buzzfeed--2020-04-02--The FDA Is Easing Its Ban On Blood Donations From Gay And Bisexual Men Because Of The Coronavirus Pa

The FDA Is Easing Its Ban On Blood Donations From Gay And Bisexual Men Because Of The Coronavirus Pandemic

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday eased its ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men , citing the “ unprecedented challenges to the US blood supply ” during the coronavirus pandemic .
The new rules allow blood donations from men who have abstained from sex with another man for more than three months ; for the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t donate if they ’ d had sex with a man in the previous year .
Various forms of the ban — which was first implemented in the 1980s as a total prohibition to keep HIV out of the blood supply — were slowly dialed back under the Obama administration , which said screening and tests increasingly ensured a safe blood supply .
Even the one-year policy was widely decried as de facto ban for gay and bisexual male blood donors .
But on Thursday , Peter Marks , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research , explained the new rules were prudent given that blood “ donor centers have experienced a dramatic reduction in donations due to the implementation of social distancing and the cancellation of blood drives.
” “ Based on recently completed studies and epidemiologic data , ” he added , “ the FDA has concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply.
” In the scramble to curb the coronavirus pandemic , some medical facilities have announced plans to collect blood plasma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contains antibodies — from those who had overcome COVID-19 and transfuse it to patients who are still sick with the disease .
Gay men , however , had complained they were unable to help in the potentially lifesaving program .
The FDA also scaled back other restrictions on blood donations , according to a statement : • None For female donors who would have been deferred for having sex with a man who had sex with another man : the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tattoos and piercings : the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months .
• None For those who have traveled to malaria-endemic areas ( and are residents of malaria non-endemic countries ) : the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months .
Alphonso David , head of the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign , applauded the new rules but said , “ more needs to be done.
” Democrat Scott Wiener , a member of the California Senate , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still awful . ''
`` The celibacy requirement still irrationally discriminates against gay and bisexual men by placing a celibacy requirement on them without placing that same requirement on sexually active straight people , '' he continued , adding that `` modern HIV testing technology is so accurate and powerful that it will detect any HIV infection that occurred 10-14 days or longer before the donation . ''
Even the one-year rule had been blasted by lawmakers as being unscientific and needlessly biased .
In 2016 , several senators urged the Obama administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies that are grounded in science , based on individual risk factors , don ’ t unfairly single out one group of individuals , and allow all healthy Americans to donate.
” It was not immediately clear if new rules would affect transgender people — for years , the FDA has enforced incoherent rules on transgender blood donors that effectively banned all transgender people from donating .

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday eased its ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men, citing the “unprecedented challenges to the US blood supply” during the coronavirus pandemic.
The new rules allow blood donations from men who have abstained from sex with another man for more than three months; for the past several years, gay and bisexual men couldn’t donate if they’d had sex with a man in the previous year.
Various forms of the ban — which was first implemented in the 1980s as a total prohibition to keep HIV out of the blood supply — were slowly dialed back under the Obama administration, which said screening and tests increasingly ensured a safe blood supply. Even the one-year policy was widely decried as de facto ban for gay and bisexual male blood donors.
But on Thursday, Peter Marks, director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, explained the new rules were prudent given that blood “donor centers have experienced a dramatic reduction in donations due to the implementation of social distancing and the cancellation of blood drives.”
“Based on recently completed studies and epidemiologic data,” he added, “the FDA has concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply.”
In the scramble to curb the coronavirus pandemic, some medical facilities have announced plans to collect blood plasma — a subset of whole blood that contains antibodies — from those who had overcome COVID-19 and transfuse it to patients who are still sick with the disease. Gay men, however, had complained they were unable to help in the potentially lifesaving program.
The FDA also scaled back other restrictions on blood donations, according to a statement:
For female donors who would have been deferred for having sex with a man who had sex with another man: the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months.
For those with recent tattoos and piercings: the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months.
For those who have traveled to malaria-endemic areas (and are residents of malaria non-endemic countries): the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months.
Alphonso David, head of the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, applauded the new rules but said, “more needs to be done.”
Democrat Scott Wiener, a member of the California Senate, said in a statement the policy was "still awful."
"The celibacy requirement still irrationally discriminates against gay and bisexual men by placing a celibacy requirement on them without placing that same requirement on sexually active straight people," he continued, adding that "modern HIV testing technology is so accurate and powerful that it will detect any HIV infection that occurred 10-14 days or longer before the donation."
Even the one-year rule had been blasted by lawmakers as being unscientific and needlessly biased. In 2016, several senators urged the Obama administration “to develop better blood donor deferral policies that are grounded in science, based on individual risk factors, don’t unfairly single out one group of individuals, and allow all healthy Americans to donate.”
It was not immediately clear if new rules would affect transgender people — for years, the FDA has enforced incoherent rules on transgender blood donors that effectively banned all transgender people from donating.


buzzfeed--2020-04-02--Where Is Joe Biden? Online, Being Drowned Out By The Coronavirus And Trump

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
There were some kinks in the execution .
Reporters and voters were left wondering when livestreams would actually start , after delays and schedule changes .
Biden started his first livestreamed events looking off camera to ask if they “ were ready to go.
” Audio cut out during town halls .
At the same time , Bernie Sanders ’ now–long shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded in multiple locations that streamed without a hitch , and Trump ’ s rapid-response team jumped on every opportunity to point out Biden ’ s initial technical difficulties .
Biden coughed on camera during a CNN interview and was chastised by Jake Tapper for not coughing into his elbow .
Soon after , Trump retweeted a heavily edited clip of Biden coughing and clearing his throat during live TV hits , declaring “ The Democrat ’ s Best & Finest !
” The week was a first for a Biden team that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the primary .
At early points in the campaign , staffers argued that what was happening online was not reflective of what was happening in the real world , though that attitude began to change once Biden began his quick march to likely nominee status .
When Biden gave his first address last week on the coronavirus and laid out his suggestions for the president , none of the major networks carried his speech live , as they instead broadcast one of New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s daily briefings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to do an interview with the cohosts of The View , local networks in New York and Washington , DC , cut away to air briefings from Cuomo and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser .
“ I think it is very helpful for people to hear and see him , ” Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio , a former presidential candidate now supporting Biden , told BuzzFeed News .
“ Not sure it ’ s breaking through , but it does provide the contrast he wants .
Steady , experienced , and empathetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrast to the president ’ s ego-centered , divisive example.
” One problem for the Biden campaign has been the ticker count of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths — the only story Americans seem to be paying attention to — on cable news networks that supersede any shot he had at making an impact .
`` We were just focused on getting him out there as soon as we could get him out there , ” Flaherty said Wednesday .
“ I think if people are saying ‘ Where is Joe ?
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in bad faith .
We ’ re doing TV every day … If you ’ re asking ‘ Where ’ s Joe ?
’ you know where to find him now . ''
Biden ’ s increased presence online and on TV over the last two weeks also has answered skepticism his online adversaries have been hurling , even if the answers aren ’ t always appointment viewing on live TV .
“ Where Is Joe Biden ?
” had emerged as a memeified pressure point meant to raise suspicion or criticism over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Thanks for giving me the time — so they don ’ t wonder where I am , ” Biden said Monday as he ended an interview on MSNBC .
Nearly every aspect of the first days of Biden ’ s dispatches from that new broadcasting studio was consistent .
From Monday to Friday last week , he appeared in front of a backdrop of books and Americana for a press briefing over Zoom , talking head interviews on cable news , and roundtables with young voters and first responders ; a lamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he repeatedly tried to reassure Americans that the country “ won ’ t be defeated ” by an “ invisible ” enemy .
He hammered a critique about the president ’ s slow response to the coronavirus threat .
Biden campaign officials said they began discussing the need for digital alternatives in late January , before the coronavirus became a severe health crisis in the US .
( Biden expressed concerns at the time in a USA Today opinion piece . )
For example , they knew they ’ d need a TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delaware .
But they didn ’ t realize that stay-at-home orders and social distancing would require one to be built in Biden ’ s basement .
`` In some ways this is the world that every digital person in every digital story you ’ ve ever written has said would come , ” Biden digital director Rob Flaherty told BuzzFeed News in a telephone interview Wednesday .
“ I think one of the things that ’ s interesting is that the stuff that we ’ re doing now is not that different than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do to win in a general [ election ] . ''
It ’ s been a steeper adjustment for Biden .
His sudden surge to likely Democratic presidential nominee came just as the coronavirus began to spread across the US , leaving a former senator and vice president never known for being hip to the internet in the position of trying to build a broad , Trump-defeating coalition via Zoom .
That time is very much over .
What ’ s left of the presidential campaign is now happening almost exclusively online and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been fine : The coronavirus pandemic has given him an endless media platform through daily televised briefings .
And Trump has been very online since becoming a presidential candidate five years ago ; his digital director from that first campaign , known for valuing Facebook over traditional media , is now his reelection campaign manager .
There was a time not long ago when there was a relatively normal presidential campaign with regular campaign events — when Joe Biden and Donald Trump flew around the country rallying their supporters preparing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meanwhile , is everywhere .
He is on TV every night , updating the nation on the coronavirus crisis from the White House briefing room podium , while also throwing in digs at the media and Biden and attempting to set a narrative that erases his own early role in downplaying the virus .
He leaves it to the experts — Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx — to deliver the toughest information , as he did this Tuesday , passing to them when asked a question about a projected death toll of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not at the podium , he is calling into Fox News , sometimes in the morning , sometimes late at night .
He is tweeting incessantly to his 75 million Twitter followers , amplified by an army of supporters and surrogates .
Trump was an overwhelming presence in the lives of many Americans in normal times ; with the coronavirus crisis , he is in their faces all the time .
While not a perfect measure , one clean way of visualizing just how much Trump has retaken America ’ s attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefly spiked over Trump in early March following his giant Super Tuesday wins and has since dropped and virtually flatlined in the last 10 days ( both Trump and Biden are basically nonexistent compared to searches for the term “ coronavirus ” ) .
Biden ’ s trying to be everywhere himself , but without the power of a president or governor , his appearances carry less urgency .
On a Saturday in late March , the Biden campaign popped into DJ D-Nice ’ s “ Club Quarantine ” set on Instagram to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who ’ d tuned in to watch the livestream , before barreling into a week of livestreamed events and interviews across CNN , MSNBC , ABC , and an interview posted to YouTube with Jimmy Kimmel .
Biden has taken an optimistic position on how his message is being amplified .
“ Well , the irony is , virtual campaigning , I 'll probably reach more people than I would out there shaking hands , ” Biden told the cohosts of The View .
The campaign had touted that it had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had watched his Monday morning remarks at some point .
From Saturday , March 21 , through Saturday , March 28 , Biden ’ s content racked up more than 20 million views — a figure he shared Sunday on Meet the Press .
`` There ’ s two internet versions of Joe Biden that people love .
One is empathy — the woman in the elevator at the New York Times , ” said Flaherty , referring to a viral video of Biden ’ s friendly encounter with an elevator operator after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editorial board .
“ And then there ’ s explainer-in-chief , and this sort of calming presence .
The videos that have done best for us have always been in one of those two categories . ''
The “ explainer-in-chief ” approach is central to a podcast Biden launched this week , titled Here ’ s the Deal — a nod to one of his frequent sayings .
The first installment , set to a melodramatic movie trailer–like score , featured Biden and his longtime adviser Ron Klain , who headed up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2014 Ebola outbreak , interviewing each other .
“ Well , it ’ s good to be doing my very first podcast , ” Biden tells Klain at one point .
“ Things are changing an awful lot.
” Trump ’ s campaign is able to rely on an already flush treasure chest — $ 225 million cash on hand when the campaign and RNC , and their joint committees like Trump Victory , are combined — and a developed digital operation to plow through the next few months .
By comparison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two largely rough and expensive months , entered March with about $ 12 million on hand , though that was before his Super Tuesday surge and the departures of several candidates who threw their support to him .
“ The Trump Campaign has a significant advantage because of our early and ongoing investment in data and technological infrastructure , ” Ken Farnaso , the campaign ’ s deputy press secretary , said in a statement to BuzzFeed News .
“ As part of our efforts to reelect the President this November , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Trump Neighborhood Teams online , activating the massive volunteer network to make calls on behalf of the President , and continuing our efforts to register voters online.
” Last Saturday , he said , Trump supporters made almost 1.5 million calls from their homes .
On March 13 , as the world was still coming to terms with the coronavirus crisis — Japan was still considering whether to put off the 2020 Olympics , and the Trump Victory committee was informing the nearly 900 people who attended a fundraising brunch at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 — the Trump campaign said it was shifting to “ virtual and digital campaign tools.
” “ With our field organization largely built out and over half a million volunteers already engaged , we are in an incredibly strong position to activate an aggressive digital and virtual political operation , '' RNC chair Ronna McDaniel said at the time .
The campaign made the shift to being a “ virtual campaign ” on March 26 , and said it has seen a doubling in web traffic to its various campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it hosted the first of what are expected to be several “ digital broadcast panels , ” which are basically group video chats by Trump campaign staff , beamed from their homes onto the computers and phones of whomever chooses to tune in .
That night , it was a Women for Trump event .
This week , it hosted one for Latinos for Trump .
Lara Trump , a senior campaign aide and the president ’ s daughter-in-law , hosted the Women for Trump discussion , with campaign spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a first for us , ” Lara Trump said , opening the chat from what looked like a home office , with McEnany sitting in her home in front of a strategically placed “ Keep America Great ” sign and hat , and Carr in front of red , white , and blue “ Trump–Pence ” placards .
“ Since we can ’ t go to you , we thought you could come to us , ” she said .
She lobbed some questions at her guests — if they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of self-isolation , how the president planned to stimulate the economy .
There were digs at House leader Nancy Pelosi and of Democrats ’ handling of the economic stimulus package — nothing anyone who has tuned into Fox or Twitter hadn ’ t heard before .
Then Lara Trump turned to the subject of Biden and asked , “ What would this country look like if Joe Biden and the Democrats had been at the helm ?
” That ’ s when McEnany froze .
Not figuratively , but literally , her frozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the sound for the feed dropped entirely .
The campaign that had so loudly criticized Biden for his own technical hiccups had fumbled itself .
Digital campaigning isn ’ t always easy .
The next day , Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said more than 945,000 people had tuned in to various platforms to watch the event .
But , at least on Periscope , the number did not go above 650 .
“ While nothing can compete with President Trump ’ s unmatched ability to communicate directly with the American people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the president ’ s daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefings — and the incredible response we ’ ve gotten from supporters proves it , ” Lara Trump wrote in an op-ed published on Fox News on Wednesday .
In his interviews and digital events , Biden has consistently strived for political nuance , something that may help in projecting himself as a steady hand , but that also rarely generates headlines .
That ’ s been especially true in how he ’ s taken on Trump directly .
In a CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Trump “ is responsible for the deaths of Americans ” for his response to the pandemic .
He pivoted .
“ President Trump is not responsible for the coronavirus , ” he said .
Instead , Biden said , he is “ responsible for using all of the power at his disposal to be able to deal with this virus , ” like using the Defense Production Act to bring more protective supplies to doctors and nurses .
“ If you ’ ve noticed what I ’ ve been doing I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been pointing out where there ’ s disagreements on how to proceed , ” Biden said on The View last week .
During a later MSNBC interview , Biden went further in his criticism of Trump and seemed to regret it .
“ Why doesn ’ t he just act like a president ?
” Biden asked .
“ That ’ s a stupid way to say it , ” he said after a pause .
“ Sorry .
”

Trump, meanwhile, is everywhere. He is on TV every night, updating the nation on the coronavirus crisis from the White House briefing room podium, while also throwing in digs at the media and Biden and attempting to set a narrative that erases his own early role in downplaying the virus. He leaves it to the experts — Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx — to deliver the toughest information, as he did this Tuesday, passing to them when asked a question about a projected death toll of at least 100,000 Americans.
When he is not at the podium, he is calling into Fox News, sometimes in the morning, sometimes late at night. He is tweeting incessantly to his 75 million Twitter followers, amplified by an army of supporters and surrogates. Trump was an overwhelming presence in the lives of many Americans in normal times; with the coronavirus crisis, he is in their faces all the time.
While not a perfect measure, one clean way of visualizing just how much Trump has retaken America’s attention is on Google Trends, where Biden briefly spiked over Trump in early March following his giant Super Tuesday wins and has since dropped and virtually flatlined in the last 10 days (both Trump and Biden are basically nonexistent compared to searches for the term “coronavirus”).
Biden’s trying to be everywhere himself, but without the power of a president or governor, his appearances carry less urgency. On a Saturday in late March, the Biden campaign popped into DJ D-Nice’s “Club Quarantine” set on Instagram to comment a thumbs up to the 70,000 people who’d tuned in to watch the livestream, before barreling into a week of livestreamed events and interviews across CNN, MSNBC, ABC, and an interview posted to YouTube with Jimmy Kimmel.
Biden has taken an optimistic position on how his message is being amplified. “Well, the irony is, virtual campaigning, I'll probably reach more people than I would out there shaking hands,” Biden told the cohosts of The View. The campaign had touted that it had been able to reach 3.5 million people who had watched his Monday morning remarks at some point.
From Saturday, March 21, through Saturday, March 28, Biden’s content racked up more than 20 million views — a figure he shared Sunday on Meet the Press.
"There’s two internet versions of Joe Biden that people love. One is empathy — the woman in the elevator at the New York Times,” said Flaherty, referring to a viral video of Biden’s friendly encounter with an elevator operator after a meeting with the newspaper’s editorial board. “And then there’s explainer-in-chief, and this sort of calming presence. The videos that have done best for us have always been in one of those two categories."
The “explainer-in-chief” approach is central to a podcast Biden launched this week, titled Here’s the Deal — a nod to one of his frequent sayings. The first installment, set to a melodramatic movie trailer–like score, featured Biden and his longtime adviser Ron Klain, who headed up the Obama administration’s efforts to combat the 2014 Ebola outbreak, interviewing each other. “Well, it’s good to be doing my very first podcast,” Biden tells Klain at one point. “Things are changing an awful lot.”
Trump’s campaign is able to rely on an already flush treasure chest — $225 million cash on hand when the campaign and RNC, and their joint committees like Trump Victory, are combined — and a developed digital operation to plow through the next few months. By comparison, Biden’s campaign, after two largely rough and expensive months, entered March with about $12 million on hand, though that was before his Super Tuesday surge and the departures of several candidates who threw their support to him.
“The Trump Campaign has a significant advantage because of our early and ongoing investment in data and technological infrastructure,” Ken Farnaso, the campaign’s deputy press secretary, said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. “As part of our efforts to reelect the President this November, we are hosting virtual events, training members of the Trump Neighborhood Teams online, activating the massive volunteer network to make calls on behalf of the President, and continuing our efforts to register voters online.” Last Saturday, he said, Trump supporters made almost 1.5 million calls from their homes.
On March 13, as the world was still coming to terms with the coronavirus crisis — Japan was still considering whether to put off the 2020 Olympics, and the Trump Victory committee was informing the nearly 900 people who attended a fundraising brunch at Mar-a-Lago that one of them had tested positive for COVID-19 — the Trump campaign said it was shifting to “virtual and digital campaign tools.”
“With our field organization largely built out and over half a million volunteers already engaged, we are in an incredibly strong position to activate an aggressive digital and virtual political operation," RNC chair Ronna McDaniel said at the time.
The campaign made the shift to being a “virtual campaign” on March 26, and said it has seen a doubling in web traffic to its various campaign sites since last week. That evening, it hosted the first of what are expected to be several “digital broadcast panels,” which are basically group video chats by Trump campaign staff, beamed from their homes onto the computers and phones of whomever chooses to tune in. That night, it was a Women for Trump event. This week, it hosted one for Latinos for Trump.
Lara Trump, a senior campaign aide and the president’s daughter-in-law, hosted the Women for Trump discussion, with campaign spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany and political director Chris Carr.
“This is a first for us,” Lara Trump said, opening the chat from what looked like a home office, with McEnany sitting in her home in front of a strategically placed “Keep America Great” sign and hat, and Carr in front of red, white, and blue “Trump–Pence” placards. “Since we can’t go to you, we thought you could come to us,” she said.
She lobbed some questions at her guests — if they had any advice for parents in this time of self-isolation, how the president planned to stimulate the economy. There were digs at House leader Nancy Pelosi and of Democrats’ handling of the economic stimulus package — nothing anyone who has tuned into Fox or Twitter hadn’t heard before.
Then Lara Trump turned to the subject of Biden and asked, “What would this country look like if Joe Biden and the Democrats had been at the helm?” That’s when McEnany froze. Not figuratively, but literally, her frozen head soon morphed into a question mark and the sound for the feed dropped entirely. The campaign that had so loudly criticized Biden for his own technical hiccups had fumbled itself. Digital campaigning isn’t always easy.
The next day, Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said more than 945,000 people had tuned in to various platforms to watch the event. But, at least on Periscope, the number did not go above 650.
“While nothing can compete with President Trump’s unmatched ability to communicate directly with the American people, these events offer an important supplement to the president’s daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefings — and the incredible response we’ve gotten from supporters proves it,” Lara Trump wrote in an op-ed published on Fox News on Wednesday.
In his interviews and digital events, Biden has consistently strived for political nuance, something that may help in projecting himself as a steady hand, but that also rarely generates headlines. That’s been especially true in how he’s taken on Trump directly.
In a CNN interview this Tuesday, Biden was asked if Trump “is responsible for the deaths of Americans” for his response to the pandemic. He pivoted.
“President Trump is not responsible for the coronavirus,” he said. Instead, Biden said, he is “responsible for using all of the power at his disposal to be able to deal with this virus,” like using the Defense Production Act to bring more protective supplies to doctors and nurses.
“If you’ve noticed what I’ve been doing I have not been criticizing the president but I’ve been pointing out where there’s disagreements on how to proceed,” Biden said on The View last week.
During a later MSNBC interview, Biden went further in his criticism of Trump and seemed to regret it.
“Why doesn’t he just act like a president?” Biden asked.
“That’s a stupid way to say it,” he said after a pause. “Sorry.”


buzzfeed--2020-04-08--A British Newspaper Has Given Chinese Coronavirus Propaganda A Direct Line To The UK

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
UPDATE : As of April 3 , the Telegraph appeared to have removed the People 's Daily Online site in its entirety .
As of April 7 , the Telegraph also appeared to have removed China Daily 's China Watch feature .
A spokesperson for the Telegraph did not return a request for comment When medical authorities in China claimed they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , using pseudoscience , one major British newspaper made sure there was space for China 's party line on the story .
“ Traditional Chinese medicine ‘ helps fight coronavirus , ' ” declared the March 3 headline , in the online version of the Daily Telegraph .
Without any evidence , the article claimed that the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine had tested an unidentified “ prescription ” on 804 patients , and that `` by the end of 14 February , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent of the cases . ''
The article was published in a section of the Telegraph ’ s site called People ’ s Daily Online , a self-contained “ advertisement feature ” promising `` all the latest stories about contemporary China ’ s dynamic development , diverse culture and world-leading infrastructure , '' complete with a home page and sections for news , opinion , business , and sports , among other topics .
But beyond a boilerplate disclaimer waiving responsibility , nowhere does the site disclose any information about its sponsor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official newspaper and mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China .
Its `` advertisement feature '' on the Telegraph 's site is part of a global propaganda campaign that positions the country as a leader in fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic , which has now killed more than 44,000 people worldwide .
The Telegraph is one of dozens of newspapers around the world that have struck deals with China in recent years .
According to one report , the paper received £750,000 annually to carry a supplement called China Watch from Chinese state-run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , prior to the coronavirus pandemic , had led to accusations that the British newspaper had softened its editorial line on Beijing .
The Daily Telegraph and the People 's Daily did not return requests for comment .
At least 16 articles were taken down Wednesday , after BuzzFeed News began asking questions .
Online archives show that the People 's Daily Online began running stories about the coronavirus in February , shortly after China 's President Xi Jinping “ called upon Chinese media to publish stories casting [ China 's response ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Axios reported .
Since then , it has run more than 50 paid articles in the Telegraph praising the Chinese government and attacking its foreign adversaries .
Unlike the Telegraph ’ s own coronavirus coverage , much of which is hidden behind a paywall , all of the People 's Daily Online content is free to read .

UPDATE: As of April 3, the Telegraph appeared to have removed the People's Daily Online site in its entirety. As of April 7, the Telegraph also appeared to have removed China Daily's China Watch feature. A spokesperson for the Telegraph did not return a request for comment
When medical authorities in China claimed they’d cured more than 750 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, using pseudoscience, one major British newspaper made sure there was space for China's party line on the story.
“Traditional Chinese medicine ‘helps fight coronavirus,'” declared the March 3 headline, in the online version of the Daily Telegraph. Without any evidence, the article claimed that the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine had tested an unidentified “prescription” on 804 patients, and that "by the end of 14 February," it had proven "effective in 94 per cent of the cases."
The article was published in a section of the Telegraph’s site called People’s Daily Online, a self-contained “advertisement feature” promising "all the latest stories about contemporary China’s dynamic development, diverse culture and world-leading infrastructure," complete with a home page and sections for news, opinion, business, and sports, among other topics. But beyond a boilerplate disclaimer waiving responsibility, nowhere does the site disclose any information about its sponsor.
People’s Daily is the official newspaper and mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China. Its "advertisement feature" on the Telegraph's site is part of a global propaganda campaign that positions the country as a leader in fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has now killed more than 44,000 people worldwide.
The Telegraph is one of dozens of newspapers around the world that have struck deals with China in recent years. According to one report, the paper received £750,000 annually to carry a supplement called China Watch from Chinese state-run newspaper China Daily, a relationship which, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, had led to accusations that the British newspaper had softened its editorial line on Beijing.
The Daily Telegraph and the People's Daily did not return requests for comment. At least 16 articles were taken down Wednesday, after BuzzFeed News began asking questions.
Online archives show that the People's Daily Online began running stories about the coronavirus in February, shortly after China's President Xi Jinping “called upon Chinese media to publish stories casting [China's response] in a positive light,” as Axios reported. Since then, it has run more than 50 paid articles in the Telegraph praising the Chinese government and attacking its foreign adversaries. Unlike the Telegraph’s own coronavirus coverage, much of which is hidden behind a paywall, all of the People's Daily Online content is free to read.


buzzfeed--2020-04-01--Donald Trump Won’t Open The Obamacare Markets During The Coronavirus Outbreak

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
The Trump administration will not open up Obamacare enrollment , denying millions of people the chance to buy health insurance during the coronavirus outbreak .
As the pandemic spread and unemployment spiked in recent weeks , White House officials had said they were considering reopening the individual markets through HealthCare.gov , allowing people who may have lost jobs to access health insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BuzzFeed News on Wednesday that that will not happen .
Normally , people can only sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces — commonly known as Obamacare — during a set period at the end of the calendar year .
But the administration was considering a special enrollment period to allow more people to buy health insurance .
The news that it will not do so was first reported by Politico .
A record 3.3 million people filed for unemployment in one week , and tens of millions more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders are lifted .
Under the ACA , people who lose their jobs are eligible to buy insurance plans on the individual markets , but they may need to provide documents showing that they 've lost their job or that their income level has changed .
Reopening the ACA marketplaces would have streamlined this process and allowed others to buy federally regulated health insurance plans during the public health emergency .
Democrats have condemned the White House ’ s decision as cruel .
“ It should be unimaginable that in the middle of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States would reject a clear opportunity to help people get health care coverage they desperately need , ” said Sen. Patty Murray , the ranking Democrat on the Senate Health Committee .
“ But that ’ s exactly what President Trump is doing .
It ’ s inexcusable.
” Eleven states plus the District of Columbia are allowing people to sign up for Obamacare plans on their own state marketplaces .
Those states are California , Colorado , Connecticut , Maryland , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Nevada , New York , Rhode Island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option for people who want to keep their work insurance is to sign up for COBRA plans , wherein they pay the full premiums for the work health insurance .
These tend to be significantly more expensive because the now-out-of-work individual has to pay both their regular monthly premiums and their former employer ’ s contributions .
Alternatively , depending on a person ’ s income level , they may also qualify for Medicaid .
The Trump administration has taken a cold view of administering the Obamacare markets since day one .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ACA that failed in Congress and taken various steps to weaken the marketplaces , such as shortening enrollment periods and opening up competition from unregulated plans that are cheaper but pay out far lower benefits .
Most importantly , the administration is breaking with the convention of defending established law and backing a legal fight to have the entire ACA thrown out as unconstitutional .
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case this year .

The Trump administration will not open up Obamacare enrollment, denying millions of people the chance to buy health insurance during the coronavirus outbreak.
As the pandemic spread and unemployment spiked in recent weeks, White House officials had said they were considering reopening the individual markets through HealthCare.gov, allowing people who may have lost jobs to access health insurance. But an administration official confirmed to BuzzFeed News on Wednesday that that will not happen.
Normally, people can only sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces — commonly known as Obamacare — during a set period at the end of the calendar year. But the administration was considering a special enrollment period to allow more people to buy health insurance. The news that it will not do so was first reported by Politico.
A record 3.3 million people filed for unemployment in one week, and tens of millions more could lose their jobs before social distancing orders are lifted. Under the ACA, people who lose their jobs are eligible to buy insurance plans on the individual markets, but they may need to provide documents showing that they've lost their job or that their income level has changed.
Reopening the ACA marketplaces would have streamlined this process and allowed others to buy federally regulated health insurance plans during the public health emergency. Democrats have condemned the White House’s decision as cruel.
“It should be unimaginable that in the middle of a pandemic the President of the United States would reject a clear opportunity to help people get health care coverage they desperately need,” said Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Health Committee. “But that’s exactly what President Trump is doing. It’s inexcusable.”
Eleven states plus the District of Columbia are allowing people to sign up for Obamacare plans on their own state marketplaces. Those states are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
Another option for people who want to keep their work insurance is to sign up for COBRA plans, wherein they pay the full premiums for the work health insurance. These tend to be significantly more expensive because the now-out-of-work individual has to pay both their regular monthly premiums and their former employer’s contributions. Alternatively, depending on a person’s income level, they may also qualify for Medicaid.
The Trump administration has taken a cold view of administering the Obamacare markets since day one. It has backed the Republican push to repeal the ACA that failed in Congress and taken various steps to weaken the marketplaces, such as shortening enrollment periods and opening up competition from unregulated plans that are cheaper but pay out far lower benefits.
Most importantly, the administration is breaking with the convention of defending established law and backing a legal fight to have the entire ACA thrown out as unconstitutional. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case this year.


buzzfeed--2020-04-01--The White House Is Warning The US Could Expect At Least 100,000 Deaths From Coronavirus Despite Soci

The White House Is Warning The US Could Expect At Least 100,000 Deaths From Coronavirus Despite Social Distancing

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
WASHINGTON — The US should expect between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths from the coronavirus , the White House said Tuesday .
That is “ what would happen if people stayed home , what would happen if people were careful every day to wash their hands and worry about touching their faces , ” Dr. Deborah Birx , the White House Coronavirus Task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s daily coronavirus press conference .
“ What an extraordinary thing this could be if every American followed these.
” Birx added that she is hopeful that the numbers could be lower .
“ We really believe and hope every day we can do a lot better than that , because that ’ s not assuming 100 % of every American , everything they are supposed to be doing .
But I think that 's possible , ” she said .
However , if people don ’ t follow the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , projections show that , on the high end , the US could see between 1.5 million and 2.2 million deaths .
While the White House task force showed charts with the top-line deaths at 240,000 , Birx repeatedly said during the press conference that 200,000 was the high end of what the US government is currently expecting .
When asked if and why those numbers had changed , Birx said , “ It just has to do with if you had more New Yorks and New Jerseys .
Chicago , Detroit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our major cities , modeled like New York , that 's what gets us in trouble .
But I am reassured by looking at the Seattle line , by looking at the LA Line , by looking at what California has been able to do , that that is not something that — I do n't believe that 's gon na happen .
That is the outside case of having 10 , 15 metro [ area ] s like New York and the New Jersey metro area .
”

WASHINGTON — The US should expect between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths from the coronavirus, the White House said Tuesday.
That is “what would happen if people stayed home, what would happen if people were careful every day to wash their hands and worry about touching their faces,” Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator, said at President Donald Trump’s daily coronavirus press conference. “What an extraordinary thing this could be if every American followed these.”
Birx added that she is hopeful that the numbers could be lower. “We really believe and hope every day we can do a lot better than that, because that’s not assuming 100% of every American, everything they are supposed to be doing. But I think that's possible,” she said.
However, if people don’t follow the government’s mitigation guidance, Birx warned, projections show that, on the high end, the US could see between 1.5 million and 2.2 million deaths.
While the White House task force showed charts with the top-line deaths at 240,000, Birx repeatedly said during the press conference that 200,000 was the high end of what the US government is currently expecting. When asked if and why those numbers had changed, Birx said, “It just has to do with if you had more New Yorks and New Jerseys. Chicago, Detroit, LA, Dallas, Houston — all of our major cities, modeled like New York, that's what gets us in trouble. But I am reassured by looking at the Seattle line, by looking at the LA Line, by looking at what California has been able to do, that that is not something that — I don't believe that's gonna happen. That is the outside case of having 10, 15 metro [area]s like New York and the New Jersey metro area.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-31--Texas’s Ban On Abortions During The Coronavirus Outbreak Can Go Back Into Effect Following An Appeal

Texas’s Ban On Abortions During The Coronavirus Outbreak Can Go Back Into Effect Following An Appeals Court Ruling

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Texas will be allowed to instate a temporary ban on abortion in nearly all cases during the coronavirus outbreak , the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday .
The court overturned a decision released just hours before , on Monday afternoon , when a federal judge put a hold on the ban , saying it would cause “ irreparable harm ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put the abortion ban in place last week as a part of the state ’ s plan to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and devote as many medical resources as possible to treating and preventing it .
On March 22 , Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott issued an executive order halting any “ medically unnecessary ” procedures in the state .
The following day , Attorney General Ken Paxton specified that the order applied to abortion except in cases of a threat to the life of the mother .
The order was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a medical worker providing abortion care before then could be fined $ 1,000 or face jail time of up to 180 days .
Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights quickly sued the state over the order , asking the judge for an emergency stay .
On Monday , US District Court for the Western District of Texas Judge Lee Yeakel granted the reproductive rights groups a temporary restraining order that would prevent the ban from going into effect while the case was argued .
That order was set to expire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended .
Texas appealed the decision , and the appeals court reversed the order Tuesday afternoon .
The Fifth Circuit ordered a temporary stay , which will allow Texas to temporarily prohibit abortions while the case is argued .
The court gave plaintiffs until April 1 to file a response to their decision .
Judge James Dennis wrote a short dissent , noting that a federal judge had “ irreparable harm would flow ” from allowing Texas ’ s order to prohibit abortions and that he believed Yeakel ’ s decision should stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that , per the Executive order , 'any procedure that , if performed in accordance with the commonly accepted standard of clinical practice , would not deplete the hospital capacity or the personal protective equipment needed to cope with the COVID-19 disaster ’ is exempt , ” Dennis added in his dissent , suggesting that he believed some abortion procedures would fall under this exemption and therefore should not be banned , even if Texas ’ s order were allowed to go into effect .
`` While people everywhere are trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Abbott continue this perverse obsession with banning abortion , '' Planned Parenthood acting president Alexis McGill Johnson said in a statement Tuesday afternoon .
`` We will not cower before politicians who insist on exploiting a global pandemic to score political points.
” Planned Parenthood did not give details on their next move in court .
Nancy Northup , president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights , which joined the case , said the group would “ continue fighting this legal battle against Texas ’ s abuse of emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northup said in a statement , will escalate “ the fear and confusion women seeking abortion in Texas are already experiencing , ” noting that Yeakel had already ruled that “ women will suffer irreparable harm if clinics are closed.
” Over the past couple of weeks , several other states with histories of passing anti-abortion legislation passed similar bans .
Planned Parenthood , along with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights , filed lawsuits challenging those orders in Ohio , Alabama , Iowa , and Oklahoma Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal judges granted the groups temporary restraining orders in Ohio and Alabama Monday .
As of Tuesday afternoon , the decisions in Ohio and Alabama stood , but the cases in Iowa and Oklahoma have not yet been ruled on .

Texas will be allowed to instate a temporary ban on abortion in nearly all cases during the coronavirus outbreak, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. The court overturned a decision released just hours before, on Monday afternoon, when a federal judge put a hold on the ban, saying it would cause “irreparable harm” to patients in the state.
Texas put the abortion ban in place last week as a part of the state’s plan to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and devote as many medical resources as possible to treating and preventing it.
On March 22, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order halting any “medically unnecessary” procedures in the state. The following day, Attorney General Ken Paxton specified that the order applied to abortion except in cases of a threat to the life of the mother. The order was set to expire April 21 and stated that a medical worker providing abortion care before then could be fined $1,000 or face jail time of up to 180 days.
Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights quickly sued the state over the order, asking the judge for an emergency stay. On Monday, US District Court for the Western District of Texas Judge Lee Yeakel granted the reproductive rights groups a temporary restraining order that would prevent the ban from going into effect while the case was argued. That order was set to expire April 13, though it could be extended.
Texas appealed the decision, and the appeals court reversed the order Tuesday afternoon.
The Fifth Circuit ordered a temporary stay, which will allow Texas to temporarily prohibit abortions while the case is argued. The court gave plaintiffs until April 1 to file a response to their decision.
Judge James Dennis wrote a short dissent, noting that a federal judge had “irreparable harm would flow” from allowing Texas’s order to prohibit abortions and that he believed Yeakel’s decision should stand.
“I write separately to make clear that, per the Executive order, 'any procedure that, if performed in accordance with the commonly accepted standard of clinical practice, would not deplete the hospital capacity or the personal protective equipment needed to cope with the COVID-19 disaster’ is exempt,” Dennis added in his dissent, suggesting that he believed some abortion procedures would fall under this exemption and therefore should not be banned, even if Texas’s order were allowed to go into effect.
"While people everywhere are trying to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, politicians like Gov. Abbott continue this perverse obsession with banning abortion," Planned Parenthood acting president Alexis McGill Johnson said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. "We will not cower before politicians who insist on exploiting a global pandemic to score political points.”
Planned Parenthood did not give details on their next move in court.
Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which joined the case, said the group would “continue fighting this legal battle against Texas’s abuse of emergency powers.”
Tuesday’s decision, Northup said in a statement, will escalate “the fear and confusion women seeking abortion in Texas are already experiencing,” noting that Yeakel had already ruled that “women will suffer irreparable harm if clinics are closed.”
Over the past couple of weeks, several other states with histories of passing anti-abortion legislation passed similar bans. Planned Parenthood, along with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights, filed lawsuits challenging those orders in Ohio, Alabama, Iowa, and Oklahoma Monday.
In addition to Texas, two federal judges granted the groups temporary restraining orders in Ohio and Alabama Monday. As of Tuesday afternoon, the decisions in Ohio and Alabama stood, but the cases in Iowa and Oklahoma have not yet been ruled on.


buzzfeed--2020-04-01--Members Of Congress Got Tested For The Coronavirus Despite Not Showing Symptoms, And Now We Know How

WASHINGTON — As sick people across the country struggle to get tested for the new coronavirus , asymptomatic members of Congress have been able to access tests despite guidance from the federal government urging doctors to save tests for people who are ill .
Lawmakers have access to a top-notch medical clinic in the Capitol building , the Office of the Attending Physician , which is staffed by Navy doctors and was once described as `` the best health care on the planet.
” But that ’ s not where members of Congress who haven ’ t exhibited symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus , are getting tested .
BuzzFeed News contacted the Office of the Attending Physician and more than a dozen congressional offices and found that those lawmakers who had been tested without showing symptoms did so outside the Capitol , often in their own districts .
Meanwhile , the attending physician has turned away asymptomatic lawmakers seeking tests .
“ The Office of Attending Physician ( OAP ) follows prevailing medical practice guidelines for testing individuals who may have the coronavirus infection , ” the office said on an internal website .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for testing must exhibit symptoms .
They must have no alternative explanation for illness ( such as influenza A ) , and they must have a nexus to risk.
” Sick people across the US are struggling to get tested amid a shortage of both tests and protective equipment for medical staff .
Even some health care workers have reportedly not been able to get tested , while nurses on the front lines have faced long waits to get their results .
That asymptomatic lawmakers got tested underscores a growing trend of powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to critical health care during the outbreak , and it highlights the confusing messaging around testing , especially that of earlier in the month as the coronavirus began to spread rapidly .
President Donald Trump has wrongly stated that everyone who wanted a test could get one , and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has continued to evolve as the crisis deepens .
At least four members of Congress — Sens .
Rand Paul and Mitt Romney and Reps. John Yarmuth and Matt Gaetz — have been able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Only Paul has tested positive .
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has been tested too , but he told Fox News he had experienced allergy symptoms that he wanted to make sure were n't from COVID-19 after attending a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with people who later tested positive .
Because of the nationwide test shortages , the CDC has issued guidelines to medical staff , instructing them to focus testing on those who are showing symptoms , which include fever , cough , and difficulty breathing .
Even Vice President Mike Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a staffer in his office tested positive — has urged Americans not to get tested unless they ’ re feeling sick .
`` If you do n't have symptoms , do n't do a test , '' Pence said this month .
`` It is another way that the American people can make sure that we are preserving the resources that our health care workers need . ''
Pence was asymptomatic but said because of his “ unique position as vice president , ” he wanted to get tested .
The Attending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extra $ 400,000 in Congress ’ s latest stimulus package to help deal with the coronavirus outbreak , has followed that advice .
The office has told lawmakers — who pay just over $ 600 per year to receive its services — to quarantine themselves if they ’ ve been in contact with someone confirmed to have the virus even if they do not show symptoms .
Such was the case for Utah Sen. Mike Lee , according to his office .
“ Sen .
Lee visited the Attending Physician of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paul had tested positive for Coronavirus , ” spokesperson Conn Carroll wrote in an email .
“ After taking Sen. Lee ’ s information the doctor advised him he did not need a test.
” The same went for Florida Sen. Rick Scott .
“ Senator Scott consulted with both the Senate physician and his personal physician when he was informed that he had potentially been exposed to someone who tested positive , ” spokesperson Chris Hartline wrote in an email .
“ Both said he was low risk and should not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scott did a self quarantine out of an abundance of caution .
He hasn ’ t had any symptoms and hasn ’ t been tested.
” Virginia Rep. Don Beyer also inquired with the Attending Physician ’ s Office about a test after having dinner with someone who later tested positive for the coronavirus .
Beyer had been around House leadership and many others and wanted to make sure he hadn ’ t infected them , according to his spokesperson , Aaron Fritschner .
After 90 minutes and phone conversations with three doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that because he didn ’ t have any symptoms , he didn ’ t meet the threshold for testing , Fritschner said .
At least one lawmaker — Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart — has been tested by the Attending Physician ’ s Office but was exhibiting symptoms .
Diaz-Balart became the first member of Congress to test positive for the coronavirus , followed by Utah Rep. Ben McAdams , who was tested by his local doctor after getting sick .
But as the CDC notes , its guidelines are just that — guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as individual doctors , ultimately make their own decisions about who gets tested .
Some doctors have even charged patients hundreds of dollars to be administered unapproved tests ; last week , rapper Cardi B called out fellow celebrities for paying thousands to get tested despite not showing symptoms .
The members of Congress who have been tested without showing symptoms have offered varying explanations as to why they were able to get access .
Paul , the first senator to test positive for the coronavirus , is keeping quiet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s said only that he took the test upon arriving in DC two weeks ago due to concerns about his extensive travel and higher risk for complications .
Last year , Paul had part of his lung removed after an altercation with a neighbor .
He didn ’ t self-quarantine after he learned he had been at the same event in early March as two people who had tested positive ( Paul ’ s office said he had no interaction with either person ) nor after he took the test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleagues and used the Senate gym while waiting for his test results , prompting criticism from fellow senators .
Paul — who held up a coronavirus bill earlier this month — did admit he didn ’ t fit the testing guidelines , though .
“ For those who want to criticize me for lack of quarantine , realize that if the rules on testing had been followed to a tee , I would never have been tested and would still be walking around the halls of the Capitol .
The current guidelines would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested nor quarantined .
It was my extra precaution , out of concern for my damaged lung , that led me to get tested , ” he said in a statement .
Paul ’ s office did not respond to questions about who tested him or how he got tested in light of the guidelines .
Like Lee , Romney — the other senator from Utah — had been in contact with Paul before his test results came back positive , but he wasn ’ t symptomatic either .
Nevertheless , the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Healthcare in Utah last Monday , his office said .
“ Based on Senator Romney ’ s age ( 73 ) and the duration and proximity of his exposure to Senator Paul , his physician recommended he get tested , ” spokesperson Liz Johnson said in an email .
A day later , Romney tweeted that he had tested negative .
Many of those in Utah with symptoms have struggled to get tested due to shortages and the state ’ s strict guidelines .
Since then , testing capabilities in Utah have expanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested , the state relaxed its guidelines .
Still , the guidance tells medical staff to prioritize those with symptoms combined with other risk factors .
Asked how Romney got tested , considering the guidelines , Johnson said , “ Senator Romney ’ s physician recommended he be tested and he received testing at Intermountain Healthcare .
You ’ d have to ask Intermountain directly about specifics regarding their testing questionnaire/criteria.
” Intermountain said that due to federal privacy laws , it couldn ’ t confirm whether someone was a patient or provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health acknowledged “ a couple caveats ” to its guidelines .
“ [ T ] his guidance is for testing at the Public Health Lab , but many commercial labs and health care facilities have adopted it , ” spokesperson Tom Hudachko wrote in an email to BuzzFeed News .
“ The guidance is simply that , guidance — and when we are not experiencing a shortage of materials ( which we currently are not ) , providers are advised to exercise clinical judgement in determining who should be tested.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose state has also experienced test shortages and backlogs , was tested back home as well .
Yarmuth , who chairs the House Budget Committee , “ was tested in Louisville , KY after being informed that he came into close contact with a person who had since tested positive , ” his office said .
“ The test consisted of a nasal swab and an oral swab .
He received his results about 24 hours later , ” spokesperson Christopher Schuler said by email .
Schuler said Yarmuth “ was directed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public Health and Wellness to get tested because of his direct exposure to an individual who had tested positive.
” Yarmuth ’ s exposure was at the same event in Kentucky that Paul had attended .
“ [ A ] t the time the Congressman was exposed , it was CDC ’ s guideline that those in direct contact be tested , ” Schuler said .
“ He was seated next to and interacted with an individual who was then known to be positive throughout the charity event , ” Schuler said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his doctor and was then tested by a local provider .
This wasn ’ t anything done through the Attending Physicians office or some sort of special avenue of access provided to House members.
” Jean Porter , a spokesperson for the Louisville mayor , confirmed that the local health department had informed Yarmuth “ he ’ d been in close contact with someone who has tested positive ” and that the head of the department “ recommended , per CDC guidelines , that he consult with his health care provider about testing.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that those with symptoms should be prioritized , but it ’ s ultimately up to a doctor ’ s discretion .
The day before Yarmuth was tested , only 153 Kentuckians had been tested , according to a local news report .
“ We ’ re only testing the ones that are the sickest , '' Dr. Sarah Moyer , Louisville 's chief health strategist , reportedly said at the time .
Less than a week later , another news report said testing was still being reserved for the sickest patients due to @ @ @ @

At least one lawmaker — Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart — has been tested by the Attending Physician’s Office but was exhibiting symptoms. Diaz-Balart became the first member of Congress to test positive for the coronavirus, followed by Utah Rep. Ben McAdams, who was tested by his local doctor after getting sick.
But as the CDC notes, its guidelines are just that — guidelines — so local and state health authorities, as well as individual doctors, ultimately make their own decisions about who gets tested. Some doctors have even charged patients hundreds of dollars to be administered unapproved tests; last week, rapper Cardi B called out fellow celebrities for paying thousands to get tested despite not showing symptoms.
The members of Congress who have been tested without showing symptoms have offered varying explanations as to why they were able to get access.
Paul, the first senator to test positive for the coronavirus, is keeping quiet about where and how he got tested. He’s said only that he took the test upon arriving in DC two weeks ago due to concerns about his extensive travel and higher risk for complications. Last year, Paul had part of his lung removed after an altercation with a neighbor. He didn’t self-quarantine after he learned he had been at the same event in early March as two people who had tested positive (Paul’s office said he had no interaction with either person) nor after he took the test. In Washington, he mingled with colleagues and used the Senate gym while waiting for his test results, prompting criticism from fellow senators.
Paul — who held up a coronavirus bill earlier this month — did admit he didn’t fit the testing guidelines, though.
“For those who want to criticize me for lack of quarantine, realize that if the rules on testing had been followed to a tee, I would never have been tested and would still be walking around the halls of the Capitol. The current guidelines would not have called for me to get tested nor quarantined. It was my extra precaution, out of concern for my damaged lung, that led me to get tested,” he said in a statement.
Paul’s office did not respond to questions about who tested him or how he got tested in light of the guidelines.
Like Lee, Romney — the other senator from Utah — had been in contact with Paul before his test results came back positive, but he wasn’t symptomatic either. Nevertheless, the former Republican presidential candidate got tested at Intermountain Healthcare in Utah last Monday, his office said. “Based on Senator Romney’s age (73) and the duration and proximity of his exposure to Senator Paul, his physician recommended he get tested,” spokesperson Liz Johnson said in an email. A day later, Romney tweeted that he had tested negative.


buzzfeed--2020-04-06--Judges Struck Down Four State Bans On Abortions During The Coronavirus Outbreak

An abortion rights activist holds placards outside the US Supreme Court in 2016 before the court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics .
The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Over the past week , federal judges have issued orders requiring Texas , Ohio , Alabama , and Oklahoma to allow abortion clinics to stay open and keep providing services , responding to a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reproductive rights groups to prevent states from banning abortion due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Three of the decisions came only hours after the lawsuits were filed on Monday March 30 , though the decision about Oklahoma 's ban came a week later , on April 6 , when a judge ordered a temporary restraining order preventing the ban from going into effect until April 20 .
Texas , Ohio , and Alabama quickly appealed the judges ' decisions in an attempt to continue to enforce their bans on abortion during the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision on Tuesday , allowing that state 's ban to move forward temporarily as the case makes it way through the courts , but an appeals court made the opposite decision about Ohio 's laws Friday , allowing the restraining order to stand .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ordered a ban on abortions in late March , saying the procedure did not qualify as “ essential ” health care ( except in cases of a threat to the life of the pregnant person ) .
Paxton ordered any scheduled procedures to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mitigate the spread of the virus and devote any medical resources to treating it .
Ohio 's and Alabama 's health departments issued the same interpretation of their states ' orders to cease non-essential medical services during the pandemic .
Planned Parenthood , the American Civil Liberties Union , and the Center for Reproductive Rights quickly filed emergency lawsuits , arguing that the orders were unconstitutional and demanding they be halted and clinics in the state be allowed to continue their work .
Judges granted their request for temporary restraining orders to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week .
In his decision , US District Court for the Western District of Texas Judge Lee Yeakel said that Texas ’ s order would cause “ irreparable harm ” to abortion clinics and their patients , and that this harm “ outweighs ” Texas ’ s reason for the order .
“ Regarding a woman 's right to a pre-fetal-viability abortion , the Supreme Court has spoken clearly .
There can be no outright ban on such a procedure , ” Yeakel wrote .
“ This court will not speculate on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ except-in-a-national-emergency clause ’ in its previous writings on the issue.
” Yeakel said that only the Supreme Court can clarify if a ban on abortion can be applied during a national crisis , and that he will not try to predict what the Supreme Court will decide if the case against Texas ’ s ban reaches the justices .
His temporary restraining order will prevent the ban from affecting clinics in Texas while the case moves forward and expires April 13 ( though it could be extended ) .
The Fifth Circuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday afternoon , placing a stay on his temporary restraining order and allowing the ban to move forward as the case continues .
US District Court Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma , Charles Goodwin made reference to similar concerns about Supreme Court precedent on abortion in his decision , and cited the potential of irreparable harm to women in the state .
He also addressed a difficulty facing judges during the coronavirus outbreak .
`` This case raises an issue that has long been a source of struggle for the courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power in reviewing laws and executive orders or actions taken in response to a public health emergency , '' Goodwin wrote in his decision issued Monday .
During states of emergency , state governments have the power to impose requirements that may temporarily `` intrude upon the liberty of its citizens , '' he continued .
`` That power is not unfettered , however , and courts should carefully guard against 'unreasonable , ' 'arbitrary , ' or 'oppressive ' exercises of it , '' the judge continued , before stating his decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during coronavirus .
Over the last week , each of the governors in the five states ordered “ nonessential ” medical procedures to be postponed for several weeks , stating that this measure would help dedicate as many medical personnel and resources as possible toward treating the virus .
Following this order , each of those states then specified that they considered abortion services “ nonessential ” and instructed Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics in the states to shutter .
In some cases , the orders threatened criminal action against medical workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the American Civil Liberties Union , and the Center for Reproductive Rights quickly joined together to respond , arguing that the conservative states with anti-abortion legislative histories were “ taking advantage ” of the coronavirus crisis to effectively ban abortion in their states , and that the orders were unconstitutional .
Each of the lawsuits demand an “ emergency stay ” on the orders so that the clinics in those states can reopen or stay open and continue to provide abortion care .
The groups were joined in the press conference by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ( ACOG ) and the Abortion Care Network .
“ It 's not surprising that the states that are now using the COVID crisis to stop people from getting abortion care are the very same states that have a history of passing laws to ban abortions or using sham rationale to shut down clinics , ” Jennifer Dalven , the director of the Reproductive Freedom Project with the ACLU , said on a call with the press Monday .
Since the coronavirus reached the US and started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were around 159,000 confirmed cases and nearly 3,000 deaths in the US , according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins — governors across the country have been issuing order after order to help enforce social distancing , prevent large gatherings , and limit the spread of the virus .
In Texas , which issued its ban last Monday , state Attorney General Ken Paxton followed up on Gov .
Greg Abbott ’ s order , specifying that any medical worker providing abortion care before the order ’ s expiration date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 or face jail time of up to 180 days .
Paxton even ordered clinics to stop issuing medication abortion to patients , which can be provided outside of the clinic via telemedicine .
Ohio ’ s order caused much confusion among clinics and reproductive rights organizations .
On March 17 , Gov .
Mike DeWine ordered the cancellation of all nonessential medical procedures , and shortly thereafter , Ohio ’ s deputy attorney general , Jonathan Fulkerson , sent letters to several abortion clinics in the state , accusing them of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinics ’ lawyers quickly responded , assuring Fulkerson ’ s office that they were in compliance with the order and were taking all necessary precautions .
After some back and forth , Ohio ’ s Department of Health eventually issued further guidance saying that the ban applied to abortion clinics .
After a federal judge put a restraining order on this guidance , Ohio appealed .
On Friday , the US District Court of Appeals for the Sixth District in Cincinnati , Ohio rejected the state 's appeal , upholding the restraining order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion .
As in the other cases , the sixth circuit court said the order would cause irreparable harm to women seeking abortions in the state and it was unconstitutional .
However , the court also wrote in its decision that it `` could be argued '' that the amount of protective equipment being used for abortion instead of treating COVID-19 patients is `` negligible . ''
Alabama , which passed a near total ban on abortion over the summer that was blocked in court , issued its own order calling for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The order threatened criminal penalties for doctors who violated it , but was vague about exactly what services or actions would violate the order .
This vagueness “ puts doctors in a terrible position of being forced to risk their licenses and risk prosecution in order to provide care , ” Dalven said .
Planned Parenthood quickly filed a lawsuit in Texas on Thursday — the first of the five suits — arguing that the state 's order was in violation of Roe v. Wade .
Each of the ensuing lawsuits used similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the three judges said in their orders that the bans constitute an `` undue burden '' on abortion access , the metric by which previous Supreme Court decisions measure whether a law regulating abortion is unconstitutional .
Hundreds of patients seeking reproductive health care have already been affected by the orders , the coalition said .
In Alabama , when the clinics had to call patients to cancel their abortion appointments by phone , many of the patients cried , Dalven said .
Many patients seeking abortions in Texas had been traveling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down last week , but when Oklahoma issued a ban as well , many people were stuck and unsure of what to do , Nancy Northup , the head of the Center for Reproductive Rights ( which is leading the Oklahoma lawsuit ) , said on the call .
“ No one stopped needing sexual and reproductive health care in a public health crisis , ” acting Planned Parenthood president Alexis McGill Johnson said during the press conference .
“ People still have sex .
They still need birth control , STI testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and legal abortion.
” Each representative of the five groups joining and supporting the lawsuits argued that abortion is in fact essential health care , and that halting that care does not help to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 .
“ Stopping [ patients ] from getting an abortion does n't lower the risk of transmitting the virus , ” Dalven said .
“ It just forces people to stay pregnant and have children against their will.
” Planned Parenthood clinics around the country that remain open are taking extensive measures to mitigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Planned Parenthood assured press on the call .
They are spacing out patients to limit the number of people in the office , encouraging telemedicine and medication abortion , and making sure their staff has protective equipment .
However , even in states that are not forcing clinics to close , the precautions are beginning to cause barriers to access , as some clinics stop taking new appointments or delay patients ’ appointments in order to not overwhelm and crowd the clinics .
Last week , California ’ s attorney general , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US Department of Health signed by 21 state attorneys general demanding increased access to telemedicine reproductive care .
The attorneys general asked the Trump administration to remove the regulation of mifepristone — a drug used in medication abortion — so that it could be prescribed in a pharmacy like a normal drug , instead of requiring clinics to give it directly to patients , forcing them to come in and expose themselves and others to increased risk of COVID-19 .

Over the past week, federal judges have issued orders requiring Texas, Ohio, Alabama, and Oklahoma to allow abortion clinics to stay open and keep providing services, responding to a series of lawsuits filed by a coalition of reproductive rights groups to prevent states from banning abortion due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Three of the decisions came only hours after the lawsuits were filed on Monday March 30, though the decision about Oklahoma's ban came a week later, on April 6, when a judge ordered a temporary restraining order preventing the ban from going into effect until April 20.
Texas, Ohio, and Alabama quickly appealed the judges' decisions in an attempt to continue to enforce their bans on abortion during the outbreak. An appeals court reversed the Texas decision on Tuesday, allowing that state's ban to move forward temporarily as the case makes it way through the courts, but an appeals court made the opposite decision about Ohio's laws Friday, allowing the restraining order to stand.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ordered a ban on abortions in late March, saying the procedure did not qualify as “essential” health care (except in cases of a threat to the life of the pregnant person). Paxton ordered any scheduled procedures to be postponed amid the coronavirus outbreak in order to mitigate the spread of the virus and devote any medical resources to treating it. Ohio's and Alabama's health departments issued the same interpretation of their states' orders to cease non-essential medical services during the pandemic.
Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Center for Reproductive Rights quickly filed emergency lawsuits, arguing that the orders were unconstitutional and demanding they be halted and clinics in the state be allowed to continue their work. Judges granted their request for temporary restraining orders to keep clinics open in all three states last week.
In his decision, US District Court for the Western District of Texas Judge Lee Yeakel said that Texas’s order would cause “irreparable harm” to abortion clinics and their patients, and that this harm “outweighs” Texas’s reason for the order.
“Regarding a woman's right to a pre-fetal-viability abortion, the Supreme Court has spoken clearly. There can be no outright ban on such a procedure,” Yeakel wrote. “This court will not speculate on whether the Supreme Court included a silent ‘except-in-a-national-emergency clause’ in its previous writings on the issue.”
Yeakel said that only the Supreme Court can clarify if a ban on abortion can be applied during a national crisis, and that he will not try to predict what the Supreme Court will decide if the case against Texas’s ban reaches the justices. His temporary restraining order will prevent the ban from affecting clinics in Texas while the case moves forward and expires April 13 (though it could be extended).
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Yeakel's decision Tuesday afternoon, placing a stay on his temporary restraining order and allowing the ban to move forward as the case continues.
US District Court Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, Charles Goodwin made reference to similar concerns about Supreme Court precedent on abortion in his decision, and cited the potential of irreparable harm to women in the state. He also addressed a difficulty facing judges during the coronavirus outbreak.
"This case raises an issue that has long been a source of struggle for the courts: the proper use of the judicial power in reviewing laws and executive orders or actions taken in response to a public health emergency," Goodwin wrote in his decision issued Monday.
During states of emergency, state governments have the power to impose requirements that may temporarily "intrude upon the liberty of its citizens," he continued. "That power is not unfettered, however, and courts should carefully guard against 'unreasonable,' 'arbitrary,' or 'oppressive' exercises of it," the judge continued, before stating his decision to block Oklahoma's ban on abortion during coronavirus.
Over the last week, each of the governors in the five states ordered “nonessential” medical procedures to be postponed for several weeks, stating that this measure would help dedicate as many medical personnel and resources as possible toward treating the virus. Following this order, each of those states then specified that they considered abortion services “nonessential” and instructed Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics in the states to shutter. In some cases, the orders threatened criminal action against medical workers who violated the order.
Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Center for Reproductive Rights quickly joined together to respond, arguing that the conservative states with anti-abortion legislative histories were “taking advantage” of the coronavirus crisis to effectively ban abortion in their states, and that the orders were unconstitutional. Each of the lawsuits demand an “emergency stay” on the orders so that the clinics in those states can reopen or stay open and continue to provide abortion care. The groups were joined in the press conference by the Center for Reproductive Rights, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Abortion Care Network.
“It's not surprising that the states that are now using the COVID crisis to stop people from getting abortion care are the very same states that have a history of passing laws to ban abortions or using sham rationale to shut down clinics,” Jennifer Dalven, the director of the Reproductive Freedom Project with the ACLU, said on a call with the press Monday.
Since the coronavirus reached the US and started spreading at breakneck speed — by Monday there were around 159,000 confirmed cases and nearly 3,000 deaths in the US, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins — governors across the country have been issuing order after order to help enforce social distancing, prevent large gatherings, and limit the spread of the virus.
In Texas, which issued its ban last Monday, state Attorney General Ken Paxton followed up on Gov. Greg Abbott’s order, specifying that any medical worker providing abortion care before the order’s expiration date of April 21 could be fined $1,000 or face jail time of up to 180 days. Paxton even ordered clinics to stop issuing medication abortion to patients, which can be provided outside of the clinic via telemedicine.
Ohio’s order caused much confusion among clinics and reproductive rights organizations. On March 17, Gov. Mike DeWine ordered the cancellation of all nonessential medical procedures, and shortly thereafter, Ohio’s deputy attorney general, Jonathan Fulkerson, sent letters to several abortion clinics in the state, accusing them of being in violation of the order. The clinics’ lawyers quickly responded, assuring Fulkerson’s office that they were in compliance with the order and were taking all necessary precautions. After some back and forth, Ohio’s Department of Health eventually issued further guidance saying that the ban applied to abortion clinics. After a federal judge put a restraining order on this guidance, Ohio appealed.
On Friday, the US District Court of Appeals for the Sixth District in Cincinnati, Ohio rejected the state's appeal, upholding the restraining order and continuing to block the ban on abortion. As in the other cases, the sixth circuit court said the order would cause irreparable harm to women seeking abortions in the state and it was unconstitutional. However, the court also wrote in its decision that it "could be argued" that the amount of protective equipment being used for abortion instead of treating COVID-19 patients is "negligible."
Alabama, which passed a near total ban on abortion over the summer that was blocked in court, issued its own order calling for the close of abortion clinics Saturday night. The order threatened criminal penalties for doctors who violated it, but was vague about exactly what services or actions would violate the order.
This vagueness “puts doctors in a terrible position of being forced to risk their licenses and risk prosecution in order to provide care,” Dalven said.
Planned Parenthood quickly filed a lawsuit in Texas on Thursday — the first of the five suits — arguing that the state's order was in violation of Roe v. Wade. Each of the ensuing lawsuits used similar language and arguments, and each of the three judges said in their orders that the bans constitute an "undue burden" on abortion access, the metric by which previous Supreme Court decisions measure whether a law regulating abortion is unconstitutional.
Hundreds of patients seeking reproductive health care have already been affected by the orders, the coalition said. In Alabama, when the clinics had to call patients to cancel their abortion appointments by phone, many of the patients cried, Dalven said.
Many patients seeking abortions in Texas had been traveling to Oklahoma for care since the ban came down last week, but when Oklahoma issued a ban as well, many people were stuck and unsure of what to do, Nancy Northup, the head of the Center for Reproductive Rights (which is leading the Oklahoma lawsuit), said on the call.
“No one stopped needing sexual and reproductive health care in a public health crisis,” acting Planned Parenthood president Alexis McGill Johnson said during the press conference. “People still have sex. They still need birth control, STI testing and treatment, and access to safe and legal abortion.”
Each representative of the five groups joining and supporting the lawsuits argued that abortion is in fact essential health care, and that halting that care does not help to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“Stopping [patients] from getting an abortion doesn't lower the risk of transmitting the virus,” Dalven said. “It just forces people to stay pregnant and have children against their will.”
Planned Parenthood clinics around the country that remain open are taking extensive measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 at their clinics, Planned Parenthood assured press on the call. They are spacing out patients to limit the number of people in the office, encouraging telemedicine and medication abortion, and making sure their staff has protective equipment.
However, even in states that are not forcing clinics to close, the precautions are beginning to cause barriers to access, as some clinics stop taking new appointments or delay patients’ appointments in order to not overwhelm and crowd the clinics.
Last week, California’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, sent a letter to the US Department of Health signed by 21 state attorneys general demanding increased access to telemedicine reproductive care. The attorneys general asked the Trump administration to remove the regulation of mifepristone — a drug used in medication abortion — so that it could be prescribed in a pharmacy like a normal drug, instead of requiring clinics to give it directly to patients, forcing them to come in and expose themselves and others to increased risk of COVID-19.


buzzfeed--2020-03-30--People Are Bailing Out Inmates From New York City's Biggest Jail, Where The Coronavirus Outbreak Is

People Are Bailing Out Inmates From New York City's Biggest Jail, Where The Coronavirus Outbreak Is Skyrocketing

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
While coronavirus infections in New York City ’ s largest jail have skyrocketed to nearly 10 times the rate of the city ’ s residents overall — according to one legal organization ’ s analysis — a grassroots crowdfunding campaign has been bailing out the Rikers Island inmates .
The Emergency Release Fund , a group of organizers and activists in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 23 and freed five inmates in the last three days , Alex Tereshonkova , a member of the group , told BuzzFeed News on Monday .
The average donation is $ 20 .
“ They have n't been convicted of crimes , ” said Tereshonkova , who pointed out that the inmates eligible for cash bail still have yet to receive a court trial .
This month , New York suspended new trials indefinitely .
“ These people being detained are innocent until proven guilty .
They have the same right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmates eligible for bail face charges ranging from parole violations , such as breaking a curfew , to more serious offenses like robberies — but they now wait in limbo , many of them sharing cells , as the virus closes in around them .
Founded in September , the Emergency Release Fund had originally focused on freeing transgender inmates , who historically have endured higher rates of violence and sexual assault behind bars .
That focus has expanded during the pandemic , said Tereshonkova , to prioritize LGBTQ people and people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone else at Rikers Island who qualifies for cash bail .
“ At this point , we are doing everybody.
” On Monday , news spread that Lorena Borjas , a transgender woman whose activism included ending cash bail in New York City , had died from complications from COVID-19 , the disease caused by coronavirus .

While coronavirus infections in New York City’s largest jail have skyrocketed to nearly 10 times the rate of the city’s residents overall — according to one legal organization’s analysis — a grassroots crowdfunding campaign has been bailing out the Rikers Island inmates.
The Emergency Release Fund, a group of organizers and activists in New York, has raised $18,000 since March 23 and freed five inmates in the last three days, Alex Tereshonkova, a member of the group, told BuzzFeed News on Monday. The average donation is $20.
“They haven't been convicted of crimes,” said Tereshonkova, who pointed out that the inmates eligible for cash bail still have yet to receive a court trial. This month, New York suspended new trials indefinitely. “These people being detained are innocent until proven guilty. They have the same right to live that we do.”
Tereshonkova said inmates eligible for bail face charges ranging from parole violations, such as breaking a curfew, to more serious offenses like robberies — but they now wait in limbo, many of them sharing cells, as the virus closes in around them.
Founded in September, the Emergency Release Fund had originally focused on freeing transgender inmates, who historically have endured higher rates of violence and sexual assault behind bars. That focus has expanded during the pandemic, said Tereshonkova, to prioritize LGBTQ people and people of color, and now, to free anyone else at Rikers Island who qualifies for cash bail. “At this point, we are doing everybody.”
On Monday, news spread that Lorena Borjas, a transgender woman whose activism included ending cash bail in New York City, had died from complications from COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.