YouTuber , but the driving force was Panayides ’ group .
Members of the group also organised at least two other anti-lockdown protests held in the past week .
Before last month , Panayides — who did n't respond to requests for an interview with BuzzFeed News by phone , Facebook Messenger or via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activist .
He worked as a security guard trainer , ran a company building brick ovens and published a 35-page book ebook on weight loss — but was perhaps best known for being a contestant on reality TV program Family Food Fight .

Many watching had the same question: Why Gates? Why did a protest against lockdowns involve so many unrelated — and imported — conspiracy theories?
One speaker, Fanos Panayides, is the founder of an extremely active Facebook group called "99% unite Main Group 'it's us or them'" that has rapidly become one of the biggest hubs of resistance against Australia's coronavirus response.
It is populated by a colourful mix of coronavirus deniers, anti-vaxxers, 5G truthers, sovereign citizens, QAnon believers and other fringe conspiracy theorists. And all of their beliefs have cross-pollinated and converged to create a virulent — if not entirely coherent — umbrella movement against coronavirus lockdown measures.
The anti-lockdown movement remains small in Australia but, according to one poll, 1 in 10 people think social distancing measures should be removed immediately. The restrictions are already being gradually eased across the country, following a largely successful response to the coronavirus, with fewer than 100 deaths and a major slowing of new cases.
But in Panayides’s group, that doesn’t matter. Since it was started on April 8, the group has grown to more than 37,000 members who have made more than 900,000 posts, comments and reactions, according to social media analytics site Crowdtangle.
Sunday’s protest originated with a fringe, far-right YouTuber, but the driving force was Panayides’ group. Members of the group also organised at least two other anti-lockdown protests held in the past week.
Before last month, Panayides — who didn't respond to requests for an interview with BuzzFeed News by phone, Facebook Messenger or via associates — was not a widely known activist.
He worked as a security guard trainer, ran a company building brick ovens and published a 35-page book ebook on weight loss — but was perhaps best known for being a contestant on reality TV program Family Food Fight.


buzzfeed--2020-05-09--Germany Has Shared The Details Of Its Coronavirus Contact Tracing Operation. The UK Won’t.

On paper , the UK ’ s plan to conduct coronavirus contact tracing is every bit as ambitious as Germany ’ s .
The UK government has said it will recruit 18,000 people by the middle of May — a number broadly similar per capita to the German government ’ s own targets .
But Germany ’ s contact tracing program is already solidly in place , data analysed by BuzzFeed News shows , while crucial questions about the UK ’ s effort remain unanswered .
The comparison tells a story that is eerily similar to the UK ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensified in March and other countries ramped up capacity , Britain scaled back and is now scrambling to catch up .
With the UK ’ s death toll for now among the highest in Europe , the consequences of those decisions are being closely scrutinised .
Contact tracing is a pillar of the government ’ s plans to ease the country out of lockdown without igniting a massive new wave of infections .
When someone becomes ill , tracers move as quickly as possible to find everyone the person came into recent contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary .
Combined with mass testing , it is seen as the key to limiting the chain of transmission .
In Germany , contact tracing is implemented by local health authorities .
On March 25 — six weeks ago — the federal government announced that each state was expected to have at least one team of 5 contact tracers for every 20,000 people .
Eleven of the country 's 16 states sent BuzzFeed News their figures .
Most have already met the target , while a few others are still working towards it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s largest state and one of the worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak , currently has 3,385 people employed in contact tracing , a spokesperson for the state government told BuzzFeed News .
That is about 5 contact tracers for every 25,000 residents .
Bavaria , the first state to record a COVID-19 case , has 5 contact tracers for about every 33,000 people , while Germany 's third-largest state , Baden-Württemberg , was on course to exceed the target this week with 5 contact tracers for every 18,000 people .
All the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a par with the target .

On paper, the UK’s plan to conduct coronavirus contact tracing is every bit as ambitious as Germany’s. The UK government has said it will recruit 18,000 people by the middle of May — a number broadly similar per capita to the German government’s own targets.
But Germany’s contact tracing program is already solidly in place, data analysed by BuzzFeed News shows, while crucial questions about the UK’s effort remain unanswered.
The comparison tells a story that is eerily similar to the UK’s approach to testing. As the outbreak intensified in March and other countries ramped up capacity, Britain scaled back and is now scrambling to catch up. With the UK’s death toll for now among the highest in Europe, the consequences of those decisions are being closely scrutinised.
Contact tracing is a pillar of the government’s plans to ease the country out of lockdown without igniting a massive new wave of infections. When someone becomes ill, tracers move as quickly as possible to find everyone the person came into recent contact with and ask them to self-isolate when necessary. Combined with mass testing, it is seen as the key to limiting the chain of transmission.
In Germany, contact tracing is implemented by local health authorities. On March 25 — six weeks ago — the federal government announced that each state was expected to have at least one team of 5 contact tracers for every 20,000 people.
Eleven of the country's 16 states sent BuzzFeed News their figures. Most have already met the target, while a few others are still working towards it. North-Rhine Westphalia, the country’s largest state and one of the worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak, currently has 3,385 people employed in contact tracing, a spokesperson for the state government told BuzzFeed News. That is about 5 contact tracers for every 25,000 residents.
Bavaria, the first state to record a COVID-19 case, has 5 contact tracers for about every 33,000 people, while Germany's third-largest state, Baden-Württemberg, was on course to exceed the target this week with 5 contact tracers for every 18,000 people. All the other regions that provided data are broadly on a par with the target.


buzzfeed--2020-05-11--Life On The Tiny Pacific Island Where No-One Has The Coronavirus

The tiny Pacific island of Nauru , with zero reported cases of COVID-19 , is one of the safest places on earth right now .
But it 's also poised for disaster .
`` If the coronavirus comes here , believe me , everybody will die , '' S , a refugee living on the island , told BuzzFeed News .
`` Everyone is very afraid . ''
The island 's `` catch and contain '' strategy — which mainly consists of a 14-day mandatory quarantine for any new arrivals , and reduced flights and ships — has so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the containment line and start to spread among Nauru 's 11,500 residents , things could quickly become disastrous .
The country ranked 182 out of 195 in the 2019 global health security index , which measures a country 's ability to respond to infectious disease outbreaks .
Its local population lives in crowded homes , with high rates of obesity , diabetes and asthma .
The health system is rudimentary , with no tertiary level hospital .
Anybody needing treatment or diagnosis for a complex condition must travel internationally to get it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday evening , with a crew member of a freighter plane that had just landed testing positive to a rapid test while still on board , according to a Nauru government-run Facebook page not visible outside the island nation .
The plane and its crew swiftly returned to Brisbane .
The health officers are now in isolation at a hotel .
In recent years , Nauru has primarily made headlines for its role in Australia 's offshore detention regime .
The 200 or so refugees left on the island — part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processing '' between 2012 and 2014 — infamously have their own set of health problems .
And for these men and one woman , there 's an added worry , too : does anybody care if they live or die ?
According to several refugee sources — who spoke anonymously for fear of retribution from the Nauruan or Australian governments , or from their island employers — a group of refugees met with their caseworkers ( who are employed by a Nauruan government entity ) in late March at the island 's Community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who would be responsible if they were infected with the virus and what treatment was available .
`` All the refugees and asylum seekers thought that if [ they ] were infected by coronavirus , nobody would look after them , '' said one refugee present , Atif ( not their real name ) .
`` The Nauru government only looks after Nauruans . ''
The caseworkers promised to take the questions to the Australian Border Force ( ABF ) .
But to date , the refugees have not received a clear answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , familiar message : they will never be settled in Australia , and if they become sufficiently unwell they will be transferred to a third country for treatment .
( The Department of Home Affairs did not respond to detailed questions from BuzzFeed News . )
At a second meeting between refugees and caseworkers , the message was met with scepticism .
`` Everywhere around the world , every major country , they all have the coronavirus , '' Atif said .
`` If I got an infection , where would they send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsettled by the Australian government 's response they declared that if they got an infection they would not stay home and self-isolate , because if their lives were in danger they would n't care about others ' lives , Atif said .
The lack of sophisticated healthcare on Nauru has long been an issue for the refugees housed there , and that concern has only deepened during the coronavirus pandemic .
Distrust of the Republic of Nauru Hospital is common .
One man Australia sent to Nauru , M , said the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dirty '' and he would prefer to stay home because it was cleaner there .
International Health & Medical Services ( IHMS ) , which the Australian government contracts to provide medical services to the refugees on Nauru , will be responsible for the care of any refugees who contract COVID-19 , a source on the island told BuzzFeed News .
At one of the detention centres , IHMS recently installed a new demountable where any cases will be treated .

The tiny Pacific island of Nauru, with zero reported cases of COVID-19, is one of the safest places on earth right now.
But it's also poised for disaster.
"If the coronavirus comes here, believe me, everybody will die," S, a refugee living on the island, told BuzzFeed News. "Everyone is very afraid."
The island's "catch and contain" strategy — which mainly consists of a 14-day mandatory quarantine for any new arrivals, and reduced flights and ships — has so far worked. But should the virus jump the containment line and start to spread among Nauru's 11,500 residents, things could quickly become disastrous.
The country ranked 182 out of 195 in the 2019 global health security index, which measures a country's ability to respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Its local population lives in crowded homes, with high rates of obesity, diabetes and asthma. The health system is rudimentary, with no tertiary level hospital. Anybody needing treatment or diagnosis for a complex condition must travel internationally to get it.
The island had a coronavirus scare on Friday evening, with a crew member of a freighter plane that had just landed testing positive to a rapid test while still on board, according to a Nauru government-run Facebook page not visible outside the island nation. The plane and its crew swiftly returned to Brisbane. The health officers are now in isolation at a hotel.
In recent years, Nauru has primarily made headlines for its role in Australia's offshore detention regime. The 200 or so refugees left on the island — part of the large cohort sent there for "regional processing" between 2012 and 2014 — infamously have their own set of health problems. And for these men and one woman, there's an added worry, too: does anybody care if they live or die?
According to several refugee sources — who spoke anonymously for fear of retribution from the Nauruan or Australian governments, or from their island employers — a group of refugees met with their caseworkers (who are employed by a Nauruan government entity) in late March at the island's Community Resource Centre. They demanded to know who would be responsible if they were infected with the virus and what treatment was available.
"All the refugees and asylum seekers thought that if [they] were infected by coronavirus, nobody would look after them," said one refugee present, Atif (not their real name). "The Nauru government only looks after Nauruans."
The caseworkers promised to take the questions to the Australian Border Force (ABF). But to date, the refugees have not received a clear answer. They have been told the same, familiar message: they will never be settled in Australia, and if they become sufficiently unwell they will be transferred to a third country for treatment. (The Department of Home Affairs did not respond to detailed questions from BuzzFeed News.)
At a second meeting between refugees and caseworkers, the message was met with scepticism. "Everywhere around the world, every major country, they all have the coronavirus," Atif said. "If I got an infection, where would they send me?" Some refugees were so unsettled by the Australian government's response they declared that if they got an infection they would not stay home and self-isolate, because if their lives were in danger they wouldn't care about others' lives, Atif said.
The lack of sophisticated healthcare on Nauru has long been an issue for the refugees housed there, and that concern has only deepened during the coronavirus pandemic. Distrust of the Republic of Nauru Hospital is common. One man Australia sent to Nauru, M, said the hospital was "really, really, really dirty" and he would prefer to stay home because it was cleaner there.
International Health & Medical Services (IHMS), which the Australian government contracts to provide medical services to the refugees on Nauru, will be responsible for the care of any refugees who contract COVID-19, a source on the island told BuzzFeed News. At one of the detention centres, IHMS recently installed a new demountable where any cases will be treated.


buzzfeed--2020-04-27--Boris Johnson Said Britain Is Beginning To "Turn The Tide" Against The Coronavirus On His First Day

Boris Johnson Said Britain Is Beginning To "Turn The Tide" Against The Coronavirus On His First Day Back At Work

Boris Johnson said now is not the time to ease up lockdown restrictions , urging the British public to `` contain their impatience , '' in a defiant address to the nation .
Johnson returned to work on Monday morning , with a speech to the public outside Downing Street on his first day back in the office .
The prime minister had taken time out to recuperate after being hospitalised with the coronavirus .
He first tested positive for the virus exactly one month ago and was admitted to hospital 10 days later .
Johnson thanked first secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his absence before delivering a defiant message to the nation from the podium outside 10 Downing Street .
Giving a nod to his own experience having COVID-19 , the prime minister said : `` If this virus were a physical assailant , an unexpected and invisible mugger , which I can tell you from personal experience it is , then this is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor . ''
Johnson said that while he was determined to get the British economy moving , he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe to do so .
The prime minister said there were `` real signs that we are passing through the peak , '' and that `` we are now beginning to turn the tide , '' but said that it was not yet the time to ease up on restrictions , adding that now was the `` moment of maximum risk . ''
He said to ease the lockdown would risk a second peak of the virus , and with it more deaths and greater economic damage .
`` I know it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this economy moving as fast as I can , '' he said , `` But I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people , and to risk a second major outbreak and huge loss of life and the overwhelming of the NHS . ''
`` I ask you to contain your impatience because I believe we are coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict , and in spite of all the suffering , we have so nearly succeeded , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the government 's successes in tackling the virus , in a week that the government is coming under intense pressure over its testing strategy .
`` We defied so many predictions , '' he said .
`` We did not run out of ventilators or ICU beds , '' he said .
`` We did not allow our NHS to collapse . ''

Boris Johnson said now is not the time to ease up lockdown restrictions, urging the British public to "contain their impatience," in a defiant address to the nation.
Johnson returned to work on Monday morning, with a speech to the public outside Downing Street on his first day back in the office.
The prime minister had taken time out to recuperate after being hospitalised with the coronavirus. He first tested positive for the virus exactly one month ago and was admitted to hospital 10 days later.
Johnson thanked first secretary of state Dominic Raab for filling in in his absence before delivering a defiant message to the nation from the podium outside 10 Downing Street.
Giving a nod to his own experience having COVID-19, the prime minister said: "If this virus were a physical assailant, an unexpected and invisible mugger, which I can tell you from personal experience it is, then this is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor."
Johnson said that while he was determined to get the British economy moving, he would not ease lockdown measures until it was safe to do so.
The prime minister said there were "real signs that we are passing through the peak," and that "we are now beginning to turn the tide," but said that it was not yet the time to ease up on restrictions, adding that now was the "moment of maximum risk."
He said to ease the lockdown would risk a second peak of the virus, and with it more deaths and greater economic damage.
"I know it is tough, and I want to get this economy moving as fast as I can," he said, "But I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people, and to risk a second major outbreak and huge loss of life and the overwhelming of the NHS."
"I ask you to contain your impatience because I believe we are coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict, and in spite of all the suffering, we have so nearly succeeded," he added.
Johnson also pointed to some of the government's successes in tackling the virus, in a week that the government is coming under intense pressure over its testing strategy.
"We defied so many predictions," he said. "We did not run out of ventilators or ICU beds," he said. "We did not allow our NHS to collapse."