ezorigin--2020-05-23--On #143Day, Pennsylvania shows kindness cannot be locked down

Mister Rogers would have liked it : a day to be extra kind to your neighbors .
The day was Friday – Pennsylvania ’ s second annual 1-4-3 Day , an occasion when state officials encourage people to share their acts of kindness and gratitude .
This year , a focus was first responders and essential workers who are at high-risk of contagion during the coronavirus pandemic .
The initiative began in 2019 when Pennsylvania Gov .
Tom Wolf declared the 143rd day of the year a day of kindness in honor of the state ’ s beloved kindness patron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent most of his life in and around Pittsburgh .
The number had special meaning to Rogers , reflecting the number of letters in his favorite phrase , “ I love you.
” This year , the state launched a website asking residents to share their good deeds – from buying a meal for a neighbor to writing a thank you note for a mail deliver – under the hashtag # 143DayInPA .
“ Acts of kindness should be happening always , but this is a way where there is encouragement to track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Gisele Fetterman , wife of Pennsylvania ’ s lieutenant governor , John Fetterman .
She is the founder of the Free Store 15104 , which provides free food , clothing , and other essentials to the community in Braddock , a small hardscrabble steel town near Pittsburgh .
Since the store was forced to temporarily close during the pandemic , she has helped raise more than $ 20,000 in supermarket gift cards for people in need .
“ My wife is a walking 1-4-3 every day , ” said her husband , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Growing up , the couple said they were inspired by “ Mister Rogers ’ Neighborhood ” and its lessons of love , generosity , and kindness for kids and adults .
“ For me , Mister Rogers is very personal , I learned to speak English watching Mister Rogers when I was a young immigrant in this country , never knowing I ’ d end up in Pittsburgh , ” said Ms. Fetterman , who came to the United States with her family from her native Brazil as an undocumented immigrant and later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my earliest memories was watching Mister Rogers on TV , ” her husband said .
“ Fifty years later , that message is not only still relevant , but more relevant and necessary than ever today.
” Click the “ show some love ” button , and the 1-4-3 Day website offers suggestions on how to share kindness : “ recommend a good movie to a friend ; share the credit for a recent accomplishment ; cook for your significant other ; take your dog on a long walk ; reflect on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The University of Pittsburgh also marked the day , recalled the legacy of Fred Rogers by highlighting acts of kindness in the local community .
“ There are three ways , ” the university said in a tweet , “ to ultimate success : The first way is to be kind , the second way is to be kind and the third way is to be kind.
” This story was reported by the Associated Press .
While nonstop global news about the effects of the coronavirus have become commonplace , so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ One Good Thing ” is a continuing series of AP stories focusing on glimmers of joy and benevolence in a dark time .

Mister Rogers would have liked it: a day to be extra kind to your neighbors.
The day was Friday – Pennsylvania’s second annual 1-4-3 Day, an occasion when state officials encourage people to share their acts of kindness and gratitude. This year, a focus was first responders and essential workers who are at high-risk of contagion during the coronavirus pandemic.
The initiative began in 2019 when Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf declared the 143rd day of the year a day of kindness in honor of the state’s beloved kindness patron and promoter, Fred Rogers, who spent most of his life in and around Pittsburgh. The number had special meaning to Rogers, reflecting the number of letters in his favorite phrase, “I love you.”
This year, the state launched a website asking residents to share their good deeds – from buying a meal for a neighbor to writing a thank you note for a mail deliver – under the hashtag #143DayInPA.
“Acts of kindness should be happening always, but this is a way where there is encouragement to track it, to share it,” said Gisele Fetterman, wife of Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, John Fetterman.
She is the founder of the Free Store 15104, which provides free food, clothing, and other essentials to the community in Braddock, a small hardscrabble steel town near Pittsburgh. Since the store was forced to temporarily close during the pandemic, she has helped raise more than $20,000 in supermarket gift cards for people in need.
“My wife is a walking 1-4-3 every day,” said her husband, the tattooed former mayor of Braddock.
Growing up, the couple said they were inspired by “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and its lessons of love, generosity, and kindness for kids and adults.
“For me, Mister Rogers is very personal, I learned to speak English watching Mister Rogers when I was a young immigrant in this country, never knowing I’d end up in Pittsburgh,” said Ms. Fetterman, who came to the United States with her family from her native Brazil as an undocumented immigrant and later became a U.S. citizen.
“One of my earliest memories was watching Mister Rogers on TV,” her husband said. “Fifty years later, that message is not only still relevant, but more relevant and necessary than ever today.”
Click the “show some love” button, and the 1-4-3 Day website offers suggestions on how to share kindness: “recommend a good movie to a friend; share the credit for a recent accomplishment; cook for your significant other; take your dog on a long walk; reflect on a moment when you overcame fear.”
The University of Pittsburgh also marked the day, recalled the legacy of Fred Rogers by highlighting acts of kindness in the local community.
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“There are three ways,” the university said in a tweet, “to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind, the second way is to be kind and the third way is to be kind.”
This story was reported by the Associated Press. While nonstop global news about the effects of the coronavirus have become commonplace, so, too, are tales of the kindness. “One Good Thing” is a continuing series of AP stories focusing on glimmers of joy and benevolence in a dark time.


ezorigin--2020-03-02--North Korea resumes ballistic missile launches after hiatus

North Korea fired two presumed short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea on Monday , South Korean officials said , resuming weapons demonstrations after a months-long hiatus that may have been forced by the coronavirus crisis in Asia .
The launches came two days after North Korea 's state media said leader Kim Jong-un supervised an artillery drill aimed at testing the combat readiness of units in front-line and eastern areas .
South Korea 's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles were fired from an area near the coastal town of Wonsan and flew about 49 miles northeast on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The South Korean and U.S. militaries were jointly analyzing the launches .
JCS officials later told reporters that the weapons were presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles .
North Korea likely tested one of its new road-mobile , solid-fuel missile systems or a developmental `` super large '' multiple rocket launcher it repeatedly demonstrated last year , said Kim Dong-yub , an analyst from Seoul 's Institute for Far Eastern Studies .
Experts say such weapons can potentially overwhelm missile defense systems and expand the North 's ability to strike targets in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
Kim Jong-un had entered the new year vowing to bolster his nuclear deterrent in the face of `` gangster-like '' U.S. sanctions and pressure , using a key ruling party meeting in late December to warn of `` shocking '' action over stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration .
He also said North Korea would soon reveal a new `` strategic weapon '' and insisted the country was no longer `` unilaterally bound '' to a self-imposed suspension on the testing of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles .
But Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or give any clear indication that such tests were impending and seemed to leave the door open for eventual negotiations .
South Korea 's presidential office said National Security Director Chung Eui-yong discussed the launches with the South 's defense minister and spy chief , and that the officials expressed `` strong concern '' over the North 's resumption of testing activity , which could raise military tensions .
Japan said that it had not detected any projectile landing in its territory or its exclusive economic zone , and that no sea vessels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The repeated firings of ballistic missiles by North Korea is a serious problem for the international community including Japan , and the government will continue to gather and analyze information , and monitor the situation to protect the lives and property of the people , '' the Defense Ministry 's statement said .
The recent lull in North Korea 's launches had experts wondering whether the North was holding back its weapons displays while it was fighting the coronavirus , which state media has described as a matter of `` national existence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut back training and other activities involving large gatherings of soldiers to reduce the possibility of the virus spreading within its military .
Mr. Kim 's latest show of force is apparently aimed at boosting military morale , strengthening internal unity and showing that his country is doing fine despite outside worries of how the North would contend with an outbreak .
North Korea in previous years has intensified testing activity in response to springtime military exercises between South Korea and the United States that it has described as invasion rehearsals .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were postponing their annual drills due to concern about the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea , with soldiers from both countries being infected .
The launches were the latest setback for dovish South Korean President Moon Jae-in , who despite the North 's indifference has repeatedly pleaded for reviving inter-Korean engagement .
In a speech on Sunday marking the 101st anniversary of a major uprising against Japanese colonial rule , Mr .
Moon called for cooperation between the two Koreas to fight infectious diseases amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Asia .
Amid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration , Mr. Kim has suspended virtually all cooperation with South Korea in the past months while demanding that Seoul defy U.S.-led international sanctions and restart inter-Korean economic projects that would jolt the North 's broken economy .
North Korea has yet to confirm any COVID-19 cases , although state media have hinted that an uncertain number of people have been quarantined after exhibiting symptoms .
North Korea has shut down nearly all cross-border traffic , banned tourists , intensified screening at entry points , and mobilized tens of thousands of health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with symptoms .
South Korea last month withdrew dozens of officials from an inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong after North Korea insisted on closing it until the epidemic is controlled .
Mr. Kim and President Donald Trump have met three times since embarking on their high-stakes nuclear diplomacy in 2018 , but negotiations have faltered since their second summit in February last year in Vietnam , where the Americans rejected North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capability .
Following the collapse in Hanoi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in ballistic activity and conducted at least 13 rounds of weapons launches last year , using the standstill in talks to expand its military capabilities .
Those weapons included road-mobile , solid-fuel missiles designed to beat missile defense systems , and a developmental midrange missile that could eventually be launched from submarines , potentially strengthening the North 's ability to strike targets in South Korea and Japan , including U.S. bases there .
In December , the North said it conducted two `` crucial '' tests at a long-range rocket facility that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it 's developing a new ICBM or preparing a satellite launch that would further advanced its long-range missile technology .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .

North Korea fired two presumed short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea on Monday, South Korean officials said, resuming weapons demonstrations after a months-long hiatus that may have been forced by the coronavirus crisis in Asia.
The launches came two days after North Korea's state media said leader Kim Jong-un supervised an artillery drill aimed at testing the combat readiness of units in front-line and eastern areas.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles were fired from an area near the coastal town of Wonsan and flew about 49 miles northeast on an apogee of about 22 miles. The South Korean and U.S. militaries were jointly analyzing the launches. JCS officials later told reporters that the weapons were presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles.
North Korea likely tested one of its new road-mobile, solid-fuel missile systems or a developmental "super large" multiple rocket launcher it repeatedly demonstrated last year, said Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seoul's Institute for Far Eastern Studies.
Experts say such weapons can potentially overwhelm missile defense systems and expand the North's ability to strike targets in South Korea and Japan, including U.S. bases there.
Kim Jong-un had entered the new year vowing to bolster his nuclear deterrent in the face of "gangster-like" U.S. sanctions and pressure, using a key ruling party meeting in late December to warn of "shocking" action over stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration.
He also said North Korea would soon reveal a new "strategic weapon" and insisted the country was no longer "unilaterally bound" to a self-imposed suspension on the testing of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles. But Mr. Kim did not explicitly lift the moratorium or give any clear indication that such tests were impending and seemed to leave the door open for eventual negotiations.
South Korea's presidential office said National Security Director Chung Eui-yong discussed the launches with the South's defense minister and spy chief, and that the officials expressed "strong concern" over the North's resumption of testing activity, which could raise military tensions.
Japan said that it had not detected any projectile landing in its territory or its exclusive economic zone, and that no sea vessels or aircraft had been damaged.
"The repeated firings of ballistic missiles by North Korea is a serious problem for the international community including Japan, and the government will continue to gather and analyze information, and monitor the situation to protect the lives and property of the people," the Defense Ministry's statement said.
The recent lull in North Korea's launches had experts wondering whether the North was holding back its weapons displays while it was fighting the coronavirus, which state media has described as a matter of "national existence." Some analysts speculated that the North cut back training and other activities involving large gatherings of soldiers to reduce the possibility of the virus spreading within its military.
Mr. Kim's latest show of force is apparently aimed at boosting military morale, strengthening internal unity and showing that his country is doing fine despite outside worries of how the North would contend with an outbreak.
North Korea in previous years has intensified testing activity in response to springtime military exercises between South Korea and the United States that it has described as invasion rehearsals. But the allies announced last week that they were postponing their annual drills due to concern about the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea, with soldiers from both countries being infected.
The launches were the latest setback for dovish South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who despite the North's indifference has repeatedly pleaded for reviving inter-Korean engagement. In a speech on Sunday marking the 101st anniversary of a major uprising against Japanese colonial rule, Mr. Moon called for cooperation between the two Koreas to fight infectious diseases amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Asia.
Amid the deadlock in larger nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration, Mr. Kim has suspended virtually all cooperation with South Korea in the past months while demanding that Seoul defy U.S.-led international sanctions and restart inter-Korean economic projects that would jolt the North's broken economy.
North Korea has yet to confirm any COVID-19 cases, although state media have hinted that an uncertain number of people have been quarantined after exhibiting symptoms. North Korea has shut down nearly all cross-border traffic, banned tourists, intensified screening at entry points, and mobilized tens of thousands of health workers to monitor residents and isolate those with symptoms.
South Korea last month withdrew dozens of officials from an inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong after North Korea insisted on closing it until the epidemic is controlled.
Mr. Kim and President Donald Trump have met three times since embarking on their high-stakes nuclear diplomacy in 2018, but negotiations have faltered since their second summit in February last year in Vietnam, where the Americans rejected North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capability.
Following the collapse in Hanoi, the North ended a 17-month pause in ballistic activity and conducted at least 13 rounds of weapons launches last year, using the standstill in talks to expand its military capabilities.
Those weapons included road-mobile, solid-fuel missiles designed to beat missile defense systems, and a developmental midrange missile that could eventually be launched from submarines, potentially strengthening the North's ability to strike targets in South Korea and Japan, including U.S. bases there.
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In December, the North said it conducted two "crucial" tests at a long-range rocket facility that would strengthen its nuclear deterrent, prompting speculation that it's developing a new ICBM or preparing a satellite launch that would further advanced its long-range missile technology.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


ezorigin--2020-03-20--$1 trillion rescue plan; tax filing deadline moved to July 15

Members of President Donald Trump 's economic team convene Friday on Capitol Hill to launch negotiations with Senate Republicans and Democrats racing to draft a $ 1 trillion-plus economic rescue package amid the coronavirus outbreak .
It 's the biggest effort yet to shore up households and the United States economy as the pandemic and its nationwide shutdown hurtles the country toward a likely recession .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled the Republican opening offer to pump $ 1,200 direct checks to taxpayers , $ 300 billion for small businesses to keep idled workers on payroll , and $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other industries .
The GOP leader 's effort builds on Mr. Trump 's request for Congress to `` go big . ''
`` We need to take bold and swift action as soon as possible , '' Mr. McConnell said Thursday , announcing his plan on the Senate floor .
The 247-page McConnell CARES Act puts the leader 's imprint on opening talks with Democrats in Congress as lawmakers prepare to work through the weekend to fast-track perhaps the most urgent legislative undertaking since the 2008 financial crisis .
The negotiations are certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure on Washington to act .
Mr. Trump 's Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and economic adviser Larry Kudlow will meet behind closed doors with Senate leaders .
Democrats say the Republican plan does not go far enough and some Senate Republicans object to certain provisions .
`` We are beginning to review Senator McConnell 's proposal and on first reading , it is not at all pro-worker and instead puts corporations way ahead of workers , '' said a joint statement from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shore up households , businesses , and the health care industry , which is bracing for an expected onslaught of patients falling ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 .
The one-time $ 1,200 stipends would be sent to individuals – $ 2,400 for couples – phased out at income thresholds of $ 75,000 for individuals and $ 150,000 per couple .
Additionally , there would be $ 500 payments for each child .
Additionally , the McConnell bill would provide $ 300 billion to small businesses , with loans that would eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet payroll expenses .
To shore up industry , Mr. McConnell 's plan would provide $ 208 billion in loans and loan guarantees to distressed sectors , including $ 50 billion for commercial airlines , $ 8 billion for air cargo carriers , and $ 150 billion for other eligible businesses , but those loans would have to be paid back .
Businesses would also be allowed to defer payment of the 6.2 % employer payroll tax .
The proposal also includes a specific provision to allow the Treasury secretary to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock options or other financial instruments , of companies that receive federal aid .
At the same time , caring for the expected surge of sick Americans is a priority for Congress .
The McConnell proposal contains a raft of health care provisions – including permanent liability protection for the manufacturers of respirators and other desperately needed medical gear to handle the pandemic .
At the consumer level , Mr. McConnell 's bill would put into federal law the commitment from insurers that coronavirus tests will be cost-free to policy holders .
Additionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines , at no cost to patients .
For the health care industry , the bill would establish a new Medicare payment for treating COVID-19 patients .
It would suspend through the end of this year a 2 % Medicare payment cut to providers under previously set budget restraints .
Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer said in statement they looked forward to working with Republicans `` in a bipartisan way to deliver for the American people as soon as humanly possible . ''
The Democratic leaders said , however , their priority is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected from the loss of a paycheck or that no family falls into financial ruin because of this pandemic . ''
The Democratic leaders called on Mr. Trump to ramp up production of medical supplies and rapidly erect temporary field hospitals under new authorities he has invoked in the Defense Production Act .
Keeping paychecks flowing for idled workers as jobless claims skyrocket is a top priority for both Republican and Democratic plans emerging from Congress .
But how best to send direct payments to Americans – as one-time stipends , ongoing payroll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crucial debate .
Democrats have other ideas for ushering aid to Americans by pushing more money into the existing unemployment insurance system .
Mr. Schumer called it `` employment insurance '' – which he characterized as `` unemployment insurance on steroids . ''
Some GOP senators panned the idea of direct one-time checks , preferring instead to use the federal dollars to keep workers who are asked to stay home on business payrolls .
`` What I want is income , not one check , '' said Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are lining up for help .
The total price tag is sure to grow beyond $ 1 trillion , lawmakers said .
Mr. Trump has already signed into law a $ 100 billion-plus bill to boost testing for the coronavirus and guarantee paid sick leave for millions of workers hit by it .
Earlier , Mr. Trump signed an initial $ 8.3 billion package from Congress .
The income tax filing date has been pushed back from April 15 , to July 15 , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said .
Mr. Mnuchin announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that at Mr. Trump 's direction `` we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15 .
All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties . ''
At a White House briefing , Mr. Trump said the delay on filing and paying taxes until July 15 was done to give taxpayers more time and `` hopefully by that time , people will be getting back to their lives . ''
Mr. Trump said that if people are expecting refunds , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they can get their refunds from the IRS more quickly .
The administration had announced earlier in the week that it would delay the payments , a move that Mr. Mnuchin said would leave $ 300 billion in the economy at a critical time .
The administration used authority under Mr. Trump 's national emergency declaration .
The delay is available to people who owe $ 1 million or less and corporations that owe $ 10 million or less .
It is expected that many states will follow the lead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadlines as well but that will be a state by state decision .
Mr. Mnuchin had said the payment delay could provide $ 300 billion in temporary support to the economy by giving households and businesses the ability to use money they would have paid to the IRS as financial support to meet other needs during the economic emergency created by the efforts to contain the coronavirus .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Darlene Superville , Matthew Daly , Mary Clare Jalonick , Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Members of President Donald Trump's economic team convene Friday on Capitol Hill to launch negotiations with Senate Republicans and Democrats racing to draft a $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package amid the coronavirus outbreak.
It's the biggest effort yet to shore up households and the United States economy as the pandemic and its nationwide shutdown hurtles the country toward a likely recession.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled the Republican opening offer to pump $1,200 direct checks to taxpayers, $300 billion for small businesses to keep idled workers on payroll, and $208 billion in loans to airlines and other industries.
The GOP leader's effort builds on Mr. Trump's request for Congress to "go big."
"We need to take bold and swift action as soon as possible," Mr. McConnell said Thursday, announcing his plan on the Senate floor.
The 247-page McConnell CARES Act puts the leader's imprint on opening talks with Democrats in Congress as lawmakers prepare to work through the weekend to fast-track perhaps the most urgent legislative undertaking since the 2008 financial crisis.
The negotiations are certain to encounter difficulties ahead, despite the pressure on Washington to act. Mr. Trump's Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and economic adviser Larry Kudlow will meet behind closed doors with Senate leaders. Democrats say the Republican plan does not go far enough and some Senate Republicans object to certain provisions.
"We are beginning to review Senator McConnell's proposal and on first reading, it is not at all pro-worker and instead puts corporations way ahead of workers," said a joint statement from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
The GOP leader's plan aims to shore up households, businesses, and the health care industry, which is bracing for an expected onslaught of patients falling ill from the virus that causes COVID-19.
The one-time $1,200 stipends would be sent to individuals – $2,400 for couples – phased out at income thresholds of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 per couple. Additionally, there would be $500 payments for each child.
Additionally, the McConnell bill would provide $300 billion to small businesses, with loans that would eventually be forgiven for employers who use them to meet payroll expenses.
To shore up industry, Mr. McConnell's plan would provide $208 billion in loans and loan guarantees to distressed sectors, including $50 billion for commercial airlines, $8 billion for air cargo carriers, and $150 billion for other eligible businesses, but those loans would have to be paid back.
Businesses would also be allowed to defer payment of the 6.2% employer payroll tax.
The proposal also includes a specific provision to allow the Treasury secretary to "participate in the gains," through stock options or other financial instruments, of companies that receive federal aid.
At the same time, caring for the expected surge of sick Americans is a priority for Congress.
The McConnell proposal contains a raft of health care provisions – including permanent liability protection for the manufacturers of respirators and other desperately needed medical gear to handle the pandemic.
At the consumer level, Mr. McConnell's bill would put into federal law the commitment from insurers that coronavirus tests will be cost-free to policy holders. Additionally, the bill requires coverage of coronavirus vaccines, at no cost to patients.
For the health care industry, the bill would establish a new Medicare payment for treating COVID-19 patients. It would suspend through the end of this year a 2% Medicare payment cut to providers under previously set budget restraints.
Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer said in statement they looked forward to working with Republicans "in a bipartisan way to deliver for the American people as soon as humanly possible."
The Democratic leaders said, however, their priority is to "make sure all workers are protected from the loss of a paycheck or that no family falls into financial ruin because of this pandemic."
The Democratic leaders called on Mr. Trump to ramp up production of medical supplies and rapidly erect temporary field hospitals under new authorities he has invoked in the Defense Production Act.
Keeping paychecks flowing for idled workers as jobless claims skyrocket is a top priority for both Republican and Democratic plans emerging from Congress.
Recommended Why Georgia indictment could pose unique peril for Trump
But how best to send direct payments to Americans – as one-time stipends, ongoing payroll support, or unemployment checks – is a crucial debate.
Democrats have other ideas for ushering aid to Americans by pushing more money into the existing unemployment insurance system. Mr. Schumer called it "employment insurance" – which he characterized as "unemployment insurance on steroids."
Some GOP senators panned the idea of direct one-time checks, preferring instead to use the federal dollars to keep workers who are asked to stay home on business payrolls.
"What I want is income, not one check," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Meanwhile, industries of all kinds are lining up for help. The total price tag is sure to grow beyond $1 trillion, lawmakers said.
Mr. Trump has already signed into law a $100 billion-plus bill to boost testing for the coronavirus and guarantee paid sick leave for millions of workers hit by it. Earlier, Mr. Trump signed an initial $8.3 billion package from Congress.
Income tax filing date moved to July 15
The income tax filing date has been pushed back from April 15, to July 15, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.
Mr. Mnuchin announced the decision in a tweet Friday saying that at Mr. Trump's direction "we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties."
At a White House briefing, Mr. Trump said the delay on filing and paying taxes until July 15 was done to give taxpayers more time and "hopefully by that time, people will be getting back to their lives."
Mr. Trump said that if people are expecting refunds, they should go ahead and file now so that they can get their refunds from the IRS more quickly.
The administration had announced earlier in the week that it would delay the payments, a move that Mr. Mnuchin said would leave $300 billion in the economy at a critical time.
The administration used authority under Mr. Trump's national emergency declaration. The delay is available to people who owe $1 million or less and corporations that owe $10 million or less.
It is expected that many states will follow the lead of the federal government and delay their tax filing deadlines as well but that will be a state by state decision.
Mr. Mnuchin had said the payment delay could provide $300 billion in temporary support to the economy by giving households and businesses the ability to use money they would have paid to the IRS as financial support to meet other needs during the economic emergency created by the efforts to contain the coronavirus.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Darlene Superville, Matthew Daly, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, and Padmananda Rama in Washington contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


ezorigin--2020-02-24--After a month on lockdown, can China's economy bounce back?

China 's government promised tax cuts and other aid Monday to help companies recover from its virus outbreak while a spike in new cases in Iran , Italy , and South Korea raised the prospect of wider disruption to tourism and other global industries .
At a news conference , Chinese finance and planning officials expressed confidence the ruling Communist Party ’ s growth targets can be achieved this year despite anti-disease controls that shut down much of the world 's second-largest economy last month .
President Xi Jinping publicly promised over the past week to ensure farming and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say it is likely to be at least mid-March before automakers and other companies return to full production .
The government is looking at `` targeted tax reduction , '' interest rate cuts , and payments to poor and virus-hit areas , said an assistant finance minister , Ou Wenhan .
`` We will do a good job of implementing large-scale interest rate reduction and tax deferral and ensure effective implementation as soon as possible , '' said Mr. Ou .
Business activity plunged after the Lunar New Year holiday was extended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government told the public not to travel .
Automakers and other businesses are gradually reopening , but officials also have orders to prevent infection from spreading as millions of people return to work .
Meanwhile , the Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 840 points Monday , or 2.9 % , giving up all of its gains for the year as a surge in reports of new cases around the world threatens further disruption .
Austria halted rail traffic across its border with Italy after the country reported four deaths and 190 cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infection .
Venice canceled the city 's Carnival , a popular tourist attraction .
Soccer matches were canceled and cinemas closed .
In Iran , the ILNA news agency quoted an official in the city of Qom as saying 50 people have died from the virus there since Feb. 13 .
The city is a popular place of religious study for Shiites from across Iran and other countries .
Some countries have closed their borders with Iran or barred travelers from there .
Also Monday , South Korea reported 70 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two more deaths for a total of seven .
South Korea 's government has closed schools , canceled public events , and asked companies to stagger work hours .
ING said in a report Monday that Asian economies could lose $ 105-115 billion this year in potential sales to Chinese tourists .
`` Stock markets around the world are beginning to price in what bond markets have been telling us for weeks – that global growth is likely to be impacted in a meaningful way due to fears of the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer for Independent Advisor Alliance .
In China , Mr. Xi said Sunday regions deemed to be at low risk should ease disease curbs to revive business activity while high-risk regions should focus on epidemic control .
The president said officials should make sure planting of spring crops in China 's vast countryside is n't disrupted .
Bus and train service still is suspended in areas with millions of inhabitants , blocking people who visited their hometowns for the Lunar New Year in January from returning to work .
Asked whether Beijing planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general secretary of the Cabinet ’ s planning agency , the National Development and Reform Commission , expressed confidence the virus ’ s impact would be brief .
The ruling party has yet to announce economic targets after 2019 growth fell to a multi-decade low of 6.1 % .
Forecasters expect it to be about 6 % but say if the disease isn ’ t controlled quickly , growth could decline to as low as 5 % , raising the risk of politically dangerous job losses .
`` The epidemic ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short-term and generally controllable and will not change China ’ s long-term positive economic fundamentals , '' said the NDRC official , Cong Liang .
`` Economic and social development goals for 2020 can be achieved . ''
The annual meeting of China 's ceremonial legislature , usually used to announce the growth target and other plans for the year , was postponed on Monday due to the virus .
It was scheduled to start March 5 .
No new date was announced .
Nearly 1,000 companies have received low-interest loans from $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central bank , according to a People ’ s Bank of China official , Chen Yulu .
Mr. Cong said industrial output is rebounding , though he gave no indication when the government expects it to return to normal .
Production by companies in trade-oriented coastal areas has risen above 70 % of normal , according to Mr. Cong .
He said food processing , coal mining , and other industries are back to at least 70 % , but he gave no figures for the level of production at their lowest point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported by The Associated Press .
AP 's Damian J. Troise contributed to this report .

China's government promised tax cuts and other aid Monday to help companies recover from its virus outbreak while a spike in new cases in Iran, Italy, and South Korea raised the prospect of wider disruption to tourism and other global industries.
At a news conference, Chinese finance and planning officials expressed confidence the ruling Communist Party’s growth targets can be achieved this year despite anti-disease controls that shut down much of the world's second-largest economy last month.
President Xi Jinping publicly promised over the past week to ensure farming and other industries recover quickly. Still, forecasters say it is likely to be at least mid-March before automakers and other companies return to full production.
The government is looking at "targeted tax reduction," interest rate cuts, and payments to poor and virus-hit areas, said an assistant finance minister, Ou Wenhan.
"We will do a good job of implementing large-scale interest rate reduction and tax deferral and ensure effective implementation as soon as possible," said Mr. Ou.
Business activity plunged after the Lunar New Year holiday was extended to keep factories and offices closed and the government told the public not to travel. Automakers and other businesses are gradually reopening, but officials also have orders to prevent infection from spreading as millions of people return to work.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 840 points Monday, or 2.9%, giving up all of its gains for the year as a surge in reports of new cases around the world threatens further disruption.
Austria halted rail traffic across its border with Italy after the country reported four deaths and 190 cases. Authorities have yet to pinpoint the source of infection.
Venice canceled the city's Carnival, a popular tourist attraction. Soccer matches were canceled and cinemas closed.
In Iran, the ILNA news agency quoted an official in the city of Qom as saying 50 people have died from the virus there since Feb. 13. The city is a popular place of religious study for Shiites from across Iran and other countries.
Some countries have closed their borders with Iran or barred travelers from there.
Also Monday, South Korea reported 70 new cases, raising its total to 833, and two more deaths for a total of seven.
South Korea's government has closed schools, canceled public events, and asked companies to stagger work hours.
ING said in a report Monday that Asian economies could lose $105-115 billion this year in potential sales to Chinese tourists.
"Stock markets around the world are beginning to price in what bond markets have been telling us for weeks – that global growth is likely to be impacted in a meaningful way due to fears of the coronavirus," said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance.
In China, Mr. Xi said Sunday regions deemed to be at low risk should ease disease curbs to revive business activity while high-risk regions should focus on epidemic control. The president said officials should make sure planting of spring crops in China's vast countryside isn't disrupted.
Bus and train service still is suspended in areas with millions of inhabitants, blocking people who visited their hometowns for the Lunar New Year in January from returning to work.
Asked whether Beijing planned to reduce its economic growth targets, the general secretary of the Cabinet’s planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission, expressed confidence the virus’s impact would be brief.
The ruling party has yet to announce economic targets after 2019 growth fell to a multi-decade low of 6.1%. Forecasters expect it to be about 6% but say if the disease isn’t controlled quickly, growth could decline to as low as 5%, raising the risk of politically dangerous job losses.
"The epidemic’s impact on the economy and society is short-term and generally controllable and will not change China’s long-term positive economic fundamentals," said the NDRC official, Cong Liang. "Economic and social development goals for 2020 can be achieved."
The annual meeting of China's ceremonial legislature, usually used to announce the growth target and other plans for the year, was postponed on Monday due to the virus. It was scheduled to start March 5. No new date was announced.
Nearly 1,000 companies have received low-interest loans from $43 billion recovery fund offered by the central bank, according to a People’s Bank of China official, Chen Yulu.
Recommended Why Georgia indictment could pose unique peril for Trump
Mr. Cong said industrial output is rebounding, though he gave no indication when the government expects it to return to normal.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Production by companies in trade-oriented coastal areas has risen above 70% of normal, according to Mr. Cong. He said food processing, coal mining, and other industries are back to at least 70%, but he gave no figures for the level of production at their lowest point during the outbreak.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP's Damian J. Troise contributed to this report.


ezorigin--2020-03-31--Work and parent at the same time? A crisis highlights dual lives.

“ The crisis has made this much clearer that these are universal problems that nearly all families are facing , ” says Kathleen Gerson , a sociology professor at New York University .
“ Now we can see how essential it is , both economically , and for personal well-being – and for family well-being – that we address the caregiving crisis in [ our ] society , ” she says .
Welcome to work in the time of COVID-19 .
As both offices and schools go remote , working parents ’ balancing act has become even more difficult .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents are now out in the open – and testing fault lines around divisions of labor , employer expectations , and gender stereotypes .
But this new terrain is also presenting opportunities for people to rethink their ideas about what it means to be a working parent , or employ one , and possibly identify longer-term shifts that could benefit all .
Kids crawling into Zoom calls .
Colleagues ’ pets barking in the background .
Trying to juggle your child ’ s algebra questions – and your budget report due at noon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now viral video hit the internet of a father in a live television interview interrupted by two stumbling toddlers , professionals with kids around the globe laughed tears of schadenfreude .
But today , as schools and day cares are canceled , and governments worldwide encourage – or require – citizens to remain home to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus , the risk of their own client calls or video-conferences getting interrupted by crying kids or exasperated teens is exponentially high .
So high , in fact , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comedy hosts , university professors , local news anchors , and even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ( in self-quarantine ) documenting the juggle of their “ day jobs ” with their now ever-evident roles as parents .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Working from home while children are present is extremely challenging .
For some families , it ’ s near impossible .
Already the global lockdowns are testing fault lines around familial divisions of labor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parental patience .
But at this unique moment , it ’ s largely understood that if you have kids and are able to work remotely , the two worlds will collide .
And that presents opportunities for employers and employees to rethink their perceptions about working parents , and possibly identify longer-term shifts that could benefit all .
Once we ease out of this crisis , “ people are not going to want to work in the same way ” they did before , says Deborah Croft , co-founder of Thriving Talent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet their gender diversity goals .
“ People are going to be asking for different ways of working because they will have done it ” and seen that it can work .
Lauren Romansky from Acton , Massachusetts , regularly works remotely for a research and consulting firm based in Connecticut .
Now , with day care shuttered , Ms. Romansky and her husband trade off shifts of work and child care for their 2- and 4-year-old daughters , finishing up what remains after the kids are in bed .
It makes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been trying to explain to a bunch of my colleagues who aren ’ t used to working remotely is this is not business as usual even just in terms of remote work , ” says Ms. Romansky .
She thinks it ’ s too early to tell what impact the COVID-19 crisis will have on perceptions of working parents .
But her daughters have been more visible to her colleagues than they normally are , which she embraces .
In part , that visibility is intentional .
Her department started a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their families or roommates or pets – are invited to join .
It ’ s “ a really great way to authorize everyone to recognize that we ’ re all working in different circumstances and it doesn ’ t have to be something we ’ re ashamed of or is a problem , ” she says of the realities and responsibilities each person is juggling .
For Jamie Schroeder , a business operations manager for Google in Mountain View , California , kids showing up on team video calls has become something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lots of babies in the background that you hear , but it feels very empowering and [ there ’ s ] a supportive dynamic about it , ” she says , adding that she doesn ’ t rush to mute her computer when her 16-month-old makes a peep .
“ Most organizations are really trying to do something to make it easier ” for parents now working from home with the added stresses of child care and schooling , says Ms. Croft .
“ It is teleworking where you are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the door .
It ’ s going to be chaotic and there is an acceptance of the fact that that is the case.
” Some 56 % of parents who also work professionally say it ’ s difficult to balance the responsibilities of work and family , according to a 2015 Pew Research Center survey .
Parents often feel pressure to hide their “ double lives ” as caregivers from their employers , whether due to personal fears or long-established stigmas , experts say .
Seventy-four percent of parents with kids under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too busy to enjoy life , according to a 2018 Pew survey .
And that was all before most parents lost their child care amid the coronavirus crisis – child care that , even in “ normal ” times , is often excessively expensive .
In every U.S. state , the cost of infant and toddler child care exceeds the federal definition of “ affordable , ” according to the Center for American Progress .
On average , families in high-income countries around the world spend 14.5 % of their income on child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zealand , the United Kingdom , and the United States can expect to spend closer to one-third .
“ The crisis has made this much clearer that these are universal problems that nearly all families are facing , ” says Kathleen Gerson , a sociology professor at New York University who studies gender , work , and families .
“ Now we can see how essential it is , both economically , and for personal well-being – and for family well-being – that we address the caregiving crisis in [ our ] society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disruptions in some parents ’ lives are translating into hopes of more permanent shifts down the line .
“ My view of working from home has changed a lot , ” says Karla Martinez de Salas , editor in chief of Vogue Mexico and Latin America , who had never tried it before the pandemic .
In “ normal ” times , she is required to travel frequently for work , and returned from a trip to Italy in early March .
That meant two weeks of self-quarantine , which she discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the time it allowed her to spend with her twin 4-year-old daughters .
“ As [ the girls ] get older , it ’ s harder and harder to be away .
So , perhaps working from [ home ] once or twice a week would be the ideal scenario for a mom like me , ” she says .
With the COVID-19 crisis “ we have accelerated that whole question mark of can we or can ’ t we do flexible working – because you have to , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taboada , a human resources consultant in Monterrey , Mexico , and father of two , says he never liked the idea of his team members working remotely .
“ I ’ m the worst at home office .
I get distracted so easily , ” he says .
In the past , that perception translated to how he viewed it for his six direct reports , too – four of whom are parents .
Although Mexico hadn ’ t required business to close yet , Mr. Taboada gave his team the option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s had to put a lot of faith into his employees to meet deadlines within the time frame they see fit for their particularly chaotic lives right now .
Sometimes assignments are delivered at 1 a.m. , but together they ’ re making it work .
“ I ’ ve seen baseballs thrown in the background of calls , a cleaning woman dancing with her mop , a client breastfeeding , ” he says of the past two weeks of work calls .
His takeaway is that in the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more important to balance these personal , family needs with the needs of business .
But the flexibility to work from home is not a win for everyone .
“ It ’ s been enormously disruptive , ” says Julia Rous , a self-employed single mother in the British village of Horsley , who juggles three jobs including teaching .
The loss of steady income combined with schools ’ shift to distance learning is taking its toll .
“ There is no support in self-employment.
” Gender fault lines in juggling home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are shining brighter than ever in recent weeks .
According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey , both fathers and mothers are fretting more about the effects of coronavirus on their well-being and earnings than people without children .
However , women report being more worried : 36 % say the stress has had an impact on their mental health , versus 27 % of men .
“ Changes always are slower than we ’ d hope .
But there are so many men disconnected from the sphere of the home and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confront it , ” says Nicko Nogués , founder of the Instituto de Machos a Hombres .
The organization tries to challenge machismo across Latin America and parts of Europe via partnerships with private companies and international organizations .
“ It opens an opportunity where we can show men that they have a lot to gain getting more involved at home , ” he says .
There ’ s more acceptance among working parents that they ’ re doing their best – even if the hodgepodge nature of caring for kids and meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these days .
“ I think the ‘ aha ’ moment is coming and in an even bigger way , but I don ’ t think it ’ s come just yet , ” says Daisy Wademan Dowling , founder and CEO of the consulting firm Workparent , which trains companies how to support and retain parents .
“ Most people are naturally in shock and in scrambling mode , and thinking about some of the bigger implications has fallen by the wayside compared to just figuring out how to get your job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe , how to go about daily life , ” she says .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

Chelsea  Sheasley,Dominique Soguel,Whitney Eulich

Many working parents feel pressure to hide the messy reality of balancing family and career. Now, as COVID-19 puts their dilemma in the spotlight, some see the seeds of long-term change.
“The crisis has made this much clearer that these are universal problems that nearly all families are facing,” says Kathleen Gerson, a sociology professor at New York University. “Now we can see how essential it is, both economically, and for personal well-being – and for family well-being – that we address the caregiving crisis in [our] society,” she says.
Welcome to work in the time of COVID-19. As both offices and schools go remote, working parents’ balancing act has become even more difficult. Employees’ “double lives” as parents are now out in the open – and testing fault lines around divisions of labor, employer expectations, and gender stereotypes. But this new terrain is also presenting opportunities for people to rethink their ideas about what it means to be a working parent, or employ one, and possibly identify longer-term shifts that could benefit all.
Kids crawling into Zoom calls. Colleagues’ pets barking in the background. Trying to juggle your child’s algebra questions – and your budget report due at noon.
Three years ago, when the now viral video hit the internet of a father in a live television interview interrupted by two stumbling toddlers, professionals with kids around the globe laughed tears of schadenfreude.
But today, as schools and day cares are canceled, and governments worldwide encourage – or require – citizens to remain home to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus, the risk of their own client calls or video-conferences getting interrupted by crying kids or exasperated teens is exponentially high. So high, in fact, there are photos and videos posted online from late-night comedy hosts, university professors, local news anchors, and even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (in self-quarantine) documenting the juggle of their “day jobs” with their now ever-evident roles as parents.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Why We Wrote This Many working parents feel pressure to hide the messy reality of balancing family and career. Now, as COVID-19 puts their dilemma in the spotlight, some see the seeds of long-term change.
Working from home while children are present is extremely challenging. For some families, it’s near impossible. Already the global lockdowns are testing fault lines around familial divisions of labor, employer expectations, gender stereotypes, and parental patience. But at this unique moment, it’s largely understood that if you have kids and are able to work remotely, the two worlds will collide. And that presents opportunities for employers and employees to rethink their perceptions about working parents, and possibly identify longer-term shifts that could benefit all.
Once we ease out of this crisis, “people are not going to want to work in the same way” they did before, says Deborah Croft, co-founder of Thriving Talent, a European company helping businesses and organizations meet their gender diversity goals. “People are going to be asking for different ways of working because they will have done it” and seen that it can work.
Bring on the chaos
Lauren Romansky from Acton, Massachusetts, regularly works remotely for a research and consulting firm based in Connecticut.
Now, with day care shuttered, Ms. Romansky and her husband trade off shifts of work and child care for their 2- and 4-year-old daughters, finishing up what remains after the kids are in bed. It makes for incredibly long days.
“What I’ve been trying to explain to a bunch of my colleagues who aren’t used to working remotely is this is not business as usual even just in terms of remote work,” says Ms. Romansky.
She thinks it’s too early to tell what impact the COVID-19 crisis will have on perceptions of working parents. But her daughters have been more visible to her colleagues than they normally are, which she embraces.
In part, that visibility is intentional. Her department started a daily optional exercise class that staff – and their families or roommates or pets – are invited to join.
It’s “a really great way to authorize everyone to recognize that we’re all working in different circumstances and it doesn’t have to be something we’re ashamed of or is a problem,” she says of the realities and responsibilities each person is juggling.
For Jamie Schroeder, a business operations manager for Google in Mountain View, California, kids showing up on team video calls has become something of a norm. “There’s lots of babies in the background that you hear, but it feels very empowering and [there’s] a supportive dynamic about it,” she says, adding that she doesn’t rush to mute her computer when her 16-month-old makes a peep.
“Most organizations are really trying to do something to make it easier” for parents now working from home with the added stresses of child care and schooling, says Ms. Croft. “It is teleworking where you are going to have children popping out and coming through the door. It’s going to be chaotic and there is an acceptance of the fact that that is the case.”
Dominique Soguel View caption Hide caption Julia Rous talks with her son as he draws birds of prey during a holiday in the British countryside in 2018. Today, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Rous has found it challenging to convey to her children that "no school" doesn't mean "vacation" in terms of how they spend their days.
Some 56% of parents who also work professionally say it’s difficult to balance the responsibilities of work and family, according to a 2015 Pew Research Center survey. Parents often feel pressure to hide their “double lives” as caregivers from their employers, whether due to personal fears or long-established stigmas, experts say. Seventy-four percent of parents with kids under the age of 18 say they sometimes feel too busy to enjoy life, according to a 2018 Pew survey.
And that was all before most parents lost their child care amid the coronavirus crisis – child care that, even in “normal” times, is often excessively expensive. In every U.S. state, the cost of infant and toddler child care exceeds the federal definition of “affordable,” according to the Center for American Progress. On average, families in high-income countries around the world spend 14.5% of their income on child care, but those living in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States can expect to spend closer to one-third.
“The crisis has made this much clearer that these are universal problems that nearly all families are facing,” says Kathleen Gerson, a sociology professor at New York University who studies gender, work, and families.
“Now we can see how essential it is, both economically, and for personal well-being – and for family well-being – that we address the caregiving crisis in [our] society,” she says.
Not all bad?
Already, the disruptions in some parents’ lives are translating into hopes of more permanent shifts down the line.
“My view of working from home has changed a lot,” says Karla Martinez de Salas, editor in chief of Vogue Mexico and Latin America, who had never tried it before the pandemic.
In “normal” times, she is required to travel frequently for work, and returned from a trip to Italy in early March. That meant two weeks of self-quarantine, which she discovered was a “blessing in disguise” because of the time it allowed her to spend with her twin 4-year-old daughters.
“As [the girls] get older, it’s harder and harder to be away. So, perhaps working from [home] once or twice a week would be the ideal scenario for a mom like me,” she says.
With the COVID-19 crisis “we have accelerated that whole question mark of can we or can’t we do flexible working – because you have to,” says Ms. Croft from Thriving Talent.
Carlos Taboada, a human resources consultant in Monterrey, Mexico, and father of two, says he never liked the idea of his team members working remotely.
Recommended Why Georgia indictment could pose unique peril for Trump
“I’m the worst at home office. I get distracted so easily,” he says. In the past, that perception translated to how he viewed it for his six direct reports, too – four of whom are parents.
Although Mexico hadn’t required business to close yet, Mr. Taboada gave his team the option to work from home starting in mid-March. He’s had to put a lot of faith into his employees to meet deadlines within the time frame they see fit for their particularly chaotic lives right now. Sometimes assignments are delivered at 1 a.m., but together they’re making it work.
“I’ve seen baseballs thrown in the background of calls, a cleaning woman dancing with her mop, a client breastfeeding,” he says of the past two weeks of work calls. His takeaway is that in the future, it’s going to be even more important to balance these personal, family needs with the needs of business.
But the flexibility to work from home is not a win for everyone.
“It’s been enormously disruptive,” says Julia Rous, a self-employed single mother in the British village of Horsley, who juggles three jobs including teaching. The loss of steady income combined with schools’ shift to distance learning is taking its toll. “There is no support in self-employment.”
Moms bear the brunt
Gender fault lines in juggling home and work are not new, but are shining brighter than ever in recent weeks. According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey, both fathers and mothers are fretting more about the effects of coronavirus on their well-being and earnings than people without children. However, women report being more worried: 36% say the stress has had an impact on their mental health, versus 27% of men.
“Changes always are slower than we’d hope. But there are so many men disconnected from the sphere of the home and caregiving and this moment obligates them to confront it,” says Nicko Nogués, founder of the Instituto de Machos a Hombres. The organization tries to challenge machismo across Latin America and parts of Europe via partnerships with private companies and international organizations.
“It opens an opportunity where we can show men that they have a lot to gain getting more involved at home,” he says.
There’s more acceptance among working parents that they’re doing their best – even if the hodgepodge nature of caring for kids and meeting deadlines is best encapsulated in internet memes these days.
“I think the ‘aha’ moment is coming and in an even bigger way, but I don’t think it’s come just yet,” says Daisy Wademan Dowling, founder and CEO of the consulting firm Workparent, which trains companies how to support and retain parents.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“Most people are naturally in shock and in scrambling mode, and thinking about some of the bigger implications has fallen by the wayside compared to just figuring out how to get your job done, how to keep your kids safe, how to go about daily life,” she says.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


ezorigin--2020-04-29--Living in a war zone: What it teaches about surviving a pandemic

The willingness of Afghans to repair the social fabric whenever violence tears open their lives reveals a patience born of experience .
They spurn cynicism to attend college , get married , and raise families .
They cast off self-pity to gather in cafes , hold public celebrations , and worship together .
They search for light in the shadow of war .
Their calmness defied the not-so-distant echoes of gunfire and grenade explosions .
And their example of adapting to the constant presence of war – finding purpose , meaning , and joy within the confines of mutual hardship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new uncertainty , our Northern California correspondent , Martin Kuz , shares a different perspective .
He covered the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan for three years , traveling to half the country ’ s 34 provinces .
One memory that persists is how Afghans responded to the countless attacks they endured .
It ’ s common these days to hear people compare our responses to the coronavirus to war .
Flaws abound in the comparison .
But it is true that both reshape the order of life , disrupting cultural and social rituals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worlds .
The city appears deserted .
No cars in the streets , no pedestrians on the sidewalks .
Shops closed up , restaurants shut down .
The absence of motion surrounds me .
Walking past a storefront , I notice a cluster of men staring out from behind its metal security gate .
They range in age from early teens to about 50 , and when I offer a smile , a few respond in kind .
Their calmness defies the not-so-distant echoes of gunfire and grenade explosions .
As the novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up indoors , my mind keeps returning to that silent , fleeting exchange seven years ago in Kabul , Afghanistan .
People had disappeared into buildings seeking cover during an insurgent attack .
Yet four or five blocks from the fighting , the group of men reacted to their captivity with placid resolve , inured to war ’ s chaos .
The memory of that moment from the longest war in United States history surfaces when I stroll through my neighborhood in Northern California .
Stillness has muffled the streets in Sacramento as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the threat of COVID-19 to subside .
Here and there , I glimpse someone peering out a window , as if checking whether our old way of life has come back .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Flaws abound in the comparison of pandemic to war .
But it is true that each form of calamity brings suffering and death , provokes anxiety and grief , and requires collective effort and sacrifice to repel an invading force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , disrupting cultural and social rituals and altering perspective on external and interior worlds .
In our new age of uncertainty , the example of Afghans adapting to the constant presence of war – finding purpose , meaning , and joy within the confines of mutual hardship – holds useful lessons .
As we confront economic insecurity , food shortages , and loss of personal freedom , as we worry about the danger of stepping outside our homes , we can take cues from a nation that has coped with those burdens for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Afghanistan for three years , traveling to half the country ’ s 34 provinces .
The attack in Kabul on May 24 , 2013 , fit a recurring pattern in large cities and remote villages alike .
The assault began when a suicide bomber detonated explosives near a Western aid agency .
The hourslong firefight that followed between militants and Afghan security forces claimed four victims , including a 6-year-old girl .
A plume of gray smoke swirled over the city of 4 million people as its public spaces emptied out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honed their shelter-in-place reflexes during multiple wars over the past 40 years .
They know to stay inside at the sound of explosions and gunfire .
They also know that , after the smoke dissipates , a pall of dread will linger .
The unease hovers for hours or days , weeks or months .
But in time , by degrees , people reassert a measure of control as shops reopen , workers return to their jobs , and children again play in the streets .
Life regains its normal rhythms – with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at once relative and fragile in war .
The willingness of Afghans to repair the social fabric whenever violence tears open their lives reveals a patience born of experience .
They spurn cynicism to attend college , get married , and raise families .
They cast off self-pity to gather in cafes , hold public celebrations , and worship together .
They search for light in the shadow of war .
These acts of rebellion against despair and loss reflect an ability to acclimate to chronic turmoil .
Even after generations of bloodshed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of possibility , bearing their country ’ s privations with an enviable strength of spirit .
The day after the attack , Kabul ’ s residents started to emerge from hiding .
In the afternoon , I rode by taxi to a university to watch its graduation ceremony , passing the store where I had seen the group of men .
The security gate was up , and inside there were customers .
The coronavirus has engulfed America .
Hospitals struggle with patient overflow and equipment shortages .
Demand at food banks soars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs or income .
Stay-at-home orders cut us off from public spaces and one another .
We tend to feel connected only in our shared isolation .
War splinters a nation , and in their distress , people turn to each other for solace and hope .
By contrast , preventing the spread of COVID-19 requires us to stay apart , a concept at odds with human impulse and one that , in aiding the greater good , denies us the comfort of coming together .
Our retreat from the outside world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery , conflicts with American notions of personal freedom and the desire to impose control over the future .
We can look to Afghans for guidance in navigating our new reality .
Decades of war in Afghanistan have inflicted profound tragedies and social ills on its people .
At the same time , their acceptance of uncertainty as the status quo serves as a wellspring of resilience .
Rather than dwell on the unrest and surrender to a siege mentality , Afghans attempt to create a semblance of stability by devoting their attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurgent attack in Kabul in 2013 inflicted minor damage on a shoe store run by Samiullah Safi .
When I visited him two days later , he was sweeping up bits of glass and plaster from the shop floor .
He had reopened that morning , and I asked how he endured in the face of endless war .
His answer echoed what I heard from Afghans across the country during my years there .
“ We know violence is always possible , ” he told me .
“ But we can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each day until the next one.
” The West tends to view Afghanistan as medieval , a place with nothing to teach us about surviving our modern moment .
Yet as the coronavirus blurs the future and magnifies the present , we might emulate the persistence of Afghans , who even under the yoke of war regard each day as its own reward , its own triumph .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

The willingness of Afghans to repair the social fabric whenever violence tears open their lives reveals a patience born of experience. They spurn cynicism to attend college, get married, and raise families. They cast off self-pity to gather in cafes, hold public celebrations, and worship together. They search for light in the shadow of war.
Their calmness defied the not-so-distant echoes of gunfire and grenade explosions. And their example of adapting to the constant presence of war – finding purpose, meaning, and joy within the confines of mutual hardship – holds useful lessons.
In times of crisis, perspective can build perseverance. In this essay, our Martin Kuz beautifully explores how his time in Afghanistan has helped him see the response to the coronavirus differently.
Amid this new uncertainty, our Northern California correspondent, Martin Kuz, shares a different perspective. He covered the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan for three years, traveling to half the country’s 34 provinces. One memory that persists is how Afghans responded to the countless attacks they endured.
It’s common these days to hear people compare our responses to the coronavirus to war. Flaws abound in the comparison. But it is true that both reshape the order of life, disrupting cultural and social rituals and altering perspective on external and interior worlds.
The city appears deserted. No cars in the streets, no pedestrians on the sidewalks. Shops closed up, restaurants shut down. The absence of motion surrounds me.
Walking past a storefront, I notice a cluster of men staring out from behind its metal security gate. They range in age from early teens to about 50, and when I offer a smile, a few respond in kind. Their calmness defies the not-so-distant echoes of gunfire and grenade explosions.
As the novel coronavirus forces much of America to hole up indoors, my mind keeps returning to that silent, fleeting exchange seven years ago in Kabul, Afghanistan. People had disappeared into buildings seeking cover during an insurgent attack. Yet four or five blocks from the fighting, the group of men reacted to their captivity with placid resolve, inured to war’s chaos.
Why We Wrote This In times of crisis, perspective can build perseverance. In this essay, our Martin Kuz beautifully explores how his time in Afghanistan has helped him see the response to the coronavirus differently.
The memory of that moment from the longest war in United States history surfaces when I stroll through my neighborhood in Northern California. Stillness has muffled the streets in Sacramento as people hibernate in their homes and wait for the threat of COVID-19 to subside. Here and there, I glimpse someone peering out a window, as if checking whether our old way of life has come back.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Flaws abound in the comparison of pandemic to war. But it is true that each form of calamity brings suffering and death, provokes anxiety and grief, and requires collective effort and sacrifice to repel an invading force. Both reshape the order of life, disrupting cultural and social rituals and altering perspective on external and interior worlds.
In our new age of uncertainty, the example of Afghans adapting to the constant presence of war – finding purpose, meaning, and joy within the confines of mutual hardship – holds useful lessons. As we confront economic insecurity, food shortages, and loss of personal freedom, as we worry about the danger of stepping outside our homes, we can take cues from a nation that has coped with those burdens for decades.
A sense of possibility
I covered the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan for three years, traveling to half the country’s 34 provinces. The attack in Kabul on May 24, 2013, fit a recurring pattern in large cities and remote villages alike.
The assault began when a suicide bomber detonated explosives near a Western aid agency. The hourslong firefight that followed between militants and Afghan security forces claimed four victims, including a 6-year-old girl. A plume of gray smoke swirled over the city of 4 million people as its public spaces emptied out and its daily bustle ceased.
Afghans have honed their shelter-in-place reflexes during multiple wars over the past 40 years. They know to stay inside at the sound of explosions and gunfire. They also know that, after the smoke dissipates, a pall of dread will linger.
The unease hovers for hours or days, weeks or months. But in time, by degrees, people reassert a measure of control as shops reopen, workers return to their jobs, and children again play in the streets. Life regains its normal rhythms – with the caveat that “normal” remains at once relative and fragile in war.
The willingness of Afghans to repair the social fabric whenever violence tears open their lives reveals a patience born of experience. They spurn cynicism to attend college, get married, and raise families. They cast off self-pity to gather in cafes, hold public celebrations, and worship together. They search for light in the shadow of war.
These acts of rebellion against despair and loss reflect an ability to acclimate to chronic turmoil. Even after generations of bloodshed, Afghans continue to nurture a sense of possibility, bearing their country’s privations with an enviable strength of spirit.
The day after the attack, Kabul’s residents started to emerge from hiding. In the afternoon, I rode by taxi to a university to watch its graduation ceremony, passing the store where I had seen the group of men. The security gate was up, and inside there were customers.
“We live each day”
The coronavirus has engulfed America. Hospitals struggle with patient overflow and equipment shortages. Demand at food banks soars in tandem with millions of people losing jobs or income. Stay-at-home orders cut us off from public spaces and one another. We tend to feel connected only in our shared isolation.
War splinters a nation, and in their distress, people turn to each other for solace and hope. By contrast, preventing the spread of COVID-19 requires us to stay apart, a concept at odds with human impulse and one that, in aiding the greater good, denies us the comfort of coming together.
Our retreat from the outside world, aside from complicating our economic and emotional recovery, conflicts with American notions of personal freedom and the desire to impose control over the future. We can look to Afghans for guidance in navigating our new reality.
Decades of war in Afghanistan have inflicted profound tragedies and social ills on its people. At the same time, their acceptance of uncertainty as the status quo serves as a wellspring of resilience. Rather than dwell on the unrest and surrender to a siege mentality, Afghans attempt to create a semblance of stability by devoting their attention to the day at hand.
The insurgent attack in Kabul in 2013 inflicted minor damage on a shoe store run by Samiullah Safi. When I visited him two days later, he was sweeping up bits of glass and plaster from the shop floor.
He had reopened that morning, and I asked how he endured in the face of endless war. His answer echoed what I heard from Afghans across the country during my years there.
“We know violence is always possible,” he told me. “But we cannot live thinking this way. We live each day until the next one.”
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The West tends to view Afghanistan as medieval, a place with nothing to teach us about surviving our modern moment. Yet as the coronavirus blurs the future and magnifies the present, we might emulate the persistence of Afghans, who even under the yoke of war regard each day as its own reward, its own triumph.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


ezorigin--2020-04-10--As Britain battles a pandemic, a volunteer spirit stirs

At the same time , hundreds of thousands of citizens recently volunteered to support the pandemic response , far more than the government had anticipated .
That sense of solidarity was referenced by the monarch in language that invoked the sacrifices of World War II .
“ While we may have still more to endure , better days will return .
... We will meet again , ” she said .
Every Thursday night , U.K. residents on lockdowns emerge from their homes to clap and cheer the doctors and nurses of the National Health Service .
That sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address last Sunday by Queen Elizabeth II that was warmly received by many .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent this week in the hospital , raising concerns about political stability amid a pandemic .
His is one of 65,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.K. Mr. Johnson ’ s condition has improved , and that may provide some relief for a country that only recently emerged from years of political turmoil over its exit from the European Union .
Across the United Kingdom , as the COVID-19 crisis has bitten deeper , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emerging from self-isolation every Thursday night at 8 p.m. to clap , cheer , and bang pots and pans to show support for the country ’ s front-line doctors and nurses .
Each week the crescendo of gratitude has grown louder , sometimes punctuated by the blast of fireworks , filling otherwise becalmed neighborhoods briefly with appreciative noise for those at the tip of the spear , as they battle the spread of the coronavirus .
But as the death toll today hit a single-day U.K. record of 980 – and with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks away – the crisis caused by the scale of the pandemic has been compounded here by a new degree of political uncertainty .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to the hospital on Sunday and has spent his days and nights in intensive care fighting the virus , surrounded by the doctors and nurses of the National Health Service .
“ They ’ ve had a tough week , ” said Joan , a 60-something Briton , as she banged on a frying pan on her west London porch last night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re amazing , ” she said , as her suburban neighborhood joined in the rallying cry .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
The U.K. is not alone in showing newfound public affection for key workers , nor in facing an unprecedented public health emergency that has , in Europe , especially ravaged Italy , Spain , and France .
A recent U.K. government appeal for 250,000 volunteers to help the NHS cope yielded an army of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop to clear the backlog .
But the pandemic finds the U.K. at a politically precarious moment , as a nation finally emerging from 3 1/2 years of political gridlock over its chaotic departure from the European Union .
A December election that gave a decisive victory to Mr. Johnson and the ruling Conservative Party added clarity to a Brexit mandate and was seen by many as a potential first step in healing deep divisions in Britain ’ s political and social fabric .
Acknowledging the impact of the coronavirus on daily lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rare address on Sunday , praised the “ national spirit ” and thanked NHS and care workers , whose “ every hour ” of hard work “ brings us closer to a return to a more normal time.
” Calling on citizens to “ remain united and resolute ” to overcome the pandemic , she sought to provide comfort .
“ While we may have still more to endure , better days will return .
... We will meet again , ” she said .
Yet within an hour of hearing those words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Mr. Johnson had been rushed to the hospital , raising the specter of a leadership vacuum that , amid the pandemic , renewed a sense of political uncertainty .
The sense of uncertainty “ operates on a number of levels , and they ’ re all destabilizing , ” says Steven Fielding , an expert on British politics and political history at the University of Nottingham .
“ The very fact that the prime minister had been taken to hospital was something people genuinely found a bit disturbing , ” says Professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how decisions would be made , and obviously political journalists have been trying to follow , ‘ Who ’ s actually in charge now ?
’ ” he says .
For others , it was more symbolic : If the prime minister could fall seriously ill , so could everyone .
Mr. Johnson was returned to a normal hospital ward late Thursday after spending three nights in intensive care .
His father , Stanley Johnson , told the BBC today how touched he had been by the outpouring of support the family had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need time to fully recover .
The U.K. ’ s unwritten constitution does not spell out a clear succession process if a prime minister is incapacitated .
Mr. Johnson had already shepherded several key decisions about the national lockdown , and a £350 million financial rescue package that was adopted by lawmakers on March 17 .
That means , for now , that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab , who is deputized to act for Mr. Johnson , is unlikely to have to make any critical moves .
Nearly 9,000 people have died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 65,000 confirmed cases .
With the Easter weekend looming , Mr. Raab said Thursday a decision to ease restrictions was at least another week away .
He told a press briefing that he had not spoken to Mr. Johnson since he was admitted to the hospital , but that the government has “ got this covered.
” Mr. Raab said he has “ all the authority I need ” to make decisions .
Indeed , Mr. Johnson ’ s temporary incapacitation “ is not necessarily a crisis for the British political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a professor of government at King ’ s College , London , in an analysis for Foreign Policy that tabulates the absences of past prime ministers .
During World War II , for example , Winston Churchill had bouts of pneumonia , and in 1953 , an incapacitating stroke , but remained prime minister on both occasions , even as others were deputized to preside .
But severe social inequalities across the U.K. , a wealthy country that has pockets of deep deprivation not seen in its European peers , may have lasting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shown clapping for health workers last Thursday at the door of 10 Downing Street , for example , social media erupted with charges of hypocrisy , pointing to a decade of Conservative-led austerity budgets that especially pared down the NHS .
There is a shortage of intensive care beds , and some health care workers have been forced to buy their own protective gear .
A survey of nearly 3,500 nurses published Friday found that two-thirds did not feel they had access to sufficient safety equipment .
Just under a third had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College of Nursing study last September that found a shortage of 40,000 nurses in England alone .
“ From defunding nurse training to selling off parts of the NHS to private companies , the Tory party in power has hobbled the healthcare system ’ s ability to deal with the everyday , let alone the exceptional , ” wrote one Guardian columnist last week .
That has meant online skepticism of social media campaigns like # PrayForBoris .
Still , citizens have rallied together , evoking the memories of the spirit of community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War II , which were echoed by the queen .
Yet it remains to be seen how deeply British society might change after the pandemic threat recedes , if World War II is any guide .
“ I wouldn ’ t like to say it ’ s a new kind of spirit , ” says Professor Fielding , who has authored several books on Britain ’ s postwar political history .
Back then , people had discovered purpose and solidarity in a conflict that followed a period that poet W.H .
Auden called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which those qualities were seen as missing in action .
“ People are volunteering to go into bombers to fly over Germany and face almost near-certain death , in order to win this war , on behalf of everybody , ” says Mr .
Fielding .
“ They ’ re literally sacrificing their lives .
“ And people said at the time : ‘ We ’ ve now got a new kind of citizenship , which will go forward into the world , after the war.
’ It didn ’ t quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went back largely to how they had been before , ” he says .
“ But the crisis did reveal some people ’ s capacity to think about others , rather than themselves .
And , of course , that is quite inspiring.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

The United Kingdom has been riven by the Brexit debate in recent years, and the coronavirus pandemic has only added a new element of uncertainty. But the country is finding common cause against the virus.
At the same time, hundreds of thousands of citizens recently volunteered to support the pandemic response, far more than the government had anticipated. That sense of solidarity was referenced by the monarch in language that invoked the sacrifices of World War II. “While we may have still more to endure, better days will return. ... We will meet again,” she said.
Every Thursday night, U.K. residents on lockdowns emerge from their homes to clap and cheer the doctors and nurses of the National Health Service. That sense of unity was reinforced by a rare public address last Sunday by Queen Elizabeth II that was warmly received by many.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent this week in the hospital, raising concerns about political stability amid a pandemic. His is one of 65,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.K. Mr. Johnson’s condition has improved, and that may provide some relief for a country that only recently emerged from years of political turmoil over its exit from the European Union.
Across the United Kingdom, as the COVID-19 crisis has bitten deeper, its citizens have started a new ritual: Emerging from self-isolation every Thursday night at 8 p.m. to clap, cheer, and bang pots and pans to show support for the country’s front-line doctors and nurses.
Each week the crescendo of gratitude has grown louder, sometimes punctuated by the blast of fireworks, filling otherwise becalmed neighborhoods briefly with appreciative noise for those at the tip of the spear, as they battle the spread of the coronavirus.
But as the death toll today hit a single-day U.K. record of 980 – and with the peak death rate still estimated to be two weeks away – the crisis caused by the scale of the pandemic has been compounded here by a new degree of political uncertainty. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to the hospital on Sunday and has spent his days and nights in intensive care fighting the virus, surrounded by the doctors and nurses of the National Health Service.
Why We Wrote This The United Kingdom has been riven by the Brexit debate in recent years, and the coronavirus pandemic has only added a new element of uncertainty. But the country is finding common cause against the virus.
“They’ve had a tough week,” said Joan, a 60-something Briton, as she banged on a frying pan on her west London porch last night, referring to key workers. “They’re amazing,” she said, as her suburban neighborhood joined in the rallying cry.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
The U.K. is not alone in showing newfound public affection for key workers, nor in facing an unprecedented public health emergency that has, in Europe, especially ravaged Italy, Spain, and France. A recent U.K. government appeal for 250,000 volunteers to help the NHS cope yielded an army of 750,000 would-be helpers, precipitating a temporary stop to clear the backlog.
But the pandemic finds the U.K. at a politically precarious moment, as a nation finally emerging from 3 1/2 years of political gridlock over its chaotic departure from the European Union. A December election that gave a decisive victory to Mr. Johnson and the ruling Conservative Party added clarity to a Brexit mandate and was seen by many as a potential first step in healing deep divisions in Britain’s political and social fabric.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP View caption Hide caption An image of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and quotes from her historic television broadcast commenting on the coronavirus pandemic are displayed on a big screen behind the Eros statue at Piccadilly Circus in London on April 9, 2020.
Acknowledging the impact of the coronavirus on daily lives, Queen Elizabeth II, in a rare address on Sunday, praised the “national spirit” and thanked NHS and care workers, whose “every hour” of hard work “brings us closer to a return to a more normal time.”
Calling on citizens to “remain united and resolute” to overcome the pandemic, she sought to provide comfort. “While we may have still more to endure, better days will return. ... We will meet again,” she said.
“Who’s in charge now?”
Yet within an hour of hearing those words that would resonate widely, Britons learned that Mr. Johnson had been rushed to the hospital, raising the specter of a leadership vacuum that, amid the pandemic, renewed a sense of political uncertainty.
The sense of uncertainty “operates on a number of levels, and they’re all destabilizing,” says Steven Fielding, an expert on British politics and political history at the University of Nottingham.
“The very fact that the prime minister had been taken to hospital was something people genuinely found a bit disturbing,” says Professor Fielding.
“They were concerned about how decisions would be made, and obviously political journalists have been trying to follow, ‘Who’s actually in charge now?’” he says. For others, it was more symbolic: If the prime minister could fall seriously ill, so could everyone.
Mr. Johnson was returned to a normal hospital ward late Thursday after spending three nights in intensive care. His father, Stanley Johnson, told the BBC today how touched he had been by the outpouring of support the family had received, and said his son would need time to fully recover.
Jon Super/AP View caption Hide caption A man on a bike takes a photo of a NHS sign printed on a road near the newly setup coronavirus Nightingale Hospital North West in Manchester, England, on April 9, 2020.
The U.K.’s unwritten constitution does not spell out a clear succession process if a prime minister is incapacitated.
Mr. Johnson had already shepherded several key decisions about the national lockdown, and a £350 million financial rescue package that was adopted by lawmakers on March 17. That means, for now, that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputized to act for Mr. Johnson, is unlikely to have to make any critical moves.
Nearly 9,000 people have died from the virus in the U.K., with more than 65,000 confirmed cases.
With the Easter weekend looming, Mr. Raab said Thursday a decision to ease restrictions was at least another week away. He told a press briefing that he had not spoken to Mr. Johnson since he was admitted to the hospital, but that the government has “got this covered.” Mr. Raab said he has “all the authority I need” to make decisions.
Indeed, Mr. Johnson’s temporary incapacitation “is not necessarily a crisis for the British political system,” says Vernon Bogdanor, a professor of government at King’s College, London, in an analysis for Foreign Policy that tabulates the absences of past prime ministers.
During World War II, for example, Winston Churchill had bouts of pneumonia, and in 1953, an incapacitating stroke, but remained prime minister on both occasions, even as others were deputized to preside.
Austerity budget blues
But severe social inequalities across the U.K., a wealthy country that has pockets of deep deprivation not seen in its European peers, may have lasting, post-crisis impact.
When Mr. Johnson was shown clapping for health workers last Thursday at the door of 10 Downing Street, for example, social media erupted with charges of hypocrisy, pointing to a decade of Conservative-led austerity budgets that especially pared down the NHS.
Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street/AP View caption Hide caption Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson claps outside 11 Downing Street during a moment of applause for workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic in London on April 2, 2020.
There is a shortage of intensive care beds, and some health care workers have been forced to buy their own protective gear. A survey of nearly 3,500 nurses published Friday found that two-thirds did not feel they had access to sufficient safety equipment. Just under a third had bought their own.
And a Royal College of Nursing study last September that found a shortage of 40,000 nurses in England alone.
“From defunding nurse training to selling off parts of the NHS to private companies, the Tory party in power has hobbled the healthcare system’s ability to deal with the everyday, let alone the exceptional,” wrote one Guardian columnist last week.
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That has meant online skepticism of social media campaigns like #PrayForBoris.
Still, citizens have rallied together, evoking the memories of the spirit of community and selfless volunteerism that rose during World War II, which were echoed by the queen.
Revisiting the Blitz spirit
Yet it remains to be seen how deeply British society might change after the pandemic threat recedes, if World War II is any guide. “I wouldn’t like to say it’s a new kind of spirit,” says Professor Fielding, who has authored several books on Britain’s postwar political history.
Back then, people had discovered purpose and solidarity in a conflict that followed a period that poet W.H. Auden called a “low dishonest decade,” in which those qualities were seen as missing in action.
“People are volunteering to go into bombers to fly over Germany and face almost near-certain death, in order to win this war, on behalf of everybody,” says Mr. Fielding. “They’re literally sacrificing their lives.
“And people said at the time: ‘We’ve now got a new kind of citizenship, which will go forward into the world, after the war.’ It didn’t quite work out like that, so people went back largely to how they had been before,” he says.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“But the crisis did reveal some people’s capacity to think about others, rather than themselves. And, of course, that is quite inspiring.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.