foxnews--2020-04-12--Petition calling for WHO boss Tedros to resign nears 1M signatures

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An online petition calling for the resignation of the embattled leader of the World Health Organization neared 1 million signatures early Sunday .
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , the Ethiopian politician who has led the United Nations-backed health body as director-general since July 2017 , has been under fire over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic , which has killed more than 100,000 people worldwide and sickened more than 1.7 million .
Specifically , Tedros has been accused of allowing China to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan , the city believed to have been the point of origin for the deadly outbreak .
The allegedly lowballed numbers from China have affected other nations ’ ability to adequately respond to the outbreak , critics have asserted .
CHINA TRIES TO SHAPE CORONAVIRUS NARRATIVE THROUGH VIRAL MESSAGES “ We strongly think Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is not fit for his role as WHO Director General , ” the petition with 853,000 signatures , posted on the Change.org website , states , calling for the official ’ s immediate resignation .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the petition continues .
“ We believe WHO is supposed to be politically neutral .
Without any investigation , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus solely believes on [ sic ] the death and infected numbers that the Chinese government provided with them.
” U.S. lawmakers have been among Tedros ’ harshest critics .
On Thursday , a group of Republicans from the House Oversight Committee wrote to Tedros , demanding that he disclose the precise nature of his relationship with Chinese officials .
“ Throughout the crisis , the WHO has shied away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is in essence the Communist Party of China , ” the Republicans wrote .
“ You , as leader of the WHO , even went so far as to praise the Chinese government ’ s ‘ transparency ’ during the crisis , when , in fact , the regime has consistently lied to the world by underreporting their actual infection and death statistics.
” The GOP letter cited a January message on Twitter in which the WHO said Chinese authorities found `` no clear evidence '' of human-to-human transmission of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday , during an appearance on Fox News ’ “ The Story ” with Martha MacCallum , White House economic adviser Peter Navarro referred to Tedros as one of the Chinese government ’ s “ proxies ” as Beijing looks to gain influence over various U.N.-run agencies .
Navarro told MacCallum that President Trump was seriously considering cutting funding to the WHO after the president accused the agency of botching the handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` It all tracks to China 's view of the world and how they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even as they do n't play by the international rules , '' he said .
`` So it 's going to be up to the president to look at this . ''
On Wednesday , Tedros lashed out at President Trump , accusing the U.S. leader of politicizing the pandemic after Trump threatened to cut off U.S. funding to the WHO .
“ If you don ’ t want many more body bags , you refrain from politicizing it – please quarantine politicizing COVID , ” Tedros told reporters at a news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s handling of the novel coronavirus outbreak and said the president was `` taking responsibility '' for leading the U.S. response to the pandemic .
On Friday , Tedros warned of a “ deadly resurgence ” of the virus if nations ease up too quickly on mitigation measures such as stay-at-home orders and social distancing .
“ WHO wants to see restrictions lifted as much as anyone , ” Tedros said , according to CNBC .
“ At the same time , lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly.
” Tedros later said some countries with strong health care systems seemed “ actually surprised by this pandemic.
” “ It shows that any system could have gaps , ” he said , “ and we should have the humility to see to what extent our system is prepared , where are the gaps and how we can improve it for the future .
”

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An online petition calling for the resignation of the embattled leader of the World Health Organization neared 1 million signatures early Sunday.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Ethiopian politician who has led the United Nations-backed health body as director-general since July 2017, has been under fire over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 100,000 people worldwide and sickened more than 1.7 million.
Specifically, Tedros has been accused of allowing China to underreport the impact of the virus in Wuhan, the city believed to have been the point of origin for the deadly outbreak. The allegedly lowballed numbers from China have affected other nations’ ability to adequately respond to the outbreak, critics have asserted.
CHINA TRIES TO SHAPE CORONAVIRUS NARRATIVE THROUGH VIRAL MESSAGES
“We strongly think Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is not fit for his role as WHO Director General,” the petition with 853,000 signatures, posted on the Change.org website, states, calling for the official’s immediate resignation.
“A lot of us are really disappointed,” the petition continues. “We believe WHO is supposed to be politically neutral. Without any investigation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus solely believes on [sic] the death and infected numbers that the Chinese government provided with them.”
"We believe WHO is supposed to be politically neutral." — Online petition calling for WHO leader's resignation
U.S. lawmakers have been among Tedros’ harshest critics. On Thursday, a group of Republicans from the House Oversight Committee wrote to Tedros, demanding that he disclose the precise nature of his relationship with Chinese officials.
“Throughout the crisis, the WHO has shied away from placing any blame on the Chinese government, which is in essence the Communist Party of China,” the Republicans wrote. “You, as leader of the WHO, even went so far as to praise the Chinese government’s ‘transparency’ during the crisis, when, in fact, the regime has consistently lied to the world by underreporting their actual infection and death statistics.”
The GOP letter cited a January message on Twitter in which the WHO said Chinese authorities found "no clear evidence" of human-to-human transmission of the virus, also known as COVID-19.
On Wednesday, during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Story” with Martha MacCallum, White House economic adviser Peter Navarro referred to Tedros as one of the Chinese government’s “proxies” as Beijing looks to gain influence over various U.N.-run agencies.
Navarro told MacCallum that President Trump was seriously considering cutting funding to the WHO after the president accused the agency of botching the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
"It all tracks to China's view of the world and how they want to control different types of international organizations, even as they don't play by the international rules," he said. "So it's going to be up to the president to look at this."
On Wednesday, Tedros lashed out at President Trump, accusing the U.S. leader of politicizing the pandemic after Trump threatened to cut off U.S. funding to the WHO.
“If you don’t want many more body bags, you refrain from politicizing it – please quarantine politicizing COVID,” Tedros told reporters at a news conference.
Previously, Tedros had praised Trump’s handling of the novel coronavirus outbreak and said the president was "taking responsibility" for leading the U.S. response to the pandemic.
On Friday, Tedros warned of a “deadly resurgence” of the virus if nations ease up too quickly on mitigation measures such as stay-at-home orders and social distancing.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
“WHO wants to see restrictions lifted as much as anyone,” Tedros said, according to CNBC. “At the same time, lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence. The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly.”
Tedros later said some countries with strong health care systems seemed “actually surprised by this pandemic.”
“It shows that any system could have gaps,” he said, “and we should have the humility to see to what extent our system is prepared, where are the gaps and how we can improve it for the future.”


foxnews--2020-04-12--Tom Hanks hosts 'SNL' for its first-ever remote, pre-recorded show

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Tom Hanks hosted “ Saturday Night Live ” from his kitchen this weekend for the sketch show ’ s first “ At Home ” edition amid social distancing because of the coronavirus outbreak .
“ It is a strange time to try to be funny , but trying to be funny is 'SNL ' ’ s whole thing , so we thought ‘ What the heck !
’ ” Hanks quipped next to his refrigerator .
“ Why me as host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for one , I have been the celebrity canary in the coal mine for the coronavirus , and ever since being diagnosed , I have been more like America ’ s dad than ever before , ” because , he joked , no one wants to be around him very much and he makes people uncomfortable .
'Saturday Night Live ' returning with new , remotely produced content this weekend Hanks said he and his wife Rita Wilson , who was also diagnosed last month with the virus , are both doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their home along with the rest of the country .
“ In fact , this suit , this is the first time I ’ ve worn anything other than sweatpants since March 11 , ” he revealed .
“ My wife had to help me put it on cause I forgot how buttons work.
” “ We have a great show for you tonight , '' he added at the end of his monologue .
`` Now is it going to look a little different than what you ’ re used to ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see sketches without big sets and costumes ?
Sure .
But , will it make you laugh ?
Eh .
It ’ s 'SNL . '
There 'll be some good stuff , maybe one or two stinkers , you know the drill . ''
At the top of the show , the cast all appeared together from their homes via Zoom before launching into their own homemade video sketches perfect for YouTube .
The musical guest was Chris Martin and special appearances included Larry David , Alec Baldwin , Adam Sandler and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following other shows like `` The Tonight Show , ” “ The Daily ‘ Social Distancing ’ Show ” and even the Academy of Country Music 's show “ Our Country , ” whose hosts have started producing content from home .
The pre-recorded episode was the first in `` SNL '' 's 45-year history .
Hanks and Wilson were both diagnosed with the virus while he was on location for a film in Australia .
They were hospitalized and quarantined in the country for two weeks before they were allowed to fly @ @ @ @ @

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Tom Hanks hosted “Saturday Night Live” from his kitchen this weekend for the sketch show’s first “At Home” edition amid social distancing because of the coronavirus outbreak.
“It is a strange time to try to be funny, but trying to be funny is 'SNL'’s whole thing, so we thought ‘What the heck!’” Hanks quipped next to his refrigerator.
“Why me as host?" Hanks asked. "Well, for one, I have been the celebrity canary in the coal mine for the coronavirus, and ever since being diagnosed, I have been more like America’s dad than ever before,” because, he joked, no one wants to be around him very much and he makes people uncomfortable.
'Saturday Night Live' returning with new, remotely produced content this weekend
Hanks said he and his wife Rita Wilson, who was also diagnosed last month with the virus, are both doing well and “hunkering down” in their home along with the rest of the country.
“In fact, this suit, this is the first time I’ve worn anything other than sweatpants since March 11,” he revealed. “My wife had to help me put it on cause I forgot how buttons work.”
“We have a great show for you tonight," he added at the end of his monologue. "Now is it going to look a little different than what you’re used to? Yes. Will it be weird to see sketches without big sets and costumes? Sure. But, will it make you laugh? Eh. It’s 'SNL.' There'll be some good stuff, maybe one or two stinkers, you know the drill."
At the top of the show, the cast all appeared together from their homes via Zoom before launching into their own homemade video sketches perfect for YouTube.
The musical guest was Chris Martin and special appearances included Larry David, Alec Baldwin, Adam Sandler and Tina Fey.
"SNL" is following other shows like "The Tonight Show,” “The Daily ‘Social Distancing’ Show” and even the Academy of Country Music's show “Our Country,” whose hosts have started producing content from home.
The pre-recorded episode was the first in "SNL"'s 45-year history.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Hanks and Wilson were both diagnosed with the virus while he was on location for a film in Australia. They were hospitalized and quarantined in the country for two weeks before they were allowed to fly back to the U.S.


foxnews--2020-04-15--Ben Shapiro: Coronavirus reopening -- How should we view the risks?

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As our national lockdown drags on , Americans seem less and less inclined to move swiftly toward societal reopening .
Perhaps that 's due to the consistent media focus on the risks of reopening .
Perhaps that 's also due to the psychological comfort of the status quo : When we 've been made to feel safe in our home , it 's difficult to leave it .
Or perhaps we , as a society , have so fundamentally altered our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are n't willing to leave our houses unless the risk is close to zero .
Whatever the reason , it is simply untenable to lock Americans down for months more .
Calls to do so ignore not only the catastrophic human suffering inflicted on millions -- employees who no longer have jobs , children who can no longer attend school , entrepreneurs who have seen their life 's dreams and savings destroyed at the behest of the government -- but the reality of economics , which is that government can not interminably pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ G. CHANG : TRUMP RIGHT TO STOP FUNDING WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION OVER ITS BOTCHED CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE Furthermore , long-term lockdowns do not even prevent the virus from eventual second-wave spreading ; when we emerge from our homes , we will pass the virus to one another again .
So , how should we view the risks of reopening our society ?
This means that we should stop looking at false case fatality rates as inevitabilities .
We simply do n't know how many Americans have had coronavirus , or how many have it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of confirmed cases is far lower than the number of cases in society more broadly .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER In New York , the supposed case fatality rate -- the number of deaths from coronavirus over the number of confirmed cases -- rests at around 5 percent .
But between March 22 and April 4 , 215 pregnant women were screened for COVID-19 in New York City , according to The New England Journal of Medicine .
Four women had symptoms of COVID-19 , and 29 tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of these women had COVID-19 without knowing it -- for every symptomatic woman , there were seven others who were asymptomatic but positive .
If applied statewide -- a simplistic model but certainly one that would be closer to accuracy than mere confirmed cases -- this would drop the case fatality rate from 5 percent to 0.7 percent .
Needless to say , such a statistic would alleviate some worry , particularly among less vulnerable populations .
We should also stop treating all cohorts of American society as equally vulnerable to coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies , the first most predictive condition for hospitalization was age : Almost half of all coronavirus patients hospitalized in New York City were over the age of 65 .
The next most predictive condition was obesity .
And over 70 percent of hospitalized coronavirus patients had a chronic condition .
This should be no surprise : As of April 12 , the New York City Health Department reported 128 fatalities among people with no underlying conditions and just 26 deaths among people below age 45 with no underlying conditions .
There were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yorkers under age 45 , meaning that the case fatality rate -- again , a seriously high-end estimate given the fact that asymptomatic people have not been tested -- for those with no underlying health conditions below age 45 is 0.06 percent .
In other words , 9,397 out of every 10,000 young , healthy people who get coronavirus will not die -- and the number is likely higher than that .
This means that we should be looking to send young , healthy people back to work , and urging social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or have preexisting conditions that raise coronavirus risks .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP We should retain social distancing for the young and healthy , urge mask-wearing and perform contact tracing when hot spots arise .
We should continue to avoid large-scale gatherings .
We should urge special vigilance in high-density areas .
Localism is our friend here .
But there is a path toward reopening .
To ignore it is n't just foolish ; it 's counterproductive .
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM BEN SHAPIRO

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As our national lockdown drags on, Americans seem less and less inclined to move swiftly toward societal reopening. Perhaps that's due to the consistent media focus on the risks of reopening.
Perhaps that's also due to the psychological comfort of the status quo: When we've been made to feel safe in our home, it's difficult to leave it. Or perhaps we, as a society, have so fundamentally altered our own perception of risk aversion that we aren't willing to leave our houses unless the risk is close to zero.
Whatever the reason, it is simply untenable to lock Americans down for months more. Calls to do so ignore not only the catastrophic human suffering inflicted on millions -- employees who no longer have jobs, children who can no longer attend school, entrepreneurs who have seen their life's dreams and savings destroyed at the behest of the government -- but the reality of economics, which is that government cannot interminably pay everyone to stay at home.
GORDON G. CHANG: TRUMP RIGHT TO STOP FUNDING WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION OVER ITS BOTCHED CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE
Furthermore, long-term lockdowns do not even prevent the virus from eventual second-wave spreading; when we emerge from our homes, we will pass the virus to one another again.
So, how should we view the risks of reopening our society?
Rationally.
This means that we should stop looking at false case fatality rates as inevitabilities. We simply don't know how many Americans have had coronavirus, or how many have it now. We do know that the number of confirmed cases is far lower than the number of cases in society more broadly.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER
In New York, the supposed case fatality rate -- the number of deaths from coronavirus over the number of confirmed cases -- rests at around 5 percent. But between March 22 and April 4, 215 pregnant women were screened for COVID-19 in New York City, according to The New England Journal of Medicine. Four women had symptoms of COVID-19, and 29 tested positive despite being asymptomatic. This means 13.7 percent of these women had COVID-19 without knowing it -- for every symptomatic woman, there were seven others who were asymptomatic but positive.
If applied statewide -- a simplistic model but certainly one that would be closer to accuracy than mere confirmed cases -- this would drop the case fatality rate from 5 percent to 0.7 percent. Needless to say, such a statistic would alleviate some worry, particularly among less vulnerable populations.
We should also stop treating all cohorts of American society as equally vulnerable to coronavirus.
According to two New York University studies, the first most predictive condition for hospitalization was age: Almost half of all coronavirus patients hospitalized in New York City were over the age of 65. The next most predictive condition was obesity. And over 70 percent of hospitalized coronavirus patients had a chronic condition.
This should be no surprise: As of April 12, the New York City Health Department reported 128 fatalities among people with no underlying conditions and just 26 deaths among people below age 45 with no underlying conditions. There were 42,524 diagnosed cases of COVID-19 for New Yorkers under age 45, meaning that the case fatality rate -- again, a seriously high-end estimate given the fact that asymptomatic people have not been tested -- for those with no underlying health conditions below age 45 is 0.06 percent. In other words, 9,397 out of every 10,000 young, healthy people who get coronavirus will not die -- and the number is likely higher than that.
This means that we should be looking to send young, healthy people back to work, and urging social distancing and isolation for those who are elderly or have preexisting conditions that raise coronavirus risks.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
We should retain social distancing for the young and healthy, urge mask-wearing and perform contact tracing when hot spots arise. We should continue to avoid large-scale gatherings. We should urge special vigilance in high-density areas.
Localism is our friend here. But there is a path toward reopening. To ignore it isn't just foolish; it's counterproductive.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM BEN SHAPIRO


foxnews--2020-04-15--New York to begin coronavirus antibody testing this week, Cuomo says

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New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that the state will begin testing for coronavirus antibodies as early as this week , and that he issued a new executive order mandating that all people wear a mask or face covering while in public when social distancing is not possible .
Cuomo said the order would take effect in three days to allow people time to get a cloth covering or face mask .
In his daily press briefing , Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed it 's own antibody test , and will start running about 2,000 tests per day via finger prick .
WOULD YOU GIVE UP HEALTH OR LOCATION DATA TO RETURN TO WORK ?
`` New York State Department of Health developed their own antibody tests and that is going to be very important and it 's in our control because we 'd actually do those tests .
We do n't need a private lab , '' he said .
Testing be will prioritized for first responders , health care professionals , and essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will identify people who have already been infected with COVID-19 and who have since recovered .
New York leads the nation in both coronavirus cases and fatalities , with over 203,000 cases and 11,586 deaths .

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that the state will begin testing for coronavirus antibodies as early as this week, and that he issued a new executive order mandating that all people wear a mask or face covering while in public when social distancing is not possible.
Cuomo said the order would take effect in three days to allow people time to get a cloth covering or face mask.
In his daily press briefing, Cuomo said the state's health department has developed it's own antibody test, and will start running about 2,000 tests per day via finger prick.
WOULD YOU GIVE UP HEALTH OR LOCATION DATA TO RETURN TO WORK?
"New York State Department of Health developed their own antibody tests and that is going to be very important and it's in our control because we'd actually do those tests. We don't need a private lab," he said.
Testing be will prioritized for first responders, health care professionals, and essential workers.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Cuomo said conducting such testing will identify people who have already been infected with COVID-19 and who have since recovered.
New York leads the nation in both coronavirus cases and fatalities, with over 203,000 cases and 11,586 deaths.


foxnews--2020-04-15--Social distancing may be needed, on and off, until 2022: Harvard study

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Are you getting accustomed to keeping at least six feet of space between yourself and other people to help stop the spread of coronavirus ?
Good .
Because you may need to keep doing it , on and off , until 2022 .
At least that ’ s what some scientists at Harvard University said Tuesday .
PENCE TELLS 'INGRAHAM ANGLE ' TRUMP WILL MOVE TO REOPEN THE ECONOMY 'AT A RESPONSIBLE MOMENT' “ Intermittent distancing may be required into 2022 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a treatment or vaccine becomes available , '' the researchers wrote .
A lot also will depend on what happens in the coming months , Bloomberg News reported .
For example , will the spread change significantly as the seasons change ?
And will immunity take hold after people become infected ?
In their study , the Harvard researchers used computer models to predict what ’ s ahead for COVID-19 .
One possibility is that aggressive mitigation measures could help stop the spread , as happened with SARS in 2003 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely scenario , they said , is that social distancing will be needed on an intermittent basis , as the virus comes and goes , like the common flu , until a vaccine or other treatment is developed .
That assessment seemed to align with what Dr. Anthony Fauci , a member of President Trump 's Coronavirus Task Force , said earlier this month .
“ Unless we get this globally under control there ’ s a very good chance that it will assume a seasonal nature , ” Fauci told CBS ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 5 .
That would mean a slower return to “ normal ” life than many people may have been expecting .
“ People haven ’ t understood that this isn ’ t about the next couple of weeks .
This is about the next two years , ” Michael Osterholm , an infectious-disease epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota , told The Atlantic .

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Are you getting accustomed to keeping at least six feet of space between yourself and other people to help stop the spread of coronavirus?
Good. Because you may need to keep doing it, on and off, until 2022.
At least that’s what some scientists at Harvard University said Tuesday.
PENCE TELLS 'INGRAHAM ANGLE' TRUMP WILL MOVE TO REOPEN THE ECONOMY 'AT A RESPONSIBLE MOMENT'
“Intermittent distancing may be required into 2022 unless critical care capacity is increased substantially or a treatment or vaccine becomes available," the researchers wrote.
A lot also will depend on what happens in the coming months, Bloomberg News reported. For example, will the spread change significantly as the seasons change? And will immunity take hold after people become infected?
In their study, the Harvard researchers used computer models to predict what’s ahead for COVID-19. One possibility is that aggressive mitigation measures could help stop the spread, as happened with SARS in 2003, the Bloomberg report said.
But the more likely scenario, they said, is that social distancing will be needed on an intermittent basis, as the virus comes and goes, like the common flu, until a vaccine or other treatment is developed.
That assessment seemed to align with what Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of President Trump's Coronavirus Task Force, said earlier this month.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
“Unless we get this globally under control there’s a very good chance that it will assume a seasonal nature,” Fauci told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on April 5.
That would mean a slower return to “normal” life than many people may have been expecting.
“People haven’t understood that this isn’t about the next couple of weeks. This is about the next two years,” Michael Osterholm, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, told The Atlantic.


foxnews--2020-04-15--Dr. Nicole Saphier: Physicians 'extremely angry' over CDC testing guidelines

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Sign up here Health workers are `` extremely angry '' over old Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) guidelines that have limited the access to coronavirus testing , Fox News contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier said Wednesday .
Appearing on `` Fox & Friends '' with hosts Steve Doocy , Ainsley Earhardt , and Brian Kilmeade , Saphier -- a breast cancer imaging specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ( MSKCC ) in New York City -- said that the restrictions the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for both doctors and patients .
A new report in Politico showed testing in the United States down 30 percent from previous weeks .
`` And if we 're saying that 25 percent to 50 percent of patients can be positive for the viral infection without having symptoms , they are not going to be able to get tested because that does n't fall in line with the CDC recommendations , '' she remarked .
`` Here 's the thing though , '' Saphier pointed out , `` we have tested over 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of how many people have been infected .
We are getting a better idea of the fatality rate , which is probably going to be less than one percent compared to what we have been talking about before . ''
`` And , to roll out opening up businesses , it 's not going to be a matter of 'how many people can we test for this virus ? '
It 's going to be : we want to look at the antibody test .
We want to see how many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we want to start stratifying risk to keep those people protected , '' she stated .
Saphier explained that there will still be some level of social distancing and preventative measures in the future when the country starts to reopen businesses .
Since physicians know that one of the unique characteristics of COVID-19 is that it affects the elderly and those with certain pre-existing conditions , a `` huge amount of the workforce can actually go to work '' and children can potentially get back to some of their activities .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions , such as asthma , diabetes and heart disease , are more at risk for infection with deadly consequences , hundreds of young Americans have died of the virus .
`` Now , I 'm not saying that everything can just start right away because that wo n't work at all .
We have a lot of multi-generational families , for sure , '' she noted .
`` However , now that we are really clear in those at higher risk for dying of this illness and the severe systems , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also get people back to work . ''
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Although some GOP members remain cautious , the call to open up the nation 's economy and return the country to normalcy is growing in the Republican Party .
The pressure comes as President Trump has assembled a task force to explore ways to restart the country again and has mused about reopening as soon as May 1 .
Democrats mostly disagree , warning that there could be yet another deadly spike in cases if health experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicted potential for a `` second wave '' of coronavirus infections come this fall .

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Health workers are "extremely angry" over old Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines that have limited the access to coronavirus testing, Fox News contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier said Wednesday.
Appearing on "Fox & Friends" with hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade, Saphier -- a breast cancer imaging specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City -- said that the restrictions the CDC put in place make it hard for both doctors and patients.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
A new report in Politico showed testing in the United States down 30 percent from previous weeks.
"And if we're saying that 25 percent to 50 percent of patients can be positive for the viral infection without having symptoms, they are not going to be able to get tested because that doesn't fall in line with the CDC recommendations," she remarked.
"Here's the thing though," Saphier pointed out, "we have tested over 3 million people. We're getting an idea of how many people have been infected. We are getting a better idea of the fatality rate, which is probably going to be less than one percent compared to what we have been talking about before."
"And, to roll out opening up businesses, it's not going to be a matter of 'how many people can we test for this virus?' It's going to be: we want to look at the antibody test. We want to see how many people are potentially immune to this. And, we want to start stratifying risk to keep those people protected," she stated.
Saphier explained that there will still be some level of social distancing and preventative measures in the future when the country starts to reopen businesses. Since physicians know that one of the unique characteristics of COVID-19 is that it affects the elderly and those with certain pre-existing conditions, a "huge amount of the workforce can actually go to work" and children can potentially get back to some of their activities.
Although the older generations and those with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, are more at risk for infection with deadly consequences, hundreds of young Americans have died of the virus.
"Now, I'm not saying that everything can just start right away because that won't work at all. We have a lot of multi-generational families, for sure," she noted. "However, now that we are really clear in those at higher risk for dying of this illness and the severe systems, we need to stratify the risk for them but also get people back to work."
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Although some GOP members remain cautious, the call to open up the nation's economy and return the country to normalcy is growing in the Republican Party. The pressure comes as President Trump has assembled a task force to explore ways to restart the country again and has mused about reopening as soon as May 1.
Democrats mostly disagree, warning that there could be yet another deadly spike in cases if health experts are ignored. There is already the predicted potential for a "second wave" of coronavirus infections come this fall.


foxnews--2020-04-14--Trump slams CNN analyst, Playboy reporter Brian Karem at briefing: 'Loudmouth'

President Trump had a fiery exchange with CNN analyst and Playboy reporter Brian Karem during the coronavirus press briefing in the Rose Garden on Tuesday , where he announced that the U.S. was halting its funding of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) for its errors leading up to the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I know you want to blame the WHO , but I 've spoken to hundreds of people across the country in the last few weeks , '' Karem began .
`` They say they still ca n't get tested and they 're not social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump interjected , `` I know your question .
You ready ?
The governors , the governors are supposed to do testing .
It 's up to the governors . ''
As Trump went to move on to the next reporter 's question , Karem continued shouting his question .
`` Quiet , quiet , '' Trump scolded the reporter .
`` The governors are doing the testing .
It 's now not up -- and it has n't been up -- to the federal government . ''
The president called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persisted on asking his question , which was disrupting the press conference .
`` I told them when they put this guy here , it 's nothing but trouble , '' Trump said about Karem .
`` He 's a showboat .
If you keep talking , I 'll leave and you can have it out with the rest of these people .
If you keep talking , I 'm going to leave and you can have it out with them . ''
`` It 's just a simple question , '' Karem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for CNN , has made a name for himself for his hostile confrontations at the White House .
Last year , his press credential was pulled by the administration after he provoked former White House aide Sebastian Gorka and other Trump supporters who were invited to the White House .

President Trump had a fiery exchange with CNN analyst and Playboy reporter Brian Karem during the coronavirus press briefing in the Rose Garden on Tuesday, where he announced that the U.S. was halting its funding of the World Health Organization (WHO) for its errors leading up to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I know you want to blame the WHO, but I've spoken to hundreds of people across the country in the last few weeks," Karem began. "They say they still can't get tested and they're not social distancing because --"
"So the governors," Trump interjected, "I know your question. You ready? The governors, the governors are supposed to do testing. It's up to the governors."
As Trump went to move on to the next reporter's question, Karem continued shouting his question.
CNN MISSING IN ACTION ON BIDEN ASSAULT ACCUSER TARA READE'S STORY
"Quiet, quiet," Trump scolded the reporter. "The governors are doing the testing. It's now not up -- and it hasn't been up -- to the federal government."
The president called on the next reporter, but Karem persisted on asking his question, which was disrupting the press conference.
"I told them when they put this guy here, it's nothing but trouble," Trump said about Karem. "He's a showboat. If you keep talking, I'll leave and you can have it out with the rest of these people. If you keep talking, I'm going to leave and you can have it out with them."
"It's just a simple question," Karem said.
"Just a loudmouth," Trump fired back.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Karem, a political analyst for CNN, has made a name for himself for his hostile confrontations at the White House. Last year, his press credential was pulled by the administration after he provoked former White House aide Sebastian Gorka and other Trump supporters who were invited to the White House.
After a legal battle, Karem's press credentials were restored.


foxnews--2020-04-15--'Zumping' is the terrible breakup trend to emerge amid the coronavirus pandemic

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Sure , you ’ ve been dumped – but have you ever been zumped ?
Social distancing , self-quarantining and shelter-in-place orders have separated some hopeless romantics from potential partners amid the coronavirus pandemic , but it has also created a terrible new breakup trend for those who hope to part ways with someone they started seeing before pandemic began , but are unable to do so in person : zumping .
In an essay published on Monday by BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently split up with a man she had been dating for about two months after he called it quits over an online Zoom videoconference .
CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN : HOW TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WHILE IN SELF-ISOLATION “ Am I the first person who 's been dumped via zoom ?
” the 26-year-old wondered on Twitter last week , in a post that has since gone viral with over 63,000 likes .
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER In the piece that followed , Moser acknowledged that a fizzled-out romance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pole of problems facing our country right now ” but “ frustrating nonetheless , ” highlighting the particular pitfalls of getting dumped during a pandemic .
“ There is something particularly bruising about this happening in the midst of a global public health crisis .
I can ’ t have my friends come over and bring me sheet cake and wine , ” she wrote .
“ Crying over FaceTime to your sister isn ’ t the same as getting to wipe your snot on her shoulder [ in real life ] .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the internet connection wasn ’ t great so we kept freezing , and I said , ‘ We ’ re breaking up ’ and we were !
” Though things didn ’ t work out between them , Moser said she was grateful her now-former flame ended their fling so honestly , describing the video conference breakup as “ an incredibly decent thing for him to do.
” FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Since the story went viral , The Guardian even coined a new breakup trend inspired by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : zumping .
After Moser aired her grievances , scores of Twitter commenters rushed to share similarly traumatic tales of breakups , divorces and job losses amplified by technology .
Some offered comforting words of advice , while others playfully made light of the situation and likened the emotional saga to something that that would happen to writer-protagonist Carrie Bradshaw of “ Sex and the City.
” Another , meanwhile , pointed out that `` zumping '' does n't always work as planned .
`` Years ago I tried to dump my girlfriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Now been married 19 years . ''

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Sure, you’ve been dumped – but have you ever been zumped?
Social distancing, self-quarantining and shelter-in-place orders have separated some hopeless romantics from potential partners amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it has also created a terrible new breakup trend for those who hope to part ways with someone they started seeing before pandemic began, but are unable to do so in person: zumping.
In an essay published on Monday by BuzzFeed News, writer Julia Moser revealed that she recently split up with a man she had been dating for about two months after he called it quits over an online Zoom videoconference.
CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN: HOW TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WHILE IN SELF-ISOLATION
“Am I the first person who's been dumped via zoom?” the 26-year-old wondered on Twitter last week, in a post that has since gone viral with over 63,000 likes.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
In the piece that followed, Moser acknowledged that a fizzled-out romance was “pretty low on the totem pole of problems facing our country right now” but “frustrating nonetheless,” highlighting the particular pitfalls of getting dumped during a pandemic.
“There is something particularly bruising about this happening in the midst of a global public health crisis. I can’t have my friends come over and bring me sheet cake and wine,” she wrote. “Crying over FaceTime to your sister isn’t the same as getting to wipe your snot on her shoulder [in real life].”
“It didn't help that the internet connection wasn’t great so we kept freezing, and I said, ‘We’re breaking up’ and we were!”
Though things didn’t work out between them, Moser said she was grateful her now-former flame ended their fling so honestly, describing the video conference breakup as “an incredibly decent thing for him to do.”
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS
Since the story went viral, The Guardian even coined a new breakup trend inspired by her plight in the age of coronavirus: zumping.
After Moser aired her grievances, scores of Twitter commenters rushed to share similarly traumatic tales of breakups, divorces and job losses amplified by technology.
CLICK HERE FOR FOX NEWS' CONTINUING CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Some offered comforting words of advice, while others playfully made light of the situation and likened the emotional saga to something that that would happen to writer-protagonist Carrie Bradshaw of “Sex and the City.”
Another, meanwhile, pointed out that "zumping" doesn't always work as planned.
"Years ago I tried to dump my girlfriend via phone," he wrote. "Now been married 19 years."


foxnews--2020-04-15--NYC's subways blamed as 'major disseminator' of coronavirus, MIT researcher says

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A study , according to a report , claims that New York City became the American epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic because of the close proximity of its residents in mass transportation .
The paper , by MIT economics professor and physician Jeffrey Harris , claims a parallel between high ridership of the subway system , which packs in up to 5 million passengers a day , “ and the rapid , exponential surge in infections ” in the first two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City ’ s multitentacled subway system was a major disseminator — if not the principal transmission vehicle — of coronavirus infection during the initial takeoff of the massive epidemic , ” argues Harris , who works as a physician in Massachusetts .
“ We know that close contact in subways is fully consistent with the spread of coronavirus , either by inhalable droplets or residual fomites left on railings , pivoted grab handles , and those smooth , metallic , vertical poles that everyone shares , ” he added .
City officials questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interrogation of causation .
“ Social density … was a result of many factors — business , restaurants , bars , Madison Square Garden , sports arenas , concerts , and the things that make New York happen , ” MTA chairman Pat Foye said .
Though hospitalizations from the outbreak are leveling off , New York officials are trying to dramatically reduce transmission rates as the death toll rises .
New York recorded 752 deaths Tuesday , for a total of more than 11,000 in just over a month .
Those figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in New York City during the outbreak that city officials say were probably caused by the virus but haven ’ t been confirmed by a lab test .
The city ’ s residents will be required to wear face coverings when they are out in public and coming in close contact with other people , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday .
The new outbreak-fighting mandate will require a mask or face covering on busy streets , public transit or any situation where people can not maintain 6 feet of social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoes recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a way to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
The order takes effect Friday , the governor said , and either a mask or a cloth covering such as a bandanna will work .
“ Stopping the spread is everything .
How can you not wear a mask when you ’ re going to come close to a person ?
” Cuomo said at his daily briefing .
“ On what theory would you not do that ?
” The governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalties for noncompliance , but he ’ s urging merchants to enforce it among customers .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

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A study, according to a report, claims that New York City became the American epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic because of the close proximity of its residents in mass transportation.
The paper, by MIT economics professor and physician Jeffrey Harris, claims a parallel between high ridership of the subway system, which packs in up to 5 million passengers a day, “and the rapid, exponential surge in infections” in the first two weeks of March.
“New York City’s multitentacled subway system was a major disseminator — if not the principal transmission vehicle — of coronavirus infection during the initial takeoff of the massive epidemic,” argues Harris, who works as a physician in Massachusetts.
“We know that close contact in subways is fully consistent with the spread of coronavirus, either by inhalable droplets or residual fomites left on railings, pivoted grab handles, and those smooth, metallic, vertical poles that everyone shares,” he added.
City officials questions the study’s data and the interrogation of causation.
“Social density … was a result of many factors — business, restaurants, bars, Madison Square Garden, sports arenas, concerts, and the things that make New York happen,” MTA chairman Pat Foye said.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Though hospitalizations from the outbreak are leveling off, New York officials are trying to dramatically reduce transmission rates as the death toll rises. New York recorded 752 deaths Tuesday, for a total of more than 11,000 in just over a month.
Those figures don’t include roughly 4,000 other deaths in New York City during the outbreak that city officials say were probably caused by the virus but haven’t been confirmed by a lab test.
The city’s residents will be required to wear face coverings when they are out in public and coming in close contact with other people, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.
The new outbreak-fighting mandate will require a mask or face covering on busy streets, public transit or any situation where people cannot maintain 6 feet of social distancing. The promised executive order from Cuomo echoes recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a way to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The order takes effect Friday, the governor said, and either a mask or a cloth covering such as a bandanna will work.
“Stopping the spread is everything. How can you not wear a mask when you’re going to come close to a person?” Cuomo said at his daily briefing. “On what theory would you not do that?”
The governor said there will initially be no civil penalties for noncompliance, but he’s urging merchants to enforce it among customers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-04-15--Bill Gates slams Trump's decision to halt WHO funding: 'As dangerous as it sounds'

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Following President Trump 's announcement the U.S. will halt funding to the World Health Organization as it reviews how it has handled the coronavirus pandemic , Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates criticized the decision , saying it `` is as dangerous as it sounds . ''
`` Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds , '' Gates tweeted Wednesday morning .
`` Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization can replace them .
The world needs @ WHO now more than ever . ''
Gates , who is worth some $ 104 billion , according to Forbes , has focused nearly all of his energy on public health responses since he announced in March he was stepping down from the board of directors of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway to focus on philanthropy .
BILL GATES SAYS US MISSED CHANCE TO AVOID CORONAVIRUS SHUTDOWN , BUSINESSES SHOULD STAY CLOSED In February , the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed up to $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , $ 20 million of which went toward groups such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO .
Earlier this month , Gates told “ Fox News Sunday ” the current pandemic is “ a nightmare scenario , ” but said social distancing and a strong national response can keep casualties low .
At the time , the U.S. was projecting between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths from COVID-19 before the outbreak is under control .
To date , 26,059 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-March , Gates said a potential shutdown of a country could last between 6 to 10 weeks if all goes well , but added testing is crucial .
On Tuesday , Trump said the U.S. would halt funding to the WHO while it undergoes a 60-to-90 day investigation into the organization , saying it had put `` political correctness over lifesaving measures . ''
The U.S. is the WHO 's largest single donor , and the State Department had previously planned to provide the agency with $ 893 million in the current two-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributes roughly $ 400 to $ 500 million per year to WHO , while China offers only about $ 40 million .
The money saved will go to areas that `` most need it , '' Trump asserted .
`` We have deep concerns over whether America 's generosity has been put to the best use possible , '' Trump said , accusing the WHO of failing to adequately keep the international community apprised of the threat of the coronavirus .
`` The WHO failed in this duty , and must be held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He added that the WHO had ignored `` credible information '' in December 2019 that the virus could be transmitted from human to human .
As of Wednesday morning , nearly 2 million coronavirus cases have been diagnosed worldwide , including more than 609,000 of which are in the U.S. , the most impacted country on the planet .
Fox News ' Ronn Blitzer and Gregg Re contributed to this story .

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Following President Trump's announcement the U.S. will halt funding to the World Health Organization as it reviews how it has handled the coronavirus pandemic, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates criticized the decision, saying it "is as dangerous as it sounds."
"Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds," Gates tweeted Wednesday morning. "Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs @WHO now more than ever."
Gates, who is worth some $104 billion, according to Forbes, has focused nearly all of his energy on public health responses since he announced in March he was stepping down from the board of directors of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway to focus on philanthropy.
BILL GATES SAYS US MISSED CHANCE TO AVOID CORONAVIRUS SHUTDOWN, BUSINESSES SHOULD STAY CLOSED
In February, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed up to $100 million to help fight against the virus, $20 million of which went toward groups such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO.
Earlier this month, Gates told “Fox News Sunday” the current pandemic is “a nightmare scenario,” but said social distancing and a strong national response can keep casualties low. At the time, the U.S. was projecting between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths from COVID-19 before the outbreak is under control.
To date, 26,059 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University.
In mid-March, Gates said a potential shutdown of a country could last between 6 to 10 weeks if all goes well, but added testing is crucial.
On Tuesday, Trump said the U.S. would halt funding to the WHO while it undergoes a 60-to-90 day investigation into the organization, saying it had put "political correctness over lifesaving measures."
The U.S. is the WHO's largest single donor, and the State Department had previously planned to provide the agency with $893 million in the current two-year funding period. Trump said the U.S. contributes roughly $400 to $500 million per year to WHO, while China offers only about $40 million. The money saved will go to areas that "most need it," Trump asserted.
"We have deep concerns over whether America's generosity has been put to the best use possible," Trump said, accusing the WHO of failing to adequately keep the international community apprised of the threat of the coronavirus.
"The WHO failed in this duty, and must be held accountable," Trump went on. He added that the WHO had ignored "credible information" in December 2019 that the virus could be transmitted from human to human.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
As of Wednesday morning, nearly 2 million coronavirus cases have been diagnosed worldwide, including more than 609,000 of which are in the U.S., the most impacted country on the planet.
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Fox News' Ronn Blitzer and Gregg Re contributed to this story.


foxnews--2020-04-15--Florida judge urges lawyers to get out of bed and get dressed for Zoom court cases

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A judge in Florida is asking attorneys to get out of bed and put on some clothes before attending court cases via Zoom , after complaining that lawyers have appeared shirtless , still in bed and some even poolside while attending meetings remotely during the stay-at-home order meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus .
In the letter published by the West Bar Association , Broward Circuit Judge Dennis Bailey announced that civil courts have gotten the green light to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearings .
“ One comment that needs sharing and that is the judges would appreciate it if the lawyers and their clients keep in mind these Zoom hearings are just that : hearings .
They are not casual phone conversations , ” the letter notes .
“ It is remarkable how many ATTORNEYS appear inappropriately on camera , ” Baily continued .
“ We 've seen many lawyers in casual shirts and blouses , with no concern for ill-grooming , in bedrooms with the master bed in the background , etc .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female attorney appeared still in bed , still under the covers .
And putting on a beach cover-up wo n't cover up you 're poolside in a bathing suit .
So , please , if you do n't mind , let 's treat court hearings as court hearings , whether Zooming or not.
” Since courthouses in the Broward County judicial system shut down on March 16 , the 17th Judicial Circuit has held about 1,200 Zoom meetings involving nearly 14,000 participants , WPLG-TV in Miami reported .
The letter noted audio challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zoom , with Bailey stressing that more complicated “ two-week expert-laden hotly contested ” trials will likely be postponed until late summer or early fall .
“ Be aware , Zoom hearings take more time than in-person hearings due to lag time in audio capacity coming online and people talking over each other , ” the letter said .
“ Often , lawyers are not looking at their screens , but down at their files , their outlines and notes , or simply out the window , and can not see the judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' because an objection has been made and the audio stays with the witness rather than obeying the judge.
” FLORIDA INMATE FREED OVER CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS LINKED TO MURDER 1 DAY AFTER RELEASE : AUTHORITIES Zoom will be used to handle civil cases in the county – but criminal trials have been placed on hold , given defendants have a constitutional right to present before a jury .
Given some county inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 , the criminal court system will remain out of function until further notice .
The jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,000 for the first time in nearly three decades , according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel , as county officials continue to release inmates held on non-violent charges to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus within their facilities .
Across the county ’ s four facilities , the jail population fell to 3,049 by Sunday .
Then it dropped to 2,989 by Monday , according to the Broward Sheriff ’ s Office .
This comes after protesters with an advocacy group called Chainless Change drove by the facility last week to demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and defense attorneys have been working to come to agreements to reduce the jail population , having some inmates transferring to prisons and others released on house arrest .
When an agreement can not be reached , the cases are moved to an emergency docket .
Broward Circuit Judge Andrew Siegel then decides whether an inmate should be released and under what terms .
Siegel has cleared the way for hundreds of inmates to be released under the same pretrial conditions as if they have posted bail , according to the Sun-Sentinel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ APP South Florida has been identified as the epicenter of the outbreak in the state .
County officials had taken steps to begin social distancing by mid-March – a move that came around the same time Miami Mayor Francis Suarez tested positive for COVID-19 .
He has since recovered after spending more than two weeks in self-quarantine .
On March 30 , Gov .
Ron DeSantis , a Republican , issued a “ safe-at-home ” order for four counties – Broward , Miami-Dade , Palm Beach and Monroe – in South Florida .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order on April 1 .

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A judge in Florida is asking attorneys to get out of bed and put on some clothes before attending court cases via Zoom, after complaining that lawyers have appeared shirtless, still in bed and some even poolside while attending meetings remotely during the stay-at-home order meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
In the letter published by the West Bar Association, Broward Circuit Judge Dennis Bailey announced that civil courts have gotten the green light to using Zoom to run dockets and conduct hearings.
“One comment that needs sharing and that is the judges would appreciate it if the lawyers and their clients keep in mind these Zoom hearings are just that: hearings. They are not casual phone conversations,” the letter notes.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
“It is remarkable how many ATTORNEYS appear inappropriately on camera,” Baily continued. “We've seen many lawyers in casual shirts and blouses, with no concern for ill-grooming, in bedrooms with the master bed in the background, etc.
“One male lawyer appeared shirtless and one female attorney appeared still in bed, still under the covers. And putting on a beach cover-up won't cover up you're poolside in a bathing suit. So, please, if you don't mind, let's treat court hearings as court hearings, whether Zooming or not.”
Since courthouses in the Broward County judicial system shut down on March 16, the 17th Judicial Circuit has held about 1,200 Zoom meetings involving nearly 14,000 participants, WPLG-TV in Miami reported. The letter noted audio challenges that come with holding court hearings over Zoom, with Bailey stressing that more complicated “two-week expert-laden hotly contested” trials will likely be postponed until late summer or early fall.
“Be aware, Zoom hearings take more time than in-person hearings due to lag time in audio capacity coming online and people talking over each other,” the letter said. “Often, lawyers are not looking at their screens, but down at their files, their outlines and notes, or simply out the window, and cannot see the judge is hollering "Stop! Stop!" because an objection has been made and the audio stays with the witness rather than obeying the judge.”
FLORIDA INMATE FREED OVER CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS LINKED TO MURDER 1 DAY AFTER RELEASE: AUTHORITIES
Zoom will be used to handle civil cases in the county – but criminal trials have been placed on hold, given defendants have a constitutional right to present before a jury. Given some county inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, the criminal court system will remain out of function until further notice.
The jail population in Broward County has dropped below 3,000 for the first time in nearly three decades, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, as county officials continue to release inmates held on non-violent charges to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus within their facilities.
Across the county’s four facilities, the jail population fell to 3,049 by Sunday. Then it dropped to 2,989 by Monday, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. This comes after protesters with an advocacy group called Chainless Change drove by the facility last week to demand the release of non-violent offenders.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys have been working to come to agreements to reduce the jail population, having some inmates transferring to prisons and others released on house arrest. When an agreement cannot be reached, the cases are moved to an emergency docket. Broward Circuit Judge Andrew Siegel then decides whether an inmate should be released and under what terms.
Siegel has cleared the way for hundreds of inmates to be released under the same pretrial conditions as if they have posted bail, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
South Florida has been identified as the epicenter of the outbreak in the state. County officials had taken steps to begin social distancing by mid-March – a move that came around the same time Miami Mayor Francis Suarez tested positive for COVID-19. He has since recovered after spending more than two weeks in self-quarantine.
On March 30, Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, issued a “safe-at-home” order for four counties – Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Monroe – in South Florida. After deferring to local governments for weeks, DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order on April 1.


foxnews--2020-04-15--Airline uses blood test on passengers before flights to curb the spread of coronavirus

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Blood tests may be coming to an airport near you .
The coronavirus pandemic has definitely had an impact on the airline industry .
Airlines have taken steps to reduce the spread of the virus , including having passengers wear masks , altering the way planes are boarded and enforcing social distancing on the plane .
One airline just introduced a new step : blood testing passengers before the flight .
Emirates Airline utilized a rapid testing procedure on passengers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg reports .
The type of testing used reportedly involved drawing blood and was able to provide results within 10 minutes .
AVIATION EXPERTS SAY AIRLINES WOULD BE BETTER OFF SHUTTING DOWN AS PANDEMIC SAPS DEMAND According to the news outlet , Emirates is the first airline to perform a test of this kind .
Chief Operating Officer Adel Al Redha said that there were plans to start using these tests on other flights to benefit customers traveling to countries that require COVID-19 certificates .
Other airlines have also made changes in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Fox News previously reported that Delta Air Lines revised its boarding process to a back-to-front system to encourage better social distancing .
The process is exactly what it sounds like : as opposed to the passengers sitting in the front of the plane boarding first , travelers with seats in the rear boarded first .
This was implemented to reduce the instances of passengers having to pass by others to reach their seats .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This procedure will reportedly be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although the policy will likely be adjusted or extended depending on the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak .

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Blood tests may be coming to an airport near you.
The coronavirus pandemic has definitely had an impact on the airline industry. Airlines have taken steps to reduce the spread of the virus, including having passengers wear masks, altering the way planes are boarded and enforcing social distancing on the plane.
One airline just introduced a new step: blood testing passengers before the flight.
Emirates Airline utilized a rapid testing procedure on passengers on a flight from Dubai to Tunisia, Bloomberg reports. The type of testing used reportedly involved drawing blood and was able to provide results within 10 minutes.
AVIATION EXPERTS SAY AIRLINES WOULD BE BETTER OFF SHUTTING DOWN AS PANDEMIC SAPS DEMAND
According to the news outlet, Emirates is the first airline to perform a test of this kind. Chief Operating Officer Adel Al Redha said that there were plans to start using these tests on other flights to benefit customers traveling to countries that require COVID-19 certificates.
Other airlines have also made changes in response to the outbreak.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS
Fox News previously reported that Delta Air Lines revised its boarding process to a back-to-front system to encourage better social distancing.
The process is exactly what it sounds like: as opposed to the passengers sitting in the front of the plane boarding first, travelers with seats in the rear boarded first. This was implemented to reduce the instances of passengers having to pass by others to reach their seats.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
This procedure will reportedly be in operation until at least May 31, although the policy will likely be adjusted or extended depending on the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak.
Fox News' Janine Puhak contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-04-15--'Joker' star Joaquin Phoenix calls for NY to release some prisoners, citing coronavirus

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Hollywood actor Joaquin Phoenix on Tuesday called for New York to release some prison inmates , in light of the novel coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) pandemic .
The `` Joker '' star shared his thoughts in a tweet released by the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign .
Phoenix called on Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , a Democrat , to take action immediately .
`` I ’ m calling on @ NYGovCuomo to take action in New York by granting clemency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives of so many people depend on his action .
No one deserves to die in prison from COVID-19.
” TRUMP SAYS 'SCARIEST DAY OF MY LIFE ' WAS BEING TOLD US WAS SHORT NO VENTILATORS '' The spread of coronavirus in prisons threatens the health and safety of all of us , '' he said earlier in the video .
`` When you 're incarcerated there 's no such thing as social distancing and ensuring good hygiene is not an option .
Leaders must do everything possible to prevent incarcerated people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill and spreading the virus , '' the actor added .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP As of Tuesday , there have been nearly 600,000 cases of the coronavirus in the United States and just over 25,000 deaths .

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Hollywood actor Joaquin Phoenix on Tuesday called for New York to release some prison inmates, in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The "Joker" star shared his thoughts in a tweet released by the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign. Phoenix called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, to take action immediately.
"A message from Oscar award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix," the tweet began.
"I’m calling on @NYGovCuomo to take action in New York by granting clemency to New Yorkers in prison. The lives of so many people depend on his action. No one deserves to die in prison from COVID-19.”
TRUMP SAYS 'SCARIEST DAY OF MY LIFE' WAS BEING TOLD US WAS SHORT NO VENTILATORS
"The spread of coronavirus in prisons threatens the health and safety of all of us," he said earlier in the video.
"When you're incarcerated there's no such thing as social distancing and ensuring good hygiene is not an option. Leaders must do everything possible to prevent incarcerated people and those who work in prisons from becoming ill and spreading the virus," the actor added.
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As of Tuesday, there have been nearly 600,000 cases of the coronavirus in the United States and just over 25,000 deaths.


foxnews--2020-04-15--Angelina Jolie says people should 'check in,' 'love each other' amid coronavirus pandemic

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Angelina Jolie has offered a tip for those in quarantine during the coronavirus outbreak .
The 44-year-old actress spoke with California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris for Time magazine to discuss the current situation .
Burke Harris pointed out that people should be reaching out to one another amid self-isolation — a statement that Jolie agreed with .
“ I think it is so important that people hear that , ” said the actress .
“ To love each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be there , be a support group , keep your eyes open whether you are a teacher or a friend.
” Jolie said that it 's important for people to reach out in times like these in which the behind-the-scenes details of someone 's life are n't as easy to spot . '
I really do hope people hear this , and they do reach out , and they do pay more attention , and they are not sitting in a moment when they think , ‘ Well maybe , but it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Jolie .
`` Because those kids aren ’ t going to school right now , and teachers can ’ t see the bruises and people aren ’ t identifying what is happening within some homes . ''
Burke Harris then stated that `` All of the research shows that the single most powerful antidote to the impacts of trauma and adversity is nurturing , caring relationships with others — safe , stable and nurturing relationships . ''
RYAN SEACREST REVEALS HOW 'AMERICAN IDOL ' WILL FILM AT HOME DURING CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there for a person , '' said Burke Harris in reference to victims of domestic abuse .
`` All you have to do is believe them when a victim comes forward . ''
The surgeon general continued : `` You don ’ t have to fix it , you don ’ t have to solve it .
You don ’ t have to worry about not being enough .
You just have to be willing to be there and listen and to be that shoulder and those open arms . ''
Accompanying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an op-ed written by the actress , in which she said that while children seem to be less susceptible to the virus , they are `` especially vulnerable to so many of the secondary impacts '' it brings .
`` Isolating a victim from family and friends is a well-known tactic of control by abusers , meaning that the social distancing that is necessary to stop COVID-19 is one that will inadvertently fuel a direct rise in trauma and suffering for vulnerable children , '' wrote the `` Maleficent '' star .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ HER INTO WEARING HER 18-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER 'S CLOTHES Jolie noted that children have also lost the ability to connect with those that they trust in their lives like teachers and friends , as well as the ability to participate in sports and other activities that provide relief and escape from abusive situations .
`` For many students , schools are a lifeline of opportunity as well as a shield , offering protection — or at least a temporary reprieve — from violence , exploitation and other difficult circumstances , including sexual exploitation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jolie wrote .
She also pointed out that it 's generally third parties that report child abuse , such as a teacher or a coach -- contact with which has been limited since the lockdown began .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In recent weeks , Jolie has donated $ 1 million to No Kid Hungry , an organization with the goal of feeding the children of low-income families

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
Angelina Jolie has offered a tip for those in quarantine during the coronavirus outbreak.
The 44-year-old actress spoke with California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris for Time magazine to discuss the current situation.
Burke Harris pointed out that people should be reaching out to one another amid self-isolation — a statement that Jolie agreed with.
CELEBRITIES PROVIDE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC RELIEF WITH DONATIONS
“I think it is so important that people hear that,” said the actress. “To love each other, check in with each other. Be there, be a support group, keep your eyes open whether you are a teacher or a friend.”
Jolie said that it's important for people to reach out in times like these in which the behind-the-scenes details of someone's life aren't as easy to spot.
'I really do hope people hear this, and they do reach out, and they do pay more attention, and they are not sitting in a moment when they think, ‘Well maybe, but it’s not my business,'" said Jolie. "Because those kids aren’t going to school right now, and teachers can’t see the bruises and people aren’t identifying what is happening within some homes."
Burke Harris then stated that "All of the research shows that the single most powerful antidote to the impacts of trauma and adversity is nurturing, caring relationships with others — safe, stable and nurturing relationships."
RYAN SEACREST REVEALS HOW 'AMERICAN IDOL' WILL FILM AT HOME DURING CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE
"All you have to do is be there for a person," said Burke Harris in reference to victims of domestic abuse. "All you have to do is believe them when a victim comes forward."
The surgeon general continued: "You don’t have to fix it, you don’t have to solve it. You don’t have to worry about not being enough. You just have to be willing to be there and listen and to be that shoulder and those open arms."
Accompanying the video chat between Burke Harris and Jolie was an op-ed written by the actress, in which she said that while children seem to be less susceptible to the virus, they are "especially vulnerable to so many of the secondary impacts" it brings.
"Isolating a victim from family and friends is a well-known tactic of control by abusers, meaning that the social distancing that is necessary to stop COVID-19 is one that will inadvertently fuel a direct rise in trauma and suffering for vulnerable children," wrote the "Maleficent" star.
KELLY RIPA SAYS CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE HAS FORCED HER INTO WEARING HER 18-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER'S CLOTHES
Jolie noted that children have also lost the ability to connect with those that they trust in their lives like teachers and friends, as well as the ability to participate in sports and other activities that provide relief and escape from abusive situations.
"For many students, schools are a lifeline of opportunity as well as a shield, offering protection — or at least a temporary reprieve — from violence, exploitation and other difficult circumstances, including sexual exploitation, forced marriage and child labor," Jolie wrote.
She also pointed out that it's generally third parties that report child abuse, such as a teacher or a coach -- contact with which has been limited since the lockdown began.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In recent weeks, Jolie has donated $1 million to No Kid Hungry, an organization with the goal of feeding the children of low-income families


foxnews--2020-04-12--DOJ: 'Expect action' on government regulation of religious services amid COVID-19 outbreak

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The Justice Department ( DOJ ) may take action next week against local governments that have cracked down on religious services as widespread parts of the country are shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic , a DOJ spokesperson said Saturday .
“ While social distancing policies are appropriate during this emergency , they must be applied evenhandedly [ and ] not single out religious [ organizations ] , ” DOJ Director of Communications Kerri Kupec tweeted .
She said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” such regulations .
The DOJ move would come as some churches are standing up to city governments that have blocked them from holding in-person services during the outbreak -- even in `` drive-in '' formats that keep people separated and in their own cars .
A judge in Louisville , Ky. , on Saturday issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of Mayor Greg Fischer ’ s ban on drive-in church services there .
“ The Mayor ’ s decision is stunning , ” District Judge Justin Walker , a former clerk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wrote in a memorandum to the order .
“ And it is , ‘ beyond all reason , ’ unconstitutional.
” Freedom of religion is the first of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment .
“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion , or prohibiting the free exercise thereof , ” its text begins .
Separately , in Greenville , Miss.
, two churches have said that police came to their drive-in services and threatened to fine worshipers .
“ Churches are strongly encouraged to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Free Conference Call , and any and all other social media , streaming and telephonic platforms , ” Mayor Errick Simmons ’ office said in an April 7 press release announcing a ban on in-person and drive-in church services .
Attorneys with the Alliance Defending Freedom have filed a lawsuit challenging that order on behalf of the Temple Baptist Church in Greenville .
Kelly Shackelford , president of the First Liberty Institute , argued in an appearance on “ Tucker Carlson Tonight ” on Friday that the city ’ s order “ is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches in a way that it targets no other group , ” he said .
“ Cars in parking lots are fine .
It ’ s only a crime if the cars in the parking lot are at the church parking lot.
” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The virus is highly contagious , and authorities at various levels of government around the country have been urging social distancing guidelines or implementing stay-at-home restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread .
Americans are being told to avoid close contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hygiene and avoid leaving their homes as much as possible .
There were more than 500,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. as of Saturday afternoon and at least 20,000 deaths .

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
The Justice Department (DOJ) may take action next week against local governments that have cracked down on religious services as widespread parts of the country are shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, a DOJ spokesperson said Saturday.
“While social distancing policies are appropriate during this emergency, they must be applied evenhandedly [and] not single out religious [organizations],” DOJ Director of Communications Kerri Kupec tweeted.
She said the Attorney General William Barr is “monitoring” such regulations.
The DOJ move would come as some churches are standing up to city governments that have blocked them from holding in-person services during the outbreak -- even in "drive-in" formats that keep people separated and in their own cars.
A judge in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of Mayor Greg Fischer’s ban on drive-in church services there.
“The Mayor’s decision is stunning,” District Judge Justin Walker, a former clerk to Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, wrote in a memorandum to the order. “And it is, ‘beyond all reason,’ unconstitutional.”
MISSISSIPPI CITY'S CORONAVIRUS SHUTDOWN BANS DRIVE-IN CHURCH SERVICES AHEAD OF EASTER
Freedom of religion is the first of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” its text begins.
Separately, in Greenville, Miss., two churches have said that police came to their drive-in services and threatened to fine worshipers.
“Churches are strongly encouraged to hold services via Facebook Live, Zoom, Free Conference Call, and any and all other social media, streaming and telephonic platforms,” Mayor Errick Simmons’ office said in an April 7 press release announcing a ban on in-person and drive-in church services.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Attorneys with the Alliance Defending Freedom have filed a lawsuit challenging that order on behalf of the Temple Baptist Church in Greenville.
Kelly Shackelford, president of the First Liberty Institute, argued in an appearance on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Friday that the city’s order “is just massively unconstitutional.”
“It targets churches in a way that it targets no other group,” he said. “Cars in parking lots are fine. It’s only a crime if the cars in the parking lot are at the church parking lot.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The virus is highly contagious, and authorities at various levels of government around the country have been urging social distancing guidelines or implementing stay-at-home restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread.
Americans are being told to avoid close contact with one another, maintain good hand-washing hygiene and avoid leaving their homes as much as possible.
There were more than 500,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. as of Saturday afternoon and at least 20,000 deaths.


foxnews--2020-04-14--Could a 100-year-old vaccine protect against COVID-19?

Scientists around the world are racing to find ways out of the new coronavirus pandemic .
Some are working to develop new drugs and vaccines , while others are looking to see whether therapies we already have may help against COVID-19 .
In the latter category , researchers have dusted off one intriguing compound in our collective medicine cabinet — a century-old vaccine to fight tuberculosis , a bacterial disease that affects the lungs .
A couple of early analyses , which have yet to be peer-reviewed , have found that countries that require this vaccine , called Bacillus Calmette–Guérin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hit less severely , in terms of both number and severity , by the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 .
Could this vaccine be protecting people from COVID-19 ?
The short answer is : We do n't know .
But several clinical trials around the world are now examining whether this vaccine could protect against this new foe .
`` I was originally quite skeptical '' that the studies could tease apart all of the other factors that could be causing some countries to be hit harder with COVID-19 than others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distinguished professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Southern California 's Keck School of Medicine , who is not a part of any of these studies .
Among those factors are the quality of the healthcare system , measures put in place to fight the disease and testing capacity .
Still , it is a `` provocative idea '' and the `` data is tantalizing , '' Cannon said .
Dozens of countries , including Japan and China , require children — typically newborns — to receive the BCG vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is typically more common in lower-income countries .
Other countries , such as Spain , France and Switzerland , used to require the vaccine but stopped because the risk of catching the disease in those countries lessened , according to one of the preprint studies published in medRxiv on March 28 .
Other countries , such as the U.S. , Italy and the Netherlands never had such a universal vaccine policy for the BCG vaccine .
But scientists have long known that `` almost by lucky accident , '' the BCG vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it also helps fight other viruses , respiratory infections in particular , Cannon said .
The vaccine , `` in some sort of unexpected and magical way , is like a broad immune booster , '' she said .
For example , one study conducted in Guinea-Bissau in West Africa found that children who were vaccinated with BCG had about a 50 % reduction in overall mortality , largely because the vaccine reduced respiratory infections and sepsis , or blood poisoning , according to the medRxiv study .
Other studies , mostly conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections from the BCG vaccine .
The BCG vaccine is made up of weakened forms of live Mycobacterium bovis , closely related to the bacteria that causes tuberculosis .
It was first developed in the 1920s in Paris and later shipped all over the world .
Now , countries from Japan to Denmark have their own BCG vaccines , made using different formulations of live bacteria — and each one has varying degrees of immune-boosting ability , said Dr. Ofer Levy , the director of the precision vaccines program at Boston Children 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School .
Typically , live vaccines provide a `` strong and long-lasting immune response '' and sometimes even `` lifelong protection '' against the germ , whereas inactivated forms of vaccines , such as those in flu shots do n't provide immunity that 's `` as strong , '' according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .
While most vaccines prompt one arm of the immune system — the adaptive immune system — to create antibodies that target very specific pathogens , the BCG vaccine taps into the other arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system does n't discriminate against pathogens and releases immune cells rather quickly to fight any foreign substance .
The BCG vaccine thus boosts the body 's production of non-specific immune cells .
The medRxiv study and another preliminary study recently published in Research Gate came to similar conclusions : there seemed to be a correlation between countries that require BCG vaccines and a reduced spread and severity of COVID-19 cases .
For example , Portugal — which has required BCG vaccines for infants — has over 16,000 cases of COVID-19 but only 535 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases and over 17,000 deaths .
Similarly , Ireland , with 9,655 cases and only 334 deaths , requires the BCG vaccination , whereas the U.K. with 89,554 cases and 11,346 deaths no longer does .
Based on these numbers , Ireland has a fatality rate 3.5 % whereas the U.K. has a fatality rate of 12.7 % .
Of course , there are big population number differences across these countries , along with other variables that could affect death and infection rates .
These preliminary studies are `` very flawed , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealth and testing ability , can affect the outcomes Levy told Live Science .
But the authors are `` doing the best they can in a very difficult situation . ''
While there 's no direct evidence that BCG vaccines will reduce people 's risk of developing COVID-19 , `` I 'm enthusiastic about the hypotheses , '' Levy said .
It 's difficult to draw firm conclusions , but there 's enough scientific evidence to prompt clinical trials , and his team is looking into starting one in the U.S , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects of the vaccine against COVID-19 are already underway in other countries , including Australia and the Netherlands .
`` I 'm kind of puzzled , '' by the implication that the BCG vaccine might be able to protect for such a long period of time once someone has received it as a baby , Cannon said .
Indeed , it 's not clear how long the BCG vaccine effects can last .
The second study , which also has not been peer-reviewed , analyzed how countries with re-vaccination policies — or booster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That study found that countries without re-vaccination policies had a 5.2 % case fatality rate , versus a0.6 % case fatality rate in countries that required re-vaccination .
`` The big kind of asterisk , if you like , against all of these studies , is that they are really dealing with massively incomplete information , '' Cannon said .
`` We 're all guessing what the true infection rates and the case fatality rates are because there is n't widespread uniform testing in every country . ''
Still , `` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , doing what they could with the available data and providing some very provocative hypotheses , '' she said .
`` The good news is they 're very testable . ''
In another world , we would be doing animal experiments to test this hypothesis .
In this world , amid the coronavirus pandemic , we do n't have time for that , she said .
But the BCG vaccine has a `` very safe track record , '' and likely can be tried in those who are n't old and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( since this is a live vaccine , it can potentially cause more side effects for older people or those with weakened immune systems ) , she added .
The human immune system is like an orchestra , `` it 's massively interconnected and what the BCG vaccine seems to do is maybe it gives like a little bit of extra control to the conductor , '' Cannon said .
`` So in the symphony of immune attack against respiratory viruses , the orchestra is able to go full blast , straightaway , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than kind of playing catch up . ''
• 11 ( sometimes ) deadly diseases that hopped across species

Scientists around the world are racing to find ways out of the new coronavirus pandemic. Some are working to develop new drugs and vaccines, while others are looking to see whether therapies we already have may help against COVID-19.
In the latter category, researchers have dusted off one intriguing compound in our collective medicine cabinet — a century-old vaccine to fight tuberculosis , a bacterial disease that affects the lungs. A couple of early analyses, which have yet to be peer-reviewed, have found that countries that require this vaccine, called Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), seemed to have been hit less severely, in terms of both number and severity, by the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19.
Could this vaccine be protecting people from COVID-19? The short answer is: We don't know. But several clinical trials around the world are now examining whether this vaccine could protect against this new foe.
Related: 13 coronavirus myths busted by science
"I was originally quite skeptical" that the studies could tease apart all of the other factors that could be causing some countries to be hit harder with COVID-19 than others,” said Paula Cannon, a distinguished professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, who is not a part of any of these studies. Among those factors are the quality of the healthcare system, measures put in place to fight the disease and testing capacity. Still, it is a "provocative idea" and the "data is tantalizing," Cannon said.
Dozens of countries, including Japan and China, require children — typically newborns — to receive the BCG vaccine as protection against tuberculosis, an infection that is typically more common in lower-income countries. Other countries, such as Spain, France and Switzerland, used to require the vaccine but stopped because the risk of catching the disease in those countries lessened, according to one of the preprint studies published in medRxiv on March 28. Other countries, such as the U.S., Italy and the Netherlands never had such a universal vaccine policy for the BCG vaccine.
But scientists have long known that "almost by lucky accident," the BCG vaccine doesn't just protect against tuberculosis, it also helps fight other viruses, respiratory infections in particular, Cannon said. The vaccine, "in some sort of unexpected and magical way, is like a broad immune booster," she said.
For example, one study conducted in Guinea-Bissau in West Africa found that children who were vaccinated with BCG had about a 50% reduction in overall mortality, largely because the vaccine reduced respiratory infections and sepsis, or blood poisoning, according to the medRxiv study. Other studies, mostly conducted in animals, have found similar broad-spectrum protections from the BCG vaccine.
Weakened, live bacteria vaccine
The BCG vaccine is made up of weakened forms of live Mycobacterium bovis, closely related to the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. It was first developed in the 1920s in Paris and later shipped all over the world.
Now, countries from Japan to Denmark have their own BCG vaccines, made using different formulations of live bacteria — and each one has varying degrees of immune boosting ability, said Dr. Ofer Levy, the director of the precision vaccines program at Boston Children's hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School.
Typically, live vaccines provide a "strong and long-lasting immune response" and sometimes even "lifelong protection" against the germ, whereas inactivated forms of vaccines, such as those in flu shots don't provide immunity that's "as strong," according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .
While most vaccines prompt one arm of the immune system — the adaptive immune system — to create antibodies that target very specific pathogens, the BCG vaccine taps into the other arm, the innate immune system. This system doesn't discriminate against pathogens and releases immune cells rather quickly to fight any foreign substance. The BCG vaccine thus boosts the body's production of non-specific immune cells.
The medRxiv study and another preliminary study recently published in Research Gate came to similar conclusions: there seemed to be a correlation between countries that require BCG vaccines and a reduced spread and severity of COVID-19 cases. For example, Portugal — which has required BCG vaccines for infants — has over 16,000 cases of COVID-19 but only 535 deaths whereas neighboring Spain has over 169,000 cases and over 17,000 deaths.
Similarly, Ireland, with 9,655 cases and only 334 deaths, requires the BCG vaccination, whereas the U.K. with 89,554 cases and 11,346 deaths no longer does. Based on these numbers, Ireland has a fatality rate 3.5% whereas the U.K. has a fatality rate of 12.7%. Of course, there are big population number differences across these countries, along with other variables that could affect death and infection rates.
These preliminary studies are "very flawed," because many factors such as differences in wealth and testing ability, can affect the outcomes Levy told Live Science. But the authors are "doing the best they can in a very difficult situation." While there's no direct evidence that BCG vaccines will reduce people's risk of developing COVID-19, "I'm enthusiastic about the hypotheses," Levy said.
It's difficult to draw firm conclusions, but there's enough scientific evidence to prompt clinical trials, and his team is looking into starting one in the U.S, he said. Clinical trials analyzing the protective effects of the vaccine against COVID-19 are already underway in other countries, including Australia and the Netherlands.
Vaccination or revaccination?
"I'm kind of puzzled," by the implication that the BCG vaccine might be able to protect for such a long period of time once someone has received it as a baby, Cannon said. Indeed, it's not clear how long the BCG vaccine effects can last.
The second study, which also has not been peer-reviewed, analyzed how countries with re-vaccination policies — or booster shots — fared in the COVID-19 pandemic. That study found that countries without re-vaccination policies had a 5.2% case fatality rate, versus a0.6% case fatality rate in countries that required re-vaccination.
"The big kind of asterisk, if you like, against all of these studies, is that they are really dealing with massively incomplete information," Cannon said. "We're all guessing what the true infection rates and the case fatality rates are because there isn't widespread uniform testing in every country."
Still, "I applaud the authors for at least, you know, doing what they could with the available data and providing some very provocative hypotheses," she said. "The good news is they're very testable."
In another world, we would be doing animal experiments to test this hypothesis. In this world, amid the coronavirus pandemic, we don't have time for that, she said. But the BCG vaccine has a "very safe track record," and likely can be tried in those who aren't old and who don't have weakened immune systems (since this is a live vaccine, it can potentially cause more side effects for older people or those with weakened immune systems), she added.
The human immune system is like an orchestra, "it's massively interconnected and what the BCG vaccine seems to do is maybe it gives like a little bit of extra control to the conductor," Cannon said. "So in the symphony of immune attack against respiratory viruses, the orchestra is able to go full blast, straightaway, all together, in sync, rather than kind of playing catch up."