vox--2020-05-22--States are inflating their coronavirus testing numbers with the wrong kind of test

Throughout May , America has made a lot of progress in scaling up its coronavirus testing abilities .
But as they dug deeper over the month , experts and journalists have increasingly questioned whether some of the testing data can really be trusted .
First , the good news : America ’ s testing numbers continued trending up this week .
There were about 380,000 tests a day over the week of May 14 , up from roughly 320,000 tests a day over the week of May 7 and around 150,000 a day during much of April , based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s still not the 500,000 a day that many experts say is necessary — much less the tens of millions a day that some have called for — but the country is making noticeable progress nonetheless .
But then there ’ s the bad news : Several states are inflating , deliberately or not , their testing numbers by including two different types of tests that experts say should be separated out .
That includes the numbers reported by the Covid Tracking Project and subsequently used in Vox ’ s chart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states report .
Only a handful of states are confirmed to be doing this , and a few have already backed off , based on reporting from Alexis Madrigal and Robinson Meyer at the Atlantic .
So it ’ s not all of the data that ’ s now under question .
But it ’ s a worrying trend that presents a somewhat rosier picture of the Covid-19 testing numbers than is perhaps warranted .
And that makes it hard to gauge whether these states are really ready to start reopening their economies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so .
Some states are muddying their testing numbers Traditionally , Covid-19 testing numbers have been measured based on the number of diagnostic tests on a daily basis .
Diagnostic tests gauge whether a person has the virus in her system and is , therefore , sick right at the moment of the test .
Some states ’ counts , however , now include antibody tests , which check if someone ever developed antibodies to the virus to see if she has ever been sick in the past .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the numbers — but at the cost of accuracy , since antibody tests are generally less precise , and timeliness .
Since antibody tests can ’ t tell you if someone is sick at the moment of the test , they can ’ t tell you , like diagnostic tests can , what the current state of Covid-19 in a community is .
“ We need to understand that there is a new case of a new disease happening in our community , ” Pia MacDonald , an epidemiologist at the research institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are public health interventions that need to happen around that.
” Given these different purposes , experts say that states should separate out diagnostic and antibody tests in their counts .
Only then can they truly isolate their Covid-19 preparedness in the present by tallying their diagnostic tests and metrics attached to those , such as the positive rate , while separately gauging the overall impact of Covid-19 on the population via antibody tests .
“ Both of [ the tests ] are useful , but you can ’ t put them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some states are doing just that .
Madrigal and Meyer reported in the Atlantic on May 14 that Virginia was “ blending the results of two different types of coronavirus test in order to report a more favorable result to the public.
” Then on Thursday , May 21 , they reported that Georgia , Pennsylvania , Texas , and Vermont were doing the same , as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the federal level .
Maine was also mixing its test results , but reversed course on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopped , following reporting from the Atlantic and the Richmond Times-Dispatch .
Apparently , not all of these states did this deliberately .
At a press conference with the governor , Vermont officials claimed that “ they didn ’ t know they were — they were just publishing numbers from testing sites that were adding em in , ” VTDigger reporter Erin Petenko tweeted .
Regardless of intent , the practice muddies the waters — making it harder to know if states really are in a better place to start reopening their economies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if states are truly ready to reopen Testing is a crucial component to getting control over the pandemic .
When paired with contact tracing , testing lets officials track the scale of the Covid-19 outbreak , isolate the sick , quarantine those whom the sick came into contact with , and deploy community-wide efforts as necessary .
Testing and tracing are how other countries , like South Korea and Germany , have managed to control their outbreaks and started to reopen their economies .
“ The whole point of this social distancing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity to do the types of public health interventions we know work , ” Natalie Dean , a biostatistics professor at the University of Florida , previously told me .
“ If we ’ re not using this time to scale up testing to the level that we need it to be … we don ’ t have an exit strategy .
And then when we lift things , we ’ re no better equipped than we were before.
” Some states have explicitly built testing into their reopening plans , calling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates .
But those goals were built with advice from experts that by and large assumed the metrics would be based on diagnostic tests , not antibody tests .
So we ’ re left with a situation in which America ’ s testing numbers do seem to be improving ( finally ) , but how much of that improvement is real , and how much of it suggests that any particular state is ready to reopen , could come down to how honestly places are reporting their numbers .
Every day at Vox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Throughout May, America has made a lot of progress in scaling up its coronavirus testing abilities. But as they dug deeper over the month, experts and journalists have increasingly questioned whether some of the testing data can really be trusted.
First, the good news: America’s testing numbers continued trending up this week. There were about 380,000 tests a day over the week of May 14, up from roughly 320,000 tests a day over the week of May 7 and around 150,000 a day during much of April, based on data from the Covid Tracking Project.
That’s still not the 500,000 a day that many experts say is necessary — much less the tens of millions a day that some have called for — but the country is making noticeable progress nonetheless.
But then there’s the bad news: Several states are inflating, deliberately or not, their testing numbers by including two different types of tests that experts say should be separated out. That includes the numbers reported by the Covid Tracking Project and subsequently used in Vox’s chart, which rely on the data that states report.
Only a handful of states are confirmed to be doing this, and a few have already backed off, based on reporting from Alexis Madrigal and Robinson Meyer at the Atlantic. So it’s not all of the data that’s now under question.
But it’s a worrying trend that presents a somewhat rosier picture of the Covid-19 testing numbers than is perhaps warranted. And that makes it hard to gauge whether these states are really ready to start reopening their economies, even as some have already begun to do so.
Some states are muddying their testing numbers
Traditionally, Covid-19 testing numbers have been measured based on the number of diagnostic tests on a daily basis. Diagnostic tests gauge whether a person has the virus in her system and is, therefore, sick right at the moment of the test.
Some states’ counts, however, now include antibody tests, which check if someone ever developed antibodies to the virus to see if she has ever been sick in the past. It’s a way for states to pad the numbers — but at the cost of accuracy, since antibody tests are generally less precise, and timeliness.
Since antibody tests can’t tell you if someone is sick at the moment of the test, they can’t tell you, like diagnostic tests can, what the current state of Covid-19 in a community is. “We need to understand that there is a new case of a new disease happening in our community,” Pia MacDonald, an epidemiologist at the research institute RTI International, told me. “There are public health interventions that need to happen around that.”
Given these different purposes, experts say that states should separate out diagnostic and antibody tests in their counts. Only then can they truly isolate their Covid-19 preparedness in the present by tallying their diagnostic tests and metrics attached to those, such as the positive rate, while separately gauging the overall impact of Covid-19 on the population via antibody tests.
“Both of [the tests] are useful, but you can’t put them together,” MacDonald said.
Yet some states are doing just that. Madrigal and Meyer reported in the Atlantic on May 14 that Virginia was “blending the results of two different types of coronavirus test in order to report a more favorable result to the public.” Then on Thursday, May 21, they reported that Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont were doing the same, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the federal level. Maine was also mixing its test results, but reversed course on Wednesday, May 20. Virginia also stopped, following reporting from the Atlantic and the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Apparently, not all of these states did this deliberately. At a press conference with the governor, Vermont officials claimed that “they didn’t know they were — they were just publishing numbers from testing sites that were adding em in,” VTDigger reporter Erin Petenko tweeted.
Regardless of intent, the practice muddies the waters — making it harder to know if states really are in a better place to start reopening their economies.
This makes it hard to tell if states are truly ready to reopen
Testing is a crucial component to getting control over the pandemic. When paired with contact tracing, testing lets officials track the scale of the Covid-19 outbreak, isolate the sick, quarantine those whom the sick came into contact with, and deploy community-wide efforts as necessary. Testing and tracing are how other countries, like South Korea and Germany, have managed to control their outbreaks and started to reopen their economies.
“The whole point of this social distancing is to buy us time to build up capacity to do the types of public health interventions we know work,” Natalie Dean, a biostatistics professor at the University of Florida, previously told me. “If we’re not using this time to scale up testing to the level that we need it to be … we don’t have an exit strategy. And then when we lift things, we’re no better equipped than we were before.”
Some states have explicitly built testing into their reopening plans, calling for a certain amount of tests or positive rates. But those goals were built with advice from experts that by and large assumed the metrics would be based on diagnostic tests, not antibody tests.
So we’re left with a situation in which America’s testing numbers do seem to be improving (finally), but how much of that improvement is real, and how much of it suggests that any particular state is ready to reopen, could come down to how honestly places are reporting their numbers.


vox--2020-05-22--The Senate won’t consider more coronavirus stimulus until early June

The Senate is leaving for a one-week Memorial Day recess without advancing any new coronavirus stimulus measures .
While the House approved a $ 3 trillion round of stimulus last week , Senate Republicans dismissed the legislation and have yet to offer any alternative of their own .
The recess , which was previously scheduled , comes as top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy question the urgency of additional funding and raise concerns about the national debt .
“ I don ’ t see the need right now , ” McCarthy told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumspect , but similarly hesitant .
“ We ’ ll discuss a way forward in the next couple weeks , ” he said the same day .
Their stances reflect those of many Republicans — though the party is somewhat split — even as the economic fallout from the coronavirus only continues to get worse : As of this week , more than 38 million US workers have filed for unemployment since the start of the pandemic .
“ This is the biggest shock we ’ ve seen in living memory , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Is it enough ?
’ ” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned about current recovery efforts at a Senate hearing May 19 .
Some Republicans , however , appear content to wait and see how existing aid and other economic indicators play out .
“ Before we rush out and do another spending bill , we should actually let some of this stuff go to work , ” Sen. Pat Toomey ( R-PA ) said during the hearing .
Some Republicans are trying to press pause on new bills A slew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit the brakes on new stimulus bills while workers and businesses continue to suffer from severe financial strain .
The degree of economic fallout thus far has been evident : Demand at food banks has skyrocketed in the last few months , more than 100,000 small businesses have permanently shuttered , and companies in a range of industries continue to impose layoffs .
States and cities haven ’ t received additional federal aid since the CARES Act , even as they face cuts to vital programs while revenues from sales and income taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approve more legislation stems from the desire to see how previously approved aid continues to work .
“ The problem is , we don ’ t even have all the money out the door yet , ” Sen. John Cornyn ( R-TX ) told Politico .
While some programs are still in the process of being implemented — like a bailout fund for medium-sized businesses run by the Federal Reserve — others , like an expansion of the unemployment insurance program , are already fully underway .
And the need for more support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance is due to sunset at the end of July , for example .
Some GOP members are pushing for more , though there ’ s no clear consensus yet on what that looks like , CNN reported .
In one case , Sens .
Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) and Cory Gardner ( R-CO ) have backed a federal paycheck guarantee plan , while Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) has released a proposal aimed at providing hazard pay to frontline workers .
Lawmakers like Sens .
Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Roger Wicker ( R-MS ) , meanwhile , have also expressed interest in another bill that would include infrastructure spending .
What comes next Although Republicans are reluctant to move quickly on new stimulus efforts , even McConnell has previously conceded that more money for cities and states likely needs to be approved .
So even though lawmakers are leaving the Capitol this week without having made much progress , the expectation is that an additional measure could still happen down the line .
McConnell ’ s chief priority for that bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability protections for businesses that could be sued by customers and employees in the wake of the pandemic .
Blunt told CNN that the Senate could “ optimistically ” advance another bill before July 4 — more than a month away .
In the near term , the upper chamber is set to be out for recess all of next week , returning on Monday , June 1 .
And until Republicans commit to meaningful negotiations with Democrats on the next package , the country is in economic limbo .
Every day at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

The Senate is leaving for a one-week Memorial Day recess without advancing any new coronavirus stimulus measures.
While the House approved a $3 trillion round of stimulus last week, Senate Republicans dismissed the legislation and have yet to offer any alternative of their own. The recess, which was previously scheduled, comes as top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy question the urgency of additional funding and raise concerns about the national debt.
“I don’t see the need right now,” McCarthy told CNN on Tuesday. McConnell was more circumspect, but similarly hesitant. “We’ll discuss a way forward in the next couple weeks,” he said the same day.
Their stances reflect those of many Republicans — though the party is somewhat split — even as the economic fallout from the coronavirus only continues to get worse: As of this week, more than 38 million US workers have filed for unemployment since the start of the pandemic.
“This is the biggest shock we’ve seen in living memory, and the question looms in the air of, ‘Is it enough?’” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned about current recovery efforts at a Senate hearing May 19.
Some Republicans, however, appear content to wait and see how existing aid and other economic indicators play out. “Before we rush out and do another spending bill, we should actually let some of this stuff go to work,” Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) said during the hearing.
Some Republicans are trying to press pause on new bills
A slew of Republican lawmakers are currently trying to hit the brakes on new stimulus bills while workers and businesses continue to suffer from severe financial strain. The degree of economic fallout thus far has been evident: Demand at food banks has skyrocketed in the last few months, more than 100,000 small businesses have permanently shuttered, and companies in a range of industries continue to impose layoffs.
States and cities haven’t received additional federal aid since the CARES Act, even as they face cuts to vital programs while revenues from sales and income taxes plummet.
Republicans say their reluctance to approve more legislation stems from the desire to see how previously approved aid continues to work. “The problem is, we don’t even have all the money out the door yet,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) told Politico.
While some programs are still in the process of being implemented — like a bailout fund for medium-sized businesses run by the Federal Reserve — others, like an expansion of the unemployment insurance program, are already fully underway. And the need for more support is pressing: The expanded pandemic unemployment insurance is due to sunset at the end of July, for example.
Some GOP members are pushing for more, though there’s no clear consensus yet on what that looks like, CNN reported. In one case, Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) have backed a federal paycheck guarantee plan, while Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) has released a proposal aimed at providing hazard pay to frontline workers. Lawmakers like Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Roger Wicker (R-MS), meanwhile, have also expressed interest in another bill that would include infrastructure spending.
What comes next
Although Republicans are reluctant to move quickly on new stimulus efforts, even McConnell has previously conceded that more money for cities and states likely needs to be approved. So even though lawmakers are leaving the Capitol this week without having made much progress, the expectation is that an additional measure could still happen down the line.
McConnell’s chief priority for that bill has so far been the inclusion of liability protections for businesses that could be sued by customers and employees in the wake of the pandemic. Blunt told CNN that the Senate could “optimistically” advance another bill before July 4 — more than a month away.
In the near term, the upper chamber is set to be out for recess all of next week, returning on Monday, June 1. And until Republicans commit to meaningful negotiations with Democrats on the next package, the country is in economic limbo.


vox--2020-05-22--The killing of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black jogger in Georgia, explained

The man who filmed the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery — an unarmed black man who was attacked by two white men while jogging — has been arrested and charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment .
The Thursday arrest of William “ Roddie ” Bryan comes two weeks after his neighbors , the two white men in the video — Gregory McMichael , 64 , a retired district attorney investigator and police detective , and his son Travis McMichael , 34 — were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault .
On February 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed Arbery in a pickup truck after seeing him jog by ; they later told police officers they believed Arbery to be a suspect in two burglaries in the Satilla Shores area .
The case did not receive national attention , however , until Bryan ’ s graphic video — released by Arbery ’ s family and showing the last moments of the 25-year-old ’ s life — went viral on May 5 .
Arbery ’ s mother , Wanda Cooper-Jones , told CBS News that the video “ proves that my son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was out for his daily jog and he was hunted down like an animal and killed.
” The footage sparked outrage among criminal justice advocates across the country , and led a Georgia prosecutor to call for a grand jury to investigate the fatal shooting .
The Department of Justice is now determining whether hate crimes charges are warranted in the case , and has begun a review of how Arbery ’ s killing was handled .
Arbery ’ s death has been compared with the shooting deaths of many other unarmed black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Botham Jean , who was killed in his Dallas apartment in 2018 .
Protests have continued in Georgia — where social distancing requirements were recently relaxed — with hundreds of people marching through Satilla Shores , promising to “ run with Maud ” and chanting , “ We want justice !
” “ The video is very clear that they were on the truck with guns hunting him down , ” civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump , who represents Arbery ’ s father , told the Associated Press .
“ I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make an arrest.
” Prior to the video ’ s release , the only public record of Arbery ’ s final moments were the statements the McMichaels gave to police .
An investigation into the shooting had been limited , as a series of prosecutors recused themselves from the case over their ties to Gregory McMichael .
This has frustrated Arbery ’ s supporters , who argue that his killing — and the subsequent actions of local law enforcement — shows how little has changed in an area of Georgia that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a history of mobs of white men taking justice into their own hands in a manner that leaves black men dead .
Everything we know about Ahmaud Arbery ’ s killing Arbery , a former high school football star , was passionate about staying in shape , according to friends and family , who told the New York Times he often spent his free time running .
He went for one such run on February 23 , ending up in Satilla Shores , a few miles away from his home in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very clear that they were on the truck with guns hunting him down .
I don ’ t know what more you need to make an arrest.
” Gregory McMichael claims he was in his front yard when he saw Arbery “ hauling ass , ” after which he ran inside to get a weapon and his son , Travis .
He told police that he said , “ Travis , the guy is running down the street , let ’ s go.
” By “ the guy , ” he meant the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood have described as two burglaries .
Larry English , a man whose home was under construction in the McMichaels ’ neighborhood , said someone stole $ 2,500 in fishing gear from him earlier this year , but he never reported the theft , he told the Daily Beast ; he has also never accused Arbery of committing any crimes .
It has since come to light , however , that the Glynn County Police Department contacted English in December 2019 , asking him to reach out to Gregory McMichael whenever he “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
“ Greg is retired Law Enforcement and also a Retired Investigator from the DA ’ s office , ” Officer Robert Rash texted English , along with McMichael ’ s phone number .
“ He said please call him day or night when you get action on your camera.
” English ’ s attorney said her client never took McMichael up on his offer .
Trespassing on English ’ s property was , apparently , a common occurrence .
In mid-May , CNN obtained 11 surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that multiple people , including women and children , had entered the home in the months leading up to Arbery ’ s death .
The only confirmed instance of Arbery himself being on the property was on February 23 .
The second burglary in the area was reported to police by Travis McMichael , who said a 9 mm pistol was stolen on January 1 from a vehicle parked outside his home .
In the police report filed after Arbery ’ s killing , Gregory McMichael said the burglar had been caught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the description of the suspect .
There seemed to be concern about Arbery ’ s presence in the neighborhood for much of his time there on the afternoon of February 23 ; several calls , at least one of which was from the McMichaels , were placed to 911 .
Satilla Shores is a predominantly white neighborhood , one the Daily Beast ’ s Justin Glawe describes as featuring “ several homes ... decorated with Trump flags , one bearing the president ’ s smiling face with the phrase , Make liberals cry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressing distress about Arbery being near a house that is under construction on property owned by English .
The dispatcher asked what Arbery was doing wrong but never received an answer .
Arbery ’ s family has said he ’ s always been inquisitive and was likely just having a look at the bones of the home , since that ’ s something one doesn ’ t see every day .
After that first call , 911 received another , in which the caller said , “ I ’ m out here at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black male running down the street.
” The caller can be heard yelling , “ Watch that .
Stop , damn it !
Stop !
” but stops responding to the dispatcher ’ s inquiries .
As these calls were being made , the McMichaels were preparing to pursue Arbery .
Gregory McMichael told police he armed himself with a .357 magnum while his son got a shotgun .
He told police he felt the weapons were called for because he ’ d seen Arbery in the neighborhood previously with his hand in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a firearm .
Then the men got into Travis McMichael ’ s pickup truck and began to chase Arbery through the neighborhood .
Arbery ’ s uncle told the Brunswick News that Arbery was amazingly fast and agile .
And the police report suggests that — despite being on foot — he evaded the McMichaels for a time .
Gregory McMichael claims his son tried to cut off Arbery with his truck , but that he turned around and ran in the other direction .
The police report mentions another person , identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bryan — who tried unsuccessfully to cut Arbery off with his vehicle .
McMichael claims they were able to catch up with Arbery and shouted out of the truck , “ Stop , stop , we want to talk to you , ” before stopping the truck beside him , at which point Travis exited with his shotgun .
Then , McMichael claims , Arbery attacked his son , the two men fought over the shotgun , two shots were fired , and then Arbery fell , bleeding .
The officer who wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after police arrived on the scene .
But the video — filmed by Bryan from his vehicle — appears to show something slightly different .
Civil rights attorney S. Lee Merritt , who is representing Arbery ’ s family , reposted the video on his Twitter account on May 5 .
As the vehicle turns a bend in a road , a black man wearing a white shirt — what Arbery was described as wearing in 911 calls — can be seen running .
A white pickup truck , ostensibly the McMichaels ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man is in the street next to the driver ’ s side of the truck , and another stands in the flatbed .
The video is blocked by the dashboard for a moment , and some unintelligible yelling can be heard .
The video then shows the black man trying to run around the truck .
It ’ s not possible to see what happens next , but there ’ s a gunshot ; the black man and the white man who was standing in the road reappear in the frame , engaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the road , again leaving the video ’ s frame .
As the man in the flatbed brings up his firearm , there ’ s another gunshot .
The video Merritt posted ends with the struggle — seemingly over possession of a firearm — continuing .
A longer version available online features a third gunshot , and the black man falling to the pavement , his shirt seemingly red with blood .
While the police were en route , Arbery was “ on the ground ‘ bleeding out , ’ ” according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his hands ; his father said this was from Travis rolling Arbery ’ s body over to check for a gun .
An autopsy report released May 12 revealed that Arbery was shot twice in the chest and “ had a third wound ” on one of his wrists .
Arbery ’ s supporters say this is a clear case of racist murder — but complications have inhibited an investigation Advocates for Arbery argue his killing is a very clear case of racial profiling ; in his caption for the video , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursued by three white men that targeted him solely because of his race and murdered him without justification.
” It ’ s a sentiment echoed by others , including presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , who tweeted , “ The video is clear : Ahmaud Arbery was killed in cold blood.
” Stacey Abrams , who narrowly lost Georgia ’ s 2018 gubernatorial election and who has said she hopes to become Biden ’ s running mate , demanded a “ full investigation , appropriate charges , and an unbiased prosecution.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , due to conflicts of interest and Georgia ’ s stand-your-ground law and citizen ’ s arrest law .
The case is on its fourth prosecutor ; the first put in charge of the case , Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson , recused herself because she ’ d previously employed Gregory McMichael .
The district attorney of Waycross , Georgia , George Barnhill , was then assigned to it , but he recused himself after Arbery ’ s mother pointed out his son works in Johnson ’ s office .
Barnhill officially recused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in it , he wrote that his son and Gregory McMichael “ both helped with the previous prosecution of Arbery ” on behalf of Johnson ’ s office .
Arbery was convicted of probation violation after facing a shoplifting charge in 2018 , something Barnhill pointed out in an earlier letter in which he laid out the reasons he believed the McMichaels had done nothing wrong .
In that letter , dated April 3 , Barnhill suggested Arbery had mental health issues , and highlighted not just the shoplifting issue , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being placed on probation : having brought a gun to campus while he was in high school .
The letter also notes Georgia has an open-carry law , a separate state law allows a private citizen to attempt arrests if an “ offense is committed in his presence or within his immediate knowledge , ” and that it has a stand-your-ground law that allows someone who feels threatened “ to use deadly force to protect himself , ” without having to first try to retreat or call law enforcement .
Merritt has dismissed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , telling CNN he doesn ’ t believe the McMichaels were trying to make a citizen ’ s arrest , noting that the McMichaels ’ statements frame the shooting as an act of self-defense .
And he said the citizen ’ s arrest law says “ you actually have to be observing the crime or be in the immediate knowledge of the crime ” but argues the McMichaels never claimed this was the case .
The Washington Post also reported that Gregory McMichael had his law enforcement certification suspended last year after repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also received a warning in 2014 for neglecting to finish mandatory firearms and use-of-force classes .
Merritt has also pushed back against other claims in Barnhill ’ s letter , including the references to Arbery ’ s mental health and previous interactions with the legal system .
“ The reference to ... alleged conduct from high school or shoplifting is absurd and has nothing to do with his murder , ” Merritt said .
The shoplifting case does connect Barnhill , Gregory McMichael , and Arbery , however .
When Barnhill recused himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote that his son and Gregory McMichael “ both helped with the previous prosecution of Arbery ” on behalf of Johnson ’ s office .
The real impetus behind the killing , Merritt suggested , can be seen in the 911 calls , when the caller fails to give a clear reason for the call but does note , “ There ’ s a black male running down the street.
” Gregory McMichael told the Daily Beast Arbery ’ s race was irrelevant and that he “ never would have gone after someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Barnhill ’ s letter is the “ closest version of the truth.
” Meanwhile , pressure has mounted for Barnhill and Johnson to be removed from office .
Protesters gathered at the Glynn County Courthouse on May 16 to demand their resignations .
“ Racism is real in America and racism is real in Brunswick , Georgia and we come today to send a message to the racists and the supremacist that we will fight you with everything that we have , ” Rev .
Timothy McDonald said at the protests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the video went viral On the day the graphic video went viral , the third district attorney on the case — Tom Durden of Hinesville , Georgia — announced that a grand jury would investigate the killing , and accepted an offer from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation , an independent state agency with investigative and forensic expertise , for assistance .
Two days after the state took over the case , the McMichaels were arrested and booked in a Glynn County jail .
They both face charges of aggravated assault and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds also announced that Bryan was also under investigation .
He was charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment two weeks later .
On May 10 , Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced he had asked the Department of Justice to investigate the handling of the case .
“ We are committed to a complete and transparent review of how the Ahmaud Arbery case was handled from the outset , ” Carr said in a statement .
“ The family , the community and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we will work with others in law enforcement at the state and federal level to find those answers.
” Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec responded , saying , “ The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice , the FBI , and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia have been supporting and will continue fully to support and participate in the state investigation .
We are assessing all of the evidence to determine whether federal hate crimes charges are appropriate.
” Meanwhile , Carr reassigned the case to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Cobb County , which is northwest of Atlanta .
In a statement , Carr said that while Durden had been executing his duties well , he believed someone with more resources was needed .
“ This case has grown in size and magnitude since [ Durden ] accepted the appointment on April 13 , 2020 , ” Carr said .
“ As an experienced District Attorney , Tom has recognized that another office is better suited from a resource perspective to now handle the case.
” Holmes is the first black woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney office , and has served in that role since 2019 .
She was previously a chief magistrate , and has served as both a prosecutor and defense attorney .
Attorneys of Arbery ’ s family have praised the decision , with Merritt and Chris Stewart , another of Cooper-Jones ’ s lawyers , saying they ’ d asked Carr to assign a new district attorney to the case as they felt “ the south Georgia prosecutorial community was tainted by the delay in action prior to the video being released.
” Correction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miscategorized the incidents described by Larry English and Travis McMichael .
They were described as thefts or burglaries .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Editor’s note, November 24, 2021: This article was last updated in June 2020. Travis and Gregory McMichael and William Bryan have since been found guilty in Ahmaud Arbery’s murder. To read our latest coverage of the verdict, click here.
The three white men arrested in the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery — an unarmed black man who was attacked while jogging — were indicted on murder charges Wednesday by a grand jury in Georgia.
Arbery was killed on February 23, when Gregory McMichael, 64, a retired district attorney investigator and police detective, and his son Travis McMichael, 34, armed themselves and followed him in a pickup truck after seeing him jog by. They later told police officers they believed Arbery to be a suspect in two burglaries in the Satilla Shores area.
The McMichaels — along with neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan, who filmed the incident — were arrested and charged last month with murder. And on Wednesday, District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes announced that the Glynn County grand jury had returned an indictment on all three defendants, including four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.
While the shooting happened months ago, the case did not receive national attention until Bryan’s graphic video — released by Arbery’s family and showing the last moments of the 25-year-old’s life — went viral on May 5.
Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, told CBS News that the video “proves that my son was not committing a crime. He was out for his daily jog and he was hunted down like an animal and killed.”
The footage sparked outrage among criminal justice advocates across the country, and led to the call for a grand jury to investigate the fatal shooting. The Department of Justice is also looking into hate crime charges and reviewing how Arbery’s killing was handled on the state and local levels.
Arbery’s death has been compared with the shooting deaths of many other unarmed black people, including 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and Botham Jean, who was killed in his Dallas apartment in 2018. Protests have continued in Georgia — where social distancing requirements were recently relaxed — with hundreds of people marching through Satilla Shores, promising to “run with Maud” and chanting, “We want justice!”
“The video is very clear that they were on the truck with guns hunting him down,” civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents Arbery’s father, told the Associated Press. “I don’t know what more you need to make an arrest.”
Prior to the video’s release, the only public record of Arbery’s final moments were the statements the McMichaels gave to police. An investigation into the shooting had been limited, as a series of prosecutors recused themselves from the case over their ties to Gregory McMichael. This has frustrated Arbery’s supporters, who argue that his killing — and the subsequent actions of local law enforcement — shows how little has changed in an area of Georgia that’s been described as dotted with Confederate flags, with a history of mobs of white men taking justice into their own hands in a manner that leaves black men dead.
Everything we know about Ahmaud Arbery’s killing
Arbery, a former high school football star, was passionate about staying in shape, according to friends and family, who told the New York Times he often spent his free time running. He went for one such run on February 23, ending up in Satilla Shores, a few miles away from his home in Glynn County.
“The video is very clear that they were on the truck with guns hunting him down. I don’t know what more you need to make an arrest.”
Gregory McMichael claims he was in his front yard when he saw Arbery “hauling ass,” after which he ran inside to get a weapon and his son, Travis. He told police that he said, “Travis, the guy is running down the street, let’s go.”
By “the guy,” he meant the person responsible for what some in the neighborhood have described as two burglaries. Larry English, a man whose home was under construction in the McMichaels’ neighborhood, said someone stole $2,500 in fishing gear from him earlier this year, but he never reported the theft, he told the Daily Beast; he also never accused Arbery of committing any crimes.
It has since come to light, however, that the Glynn County Police Department contacted English in December 2019, asking him to reach out to Gregory McMichael whenever he “got action” on his surveillance camera, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Greg is retired Law Enforcement and also a Retired Investigator from the DA’s office,” Officer Robert Rash texted English, along with McMichael’s phone number. “He said please call him day or night when you get action on your camera.” English’s attorney said her client never took McMichael up on his offer.
Trespassing on English’s property was, apparently, a common occurrence. In mid-May, CNN obtained 11 surveillance clips from English’s attorney and found that multiple people, including women and children, had entered the home in the months leading up to Arbery’s death. The only confirmed instance of Arbery himself being on the property was on February 23.
The second burglary in the area was reported to police by Travis McMichael, who said a 9 mm pistol was stolen on January 1 from a vehicle parked outside his home. In the police report filed after Arbery’s killing, Gregory McMichael said the burglar had been caught on surveillance video and that Arbery matched the description of the suspect.
There seemed to be concern about Arbery’s presence in the neighborhood for much of his time there on the afternoon of February 23; several calls, at least one of which was from the McMichaels, were placed to 911. Satilla Shores is a predominantly white neighborhood, one the Daily Beast’s Justin Glawe describes as featuring “several homes ... decorated with Trump flags, one bearing the president’s smiling face with the phrase, Make liberals cry again.”
The first featured a caller expressing distress about Arbery being near a house that is under construction on property owned by English. The dispatcher asked what Arbery was doing wrong but never received an answer. Arbery’s family has said he’s always been inquisitive and was likely just having a look at the bones of the home, since that’s something one doesn’t see every day.
After that first call, 911 received another, in which the caller said, “I’m out here at Satilla Shores. There’s a black male running down the street.” The caller can be heard yelling, “Watch that. Stop, damn it! Stop!” but stops responding to the dispatcher’s inquiries.
As these calls were being made, the McMichaels were preparing to pursue Arbery. Gregory McMichael told police he armed himself with a .357 magnum while his son got a shotgun. He told police he felt the weapons were called for because he’d seen Arbery in the neighborhood previously with his hand in his pants in a manner suggestive of a firearm. Then the men got into Travis McMichael’s pickup truck and began to chase Arbery through the neighborhood.
Arbery’s uncle told the Brunswick News that Arbery was amazingly fast and agile. And the police report suggests that — despite being on foot — he evaded the McMichaels for a time. Gregory McMichael claims his son tried to cut off Arbery with his truck, but that he turned around and ran in the other direction.
The police report mentions another person, identified only as “Roddy” — William Bryan — who tried unsuccessfully to cut Arbery off with his vehicle.
McMichael claims they were able to catch up with Arbery and shouted out of the truck, “Stop, stop, we want to talk to you,” before stopping the truck beside him, at which point Travis exited with his shotgun. Then, McMichael claims, Arbery attacked his son, the two men fought over the shotgun, two shots were fired, and then Arbery fell, bleeding. The officer who wrote the report said Arbery died not long after police arrived on the scene.
But the video — filmed by Bryan from his vehicle — appears to show something slightly different. Civil rights attorney S. Lee Merritt, who is representing Arbery’s family, reposted the video on his Twitter account on May 5.
As the vehicle turns a bend in a road, a black man wearing a white shirt — what Arbery was described as wearing in 911 calls — can be seen running. A white pickup truck, ostensibly the McMichaels’, blocks his path; a white man is in the street next to the driver’s side of the truck, and another stands in the flatbed. The video is blocked by the dashboard for a moment, and some unintelligible yelling can be heard. The video then shows the black man trying to run around the truck.
It’s not possible to see what happens next, but there’s a gunshot; the black man and the white man who was standing in the road reappear in the frame, engaged in a struggle, and move off the road, again leaving the video’s frame. As the man in the flatbed brings up his firearm, there’s another gunshot. The video Merritt posted ends with the struggle — seemingly over possession of a firearm — continuing. A longer version available online features a third gunshot, and the black man falling to the pavement, his shirt seemingly red with blood.
While the police were en route, Arbery was “on the ground ‘bleeding out,’” according to the report. Travis McMichael had blood on his hands; his father said this was from Travis rolling Arbery’s body over to check for a gun.
An autopsy report released May 12 revealed that Arbery was shot twice in the chest and “had a third wound” on one of his wrists.
Arbery’s supporters say this is a clear case of racist murder — but complications have inhibited an investigation
Advocates for Arbery argue his killing is a very clear case of racial profiling; in his caption for the video, Merritt wrote, “Ahmaud Arbery was pursued by three white men that targeted him solely because of his race and murdered him without justification.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by others, including presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who tweeted, “The video is clear: Ahmaud Arbery was killed in cold blood.”
Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost Georgia’s 2018 gubernatorial election and who has said she hopes to become Biden’s running mate, demanded a “full investigation, appropriate charges, and an unbiased prosecution.”
But charges were slow coming, due to conflicts of interest and Georgia’s stand-your-ground law and citizen’s arrest law.
The case is on its fourth prosecutor; the first put in charge of the case, Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson, recused herself because she’d previously employed Gregory McMichael. The district attorney of Waycross, Georgia, George Barnhill, was then assigned to it, but he recused himself after Arbery’s mother pointed out his son works in Johnson’s office.
Barnhill officially recused himself in an April 7 letter — and in it, he wrote that his son and Gregory McMichael “both helped with the previous prosecution of Arbery” on behalf of Johnson’s office. Arbery was convicted of probation violation after facing a shoplifting charge in 2018, something Barnhill pointed out in an earlier letter in which he laid out the reasons he believed the McMichaels had done nothing wrong.
In that letter, dated April 3, Barnhill suggested Arbery had mental health issues, and highlighted not just the shoplifting issue, but also the incident that led to Arbery being placed on probation: having brought a gun to campus while he was in high school.
The letter also notes Georgia has an open-carry law, a separate state law allows a private citizen to attempt arrests if an “offense is committed in his presence or within his immediate knowledge,” and that it has a stand-your-ground law that allows someone who feels threatened “to use deadly force to protect himself,” without having to first try to retreat or call law enforcement.
Merritt has dismissed Barnhill’s interpretation of these laws, telling CNN he doesn’t believe the McMichaels were trying to make a citizen’s arrest, noting that the McMichaels’ statements frame the shooting as an act of self-defense.
And he said the citizen’s arrest law says “you actually have to be observing the crime or be in the immediate knowledge of the crime” but argues the McMichaels never claimed this was the case.
The Washington Post also reported that Gregory McMichael had his law enforcement certification suspended last year after repeatedly failing to complete required training. He also received a warning in 2014 for neglecting to finish mandatory firearms and use-of-force classes.
Merritt has also pushed back against other claims in Barnhill’s letter, including the references to Arbery’s mental health and previous interactions with the legal system.
“The reference to ... alleged conduct from high school or shoplifting is absurd and has nothing to do with his murder,” Merritt said.
The shoplifting case does connect Barnhill, Gregory McMichael, and Arbery, however. When Barnhill recused himself in an April 7 letter, he wrote that his son and Gregory McMichael “both helped with the previous prosecution of Arbery” on behalf of Johnson’s office.
The real impetus behind the killing, Merritt suggested, can be seen in the 911 calls, when the caller fails to give a clear reason for the call but does note, “There’s a black male running down the street.”
Gregory McMichael told the Daily Beast Arbery’s race was irrelevant and that he “never would have gone after someone for their color,” saying instead that Barnhill’s letter is the “closest version of the truth.”
Meanwhile, pressure has mounted for Barnhill and Johnson to be removed from office. Protesters gathered at the Glynn County Courthouse on May 16 to demand their resignations.
“Racism is real in America and racism is real in Brunswick, Georgia and we come today to send a message to the racists and the supremacist that we will fight you with everything that we have,” Rev. Timothy McDonald said at the protests, Reuters reported.
Investigations have ramped up since the video went viral
Two days after the state took over the case, the McMichaels were arrested and booked in a Glynn County jail. A day later, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds announced that Bryan was also under investigation. He was charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment two weeks later.
On May 10, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced he had asked the Department of Justice to investigate the handling of the case. “We are committed to a complete and transparent review of how the Ahmaud Arbery case was handled from the outset,” Carr said in a statement. “The family, the community and the state of Georgia deserve answers, and we will work with others in law enforcement at the state and federal level to find those answers.”
Meanwhile, Carr reassigned the case to a new district attorney, Joyette Holmes of Cobb County, which is northwest of Atlanta. In a statement, Carr said that while Durden had been executing his duties well, he believed someone with more resources was needed.
On June 24, Holmes announced an indictment with nine counts against each of the three defendants: malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.
Correction: An earlier version of this story miscategorized the incidents described by Larry English and Travis McMichael. They were described as thefts or burglaries.


vox--2020-05-22--Why is it so hard to get a flight refund?

As an air desk specialist at a major Canadian travel agency , Jennifer has finished work for the past two months feeling “ incredibly exhausted , ” having spent hours navigating through airline policies on behalf of her clients .
The rush of flight cancellations , she told me , began in January as the first travel restrictions to China were issued .
By March , the pace of her daily work had ramped up , and even with more than a decade of industry experience under her belt , Jennifer found herself overwhelmed .
“ In my work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clients , but the agents who are working with them , ” said Jennifer , who asked to withhold her last name for privacy reasons .
“ I ’ m working with the airlines to try and get our clients ’ money back wherever we can , and even I ’ m being put on hold for over an hour.
” Since Jennifer directly communicates with the airlines , she has access to what she describes as a “ back door phone number ” to reach the carriers , but even that line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic precipitated a historic slowdown in air travel by mid-March , placing the airline industry in severe financial distress .
US carriers have cut back on the number of available flight routes , and in many instances have had to cancel or push back flights to fit the changing schedules .
On April 3 , the US Department of Transportation issued a mandate declaring that US carriers must give customers refunds , not vouchers , for flights that were canceled by the airline or faced “ significant delays or schedule changes.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutes a delay , writing on its website that a refund depends on factors including length of the delay , flight , and other “ particular circumstances.
” American Airlines will provide refunds for flights that have been pushed back by more than four hours or when a customer gets rebooked from a nonstop trip to one with a connection .
United requires a schedule change of at least six hours , and Delta allows refunds for trips that have been delayed by over 90 minutes .
Still , despite the US government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April and another in May — and emphasis on how consumers should expect “ prompt ” refunds , many frustrated fliers say they haven ’ t been given their money back for canceled trips .
Under the Department of Transportation ’ s enforcement rules , passengers should receive a refund within seven business days if they paid via credit card , and within 20 days by cash or check .
( The European Union has also required passenger refunds for canceled flights . )
Some say they ’ ve been offered vouchers or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were promised eventual refunds that haven ’ t yet appeared .
Disgruntled clients have used Twitter to complain about long call wait times , glitchy airline websites , and , more generally , the bureaucratic obstacles that prevent them from getting their money back .
The Department of Transportation has received a record number of complaints regarding refunds , and a handful of passengers have filed class action lawsuits against major US airlines , including America , Delta , and United , for their failure to issue refunds .
And despite the industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public seems to have very little sympathy for airlines , which received a $ 25 billion bailout from the federal government in April .
“ At the end of the day , people just want their money back , ” Jennifer said .
“ But even as a travel professional who does this every day , some consumer policies are so unclear , and there was a point in March when things were so incredibly fluid that it was changing hourly.
” Successfully contacting an airline by phone or online can sometimes be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she added .
In an emailed response to Vox , a United spokesperson said the airline has implemented new policies to give customers flexibility since the start of the coronavirus crisis .
“ Eligible travelers have received , and continue to receive , refunds either through United.com or our contact centers if their flights have been severely adjusted or service to their destination suspended either due to government mandates or United schedule reductions related to COVID-19 , ” read the email .
The spokesperson added that United has provided step-by-step instructions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fliers with its online cancellation tools .
An American spokesperson told Vox that the company is working “ around the clock to take care of customers , ” adding that the airline has a travel waiver program that allows fliers to change plans and that refunds are offered for flights American cancels for any reason .
Delta has not responded to an emailed request for comment .
Some customers have reported spending upward of five hours on hold with an airline , since many weren ’ t able to request a refund through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort , Mo , a Los Angeles resident , tweeted at Delta after struggling to stay on hold to reach a service representative and managed to secure a refund for a Seattle-bound flight that was delayed and rerouted several times .
Mo didn ’ t have as much luck with American , the carrier for the returning flight .
“ I submitted a refund request on their online portal last month and crickets , ” Mo wrote to me on Twitter .
“ I submitted another early last week , got a confirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 days but still nothing.
” Customers have experienced incredibly varied refund processes , depending on the carriers , the destination , and how their trips were booked — whether by credit card or airline points , through a travel agency or website , or directly from the airline in question .
“ The most important thing I learned from expert travelers is that it usually doesn ’ t pay off to jump the gun on canceling .
You should wait until the situation or policy changes to your advantage , ” Tracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder of the blog Fanserviced , told me via Twitter .
That was the case for a round trip she booked to Seoul for late April with United points she had accumulated .
“ It usually doesn ’ t pay off to jump the gun on canceling .
You should wait until the situation or policy changes to your advantage.
” Since Korea was on United ’ s refund list early on for its coronavirus outbreak , Robey qualified for a points refund in mid-March , but she would have to pay a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points .
United ’ s policy , however , changed on March 30 , which eliminated the fee for point redeposits .
“ My points were returned to my account within 24 hours , ” Robey said .
“ I even received a full refund of the taxes and fees within 36 hours .
I was kind of blown away.
” Robey ’ s primary advice for fliers is to be aware of specific airline policies .
For her case , she tried to make sure her cancellation was documented : “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was accepting when I clicked the cancel button .
It ’ s impossible to get that kind of paper trail when talking to someone on the phone.
” Yet some customers who ’ ve exhausted their options feel like they have no choice but to hop on the phone .
On Twitter , one Delta flier posted a screenshot of an error message that popped up as he searched for his canceled flight on the airline ’ s website , making it impossible to request the refund virtually .
Michael Bettendorf has spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refunds for trips he has booked for his daughter , a college student who was studying abroad in Spain .
His experience with Expedia , he told me , was by far the most time-consuming .
He had booked a one-way flight from Spain to Los Angeles through Expedia , and it was canceled by the airline Aer Lingus .
Yet when he contacted the travel website and the airline , both initially denied responsibility for his refund .
“ When I tried to get a refund through Expedia where the ticket was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to go to the airline instead , ” Bettendorf told me .
“ They sent me a link to a webpage at the airline website .
The page literally said that if you bought the ticket through a travel agent such as Expedia , then the airline can not deal with your refund.
” He eventually filed a complaint to the Department of Transportation after a month of communicating on Expedia via their live chat service .
“ Expedia never acknowledged whether they received that complaint or not , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refund would take up to eight weeks to process .
( Expedia did not respond to an emailed request for comment . )
Given the wild goose chase for these government-mandated refunds , travel experts think future fliers will hesitate booking through affiliate sites like Expedia or with the airlines directly .
Instead , they ’ ll look to agencies , their credit card companies , or other reservation options that are more consumer-friendly , according to Brian Kelly , founder of the travel website The Points Guy .
Still , there might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrier ; airlines are more willing to please customers than a travel professional , and are sometimes willing to bend the rules .
“ As much as I hate to say it , a consumer can call an airline and scream and complain and sometimes that will get the job done , ” Jennifer told me .
“ As a travel professional , I can ’ t do that .
I hate to advocate for that type of behavior , but if it ’ s a situation where you should get your money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ A consumer can call an airline and scream and complain and sometimes that will get the job done ” Kelly has consistently booked trips through American Express Travel and advises others to consider reserving with credit card companies that offer more consumer protections .
“ In the case of an airline going bankrupt and stranding you , if you book with the right credit card , they ’ ll likely step in , pay for your hotel , and figure out another flight , ” Kelly told me .
“ With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re going to see more and more bankrupt airlines , which don ’ t have obligations to their customers.
” He encourages fliers to figure out whether their credit card has an internal travel agency like American Express , or whether they partner with external agencies , like how Chase does with Expedia .
“ The bottom line is , it ’ s much easier to get through to a credit card company than an airline right now , ” he concluded .
These measures , however , come at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have the financial means to pay for them — whether that be a travel agent or a premium travel credit card to guarantee more trip protections .
The air travel industry has always favored the wealthy : The rewards programs spearheaded by the carriers favor their frequent fliers and first-class travelers .
Now , as customers scramble for refunds , fliers who have experience navigating the airline system , an agent , or simply have ample time on their hands are more likely to secure their refunds .
For both infrequent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the intricacies of consumer policies and agreements that many customers don ’ t entirely understand .
Oftentimes , these details can hinder people from getting their money back or being aware of the rights they ’ re entitled to .
When a person purchases a flight ticket , they ’ re asked to check a box agreeing to what is called the contract of carriage issued by the airline .
In most cases , these agreements are “ usually stacked against the customer , ” Kelly added .
“ The devil is really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If you ’ re booking a flight today , even with the flexible change policies advocated by the airlines , be prepared to part with your cash.
” While industry executives have identified emerging signs of increased travel demand , airlines are expected to see a slow financial recovery and will likely therefore be hesitant to quickly dish out refunds .
Most states have taken steps toward reopening , which means more people will likely start doing all sorts of social activities , including , one can assume , travel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more flights in July and Southwest said its flights have been 25 to 30 percent full , compared to its initial 10 percent estimate , the Wall Street Journal reported .
But so long as airlines keep altering their schedules , causing delays and cancellations , the burden is on customers — whose taxpayer dollars funded the airline bailout package — to ensure they get their money back .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a @ @ @ @ @

As an air desk specialist at a major Canadian travel agency, Jennifer has finished work for the past two months feeling “incredibly exhausted,” having spent hours navigating through airline policies on behalf of her clients. The rush of flight cancellations, she told me, began in January as the first travel restrictions to China were issued. By March, the pace of her daily work had ramped up, and even with more than a decade of industry experience under her belt, Jennifer found herself overwhelmed.
“In my work, I don’t deal directly with clients, but the agents who are working with them,” said Jennifer, who asked to withhold her last name for privacy reasons. “I’m working with the airlines to try and get our clients’ money back wherever we can, and even I’m being put on hold for over an hour.” Since Jennifer directly communicates with the airlines, she has access to what she describes as a “back door phone number” to reach the carriers, but even that line has been busier than usual.
The coronavirus pandemic precipitated a historic slowdown in air travel by mid-March, placing the airline industry in severe financial distress. US carriers have cut back on the number of available flight routes, and in many instances have had to cancel or push back flights to fit the changing schedules.
On April 3, the US Department of Transportation issued a mandate declaring that US carriers must give customers refunds, not vouchers, for flights that were canceled by the airline or faced “significant delays or schedule changes.” The department didn’t define what constitutes a delay, writing on its website that a refund depends on factors including length of the delay, flight, and other “particular circumstances.”
American Airlines will provide refunds for flights that have been pushed back by more than four hours or when a customer gets rebooked from a nonstop trip to one with a connection. United requires a schedule change of at least six hours, and Delta allows refunds for trips that have been delayed by over 90 minutes.
Still, despite the US government’s enforcement notice — first in April and another in May — and emphasis on how consumers should expect “prompt” refunds, many frustrated fliers say they haven’t been given their money back for canceled trips. Under the Department of Transportation’s enforcement rules, passengers should receive a refund within seven business days if they paid via credit card, and within 20 days by cash or check. (The European Union has also required passenger refunds for canceled flights.)
Some say they’ve been offered vouchers or flight credits instead; others say they were promised eventual refunds that haven’t yet appeared. Disgruntled clients have used Twitter to complain about long call wait times, glitchy airline websites, and, more generally, the bureaucratic obstacles that prevent them from getting their money back.
The Department of Transportation has received a record number of complaints regarding refunds, and a handful of passengers have filed class action lawsuits against major US airlines, including America, Delta, and United, for their failure to issue refunds. And despite the industry’s financial decline, the American public seems to have very little sympathy for airlines, which received a $25 billion bailout from the federal government in April.
@Delta still waiting for my refund, filed on March 31st, first it was 21 days, than 30 days and now it looks like forever before delta will refund, at this moment the owe me $3,800, and no response from them. — bucketlisttravelingexpert (@bucketlisttra10) May 13, 2020
How can you not offer a full refund when delaying a departure time by 6 hours and adding TWO long layovers for an originally nonstop flight? I would sooner swim across the Atlantic than take another flight with @united — Penelope Vich (@PippaVich) May 21, 2020
“At the end of the day, people just want their money back,” Jennifer said. “But even as a travel professional who does this every day, some consumer policies are so unclear, and there was a point in March when things were so incredibly fluid that it was changing hourly.” Successfully contacting an airline by phone or online can sometimes be “the luck of the draw,” she added.
In an emailed response to Vox, a United spokesperson said the airline has implemented new policies to give customers flexibility since the start of the coronavirus crisis. “Eligible travelers have received, and continue to receive, refunds either through United.com or our contact centers if their flights have been severely adjusted or service to their destination suspended either due to government mandates or United schedule reductions related to COVID-19,” read the email. The spokesperson added that United has provided step-by-step instructions on its social media and website to assist fliers with its online cancellation tools.
An American spokesperson told Vox that the company is working “around the clock to take care of customers,” adding that the airline has a travel waiver program that allows fliers to change plans and that refunds are offered for flights American cancels for any reason. A Delta spokesperson said in an email that since the beginning of March, the airline has processed more than 2.5 million refunds, totaling $1.2 billion. “We continue to take steps to improve our refund policies and speed up our refund-issuance procedures,” read the email.
Some customers have reported spending upward of five hours on hold with an airline, since many weren’t able to request a refund through the website directly. As a last-ditch effort, Mo, a Los Angeles resident, tweeted at Delta after struggling to stay on hold to reach a service representative and managed to secure a refund for a Seattle-bound flight that was delayed and rerouted several times.
Mo didn’t have as much luck with American, the carrier for the returning flight. “I submitted a refund request on their online portal last month and crickets,” Mo wrote to me on Twitter. “I submitted another early last week, got a confirmation email with a promise of results within 7 days but still nothing.”
Customers have experienced incredibly varied refund processes, depending on the carriers, the destination, and how their trips were booked — whether by credit card or airline points, through a travel agency or website, or directly from the airline in question.
“The most important thing I learned from expert travelers is that it usually doesn’t pay off to jump the gun on canceling. You should wait until the situation or policy changes to your advantage,” Tracy E. Robey, a freelance journalist and founder of the blog Fanserviced, told me via Twitter. That was the case for a round trip she booked to Seoul for late April with United points she had accumulated.
“It usually doesn’t pay off to jump the gun on canceling. You should wait until the situation or policy changes to your advantage.”
Since Korea was on United’s refund list early on for its coronavirus outbreak, Robey qualified for a points refund in mid-March, but she would have to pay a roughly $125 fee to redeposit those points. United’s policy, however, changed on March 30, which eliminated the fee for point redeposits. “My points were returned to my account within 24 hours,” Robey said. “I even received a full refund of the taxes and fees within 36 hours. I was kind of blown away.”
Robey’s primary advice for fliers is to be aware of specific airline policies. For her case, she tried to make sure her cancellation was documented: “I wanted a screenshot of exactly what I was accepting when I clicked the cancel button. It’s impossible to get that kind of paper trail when talking to someone on the phone.”
Yet some customers who’ve exhausted their options feel like they have no choice but to hop on the phone. On Twitter, one Delta flier posted a screenshot of an error message that popped up as he searched for his canceled flight on the airline’s website, making it impossible to request the refund virtually.
Mysterious!! Thank goodness the eCredit system at least still knows who I am! pic.twitter.com/TuybXNW8vD — Andrew Egger (@EggerDC) May 18, 2020
Michael Bettendorf has spent the last few weekends trying to get refunds for trips he has booked for his daughter, a college student who was studying abroad in Spain. His experience with Expedia, he told me, was by far the most time-consuming. He had booked a one-way flight from Spain to Los Angeles through Expedia, and it was canceled by the airline Aer Lingus. Yet when he contacted the travel website and the airline, both initially denied responsibility for his refund.
“When I tried to get a refund through Expedia where the ticket was purchased, Expedia told me that I had to go to the airline instead,” Bettendorf told me. “They sent me a link to a webpage at the airline website. The page literally said that if you bought the ticket through a travel agent such as Expedia, then the airline cannot deal with your refund.”
He eventually filed a complaint to the Department of Transportation after a month of communicating on Expedia via their live chat service. “Expedia never acknowledged whether they received that complaint or not,” he said, adding that the agency said his refund would take up to eight weeks to process. (Expedia did not respond to an emailed request for comment.)
Given the wild goose chase for these government-mandated refunds, travel experts think future fliers will hesitate booking through affiliate sites like Expedia or with the airlines directly. Instead, they’ll look to agencies, their credit card companies, or other reservation options that are more consumer-friendly, according to Brian Kelly, founder of the travel website The Points Guy. Still, there might be benefits to directly booking with a carrier; airlines are more willing to please customers than a travel professional, and are sometimes willing to bend the rules.
“As much as I hate to say it, a consumer can call an airline and scream and complain and sometimes that will get the job done,” Jennifer told me. “As a travel professional, I can’t do that. I hate to advocate for that type of behavior, but if it’s a situation where you should get your money back, that unfortunately will sometimes work.”
“A consumer can call an airline and scream and complain and sometimes that will get the job done”
Kelly has consistently booked trips through American Express Travel and advises others to consider reserving with credit card companies that offer more consumer protections.
“In the case of an airline going bankrupt and stranding you, if you book with the right credit card, they’ll likely step in, pay for your hotel, and figure out another flight,” Kelly told me. “With this crisis, it’s likely we’re going to see more and more bankrupt airlines, which don’t have obligations to their customers.” He encourages fliers to figure out whether their credit card has an internal travel agency like American Express, or whether they partner with external agencies, like how Chase does with Expedia. “The bottom line is, it’s much easier to get through to a credit card company than an airline right now,” he concluded.
These measures, however, come at a cost, which ultimately benefits the customers who have the financial means to pay for them — whether that be a travel agent or a premium travel credit card to guarantee more trip protections. The air travel industry has always favored the wealthy: The rewards programs spearheaded by the carriers favor their frequent fliers and first-class travelers. Now, as customers scramble for refunds, fliers who have experience navigating the airline system, an agent, or simply have ample time on their hands are more likely to secure their refunds.
For both infrequent and seasoned travelers, the pandemic has highlighted the intricacies of consumer policies and agreements that many customers don’t entirely understand. Oftentimes, these details can hinder people from getting their money back or being aware of the rights they’re entitled to. When a person purchases a flight ticket, they’re asked to check a box agreeing to what is called the contract of carriage issued by the airline. In most cases, these agreements are “usually stacked against the customer,” Kelly added.
“The devil is really in the details,” he said. “If you’re booking a flight today, even with the flexible change policies advocated by the airlines, be prepared to part with your cash.”
While industry executives have identified emerging signs of increased travel demand, airlines are expected to see a slow financial recovery and will likely therefore be hesitant to quickly dish out refunds. Most states have taken steps toward reopening, which means more people will likely start doing all sorts of social activities, including, one can assume, travel.
Already, United is expected to add more flights in July and Southwest said its flights have been 25 to 30 percent full, compared to its initial 10 percent estimate, the Wall Street Journal reported. But so long as airlines keep altering their schedules, causing delays and cancellations, the burden so far has been on customers — whose taxpayer dollars funded the airline bailout package — to ensure they get their money back.


vox--2020-05-22--How safe is it to use public bathrooms right now?

When Steven Soifer , a social work professor at the University of Mississippi , and his wife finally left social isolation for the first time since early March , they encountered a familiar problem : the call of nature .
They first stopped by a Starbucks , but the franchise was taking drive-through orders only — the bathrooms were closed .
Eventually , the couple came across a gas station , where one toilet seemed to be open .
“ I walked in , and I had my face mask on and rubber gloves , so I figured , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who also heads the American Restroom Association .
“ And so I lift up the toilet seat , and I realized : Oh my god , that touched the rubber gloves .
So I ’ ve got a problem here.
” Soifer explained that he used his other , cleaner hand to open the door .
He noticed the handle was made of stainless steel , which is not as antiviral as the copper fixtures you see in many bathrooms .
But it ’ s virtually impossible to keep any bathroom completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic .
“ So that there is an exact example of trying to navigate this out in public ” Soifer added .
As states and localities move forward with allowing businesses to open up , more and more people will need to use public restrooms for the first time in months .
But while a patron might be comfortable sitting down at a socially distanced , outdoor restaurant , bathrooms are another story .
They ’ re rife with high-touch surfaces : doorknobs , toilet handles and seats , faucets , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to the fact that toilets themselves can possibly spew a plume of aerosol particles into the air with every flush .
So what do you do if you have to go and you ’ re not at home ?
Restaurants , parks , and other public spaces are now looking for ways to safely manage lavatories , trying everything from managing traffic flows with “ bathroom monitors ” to taping off urinals to installing pedals so people can open doors without touching knobs .
Some public spaces are simply opting to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all short-term solutions , they stand to shape how future public restrooms might change during and after this pandemic .
But in the meantime , if you do decide to venture out , there are some very common-sense precautions you can take in the bathroom to keep yourself , and the next person in line , a bit safer .
Social distancing at the bathroom matters , even at your friend ’ s house The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) says that the novel coronavirus primarily spreads when people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re less than 6 feet away from others .
That means that when you ’ re in a public or shared bathroom , your first worry should be to maintain social distancing .
“ It can be harder to maintain physical distance when using public restrooms , especially in a crowded setting , ” Susan Amirian , a research scientist at the Texas Policy Lab , told Recode .
“ Some facilities with public restrooms have taped off middle sinks or taken other measures to keep people from standing too close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning to reopen have this concern in mind .
Health agencies ’ guides for reopening encourage restaurants to monitor high-traffic areas like bathrooms and to make sure people don ’ t congregate too densely in those areas .
To ensure social distancing , some restaurants have even turned to using staff as bathroom monitors or to taping up some urinals to prevent people from standing too close when peeing .
If you see these measures in effect , you should feel better about that public toilet option .
The same principles apply for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you ’ re the host , be mindful of some crowd control .
After speaking to Marybeth Sexton , who studies infectious diseases at Emory University , the Los Angeles Times reports : ( You can read the CDC ’ s published guidelines for disinfecting these spaces here ) .
Inside the bathroom , take basic precautions , like washing your hands Let ’ s repeat that point : When you use a public bathroom , the best thing someone can do is wash their hands thoroughly .
Vox explains how best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid touching your face and try to keep your mask on .
Amesh Adalja , a scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security , emphasizes that while surface transmission is possible , hand-washing is an essential way to stay safe and clean .
“ If you ’ re washing your hands , you really don ’ t have that risk , ” Adalja said .
“ So if you ’ re someone that washes your hands meticulously , any of the other stuff is going to be additive and probably a marginal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diligent about hand-washing , there are other threat zones in every bathroom .
You should also pay attention to the bathroom ’ s ventilation as well as frequently touched fixtures like door handles and contactless air dryers .
“ Although your hands are probably clean after washing , you will still recirculate the air in the bathroom , and most bathrooms have poor air circulation , ” warns Eric Feigl-Ding , a senior fellow and epidemiologist at the Federation of American Scientists .
Consider using paper towels if they ’ re available .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that jet-air dryers could help spread aerosols that contaminate other surfaces and have warned that they shouldn ’ t be used in hospital restrooms .
You might as well steer clear of them in public restrooms , too .
If you don ’ t have a choice , it ’ s not the end of the world .
Adalja , the Johns Hopkins scholar , argues that the choice of paper towel versus hand dryer likely won ’ t have a significant impact on your chances of catching the coronavirus .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t freak out .
There is some evidence that the novel coronavirus can be found in poop , though the CDC says that it ’ s not clear that the virus has actually spread to other humans in that way .
Even if it ’ s possible , the odds of actually catching the novel coronavirus through poop are likely extremely low .
( Again , the best precautions a person can take are wearing a mask , not touching their face , washing their hands , and keeping their distance from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the flushing , because unlike private homes that have lids , most public bathrooms only have a toilet seat and not the natural lid , ” says Feigl-Ding .
“ We know that flushing is an aerosol-generating event.
” He explains that the result of an aerosol-generating event is sometimes called a “ toilet plume.
” A 2013 review of such plumes , which are caused by flushing , pointed to studies showing that “ potentially infectious aerosols may be produced in substantial quantities ” and that “ aerosolization can continue through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The study did not make a conclusion regarding the actual transmission of illness through flushing and was not about the current coronavirus .
“ Regardless of how likely it is that Covid-19 could be transmitted through fecal contamination , ” Amirian said , “ it ’ s always important to practice good hygiene in a public bathroom or even at home.
” What we can learn from the coronavirus bathroom problem The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of bathrooms for not just our own cleanliness but also for public health more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just about convenience : Access to toilets is a human rights issue , especially for people who are homeless who can struggle to find lavatories , many of which are owned by private businesses , like Starbucks , and not maintained by the government .
Another challenge is while counties and states continue to open up , increased sanitation duties will inevitably fall on the workers of those establishments .
For instance , in its guide to reopening its locations , McDonald ’ s has directed its franchisees to clean bathrooms every half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to clean bathrooms safely , Feigl-Ding says those workers should have access to tons of personal protective equipment , including protective goggles and N95 masks .
Some McDonald ’ s workers say the company isn ’ t doing enough .
While these are short-term measures , the pandemic could actually change how we design bathrooms in the future .
“ What we want to see in the long run are single-stall , gender-neutral , full-enclosed water closets , ” argues Soifer , explaining that sinks could be available outside the area that houses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s already popular in Europe and parts of Asia .
Those changes could also come with increased interest in more separation between stalls , contactless dispensers for soap and paper towels , and improved ventilation .
Some experts think that these bathrooms could clean themselves , perhaps using automated disinfectant sprays or blasts of UV light .
This future sounds appealing as we ’ re all becoming hyper-aware of cleanliness in public places .
But for now , you ’ ll be safer if you maintain social distancing , wear a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and seriously , wash your hands .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

When Steven Soifer, a social work professor at the University of Mississippi, and his wife finally left social isolation for the first time since early March, they encountered a familiar problem: the call of nature. They first stopped by a Starbucks, but the franchise was taking drive-through orders only — the bathrooms were closed. Eventually, the couple came across a gas station, where one toilet seemed to be open.
“I walked in, and I had my face mask on and rubber gloves, so I figured, no problem at all,” explains Soifer, who also heads the American Restroom Association. “And so I lift up the toilet seat, and I realized: Oh my god, that touched the rubber gloves. So I’ve got a problem here.”
Soifer explained that he used his other, cleaner hand to open the door. He noticed the handle was made of stainless steel, which is not as antiviral as the copper fixtures you see in many bathrooms. But it’s virtually impossible to keep any bathroom completely sanitary, especially in the midst of a pandemic.
“So that there is an exact example of trying to navigate this out in public” Soifer added.
As states and localities move forward with allowing businesses to open up, more and more people will need to use public restrooms for the first time in months. But while a patron might be comfortable sitting down at a socially distanced, outdoor restaurant, bathrooms are another story. They’re rife with high-touch surfaces: doorknobs, toilet handles and seats, faucets, and paper towel dispensers. This, in addition to the fact that toilets themselves can possibly spew a plume of aerosol particles into the air with every flush.
So what do you do if you have to go and you’re not at home? Restaurants, parks, and other public spaces are now looking for ways to safely manage lavatories, trying everything from managing traffic flows with “bathroom monitors” to taping off urinals to installing pedals so people can open doors without touching knobs. Some public spaces are simply opting to keep their restrooms closed.
While these are all short-term solutions, they stand to shape how future public restrooms might change during and after this pandemic. But in the meantime, if you do decide to venture out, there are some very common-sense precautions you can take in the bathroom to keep yourself, and the next person in line, a bit safer.
Social distancing at the bathroom matters, even at your friend’s house
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the novel coronavirus primarily spreads when people are in close contact, like when you’re less than 6 feet away from others. That means that when you’re in a public or shared bathroom, your first worry should be to maintain social distancing.
“It can be harder to maintain physical distance when using public restrooms, especially in a crowded setting,” Susan Amirian, a research scientist at the Texas Policy Lab, told Recode. “Some facilities with public restrooms have taped off middle sinks or taken other measures to keep people from standing too close to each other.”
States that are beginning to reopen have this concern in mind. Health agencies’ guides for reopening encourage restaurants to monitor high-traffic areas like bathrooms and to make sure people don’t congregate too densely in those areas. To ensure social distancing, some restaurants have even turned to using staff as bathroom monitors or to taping up some urinals to prevent people from standing too close when peeing.
If you see these measures in effect, you should feel better about that public toilet option. The same principles apply for gatherings at people’s homes. If you’re the host, be mindful of some crowd control. After speaking to Marybeth Sexton, who studies infectious diseases at Emory University, the Los Angeles Times reports:
If someone goes into the house to use the restroom, let them go in alone. When they’re done, it’s critically important that they wash their hands really well. Then you’ll want to clean the restroom afterward. Almost all household cleaners have indications that they kill coronavirus. As long as you clean surfaces and wash hands, you should be safe.
(You can read the CDC’s published guidelines for disinfecting these spaces here.)
Inside the bathroom, take basic precautions, like washing your hands
Let’s repeat that point: When you use a public bathroom, the best thing someone can do is wash their hands thoroughly. Vox explains how best to do that. You should also avoid touching your face and try to keep your mask on.
Amesh Adalja, a scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasizes that while surface transmission is possible, hand-washing is an essential way to stay safe and clean.
“If you’re washing your hands, you really don’t have that risk,” Adalja said. “So if you’re someone that washes your hands meticulously, any of the other stuff is going to be additive and probably a marginal value.”
Even if you’re diligent about hand-washing, there are other threat zones in every bathroom. You should also pay attention to the bathroom’s ventilation as well as frequently touched fixtures like door handles and contactless air dryers.
“Although your hands are probably clean after washing, you will still recirculate the air in the bathroom, and most bathrooms have poor air circulation,” warns Eric Feigl-Ding, a senior fellow and epidemiologist at the Federation of American Scientists.
Consider using paper towels if they’re available. Researchers from the University of Leeds previously found that jet-air dryers could help spread aerosols that contaminate other surfaces and have warned that they shouldn’t be used in hospital restrooms. You might as well steer clear of them in public restrooms, too.
If you don’t have a choice, it’s not the end of the world. Adalja, the Johns Hopkins scholar, argues that the choice of paper towel versus hand dryer likely won’t have a significant impact on your chances of catching the coronavirus.
What about fecal transmission of Covid-19?
Don’t freak out. There is some evidence that the novel coronavirus can be found in poop, though the CDC says that it’s not clear that the virus has actually spread to other humans in that way. Even if it’s possible, the odds of actually catching the novel coronavirus through poop are likely extremely low. (Again, the best precautions a person can take are wearing a mask, not touching their face, washing their hands, and keeping their distance from others.)
“The main problem is the flushing, because unlike private homes that have lids, most public bathrooms only have a toilet seat and not the natural lid,” says Feigl-Ding. “We know that flushing is an aerosol-generating event.”
He explains that the result of an aerosol-generating event is sometimes called a “toilet plume.” A 2013 review of such plumes, which are caused by flushing, pointed to studies showing that “potentially infectious aerosols may be produced in substantial quantities” and that “aerosolization can continue through multiple flushes to expose subsequent toilet users.” The study did not make a conclusion regarding the actual transmission of illness through flushing and was not about the current coronavirus.
“Regardless of how likely it is that Covid-19 could be transmitted through fecal contamination,” Amirian said, “it’s always important to practice good hygiene in a public bathroom or even at home.”
(Side note: Even if the coronavirus can’t be transmitted to other people through poop, a startup called Biobot is working with health researchers to track the spread of Covid-19 by testing water collected from sewage systems.)
What we can learn from the coronavirus bathroom problem
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of bathrooms for not just our own cleanliness but also for public health more broadly. And it’s not just about convenience: Access to toilets is a human rights issue, especially for people who are homeless who can struggle to find lavatories, many of which are owned by private businesses, like Starbucks, and not maintained by the government.
“It’s a huge problem,” Soifer said.
Another challenge is while counties and states continue to open up, increased sanitation duties will inevitably fall on the workers of those establishments. For instance, in its guide to reopening its locations, McDonald’s has directed its franchisees to clean bathrooms every half hour in its restaurants. In order to clean bathrooms safely, Feigl-Ding says those workers should have access to tons of personal protective equipment, including protective goggles and N95 masks. Some McDonald’s workers say the company isn’t doing enough.
While these are short-term measures, the pandemic could actually change how we design bathrooms in the future.
“What we want to see in the long run are single-stall, gender-neutral, full-enclosed water closets,” argues Soifer, explaining that sinks could be available outside the area that houses the toilet, a set-up he says that’s already popular in Europe and parts of Asia.
Those changes could also come with increased interest in more separation between stalls, contactless dispensers for soap and paper towels, and improved ventilation. Some experts think that these bathrooms could clean themselves, perhaps using automated disinfectant sprays or blasts of UV light. This future sounds appealing as we’re all becoming hyper-aware of cleanliness in public places.
But for now, you’ll be safer if you maintain social distancing, wear a mask, avoid touching your face, and seriously, wash your hands.