vox--2020-03-18--We are not ready to hold an election during a pandemic. Just look at Ohio.

The Ohio Supreme Court ’ s decision in Speweik v. Wood County Board of Elections , which effectively allowed the state ’ s top health official to delay Tuesday ’ s primary election , is a confusing decision .
It ’ s made all the more confusing by the fact that the state supreme court did not explain its decision in the two-sentence order it handed down early Tuesday morning .
The upshot of Speweik , however , is that an order by state Director of Health Dr. Amy Acton , which ordered polls closed in the primary election that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken effect .
Ohio ’ s primary is suspended until June 2 , 2020 — and it ’ s possible that it could be delayed again if the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage in June .
Speweik arises out of the tension between two state laws , one of which unequivocally states that the primary election “ shall be held on the third Tuesday after the first Monday in March.
” The other law , meanwhile , gives the department of health broad powers over “ quarantine and isolation.
” Ordinarily , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” they read it as an immovable command — there is no flexibility in the word “ shall.
” And yet , the Ohio Supreme Court appears to have concluded that the state ’ s inflexible election law must bend to the needs of public health .
The implications of the decision go beyond what happens to Ohio ’ s primary .
We can expect to see more cases like Speweik in the near future , where an inflexible state election law runs headlong into the unusual measures state officials are imposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unless state lawmakers update these laws to account for the pandemic — something that would be difficult under normal circumstances , much less during a period of social distancing — courts are likely to struggle to reconcile competing legal demands .
The legal fight over whether Ohio could postpone its primary election is all the more confusing because that fight involved two entirely separate court battles .
On Monday , a Franklin County judge rejected a suit brought by two Ohio voters — a suit backed by Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state election on their own authority .
That decision is unaffected by the state supreme court ’ s decision in Speweik , but it also appears to be largely irrelevant in light of subsequent events .
Also on Monday , Corey Speweik , a candidate for a Wood County , Ohio , office , filed a petition in the Ohio Supreme Court asking the state ’ s justices to compel the state to hold Wood County ’ s primary election on Tuesday .
Just a few hours after Speweik filed this second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order requiring the polls to close on Tuesday .
In light of that order , the state asked the Ohio Supreme Court to dismiss Speweik ’ s petition , arguing that state election officials “ will not violate a clear legal duty by complying with an order from Ohio ’ s Health Director in the midst of a pandemic.
” Acton ’ s order was not at issue in the Franklin County case .
As noted above , Speweik turns upon the tension between Ohio law ’ s unequivocal statement that the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 , 2020 , and a second statute giving the state department of health broad authority over public health .
Ohio law provides that the health department has “ ultimate authority in matters of quarantine and isolation , which it may declare and enforce , when neither exists , and modify , relax , or abolish , when either has been established.
” The law also permits the health department to “ make special or standing orders or rules ... for preventing the spread of contagious or infectious diseases.
” Among other things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority to close bars and restaurants within the state .
There ’ s no good way to resolve the tension between Ohio ’ s election law and its public health law .
Again , the word “ shall ” is inflexible .
To comply with the state election law , the state must hold its election on Tuesday .
At the same time , the health department does , indeed , have broad authority to order people to isolate themselves and to close down the state ’ s ordinary operations .
If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department would likely still have the power to order poll workers to stay at home .
It might even have the power to order voters to stay at home .
And what is an election if no one can vote ?
In allowing Acton to delay the election , in other words , the state supreme court appears to have chosen the least worst option .
A rigid textualist approach to the state ’ s election law — one that elevates the rigid nature of the word “ shall ” over all other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ohio ’ s voters , who would have stayed home due to public health concerns , and who may have struggled to vote because poll workers stayed home as well .
Expect more courts to defer to public health officials Whatever the wisdom of the court ’ s decision in Speweik — and it ’ s worth emphasizing once again that this was a very difficult case with no clear answer — it ’ s likely that most courts will show similar deference to public health officials as similar tensions arise between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions .
In national security cases , courts typically defer to the president and to the military , even when national security officials claim that individual civil liberties must be restricted to ensure public safety .
“ Neither the members of this court nor most federal judges begin the day with briefings that may describe new and serious threats to our nation and its people , ” the Supreme Court explained in 2008 .
So judges are understandably uncomfortable with their ability to weigh the difficult choices made by presidents and generals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision that prevents the government from halting a terrorist attack .
A similar psychology is likely to settle in as the coronavirus pandemic heats up .
Most judges are no more expert in matters of public health than they are in matters of national security .
And the stakes in a coronavirus case may be measured in thousands of lives .
Yet , while judges often show wisdom when they admit what they do not know and defer to people with greater expertise , there is also potentially danger in such deference .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in national security cases explains the Supreme Court ’ s decision to uphold Japanese-American detention camps in Korematsu v. United States ( 1944 ) .
It also explains why the Supreme Court upheld President Trump ’ s travel ban in Trump v. Hawaii ( 2018 ) , despite considerable evidence that Trump implemented that ban largely due to his personal animus against Muslims .
American election law was not written with a pandemic in mind .
Extraordinary measures may be necessary to control the spread of coronavirus for many months — possibly continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And if those extraordinary measures do disrupt the general elections , courts are likely to defer to public health officials even if those officials act with partisan motivation .
Last week , University of California Irvine law professor Rick Hasen argued that Congress needs to enact nationwide legislation permitting voters to cast their ballots by mail — such as a bill proposed by Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-OR ) .
Hasen and Wyden are right .
If lawmakers don ’ t start thinking now about how to ensure that we can have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unable to go to the polls , then the courts are unlikely to step in to ensure that such an election happens .

The Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in Speweik v. Wood County Board of Elections, which effectively allowed the state’s top health official to delay Tuesday’s primary election, is a confusing decision. It’s made all the more confusing by the fact that the state supreme court did not explain its decision in the two-sentence order it handed down early Tuesday morning.
The upshot of Speweik, however, is that an order by state Director of Health Dr. Amy Acton, which ordered polls closed in the primary election that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, has taken effect. Ohio’s primary is suspended until June 2, 2020 — and it’s possible that it could be delayed again if the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage in June.
Speweik arises out of the tension between two state laws, one of which unequivocally states that the primary election “shall be held on the third Tuesday after the first Monday in March.” The other law, meanwhile, gives the department of health broad powers over “quarantine and isolation.”
Ordinarily, when a court encounters the word “shall,” they read it as an immovable command — there is no flexibility in the word “shall.” And yet, the Ohio Supreme Court appears to have concluded that the state’s inflexible election law must bend to the needs of public health.
The implications of the decision go beyond what happens to Ohio’s primary. We can expect to see more cases like Speweik in the near future, where an inflexible state election law runs headlong into the unusual measures state officials are imposing to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Unless state lawmakers update these laws to account for the pandemic — something that would be difficult under normal circumstances, much less during a period of social distancing — courts are likely to struggle to reconcile competing legal demands.
What happened in Ohio’s courts
The legal fight over whether Ohio could postpone its primary election is all the more confusing because that fight involved two entirely separate court battles.
On Monday, a Franklin County judge rejected a suit brought by two Ohio voters — a suit backed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine — which asked the state courts to delay the state election on their own authority. That decision is unaffected by the state supreme court’s decision in Speweik, but it also appears to be largely irrelevant in light of subsequent events.
Also on Monday, Corey Speweik, a candidate for a Wood County, Ohio, office, filed a petition in the Ohio Supreme Court asking the state’s justices to compel the state to hold Wood County’s primary election on Tuesday. Just a few hours after Speweik filed this second case, Dr. Acton handed down her order requiring the polls to close on Tuesday. In light of that order, the state asked the Ohio Supreme Court to dismiss Speweik’s petition, arguing that state election officials “will not violate a clear legal duty by complying with an order from Ohio’s Health Director in the midst of a pandemic.”
Acton’s order was not at issue in the Franklin County case.
As noted above, Speweik turns upon the tension between Ohio law’s unequivocal statement that the primary “shall” be held on March 17, 2020, and a second statute giving the state department of health broad authority over public health.
Ohio law provides that the health department has “ultimate authority in matters of quarantine and isolation, which it may declare and enforce, when neither exists, and modify, relax, or abolish, when either has been established.” The law also permits the health department to “make special or standing orders or rules ... for preventing the spread of contagious or infectious diseases.”
Among other things, Ohio officials have used this broad authority to close bars and restaurants within the state.
There’s no good way to resolve the tension between Ohio’s election law and its public health law. Again, the word “shall” is inflexible. To comply with the state election law, the state must hold its election on Tuesday. At the same time, the health department does, indeed, have broad authority to order people to isolate themselves and to close down the state’s ordinary operations.
If the election were held today, the health department would likely still have the power to order poll workers to stay at home. It might even have the power to order voters to stay at home. And what is an election if no one can vote?
In allowing Acton to delay the election, in other words, the state supreme court appears to have chosen the least worst option. A rigid textualist approach to the state’s election law — one that elevates the rigid nature of the word “shall” over all other concerns — risked effectively disenfranchising huge swaths of Ohio’s voters, who would have stayed home due to public health concerns, and who may have struggled to vote because poll workers stayed home as well.
Expect more courts to defer to public health officials
Whatever the wisdom of the court’s decision in Speweik — and it’s worth emphasizing once again that this was a very difficult case with no clear answer — it’s likely that most courts will show similar deference to public health officials as similar tensions arise between state and federal election laws and coronavirus precautions.
In national security cases, courts typically defer to the president and to the military, even when national security officials claim that individual civil liberties must be restricted to ensure public safety. “Neither the members of this court nor most federal judges begin the day with briefings that may describe new and serious threats to our nation and its people,” the Supreme Court explained in 2008. So judges are understandably uncomfortable with their ability to weigh the difficult choices made by presidents and generals. No judge wants to hand down a decision that prevents the government from halting a terrorist attack.
A similar psychology is likely to settle in as the coronavirus pandemic heats up. Most judges are no more expert in matters of public health than they are in matters of national security. And the stakes in a coronavirus case may be measured in thousands of lives.
Yet, while judges often show wisdom when they admit what they do not know and defer to people with greater expertise, there is also potentially danger in such deference. The great deference that judges typically show in national security cases explains the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Japanese-American detention camps in Korematsu v. United States (1944). It also explains why the Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s travel ban in Trump v. Hawaii (2018), despite considerable evidence that Trump implemented that ban largely due to his personal animus against Muslims.
American election law was not written with a pandemic in mind. Extraordinary measures may be necessary to control the spread of coronavirus for many months — possibly continuing well into the November election season. And if those extraordinary measures do disrupt the general elections, courts are likely to defer to public health officials even if those officials act with partisan motivation.
Last week, University of California Irvine law professor Rick Hasen argued that Congress needs to enact nationwide legislation permitting voters to cast their ballots by mail — such as a bill proposed by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). Hasen and Wyden are right. If lawmakers don’t start thinking now about how to ensure that we can have a free and fair election even while Americans are unable to go to the polls, then the courts are unlikely to step in to ensure that such an election happens.


vox--2020-03-18--What it’s like to work in a nursing home during a pandemic

As the Covid-19 pandemic sweeps through the nation , thousands of nursing homes are locking down .
Following an outbreak at a Kirkland , Washington , nursing home associated with the deaths of 25 people , retirement and care homes have been on high alert , especially since coronavirus mortality rates for the elderly are relatively high .
Many are shutting their doors to outside visitors , limiting personnel , and canceling nearly all social gatherings .
For nursing home residents who already struggle with loneliness , the complete ban on visits from loved ones , Saturday afternoon bingo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These bans are obviously upsetting , but know that these decisions are not being made lightly .
I ’ m a chaplain intern at a nursing home , and while we haven ’ t been hit with coronavirus yet , we are preparing for the worst .
And that means keeping our elderly residents healthy beyond their physical well-being .
Right now , a rotation of silly jokes , as well as hand sanitizer , have become an integral part of my spiritual praxis .
Technically speaking , many nursing homes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With more than 90 percent of the deaths associated with your standard seasonal flu occurring among the elderly , there are rigorous response protocols in place to contain the spread of disease .
Flu shots are mandatory for all staff , there are hand sanitizer stations around every corner , and staff and volunteers with symptoms of the flu are asked to stay home .
If the flu finds its way in , the infected resident and those with whom the patient has been in recent contact are isolated .
After so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are practiced in containment .
But with the emergence of the novel coronavirus , restrictions are tightening .
At the facility where I work , all staff , visitors , and volunteers are being scanned at the entrance for fevers and asked not to enter if they have symptoms such as coughing or trouble breathing , or if they ( or anyone they cohabitate with ) have traveled out of the country in the past two weeks .
Communal worship gatherings have been canceled until further notice , and chaplains are instructed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available to each resident in their room .
Visits from school children and other volunteer groups have been indefinitely postponed .
Social distancing is crucial at this time , but it also exacerbates a known crisis faced by all nursing homes : loneliness .
It is sadly very common for patients and residents in care facilities to feel abandoned by their living relatives who , unable to provide the round-the-clock care they require , put them in homes .
And it is also not unusual for residents in their 90s and beyond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and relatives , including , in many instances , their own children .
Compounding this loneliness is the likelihood that spouses and children of patients won ’ t be allowed to visit their loved ones in the weeks to come .
We ’ ve all seen photos on the news of people knocking on nursing home windows , trying to see their elderly family members through the glass barrier .
Even within homes that offer different levels of geriatric care , spouses who regularly see their partners may not be able to visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anyone with a heart knows how much it hurts to be kept apart from those you care about during a crisis .
These will be trying times for thousands of seniors and their families .
These restrictions will also affect volunteers .
Even before the pandemic , many assisted-living facilities throughout the country were suffering from a lack of those rare , kind-hearted souls who stop by for a friendly game of cards or to accompany wheelchair-bound residents on a walk outside .
With the pandemic in full swing , such volunteers — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being asked to stay home .
Soon , other opportunities to gather , such as chair yoga and afternoon bingo , will also likely be canceled .
During these difficult and scary times , healthcare chaplains play a critical role , providing ongoing prayer , succor , and , most importantly , friendly companionship .
Chaplains like me are considered by most facilities essential personnel and will likely continue to do our work even if the home is put in lockdown .
Staff will also pull double-duty , ensuring residents ’ physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their spirits .
For those concerned about relatives living in a care facility , don ’ t be afraid to reach out and check in .
FaceTime and Skype are great options if patients are already set up , but know that the phone is likely the best way to get in touch and still the most cherished form of communication for many elderly residents .
Busy staff will have very limited time during a pandemic to train residents on how to use computers and iPads .
The most trusted communication channel remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few weeks and months , our health care system will be fully occupied with the critical mission of keeping our seniors alive .
Nursing home staff have considerable practice in safeguarding the health of seniors during an outbreak .
However , there ’ s plenty of work left ahead for the rest of us to ensure that our nation ’ s elderly and most vulnerable are never left feeling abandoned .
The writer currently interns at a nursing home .
They are choosing not to reveal their name to protect their privacy .

As the Covid-19 pandemic sweeps through the nation, thousands of nursing homes are locking down.
Following an outbreak at a Kirkland, Washington, nursing home associated with the deaths of 25 people, retirement and care homes have been on high alert, especially since coronavirus mortality rates for the elderly are relatively high. Many are shutting their doors to outside visitors, limiting personnel, and canceling nearly all social gatherings. For nursing home residents who already struggle with loneliness, the complete ban on visits from loved ones, Saturday afternoon bingo, and religious services is a massive blow.
These bans are obviously upsetting, but know that these decisions are not being made lightly. I’m a chaplain intern at a nursing home, and while we haven’t been hit with coronavirus yet, we are preparing for the worst. And that means keeping our elderly residents healthy beyond their physical well-being. Right now, a rotation of silly jokes, as well as hand sanitizer, have become an integral part of my spiritual praxis.
Technically speaking, many nursing homes are well-equipped to handle a deadly virus. With more than 90 percent of the deaths associated with your standard seasonal flu occurring among the elderly, there are rigorous response protocols in place to contain the spread of disease. Flu shots are mandatory for all staff, there are hand sanitizer stations around every corner, and staff and volunteers with symptoms of the flu are asked to stay home. If the flu finds its way in, the infected resident and those with whom the patient has been in recent contact are isolated. After so many years of flu protocol, nursing staffs are practiced in containment.
But with the emergence of the novel coronavirus, restrictions are tightening. At the facility where I work, all staff, visitors, and volunteers are being scanned at the entrance for fevers and asked not to enter if they have symptoms such as coughing or trouble breathing, or if they (or anyone they cohabitate with) have traveled out of the country in the past two weeks. Communal worship gatherings have been canceled until further notice, and chaplains are instructed to broadcast Sunday services on closed-circuit television, available to each resident in their room. Visits from school children and other volunteer groups have been indefinitely postponed.
Social distancing is crucial at this time, but it also exacerbates a known crisis faced by all nursing homes: loneliness. It is sadly very common for patients and residents in care facilities to feel abandoned by their living relatives who, unable to provide the round-the-clock care they require, put them in homes. And it is also not unusual for residents in their 90s and beyond to have actually outlived all of their friends and relatives, including, in many instances, their own children.
Compounding this loneliness is the likelihood that spouses and children of patients won’t be allowed to visit their loved ones in the weeks to come. We’ve all seen photos on the news of people knocking on nursing home windows, trying to see their elderly family members through the glass barrier. Even within homes that offer different levels of geriatric care, spouses who regularly see their partners may not be able to visit for weeks, perhaps even months. Anyone with a heart knows how much it hurts to be kept apart from those you care about during a crisis. These will be trying times for thousands of seniors and their families.
These restrictions will also affect volunteers. Even before the pandemic, many assisted-living facilities throughout the country were suffering from a lack of those rare, kind-hearted souls who stop by for a friendly game of cards or to accompany wheelchair-bound residents on a walk outside. With the pandemic in full swing, such volunteers — many of whom are elderly themselves — are being asked to stay home.
Soon, other opportunities to gather, such as chair yoga and afternoon bingo, will also likely be canceled. During these difficult and scary times, healthcare chaplains play a critical role, providing ongoing prayer, succor, and, most importantly, friendly companionship. Chaplains like me are considered by most facilities essential personnel and will likely continue to do our work even if the home is put in lockdown. Staff will also pull double-duty, ensuring residents’ physical health and safety as well as comforting their spirits.
For those concerned about relatives living in a care facility, don’t be afraid to reach out and check in. FaceTime and Skype are great options if patients are already set up, but know that the phone is likely the best way to get in touch and still the most cherished form of communication for many elderly residents. Busy staff will have very limited time during a pandemic to train residents on how to use computers and iPads. The most trusted communication channel remains the old-fashioned landline.
During the next few weeks and months, our health care system will be fully occupied with the critical mission of keeping our seniors alive. Nursing home staff have considerable practice in safeguarding the health of seniors during an outbreak. However, there’s plenty of work left ahead for the rest of us to ensure that our nation’s elderly and most vulnerable are never left feeling abandoned.
The writer currently interns at a nursing home. They are choosing not to reveal their name to protect their privacy.


vox--2020-03-18--People who travel for a living are struggling to find work

As a travel host and video producer , Andrew Gunadie usually finds himself on a plane every two to three weeks , flying out with his camera crew to work on commissioned projects for television networks or filming content for his YouTube channel .
The threat of coronavirus infection had been in the back of his mind since late January as he traveled through Japan and Taiwan for Lunar New Year , but it wasn ’ t until the end of February , when other countries were reporting a significant uptick in cases , that he realized the pandemic could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but his job .
” You always assume some degree of risk when you travel , but right now we ’ re in a bit of an unknown volatile period , ” Gunadie told me .
“ I think that any sensible person would have reservations about going anywhere right now .
I ’ m not so worried about myself as I am for others — my crew and the civilians we might come into contact with.
” Countries around the world are swiftly enforcing travel restrictions to curb the virus ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce or , in some cases , cut off entire routes to destinations with a spike in coronavirus cases — places like mainland China , Italy , and South Korea .
The travel and tourism industry as a whole is reeling in the face of the pandemic , which the World Travel and Tourism Council predicts could leave as many as 50 million jobs at risk .
Airlines , hotels , and travel agencies are slashing budgets , and companies , regardless of scale , are issuing coronavirus-related layoffs .
Norwegian Air will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its workforce , MGM Resorts is starting to furlough and lay off workers through June 30 , and travel agencies across the US are steadily letting go of employees as bookings fall through .
“ I think that any sensible person would have reservations about going anywhere right now ” In the face of this industry-wide meltdown , there ’ s a small category of professional travelers — bloggers , creatives , photographers , and video producers like Gunadie — whose careers are being thrown into disarray .
Most are freelancers , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies to do promotional work , copywriting , or video editing .
Many are proud globe-trotters who document their travels to an audience of thousands , broadcasting their experiences through online blogs or social media posts .
Bloggers of all types started to monetize their websites in the mid-2000s through ads , as blogs entered the mainstream and traditional media outlets started hiring online writers and even starting their own blogs .
With the advent of social media and popular platforms like WordPress and Blogspot , it ’ s become much easier to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blogger — provided a person has enough money to sponsor themselves as they start off .
In recent years , however , some travel bloggers and influencers have been criticized for demanding all-expenses-paid trips and amenities , sharing photo locations that encourage overtourism , and displaying at times tone-deaf attitudes toward global politics when it comes to promoting travel .
There are , of course , plenty of professional travelers who are aware of their work ’ s impact on tourism , but online , many people have grown disillusioned with the glamour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is a privileged lifestyle that I get to travel for a living , ” Ciara Johnson , a travel influencer and blogger with more than 57,000 Instagram followers , told me .
“ On the other hand , I recognize that it ’ s a business I ’ ve spent five years building from the ground up , spending thousands of dollars to get started.
” On social media , users have started making jokes about how Covid-19 will force travel bloggers to get “ a real job ” or , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their newly quarantined lifestyles as international travel becomes increasingly restricted .
Some influencers are facing backlash online for continuing to post and interact with audiences without mentioning the pandemic or its effects on travel and the economy overall .
While most of these influencers are technically part of the gig economy , their financial benefits and stability are often more secure than those of the average ride-hail driver or grocery delivery person .
Most are , in a sense , accustomed to having some level of uncertainty when it comes to how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a year .
That level of flexibility isn ’ t necessarily available for every worker , and millions of people could be left without a job once the pandemic is contained .
As the coronavirus outbreak threatens to disrupt most industries , economists at the UCLA Anderson School of Management have predicted that the unemployment rate would rise to 6.3 percent by the end of 2020 , from today ’ s 3.5 percent rate .
That means roughly 3.5 million lost jobs across all industries , David Wilcox of the Peterson Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sectors like hospitality , foodservice , and travel have started laying off a significant part of their workforce .
A poll surveying 835 working adults over the weekend found that about 18 percent of people have been laid off or had work hours cut .
” It is the nature of a freelance job that nothing is ever guaranteed , ” said Johnson , who hasn ’ t traveled professionally so far this year .
“ It ’ s worrying to know that the companies who have hired you are likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m taking it a month at a time.
” Still , most bloggers are heavily dependent on travel agencies and tourism-related partnerships to make the bulk of their money .
“ It is the nature of a freelance job that nothing is ever guaranteed ” Johnson is expecting payments for her past projects to provide her income until June , and she ’ s actively scoping out opportunities in freelance writing and brand promotion that don ’ t require her to be at a specific destination .
In her experience , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far ahead of time ; an influencer might be extended an early invitation for a trip in the summer but concrete plans and bookings are usually made “ a few weeks to a month out , ” she added .
At this point , however , the future appears uncertain .
The New York Times ’ s Taylor Lorenz reported that many bloggers are “ feeling in a state of purgatory , ” since many brands and travel agencies are unwilling to commit to anything in the near future .
A cruise influencer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having issues essentially with commitment , ” with some companies continuing ahead with scheduled trips and others remaining unsure .
Selena Taylor , who runs the Find Us Lost blog , told BuzzFeed ’ s Tanya Chen that a significant part of her income is generated through sales and bookings made through the affiliate links she posts .
Taylor has noticed a dip in people booking hotels and Airbnbs as international travel is slowly grinding to a halt .
Some bloggers have pivoted to posting wellness and quarantine tips , and are sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curve ” to reduce risk for others .
Gunadie , who has an audience of travelers , said he ’ s starting to share more articles about “ social distancing ” and proper hygiene since people “ need to start paying attention.
” He has been staying home since his last two trips in early March working on preproduction for other content .
“ I ’ m avoiding nonessential travel right now , and I know that a lot of industry friends have had gigs canceled , ” he told me .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I can work from home without feeling like too much has changed.
” Johnson said that “ things are going to get difficult ” if the situation hasn ’ t improved in three to six months .
“ We ’ re going to have to get very creative , ” she said .
“ People are going to need some sort of reprieve from reality , some sort of entertainment or escapism , and that ’ s where I think we creators come in.
” Financially surviving the coronavirus outbreak and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many followers a blogger has and how willing they are to reposition themselves in a post-pandemic world .
BuzzFeed reported that one influencer ’ s February income was cut in half and another had six “ substantial projects ” canceled .
This could significantly affect bloggers with smaller followings , who can earn anywhere from $ 200 to $ 100,000 a month from multiple streams of revenue .
While global air travel is expected to decline and airlines are rapidly losing revenue , travel influencers are hopeful that demand for content will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained .
“ There ’ s going to be an opportunity to tell meaningful stories , ” Gunadie said .
“ What do people want and need to know ?
How can we inspire them to get on a plane again ?
Maybe it ’ s not about finding the top spots to take an Instagram but the story of a really cool restaurant in Chinatown that survived in the age of a pandemic.
” Sign up for The Goods ’ newsletter .
Twice a week , we ’ ll send you the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , why we buy it , and why it matters .

As a travel host and video producer, Andrew Gunadie usually finds himself on a plane every two to three weeks, flying out with his camera crew to work on commissioned projects for television networks or filming content for his YouTube channel. The threat of coronavirus infection had been in the back of his mind since late January as he traveled through Japan and Taiwan for Lunar New Year, but it wasn’t until the end of February, when other countries were reporting a significant uptick in cases, that he realized the pandemic could severely disrupt not just his nomadic lifestyle but his job.
”You always assume some degree of risk when you travel, but right now we’re in a bit of an unknown volatile period,” Gunadie told me. “I think that any sensible person would have reservations about going anywhere right now. I’m not so worried about myself as I am for others — my crew and the civilians we might come into contact with.”
Countries around the world are swiftly enforcing travel restrictions to curb the virus’s spread. Airlines are suspending flights to reduce or, in some cases, cut off entire routes to destinations with a spike in coronavirus cases — places like mainland China, Italy, and South Korea.
The travel and tourism industry as a whole is reeling in the face of the pandemic, which the World Travel and Tourism Council predicts could leave as many as 50 million jobs at risk. Airlines, hotels, and travel agencies are slashing budgets, and companies, regardless of scale, are issuing coronavirus-related layoffs. Norwegian Air will temporarily lay off up to half of its workforce, MGM Resorts is starting to furlough and lay off workers through June 30, and travel agencies across the US are steadily letting go of employees as bookings fall through.
“I think that any sensible person would have reservations about going anywhere right now”
In the face of this industry-wide meltdown, there’s a small category of professional travelers — bloggers, creatives, photographers, and video producers like Gunadie — whose careers are being thrown into disarray. Most are freelancers, who partner with or are contracted by travel-related companies to do promotional work, copywriting, or video editing. Many are proud globe-trotters who document their travels to an audience of thousands, broadcasting their experiences through online blogs or social media posts.
Bloggers of all types started to monetize their websites in the mid-2000s through ads, as blogs entered the mainstream and traditional media outlets started hiring online writers and even starting their own blogs. With the advent of social media and popular platforms like WordPress and Blogspot, it’s become much easier to jump-start a career as a professional travel blogger — provided a person has enough money to sponsor themselves as they start off.
In recent years, however, some travel bloggers and influencers have been criticized for demanding all-expenses-paid trips and amenities, sharing photo locations that encourage overtourism, and displaying at times tone-deaf attitudes toward global politics when it comes to promoting travel. There are, of course, plenty of professional travelers who are aware of their work’s impact on tourism, but online, many people have grown disillusioned with the glamour and allure of their lifestyle.
When Facebook goes to zero will the Instagram models and travel bloggers have to get real jobs? — Hipster (@Hipster_Trader) July 31, 2018
”It is a privileged lifestyle that I get to travel for a living,” Ciara Johnson, a travel influencer and blogger with more than 57,000 Instagram followers, told me. “On the other hand, I recognize that it’s a business I’ve spent five years building from the ground up, spending thousands of dollars to get started.”
On social media, users have started making jokes about how Covid-19 will force travel bloggers to get “a real job” or, at the very least, create content about their newly quarantined lifestyles as international travel becomes increasingly restricted. Some influencers are facing backlash online for continuing to post and interact with audiences without mentioning the pandemic or its effects on travel and the economy overall.
While most of these influencers are technically part of the gig economy, their financial benefits and stability are often more secure than those of the average ride-hail driver or grocery delivery person. Most are, in a sense, accustomed to having some level of uncertainty when it comes to how much income they’re expected to make in a year.
That level of flexibility isn’t necessarily available for every worker, and millions of people could be left without a job once the pandemic is contained. As the coronavirus outbreak threatens to disrupt most industries, economists at the UCLA Anderson School of Management have predicted that the unemployment rate would rise to 6.3 percent by the end of 2020, from today’s 3.5 percent rate. That means roughly 3.5 million lost jobs across all industries, David Wilcox of the Peterson Institute for International Economics told CNBC. Already, sectors like hospitality, foodservice, and travel have started laying off a significant part of their workforce. A poll surveying 835 working adults over the weekend found that about 18 percent of people have been laid off or had work hours cut.
”It is the nature of a freelance job that nothing is ever guaranteed,” said Johnson, who hasn’t traveled professionally so far this year. “It’s worrying to know that the companies who have hired you are likely to decrease budgets, but right now, I’m taking it a month at a time.” Still, most bloggers are heavily dependent on travel agencies and tourism-related partnerships to make the bulk of their money.
“It is the nature of a freelance job that nothing is ever guaranteed”
Johnson is expecting payments for her past projects to provide her income until June, and she’s actively scoping out opportunities in freelance writing and brand promotion that don’t require her to be at a specific destination. In her experience, press trips aren’t scheduled too far ahead of time; an influencer might be extended an early invitation for a trip in the summer but concrete plans and bookings are usually made “a few weeks to a month out,” she added.
At this point, however, the future appears uncertain. The New York Times’s Taylor Lorenz reported that many bloggers are “feeling in a state of purgatory,” since many brands and travel agencies are unwilling to commit to anything in the near future. A cruise influencer told Lorenz that tour operators are “having issues essentially with commitment,” with some companies continuing ahead with scheduled trips and others remaining unsure.
Selena Taylor, who runs the Find Us Lost blog, told BuzzFeed’s Tanya Chen that a significant part of her income is generated through sales and bookings made through the affiliate links she posts. Taylor has noticed a dip in people booking hotels and Airbnbs as international travel is slowly grinding to a halt. Some bloggers have pivoted to posting wellness and quarantine tips, and are sharing articles about how to “flatten the curve” to reduce risk for others.
Gunadie, who has an audience of travelers, said he’s starting to share more articles about “social distancing” and proper hygiene since people “need to start paying attention.” He has been staying home since his last two trips in early March working on preproduction for other content. “I’m avoiding nonessential travel right now, and I know that a lot of industry friends have had gigs canceled,” he told me. “I have enough to keep me busy that I can work from home without feeling like too much has changed.”
Johnson said that “things are going to get difficult” if the situation hasn’t improved in three to six months. “We’re going to have to get very creative,” she said. “People are going to need some sort of reprieve from reality, some sort of entertainment or escapism, and that’s where I think we creators come in.” Financially surviving the coronavirus outbreak and the possible recession on the horizon depends on how many followers a blogger has and how willing they are to reposition themselves in a post-pandemic world. BuzzFeed reported that one influencer’s February income was cut in half and another had six “substantial projects” canceled. This could significantly affect bloggers with smaller followings, who can earn anywhere from $200 to $100,000 a month from multiple streams of revenue.
While global air travel is expected to decline and airlines are rapidly losing revenue, travel influencers are hopeful that demand for content will pick up once the pandemic is successfully contained. “There’s going to be an opportunity to tell meaningful stories,” Gunadie said. “What do people want and need to know? How can we inspire them to get on a plane again? Maybe it’s not about finding the top spots to take an Instagram but the story of a really cool restaurant in Chinatown that survived in the age of a pandemic.”
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vox--2020-03-17--3 winners and 3 losers from Tuesday’s Democratic primaries

We may be living in a vastly different world than we were a week ago , but one constant remains : Joe Biden appears well on his way to being the presumptive Democratic nominee .
Right out of the gate on Tuesday night , Biden notched a nearly 40-point win in Florida , the state with the biggest cache of delegates .
He followed it up soon after with another resounding win in Illinois and won Arizona shortly after polls closed there .
By the end of the night , Biden had vaulted over the 1,000-delegate threshold ( he needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a comfortable lead coming pretty early in the calendar .
And while it ’ s too early to declare him the winner of the primary , it ’ s difficult to see Sanders making up enough ground to win .
Beyond the election outcome , the impacts of the spreading coronavirus outbreak in the US could be seen even before Tuesday ’ s primaries got underway .
On Monday , Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine postponed the state ’ s primary until June 2 , unwilling to put poll workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , not all states had low turnout .
Florida ’ s primary turnout actually exceeded 2016 levels , with early voting and voting by mail accounting for a significant portion of the total turnout .
This could make the case for more states to adopt voting by mail or no-excuse absentee voting going forward .
As federal and state lawmakers grapple with how to prepare poll workers and voters for the rest of an uncertain primary season , the results Tuesday night demonstrated that states with early vote and vote by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good turnout — even amid a massive public health crisis .
What follows is our sense of what happened on Tuesday — who won , who lost , and what we learned about how America may need to change its elections during a pandemic .
In a rapidly narrowing race , it seems Biden is coming out on top .
Ohio postponing its vote ultimately didn ’ t matter for Biden ’ s delegate math .
Biden ’ s big prize was always going to be Florida , and he won it right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substantial chunk of the state ’ s 219 delegates .
Soon after , he clinched a double-digit win in Illinois , even though that state ’ s turnout was significantly down .
Biden also won Arizona minutes after polls closed there at 11 pm Eastern .
None of this was particularly surprising .
In fact , Biden ’ s real test came last week during the March 10 primaries , and he passed with flying colors .
Last Tuesday , Biden romped in expected states like Mississippi as well as unexpected ones like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters and working-class white voters in the Michigan primary , a state Sanders won in 2016 and fiercely contested in 2020 .
Biden also had a fairly strong debate on Sunday , going head to head with Sanders in Washington , DC .
Despite some slips here and there , Biden was pretty sharp and exuded confidence , leadership , and reassurance when it came to the elephant in the room : handling the coronavirus pandemic .
The faster this becomes a general election , the better it is for Biden .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president to draw a stark contrast with President Donald Trump .
Biden was only expected to gain momentum on March 17 , and that ’ s exactly what happened .
Sanders ’ s window to becoming the Democratic nominee has been shrinking since South Carolina and Super Tuesday , and after this last round of voting , his path didn ’ t become any easier .
As the Economist ’ s G. Elliott Morris pointed out , Biden ’ s lead once the votes are in from Florida , Illinois , and Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean Sanders would need to get more than 60 percent of the remaining delegates to get the 1,991 a candidate needs to become the nominee .
Impossible ?
No .
Unlikely ?
Yes .
Whether Sanders will continue to fight is unclear .
While he could theoretically stage a comeback , he is trailing significantly , and concerns about the coronavirus spread add even more pressure to his decisions moving forward .
People going to polling places increases the risk for the disease to spread , even though many of Sanders ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student debt forgiveness , paid family leave — could be quite beneficial to society at this moment .
If Sanders eventually leaves the race , it may be a loss for his candidacy , but it will be a victory for many of his ideas , which are now part of the mainstream of the Democratic Party .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine has been among the most proactive state leaders on reacting to the coronavirus outbreak to date , including when it comes to the state ’ s primary .
Originally slotted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now scheduled to take place on June 2 , largely at the behest of its Republican governor .
On Monday , DeWine recommended that Ohio delay its presidential primary , noting that in-person voting makes it impossible to comply with CDC guidelines around the coronavirus .
It took some legal maneuvering to do it , as Vox ’ s Li Zhou explained , through which DeWine had to go through the courts instead of the state legislature .
He backed a lawsuit from plaintiffs arguing the March primary would disenfranchise them because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participate over health concerns .
A judge initially rejected the request to push it back , but DeWine forged ahead , instructing the polls to be closed under the authority granted during a public health emergency .
On Tuesday morning , the Ohio Supreme Court supported the polls closing anyway .
While it ’ s not clear what the coronavirus situation in the United States or anywhere will be on June 2 , DeWine ’ s decision to push for the polls to be closed now is a win for voting and for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t forced to choose between going to their polling places or sitting out the primary .
And people will be able to vote absentee by mail until the new primary date in more than two months .
Getting voters to show up at the polls can be challenging even in the best of times .
But as public officials warned Americans to practice social distancing to protect themselves and others from the global coronavirus pandemic , it appeared that in-person turnout in Illinois , Florida , and Arizona took a hit .
Polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing hand sanitizer , disinfectant wipes , and protective masks for poll workers and urging voters to line up while keeping a safe distance from one another .
Precise data on turnout isn ’ t yet available , but based on reports so far , that didn ’ t appear to assure voters .
One election judge in Illinois told the Chicago Sun-Times that turnout was lower than she ’ s seen in two decades , with about a third of Illinois voters claiming they were “ very concerned ” that they or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to an Associated Press survey .
The New York Times reported that overall turnout was less than half what it was in the 2016 primary .
Turnout also declined in some Florida counties where polling locations were changed at the last minute .
But NBC News estimated turnout at 2 million in the state overall , up from 1.7 million in 2016 .
That might be because almost half of Florida voters — nearly 1.1 million — participated in early voting or mail-in voting , a 20 percent jump over 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Democratic National Committee encourage other states ’ officials to expand mail-in voting and other alternatives to in-person voting on Tuesday .
Arizona has a strong tradition of early voting , so voter turnout appeared to be slightly up overall , even if people weren ’ t showing up to the polls in person in the same numbers as prior election years .
The March 17 primaries just helped vote-by-mail advocates in the US Senate make their case in a big way .
As actual voting day turnout in states like Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the difference with strong early voting and vote-by-mail numbers .
As noted above , the overall Florida turnout was so resilient to coronavirus “ because almost half of Florida voters — nearly 1.1 million — participated in early voting or mail-in voting , a 20 percent jump over 2016.
” As it turns out , there ’ s a new effort in the US Senate to get early voting and vote by mail to be more widespread , in light of the coronavirus .
Sens .
Ron Wyden ( D-OR ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduce an updated bill to expand both in-person early voting and no-excuse absentee vote by mail , and require states to set up contingency plans in case of an emergency like the coronavirus .
Setting up a vote-by-mail system has taken on a new urgency .
The coronavirus already caused Ohio to postpone its election , and other states , including Kentucky , Louisiana , and Georgia , are also pushing their elections later into the calendar .
The 2020 primary calendar is suddenly looking very up in the air , and increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections some sense of normalcy .
Even though the bill ’ s authors don ’ t necessarily think the bill could impact spring elections , they at least want these safeguards in place by Election Day in November .
After successfully fending off past primary opponents , moderate anti-abortion Rep. Dan Lipinski ( D-IL ) was defeated by progressive challenger Marie Newman in Illinois ’ s Third Congressional District .
Newman came close to beating Lipinski in 2018 , and on Tuesday night , the Congress member lost a seat he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss has dealt a blow to the remaining anti-abortion Democrats left in the US House of Representatives .
The other two who regularly vote against abortion rights are Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson and Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar .
This year , Cuellar narrowly fended off a serious primary challenge from Jessica Cisneros , a young progressive woman in his district .
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — the official campaign arm of House Democrats — put money into both Lipinski and Cuellar ’ s reelection efforts because it has committed to protecting incumbents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t save Lipinski .
Lipinski has a long anti-abortion record , from opposing the Affordable Care Act and its mandate that employers cover birth control to voting to defund health clinics that offered abortion services and banning abortions at 20 weeks .
Newman , on the other hand , supports abortion rights .
Newman just fell short of beating Lipinski in 2018 , by 2,200 votes .
This time , she bested him .

We may be living in a vastly different world than we were a week ago, but one constant remains: Joe Biden appears well on his way to being the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Right out of the gate on Tuesday night, Biden notched a nearly 40-point win in Florida, the state with the biggest cache of delegates. He followed it up soon after with another resounding win in Illinois and won Arizona shortly after polls closed there.
By the end of the night, Biden had vaulted over the 1,000-delegate threshold (he needs 1,991 to clinch the nomination). It’s a comfortable lead coming pretty early in the calendar. And while it’s too soon to declare him the winner of the primary, it’s difficult to see Sanders making up enough ground to win.
Beyond the election outcome, the impacts of the spreading coronavirus outbreak in the US could be seen even before Tuesday’s primaries got underway. On Monday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine postponed the state’s primary until June 2, unwilling to put poll workers or voters in danger.
Even with the coronavirus, not all states had low turnout. Florida’s primary turnout actually exceeded 2016 levels, with early voting and voting by mail accounting for a significant portion of the total turnout.
This could make the case for more states to adopt voting by mail or no-excuse absentee voting going forward. As federal and state lawmakers grapple with how to prepare poll workers and voters for the rest of an uncertain primary season, the results Tuesday night demonstrated that states with early voting and voting by mail already in place still can have good turnout — even amid a massive public health crisis.
What follows is our sense of what happened on Tuesday — who won, who lost, and what we learned about how America may need to change its elections during a pandemic.
Winner: Joe Biden
In a rapidly narrowing race, it seems Biden is coming out on top.
Ohio postponing its vote ultimately didn’t matter for Biden’s delegate math. Biden’s big prize was always going to be Florida, and he won it right off the bat, taking home a substantial chunk of the state’s 219 delegates. Soon after, he clinched a double-digit win in Illinois, even though that state’s turnout was significantly down. Biden also won Arizona minutes after polls closed there at 11 pm Eastern.
None of this was particularly surprising. In fact, Biden’s real test came last week during the March 10 primaries, and he passed with flying colors. Last Tuesday, Biden romped in expected states like Mississippi as well as unexpected ones like Washington. He won over both black voters and working-class white voters in the Michigan primary, a state Sanders won in 2016 and fiercely contested in 2020.
Biden also had a fairly strong debate on Sunday, going head to head with Sanders in Washington, DC. Despite some slips here and there, Biden was pretty sharp and exuded confidence, leadership, and reassurance when it came to the elephant in the room: handling the coronavirus pandemic. The faster this becomes a general election, the better it is for Biden. The coronavirus is already allowing the former vice president to draw a stark contrast with President Donald Trump.
Biden was only expected to gain momentum on March 17, and that’s exactly what happened.
—Ella Nilsen
Loser: Bernie Sanders
Sanders’s window to becoming the Democratic nominee has been shrinking since South Carolina and Super Tuesday, and after this last round of voting, his path didn’t become any easier.
As the Economist’s G. Elliott Morris pointed out, Biden’s lead once the votes are in from Florida, Illinois, and Arizona could surpass 300 delegates. That would mean Sanders would need to get more than 60 percent of the remaining delegates to get the 1,991 a candidate needs to become the nominee. Impossible? No. Unlikely? Yes.
Whether Sanders will continue to fight is unclear. While he could theoretically stage a comeback, he is trailing significantly, and concerns about the coronavirus spread add even more pressure to his decisions moving forward. People going to polling places increases the risk for the disease to spread, even though many of Sanders’s policy proposals — universal health care, student debt forgiveness, paid family leave — could be quite beneficial to society at this moment.
If Sanders eventually leaves the race, it may be a loss for his candidacy, but it will be a victory for many of his ideas, which are now part of the mainstream of the Democratic Party.
—Emily Stewart
Winner: Mike DeWine
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has been among the most proactive state leaders on reacting to the coronavirus outbreak to date, including when it comes to the state’s primary. Originally slotted for Tuesday, Ohio’s primary is now scheduled to take place on June 2, largely at the behest of its Republican governor.
On Monday, DeWine recommended that Ohio delay its presidential primary, noting that in-person voting makes it impossible to comply with CDC guidelines around the coronavirus. It took some legal maneuvering to do it, as Vox’s Li Zhou explained, in which DeWine had to go through the courts instead of the state legislature. He backed a lawsuit from plaintiffs arguing the March primary would disenfranchise them because they wouldn’t be able to participate over health concerns. A judge initially rejected the request to push it back, but DeWine forged ahead, instructing the polls to be closed under the authority granted during a public health emergency. On Tuesday morning, the Ohio Supreme Court supported the polls closing anyway.
While it’s not clear what the coronavirus situation in the United States or anywhere will be on June 2, DeWine’s decision to push for the polls to be closed now is a win for voting and for public health. Ohio voters weren’t forced to choose between going to their polling places or sitting out the primary. And people will be able to vote absentee by mail until the new primary date in more than two months.
—ES
Loser: Turnout at the polls
Getting voters to show up at the polls can be challenging even in the best of times. But as public officials warned Americans to practice social distancing to protect themselves and others from the global coronavirus pandemic, it appeared that in-person turnout in Illinois, Florida, and Arizona took a hit.
Polling locations have been taking some precautions, providing hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and protective masks for poll workers and urging voters to line up while keeping a safe distance from one another. Precise data on turnout isn’t yet available, but based on reports so far, that didn’t appear to assure voters.
One election judge in Illinois told the Chicago Sun-Times that turnout was lower than she’s seen in two decades, with about a third of Illinois voters claiming they were “very concerned” that they or a family member would contract the virus, according to an Associated Press survey. The New York Times reported that overall turnout was less than half what it was in the 2016 primary.
Turnout also declined in some Florida counties where polling locations were changed at the last minute. But NBC News estimated turnout at 2 million in the state overall, up from 1.7 million in 2016. That might be because almost half of Florida voters — nearly 1.1 million — participated in early voting or mail-in voting, a 20 percent jump over 2016. The Florida Democratic Party consequently recommended on Tuesday that the Democratic National Committee encourage other states’ officials to expand mail-in voting and other alternatives to in-person voting.
Arizona has a strong tradition of early voting, so voter turnout appeared to be slightly up overall, even if people weren’t showing up to the polls in person in the same numbers as prior election years.
—Nicole Narea
Winner: Vote by mail and early voting
The March 17 primaries just helped vote-by-mail advocates in the US Senate make their case in a big way.
As actual voting-day turnout in states like Illinois suffered, other states like Florida made up the difference with strong early voting and vote-by-mail numbers. As noted above, the overall Florida turnout was so resilient to coronavirus “because almost half of Florida voters — nearly 1.1 million — participated in early voting or mail-in voting, a 20 percent jump over 2016.”
As it turns out, there’s a new effort in the US Senate to get early voting and vote by mail to be more widespread, in light of the coronavirus. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) plan to introduce an updated bill to expand both in-person early voting and no-excuse absentee vote by mail, and require states to set up contingency plans in case of an emergency like the coronavirus.
Setting up a vote-by-mail system has taken on a new urgency. The coronavirus already caused Ohio to postpone its election, and other states, including Kentucky, Louisiana, and Georgia, are also pushing their elections later into the calendar.
The 2020 primary calendar is suddenly looking very up in the air, and increasing states’ vote-by-mail capacity could give American elections some sense of normalcy. Even though the bill’s authors don’t necessarily think the bill could impact spring elections, they at least want these safeguards in place by Election Day in November.
—EN
Loser: Anti-abortion Democrats
After successfully fending off past primary opponents, moderate anti-abortion Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) was defeated by progressive challenger Marie Newman in Illinois’s Third Congressional District. Newman came close to beating Lipinski in 2018, and on Tuesday night, the Congress member lost a seat he’s held since 2005.
Lipinski’s loss has dealt a blow to the remaining anti-abortion Democrats left in the US House of Representatives. The other two who regularly vote against abortion rights are Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson and Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar. This year, Cuellar narrowly fended off a serious primary challenge from Jessica Cisneros, a young progressive woman in his district.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — the official campaign arm of House Democrats — put money into both Lipinski and Cuellar’s reelection efforts because it has committed to protecting incumbents. But DCCC assistance ultimately couldn’t save Lipinski.
Lipinski has a long anti-abortion record, from opposing the Affordable Care Act and its mandate that employers cover birth control to voting to defund health clinics that offered abortion services and banning abortions at 20 weeks. Newman, on the other hand, supports abortion rights.
Newman just fell short of beating Lipinski in 2018, by 2,200 votes. This time, she bested him.
— EN


vox--2020-03-17--Joe Biden wins the Arizona primary

Joe Biden wins the Arizona primary

Former Vice President Joe Biden has won the Arizona Democratic primary , edging out Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in a contest that proceeded Tuesday despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Despite Sanders ’ s generally strong support among Latino voters , Biden ’ s victory in Arizona is unsurprising .
Ahead of the primary , Biden had netted victories in 16 other states and gave a strong performance in the latest debate , projecting “ confidence and competence on the coronavirus pandemic ” and landing “ solid hits ” on Sanders ’ s record , as my colleague Zack Beauchamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trailing Sanders in Arizona polls as late as March 3 , Biden had surged in the state after winning 10 states on Super Tuesday and last week , and after netting a series of endorsements from candidates who had dropped out of the Democratic primary .
As of March 17 , FiveThirtyEight ’ s average of national polling data showed Biden with a whopping 25-point lead and with about 52 percent support .
Arizona has the fewest delegates among the three states that voted on Tuesday : It will award 67 delegates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statewide results ; the other 44 are tied to the results in each of Arizona ’ s nine congressional districts .
Candidates must capture at least 15 percent of the vote in a single district in order to be awarded those precinct-level delegates and at least 15 percent of the vote statewide for statewide delegates .
Going into the day , Biden was expected to win every district by double-digit margins , but Sanders was not expected to fall short of the 15 percent threshold .
Unlike Ohio , which delayed its scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scheduled primary contest , despite concerns over the spread of the coronavirus in public polling places while taking additional precautions .
Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said in a statement Monday that officials had decided not to delay the election because it would only become harder to hold it going forward as infection continues to spread .
“ This decision was not made lightly , and what it all comes down to is that we have no guarantee that there will be a safer time to hold this election in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The longer we wait , the more difficult and dangerous it could become.
” The deadline to vote early via mail-in ballot was March 11 , but those who were unable to mail their ballots in time were allowed to deliver them at polling locations and drop-off boxes throughout the state by 7 pm on Tuesday .
They also could have voted before Tuesday at early voting locations .
Officials also cut down on the number of available polling locations , especially in Maricopa County .
Latinos make up about a quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demographic that Sanders has been relying on .
He is trying to appeal to them with a progressive policy platform that speaks to their core interests — health care , jobs , and , for some , immigration — and has invested heavily in spreading his message , in both Spanish and English , to Latino communities in Texas and other states .
But on Tuesday in Arizona , that strategy didn ’ t appear to work .

Former Vice President Joe Biden has won the Arizona Democratic primary, edging out Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in a contest that proceeded Tuesday despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Despite Sanders’s generally strong support among Latino voters, Biden’s victory in Arizona is unsurprising. Ahead of the primary, Biden had netted victories in 16 other states and gave a strong performance in the latest debate, projecting “confidence and competence on the coronavirus pandemic” and landing “solid hits” on Sanders’s record, as my colleague Zack Beauchamp writes.
And though he had been trailing Sanders in Arizona polls as late as March 3, Biden had surged in the state after winning 10 states on Super Tuesday and last week, and after netting a series of endorsements from candidates who had dropped out of the Democratic primary. As of March 17, FiveThirtyEight’s average of national polling data showed Biden with a whopping 25-point lead and with about 52 percent support.
Arizona has the fewest delegates among the three states that voted on Tuesday: It will award 67 delegates, 23 of which are awarded based on statewide results; the other 44 are tied to the results in each of Arizona’s nine congressional districts.
Candidates must capture at least 15 percent of the vote in a single district in order to be awarded those precinct-level delegates and at least 15 percent of the vote statewide for statewide delegates. Going into the day, Biden was expected to win every district by double-digit margins, but Sanders was not expected to fall short of the 15 percent threshold.
Unlike Ohio, which delayed its scheduled Tuesday primary, Arizona moved forward with the scheduled primary contest, despite concerns over the spread of the coronavirus in public polling places while taking additional precautions. Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said in a statement Monday that officials had decided not to delay the election because it would only become harder to hold it going forward as infection continues to spread.
“This decision was not made lightly, and what it all comes down to is that we have no guarantee that there will be a safer time to hold this election in the near future,” she said. “The longer we wait, the more difficult and dangerous it could become.”
The deadline to vote early via mail-in ballot was March 11, but those who were unable to mail their ballots in time were allowed to deliver them at polling locations and drop-off boxes throughout the state by 7 pm on Tuesday. They also could have voted before Tuesday at early voting locations.
Officials also cut down on the number of available polling locations, especially in Maricopa County.
Latinos make up about a quarter of eligible voters in Arizona — a demographic that Sanders has been relying on.
He is trying to appeal to them with a progressive policy platform that speaks to their core interests — health care, jobs, and, for some, immigration — and has invested heavily in spreading his message, in both Spanish and English, to Latino communities in Texas and other states. But on Tuesday in Arizona, that strategy didn’t appear to work.


vox--2020-03-17--Who is winning the March 17 delegate count so far

Joe Biden continues to widen his delegate lead over Bernie Sanders during the latest round of voting in the 2020 Democratic Party primary .
On Tuesday , March 17 , three states voted : Florida , Illinois , and Arizona .
Ohio was also scheduled to vote on Tuesday , but amid fears of the spread of coronavirus and encouragement of social distancing , Republican Gov .
Mike DeWine successfully delayed voting in the state until June 2 .
Still , even without Ohio , over half of the pledged delegates to determine the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tallied .
Thus far , this is how the delegate count is shaking out with the votes from Florida and Illinois , per Decision Desk : Overall , that puts Biden at 1074 delegates and Sanders at 789 .
Candidates have to reach 1,991 pledged delegates of 3,979 available to clinch the nomination .
We ’ ll continue to update the results as they come in .
Ahead of Tuesday ’ s primaries , Vox ’ s Ella Nilsen laid out the stakes : The Democratic primary has narrowed to a two-man race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) .
But since last Tuesday ’ s primaries coincided with a growing concern about coronavirus , both candidates have transitioned their campaigns to largely virtual operations so as not to risk exposing campaign staff , volunteers , voters , or themselves to the spreading virus .
As for the state of the race itself , Biden is the current frontrunner with about 150 more delegates than Sanders .
The fundamentals of the March 17 primaries look favorable for Biden as well ; Arizona ’ s Latino population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Florida ’ s Latino population is not nearly as favorable to the Vermont senator .
And Florida has far more delegates up for grabs than Arizona does .
What happens next as the voting totals and delegate numbers roll in remains to be seen .
The bigger Biden ’ s lead becomes , the harder it will be for Sanders to catch up .
And looming coronavirus fears in the background could complicate it even more — already , several other states have delayed their primaries .

Joe Biden continued to widen his delegate lead over Bernie Sanders during the latest round of voting in the 2020 Democratic Party primary.
On Tuesday, March 17, three states voted: Florida, Illinois, and Arizona. Ohio was also scheduled to vote on Tuesday, but amid fears of the spread of coronavirus and encouragement of social distancing, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine successfully delayed voting in the state until June 2.
Still, even without Ohio, over half of the pledged delegates to determine the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee will have been decided once all the votes are tallied.
Thus far, this is how the delegate count is shaking out with the votes from Florida and Illinois, per Decision Desk:
Former Vice President Joe Biden: 262 delegates
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders: 120 delegates
Overall, that puts Biden at 1133 delegates and Sanders at 833. Candidates have to reach 1,991 pledged delegates of 3,979 available to clinch the nomination. We’ll continue to update the results as they come in.
Ahead of Tuesday’s primaries, Vox’s Ella Nilsen laid out the stakes:
The Democratic primary has narrowed to a two-man race between former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). But since last Tuesday’s primaries coincided with a growing concern about coronavirus, both candidates have transitioned their campaigns to largely virtual operations so as not to risk exposing campaign staff, volunteers, voters, or themselves to the spreading virus. As for the state of the race itself, Biden is the current frontrunner with about 150 more delegates than Sanders. The fundamentals of the March 17 primaries look favorable for Biden as well; Arizona’s Latino population could be a bright spot for Sanders, but Florida’s Latino population is not nearly as favorable to the Vermont senator. And Florida has far more delegates up for grabs than Arizona does.
What happens next as the voting totals and delegate numbers roll in remains to be seen. The bigger Biden’s lead becomes, the harder it will be for Sanders to catch up. And looming coronavirus fears in the background could complicate it even more — already, several other states have delayed their primaries.


vox--2020-03-17--Marie Newman unseats one of the last anti-abortion Democrats in Illinois’s 3rd District

After well over two years of trying by progressive Democrats , Rep. Dan Lipinski will no longer represent Illinois ’ s Third Congressional District in the House .
Challenger Marie Newman defeated the longtime representative — who ’ s also one of the last remaining anti-abortion Democrats — in the Democratic primary on Tuesday night .
Newman , an anti-bullying activist endorsed by the Justice Democrats , also ran against Lipinski in 2018 .
That year , she fell just short , coming within 2.5 points of unseating him ; on Tuesday , she eked out a win , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Desk .
She won by highlighting how she — like Illinois ’ s Third District — was more in line with the Democratic Party ’ s ideology than Lipinski , as Vox ’ s Tara Golshan wrote in June 2019 : “ I ’ m a real Democrat , ” Newman likes to tell voters .
“ To be a real Democrat , you have to believe in the platform , ” she said to Vox .
She , like Sanders , identifies income inequality as the root cause of American suffering .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago ’ s Garfield Ridge neighborhood , Newman led a procession of staffers and volunteers — and their dogs — with signs supporting Medicare-for-all , a $ 15 minimum wage , and a Green New Deal .
Newman supports abortion rights , the Equality Act , and free college and thinks Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be “ repealed and replaced.
” Newman ’ s victory provides the Justice Democrats with some much-needed good news .
Two weeks ago , another one of their candidates , Jessica Cisneros , lost her primary challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Henry Cuellar .
All told , the Justice Democrats have backed nine primary challengers this cycle , including Newman and Cisneros .
But while both Lipinski and Cuellar fall far outside of the orthodoxy of the Democratic Party on a range of issues , they retain party support .
That ’ s made attempts to primary them an uphill climb .
As Golshan reported last year , the national party had instituted a “ policy to protect incumbents ” like Lipinski : In early April , the official campaign arm for House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said it wouldn ’ t do business with political vendors — like direct mail companies , advertising firms , or political consultants — that also work for candidates challenging incumbent Democrats .
They said it was an effort to protect incumbent Democrats , who they believe give the party ’ s best chance of keeping control in the House .
Progressive lawmakers in Congress railed against what they saw as a “ divisive ” policy that effectively “ blacklisted ” groups and candidates .
However , Newman managed to peel away some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Chicago-area Rep. Jan Schakowsky , a member of House Democratic leadership , in 2018 and again in 2020 .
She also spent heavily to power her successful second run for the Third District Democratic nomination .
At the beginning of March , she was outspending Lipinski two to one on television advertising , and Politico reported on Tuesday that many Lipinski supporters were visibly nervous about his prospects in a rematch .
Those nerves were merited , apparently : Though Lipinski first won election to the House in 2004 , inheriting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be a member of the House when the 117th Congress is sworn in in January 2021 .
Newman , in all likelihood , will be : The Third District is a deep blue seat ( Lipinski won by almost 48 points in 2018 ) , and the Democratic nominee should have no trouble winning come November .

After well over two years of trying by progressive Democrats, Rep. Dan Lipinski will no longer represent Illinois’s Third Congressional District in the House.
Challenger Marie Newman defeated the longtime representative — who’s also one of the last remaining anti-abortion Democrats — in the Democratic primary on Tuesday night.
Newman, an anti-bullying activist endorsed by the Justice Democrats, also ran against Lipinski in 2018. That year, she fell just short, coming within 2.5 points of unseating him; on Tuesday, she eked out a win, according to Vox’s partners at Decision Desk.
She won by highlighting how she — like Illinois’s Third District — was more in line with the Democratic Party’s ideology than Lipinski, as Vox’s Tara Golshan wrote in June 2019:
“I’m a real Democrat,” Newman likes to tell voters. “To be a real Democrat, you have to believe in the platform,” she said to Vox. She, like Sanders, identifies income inequality as the root cause of American suffering. At a Saturday morning Pet Parade in Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood, Newman led a procession of staffers and volunteers — and their dogs — with signs supporting Medicare-for-all, a $15 minimum wage, and a Green New Deal. Newman supports abortion rights, the Equality Act, and free college and thinks Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be “repealed and replaced.”
Newman’s victory provides the Justice Democrats with some much-needed good news. Two weeks ago, another one of their candidates, Jessica Cisneros, lost her primary challenge against another anti-abortion House Democrat, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar.
All told, the Justice Democrats have backed nine primary challengers this cycle, including Newman and Cisneros.
But while both Lipinski and Cuellar fall far outside of the orthodoxy of the Democratic Party on a range of issues, they retain party support. That’s made attempts to primary them an uphill climb.
As Golshan reported last year, the national party had instituted a “policy to protect incumbents” like Lipinski:
In early April, the official campaign arm for House Democrats, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said it wouldn’t do business with political vendors — like direct mail companies, advertising firms, or political consultants — that also work for candidates challenging incumbent Democrats. They said it was an effort to protect incumbent Democrats, who they believe give the party’s best chance of keeping control in the House. Progressive lawmakers in Congress railed against what they saw as a “divisive” policy that effectively “blacklisted” groups and candidates.
However, Newman managed to peel away some party support: She won the endorsement of Chicago-area Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a member of House Democratic leadership, in 2018 and again in 2020.
She also spent heavily to power her successful second run for the Third District Democratic nomination. At the beginning of March, she was outspending Lipinski two to one on television advertising, and Politico reported on Tuesday that many Lipinski supporters were visibly nervous about his prospects in a rematch.
Those nerves were merited, apparently: Though Lipinski first won election to the House in 2004, inheriting the seat from his father, he will not be a member of the House when the 117th Congress is sworn in in January 2021.
Newman, in all likelihood, will be: The Third District is a deep blue seat (Lipinski won by almost 48 points in 2018), and the Democratic nominee should have no trouble winning come November.


vox--2020-03-18--What are the symptoms of the new coronavirus?

So you ’ re not feeling well , and you ’ re afraid you might be infected with the new coronavirus disease , Covid-19 .
Given that the United States is now beginning to test widely for the disease , and more cases are popping up , that might be a reasonable suspicion .
Health officials are ramping up the response measures , advising people over 60 to “ stay at home as much as possible.
” Though community spread in the US may still be low , you may have been exposed if you have traveled to a region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been in close contact with someone who has Covid-19 ( who may not be showing symptoms ) .
Here are some signs you may have the illness : The World Health Organization , fresh from a mission to China , where cases are finally declining , reports the illness can present in different ways , ranging from no symptoms at all to severe pneumonia .
Some symptoms are more frequently seen than others .
Based on confirmed cases , the WHO says 88 percent of infected people experienced a fever and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Less frequent symptoms include thick mucus from coughs ( sputum ) ( 33.4 percent ) , shortness of breath ( 18.6 percent ) , sore throat ( 13.9 percent ) , and headache ( 13.6 percent ) .
“ Covid-19 disease usually begins with mild fever , dry cough , sore throat and malaise , ” writes Megan Murray , a professor of epidemiology at Harvard Medical School , in an FAQ for the Abundance Foundation .
“ Unlike the coronavirus infections that cause the common cold , it is not usually associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerge five or six days after infection on average , but can show up in as little as a day or as much as two weeks after exposure .
A recent , yet-to-be-published German study found that some Covid-19 patients can present with the symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection , similar to the common cold : runny nose , congestion , and sneezing .
( The study involved a very small number of patients , however . )
If you have any of these symptoms , what should you do ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ — those who are over 60 years old ; have diabetes , hypertension , or preexisting breathing problems ; or are being treated for cancer — should seek immediate medical treatment .
And let your health care provider know before you get there that you suspect you may have Covid-19 .
That way , the clinic can take appropriate precautions for your visit .
If you ’ re not in a high-risk group and have mild or severe symptoms , you should also call a health professional — a doctor , a nurse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They will work with your local health department and figure out whether you need to get tested or get treatment .
Doctors and health officials advise not to go to the emergency room if your symptoms do not appear to be life-threatening .
Also , don ’ t panic .
Most people who get infected get better , often on their own with just rest , fluids , and fever medication .
If you are advised to stay home , there are several other measures you should take , according to the Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important step is to avoid exposing other people to the illness , especially in the early stages of symptoms , when the disease is most contagious .
That means staying home from school or work , avoiding public transit or ride shares , and separating yourself from the people and animals in your home .
It also means avoiding sharing household items like towels , dishes , and bedding .
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue over your mouth and nose .
Wash your hands often with soap and water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the surfaces in your home that you come into contact with regularly , like counters , doorknobs , bedside tables , keyboards , and phones .
“ It is possible that some of the viral particles ... end up on surfaces ( door handles , subway poles , coins ) where they might remain viable , ” Murray writes .
When leaving your home , wear a surgical face mask to avoid spreading the virus — if you ’ re sick .
Health officials say that masks do little to protect the wearer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officials are also urging the public not to buy N95 masks because they are needed by health workers and are in short supply .
All the while , pay close attention to your symptoms .
Call your health care provider if your symptoms get worse .
If you have a health emergency and need to call 911 , let the dispatcher know that you may have Covid-19 so responders can prepare .
These steps may seem tedious , but remember that they serve to protect not just you but also the people around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s job .
What do you want to know about the coronavirus outbreak and the surrounding news ?
Fill out the survey below ( or head over to this Google form ) .

Update, April 29: The CDC has updated its guidelines to include chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, and a new loss of taste or smell as symptoms of Covid-19, in addition to fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
So you’re not feeling well, and you’re afraid you might be infected with the new coronavirus disease, Covid-19. Given that the United States now has more confirmed cases than any other country, and more are popping up, that might be a reasonable suspicion.
Health officials are ramping up the response measures, advising people to stay at home as much as possible. Several states and cities have now imposed more severe measures like lockdowns and stay-at-home-orders to contain the virus.
But cases of Covid-19 are following an exponential growth trajectory in the US. That means that the number of infections is rising rapidly in proportion to the number of people infected. You may have been exposed if you have traveled to a region with novel coronavirus transmission or if you’ve been in close contact with someone who has Covid-19, something that’s becoming harder to avoid without social distancing. And some people spreading the virus may not show any symptoms at all.
Here are some signs you may have the illness:
The World Health Organization, based on its research in China, reports the illness can present in different ways, ranging from no symptoms at all to severe pneumonia.
Some symptoms are more frequently seen than others. Based on confirmed cases in China, the WHO says 88 percent of infected people experienced a fever and 67.7 percent had a dry cough. Less frequent symptoms include thick mucus from coughs (sputum) (33.4 percent), shortness of breath (18.6 percent), sore throat (13.9 percent), and headache (13.6 percent).
It’s likely, however, that many infected patients with very minor or no symptoms were not captured by this study, which would mean their symptoms (or lack thereof) were underrepresented in those statistics.
“Covid-19 disease usually begins with mild fever, dry cough, sore throat and malaise,” writes Megan Murray, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard Medical School, in an FAQ for the Abundance Foundation. “Unlike the coronavirus infections that cause the common cold, it is not usually associated with a runny nose.”
These symptoms emerge five or six days after infection on average, but can show up in as little as a day or as much as two weeks after exposure.
Doctors and researchers have also found some other symptoms associated with Covid-19, though they haven’t been recognized as diagnostic criteria by the WHO or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A recent, yet-to-be-published German study found that some Covid-19 patients can present with the symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, similar to the common cold: runny nose, congestion, and sneezing. (The study involved a very small number of patients, however.)
In a study of 204 Covid-19 patients, researchers in China found that half of patients experienced gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology reported that Covid-19 can present as conjunctivitis, causing red or pink, itchy eyes.
Using a Covid symptom tracker app for smartphones, researchers in the United Kingdom recently found that a peculiar loss of taste or smell had strong links to testing positive for Covid-19. Some researchers now say that anosmia, a loss of the sense of smell, and ageusia, a loss of the sense of taste, should be considered Covid-19 symptoms. These symptoms can precede others by several days so they can be an early warning sign of infection.
If you have symptoms, what should you do?
The CDC advises people to seek medical attention immediately if they have trouble breathing or emergency warning signs like persistent chest pain, confusion, and bluish lips.
People with symptoms in one of the high-risk groups — those who are over 65 years old; people with diabetes, hypertension, or preexisting breathing problems; or people being treated for cancer — should quickly seek medical advice or treatment. Call your health care provider before heading to a clinic if you suspect you may have Covid-19. That way, the clinic can take appropriate precautions for your visit.
If you’re not in a high-risk group and have symptoms, mild or severe, you should also call a health professional — a doctor, a nurse, or a public health official. They will work with your local health department and figure out whether you need to get tested or get treatment. And make no mistake: While older people face the highest risks, all age groups can get sick from Covid-19, so everyone needs to take precautions and pay attention to their symptoms.
Doctors and health officials advise not to go to the emergency room if your symptoms do not appear to be life-threatening.
Also, don’t panic. Most people who get infected get better, often on their own with just rest, fluids, and fever medication. If you are advised to stay home, there are several other measures you should take, according to the CDC.
The most important step is to avoid exposing other people to the illness, especially in the early stages of symptoms, when the disease is most contagious. That means staying home from school or work, avoiding public transit or ride-hail services, and separating yourself from the people and animals in your home. It also means avoiding sharing household items like towels, dishes, and bedding.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue over your mouth and nose. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Clean the surfaces in your home that you come into contact with regularly, like counters, doorknobs, bedside tables, keyboards, and phones. “It is possible that some of the viral particles ... end up on surfaces (door handles, subway poles, coins) where they might remain viable,” Murray writes.
When leaving your home, wear a surgical face mask if possible to avoid spreading the virus if you’re sick. Officials are urging the public not to buy N95 masks because they are needed by health workers and are in short supply. But other face coverings can be used, and the CDC has recommended cloth masks for everyone in certain public settings.
All the while, pay close attention to your symptoms. Call your health care provider if your symptoms get worse. If you have a health emergency and need to call 911, let the dispatcher know that you may have Covid-19 so responders can prepare.
And everyone, with or without symptoms, should observe social distancing guidelines. That’s because infected people can spread the virus to others, even without experiencing symptoms themselves.
These steps may seem tedious, but remember that they serve to protect not just you but also the people around you. Controlling an outbreak is everyone’s job.
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