foxnews--2020-05-29--Wuhan tested millions of people for COVID-19 in just days: Could US cities do the same?

The city of Wuhan , China , where the COVID-19 outbreak first emerged , recently launched a campaign to test every one of its 11 million residents for the virus .
Already , less than two weeks into the drive , the city has tested about 6.5 million residents , The New York Times reported May 26 .
But how could so many people be tested so quickly ?
In addition to recruiting thousands of health care workers and supporting staff and pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the campaign , the city has promoted the drive via fliers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Wuhan also ramped up its diagnostic testing capacity by pooling samples from different people together and processing them in small batches , according to the Times .
U.S. cities could adopt a similar `` pooled testing '' strategy to screen many residents at once and keep abreast of new waves of infection — but the approach only works as long as the overall prevalence of COVID-19 remains low , experts told Live Science .
Related : Coronavirus testing is ramping up .
Here are the new tests and how they work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevalence population , it 's a very effective way of finding outbreaks , '' said Dr. James Zehnder , director of Clinical Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine .
`` I hope that the FDA [ U.S. Food and Drug Administration ] is supportive of implementing this widely . ''
After about a month with no newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 , Wuhan reported six new cases during the week of May 14 , The New York Times reported .
Soon after , the city government announced its plans for a swift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at snuffing out a potential second wave of infection .
While some experts questioned the need to test the majority of Wuhan 's 11 million residents , when a smaller sample might suffice , the extensive testing drive still demonstrates the utility of pooled testing , according to the Times .
Namely , the technique allows many diagnostic tests to be processed in a short window of time , and with minimal testing materials , experts told Live Science .
When an outbreak starts , it spreads quickly '' — too quickly to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with overt symptoms of COVID-19 , said Peter Frazier , an associate professor and data scientist at Cornell University , whose lab is modeling how best to implement pooled testing in the U.S .
Given that asymptomatic people may spread the virus through breathing and talking , by the time symptomatic people begin seeking diagnostic tests , the outbreak may be well underway .
Related : 11 ( sometimes ) deadly diseases that hopped across species But with pooled testing , a given population can be screened for COVID-19 periodically ; that way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and isolated , and their recent contacts can be alerted of potential infection , Frazier said .
`` It 's hard to have a scenario where you 're testing every single person in a population , '' but the strategy could be particularly useful for screening high-risk groups , Zehnder said .
Schools , nursing homes and correctional facilities , as well as populations of health care workers and first responders , could implement a schedule of pooled testing to spot outbreaks before they run out of control , he said .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers take swab samples from the noses and throats of several people and deposit the samples in a single plastic tube , the Times reported .
The batch of samples can then be scanned for evidence of viral genetic material using a method called polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) .
If the whole test tube tests negative , all the swabs within can be considered negative for the virus ; if the tube tests positive , swabs included in the pooled can be retested individually to determine which specific sample contains viral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sample usually gets reserved for the purpose of retesting , so people do n't have to return to the test site to be swabbed a second time , Zehnder said .
To ensure that the results of the pooled tests are as accurate as possible , labs must carefully consider how many samples to include in each batch , said Chris Bilder , a statistics professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln whose lab studies the use of group testing for infectious diseases , including sexually transmitted diseases .
The ideal `` pool size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pooled sample — largely depends on the prevalence of disease in a given population , Bilder said .
If a high proportion of the population has COVID-19 , many pooled tests would come back positive and require further processing .
At a certain point , pooled testing ceases to be efficient and the lab must revert to standard , individual testing , he said .
For example , in March , the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory received approval from the FDA to use pooled testing for COVID-19 , as long as the positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pooled samples included no more than five swabs each , Scientific American reported .
Bilder and Brianna Hitt , a recently graduated doctoral student in his lab , developed an easy-to-use app that helped the lab determine what pool sizes would work best given those parameters .
Originally designed with STD screening in mind , the app can be repurposed toward COVID-19 diagnostic testing , Bilder said .
The app takes disease prevalence and test accuracy into account to determine what range of pool sizes would be suitable .
In addition , users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see which works best for their particular sample , he said .
`` The lower the prevalence , the higher the pool size that you can use , '' he said .
Say you 're testing 100 people and disease prevalence is 5 % ; with standard testing , you 'd use 100 tests to test everyone and spot an average of five active infections .
With pooled testing , you can lump swabs into groups of five and only use 20 tests in the process .
Even if five groups came back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only use 45 tests total as compared to 100 .
In addition to disease prevalence , labs must consider a phenomenon called `` the dilution effect '' when determining pool sizes , Frazier said .
PCR machines can process only so much fluid at one time ; the larger the pool size grows , the smaller the proportion of fluid contributed by each swab becomes , he said .
As a positive swab will contain a finite number of viral particles , enlarging the pool size can lower your chances of spotting those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
This dilution effect `` sets the ceiling '' for your pool size , and `` below that ceiling , the right pool size is based on [ disease ] prevalence . ''
To double-check for false results , pooled tests that come back negative can be redistributed in slightly larger pools and run through PCR once more , a process known as `` back-screening , '' Bilder said .
Another method to ensure accuracy , currently being verified by Frazier and his collaborators at Cornell University , pools samples in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test tubes .
If both a column and row among the samples tests positive , the tube at their intersection should contain a positive swab test common to both .
Could it be done in the United States ?
Pooled testing first surfaced during World War II , when military personnel received widespread testing for syphilis , Scientific American reported .
Since then , the approach has been used to screen for a variety of diseases , including HIV , chlamydia and malaria .
`` This is n't new , '' Bilder said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just need to be repurposed for COVID-19 testing , he said .
Before pooled testing can be implemented widely , each proposed protocol must first gain approval from the FDA , Frazier added .
Despite this potential regulatory hurdle , the fact that the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory gained conditional approval suggests a precedent for future pooled testing , he said .
Beyond developing the protocols and earning FDA approval , labs wishing to conduct pooled testing must assess `` who should be tested and how often , '' Zehnder said .
Again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more frequent testing , while representative samples from the broader population could be collected less frequently in comparison , he said .
Whether effective containment of the virus requires testing populations every three days , once a week or twice a month , will likely vary by location and relative need , he said .
And although pooled sampling does help conserve testing supplies , a robust infrastructure must be in place to organize the gathering of samples and distribution of results , Zehnder added .
`` The simplest way is if people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , '' thus avoiding a potentially risky trip to a physical testing site , he said .
Once the samples can be gathered and processed , there must be a way to use that information to guide a public health response , which would include tracing potential infections and isolating positive cases in the community , he said .
Pooled testing , alone , can not snuff out outbreaks ; the measure must be coupled with compliance from community members and effective public health measures , like widespread contact tracing , Zehnder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people need to be having as the economy begins to open up , '' he said .
• Going viral : 6 new findings about viruses

The city of Wuhan, China, where the COVID-19 outbreak first emerged, recently launched a campaign to test every one of its 11 million residents for the virus.
Already, less than two weeks into the drive, the city has tested about 6.5 million residents, The New York Times reported May 26. But how could so many people be tested so quickly?
In addition to recruiting thousands of health care workers and supporting staff and pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the campaign, the city has promoted the drive via fliers, social media posts and loudspeaker announcements; Wuhan also ramped up its diagnostic testing capacity by pooling samples from different people together and processing them in small batches, according to the Times.
U.S. cities could adopt a similar "pooled testing" strategy to screen many residents at once and keep abreast of new waves of infection — but the approach only works as long as the overall prevalence of COVID-19 remains low, experts told Live Science.
Related: Coronavirus testing is ramping up. Here are the new tests and how they work.
"If you're surveilling a low prevalence population, it's a very effective way of finding outbreaks," said Dr. James Zehnder, director of Clinical Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine. "I hope that the FDA [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] is supportive of implementing this widely."
Pros of pooled testing
After about a month with no newly confirmed cases of COVID-19, Wuhan reported six new cases during the week of May 14, The New York Times reported . Soon after, the city government announced its plans for a swift and widespread diagnostic testing drive, aimed at snuffing out a potential second wave of infection. While some experts questioned the need to test the majority of Wuhan's 11 million residents, when a smaller sample might suffice, the extensive testing drive still demonstrates the utility of pooled testing, according to the Times.
Namely, the technique allows many diagnostic tests to be processed in a short window of time, and with minimal testing materials, experts told Live Science.
"When an outbreak starts, it spreads quickly" — too quickly to catch if you're only screening people with overt symptoms of COVID-19 , said Peter Frazier, an associate professor and data scientist at Cornell University, whose lab is modeling how best to implement pooled testing in the U.S. Given that asymptomatic people may spread the virus through breathing and talking , by the time symptomatic people begin seeking diagnostic tests, the outbreak may be well underway.
Related: 11 (sometimes) deadly diseases that hopped across species
But with pooled testing, a given population can be screened for COVID-19 periodically; that way, so-called silent spreaders can be identified and isolated, and their recent contacts can be alerted of potential infection, Frazier said.
"It's hard to have a scenario where you're testing every single person in a population," but the strategy could be particularly useful for screening high-risk groups, Zehnder said. Schools, nursing homes and correctional facilities, as well as populations of health care workers and first responders, could implement a schedule of pooled testing to spot outbreaks before they run out of control, he said.
For pooled testing in Wuhan, health care workers take swab samples from the noses and throats of several people and deposit the samples in a single plastic tube, the Times reported. The batch of samples can then be scanned for evidence of viral genetic material using a method called polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
If the whole test tube tests negative, all the swabs within can be considered negative for the virus; if the tube tests positive, swabs included in the pooled can be retested individually to determine which specific sample contains viral particles. A portion of each swab sample usually gets reserved for the purpose of retesting, so people don't have to return to the test site to be swabbed a second time, Zehnder said.
To ensure that the results of the pooled tests are as accurate as possible , labs must carefully consider how many samples to include in each batch, said Chris Bilder, a statistics professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln whose lab studies the use of group testing for infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases.
Let's talk logistics
The ideal "pool size" — number of swabs in each pooled sample — largely depends on the prevalence of disease in a given population, Bilder said. If a high proportion of the population has COVID-19, many pooled tests would come back positive and require further processing. At a certain point, pooled testing ceases to be efficient and the lab must revert to standard, individual testing, he said.
For example, in March, the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory received approval from the FDA to use pooled testing for COVID-19, as long as the positive test rate remained below 10% and pooled samples included no more than five swabs each, Scientific American reported . Bilder and Brianna Hitt, a recently graduated doctoral student in his lab, developed an easy-to-use app that helped the lab determine what pool sizes would work best given those parameters.
Originally designed with STD screening in mind, the app can be repurposed toward COVID-19 diagnostic testing, Bilder said. The app takes disease prevalence and test accuracy into account to determine what range of pool sizes would be suitable. In addition, users can compare different methods of pooling to see which works best for their particular sample, he said.
"The lower the prevalence, the higher the pool size that you can use," he said.
Say you're testing 100 people and disease prevalence is 5%; with standard testing, you'd use 100 tests to test everyone and spot an average of five active infections. With pooled testing, you can lump swabs into groups of five and only use 20 tests in the process. Even if five groups came back positive and required retesting, you would only use 45 tests total as compared to 100.
In addition to disease prevalence, labs must consider a phenomenon called "the dilution effect" when determining pool sizes, Frazier said. PCR machines can process only so much fluid at one time; the larger the pool size grows, the smaller the proportion of fluid contributed by each swab becomes, he said. As a positive swab will contain a finite number of viral particles, enlarging the pool size can lower your chances of spotting those few particles in a batch sample, he said.
This dilution effect "sets the ceiling" for your pool size, and "below that ceiling, the right pool size is based on [disease] prevalence."
To double-check for false results, pooled tests that come back negative can be redistributed in slightly larger pools and run through PCR once more, a process known as "back-screening," Bilder said. Another method to ensure accuracy, currently being verified by Frazier and his collaborators at Cornell University, pools samples in a grid of columns and rows of test tubes. If both a column and row among the samples tests positive, the tube at their intersection should contain a positive swab test common to both.
Could it be done in the United States?
Pooled testing first surfaced during World War II, when military personnel received widespread testing for syphilis, Scientific American reported . Since then, the approach has been used to screen for a variety of diseases, including HIV , chlamydia and malaria .
Related: 28 devastating infectious diseases
"This isn't new," Bilder said. Well-established methods of pooled testing now just need to be repurposed for COVID-19 testing, he said.
Before pooled testing can be implemented widely, each proposed protocol must first gain approval from the FDA, Frazier added. Despite this potential regulatory hurdle, the fact that the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory gained conditional approval suggests a precedent for future pooled testing, he said.
Beyond developing the protocols and earning FDA approval, labs wishing to conduct pooled testing must assess "who should be tested and how often," Zehnder said. Again, high-risk groups might be prioritized for more frequent testing, while representative samples from the broader population could be collected less frequently in comparison, he said. Whether effective containment of the virus requires testing populations every three days, once a week or twice a month, will likely vary by location and relative need, he said.
And although pooled sampling does help conserve testing supplies, a robust infrastructure must be in place to organize the gathering of samples and distribution of results, Zehnder added. "The simplest way is if people can swab themselves and then mail it in," thus avoiding a potentially risky trip to a physical testing site, he said. Once the samples can be gathered and processed, there must be a way to use that information to guide a public health response, which would include tracing potential infections and isolating positive cases in the community, he said.
Pooled testing, alone, cannot snuff out outbreaks; the measure must be coupled with compliance from community members and effective public health measures, like widespread contact tracing, Zehnder said.
"This is the conversation people need to be having as the economy begins to open up," he said.


foxnews--2020-04-23--Passenger describes packed flight full of people not wearing masks from Miami to NYC

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A Manhattan woman who flew on an American Airlines flight from Miami to LaGuardia says she was shocked that the flight was packed full -- and about half the passengers did not wear masks despite the coronavirus pandemic .
Angie Wong , 42 , told The New York Post that Flight 2669 was between 80 percent and 90 percent full Wednesday when she boarded the plane for her 10:19 a.m. flight to the Big Apple while wearing a surgical mask , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I could tell passengers were very nervous that masks were not mandated , ” said Wong , a stay-at-home mom from SoHo who has been staying with her husband and two kids , ages 5 and 7 , in Miami since New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced city schools would be closed .
Wong said social distancing rules were strictly enforced at Miami ’ s airport , but that passengers were crammed together on her flight -- about half without masks , though a couple of people wore full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she snapped of the cramped cabin , showing some passengers with masks and gloves while others dispensed with the protective measures .
AMERICAN AIRLINES IS LATEST CARRIER HIT WITH CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT OVER REFUNDS FOR CANCELED FLIGHTS “ I asked how this was allowed during distancing requirements , and got ‘ nothing we can do about it ’ shrugs and offered an 800 number to change my reservation , ” she said .
“ Even the pilot came on mid-flight to apologize for the cramped conditions .
Unlike in Canada , masks were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she continued .
“ Though I did ask to be sat in an emptier part of the plane -- and was told the airline could not accommodate -- I did not realize how packed the flight was until I boarded , ” she said .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP At the gate , she said , an airline rep said that “ if American Airlines sells 150 seats , they will board 150 seats -- it ’ s a business.
” “ We are all learning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but businesses are still operating in the old paradigm and need to pivot for public safety .
I feel airlines should consider temporary policies to match the current federal mandates of social distancing and mask wearing , ” Wong said .
In a statement , American Airlines said that “ to encourage social distancing , gate agents will reassign seats to create more space between customers .
Once on board -- provided there aren ’ t any aircraft weight or balance restrictions -- customers can move to another seat within their ticketed cabin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The airline said it now also blocks “ 50 percent of standard middle seats ” on all its flights .
“ Our team also monitors flights closely to maintain social distancing , ” a rep told The Post in an email , adding that “ we encourage our customers to follow CDC [ Centers for Disease Control ] guidelines.
” The CDC , however , does not require passengers to wear masks .
This content originally appeared on the New York Post .

A Manhattan woman who flew on an American Airlines flight from Miami to LaGuardia says she was shocked that the flight was packed full — and about half the passengers did not wear masks despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Angie Wong, 42, told The Post that Flight 2669 was between 80 percent and 90 percent full Wednesday when she boarded the plane for her 10:19 a.m. flight to the Big Apple while wearing a surgical mask, face shield, gloves and a hoodie.
“I could tell passengers were very nervous that masks were not mandated,” said Wong, a stay-at-home mom from Soho who has been staying with her husband and two kids, ages 5 and 7, in Miami since Mayor Bill de Blasio announced city schools would be closed.
Wong said social distancing rules were strictly enforced at Miami’s airport, but that passengers were crammed together on her flight — about half without masks, though a couple of people wore full hazmat suits.
She shared several photos she snapped of the cramped cabin, showing some passengers with masks and gloves while others dispensed with the protective measures.
“I asked how this was allowed during distancing requirements, and got ‘nothing we can do about it’ shrugs and offered an 800 number to change my reservation,” she said.
“Even the pilot came on mid-flight to apologize for the cramped conditions. Unlike in Canada, masks were not mandated to fly. No temperature checks,” she continued.
“Though I did ask to be sat in an emptier part of the plane — and was told the airline could not accommodate — I did not realize how packed the flight was until I boarded,” she said.
At the gate, she said, an airline rep said that “if American Airlines sells 150 seats, they will board 150 seats — it’s a business.”
“We are all learning to adapt to the new social norms, but businesses are still operating in the old paradigm and need to pivot for public safety. I feel airlines should consider temporary policies to match the current federal mandates of social distancing and mask wearing,” Wong said.
In a statement, American Airlines said that “to encourage social distancing, gate agents will reassign seats to create more space between customers. Once on board — provided there aren’t any aircraft weight or balance restrictions — customers can move to another seat within their ticketed cabin subject to availability.”
The airline said it now also blocks “50 percent of standard middle seats” on all its flights.
“Our team also monitors flights closely to maintain social distancing,” a rep told The Post in an email, adding that “we encourage our customers to follow CDC guidelines.”
The CDC, however, does not require passengers to wear masks.


foxnews--2020-05-08--At least 15 children in NYC are hospitalized with unusual inflammatory syndrome tied to COVID-19

More than a dozen children in New York City have been hospitalized with an unusual inflammatory syndrome possibility related to COVID-19 .
The syndrome , which doctors are still working to understand , has been previously reported in children in the United Kingdom and other European countries .
On Monday ( May 4 ) , the New York City Health Department alerted doctors in a bulletin that it had identified 15 patients ages 2 to 15 years old that had been hospitalized with an illness that appeared similar to the inflammatory syndrome described in the European reports .
Symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been noted to have symptoms similar to those found in two rare conditions : toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease , the alert said .
Toxic shock syndrome is a life-threatening condition that 's caused by toxins produced by certain types of bacteria ; Kawasaki disease is a childhood illness that causes inflammation in blood vessel walls , and in serious cases can cause heart damage , Live Science previously reported .
All of the NYC cases had a fever , and more than half had a rash , abdominal pain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many of the patients also had markers of inflammation in their blood .
Among the 15 cases , four tested positive for COVID-19 using a diagnostic test , and six tested positive using an antibody test ( also called a serological test ) , which shows evidence of a past infection with the virus .
This is similar to the U.K. cases , in which not all of the children tested positive for COVID-19 .
Some of the NYC cases have been admitted to the intensive care unit and required cardiac or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been reported .
The inflammatory syndrome appears rare — in the U.K. , only about a dozen children have been reported to have the syndrome , according to The Guardian .
`` So far , from what we understand , this is a rare complication in the pediatric population that [ doctors ] believe is related to COVID-19 , '' Dr. Howard Zucker , the New York state health commissioner , told the New York Times .
The alert urged doctors in the area to immediately report cases to the NYC Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this inflammatory syndrome .
Doctors should also refer these patients to a specialist in pediatric infectious disease , rheumatology or critical care , the alert said .
`` Even though the relationship of this syndrome to COVID-19 is not yet defined , and not all of these cases have tested positive for COVID-19 by either DNA test or serology , the clinical nature of this virus is such that we are asking all providers to contact us immediately if they see patients who meet the criteria we ’ ve outlined , '' Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene , said in a statement , the Times reported .
`` And to parents … if your child has symptoms like fever , rash , abdominal pain or vomiting , call your doctor right away .
Overall , reports of serious COVID-19 complications remain rare in children .
• 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history

A girl walks down a street in the Corona neighborhood of Queens on April 14, 2020, in New York City.
More than a dozen children in New York City have been hospitalized with an unusual inflammatory syndrome possibility related to COVID-19.
The syndrome, which doctors are still working to understand, has been previously reported in children in the United Kingdom and other European countries.
On Monday (May 4), the New York City Health Department alerted doctors in a bulletin that it had identified 15 patients ages 2 to 15 years old that had been hospitalized with an illness that appeared similar to the inflammatory syndrome described in the European reports.
Symptoms of the syndrome can vary, but patients have been noted to have symptoms similar to those found in two rare conditions: toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease, the alert said. Toxic shock syndrome is a life-threatening condition that's caused by toxins produced by certain types of bacteria; Kawasaki disease is a childhood illness that causes inflammation in blood vessel walls, and in serious cases can cause heart damage, Live Science previously reported .
All of the NYC cases had a fever, and more than half had a rash, abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea, the alert said. Many of the patients also had markers of inflammation in their blood.
Among the 15 cases, four tested positive for COVID-19 using a diagnostic test, and six tested positive using an antibody test (also called a serological test), which shows evidence of a past infection with the virus. This is similar to the U.K. cases, in which not all of the children tested positive for COVID-19.
Some of the NYC cases have been admitted to the intensive care unit and required cardiac or respiratory support; however, no deaths have been reported.
The inflammatory syndrome appears rare — in the U.K., only about a dozen children have been reported to have the syndrome, according to The Guardian .
"So far, from what we understand, this is a rare complication in the pediatric population that [doctors] believe is related to COVID-19," Dr. Howard Zucker, the New York state health commissioner, told the New York Times .
The alert urged doctors in the area to immediately report cases to the NYC Health Department if they suspect their patients have this inflammatory syndrome. Doctors should also refer these patients to a specialist in pediatric infectious disease, rheumatology or critical care, the alert said.
"Even though the relationship of this syndrome to COVID-19 is not yet defined, and not all of these cases have tested positive for COVID-19 by either DNA test or serology, the clinical nature of this virus is such that we are asking all providers to contact us immediately if they see patients who meet the criteria we’ve outlined," Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said in a statement, the Times reported. "And to parents … if your child has symptoms like fever, rash, abdominal pain or vomiting, call your doctor right away.
Overall, reports of serious COVID-19 complications remain rare in children.


foxnews--2020-04-18--Rich Lowry: Rushing economy's reopen after coronavirus would be a big mistake

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An irony of the coronavirus debate is that the more successful lockdowns are in squelching the disease , the more vulnerable they will be to attack as unnecessary in the first place .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER A growing chorus on the right is slamming the shutdowns as an overreaction and agitating to end them .
A good example of the genre is an op-ed co-authored by former Education Secretary William Bennett and talk-radio host Seth Leibsohn .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ very accurately , “ Coronavirus Lessons : Fact and Reason vs .
Paranoia and Fear.
” They cite an estimate that the current outbreak will kill 68,000 Americans .
Then , they note that about 60,000 people died of the flu in 2017-18 .
For this , they thunder , we ’ ve imposed huge economic and social costs on the country ?
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This is obviously a deeply flawed way of looking at it .
If we are going to have 60,000 deaths with people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month , the number of deaths obviously would have been higher — much higher — if everyone had gone about business as usual .
We didn ’ t lock down the country to try to prevent 60,000 deaths ; we locked down the country to limit deaths to 60,000 ( or whatever the ultimate toll is ) .
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS COLUMN IN THE NATIONAL REVIEW

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An irony of the coronavirus debate is that the more successful lockdowns are in squelching the disease, the more vulnerable they will be to attack as unnecessary in the first place.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER
A growing chorus on the right is slamming the shutdowns as an overreaction and agitating to end them. A good example of the genre is an op-ed co-authored by former Education Secretary William Bennett and talk-radio host Seth Leibsohn. It is titled, tendentiously and not very accurately, “Coronavirus Lessons: Fact and Reason vs. Paranoia and Fear.”
DAVID BOSSIE: TRUMP CORONAVIRUS PLAN CAREFULLY BALANCES AMERICA'S PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC NEEDS
They cite an estimate that the current outbreak will kill 68,000 Americans. Then, they note that about 60,000 people died of the flu in 2017-18. For this, they thunder, we’ve imposed huge economic and social costs on the country?
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
This is obviously a deeply flawed way of looking at it.
If we are going to have 60,000 deaths with people not leaving their homes for more than a month, the number of deaths obviously would have been higher — much higher — if everyone had gone about business as usual. We didn’t lock down the country to try to prevent 60,000 deaths; we locked down the country to limit deaths to 60,000 (or whatever the ultimate toll is).
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS COLUMN IN THE NATIONAL REVIEW


foxnews--2020-04-27--Sneak peek of upcoming season finale of 'Last Man Standing,' plus cast interviews

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The filming of season 8 of the FOX comedy `` Last Man Standing , '' starring Tim Allen , was cut short by coronavirus pandemic , but the show is still going out with a bang .
On Fox Nation , you can watch past episodes , see interviews of the cast answering viewer questions , and get an exclusive sneak peek at the season 8 finale , which will on air on FOX on Thursday , April 30 at 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' STAR TIM ALLEN : 'WE JUST DO N'T MAKE FUN OF STUFF ...
EXCEPT LIBERALS' Production for `` Last Man Standing '' was suspended in March before all the planned episodes were completed , causing the season to end one episode earlier than expected .
Allen told FoxNews.com that the upcoming `` pseudo-finale '' will set up the storylines , which will possibly play out in the yet-to-be-announced premiere of the next season .
In the exclusive cast interviews available right now on Fox Nation , Allen and co-star Nancy Travis dished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the funniest behind-the-scenes and who is the worst offender when it comes to forgetting lines .
'LAST MAN STANDING ' STAR TIM ALLEN SAYS IT 'S 'NOBODY 'S BUSINESS ' WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT POLITICS '' Last Man Standing '' was canceled by ABC in 2017 , after its sixth season , despite being the network 's second-most-watched sitcom .
The series had a huge resurgence on FOX in 2019 .
To see more episodes of `` Last Man Standing , '' and hear interviews with the cast , go to Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TIME OFFER , GET YOUR FIRST MONTH OF FOX NATION FOR $ 0.99 Fox Nation programs are viewable on-demand and from your mobile device app , but available only for Fox Nation subscribers .
Go to Fox Nation to start a free trial and watch the extensive library from Tomi Lahren , Pete Hegseth , Abby Hornacek , Laura Ingraham , Greg Gutfeld , Judge Andrew Napolitano and many more of your favorite Fox News personalities .
Fox News ' Nate Day and Julius Young contributed to this report .

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The filming of season 8 of the FOX comedy "Last Man Standing," starring Tim Allen, was cut short by coronavirus pandemic, but the show is still going out with a bang.
On Fox Nation, you can watch past episodes, see interviews of the cast answering viewer questions, and get an exclusive sneak peek at the season 8 finale, which will on air on FOX on Thursday, April 30 at 8 p.m. ET.
'LAST MAN STANDING' STAR TIM ALLEN: 'WE JUST DON'T MAKE FUN OF STUFF... EXCEPT LIBERALS'
Production for "Last Man Standing" was suspended in March before all the planned episodes were completed, causing the season to end one episode earlier than expected.
Allen told FoxNews.com that the upcoming "pseudo-finale" will set up the storylines, which will possibly play out in the yet-to-be-announced premiere of the next season.
In the exclusive cast interviews available right now on Fox Nation, Allen and co-star Nancy Travis dished about which cast member is considered to be the funniest behind-the-scenes and who is the worst offender when it comes to forgetting lines.
'LAST MAN STANDING' STAR TIM ALLEN SAYS IT'S 'NOBODY'S BUSINESS' WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT POLITICS
"Last Man Standing" was canceled by ABC in 2017, after its sixth season, despite being the network's second-most-watched sitcom. The series had a huge resurgence on FOX in 2019.
To see more episodes of "Last Man Standing," and hear interviews with the cast, go to Fox Nation and sign up today.
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Fox News' Nate Day and Julius Young contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-04-27--Schumer proposing measure to block Trump's name from future coronavirus relief checks

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly will propose a measure that would block President Trump from having his name appear on any future coronavirus relief checks , as part of a potential “ Phase 4 ” stimulus package .
Politico reported the provision will be titled the “ No PR Act , ” and would ban the use of federal funds to promote Trump or Vice President Pence ’ s names or signatures .
TRUMP 'S NAME TO APPEAR ON CORONAVIRUS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see the pandemic as just another opportunity to promote his own political interests , ” Schumer , D-N.Y. , told Politico .
“ The No PR Act puts an end to the president ’ s exploitation of taxpayer money for promotional material that only benefits his re-election campaign.
” He added : “ Delaying the release of stimulus checks so his signature could be added is a waste of time and money.
” Schumer ’ s expected provision comes after the president ’ s name appeared on millions of economic stimulus checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Phase 3 ” coronavirus relief package , which totaled more than $ 2.2 trillion counting the relief payments and a variety of other programs .
The president ’ s name appeared on paper checks going to some Americans , while others received their relief payments via direct deposit .
The president ’ s name , “ President Donald J. Trump , ” appeared in the memo section on the left hand side of those paper checks , but his signature was not included .
Those who received their payment via direct deposit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s name .
It is not standard practice for the name of the president to appear on government checks .
At the time , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , blasted the president ’ s decision to put his name on the check , saying : “ Delaying direct payments to vulnerable families just to print his name on the check is another shameful example of President Trump ’ s catastrophic failure to treat this crisis with the urgency it demands.
” Meanwhile , Schumer ’ s proposal also comes as Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Trump administration ’ s response to COVID-19 .
Last week , the House approved the creation of a committee , chaired by Rep. James Clyburn , D-S.C. , to oversee the federal response , even as Republicans blasted the idea as politically motivated and argued Democrats would use it as a forum to attack the president .
Pelosi said the committee was designed to address the “ here and now , ” specifically concerning the allocation of the historic amount of federal funds directed to the economic recovery .
She compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then-Sen. Harry Truman in 1941 to investigate waste , fraud and abuse in defense spending in the early days of World War II .
“ Again , this isn ’ t about assigning blame , ” Pelosi said on the House floor Thursday .
“ It ’ s about taking responsibility.
” WHITE HOUSE SAYS PAYROLL TAX CUT FOR EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN 'PHASE 4 ' CORONVIRUS STIMULUS PACKAGE Pelosi added that the committee “ will ensure the historic investment of taxpayer dollars are being used wisely and efficiently and nobody is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , and Sens .
Kamala Harris , D-Calif. , and Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif. , also announced their intention to create a 9/11-style commission , set to launch in February 2021 “ hopefully after the pandemic has been overcome and after the presidential election.
” That commission would be granted subpoena power to compel cooperation from federal , state and local government officials , as it examines government preparedness in advance of the pandemic .
Meanwhile , the president signed into law a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' emergency interim relief bill on Friday , and a `` Phase 4 '' bill could follow .
Fox News ' Tyler Olson and John Roberts contributed to this report .

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly will propose a measure that would block President Trump from having his name appear on any future coronavirus relief checks, as part of a potential “Phase 4” stimulus package.
Politico reported the provision will be titled the “No PR Act,” and would ban the use of federal funds to promote Trump or Vice President Pence’s names or signatures.
TRUMP'S NAME TO APPEAR ON CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS CHECKS
“President Trump unfortunately appears to see the pandemic as just another opportunity to promote his own political interests,” Schumer, D-N.Y., told Politico. “The No PR Act puts an end to the president’s exploitation of taxpayer money for promotional material that only benefits his re-election campaign.”
He added: “Delaying the release of stimulus checks so his signature could be added is a waste of time and money.”
Schumer’s expected provision comes after the president’s name appeared on millions of economic stimulus checks sent to Americans as part of the “Phase 3” coronavirus relief package, which totaled more than $2.2 trillion counting the relief payments and a variety of other programs.
The president’s name appeared on paper checks going to some Americans, while others received their relief payments via direct deposit. The president’s name, “President Donald J. Trump,” appeared in the memo section on the left hand side of those paper checks, but his signature was not included. Those who received their payment via direct deposit did not have anything including Trump’s name.
It is not standard practice for the name of the president to appear on government checks.
At the time, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., blasted the president’s decision to put his name on the check, saying: “Delaying direct payments to vulnerable families just to print his name on the check is another shameful example of President Trump’s catastrophic failure to treat this crisis with the urgency it demands.”
Meanwhile, Schumer’s proposal also comes as Congress has implemented several avenues to conduct oversight of the Trump administration’s response to COVID-19.
Last week, the House approved the creation of a committee, chaired by Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., to oversee the federal response, even as Republicans blasted the idea as politically motivated and argued Democrats would use it as a forum to attack the president.
Pelosi said the committee was designed to address the “here and now,” specifically concerning the allocation of the historic amount of federal funds directed to the economic recovery. She compared the panel to the committee chaired by then-Sen. Harry Truman in 1941 to investigate waste, fraud and abuse in defense spending in the early days of World War II.
“Again, this isn’t about assigning blame,” Pelosi said on the House floor Thursday. “It’s about taking responsibility.”
WHITE HOUSE SAYS PAYROLL TAX CUT FOR EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN 'PHASE 4' CORONVIRUS STIMULUS PACKAGE
Pelosi added that the committee “will ensure the historic investment of taxpayer dollars are being used wisely and efficiently and nobody is ripping us off.”
And earlier this month, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., also announced their intention to create a 9/11-style commission, set to launch in February 2021 “hopefully after the pandemic has been overcome and after the presidential election.”
That commission would be granted subpoena power to compel cooperation from federal, state and local government officials, as it examines government preparedness in advance of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the president signed into law a nearly $500 billion "phase 3.5" emergency interim relief bill on Friday, and a "Phase 4" bill could follow.
Fox News' Tyler Olson and John Roberts contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-04-14--‘Duck Dynasty’ star Phil Robertson says he’s safe from severe tornadoes: ‘We do praise God’

Phil Robertson says he ’ s thankful his family is safe after severe tornadoes tore across the South over the weekend into Monday .
“ Our area was hit pretty hard by tornados , ” the former “ Duck Dynasty ” star told Fox News in a statement .
“ Thankfully , our family was spared any damage , but our hearts go out to those in our community that suffered loss .
We do praise God that there were no fatalities here and pray for recovery and restoration as we pull together to help each other through this.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was `` a miracle '' that no serious injuries or deaths resulted from the Sunday tornadoes that damaged hundreds of homes around Monroe and in other parts of north Louisiana .
But , he lamented that because of coronavirus-related mandates , he felt he had to keep his distance from victims whose properties were devastated .
The mayor of Monroe , La.
, Jamie Mayo , told KNOE-TV that the storm damaged 200 to 300 homes in and around the city .
Flights were canceled at Monroe Regional Airport , where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was scattered on runways .
Airport director Ron Phillips told the News-Star the storm caused up to $ 30 million in damage to planes inside a hangar .
‘ BACHELOR ’ STAR COLTON UNDERWOOD RECALLS HIS CORONAVIRUS BATTLE : ‘ I JUST THOUGHT THAT I HAD THE FLU ’ ‘ DUCK DYNASTY ’ STAR PHIL ROBERTSON SAYS HE IS ‘ TOTALLY AT PEACE ’ LIVING IN QUARANTINE More than 30 people were killed in a two-day period as severe storms tore across the South , leaving more than 1 million homes without power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there were reports of close to 80 tornadoes linked to the violent weather .
In a two-day period , storms stretched from Texas to Mississippi , and then further east to the Georgia coast and northward to Virginia .
The National Weather Service ( NWS ) tallied hundreds of reports of trees down across the region , including many that punctured roofs and downed power lines .
`` We had one reported tornado in Mississippi that tracked over 100 miles , so this was one for the record books in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dean said on `` Fox & Friends . ''
`` This is going to be a trying time for our friends in the South , '' Dean said Tuesday .
Robertson , who has spent most of his life living off of Louisiana ’ s bayou , previously told Fox News he was at ease living in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic .
‘ NASTY NELLIE ’ ALISON ARNGRIM READS ‘ LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE ’ BOOKS FOR FANS DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC DORIS DAY WAS NOT A RECLUSE , SPENT HER FINAL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : ‘ SHE CALLED THEM HER FRIENDS ’ When it comes to living a simpler life , Robertson told Fox News his faith has been essential .
“ I found Jesus in the mid- ’ 70 ’ s , ” he explained .
“ I have been self-quarantined from the world ever since .
This is the lesson I have learned since I made that decision .
The world and its desires pass away but the man who does the Will of God lives forever.
” “ My ambition now is to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business , work with my hands as God told me , so that my daily life may win the respect of outsiders so that so that I will not be dependent on anybody , ” he continued .
“ Peace of mind is the rarest of commodities and I am totally at peace in my life in the quarantine.
” Worldwide , more than 1.4 million people have been confirmed infected and over 80,000 have died , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The true numbers are almost certainly much higher , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counting the dead and deliberate underreporting by some governments .
For most , the virus causes mild to moderate symptoms such as fever and cough .
But for some older adults and the infirm , it can cause pneumonia and death .
Over 300,000 people have recovered .
Fox News ’ Travis Fedschun , Bradford Betz , Edmund DeMarche and The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Phil Robertson says he’s thankful his family is safe after severe tornadoes tore across the South over the weekend into Monday.
“Our area was hit pretty hard by tornados,” the former “Duck Dynasty” star told Fox News in a statement. “Thankfully, our family was spared any damage, but our hearts go out to those in our community that suffered loss. We do praise God that there were no fatalities here and pray for recovery and restoration as we pull together to help each other through this.”
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said it was "a miracle" that no serious injuries or deaths resulted from the Sunday tornadoes that damaged hundreds of homes around Monroe and in other parts of north Louisiana. But, he lamented that because of coronavirus-related mandates, he felt he had to keep his distance from victims whose properties were devastated.
The mayor of Monroe, La., Jamie Mayo, told KNOE-TV that the storm damaged 200 to 300 homes in and around the city. Flights were canceled at Monroe Regional Airport, where the siding was ripped off buildings and debris was scattered on runways. Airport director Ron Phillips told the News-Star the storm caused up to $30 million in damage to planes inside a hangar.
‘BACHELOR’ STAR COLTON UNDERWOOD RECALLS HIS CORONAVIRUS BATTLE: ‘I JUST THOUGHT THAT I HAD THE FLU’
‘DUCK DYNASTY’ STAR PHIL ROBERTSON SAYS HE IS ‘TOTALLY AT PEACE’ LIVING IN QUARANTINE
More than 30 people were killed in a two-day period as severe storms tore across the South, leaving more than 1 million homes without power. Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean said there were reports of close to 80 tornadoes linked to the violent weather.
In a two-day period, storms stretched from Texas to Mississippi, and then further east to the Georgia coast and northward to Virginia. The National Weather Service (NWS) tallied hundreds of reports of trees down across the region, including many that punctured roofs and downed power lines.
"We had one reported tornado in Mississippi that tracked over 100 miles, so this was one for the record books in terms of how many tornadoes we had," Dean said on "Fox & Friends."
"This is going to be a trying time for our friends in the South," Dean said Tuesday.
Robertson, who has spent most of his life living off of Louisiana’s bayou, previously told Fox News he was at ease living in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.
‘NASTY NELLIE’ ALISON ARNGRIM READS ‘LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE’ BOOKS FOR FANS DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
DORIS DAY WAS NOT A RECLUSE, SPENT HER FINAL YEARS RESPONDING TO FANS, PAL SAYS: ‘SHE CALLED THEM HER FRIENDS’
When it comes to living a simpler life, Robertson told Fox News his faith has been essential.
“I found Jesus in the mid-’70’s,” he explained. “I have been self-quarantined from the world ever since. This is the lesson I have learned since I made that decision. The world and its desires pass away but the man who does the Will of God lives forever.”
“My ambition now is to live a quiet life, mind my own business, work with my hands as God told me, so that my daily life may win the respect of outsiders so that so that I will not be dependent on anybody,” he continued. “Peace of mind is the rarest of commodities and I am totally at peace in my life in the quarantine.”
Worldwide, more than 1.4 million people have been confirmed infected and over 80,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are almost certainly much higher, because of limited testing, different rules for counting the dead and deliberate underreporting by some governments.
For most, the virus causes mild to moderate symptoms such as fever and cough. But for some older adults and the infirm, it can cause pneumonia and death. Over 300,000 people have recovered.
Fox News’ Travis Fedschun, Bradford Betz, Edmund DeMarche and The Associated Press contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-04-27--Idaho man 'bored' during coronavirus lockdown arrested for driving on Florida beach, police say

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An Idaho man who turned his quarantine fatigue into the need for speed was arrested after driving on a closed Florida beach during the coronavirus lockdown , authorities said Saturday .
John McGarry , 25 , led police on a 35-mph chase across the empty beach at Sand Key , a vacation spot that ’ s part of Clearwater Beach , after bystanders spotted him taking a spin on the sand , the Clearwater Police Department said .
Officers eventually arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beach through a hotel parking lot , according to police .
Clearwater Beach and other Pinellas County beaches have remained closed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Even when open , it is illegal to drive on the beaches , the Tampa Bay Times reported .
But that didn ’ t deter McGarry from taking the apparent joyride .
Embracing his inner `` Florida man , '' the Idaho native told officers he did it because he was “ bored , ” according to police .
McGarry was booked in the Pinellas County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resisting arrest without violence , and driving with a suspended license .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Florida has been under lockdown since April 3 .
The coronavirus has sickened at least 31,532 people in the state , and killed 1,075 as of Monday .

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An Idaho man who turned his quarantine fatigue into the need for speed was arrested after driving on a closed Florida beach during the coronavirus lockdown, authorities said Saturday.
John McGarry, 25, led police on a 35-mph chase across the empty beach at Sand Key, a vacation spot that’s part of Clearwater Beach, after bystanders spotted him taking a spin on the sand, the Clearwater Police Department said.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Officers eventually arrested McGarry when he tried to flee the beach through a hotel parking lot, according to police.
Clearwater Beach and other Pinellas County beaches have remained closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Even when open, it is illegal to drive on the beaches, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
COUPLE HELPS STRUGGLING KEY WEST RESIDENTS DURING CORONAVIRUS DOWNTURN
But that didn’t deter McGarry from taking the apparent joyride. Embracing his inner "Florida man," the Idaho native told officers he did it because he was “bored,” according to police.
McGarry was booked in the Pinellas County Jail and charged with reckless driving, resisting arrest without violence, and driving with a suspended license.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Florida has been under lockdown since April 3. The coronavirus has sickened at least 31,532 people in the state, and killed 1,075 as of Monday.


foxnews--2020-04-27--Drs. Frieden and Shahpar: Coronavirus testing 1, 2, 3 – it's time for plain talk on what's next

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Our initiative , Resolve to Save Lives , released a brief Monday on how to prioritize testing for COVID-19 in the United States .
We have nowhere near enough tests , and it ’ s not clear how many week or months away we are from having them .
Facts are stubborn things , and so is math .
ROBERT GARRETT : CORONAVIRUS – 6 LESSONS FROM A NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL SYSTEM ON THE FRONT LINES Ideally , we would test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , every one of their contacts , every hospitalized patient , and many people in places such as nursing homes , homeless shelters , prisons , and jails where the virus can spread explosively and kill quickly .
That would be over a million tests a day , more than four times more than we are doing now .
And that ’ s without even considering testing others at risk , such as health care and other essential workers who don ’ t have symptoms .
That would require millions of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough tests , we have to prioritize .
People who need to be managed carefully and safely in hospitals – such as those older than 60 and people with diabetes , lung or heart disease – need to be tested so they can be cared for more intensively , something that could save their life .
Residents and staff of nursing homes , homeless shelters , prisons and jails who have symptoms must be tested and isolated to prevent explosive spread .
Health care workers with symptoms must be tested so we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our hospitals safe .
Contacts of infected people need to be tested so we can box the virus in through testing , isolation , contact tracing and quarantine .
And ideally , every hospitalized patient and every resident admitted to a nursing home would be tested to prevent spread .
Testing just those groups is probably twice as many tests as we are doing today .
No matter the reason tests are still scarce , we need to deal with it and do the best we can .
In New York City over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply assumed that people with cough and fever have the infection and encouraged them to stay home and not get tested if they are only mildly ill.
There ’ s a lot that everyone can do until we have enough tests .
Stay home .
Wear a mask when out : this protects others because you might have and spread the infection without knowing it .
When others wear a mask , they are protecting you .
Wash your hands often .
Try to avoid touching your face when your hands might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramp up contact tracing in order to support patients and contacts to limit the spread of the virus .
Isolate the infected and quarantine the exposed so the virus stops with them .
Protect our nursing homes and health care facilities by stopping visits , keeping sub-groups together , finding infections quickly and stopping outbreaks there before they spread .
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR OPINION NEWSLETTER In our report , we address testing for the virus itself , currently done by a method called a polymerase chain reaction , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may reflect either current or prior infection with the virus – is different .
We do a deep dive into testing in Monday ’ s edition of our weekly science briefing , for those who want to know more .
We ’ re not certain the priority list we ’ ve suggested is the right one .
Effective leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic means shifting advice to reflect the best information we have , when we have it .
However the list evolves — some groups might need tests less urgently , other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — only by prioritizing can we make optimal use of the test capacity we have .
We can get out into the new normal as soon and as safely as possible if we recognize that there isn ’ t one simple fix .
The virus is a dangerous opponent .
We have one strong tool against it – staying home .
But we don ’ t want to and can ’ t do that forever .
So we need to do whatever works , and do it as effectively as possible .
CLICK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That means being smart about testing as we scale up capacity .
It means being safer as we resume some activities carefully – hand sanitizer , physical distancing , face masks and more .
It means investing in and collaborating with public health and contact tracing .
And it means recognizing that we ’ re all in this together .
We ’ ll get through together by facing facts , acting accordingly and being creative about getting back to as much of our lives as soon and safely as possible .
CLICK HERE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Cyrus Shahpar is director of the Prevent Epidemics Team at Resolve to Save Lives .

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
Our initiative, Resolve to Save Lives, released a brief Monday on how to prioritize testing for COVID-19 in the United States.
It’s time for plain talk on testing.
Plain fact one:
We have nowhere near enough tests, and it’s not clear how many week or months away we are from having them. Facts are stubborn things, and so is math.
ROBERT GARRETT: CORONAVIRUS – 6 LESSONS FROM A NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL SYSTEM ON THE FRONT LINES
Ideally, we would test everyone in the country with symptoms of COVID-19, every one of their contacts, every hospitalized patient, and many people in places such as nursing homes, homeless shelters, prisons, and jails where the virus can spread explosively and kill quickly. That would be over a million tests a day, more than four times more than we are doing now. And that’s without even considering testing others at risk, such as health care and other essential workers who don’t have symptoms. That would require millions of more tests per day.
Plain fact two:
Until we have enough tests, we have to prioritize. People who need to be managed carefully and safely in hospitals – such as those older than 60 and people with diabetes, lung or heart disease – need to be tested so they can be cared for more intensively, something that could save their life.
Residents and staff of nursing homes, homeless shelters, prisons and jails who have symptoms must be tested and isolated to prevent explosive spread. Health care workers with symptoms must be tested so we can better protect our front-line heroes and keep our hospitals safe.
Contacts of infected people need to be tested so we can box the virus in through testing, isolation, contact tracing and quarantine.
And ideally, every hospitalized patient and every resident admitted to a nursing home would be tested to prevent spread.
Testing just those groups is probably twice as many tests as we are doing today.
Plain fact three:
No matter the reason tests are still scarce, we need to deal with it and do the best we can. In New York City over the past few weeks, we have simply assumed that people with cough and fever have the infection and encouraged them to stay home and not get tested if they are only mildly ill.
There’s a lot that everyone can do until we have enough tests. Stay home. Wear a mask when out. Wash your hands often. Try to avoid touching your face when your hands might have been contaminated.
There’s a lot that everyone can do until we have enough tests. Stay home. Wear a mask when out: this protects others because you might have and spread the infection without knowing it. When others wear a mask, they are protecting you. Wash your hands often. Try to avoid touching your face when your hands might have been contaminated.
Work with communities to ramp up contact tracing in order to support patients and contacts to limit the spread of the virus. Isolate the infected and quarantine the exposed so the virus stops with them. Protect our nursing homes and health care facilities by stopping visits, keeping sub-groups together, finding infections quickly and stopping outbreaks there before they spread.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR OPINION NEWSLETTER
In our report, we address testing for the virus itself, currently done by a method called a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR. Testing for antibodies – which may reflect either current or prior infection with the virus – is different. We do a deep dive into testing in Monday’s edition of our weekly science briefing, for those who want to know more.
We’re not certain the priority list we’ve suggested is the right one. Effective leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic means shifting advice to reflect the best information we have, when we have it. However the list evolves — some groups might need tests less urgently, other groups might quickly need to be prioritized — only by prioritizing can we make optimal use of the test capacity we have.
We can get out into the new normal as soon and as safely as possible if we recognize that there isn’t one simple fix. The virus is a dangerous opponent. We have one strong tool against it – staying home. But we don’t want to and can’t do that forever. So we need to do whatever works, and do it as effectively as possible.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
That means being smart about testing as we scale up capacity. It means being safer as we resume some activities carefully – hand sanitizer, physical distancing, face masks and more. It means investing in and collaborating with public health and contact tracing.
And it means recognizing that we’re all in this together. We’ll get through together by facing facts, acting accordingly and being creative about getting back to as much of our lives as soon and safely as possible.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY DR. TOM FRIEDEN
Dr. Cyrus Shahpar is director of the Prevent Epidemics Team at Resolve to Save Lives.


foxnews--2020-04-27--Notre Dame Cathedral restoration paused by coronavirus to restart as protective measures for staff t

Notre Dame Cathedral restoration paused by coronavirus to restart as protective measures for staff taken

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France ’ s coronavirus lockdown may not be over yet , but workers at the fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral are gearing up Monday for cleanup efforts to resume next week .
Staff started re-arranging the site to make it virus-safe , such as moving showers and coat rooms to allow more distance between workers and installing a place to eat because restaurants in France are currently closed , according to Notre Dame rector Monsignor Patrick Chauvet .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climbers to be calm , ” Chauvet told reporters outside the site Monday .
“ We ca n't have COVID there to cause them stress . ''
The cleanup work at the iconic church is scheduled to resume gradually next week after being put on hold in mid-March after the pandemic hit .
Chauvet says most workers will stay in nearby vacant hotels so they won ’ t have to take public transportation .
He added that the priority will be taking down 250 tons of scaffolding that had been installed for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the April 2019 blaze .
French President Emmanuel Macron and officials are hoping to see the cathedral reopen in time for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “ We will do everything to keep this deadline , ” he said last month , calling Notre Dame a “ symbol of our resilience , our capacity to overcome challenges and stand aright.
” After the scaffolding is removed , stones must be analyzed to see which need to be replaced .
Debris and huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be cleared from the soaring vaults , according to Notre Dame chaplain Brice de Malherbe .
An umbrella structure will then be built to protect the site , which is now surrounded by high barricades .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

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France’s coronavirus lockdown may not be over yet, but workers at the fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral are gearing up Monday for cleanup efforts to resume next week.
Staff started re-arranging the site to make it virus-safe, such as moving showers and coat rooms to allow more distance between workers and installing a place to eat because restaurants in France are currently closed, according to Notre Dame rector Monsignor Patrick Chauvet.
“It’s a difficult job. It requires the climbers to be calm,” Chauvet told reporters outside the site Monday. “We can't have COVID there to cause them stress."
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
The cleanup work at the iconic church is scheduled to resume gradually next week after being put on hold in mid-March after the pandemic hit. Chauvet says most workers will stay in nearby vacant hotels so they won’t have to take public transportation.
He added that the priority will be taking down 250 tons of scaffolding that had been installed for a prior renovation project and was badly damaged in the April 2019 blaze.
French President Emmanuel Macron and officials are hoping to see the cathedral reopen in time for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“We will do everything to keep this deadline,” he said last month, calling Notre Dame a “symbol of our resilience, our capacity to overcome challenges and stand aright.”
After the scaffolding is removed, stones must be analyzed to see which need to be replaced. Debris and huge ancient beams that burned like kindling must be cleared from the soaring vaults, according to Notre Dame chaplain Brice de Malherbe. An umbrella structure will then be built to protect the site, which is now surrounded by high barricades.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-06-08--Sweden's lax COVID-19 response caused too many deaths, country's top epidemiologist says

The epidemiologist who led Sweden 's controversial COVID-19 response , which did not involve a strict lockdown , now says that the country should have done more to stop the spread of the virus , according to news reports .
`` If we were to run into the same disease , knowing exactly what we know about it today , I think we would end up doing something in between what Sweden did and what the rest of the world has done , '' Anders Tegnell , the state epidemiologist of the Public Health Agency of Sweden , told Swedish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reuters .
As compared with other countries in Europe , Sweden took a comparatively relaxed approach to COVID-19 by choosing not to institute strict lockdown policies , NPR reported in April .
With no mandatory quarantine in place , museums , bars , restaurants , gyms , malls , schools and nightclubs remained open while residents were encouraged to follow guidelines for personal hygiene and social distancing .
Related : 11 ( sometimes ) deadly diseases that hopped across species Health officials also banned gatherings of 50 or more people , recommended that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over age 70 to stay home as much as possible .
In late March , Sweden prohibited residents from visiting nursing homes , but the measure did not prevent the virus from reaching elderly care facilities throughout the country .
As of June 4 , Sweden has reported more than 4,500 deaths associated with the virus , according to the Johns Hopkins virus dashboard , and about half of those deaths occurred among elderly people living in nursing homes , Reuters reported .
The trend had already emerged in April , when Sweden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ulrika Olofsdotter , told NPR , `` Once we know how the virus got into our elderly care facilities , the government can make recommendations and take measures to try to stop that , because that is the biggest tragedy of all this , that it has gotten into the nursing homes . ''
Now , more than a month later , nursing homes still bear the brunt of Sweden 's COVID-19 deaths .
`` We have to admit that when it comes to elderly care and the spread of infection , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stefan Löfven told Swedish newspaper The Aftonbladet Daily , according to Reuters .
`` Too many old people have died here . ''
In late May , Sweden 's overall COVID-19 mortality rate was estimated at 39.57 deaths per 100,000 residents ; at the same time , the U.S. mortality rate was estimated at 30.02 deaths per 100,000 residents , according to NPR .
Norway and Finland , both bordering Sweden , instituted stricter lockdown measures than their neighboring country , and at the time , each had fewer than six COVID-19 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ourworldindata.org now estimates that Sweden has the eighth highest number of coronavirus-related deaths per capita , Reuters reported .
Upon setting their COVID-19 strategy , Swedish officials including Olofsdotter predicted that the country might reach so-called herd immunity before countries under lockdown , according to NPR .
Herd immunity refers to a point at which so many people gain immunity to a virus , either through natural infections or vaccinations , that the overall risk of new infections becomes very low .
With too few people to infect , the virus can no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine , experts estimate that 60 % of the population would have to become infected and recover from COVID-19 to achieve herd immunity — assuming that every infection grants robust immunity that does n't quickly wane through time , NPR reported .
However , an antibody survey conducted in Stockholm suggested that fewer than 7.5 % of the city 's residents had been exposed to the virus as of mid-May .
With herd immunity on the distant horizon , and nearly 41,900 confirmed cases so far in the country , Tegnell said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy .
`` We continue to believe the strategy is good but then there are always improvements one can make , especially if you look back over time , '' he said during a news briefing , according to Reuters .
`` It would be strange if you gave a different answer to that question . ''
On the other hand , Bjorn Olsen , a professor of Infectious Medicine at Uppsala University , called the strategy `` one of Sweden 's biggest embarrassments and most tragic events '' in an interview with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are dying , we must try to change . ''
Tegnell did say that , in hindsight , Sweden should have conducted much more widespread diagnostic testing and sooner , Reuters reported .
Olsen echoed this point and added that the country should expand its capacity for contact tracing , to track and isolate new cases of infection before they spread .
• Going viral : 6 new findings about viruses

The epidemiologist who led Sweden's controversial COVID-19 response, which did not involve a strict lockdown, now says that the country should have done more to stop the spread of the virus, according to news reports.
"If we were to run into the same disease, knowing exactly what we know about it today, I think we would end up doing something in between what Sweden did and what the rest of the world has done," Anders Tegnell, the state epidemiologist of the Public Health Agency of Sweden, told Swedish Radio on June 3, according to Reuters .
As compared with other countries in Europe, Sweden took a comparatively relaxed approach to COVID-19 by choosing not to institute strict lockdown policies, NPR reported in April. With no mandatory quarantine in place, museums, bars, restaurants, gyms, malls, schools and nightclubs remained open while residents were encouraged to follow guidelines for personal hygiene and social distancing.
Related: 11 (sometimes) deadly diseases that hopped across species
Health officials also banned gatherings of 50 or more people, recommended that residents avoid nonessential travel and encouraged those over age 70 to stay home as much as possible. In late March, Sweden prohibited residents from visiting nursing homes, but the measure did not prevent the virus from reaching elderly care facilities throughout the country.
As of June 4, Sweden has reported more than 4,500 deaths associated with the virus, according to the Johns Hopkins virus dashboard , and about half of those deaths occurred among elderly people living in nursing homes, Reuters reported.
The trend had already emerged in April, when Sweden's ambassador to the U.S., Karin Ulrika Olofsdotter, told NPR, "Once we know how the virus got into our elderly care facilities, the government can make recommendations and take measures to try to stop that, because that is the biggest tragedy of all this, that it has gotten into the nursing homes." Now, more than a month later, nursing homes still bear the brunt of Sweden's COVID-19 deaths.
"We have to admit that when it comes to elderly care and the spread of infection, that has not worked," Prime Minister Stefan Löfven told Swedish newspaper The Aftonbladet Daily, according to Reuters. "Too many old people have died here."
In late May, Sweden's overall COVID-19 mortality rate was estimated at 39.57 deaths per 100,000 residents; at the same time, the U.S. mortality rate was estimated at 30.02 deaths per 100,000 residents, according to NPR . Norway and Finland, both bordering Sweden, instituted stricter lockdown measures than their neighboring country, and at the time, each had fewer than six COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 residents.
The research group Ourworldindata.org now estimates that Sweden has the eighth highest number of coronavirus-related deaths per capita, Reuters reported.
Upon setting their COVID-19 strategy, Swedish officials including Olofsdotter predicted that the country might reach so-called herd immunity before countries under lockdown, according to NPR . Herd immunity refers to a point at which so many people gain immunity to a virus, either through natural infections or vaccinations, that the overall risk of new infections becomes very low. With too few people to infect, the virus can no longer spread rapidly.
Without an approved vaccine, experts estimate that 60% of the population would have to become infected and recover from COVID-19 to achieve herd immunity — assuming that every infection grants robust immunity that doesn't quickly wane through time, NPR reported. However, an antibody survey conducted in Stockholm suggested that fewer than 7.5% of the city's residents had been exposed to the virus as of mid-May.
With herd immunity on the distant horizon, and nearly 41,900 confirmed cases so far in the country, Tegnell said he still stands by Sweden's original COVID-19 strategy.
"We continue to believe the strategy is good but then there are always improvements one can make, especially if you look back over time," he said during a news briefing, according to Reuters. "It would be strange if you gave a different answer to that question."
On the other hand, Bjorn Olsen, a professor of Infectious Medicine at Uppsala University, called the strategy "one of Sweden's biggest embarrassments and most tragic events" in an interview with Reuters. "As long as people are dying, we must try to change."
Tegnell did say that, in hindsight, Sweden should have conducted much more widespread diagnostic testing and sooner, Reuters reported. Olsen echoed this point and added that the country should expand its capacity for contact tracing, to track and isolate new cases of infection before they spread.


foxnews--2020-05-29--Ingenious egg-cooking hacks go viral on TikTok

HERE 'S WHAT AMERICANS PREFER TO GRILL — AND HOW THEY GRILL IT Isolated epicures are hatching ingenious ways to both stay entertained and cook their morning meals more efficiently amid coronavirus restaurant closures .
In honor of their creativity during quarantine , we ’ re corralling the most inventive egg hacks seen on social media ( because , well , there are a lot of them ) .
Along with being entertaining to watch , these instructive tutorials will help stay-at-home cooks break out of their shells .
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Peeling a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like diffusing a bomb in a James Bond movie .
However , one enterprising TikTok user has managed to solve this culinary conundrum by blowing the egg out using his mouth .
In the viral how-to video , entitled “ for all my egg lovers out there , ” influencer Zach Crean demonstrates cracking the egg at either end for a grade-A hack .
He then blows on the pointy side as if it were a kazoo so the egg flies out the larger escape “ hatch ” in one piece .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS No need to make a 250-mile pilgrimage for an Egg McMuffin like these chuckleheads .
You can whip one up at home using just one skillet , according to this TikTok tutorial by user @ Aldentediva , which currently boasts 3.7 million likes and was even featured on Food Network .
“ I do a dip and a flip , ” explains the MacGyver-esque gourmand in the video , as she places the beaten egg in the pan .
However , instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Jersey-based home chef tosses the bread slices on top of the scramble and adorns them with bacon and cheese , all before the eggs underneath have finished cooking .
She then skillfully flips the whole shebang over via spatula so the buns brown , before slicing the sandwich to eat .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Many social-media chefs have hopped aboard this time-saving trend .
For the complete list , visit the New York Post .
This article originally appeared on the New York Post .

These eggcellent hacks will make prepping breakfast over-easy.
Isolated epicures are hatching ingenious ways to both stay entertained and cook their morning meals more efficiently amid coronavirus restaurant closures.
In honor of their creativity during quarantine, we’re corralling the most inventive egg hacks seen on social media (because, well, there are a lot of them). Along with being entertaining to watch, these instructive tutorials will help stay-at-home cooks break out of their shells.
A mind-blowing eggstraction
Peeling a hard-boiled egg without damaging the inside can feel like diffusing a bomb in a James Bond movie. However, one enterprising TikTok user has managed to solve this culinary conundrum by blowing the egg out using his mouth.
In the viral how-to video, entitled “for all my egg lovers out there,” influencer Zach Crean demonstrates cracking the egg at either end for a grade-A hack. He then blows on the pointy side as if it were a kazoo so the egg flies out the larger escape “hatch” in one piece. Voilà, a hard-boiled egg made easy.
Egg sandwich shortcut
No need to make a 250-mile pilgrimage for an Egg McMuffin like these chuckleheads. You can whip one up at home using just one skillet, according to this TikTok tutorial by user @Aldentediva, which currently boasts 3.7 million likes and was even featured on Food Network.
“I do a dip and a flip,” explains the MacGyver-esque gourmand in the video, as she places the beaten egg in the pan.
However, instead of prepping the other ingredients piecemeal, the New Jersey-based home chef tosses the bread slices on top of the scramble and adorns them with bacon and cheese, all before the eggs underneath have finished cooking. She then skillfully flips the whole shebang over via spatula so the buns brown, before slicing the sandwich to eat.
Many social-media chefs have hopped aboard this time-saving trend.
Breakfast burrito bonanza
Prefer to start your morning with Mexican food? Not to worry. TikTok user Mrs. Dee Panda shows you how to use the aforementioned technique to create a breakfast quesadilla as well.
Simply swap out the bread for a tortilla — this time making sure the egg base is almost fully scrambled before tossing the buns on top — give it a flip, and add the cheese, meat and other desired accouterments. Boom, a titillating tortilla filled with goodness in less than two minutes.
Water birth
Of course, there’s more than one way to skin an egg, as social-media egg-heads were all too eager to demonstrate. One hard-boiled Twitter detective achieved the feat in 10 seconds by first placing the egg in water and shaking the glass vigorously. The person was then able to slip off the shell with ease.
Unfortunately, the hack received mixed reviews on Twitter with some deeming it “genius” while others called it a phenomenal waste of water.


foxnews--2020-05-15--No more blowouts? Hair salons may limit the use of hair dryers when they reopen

Professional haircuts are becoming available again at last .
But as states begin to ease coronavirus lockdown orders , salons across the country are reopening with new safety protocols , which in some cases means not allowing back certain hair-care staples .
“ We ’ re not doing beard trims , lip waxes , nose waxes — anything on the face except for eyebrows , ” salon owner Ashe Bowen tells The Post of the new rules their Denver salon has put in place since reopening on Saturday .
BARBERSHOP PATRON LEAVES $ 2,500 TIP FOR STYLIST , ASSURES HER @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has proven perhaps surprisingly contentious for parlors coming out of lockdown ?
Blowouts .
When Connecticut Gov .
Ned Lamont announced that state hair salons could reopen on May 20 , he included the stipulation that blow-dryers would be banned , as they could circulate COVID-19 particles in the air .
On Monday , the state reversed course , saying blow-dryers could be used by salons “ as needed.
” Despite likely being allowed to have blow-dry services upon reopening , some salon owners , like NYC ’ s Sally Hershberger , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blow-dry rooms ” to play it safe .
“ Though blow-drying has become an almost essential service in a salon , it has potential to spread virus throughout the space .
If a client or staffer were to sneeze or cough , the blow-dryer could quickly propel droplets , ” Hershberger , whose eponymous salons have three New York City locations , tells Today .
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Bowen paused before ultimately deciding to allow treatments requiring a blow-dryer at their salon , Above Ground .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then I decided if everyone ’ s wearing a mask , there ’ s not going to be germs in the air , ” Bowen says , adding , “ If you ’ re going to blow-dry someone ’ s hair in a salon , it ’ s going to be clean hair.
” Other new restrictions at Above Ground include that patrons must come with their hair freshly washed , wearing an ear loop mask ( the salon has a limited quantity available for those who don ’ t ) and ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contactless thermometer before their appointment .
Running on quarantine time will not be tolerated : “ Please do not show up early for your appointment , ” read the new rules , and “ if you ’ re going to be late there is no guarantee your stylist can still see you.
” FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS In terms of sanitizing work stations , “ we ’ re treating it like a hospital , ” says Bowen , who even bought an ozone purifier as an extra precaution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began allowing retail and personal services to reopen on May 1 , under the condition they implement “ best practices.
” What those are is left up almost entirely to the discretion of owners , with the exception of a 10-person capacity cap on all facilities .
So Bowen decided to write a straightforward new protocol for Above Ground ’ s customers and stylists to follow .
The directions have been adopted by a number of other local salons as well .
“ A lot of my friends in Denver used what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers , many of whom have shown up sporting horrible quarantine cuts , have generally been eager to follow the new rules .
“ People are like , ‘ Tell me where to go , ’ ” Bowen says .
“ I feel like there ’ s a whole new sense of appreciation now .
You don ’ t know what you have until you lose it.
” This article originally appeared in The New York Post .

Professional haircuts are becoming available again at last.
But as states begin to ease coronavirus lockdown orders, salons across the country are reopening with new safety protocols, which in some cases means not allowing back certain hair-care staples.
“We’re not doing beard trims, lip waxes, nose waxes — anything on the face except for eyebrows,” salon owner Ashe Bowen tells The Post of the new rules their Denver salon has put in place since reopening on Saturday.
One treatment that has proven perhaps surprisingly contentious for parlors coming out of lockdown? Blowouts.
When Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that state hair salons could reopen on May 20, he included the stipulation that blow-dryers would be banned, as they could circulate COVID-19 particles in the air. On Monday, the state reversed course, saying blow-dryers could be used by salons “as needed.”
Despite likely being allowed to have blow-dry services upon reopening, some salon owners, like NYC’s Sally Hershberger, plan to limit blow-drying to private “blow-dry rooms” to play it safe.
“Though blow-drying has become an almost essential service in a salon, it has potential to spread virus throughout the space. If a client or staffer were to sneeze or cough, the blow-dryer could quickly propel droplets,” Hershberger, whose eponymous salons have three New York City locations, tells Today.
Bowen paused before ultimately deciding to allow treatments requiring a blow-dryer at their salon, Above Ground.
“We went back and forth, and then I decided if everyone’s wearing a mask, there’s not going to be germs in the air,” Bowen says, adding, “If you’re going to blow-dry someone’s hair in a salon, it’s going to be clean hair.”
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement A hairdresser wearing a protective face mask while cutting a client's hair in Kiev on May 11. Genya SAVILOV / AFP via Getty Im Donna Ferraro cuts and styles Jan Campbell's hair at Passions Salon during the phased reopening after coronavirus restrictions, in Cave Creek, Arizona, on May 11. REUTERS/Nicole Neri Advertisement Akihiro Yoshida, the owner of hair salon Pinch, gives hair treatment to his customer Natsuki Suda, wearing a protective face mask, following the coronavirus outbreak, in Tokyo on April 28. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Advertisement
Other new restrictions at Above Ground include that patrons must come with their hair freshly washed, wearing an ear loop mask (the salon has a limited quantity available for those who don’t) and ready to get their temperature taken with a contactless thermometer before their appointment. Running on quarantine time will not be tolerated: “Please do not show up early for your appointment,” read the new rules, and “if you’re going to be late there is no guarantee your stylist can still see you.”
In terms of sanitizing work stations, “we’re treating it like a hospital,” says Bowen, who even bought an ozone purifier as an extra precaution to keep the air clean.
Colorado began allowing retail and personal services to reopen on May 1, under the condition they implement “best practices.” What those are is left up almost entirely to the discretion of owners, with the exception of a 10-person capacity cap on all facilities. So Bowen decided to write a straightforward new protocol for Above Ground’s customers and stylists to follow.
The directions have been adopted by a number of other local salons as well. “A lot of my friends in Denver used what I wrote,” Bowen says.
Most customers, many of whom have shown up sporting horrible quarantine cuts, have generally been eager to follow the new rules.
“People are like, ‘Tell me where to go,’ ” Bowen says. “I feel like there’s a whole new sense of appreciation now. You don’t know what you have until you lose it.”


foxnews--2020-05-16--Law firm hackers plan to release Bruce Springsteen, Diddy, U2's business deals on dark web

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A powerful A-list legal firm hit by a cyberattack is refusing to pay the shadowy hackers their $ 42 million ransom demand — meaning that a trove of details of some of the biggest deals in showbiz history , including Bruce Springsteen ’ s Netflix deal and Sean “ Diddy ” Combs ’ rumored $ 100 million vodka deal , will be laid bare on the internet .
The US Secret Service and the FBI are continuing to probe hacking group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney Allen Grubman ’ s NYC firm and stole 756 gigabytes of confidential documents relating to his firm ’ s clients including Lady Gaga , Madonna , Mariah Carey , Priyanka Chopra and Bette Midler .
On Thursday the hackers upped the ante by doubling their ransom demands and threatening to publish “ a ton of dirty laundry ” on President Donald Trump — who is not a client of the NYC law firm Grubman , Shire , Meiselas and Sacks — next week if the law firm did not pay in full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims to have dirt on Trump are true .
A source with knowledge of the hack told Page Six , “ Grubman isn ’ t going to pay these cyber-terrorists a penny , so it is likely all his files will end up released by the hackers .
The interesting details in there could include U2 ’ s lucrative publishing deals with Universal , worth an estimated $ 300 million , as well as Springsteen ’ s deal with Netflix , estimated to be worth $ 20 million , as well as how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vodka deal.
” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The source added , “ Often , the most damaging details are in the personal emails of the stars and the executives — which is what happened with the 2014 Sony hack .
But it is not known how many personal emails have been stolen from the Grubman hackers.
” The hackers have not specifically threatened to reveal details on these stars nor these specific deals .
On Thursday REvil posted a host of documents relating to Lady Gaga on their dark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be standard industry contracts .
This article originally appeared in the New York Post .

The world’s most powerful A-list legal firm hit by a cyberattack is refusing to pay the shadowy hackers their $42 million ransom demand — meaning that a trove of details of some of the biggest deals in showbiz history, including Bruce Springsteen’s Netflix deal and Sean “Diddy” Combs’ rumored $100 million vodka deal will be laid bare on the internet.
The US Secret Service and the FBI are continuing to probe hacking group REvil, who attacked the server of attorney Allen Grubman’s NYC firm and stole 756 gigabytes of confidential documents relating to his firm’s clients including Lady Gaga, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Priyanka Chopra and Bette Midler.
On Thursday the hackers upped the ante by doubling their ransom demands and threatening to publish “a ton of dirty laundry” on President Donald Trump — who is not a client of the NYC law firm Grubman, Shire, Meiselas and Sacks — next week if the law firm did not pay in full. It remains unclear if the hackers claims to have dirt on Trump are true.
A source with knowledge of the hack told Page Six, “Grubman isn’t going to pay these cyber-terrorists a penny, so it is likely all his files will end up released by the hackers. The interesting details in there could include U2’s lucrative publishing deals with Universal, worth an estimated $300 million, as well as Springsteen’s deal with Netflix, estimated to be worth $20 million, as well as how much Diddy actually made in that Ciroc vodka deal.”
The source added, “Often, the most damaging details are in the personal emails of the stars and the executives — which is what happened with the 2014 Sony hack. But it is not known how many personal emails have been stolen from the Grubman hackers.” The hackers have not specifically threatened to reveal details on these stars nor these specific deals.
On Thursday REvil posted a host of documents relating to Lady Gaga on their dark web site, but most appeared to be standard industry contracts.