foxnews--2020-03-26--Robert Levinson's Iran death won't stop FBI from trying to find answers, Wray says

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The FBI wo n't give up on “ finding out what happened '' to former agent Robert Levinson , who disappeared from an Iranian island in 2007 and is believed to have died in Iranian custody , FBI Director Christopher Wray wrote in an email to his workforce on Thursday .
The email , obtained by The Associated Press , was sent a day after Levinson 's family revealed that the U.S. government believes Levinson is dead .
The family 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know `` when or how he died , only that it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic . ''
ROBERT LEVINSON , RETIRED FBI AGENT , PRESUMED DEAD IN IRANIAN CUSTODY OVER A DECADE AFTER DISAPPEARANCE Wray met with the Levinson family and “ explained that the most credible evidence we have collected over the past 13 years points to the likelihood that Bob died in captivity , '' he writes in the email .
“ It pained me to deliver that news , but I believe that we owed Bob ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the information that we ’ ve collected , '' Wray wrote without divulging more details pointing to evidence of Levinson 's death .
Levinson was 58 when he traveled to Kish Island , Iran , in 2007 while working as a private investigator .
He reportedly was taking part in an unauthorized CIA mission .
Upon his arrival , Levinson was said to have met with an American fugitive -- Dawud Salahuddin -- targeted by the CIA for recruitment , a source close to the Levinson case told Fox News in 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegedly murdering an Iranian diplomat in Maryland in 1980 , and Levinson hoped the mission to deliver him to the agency would secure him full-time employment with the CIA , the source told Fox News at the time .
Shortly afterward , Levinson disappeared , but Iran repeatedly denied capturing him or knowing of his whereabouts .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Wray 's vow to `` find answers '' for the Levinson family coincides with President Trump 's push for Iran to confirm Levinson 's death and take responsibility for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for certain what happened to Bob since his abduction more than 13 years ago , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Thursday .
`` As President Trump said , we call on the Iranian regime to provide a full accounting of Bob ’ s fate and will not rest until all Americans wrongfully detained by Iran are back home . ''
“ We ’ re going to keep working doggedly to determine the circumstances surrounding Bob ’ s abduction and his time in captivity , to find the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levinsons deserve , '' Wray 's email added .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

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The FBI won't give up on “finding out what happened" to former agent Robert Levinson, who disappeared from an Iranian island in 2007 and is believed to have died in Iranian custody, FBI Director Christopher Wray wrote in an email to his workforce on Thursday.
The email, obtained by The Associated Press, was sent a day after Levinson's family revealed that the U.S. government believes Levinson is dead. The family's statement on Wednesday said officials don't know "when or how he died, only that it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic."
ROBERT LEVINSON, RETIRED FBI AGENT, PRESUMED DEAD IN IRANIAN CUSTODY OVER A DECADE AFTER DISAPPEARANCE
Wray met with the Levinson family and “explained that the most credible evidence we have collected over the past 13 years points to the likelihood that Bob died in captivity," he writes in the email.
“It pained me to deliver that news, but I believe that we owed Bob’s family a thorough and candid presentation of the information that we’ve collected," Wray wrote without divulging more details pointing to evidence of Levinson's death.
Levinson was 58 when he traveled to Kish Island, Iran, in 2007 while working as a private investigator. He reportedly was taking part in an unauthorized CIA mission.
Upon his arrival, Levinson was said to have met with an American fugitive -- Dawud Salahuddin -- targeted by the CIA for recruitment, a source close to the Levinson case told Fox News in 2016.
Salahuddin was wanted by the CIA for allegedly murdering an Iranian diplomat in Maryland in 1980, and Levinson hoped the mission to deliver him to the agency would secure him full-time employment with the CIA, the source told Fox News at the time.
Shortly afterward, Levinson disappeared, but Iran repeatedly denied capturing him or knowing of his whereabouts.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Wray's vow to "find answers" for the Levinson family coincides with President Trump's push for Iran to confirm Levinson's death and take responsibility for his disappearance.
"Only Iran knows for certain what happened to Bob since his abduction more than 13 years ago," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Thursday. "As President Trump said, we call on the Iranian regime to provide a full accounting of Bob’s fate and will not rest until all Americans wrongfully detained by Iran are back home."
“We’re going to keep working doggedly to determine the circumstances surrounding Bob’s abduction and his time in captivity, to find the answers we all want and that the Levinsons deserve," Wray's email added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-03-27--'Wheel of Fortune' contestant surprises everyone with incredibly quick puzzle solve

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“ Wheel of Fortune ” fans were left shocked after a contestant solved a puzzle almost immediately with only one letter on the board .
The popular game show has continued to air its catalog of previously filmed episodes as people settle in to watch while quarantining themselves amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
During a recent episode , one contestant surprised both his opponents and viewers at home with one of the fastest solves in the game ’ s history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Franco from Brentwood , Calif. competed on a Triple Toss Up puzzle where he absolutely dominated the competition .
The first letter had barely been revealed when Franco hit his buzzer with the exact right answer .
'WHEEL OF FORTUNE ' HOST PAT SAJAK OPENS UP ABOUT HEALTH , RETIREMENT PLANS : ‘ I ’ M AS GOOD OR BAD AS NEW ’ The puzzle at the time read : “ _ ’ _ - _ _ _ _ _ G - _ - _ _ _ _ ” Franco buzzed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ M HAVING A BALL ” which instantly earned him points and the win .
The outlet notes that he found himself apologizing for winning a puzzle earlier in the game after his opponent missed it on a technicality .
However , host Pat Sajak insisted that he should “ never apologize for winning.
” That 's when the contestant came back with a vengeance and shocked the audience .
Despite the impressive puzzle solve , Franco wasn ’ t able to secure himself a spot to advance in the bonus round .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empty-handed .
He left his time on “ Wheel of Fortune ” with a $ 7,000 trip to London and $ 2,000 in spending money .
‘ WHEEL OF FORTUNE ’ HOST PAT SAJAK ’ S DAUGHTER SAYS ‘ IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME ’ WHEN STAR HAD HEALTH SCARE Franco is not the first person to shock viewers by solving a puzzle with little-to-no clues in recent memory .
In February , contestant Taya Somes was apparently in the zone during regulation play .
About halfway through the game , she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which she correctly did after finding zero vowels and just two consonants .
Before she agreed to venture a high-risk guess , the business owner and mother of five could only see : `` _ - _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ - N _ - _ T_ _ _ . ''
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Undeterred , she surprised even her fellow contestants when she asked to solve the puzzle , correctly guessing : “ A PLACE LIKE NO OTHER .
”

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“Wheel of Fortune” fans were left shocked after a contestant solved a puzzle almost immediately with only one letter on the board.
The popular game show has continued to air its catalog of previously filmed episodes as people settle in to watch while quarantining themselves amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. During a recent episode, one contestant surprised both his opponents and viewers at home with one of the fastest solves in the game’s history.
According to Yahoo Entertainment, contestant Mark Franco from Brentwood, Calif. competed on a Triple Toss Up puzzle where he absolutely dominated the competition. The first letter had barely been revealed when Franco hit his buzzer with the exact right answer.
'WHEEL OF FORTUNE' HOST PAT SAJAK OPENS UP ABOUT HEALTH, RETIREMENT PLANS: ‘I’M AS GOOD OR BAD AS NEW’
The puzzle at the time read: “_’_ - _ _ _ _ _ G - _ - _ _ _ _”
Franco buzzed in with the solve: “I’M HAVING A BALL” which instantly earned him points and the win.
The outlet notes that he found himself apologizing for winning a puzzle earlier in the game after his opponent missed it on a technicality. However, host Pat Sajak insisted that he should “never apologize for winning.”
That's when the contestant came back with a vengeance and shocked the audience. Despite the impressive puzzle solve, Franco wasn’t able to secure himself a spot to advance in the bonus round. However, he’s not walking away empty-handed. He left his time on “Wheel of Fortune” with a $7,000 trip to London and $2,000 in spending money.
‘WHEEL OF FORTUNE’ HOST PAT SAJAK’S DAUGHTER SAYS ‘IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME’ WHEN STAR HAD HEALTH SCARE
Franco is not the first person to shock viewers by solving a puzzle with little-to-no clues in recent memory. In February, contestant Taya Somes was apparently in the zone during regulation play. About halfway through the game, she was given a 17-letter puzzle to solve, which she correctly did after finding zero vowels and just two consonants.
Before she agreed to venture a high-risk guess, the business owner and mother of five could only see: "_ - _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ - N _ - _ T_ _ _ ."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Undeterred, she surprised even her fellow contestants when she asked to solve the puzzle, correctly guessing: “A PLACE LIKE NO OTHER.”


foxnews--2020-03-27--Lauren Green: Coronavirus crisis -- Why some churches are defying bans on gathering

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To defy or not to defy : For most houses of worship , it ’ s not even a question to consider , as they shutter their doors and switch to online services to thwart spreading the coronavirus .
But not all have complied .
On Friday The River at Tampa Bay Church in Florida was still planning to hold public church services for its thousands of members on Sunday .
As the COVID-19 virus has become a plague of seemingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tampa church ’ s founding pastor , Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne , has openly defied the state ’ s gathering ban on groups of 10 or more people and forced the closing of non-essential operations .
A lengthy legal article on the church ’ s website asks , “ By what authority does the government declare the church non-essential ?
” The River Church is not alone .
Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge , La.
, has also defied the state 's gathering ban .
Its pastor , the Reverend Tony Spell calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a phone interview with Fox News , he says his church had been hated long before the gathering ban because it serves the poor and needy with its multi-racial congregation in a community that is 88 percent white .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER He also says that his church offers the only hope for many who suffer .
“ I have seen members healed of HIV and cancer -- diseases [ that are ] bigger than COVID-19.
” The fundamental right to freedom of religion in the United States is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines as to when the government can impose its authority .
Most importantly , there has to be a compelling state interest .
Dr. Russell Moore , president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention says protecting citizens from the COVID-19 pandemic is a clear case .
Moore asserts , “ Governments are not specifically singling in on churches in a way that they 're not with other people .
And there 's a compelling government interest here , which is public health and making sure that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And so I think in that situation , this is perfectly constitutional.
” But The River Church ’ s legal analyst begs to differ .
Attorney KrisAnne Hall writes , “ When politicians assign an ‘ acceptable ’ number of people allowed in a private church , they are reducing our right to Freedom of Religion to a first-come , first-served privilege.
” Brad Dacus , founder of the conservative legal group Pacific Justice Institute says , “ this is a new ballgame.
” Dacus says he would never recommend any church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has vowed to defend and give legal counsel to any church that does .
He says , “ it 's very possible that there could be a church out there that may not be complying with a mandate but yet also may have a bona fide defense , based on the way that the mandate is being applied to other parties and other entities.
” Spell wholeheartedly agrees .
He points out that less than a mile from his church “ there ’ s a Walmart with 200 cars in the parking lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While no one in Spell ’ s church has contracted the virus so far , other congregants at churches and houses of worship in other states have not been so fortunate .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Three members of churches in California and Georgia are dead after contracting COVID-19 .
It is believed that they caught the virus in their respective houses of worship .
And nearly three dozen people connected to the 80 member Greers Ferry First Assembly of God in Arkansas have also tested positive for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife .
And in Brooklyn , New York the Catholic diocese is reporting that members in several parishes have tested positive for COVID- 19 positive cases .
All public masses are canceled there .
The Walmart is open in Baton Rouge near Spell ’ s church because it has a grocery store inside it which is considered essential .
But Spell and Howard-Browne say feeding our souls and our spirits are also essential .
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM LAUREN GREEN

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To defy or not to defy: For most houses of worship, it’s not even a question to consider, as they shutter their doors and switch to online services to thwart spreading the coronavirus.
But not all have complied.
On Friday The River at Tampa Bay Church in Florida was still planning to hold public church services for its thousands of members on Sunday.
CHURCH SIGNS SPREAD GOOD WORDS DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
As the COVID-19 virus has become a plague of seemingly biblical proportions around the world, the Tampa church’s founding pastor, Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne, has openly defied the state’s gathering ban on groups of 10 or more people and forced the closing of non-essential operations.
A lengthy legal article on the church’s website asks, “By what authority does the government declare the church non-essential?”
The River Church is not alone.
Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, La., has also defied the state's gathering ban. Its pastor, the Reverend Tony Spell calls the ban “politically motivated.”
In a phone interview with Fox News, he says his church had been hated long before the gathering ban because it serves the poor and needy with its multi-racial congregation in a community that is 88 percent white.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER
He also says that his church offers the only hope for many who suffer. “I have seen members healed of HIV and cancer -- diseases [that are] bigger than COVID-19.”
The fundamental right to freedom of religion in the United States is sacrosanct. And there are strict legal guidelines as to when the government can impose its authority. Most importantly, there has to be a compelling state interest.
Dr. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention says protecting citizens from the COVID-19 pandemic is a clear case.
Moore asserts, “Governments are not specifically singling in on churches in a way that they're not with other people. And there's a compelling government interest here, which is public health and making sure that the most vulnerable among us aren't sacrificed. And so I think in that situation, this is perfectly constitutional.”
But The River Church’s legal analyst begs to differ. Attorney KrisAnne Hall writes, “When politicians assign an ‘acceptable’ number of people allowed in a private church, they are reducing our right to Freedom of Religion to a first-come, first-served privilege.”
Brad Dacus, founder of the conservative legal group Pacific Justice Institute says, “this is a new ballgame.”
Dacus says he would never recommend any church violate local laws, but that PJI has vowed to defend and give legal counsel to any church that does.
He says, “it's very possible that there could be a church out there that may not be complying with a mandate but yet also may have a bona fide defense, based on the way that the mandate is being applied to other parties and other entities.”
Spell wholeheartedly agrees. He points out that less than a mile from his church “there’s a Walmart with 200 cars in the parking lot, and nobody blinks an eye.”
While no one in Spell’s church has contracted the virus so far, other congregants at churches and houses of worship in other states have not been so fortunate.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Three members of churches in California and Georgia are dead after contracting COVID-19. It is believed that they caught the virus in their respective houses of worship. And nearly three dozen people connected to the 80 member Greers Ferry First Assembly of God in Arkansas have also tested positive for the new coronavirus including its pastor and his wife. And in Brooklyn, New York the Catholic diocese is reporting that members in several parishes have tested positive for COVID- 19 positive cases. All public masses are canceled there.
The Walmart is open in Baton Rouge near Spell’s church because it has a grocery store inside it which is considered essential. But Spell and Howard-Browne say feeding our souls and our spirits are also essential.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM LAUREN GREEN


foxnews--2020-03-27--Camila Cabello, Dave Grohl, Sam Smith and others join lineup for FOX concert special

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Camila Cabello , Dave Grohl , H.E.R .
and Sam Smith have joined the lineup for FOX 's upcoming concert special to benefit Americans struggling during the coronavirus pandemic .
Fox Corporation and iHeartMedia have teamed up to for `` FOX Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America , '' which will air on Sunday at 9 p.m .
ET on all FOX platforms and iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide .
ELTON JOHN TO HOST ‘ FOX PRESENTS THE IHEART LIVING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special concert event will pay tribute to frontline medical professionals , first responders and local heroes while soliciting donations from viewers and listeners .
The event is hosted by Elton John and previously announced performers include Alicia Keys , Backstreet Boys , Billie Eilish , Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day , Mariah Carey and Tim McGraw .
CORONAVIRUS : WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The hourlong concert will also feature inspirational messages from guests as well as special appearances from Ciara , Demi Lovato , Lizzo , Russell Wilson and more as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the those who are putting their lives in harm ’ s way to help their neighbors and fight the spread of the virus .
It also will encourage viewers to support two of the many charitable organizations helping victims and first responders during the pandemic : Feeding America® and First Responders Children ’ s Foundation .
The benefit special will air in the timeslot originally scheduled for the “ iHeartRadio Music Awards , ” which was postponed as a result of the growing pandemic .
The show will be unique in that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on television from their very own homes !
FOX , IHEART RADIO 'LIVING ROOM CONCERT FOR AMERICA ' DRIVING DOLLARS TO TWO CHARITIES Mariah Carey is performing from her home studio with a door open so she can watch her children at the same time .
The Backstreet Boys will perform together , but from each of their respective residences .
Billie Eilish plans on singing from her family ’ s couch .
“ This is something completely different than we ’ ve ever tried before , ” explained iHeart Media president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at work putting together “ FOX Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America ” that will air on Sunday night .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP FOX will offer the event across all of its linear and digital platforms .
Last week , Fox Corporation announced it would provide everyone in America unlimited free access to Fox News Channel and FOX television stations during the coronavirus pandemic .

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
Camila Cabello, Dave Grohl, H.E.R. and Sam Smith have joined the lineup for FOX's upcoming concert special to benefit Americans struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fox Corporation and iHeartMedia have teamed up to for "FOX Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America," which will air on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on all FOX platforms and iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide.
ELTON JOHN TO HOST ‘FOX PRESENTS THE IHEART LIVING ROOM CONCERT FOR AMERICA’
The commercial-free special concert event will pay tribute to frontline medical professionals, first responders and local heroes while soliciting donations from viewers and listeners.
The event is hosted by Elton John and previously announced performers include Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Mariah Carey and Tim McGraw.
CORONAVIRUS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The hourlong concert will also feature inspirational messages from guests as well as special appearances from Ciara, Demi Lovato, Lizzo, Russell Wilson and more as the benefit special will pay tribute to the those who are putting their lives in harm’s way to help their neighbors and fight the spread of the virus.
It also will encourage viewers to support two of the many charitable organizations helping victims and first responders during the pandemic: Feeding America® and First Responders Children’s Foundation.
The benefit special will air in the timeslot originally scheduled for the “iHeartRadio Music Awards,” which was postponed as a result of the growing pandemic.
The show will be unique in that the world's biggest stars will be performing on television from their very own homes!
FOX, IHEART RADIO 'LIVING ROOM CONCERT FOR AMERICA' DRIVING DOLLARS TO TWO CHARITIES
Mariah Carey is performing from her home studio with a door open so she can watch her children at the same time. The Backstreet Boys will perform together, but from each of their respective residences.
Billie Eilish plans on singing from her family’s couch.
“This is something completely different than we’ve ever tried before,” explained iHeart Media president of entertainment John Sykes, who is hard at work putting together “FOX Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America” that will air on Sunday night.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
FOX will offer the event across all of its linear and digital platforms.
Last week, Fox Corporation announced it would provide everyone in America unlimited free access to Fox News Channel and FOX television stations during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-05-12--After recovering from coronavirus, are you immune?

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As coronavirus spreads across the globe , a crucial question has emerged : After recovering from an infection , are people immune ?
This question is important for understanding who can safely go back to work , as well as for understanding how long the worst impacts of the pandemic are likely to last .
Because the virus is so new , the answer is n't fully understood .
But so far , scientists say , it looks like SARS-CoV-2 probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means that the human body will probably retain a memory of the virus for at least a few years and should be protected from reinfection , at least in the short-term .
`` We do not have any reason to assume that the immune response would be significantly different '' from what 's seen with other coronaviruses , said Nicolas Vabret , an assistant professor of medicine at the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine who specializes in virology and immunology .
Investigations of SARS-CoV-2 so far have suggested , however , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributes to the devastating effects of the disease in some people .
When a virus attacks its first cell in the body , that cell has two jobs to do before it dies , said Benjamin tenOever , a professor of biology at the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine .
The infected cell needs to issue a call for reinforcements , sending out a cascade of chemical signals that will activate an army of immune cells to come battle the invading virus .
And it needs to issue a warning to other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something it does by releasing proteins called interferons .
When interferons land on neighboring cells , they trigger those cells to enter defensive mode .
The cells slow down their metabolism , stop the transport of proteins and other molecules around their interiors , and slow down transcription , the process by which genetic instructions become proteins and other molecules .
( Transcription is the process that viruses hijack to make more of themselves . )
In a study accepted to the journal Cell , tenOever and his colleagues found that SARS-CoV-2 appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it messes with the cell 's second job .
So the first job — the call for immune system reinforcement — works just fine , but the cells in the lungs do n't enter defensive mode and so remain vulnerable to viral infection .
`` It just keeps replicating in your lungs , and replicating in your lungs and all the while you keep calling in for more reinforcements , '' tenOever told Live Science .
In many people , even this crippled immune response is enough to beat back the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some people enter a vicious cycle .
As the virus keeps replicating , the immune army that arrives to battle it starts doing its job : attacking infected cells , digesting debris and chemicals spewed out by dying cells , even killing nearby cells in an attempt to staunch the damage .
Unfortunately , if the virus continues to penetrate lung cells , this army may do more damage than good .
The lung tissue becomes hopelessly inflamed ; the blood vessels begin to leak fluids into the lung ; and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This seems to be the reason that some people become severely ill a couple of weeks after their initial infections , tenOever said .
`` At that point , it 's not about what the virus has done , '' he said .
`` At that point , it 's about controlling the severe inflammation . ''
This cycle is very bad news .
But there is a glimmer of hope in the findings .
Because the system that calls in the army of immune cells works fine , it seems likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the virus .
And indeed , studies have found high levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in recently recovered patients .
Antibodies are proteins made by immune system cells called B cells .
They stick around in the blood post-infection and can bind to the virus , either neutralizing it directly or marking it for destruction by other immune cells .
CAN ANTIBODY TESTS TELL IF YOU 'RE IMMUNE TO COVID-19 ?
For example , a study led by researcher Chen Dong of the Institute for Immunology and the School of Medicine at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 14 COVID-19 patients who had experienced relatively mild COVID-19 symptoms 14 days after discharge from the hospital .
They found that 13 of them showed high levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 , indicating immune protection from immediate reinfection .
The findings have been accepted for publication in the journal Immunity .
These findings coincide with results from other studies of recovered patients , and are the main reason that scientists are n't concerned by the occasional reports of people recovering from COVID-19 , testing negative for the virus via a nasal swab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then testing positive again within a few weeks .
These people are n't reinfected , tenOever said .
Their antibody levels are high and their immune system is armed against further attack .
Instead , the PCR tests are simply picking up bits of inert viral genetic debris left over from the previous infection .
How long will COVID-19 immunity last ?
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has only been circulating in human hosts for five or six months , which means that there is simply no way to know whether immunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How long immunity lasts is a big question , Tsinghua 's Dong told Live Science via email .
`` Per our findings , we can only confirm that COVID-19 patients can maintain the adaptive immunity to SARS-CoV-2 for 2 weeks post-discharge , '' he wrote .
Evidence from other coronaviruses suggests that immunity probably lasts longer than that , Vabret said .
Along with Mount Sinai colleagues Robert Samstein and Miriam Merad , Vibrat led more than two dozen doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers in an effort to review the avalanche of immunology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journals and on preprint servers that host scientific papers before peer review .
Studies of SARS-CoV-2 's proteins and genetics suggest that the virus seems likely to induce a long-term immune response similar to that of other coronaviruses , like 2002 's SARS 1 , or Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome ( MERS ) , which arose in 2012 .
20 OF THE WORST EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS IN HISTORY Research on SARS 1 and MERS suggests that some level of antibody immunity persists for at least two or three years , starting high and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samstein told Live Science .
The immune system also produces a type of immune cell called virus-specific T cells in response to coronavirus infection .
Less is known about T cells compared with antibodies , Vabret and Samstein said , because they are more difficult to find in the blood and study .
But other coronaviruses seem to trigger their production , and these T cells seem to last for years in those cases .
In one study of SARS 1 published in the journal Vaccine , researchers found these memory T cells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection .
Ultimately , researchers are still uncertain about what level of long-term immune memory is sufficient to protect against future coronavirus infection , and how long it takes for the immune system to drop below that level .
It 's not even clear whether someone with immunity could spread the coronavirus to others while fighting off a second infection , Vabret and Samstein said .
If the immune response were strong enough to crush the virus quickly , the person probably would n't transmit it further , they said .
A weaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not prevent transmission , though , particularly since people without symptoms are known to pass the coronavirus around .
`` We 're taking lessons from the older viruses , but we do n't know how much for sure how much is similar , '' Samstein said .
This uncertainty does not reduce hopes for a vaccine , though .
One benefit of vaccines is that researchers can mimic the viral proteins that trigger the most effective immune response .
Thus , vaccination can often induce immunity that lasts longer than immunity from falling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection that would be better than what you would get from an infection , '' Vabret said .

As coronavirus spreads across the globe, a crucial question has emerged: After recovering from an infection, are people immune?
This question is important for understanding who can safely go back to work, as well as for understanding how long the worst impacts of the pandemic are likely to last. Because the virus is so new, the answer isn't fully understood. But so far, scientists say, it looks like SARS-CoV-2 probably induces immunity like other coronaviruses . That means that the human body will probably retain a memory of the virus for at least a few years and should be protected from reinfection, at least in the short-term.
"We do not have any reason to assume that the immune response would be significantly different" from what's seen with other coronaviruses, said Nicolas Vabret, an assistant professor of medicine at the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine who specializes in virology and immunology.
Investigations of SARS-CoV-2 so far have suggested, however, that the immune response to the virus also contributes to the devastating effects of the disease in some people.
Related: 13 coronavirus myths busted by science
The immune response to coronavirus
When a virus attacks its first cell in the body, that cell has two jobs to do before it dies, said Benjamin tenOever, a professor of biology at the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine. The infected cell needs to issue a call for reinforcements, sending out a cascade of chemical signals that will activate an army of immune cells to come battle the invading virus. And it needs to issue a warning to other cells around it to fortify themselves, something it does by releasing proteins called interferons. When interferons land on neighboring cells, they trigger those cells to enter defensive mode. The cells slow down their metabolism, stop the transport of proteins and other molecules around their interiors, and slow down transcription, the process by which genetic instructions become proteins and other molecules. (Transcription is the process that viruses hijack to make more of themselves.)
In a study accepted to the journal Cell , tenOever and his colleagues found that SARS-CoV-2 appears to block this interferon signal, meaning it messes with the cell's second job. So the first job — the call for immune system reinforcement — works just fine, but the cells in the lungs don't enter defensive mode and so remain vulnerable to viral infection.
"It just keeps replicating in your lungs, and replicating in your lungs and all the while you keep calling in for more reinforcements," tenOever told Live Science.
In many people, even this crippled immune response is enough to beat back the virus. But for reasons not yet fully understood, some people enter a vicious cycle. As the virus keeps replicating, the immune army that arrives to battle it starts doing its job: attacking infected cells, digesting debris and chemicals spewed out by dying cells, even killing nearby cells in an attempt to staunch the damage. Unfortunately, if the virus continues to penetrate lung cells, this army may do more damage than good. The lung tissue becomes hopelessly inflamed; the blood vessels begin to leak fluids into the lung; and the patient begins to drown on dry land. This seems to be the reason that some people become severely ill a couple of weeks after their initial infections, tenOever said.
"At that point, it's not about what the virus has done," he said. "At that point, it's about controlling the severe inflammation."
This cycle is very bad news. But there is a glimmer of hope in the findings. Because the system that calls in the army of immune cells works fine, it seems likely that survivors of COVID-19 will retain immunity to the virus. And indeed, studies have found high levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in recently recovered patients. Antibodies are proteins made by immune system cells called B cells. They stick around in the blood post-infection and can bind to the virus, either neutralizing it directly or marking it for destruction by other immune cells.
Related: Can antibody tests tell if you're immune to COVID-19?
For example, a study led by researcher Chen Dong of the Institute for Immunology and the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University in Beijing analyzed the blood of 14 COVID-19 patients who had experienced relatively mild COVID-19 symptoms 14 days after discharge from the hospital. They found that 13 of them showed high levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, indicating immune protection from immediate reinfection. The findings have been accepted for publication in the journal Immunity .
These findings coincide with results from other studies of recovered patients, and are the main reason that scientists aren't concerned by the occasional reports of people recovering from COVID-19, testing negative for the virus via a nasal swab PCR test that detects the viral genome, and then testing positive again within a few weeks. These people aren't reinfected, tenOever said. Their antibody levels are high and their immune system is armed against further attack. Instead, the PCR tests are simply picking up bits of inert viral genetic debris left over from the previous infection.
How long will COVID-19 immunity last?
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has only been circulating in human hosts for five or six months, which means that there is simply no way to know whether immunity to the disease lasts longer than that. How long immunity lasts is a big question, Tsinghua's Dong told Live Science via email.
"Per our findings, we can only confirm that COVID-19 patients can maintain the adaptive immunity to SARS-CoV-2 for 2 weeks post-discharge," he wrote.
Evidence from other coronaviruses suggests that immunity probably lasts longer than that, Vabret said. Along with Mount Sinai colleagues Robert Samstein and Miriam Merad, Vibrat led more than two dozen doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers in an effort to review the avalanche of immunology research coming out about the coronavirus in journals and on preprint servers that host scientific papers before peer review. Studies of SARS-CoV-2's proteins and genetics suggest that the virus seems likely to induce a long-term immune response similar to that of other coronaviruses, like 2002's SARS 1, or Middle Easter respiratory syndrome (MERS), which arose in 2012.
Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history
Research on SARS 1 and MERS suggests that some level of antibody immunity persists for at least two or three years, starting high and gradually waning as time goes by, Samstein told Live Science.
The immune system also produces a type of immune cell called virus-specific T cells in response to coronavirus infection. Less is known about T cells compared with antibodies, Vabret and Samstein said, because they are more difficult to find in the blood and study. But other coronaviruses seem to trigger their production, and these T cells seem to last for years in those cases. In one study of SARS 1 published in the journal Vaccine , researchers found these memory T cells last for up to 11 years after infection.
Ultimately, researchers are still uncertain about what level of long-term immune memory is sufficient to protect against future coronavirus infection, and how long it takes for the immune system to drop below that level. It's not even clear whether someone with immunity could spread the coronavirus to others while fighting off a second infection, Vabret and Samstein said. If the immune response were strong enough to crush the virus quickly, the person probably wouldn't transmit it further, they said. A weaker response that allowed some viral replication might not prevent transmission, though, particularly since people without symptoms are known to pass the coronavirus around.
"We're taking lessons from the older viruses , but we don't know how much for sure how much is similar," Samstein said.
This uncertainty does not reduce hopes for a vaccine, though. One benefit of vaccines is that researchers can mimic the viral proteins that trigger the most effective immune response. Thus, vaccination can often induce immunity that lasts longer than immunity from falling ill.
"You can aim at inducing protection that would be better than what you would get from an infection," Vabret said.
(Image credit: Nicholas Forder)


foxnews--2020-06-23--Kids are developing PTSD from coronavirus pandemic

The coronavirus wreaks havoc on the body and mind , and guardians should be aware of how their children are coping , researchers say .
There is a common misconception that children are more apt to bounce back from a difficult experience , but a new report from London-based advocacy group the Childhood Trust is shining a light on how disadvantaged and marginalized children are especially susceptible to traumatic and post-traumatic stress as a result of a global pandemic .
INDIANA TEEN DIES OF CORONAVIRUS : ‘ WE HAVE LOST A BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL SHINING LIGHT ’ Talking to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the organization , anecdotally claims that many children have had “ vivid nightmares ” of illness and death during the outbreak — a symptom of PTSD .
“ The rising death tolls being reported every day — these kids have seen all of that and internalized it , ” he said .
The report outlines several ways that restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are having a greater impact on at-risk children .
“ We have engaged directly with children and families living in poverty who have been severely affected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Families who were already enduring hard , challenging lives have had to survive lockdown in the most appalling circumstances .
For children in poverty , the crisis has multiplied the impact of the adversities they endure , such as hunger , fear , isolation and stigma.
” Factors such as domestic abuse and poor access to food , education , health care and recreation are all amplified by social-distancing measures and economic recession in dire times such as these .
Social distancing makes it more difficult for parents to seek medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hunger are made worse by an economic recession .
Dr. Adam Brown , clinical assistant professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone , outlined the signs of traumatic stress in a recent article .
“ Worry , confusion or sadness ” would be expected during a “ frightening ” event , Brown says .
But some “ emotional and behavioral reactions might indicate traumatic stress , ” which could lead to post-traumatic stress in the future .
He says “ current stressors , ” meaning the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on younger children , aged 10 and under , in his own report , and points to symptoms such as intrusive thoughts and nightmares ; anxious behaviors such as bed-wetting and irritability ; an inability to focus or forgetfulness ; and physical manifestations of fear , such as stomachaches and difficulty sleeping .
For most children exhibiting traumatic stress , “ these symptoms will likely resolve within a few days or weeks , while some may have a more lasting impact , ” Brown says .
But whether a child is in need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a prolonged event , such as the current pandemic , “ so if in doubt , consult with a professional , ” he writes .
This article originally appeared in the New York Post .

The coronavirus wreaks havoc on the body and mind, and guardians should be aware of how their children are coping, researchers say.
There is a common misconception that children are more apt to bounce back from a difficult experience, but Dr. Adam Brown, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone, says that parents ought to “be paying close attention.”
“Most people, adults and children, are resilient,” he tells The Post. “That being said, 15% to 40% of humans,” — the percentage of people thought to meet the criteria for PTSD after a traumatic event — “is still a lot of people at risk of developing traumatic stress responses.”
A new report from London-based advocacy group the Childhood Trust is shining a light on how disadvantaged and marginalized children are especially susceptible to traumatic and post-traumatic stress as a result of a global pandemic.
Laurence Guinness, chief executive of the organization, anecdotally claims that many children have had “vivid nightmares” of illness and death during the outbreak — a symptom of PTSD, he told the BBC.
“The rising death tolls being reported every day — these kids have seen all of that and internalized it,” he said.
The report outlines several ways that restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are having a greater impact on at-risk children.
“We have engaged directly with children and families living in poverty who have been severely affected by this crisis,” the report states. “Families who were already enduring hard, challenging lives have had to survive lockdown in the most appalling circumstances. For children in poverty, the crisis has multiplied the impact of the adversities they endure, such as hunger, fear, isolation and stigma.”
Factors such as domestic abuse and poor access to food, education, health care and recreation are all amplified by social-distancing measures and economic recession in dire times such as these. Social distancing makes it more difficult for parents to seek medical treatment for their children, while poverty and hunger are made worse by an economic recession.
“Most of us are not experiencing trauma,” says Dr. Brown. But “children who … have watched people close to them die may experience these events as traumatic.”
Dr. Brown outlined the signs of traumatic stress in a recent article.
“Worry, confusion or sadness” would be expected during a “frightening” event, Brown wrote. But some “emotional and behavioral reactions might indicate traumatic stress,” which could lead to post-traumatic stress in the future. He says “current stressors,” meaning the outbreak, “are ongoing.”
Brown focuses on younger children, aged 10 and under, in his own report, and points to symptoms such as intrusive thoughts and nightmares; anxious behaviors such as bed-wetting and irritability; an inability to focus or forgetfulness; and physical manifestations of fear, such as stomachaches and difficulty sleeping.
For most children exhibiting traumatic stress, “these symptoms will likely resolve within a few days or weeks, while some may have a more lasting impact,” Brown says. But whether a child is in need of treatment can be hard to determine during a prolonged event, such as the current pandemic, “so if in doubt, consult with a professional,” he writes.


foxnews--2020-05-15--Politico knocks media for incorrect predictions of DeSantis' Florida reopening following positive ro

Politico knocks media for incorrect predictions of DeSantis' Florida reopening following positive rollout

Politico had some choice words for the naysayers in the mainstream media who blasted Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis for reopening his state after its latest coronavirus data suggests a sunny outlook .
In Thursday night 's coronavirus newsletter , Politico reporters Marc Caputo and Renuka Rayasam began by noting that Florida was `` not a post-apocalyptic hellscape of coronavirus infection and cadavers stacked like cordwood . ''
`` Florida just doesn ’ t look nearly as bad as the national news media and sky-is-falling critics have been predicting for about two months now , '' they wrote .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is mostly based in New York and loves to love its Democratic governor , Andrew Cuomo , about as much as it loves to hate on Florida ’ s Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis . ''
WASHINGTON POST 'S JENNIFER RUBIN MOCKED FOR REPEATEDLY CLAIMING 'THE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN ' ON TRUMP Caputo and Rayasam acknowledged that `` DeSantis looks more right than those who criticized '' his decision to slowly reopen the state , pointing to the fewer than 2,000 dead and the roughly 43,000 cases , which was `` a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were previously made , also noting that Florida 's coronavirus numbers are `` dwarfed '' by New York 's and that `` more people reportedly died in New York nursing homes than in all of Florida . ''
`` DeSantis is actually polling worse than Cuomo in their respective states , and the Florida press is wondering why , '' the newsletter continued .
`` Part of that is style .
Cuomo has a smooth delivery , a deep and calming voice and an attitude that projects he can answer any question .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ defensive , has made a misstatement or two and was mocked for struggling to put on a mask .
But most of the difference between DeSantis and Cuomo is due to politics .
DeSantis governs a politically divided state .
Cuomo is a scion of Democratic royalty in a deeply Democratic state . ''
The Politico reporters acknowledged that `` media bias '' is a major factor , noting how Cuomo has a press that `` defers to him '' and `` preferred to cover 'Florida Morons ' at the beach . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeSantis had a brother who worked in cable news and interviewed him for a “ sweet moment ” in primetime , '' the reporters wrote as an apparent knock towards CNN anchor Chris Cuomo 's softball interviews with his governor brother .
However , they noted that DeSantis `` ca n't quite take a victory lap '' since he `` deferred to local leaders early on '' and how `` more than 1.4 million unique unemployment claims have been submitted , but only half have received compensation .
`` DeSantis is trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a state he won by less than half a point two years ago , and one that President Donald Trump won by slightly more than a point in 2016 , it ’ s a political time bomb to have potentially hundreds of thousands of people blaming the party in power for their woes in an election year , '' the newsletter concluded .

Politico had some choice words for the naysayers in the mainstream media who blasted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for reopening his state after its latest coronavirus data suggests a sunny outlook.
In Thursday night's coronavirus newsletter, Politico reporters Marc Caputo and Renuka Rayasam began by noting that Florida was "not a post-apocalyptic hellscape of coronavirus infection and cadavers stacked like cordwood."
"Florida just doesn’t look nearly as bad as the national news media and sky-is-falling critics have been predicting for about two months now," they wrote. "But then, the national news media is mostly based in New York and loves to love its Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, about as much as it loves to hate on Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis."
WASHINGTON POST'S JENNIFER RUBIN MOCKED FOR REPEATEDLY CLAIMING 'THE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN' ON TRUMP
Caputo and Rayasam acknowledged that "DeSantis looks more right than those who criticized" his decision to slowly reopen the state, pointing to the fewer than 2,000 dead and the roughly 43,000 cases, which was "a fraction of the dire predictions" that were previously made, also noting that Florida's coronavirus numbers are "dwarfed" by New York's and that "more people reportedly died in New York nursing homes than in all of Florida."
"DeSantis is actually polling worse than Cuomo in their respective states, and the Florida press is wondering why," the newsletter continued. "Part of that is style. Cuomo has a smooth delivery, a deep and calming voice and an attitude that projects he can answer any question. DeSantis sometimes comes across as peevish and defensive, has made a misstatement or two and was mocked for struggling to put on a mask. But most of the difference between DeSantis and Cuomo is due to politics. DeSantis governs a politically divided state. Cuomo is a scion of Democratic royalty in a deeply Democratic state."
The Politico reporters acknowledged that "media bias" is a major factor, noting how Cuomo has a press that "defers to him" and "preferred to cover 'Florida Morons' at the beach."
"Maybe things would be different if DeSantis had a brother who worked in cable news and interviewed him for a “sweet moment” in primetime," the reporters wrote as an apparent knock towards CNN anchor Chris Cuomo's softball interviews with his governor brother.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
However, they noted that DeSantis "can't quite take a victory lap" since he "deferred to local leaders early on" and how "more than 1.4 million unique unemployment claims have been submitted, but only half have received compensation.
"DeSantis is trying to get fixed quickly. He knows that in a state he won by less than half a point two years ago, and one that President Donald Trump won by slightly more than a point in 2016, it’s a political time bomb to have potentially hundreds of thousands of people blaming the party in power for their woes in an election year," the newsletter concluded.


foxnews--2020-05-15--Tucker: Georgia's flat coronavirus numbers after reopening suggests 'America can begin to return to

Tucker: Georgia's flat coronavirus numbers after reopening suggests 'America can begin to return to normal'

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Georgia 's success in reopening its economy should serve as an example to leaders across the country who are hesitant to lift their coronavirus-induced lockdown orders , Tucker Carlson said Thursday .
The `` Tucker Carlson Tonight '' host praised Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp , who last week reported that his state had its lowest number of hospitalized coronavirus patients since hospitals began reporting in early April .
The good news came just days after Kemp moved forward with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders on both sides of the aisle .
`` The decision was described ... as the most reckless public health decision since 9 out of 10 family doctors endorsed Camel cigarettes , '' Carlson mocked .
`` Untold millions would die because Georgia was reopening ... '' '' Mayors in Georgia were describing the governor 's decision as reckless , dangerous , and illogical ... that is how dangerous it was , '' he went on .
On April 25 , the first day of Georgia 's phased reopening , the state had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Carlson explained .
As of Wednesday , 18 days later , Georgia had a total of 555 new cases .
`` There are still sick people in the state and some of them will die , but as of tonight , Georgia 's numbers , the actual numbers , are no worse than the national average .
And that tells us a lot , '' the host argued .
`` We should be thrilled by this news because it suggests that America can begin to return to normal , restore rights stolen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like adults once again , and not court medical disasters . ''
Carlson then rounded on Democratic leaders who have extended their state or city 's lockdowns -- singling out Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee , Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti .
`` You would think our leadership would be racing to the podium to share this great news , '' he said , `` but of course they are not .
Just the opposite , in fact , they are doubling down on authoritarianism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
They do not plan to relinquish the power they receive from this pandemic anytime soon , if ever . ''
`` This is insanity , obviously , '' he went on , `` and at some point we will look back in shame as we consider it .
Politicians will always seize the maximum amount of power they can .
That is why they went into politics , to fill that empty space inside .
The question is for the rest of us , why are we allowing this to happen @ @

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Georgia's success in reopening its economy should serve as an example to leaders across the country who are hesitant to lift their coronavirus-induced lockdown orders, Tucker Carlson said Thursday.
The "Tucker Carlson Tonight" host praised Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who last week reported that his state had its lowest number of hospitalized coronavirus patients since hospitals began reporting in early April. The good news came just days after Kemp moved forward with his reopening plan, despite strong opposition from leaders on both sides of the aisle.
GEORGIA REPORTS LOWEST NUMBERS OF COVID PATIENTS IN A MONTH
"The decision was described ... as the most reckless public health decision since 9 out of 10 family doctors endorsed Camel cigarettes," Carlson mocked. "Untold millions would die because Georgia was reopening..."
"Mayors in Georgia were describing the governor's decision as reckless, dangerous, and illogical ... that is how dangerous it was," he went on.
NJ GOV. MURPHY DEFENDS RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS
On April 25, the first day of Georgia's phased reopening, the state had 650 new reported cases of coronavirus," Carlson explained. As of Wednesday, 18 days later, Georgia had a total of 555 new cases.
"There are still sick people in the state and some of them will die, but as of tonight, Georgia's numbers, the actual numbers, are no worse than the national average. And that tells us a lot," the host argued. "We should be thrilled by this news because it suggests that America can begin to return to normal, restore rights stolen from the population, maybe treat citizens like adults once again, and not court medical disasters."
Carlson then rounded on Democratic leaders who have extended their state or city's lockdowns -- singling out Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
"You would think our leadership would be racing to the podium to share this great news," he said, "but of course they are not. Just the opposite, in fact, they are doubling down on authoritarianism. They enjoy being in control of your life. They do not plan to relinquish the power they receive from this pandemic anytime soon, if ever."
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
"This is insanity, obviously," he went on, "and at some point we will look back in shame as we consider it. Politicians will always seize the maximum amount of power they can. That is why they went into politics, to fill that empty space inside. The question is for the rest of us, why are we allowing this to happen?"


foxnews--2020-05-15--First cases of possible coronavirus-linked inflammatory condition in children reported in Mississipp

First cases of possible coronavirus-linked inflammatory condition in children reported in Mississippi, Oregon

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Oregon and Mississippi this week joined a seemingly growing list of states that have reported cases of a mysterious inflammatory illness in children that experts think is possibly related to the novel coronavirus .
In Oregon , a child being treated for a COVID-19 infection at Randall Children ’ s Hospital in Portland has become what is said to be the state ’ s first case of `` pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome , '' which is reportedly similar to Kawasaki disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in medium-sized arteries throughout the body .
CORONAVIRUS IN THE US : STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN The Oregon Health Authority ( OHA ) on Wednesday announced the case in a young female patient .
No other details were provided .
“ We don ’ t believe this syndrome is very common , but several cases have been reported elsewhere in association with COVID-19 , ” said Dr. Paul Cieslak , the medical director for infectious diseases and immunizations at the OHA Public Health Division , in a statement .
“ This syndrome appears to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in children.
” Meanwhile , in Mississippi , health officials announced what is also thought to be the state ’ s first case of pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome ( PIMS ) .
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday , Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said the state has one suspected case that officials are now investigating .
“ It ’ s primarily in kids less than five years of age .
We will start collecting case reports from physicians .
It ’ s been becoming a reportable condition now in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so we can then report it on the CDC , ” Dobbs said , according to a local news outlet .
“ Thus far , we have one suspect case of this syndrome that we are looking into right now.
” More cases of the Kawasaki disease-like inflammatory condition are likely to pop up in other children around the country as the virus continues to spread , experts have warned .
Already this week , for instance , officials from Yale-New Haven Children ’ s Hospital ( YNHCH ) in Connecticut announced three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients there .
The cases are said to be the state ’ s first and have since been reported to the Connecticut Department of Public health , the hospital said in a news release .
The condition has also affected several patients at Children ’ s Hospital Los Angeles in California , as well as at least one child in Louisiana .
A 6-month-old who was hospitalized in California with Kawasaki disease last month also tested positive for COVID-19 , Reuters reported at the time .
Meanwhile , physicians in Washington , D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mysterious condition .
Additionally , at least three young children in New York died after being hospitalized with the rare Kawasaki disease-like illness , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said last weekend .
The news comes after British health authorities , in a warning to health care professionals in late April , said that some severely ill pediatric patients in the country — including some who were positive for the coronavirus — presented an “ unusual clinical picture ” that included inflammatory symptoms possibly linked to COVID-19 .
The U.K. Pediatric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing an email alert from the National Health Service ( NHS ) in England , said in a news release that health officials had reported “ a small rise in the number of cases of critically ill children presenting with an unusual clinical picture ” at the time .
More specifically , it is a “ multi-system inflammatory state ” that may be connected to the novel virus .
“ The cases have in common overlapping features of toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki disease with blood parameters consistent with severe COVID-19 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been a common feature as has cardiac inflammation , ” the NHS notice reads , according to PICS .
CLICK FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK Dr. Jacqueline Szmuszkovicz , a pediatric cardiologist at Children ’ s Hospital Los Angeles , recently said that children who have a fever that lasts for four or more days should seek medical attention .
“ Certainly , if they see any of the other signs — the rash , the red tongue , red eyes — we encourage them to seek care , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Oregon and Mississippi this week joined a seemingly growing list of states that have reported cases of a mysterious inflammatory illness in children that experts think is possibly related to the novel coronavirus.
In Oregon, a child being treated for a COVID-19 infection at Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland has become what is said to be the state’s first case of "pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome," which is reportedly similar to Kawasaki disease, or a condition that causes swelling in medium-sized arteries throughout the body.
CORONAVIRUS IN THE US: STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on Wednesday announced the case in a young female patient. No other details were provided.
“We don’t believe this syndrome is very common, but several cases have been reported elsewhere in association with COVID-19,” said Dr. Paul Cieslak, the medical director for infectious diseases and immunizations at the OHA Public Health Division, in a statement. “This syndrome appears to be an uncommon but serious complication of COVID-19 in children.”
Meanwhile, in Mississippi, health officials announced what is also thought to be the state’s first case of pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome (PIMS). Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said the state has one suspected case that officials are now investigating.
“It’s primarily in kids less than five years of age. We will start collecting case reports from physicians. It’s been becoming a reportable condition now in Mississippi. Physicians need to tell us so we can then report it on the CDC,” Dobbs said, according to a local news outlet. “Thus far, we have one suspect case of this syndrome that we are looking into right now.”
More cases of the Kawasaki disease-like inflammatory condition are likely to pop up in other children around the country as the virus continues to spread, experts have warned.
Already this week, for instance, officials from Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital (YNHCH) in Connecticut announced three cases of the condition in pediatric coronavirus patients there. The cases are said to be the state’s first and have since been reported to the Connecticut Department of Public health, the hospital said in a news release.
CORONAVIRUS CLAIMS LIFE OF CHICAGO BOY, 12: OFFICIALS
The condition has also affected several patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in California, as well as at least one child in Louisiana.
A 6-month-old who was hospitalized in California with Kawasaki disease last month also tested positive for COVID-19, Reuters reported at the time. Meanwhile, physicians in Washington, D.C., have also recently reported cases of the mysterious condition.
Additionally, at least three young children in New York died after being hospitalized with the rare Kawasaki disease-like illness, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said last weekend.
The news comes after British health authorities, in a warning to health care professionals in late April, said that some severely ill pediatric patients in the country — including some who were positive for the coronavirus — presented an “unusual clinical picture” that included inflammatory symptoms possibly linked to COVID-19.
The U.K. Pediatric Intensive Care Society (PICS), citing an email alert from the National Health Service (NHS) in England, said in a news release that health officials had reported “a small rise in the number of cases of critically ill children presenting with an unusual clinical picture” at the time. More specifically, it is a “multi-system inflammatory state” that may be connected to the novel virus.
“The cases have in common overlapping features of toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki disease with blood parameters consistent with severe COVID-19 in children. Abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms have been a common feature as has cardiac inflammation,” the NHS notice reads, according to PICS.
CLICK FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
Dr. Jacqueline Szmuszkovicz, a pediatric cardiologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, recently said that children who have a fever that lasts for four or more days should seek medical attention.
“Certainly, if they see any of the other signs — the rash, the red tongue, red eyes — we encourage them to seek care,” she told The Los Angeles Times.


foxnews--2020-05-15--Mary-Kate Olsen loses bid to file for an emergency divorce as judge determines it's 'not an essentia

Mary-Kate Olsen loses bid to file for an emergency divorce as judge determines it's 'not an essential matter'

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Mary-Kate Olsen 's request to file for an emergency divorce from husband Olivier Sarkozy was denied by New York City Judge Michael Katz on Thursday , Fox News has confirmed .
“ Currently , we are only accepting essential , emergency matters for filing , ” a spokesperson for the New York courts said in a statement to Fox News on Thursday .
“ The original filing was rejected by the New York County clerk because they did not follow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the essential matter procedure and the matter was referred to the ex-parte judge , a New York State Supreme Court judge , ” the note continued .
“ He determined that it is not an essential matter , so they can ’ t file anything at this point.
” On Wednesday , TMZ reported the 33-year-old twin sister of Ashley Olsen signed a petition to divorce Sarkozy , 50 , back on April 17 .
However , the former child actress-turned-fashion-designer was met with a setback , since New York courts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus pandemic unless they are cases of emergency .
According to the outlet , which obtained the original filing , Mary-Kate Olsen was looking to speed up the process with an emergency order because Sarkozy allegedly terminated the lease of their New York City apartment , and his lawyers have also reportedly emailed Mary-Kate Olsen notifying her that she needs to move out by May 18 .
Page Six reported on Thursday that Mary-Kate Olsen stated in her filing : `` I am petrified that my husband is trying to deprive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and if he is successful , I will not only lose my home but I risk losing my personal property , as well.
” Some legal experts believed Mary-Kate Olsen ’ s request would have been denied by the courts for the same reasons officially stated by the legal system on Thursday .
However , Los Angeles-based certified family law specialist Steven Mindel said he still understands why Mary-Kate Olsen would make such a request for an emergency divorce .
`` I think what she just basically wants is , she just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so she gets the initial orders that stop her husband from kicking her out of her apartment , ” Mindel , a partner at FMBK and not involved with the case , told Fox News on Thursday .
“ Because if you 're Mary-Kate 's husband , he is saying , 'If I do n't get her out of the apartment now , I may not be able to get her out until January or February because the courts are so backed up .
So he is exercising self-help . '
I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not paying your rent .
I 'm going to tell the front desk that you 're no longer a tenant here .
And I will have the locks on the doors changed . '
That 's self-help.
” While Mindel noted that typically the courts aim to mitigate as much “ self-help ” as possible between divorcing parties due to the fact that `` usually when you have self-help , the next step is you have domestic violence , '' he said that , in Mary-Kate Olsen ’ s case , the judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or reason to believe her to be in danger – and thus she likely didn ’ t garner any “ sympathy from the court.
” '' He is trying to exercise self-help to avoid her just kind of parking herself there because the courts are n't effective , '' Mindel said of Sarkozy .
`` And then she , on the other hand , is saying to the courts , do n't let him exercise self-help .
I have rights , much like many tenants are doing all across the country .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unemployed and the courts are not evicting them .
So she wants to kind of fall in that category of people that are unemployed who ca n't pay their rent . ''
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Mary-Kate Olsen's request to file for an emergency divorce from husband Olivier Sarkozy was denied by New York City Judge Michael Katz on Thursday, Fox News has confirmed.
“Currently, we are only accepting essential, emergency matters for filing,” a spokesperson for the New York courts said in a statement to Fox News on Thursday. “The original filing was rejected by the New York County clerk because they did not follow the essential matter procedure.”
“They refiled under the essential matter procedure and the matter was referred to the ex-parte judge, a New York State Supreme Court judge,” the note continued. “He determined that it is not an essential matter, so they can’t file anything at this point.”
On Wednesday, TMZ reported the 33-year-old twin sister of Ashley Olsen signed a petition to divorce Sarkozy, 50, back on April 17.
However, the former child actress-turned-fashion-designer was met with a setback, since New York courts are not currently accepting new divorce filings due to the coronavirus pandemic unless they are cases of emergency.
MARY-KATE AND ASHLEY OLSEN SETTLE INTERNS' WAGE LAWSUIT FOR $140G
According to the outlet, which obtained the original filing, Mary-Kate Olsen was looking to speed up the process with an emergency order because Sarkozy allegedly terminated the lease of their New York City apartment, and his lawyers have also reportedly emailed Mary-Kate Olsen notifying her that she needs to move out by May 18.
Page Six reported on Thursday that Mary-Kate Olsen stated in her filing: "I am petrified that my husband is trying to deprive me of the home we have lived in and if he is successful, I will not only lose my home but I risk losing my personal property, as well.”
Some legal experts believed Mary-Kate Olsen’s request would have been denied by the courts for the same reasons officially stated by the legal system on Thursday. However, Los Angeles-based certified family law specialist Steven Mindel said he still understands why Mary-Kate Olsen would make such a request for an emergency divorce.
"I think what she just basically wants is, she just wants to get a court filing, so she gets the initial orders that stop her husband from kicking her out of her apartment,” Mindel, a partner at FMBK and not involved with the case, told Fox News on Thursday.
KRISTIN CAVALLARI FOUND JAY CUTLER 'LAZY,' 'UNMOTIVATED' BEFORE DIVORCE: REPORT
“Because if you're Mary-Kate's husband, he is saying, 'If I don't get her out of the apartment now, I may not be able to get her out until January or February because the courts are so backed up. So he is exercising self-help. 'I am sending you a letter. I am not paying your rent. I'm going to tell the front desk that you're no longer a tenant here. And I will have the locks on the doors changed.' That's self-help.”
While Mindel noted that typically the courts aim to mitigate as much “self-help” as possible between divorcing parties due to the fact that "usually when you have self-help, the next step is you have domestic violence," he said that, in Mary-Kate Olsen’s case, the judge likely didn’t find any correlation or reason to believe her to be in danger – and thus she likely didn’t garner any “sympathy from the court.”
"He is trying to exercise self-help to avoid her just kind of parking herself there because the courts aren't effective," Mindel said of Sarkozy. "And then she, on the other hand, is saying to the courts, don't let him exercise self-help. I have rights, much like many tenants are doing all across the country. They're not paying their rent because they are unemployed and the courts are not evicting them. So she wants to kind of fall in that category of people that are unemployed who can't pay their rent."
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A rep for Mary-Kate Olsen declined to comment.


foxnews--2020-04-29--Did you already have coronavirus in January or February?

With the recent news that two Californians died of COVID-19 in February , three weeks earlier than the United States ' first known death from the disease , it has become clear that the coronavirus was spreading in the United States long before it was detected by testing .
This fact might have you wondering if that weird cough or recurrent fever you had in late January or February was actually COVID-19 .
It 's not impossible , experts say , but it 's not necessarily likely , either .
The virus was certainly circulating during that time .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was , especially compared with the other respiratory viruses of winter .
`` The initial introduction of the virus in the U.S. coincided with the peak of the flu season , so the symptoms you had , it would be difficult to untangle with flu , '' said Matteo Chinazzi , an associate research scientist at Northeastern University in Boston , who is on a team that has been modeling the virus ' spread around the world .
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was first detected by testing in the United States in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who was tested on Jan. 19 , four days after returning from Wuhan to his home in Snohomish County , Washington .
But it was n't until a month later , on Feb. 26 , that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) confirmed the first known case of community spread of coronavirus in the United States , in a California resident who had no known contact with a traveler from China .
Just a few days later , a group of researchers studying flu test samples in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genetic sequence for that coronavirus , which causes COVID-19 .
It belonged to a teenager who had contracted the virus in the community .
It is now clear that the first cases of community spread in the United States were n't in late February , but instead were in January , when only travel-related cases were being caught and reported .
This is evident in a few different ways .
First , the small genetic differences between the coronavirus in the Washington state teenager and in samples from Wuhan suggested that the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been circulating , and gradually mutating , over the course of about five weeks , infectious disease researcher Trevor Bedford of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center wrote in a blog post in early March .
Second , the newest death data also points to community spread of coronavirus in January .
The first reported coronavirus death in the United States was thought to be a man in his 50s who died on Feb. 28 in King County , Washington .
Autopsy results from two deaths in Kirkland , Washington , subsequently pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to Feb. 26 .
On April 22 , though , the CDC confirmed , based on autopsy results , that two people in Santa Clara County had died at home of COVID-19 on Feb. 6 and Feb. 17 .
Neither had a travel history and are thought to have caught the disease from community spread .
Because COVID-19 typically has an incubation period of 5 to 6 days ( and up to 14 days ) between when people are infected and when they show symptoms , and because it usually takes several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to die , the early February deaths suggest that the individuals caught COVID-19 in mid- to late January .
Finally , modeling work based on travel patterns shows the virus arriving in New York in early January and in California by mid-January , Chinazzi told Live Science .
Other states followed .
`` What our model seems to indicate is that the first introduction of the virus in New York was around early January and more generally , what we see is that by the end of February , most of the states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Chinazzi said .
The first confirmed community spread of the coronavirus in New York was in a lawyer from Westchester County who first went to the hospital for his symptoms on Feb. 27 , New York 4 reported .
Genetic studies of viral samples in New York now suggest that community spread began by late January , mostly from introductions of the virus from Europe .
Researchers at both NYU Langone and Mount Sinai conducted those studies .
Epidemiologists in Colorado believe that the coronavirus landed in the Rocky Mountains somewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The estimate comes from two different methods , Elizabeth Carlton , an epidemiologist at the University of Colorado School of Public Health , told Live Science .
First , simple back-of-the-envelope calculations based on when the first detected cases in Colorado 's outbreak reported symptoms suggest that those people got sick in that time frame .
Second , the models that Carlton and her colleagues are using to track and forecast Colorado 's cases fit the idea that the first cases in the state emerged between Jan. 20 and Jan. 30 .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus until March 4 , according to Colorado Public Radio . )
`` It 's ski season in Colorado in January , so it 's not hard to imagine that someone from one of the West Coast states came to Colorado to go skiing and brought an infection , '' Carlton said .
`` That 's just one of many possible routes . ''
Data on excess deaths compared to previous years can also help reveal when coronavirus landed in a particular state .
In Florida , for example , The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in mid-March could point to a nascent coronavirus outbreak starting by at least late February .
Given differences in the timing of the virus 's arrival and the severity of outbreaks so far , the chance that any given respiratory illness in January or February could have been COVID-19 depends on where you live : It 's far more likely that a resident of Manhattan in New York City has already had the virus compared with a resident of Manhattan , Kansas .
Flu season clouds the issue .
There 's no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many people with flu are not given a flu swab to confirm the diagnosis , so no one knows exactly how many cases of influenza occurred in January or February either .
But the CDC estimates that there were between 39 million and 56 million cases of flu in the U.S. between October 2019 and April 2020 .
That means that at the peak of flu season in January and February , the number of cases of influenza virus likely far outnumbered the coronavirus cases in the United States .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection numbers to estimate the prevalence of coronavirus in January and February .
That 's because many cases of COVID-19 are still going undiagnosed by testing , and researchers still do n't know how many people infected with coronavirus experience only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all , Carlton and Chinazzi said .
Antibody studies , which look for immune-system proteins made when the body fights off a virus , can reveal approximately how many people in a population have been exposed .
A research study that recruited people at grocery stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus found that 1 in 7 people in New York state , and nearly 1 in 4 in New York City , has been exposed to the coronavirus .
It 's unclear whether those results will generalize to the population at large — people staying home to avoid even grocery stories might have lower infection rates , for example — but they do suggest that the chances of someone in New York having been infected already are not negligible .
However , given that the virus spreads exponentially through the population , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of active cases significantly , meaning that likely only a tiny fraction of people in the city were sick with COVID-19 at that time .
That means if you had respiratory symptoms in New York in January or February , chances are probably still better that it was the flu or a seasonally circulating coronavirus .
Elsewhere , the chances of having had coronavirus in January or February are even less clear .
Two controversial studies in California put the percent of people who had already been exposed at between 2.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county and at up to 5.6 % in Los Angeles , but those data have been criticized as likely overestimating the exposure .
Both may have inadvertently recruited participants who thought they might have been exposed , biasing the sample ; in addition , the antibody tests they used had a high rate of false positives , making results unreliable when low levels of the population have been exposed to the disease .
In Colorado , epidemiologists are estimating that 1 % of the population has already had COVID-19 .
A cough or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than one in January to be a symptom of COVID-19 , Carlton said , simply because there would have been more circulating cases as time went on .
But there 's a lot of uncertainty in the 1 % estimate given limitations in testing and the wide range of severity of symptoms , Carlton said .
`` This is the question that everyone is interested in answering , '' she said .
`` How many people really have had it ? ''
• 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viruses

With the recent news that two Californians died of COVID-19 in February, three weeks earlier than the United States' first known death from the disease , it has become clear that the coronavirus was spreading in the United States long before it was detected by testing.
This fact might have you wondering if that weird cough or recurrent fever you had in late January or February was actually COVID-19. It's not impossible, experts say, but it's not necessarily likely, either. The virus was certainly circulating during that time. However, what is unknown is how prevalent it was, especially compared with the other respiratory viruses of winter.
"The initial introduction of the virus in the U.S. coincided with the peak of the flu season , so the symptoms you had, it would be difficult to untangle with flu," said Matteo Chinazzi, an associate research scientist at Northeastern University in Boston, who is on a team that has been modeling the virus' spread around the world.
Related: Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates
COVID-19 timeline
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was first detected by testing in the United States in January. That case occurred in a 35-year-old man who was tested on Jan. 19 , four days after returning from Wuhan to his home in Snohomish County, Washington.
But it wasn't until a month later, on Feb. 26, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first known case of community spread of coronavirus in the United States , in a California resident who had no known contact with a traveler from China. Just a few days later, a group of researchers studying flu test samples in Washington state discovered a sample that contained the genetic sequence for that coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. It belonged to a teenager who had contracted the virus in the community .
It is now clear that the first cases of community spread in the United States weren't in late February, but instead were in January, when only travel-related cases were being caught and reported.
This is evident in a few different ways. First, the small genetic differences between the coronavirus in the Washington state teenager and in samples from Wuhan suggested that the virus had come over from Wuhan and had been circulating, and gradually mutating, over the course of about five weeks, infectious disease researcher Trevor Bedford of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center wrote in a blog post in early March .
Second, the newest death data also points to community spread of coronavirus in January. The first reported coronavirus death in the United States was thought to be a man in his 50s who died on Feb. 28 in King County, Washington. Autopsy results from two deaths in Kirkland, Washington, subsequently pushed the first known deaths in the U.S. back to Feb. 26.
On April 22, though, the CDC confirmed, based on autopsy results, that two people in Santa Clara county had died at home of COVID-19 on Feb. 6 and Feb. 17 . Neither had a travel history and are thought to have caught the disease from community spread. Because COVID-19 typically has an incubation period of 5 to 6 days (and up to 14 days) between when people are infected and when they show symptoms, and because it usually takes several weeks after that for fatally ill patients to die, the early February deaths suggest that the individuals caught COVID-19 in mid- to late January.
Finally, modeling work based on travel patterns shows the virus arriving in New York in early January and in California by mid-January, Chinazzi told Live Science. Other states followed.
"What our model seems to indicate is that the first introduction of the virus in New York was around early January and more generally, what we see is that by the end of February, most of the states have been seeded and have local transmission," Chinazzi said.
The first confirmed community spread of the coronavirus in New York was in a lawyer from Westchester County who first went to the hospital for his symptoms on Feb. 27, New York 4 reported . Genetic studies of viral samples in New York now suggest that community spread began by late January, mostly from introductions of the virus from Europe. Researchers at both NYU Langone and Mount Sinai conducted those studies.
Epidemiologists in Colorado believe that the coronavirus landed in the Rocky Mountains somewhere between Jan. 20 and Jan. 30. The estimate comes from two different methods, Elizabeth Carlton, an epidemiologist at the University of Colorado School of Public Health, told Live Science. First, simple back-of-the-envelope calculations based on when the first detected cases in Colorado's outbreak reported symptoms suggest that those people got sick in that time frame. Second, the models that Carlton and her colleagues are using to track and forecast Colorado's cases fit the idea that the first cases in the state emerged between Jan. 20 and Jan. 30. (Colorado didn't report its first cases of the virus until March 4, according to Colorado Public Radio .)
"It's ski season in Colorado in January, so it's not hard to imagine that someone from one of the West Coast states came to Colorado to go skiing and brought an infection," Carlton said. "That's just one of many possible routes."
Data on excess deaths compared to previous years can also help reveal when coronavirus landed in a particular state. In Florida, for example, The Sun-Sentinel reported that a spike in pneumonia-related deaths in mid-March could point to a nascent coronavirus outbreak starting by at least late February .
Was that cough COVID-19?
Given differences in the timing of the virus's arrival and the severity of outbreaks so far, the chance that any given respiratory illness in January or February could have been COVID-19 depends on where you live: It's far more likely that a resident of Manhattan in New York City has already had the virus compared with a resident of Manhattan, Kansas.
Flu season clouds the issue. There's no national clearinghouse of influenza case statistics, and many people with flu are not given a flu swab to confirm the diagnosis, so no one knows exactly how many cases of influenza occurred in January or February either. But the CDC estimates that there were between 39 million and 56 million cases of flu in the U.S. between October 2019 and April 2020. That means that at the peak of flu season in January and February, the number of cases of influenza virus likely far outnumbered the coronavirus cases in the United States.
It's also hard to extrapolate back today's infection numbers to estimate the prevalence of coronavirus in January and February. That's because many cases of COVID-19 are still going undiagnosed by testing, and researchers still don't know how many people infected with coronavirus experience only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, Carlton and Chinazzi said.
Antibody studies, which look for immune-system proteins made when the body fights off a virus, can reveal approximately how many people in a population have been exposed. A research study that recruited people at grocery stores and tested their blood for antibodies to the coronavirus found that 1 in 7 people in New York state, and nearly 1 in 4 in New York City, has been exposed to the coronavirus . It's unclear whether those results will generalize to the population at large — people staying home to avoid even grocery stories might have lower infection rates, for example — but they do suggest that the chances of someone in New York having been infected already are not negligible. However, given that the virus spreads exponentially through the population, extrapolating back to January or February shrinks the number of active cases significantly, meaning that likely only a tiny fraction of people in the city were sick with COVID-19 at that time.
That means if you had respiratory symptoms in New York in January or February, chances are probably still better that it was the flu or a seasonally circulating coronavirus.
Elsewhere, the chances of having had coronavirus in January or February are even less clear. Two controversial studies in California put the percent of people who had already been exposed at between 2.5% and 4.2% in Santa Clara county and at up to 5.6% in Los Angeles, but those data have been criticized as likely overestimating the exposure. Both may have inadvertently recruited participants who thought they might have been exposed, biasing the sample; in addition, the antibody tests they used had a high rate of false positives, making results unreliable when low levels of the population have been exposed to the disease.
In Colorado, epidemiologists are estimating that 1% of the population has already had COVID-19. A cough or fever in February would be more likely than one in January to be a symptom of COVID-19 , Carlton said, simply because there would have been more circulating cases as time went on. But there's a lot of uncertainty in the 1% estimate given limitations in testing and the wide range of severity of symptoms, Carlton said.
"This is the question that everyone is interested in answering," she said. "How many people really have had it?"


foxnews--2020-02-27--Some Chinese airlines drop ticket prices to $4 amid coronavirus outbreak

Chinese airlines are offering basement-bargain flights for as cheap as a cup of coffee — as millions of people face travel restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak , according to a report .
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Spring Airlines , a low-cost carrier , has advertised a one-way flight from Shanghai to Chongqing for just 29 yuan , or $ 4.10 , the South China Morning Post reported .
Bargain-hunting travelers , however , will need to be a frequent flyer club member to score the tickets — which will run them less than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 4.50 ) , the report said .
CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE The airline is also offering a one-way flight from Shanghai to Harbin — a 994-mile trip — for 69 yuan , or $ 9.80 .
Meanwhile , on Shenzhen Airlines , travelers can buy a 100 yuan ( $ 14 ) ticket from Shenzhen to Chongqing — a 621-mile journey , the outlet reported .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “ Considering lower average costs of operating in mainland China , carriers could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profits or just breaking even , ” Luya You , an aviation analyst with Bank of Communication International , told the English-language newspaper .
Read the full article on the New York Post .

Chinese airlines are offering basement-bargain flights for as cheap as a cup of coffee — as millions of people face travel restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a report.
Spring Airlines, a low-cost carrier, has advertised a one-way flight from Shanghai to Chongqing for just 29 yuan, or $4.10, the South China Morning Post reported.
Bargain-hunting travelers, however, will need to be a frequent flyer club member to score the tickets — which will run them less than a Starbucks latte in China at 32 yuan ($4.50), the report said.
The airline is also offering a one-way flight from Shanghai to Harbin — a 994-mile trip — for 69 yuan, or $9.80.
Meanwhile, on Shenzhen Airlines, travelers can buy a 100 yuan ($14) ticket from Shenzhen to Chongqing — a 621-mile journey, the outlet reported.
“Considering lower average costs of operating in mainland China, carriers could potentially offer deeper discounts while making slim profits or just breaking even,” Luya You, an aviation analyst with Bank of Communication International, told the English-language newspaper.
The cheap flights come after a report found nearly half of China’s population — more than 780 million people — were impacted by travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to CNN.
The virus, officially known as COVID-19, has infected more than 78,000 people in China and caused at least 2,718 deaths.