Real IDs, explained

On March 22 , President Donald Trump said he will extend the deadline for Americans to obtain a Real ID , a new type of identification card required to fly domestically .
Trump did not provide a new deadline , but said that he will announce the date “ very soon.
” The original deadline was October 1 .
When the new deadline arrives , most current driver ’ s licenses will no longer be accepted by the Transportation Security Administration , which means travelers will need to show another form of federally accepted ID , like a US passport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it past security and onto their flight .
The rule also affects people looking to access federal facilities and nuclear power plants .
The result of this impending change ?
Overcrowded DMVs , long lines and waits , and mass confusion .
Before the Covid-19 pandemic , stories of bureaucratic chaos at local DMVs had emerged , and airports were bracing for October 1 .
Headlines like “ Get in line now .
California ’ s DMV is really , really behind in issuing Real IDs ” and “ Need a new driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a real wait ” sent people scrambling to schedule appointments to secure a new ID .
As of January 2020 , DHS reported that 95 million driver ’ s license holders have been issued Real IDs .
That means there are still 181 million people who need to upgrade their licenses , and as the pandemic spreads across the country , obtaining one will likely be a distant priority for most people .
The Department of Homeland Security has spent years trying to implement federally standardized identification at the state level .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ still not compliant with Real ID requirements , which led DHS to extend the time frame for the program .
If you choose to not get a Real ID this year , your driver ’ s license is still valid for other things besides plane travel , like driving , age verification , or voter registration .
According to a survey by the US Travel Association in September , most Americans are confused about the Real ID requirements .
More than half said they didn ’ t know about the previous October 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t have an alternative like a passport .
Still , despite Americans ’ uncertainty surrounding these new ID requirements , the law is on track to be implemented in about eight months — nearly 15 years after the original legislation was approved in Congress .
Here are some answers to the questions you might have about the Real ID .
In response to the 9/11 terror attacks , the House of Representatives passed the Real ID Act in 2005 to establish a federal standard for driver ’ s licenses and identification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change how these documents are issued and produced to reduce the possibility of forgery and fraud .
( Some of the 9/11 terrorists obtained state licenses through fraudulent documents by taking advantage of certain loopholes to prove their identity and residency . )
As DHS writes on its website , “ The purpose of Real ID is to make our identity documents more consistent and secure.
” While the act was signed into law more than a decade ago , most states didn ’ t get around to creating and issuing compliant IDs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packaged with an $ 82 billion spending bill that authorized funds for the Iraq War and tsunami relief in Southeast Asia .
After the law was passed , about half of the 50 states objected to the program , and some even passed laws to stop their DMVs from caving to federal pressure , the Washington Post reported .
Over the years , DHS has steadily extended the deadline of the program ’ s rollout , seemingly settling on October 1 , 2020 , as the date that every air traveler will need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight .
Now the deadline has been extended again .
Is there anything wrong with a noncompliant license ?
No .
Your driver ’ s license is still valid until its expiration date unless you ’ re flying domestically , accessing a federal building , or entering a nuclear power plant .
You ’ ll still be able to drive , verify your age and identity , and vote with a regular ID .
The Real ID isn ’ t physically very different from the current state licenses .
( There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top right corner of the card . )
The biggest change is the process of how someone gets an ID card , which makes it more secure by federal standards .
Before the Real ID program , states had varying rules and document requirements for how someone acquired a driver ’ s license .
All states are now subjected to the same guidelines , which require a person to show up to a local DMV with documents that show their legal name , date of birth , Social Security number , two forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or immigration status .
( The DHS website suggests you check your state ’ s document requirements before going to the DMV . )
The biggest change is the process of how someone gets an ID card , which makes it more secure by federal standards Residents of Michigan , Minnesota , New York , Vermont , and Washington who have an enhanced driver ’ s license will still be able to use these cards to pass through airport security .
Enhanced licenses are only available in those five states and allow holders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mexico , or the Caribbean .
What will happen if a person shows up for a flight with a regular ID ?
Travelers , even those with TSA PreCheck , won ’ t be allowed to board a flight without a Real ID or an equivalent form of documentation like a passport or military ID .
After the deadline , if a person shows up with only a regular driver ’ s license , TSA won ’ t allow them to board .
Airport officials are worried that passengers will arrive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proper credentials .
In the past , a person could undergo “ more enhanced , very intrusive type of screening ” to verify their identity , Frank Miller , executive director of the Hollywood Burbank Airport , told the Los Angeles Times .
This won ’ t be allowed anymore .
How will this affect non-US citizens , undocumented immigrants , and other vulnerable populations ?
Since the Real ID ’ s proposal in 2005 , critics have argued that it would be another roadblock for undocumented immigrants and noncitizens to receive identification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person ’ s identity and residence for a Real ID — things like a passport , birth certificate , and Social Security card — are tangentially related to their citizenship , immigration status , and even economic security .
“ One of the things Real ID does is that it turns motor vehicle officials into immigration enforcements , ” Jay Stanley , a policy analyst for the American Civil Liberties Union , told Vox .
“ Immigration law is very complicated , and this puts motor vehicle clerks into a position where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s immigration status.
” If a person wasn ’ t born in the US and wants to register for a Real ID , they will have to provide a permanent resident card ( green card ) , an immigrant visa , or a foreign passport with temporary evidence of their permanent residence .
States can also issue temporary Real ID cards to anyone who provides “ valid , documentary evidence that they have ‘ approved deferred action status , ’ ” according to the DHS website .
This applies to immigrants who qualify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program , provided they have a Social Security number and employment authorization documents .
However , this policy disqualifies a majority of undocumented immigrants who aren ’ t protected under DACA .
“ This puts motor vehicle clerks into a position where they ’ re making judgments about people ’ s immigration status ” While undocumented immigrants will still be able to apply for standard driver ’ s licenses from the 15 states that provide them ( plus Washington , DC ) , these cards will be clearly different from the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noncompliant licenses to have “ a unique design or color ” and to clearly state that they ’ re not an acceptable alternative to a Real ID .
Critics have voiced concerns over these proposed differences .
As the Los Angeles Times ’ s David Ulin wrote in a 2018 op-ed , “ Equally troubling is the further development of what we might call a two-tier America , based on immigration status and economic opportunity .
Even the Department of Homeland Security acknowledges that noncompliant IDs could be a red flag for discrimination.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ DHS website that “ cautions against assuming that possession of a noncompliant card ” indicates that a person is undocumented .
The program is at risk of placing undue burden on not just immigrants but citizens — particularly low-income or older people who are unable to obtain the proper documents to prove their identity , the ACLU has argued .
This issue , which has been raised when it comes to voter registration , affects about 11 percent of Americans across the country , who don ’ t have government-issued photo ID cards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a passport ) .
These documents often require a person to pay fees ( an application for a passport is $ 110 , in addition to a $ 35 execution fee ) and potentially have to take time off work to visit the DMV .
What are the privacy implications of this act ?
Privacy and civil liberties advocacy groups , including the ACLU , Electronic Frontier Foundation , and Center for Democracy and Technology , have opposed the Real ID program since its passage in 2005 .
Some have called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the act , arguing that the Real ID moves the US one step closer to establishing a national identity card and database .
On its website , DHS established that Real ID “ does not create a federal database of driver license information , ” meaning that each state or territory will continue to have its “ own unique license , maintain its own records , and control who gets access to those records and under what circumstances.
” However , the law still requires a state to “ provide electronic access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its ] motor vehicle database.
” While many countries around the world have a national ID card , especially in Europe and Asia , US lawmakers and the general public have been skittish about adopting a program that could affect Americans ’ civil liberties .
A national ID system could infringe on citizens ’ freedom of privacy , critics say , if law enforcement and other government agencies could potentially have access to and monitor people ’ s private information .
In a blog post , the Electronic Privacy Information Center called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system of decentralized identification , ” writing that DHS has not made the Real ID system safe enough against security breaches and misuse of personal information .
“ Instead of having a centralized identity database , what Real ID has done is create a distributed identity database with pointers to all the state DMVs , ” said Stanley of the ACLU .
The program he ’ s referring to is called the State-to-State data sharing system , which is the easiest way for states to comply with the Real ID Act ( although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The biggest concern for privacy advocates is whether these IDs could allow for broader surveillance of individuals .
According to Stanley , there are still a lot of unanswered questions : “ Will ICE [ Immigration and Customs Enforcement ] have access to people ’ s information ?
Will there be identifiers between people who have Real IDs and people who don ’ t ?
The purpose of the state DMV is to protect safety on the highway , not to be an identity provider.
” How do you get a Real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Real ID varies depending on the state , but most require residents to make an appointment online before showing up at their local DMV .
DMVs across the country had reported a surge in wait times before the pandemic became a national priority .
Residents , even those who have made appointments , have said the process took much longer than their previous ID renewals .
According to DHS , a person should check the requirements on their state ’ s DMV site to make sure they have the necessary paperwork , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide documents showing full legal name , date of birth , Social Security number , two forms of proof of address of principal residence , and citizenship or immigration status .
On February 19 , DHS announced it will allow states to accept documents for Real ID applications electronically , in an effort to expedite the registration process .
However , applicants are still required to show up in person at the DMV .
Some states are doing a slow rollout of the Real ID program : New Jersey started with only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s also testing walk-ins at some offices , since demand has outstripped the number of Real ID appointments available .
Remember , if you have a passport or other TSA-approved documents , there ’ s really no rush to get in line for a Real ID .
But if you ’ re antsy to get one early , the best thing to do is to make a reservation .
Chances are , you ’ ll probably have to wait .
Update March 23 , 2020 : This article has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadline extension .
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Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security has extended the deadline for Americans to acquire a Real ID, a new type of identification card required to fly domestically.
While the new deadline — October 1, 2021 — is roughly a year away, the US Travel Association recently called upon the federal government to push back the date once more. The nonprofit association, which advocates for the travel industry, cited concerns that only a little more than a third of Americans currently have a Real ID and that “full compliance is not realistically within reach in time for the October 1, 2021 deadline.”
When that date arrives, most current driver’s licenses will no longer be accepted by the Transportation Security Administration, which means travelers will need to show another form of federally accepted ID, like a US passport or permanent resident card, to make it past security and onto their flight. The rule also affects people looking to access federal facilities and nuclear power plants.
The result of this impending change? Overcrowded DMVs, long lines and waits, and mass confusion. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, stories of bureaucratic chaos at local DMVs had emerged, and airports were bracing for October 1, 2020. Headlines like “Get in line now. California’s DMV is really, really behind in issuing Real IDs” and “Need a new driver’s license to fly? Prepare for a real wait” sent people scrambling to schedule appointments to secure a new ID. As of January 2020, DHS reported that 95 million driver’s license holders have been issued Real IDs. That means there are still 181 million people who need to upgrade their licenses, and as the pandemic spreads across the country, obtaining one will likely be a distant priority for most people.
The Department of Homeland Security has spent years trying to implement federally standardized identification at the state level. As of 2016, 32 states were still not compliant with Real ID requirements, which led DHS to extend the time frame for the program. If you choose to not get a Real ID this year, your driver’s license is still valid for other things besides plane travel, like driving, age verification, or voter registration.
According to a survey by the US Travel Association in September, most Americans are confused about the Real ID requirements. More than half said they didn’t know about the previous October 1 deadline, and 39 percent said they didn’t have an alternative like a passport. Still, despite Americans’ uncertainty surrounding these new ID requirements, the law is on track to be implemented in about eight months — nearly 15 years after the original legislation was approved in Congress. Here are some answers to the questions you might have about the Real ID.
What’s the purpose of a Real ID?
In response to the 9/11 terror attacks, the House of Representatives passed the Real ID Act in 2005 to establish a federal standard for driver’s licenses and identification cards. The legislation aimed to effectively change how these documents are issued and produced to reduce the possibility of forgery and fraud. (Some of the 9/11 terrorists obtained state licenses through fraudulent documents by taking advantage of certain loopholes to prove their identity and residency.) As DHS writes on its website, “The purpose of Real ID is to make our identity documents more consistent and secure.”
While the act was signed into law more than a decade ago, most states didn’t get around to creating and issuing compliant IDs until 2018. The original act was packaged with an $82 billion spending bill that authorized funds for the Iraq War and tsunami relief in Southeast Asia.
After the law was passed, about half of the 50 states objected to the program, and some even passed laws to stop their DMVs from caving to federal pressure, the Washington Post reported. Over the years, DHS has steadily extended the deadline of the program’s rollout, seemingly settling on October 1, 2020, as the date that every air traveler will need a compliant license to board a domestic flight. Now the deadline has been extended again.
Is there anything wrong with a noncompliant license?
No. Your driver’s license is still valid until its expiration date unless you’re flying domestically, accessing a federal building, or entering a nuclear power plant. You’ll still be able to drive, verify your age and identity, and vote with a regular ID.
The Real ID isn’t physically very different from the current state licenses. (There’s the addition of a star in the top right corner of the card.) The biggest change is the process of how someone gets an ID card, which makes it more secure by federal standards.
Before the Real ID program, states had varying rules and document requirements for how someone acquired a driver’s license. All states are now subjected to the same guidelines, which require a person to show up to a local DMV with documents that show their legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two forms of proof of address, and citizenship or immigration status. (The DHS website suggests you check your state’s document requirements before going to the DMV.)
The biggest change is the process of how someone gets an ID card, which makes it more secure by federal standards
Residents of Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington who have an enhanced driver’s license will still be able to use these cards to pass through airport security. Enhanced licenses are only available in those five states and allow holders to easily enter the US from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean.
What will happen if a person shows up for a flight with a regular ID?
Travelers, even those with TSA PreCheck, won’t be allowed to board a flight without a Real ID or an equivalent form of documentation like a passport or military ID. After the deadline, if a person shows up with only a regular driver’s license, TSA won’t allow them to board.
Airport officials are worried that passengers will arrive for their flight without a Real ID or proper credentials. In the past, a person could undergo “more enhanced, very intrusive type of screening” to verify their identity, Frank Miller, executive director of the Hollywood Burbank Airport, told the Los Angeles Times. This won’t be allowed anymore.
How will this affect non-US citizens, undocumented immigrants, and other vulnerable populations?
Since the Real ID’s proposal in 2005, critics have argued that it would be another roadblock for undocumented immigrants and noncitizens to receive identification. The documents needed to verify a person’s identity and residence for a Real ID — things like a passport, birth certificate, and Social Security card — are tangentially related to their citizenship, immigration status, and even economic security.
“One of the things Real ID does is that it turns motor vehicle officials into immigration enforcements,” Jay Stanley, a policy analyst for the American Civil Liberties Union, told Vox. “Immigration law is very complicated, and this puts motor vehicle clerks into a position where they’re making judgments about people’s immigration status.”
If a person wasn’t born in the US and wants to register for a Real ID, they will have to provide a permanent resident card (green card), an immigrant visa, or a foreign passport with temporary evidence of their permanent residence. States can also issue temporary Real ID cards to anyone who provides “valid, documentary evidence that they have ‘approved deferred action status,’” according to the DHS website.
This applies to immigrants who qualify under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, provided they have a Social Security number and employment authorization documents. However, this policy disqualifies a majority of undocumented immigrants who aren’t protected under DACA.
“This puts motor vehicle clerks into a position where they’re making judgments about people’s immigration status”
While undocumented immigrants will still be able to apply for standard driver’s licenses from the 15 states that provide them (plus Washington, DC), these cards will be clearly different from the state’s Real IDs. DHS requires these noncompliant licenses to have “a unique design or color” and to clearly state that they’re not an acceptable alternative to a Real ID.
Critics have voiced concerns over these proposed differences. As the Los Angeles Times’s David Ulin wrote in a 2018 op-ed, “Equally troubling is the further development of what we might call a two-tier America, based on immigration status and economic opportunity. Even the Department of Homeland Security acknowledges that noncompliant IDs could be a red flag for discrimination.” He cited an FAQ from the DHS website that “cautions against assuming that possession of a noncompliant card” indicates that a person is undocumented.
The program is at risk of placing undue burden on not just immigrants but citizens — particularly low-income or older people who are unable to obtain the proper documents to prove their identity, the ACLU has argued. This issue, which has been raised when it comes to voter registration, affects about 11 percent of Americans across the country, who don’t have government-issued photo ID cards (like a driver’s license or a passport). These documents often require a person to pay fees (an application for a passport is $110, in addition to a $35 execution fee) and potentially have to take time off work to visit the DMV.
What are the privacy implications of this act?
Privacy and civil liberties advocacy groups, including the ACLU, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Center for Democracy and Technology, have opposed the Real ID program since its passage in 2005. Some have called for its repeal or a major amendment to the act, arguing that the Real ID moves the US one step closer to establishing a national identity card and database.
On its website, DHS established that Real ID “does not create a federal database of driver license information,” meaning that each state or territory will continue to have its “own unique license, maintain its own records, and control who gets access to those records and under what circumstances.” However, the law still requires a state to “provide electronic access to all other states to information contained [in its] motor vehicle database.”
While many countries around the world have a national ID card, especially in Europe and Asia, US lawmakers and the general public have been skittish about adopting a program that could affect Americans’ civil liberties. A national ID system could infringe on citizens’ freedom of privacy, critics say, if law enforcement and other government agencies could potentially have access to and monitor people’s private information.
In a blog post, the Electronic Privacy Information Center called for an “alternative model of a system of decentralized identification,” writing that DHS has not made the Real ID system safe enough against security breaches and misuse of personal information.
“Instead of having a centralized identity database, what Real ID has done is create a distributed identity database with pointers to all the state DMVs,” said Stanley of the ACLU. The program he’s referring to is called the State-to-State data sharing system, which is the easiest way for states to comply with the Real ID Act (although they’re not required to).
The biggest concern for privacy advocates is whether these IDs could allow for broader surveillance of individuals. According to Stanley, there are still a lot of unanswered questions: “Will ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] have access to people’s information? Will there be identifiers between people who have Real IDs and people who don’t? The purpose of the state DMV is to protect safety on the highway, not to be an identity provider.”
How do you get a Real ID?
The process of applying for a Real ID varies depending on the state, but most require residents to make an appointment online before showing up at their local DMV. DMVs across the country had reported a surge in wait times before the pandemic became a national priority. Residents, even those who have made appointments, have said the process took much longer than their previous ID renewals.
According to DHS, a person should check the requirements on their state’s DMV site to make sure they have the necessary paperwork, but at a minimum, they must provide documents showing full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two forms of proof of address of principal residence, and citizenship or immigration status.
On February 19, DHS announced it will allow states to accept documents for Real ID applications electronically, in an effort to expedite the registration process. However, applicants are still required to show up in person at the DMV. Some states are doing a slow rollout of the Real ID program: New Jersey started with only a handful of DMV offices and gradually expanded. It’s also testing walk-ins at some offices, since demand has outstripped the number of Real ID appointments available.
Remember, if you have a passport or other TSA-approved documents, there’s really no rush to get in line for a Real ID. But if you’re antsy to get one early, the best thing to do is to make a reservation. Chances are, you’ll probably have to wait.
Update October 9, 2020: This article has been updated with information about the Real ID deadline extension, and the US Travel Association’s call to extend it further.
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vox--2020-03-25--The coronavirus is exacerbating vulnerabilities Native communities already face

In Kayenta , Arizona — the northwest corner of the Navajo Nation — the streets are eerily quiet .
Famous landmarks like Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley are empty .
Flea markets that are normally bustling hubs of commerce in this remote area are now closed .
But for those living in and around Kayenta , there is still water to haul , wood to chop , and sheep to herd at home .
The town of 5,189 is taking stricter measures for social distancing since 18 cases of Covid-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Saturday , Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez issued a stay-at-home order , prohibiting residents of the country ’ s largest Indian reservation — spanning 27,413 square miles from Arizona to Utah to New Mexico — from leaving their homes unless it is for food or medicine .
Tribal police are already patrolling grocery store parking lots , enforcing social distancing and purchasing limits while children shop for their elders who wait in the car .
The Navajo Nation isn ’ t the only Indian community to feel the impact of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die from Covid-19 complications was a 55-year-old citizen of the Cherokee Nation .
A Northern Arapaho tribal member on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming tested positive on Saturday and the tribe has declared a state of emergency for the reservation that spans over 2.2 million acres .
Last weekend , Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan , of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe , lost her brother to Covid-19 after he was already battling a cancer diagnosis .
Natives living in urban areas like Salt Lake City , Seattle , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high numbers as well .
According to the National Council on Urban Indian Health , “ The Urban Indian Organizations located in Seattle , Washington , is projecting a monthly loss of $ 734,922 during this pandemic , ” meaning the urban health clinics are dipping into their limited noncoronavirus-related funding to cope with the pandemic .
As of March 23 , there are 35 confirmed cases in the Indian Health System , the federal government ’ s agency that provides medical services to Native people , including two deaths , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not include individuals who went immediately to a non-Native hospital or ICU because their symptoms were serious .
In addition , testing is not accessible in most Native communities , leaving many cases to go unreported or experience extensive delays .
While nearly no one in the country is safe from the coronavirus outbreak , its impact on Indian Country looks different from the rest of the US .
Tribal elders are more at risk of Covid-19 because of high rates of diabetes and heart disease .
Clean water for proper hand-washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and overcrowding in Native homes is also common as many are multi-generational , creating social distancing challenges .
Meanwhile , emergency federal funding for tribal health organizations has been delayed within the bureaucracy at US Health and Human Services .
Then there are the negative economic effects , with hospitality businesses like casinos — often tribes ’ greatest source of income — closing .
Indian Country ’ s resources were stretched thin to begin with , and the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating the disparities .
“ Covid-19 could be a perfect storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , executive director for the Native American Financial Officers Association ( NAFOA ) , told Vox .
Not only could the virus cause a drastic death toll — especially among at-risk elders who serve as community knowledge keepers — it could also wreak havoc on tribal economies that have barely recovered from the economic crash of 2008 .
If the government doesn ’ t act fast , tribal populations , prosperity , and ways of life could be set back for a generation .
The American government isn ’ t doing enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government is obligated by hundreds of treaties with Indian Tribes to provide health care to Native people .
To execute this treaty obligation , Congress set up the Indian Health Service ( IHS ) in 1955 to provide direct medical care to Native people through local clinics and hospitals .
Tribal leaders call this a “ prepaid health care system , ” where land cessions over the past few centuries have paid for the medical care administered today .
Earlier this month , the National Indian Health Board — which represents tribal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly from the IHS — conducted a rapid survey to assess the needs of tribes earlier this month during the US ’ s coronavirus outbreak .
Only half of the respondents said they had received information from state or federal governments .
Less than a fifth reported receiving resources ( money , technical assistance , or supplies ) from the state or federal governments , and only 3 percent reported having diagnostic test kits .
” The federal government keeps putting tribes in touch with their state and local health authorities , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not serving the tribes , ” Stacy Bohlen , CEO of the National Indian Health Board , told Vox .
“ It ’ s a mixed result across Indian Country.
” When asked if Indian Country is prepared to fight the pandemic , Bohlen said , “ I believe we are not prepared , our country as a whole is not prepared.
” On March 6 , Congress allocated $ 40 million in coronavirus aid to Indian Country through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , which was supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , laboratory capacity , infection control , and other initial preparedness and response activities .
Congress also allocated another $ 64 million in aid directly to the Indian Health Service last week .
On March 20 , the US Department of Health and Human Services , which oversees both the CDC and the IHS , announced it was ready to disperse $ 80 million in funding from the first two relief packages to tribes , tribal organizations , and Urban Indian Organizations .
However , sources familiar with the Indian Health Service said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of tribal clinics have not yet received funds from the initial allocation because of the lack of bureaucratic mechanisms to distribute funds from the CDC .
” History won ’ t be kind if the federal government forgets about Indian Country during this crisis ” Still , tribal health advocates continue to look ahead .
For the next round of coronavirus aid , they ’ re asking for $ 1.2 billion for health-related spending in Indian Country .
This would include funding to recruit doctors and nurses , secure medical supplies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing capacity at tribal clinics .
Currently , there are no IHS clinics that can run Covid-19 lab tests in-house .
Since the health impacts of the virus are exacerbated by a slow federal response , tribal advocates are asking for funding that allows tribal governments to have the most flexibility to address the outbreak in their local communities .
They also ask that Congress include tribal governments every time state and local governments are listed in legislation .
This often-unintended exclusion creates massive policy hurdles down the line that could mean life-or-death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have explicit authorization from Congress to take action to protect their communities .
” History won ’ t be kind if the federal government forgets about Indian Country during this crisis , ” VaRene Martin , first vice president of NAFOA and citizen of Thlopthlocco Tribal Town , Mvskoke Creek Nation , told Vox .
Much like blue-state governors have acted more swiftly and effectively in recent weeks than the federal government has when it comes to their communities ’ public health , the same could be said for tribal leaders who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the virus .
Of the 574 federally recognized tribes , 53 have declared public health emergencies , 41 have imposed travel restrictions , and 39 have closed their reservations or issued a stay-at-home notice , according to the Department of the Interior .
“ We took swift action [ to declare a state of emergency ] as we saw the numbers of confirmed cases in the state escalate from 5 to 14 to 21 , ” Melanie Benjamin , chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just like state and local governments , become eligible for a large number of federal funds after they officially declare a state of emergency .
“ We shut down schools and sent all nonessential employees home .
We took every precaution we could up front , ” she said .
“ My biggest concern is if that virus shows up here.
” The circumstances that make Indian Country so vulnerable to coronavirus To prevent the spread of Covid-19 , CDC guidelines ask individuals to wash their hands and sanitize all surfaces — both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , according to the National Institutes of Health , 13 percent of Native American homes lack safe water or adequate wastewater disposal facilities , compared to the national average of less than 1 percent .
Advocates are asking for $ 1 billion in assistance for safe water and sanitation systems in Indian Country , short of the $ 5 billion the Government Accountability Office says is needed to cover all tribal areas .
Another factor that makes Native communities vulnerable to the coronavirus is the overcrowding in tribal housing .
Sixteen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households in tribal areas are overcrowded , eight times the national average .
Many tribal homes are intergenerational , where grandparents are active in their grandchildren ’ s lives , making transmission to elderly and at-risk individuals very easy and social distancing more difficult .
“ Social distancing is not a cultural value of Native people , but it ’ s a safety measure that we need to adopt , ” Bohlen of the National Indian Health Board told Vox .
A third factor is health : Those with preexisting conditions like diabetes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 than those without .
And American Indians and Alaska Natives have higher rates of diabetes than any other racial group in America at 16 percent , double the rate of white Americans at 8 percent .
When it comes to high blood pressure , Native people have 3 percent higher rates compared to non-Hispanic whites .
Both of these factors make the Native American population more at-risk to the severe impacts of the coronavirus .
Much like national and global economies , tribal economies have also taken a hit during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golf courses , casinos , and restaurants — is the largest source of income for tribes and their surrounding rural communities .
Native American food and retail businesses , as well as casinos that normally operate 24 hours a day , have all closed their doors .
“ The hardest decision so far was deciding when to shut down our two casinos , ” Benjamin told Vox .
For the Mille Lacs Band and many other tribes , these casinos serve as the economic engine for the community .
The $ 32.8 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elder , youth , and health programs , as well as jobs for tribal members .
Benjamin worries that “ for some tribes farther North where the population is smaller , this is going to be devastating .
Smaller tribes in more rural regions will be hit first and be hit the hardest economically.
” For many Native people , the coronavirus outbreak is reminiscent of the diseases that swept across Indian Country in the 1800s and 1900s that killed a majority of their ancestors .
An estimated 90 percent of Native Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colonizers spread across the continent .
Even in times of crisis and uncertainty , though , Native people continue to find strength and resilience in their culture .
To heal a young girl who was close to death during the outbreak of influenza in 1918 , the Anishnaabe created the jingle dress dance .
According to the Anishinaabe story , the young girl ’ s grandfather , a medicine man , dreamed of a dress made out of jingles that would create a healing sound when she danced in it .
When the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandfather made , she was too weak to dance .
But with her relatives holding her up , she started to dance on her own , making a rain-like sound , and she eventually recovered from her illness .
Since then , the jingle dress dance has become a popular women ’ s powwow dance , as well as a traditional healing and prayer dance .
The wooshing sound of the jingles can be heard at gatherings across the country every summer .
Since the outbreak of Covid-19 , hundreds of videos have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partaking in the traditional Anishnaabe healing dance and praying for those who are ill .
When asked about the popularity of the videos , Benjamin , whose tribe is of the Anishnaabe culture , said : “ Our resilience is what is going to get us through this.
” Maria Givens is an enrolled member of the Coeur d ’ Alene Tribe ( Schitsu ’ umsh ) in northern Idaho and resides on Cheyenne , Arapaho , and Ute homelands in Boulder , Colorado .
She has a master ’ s degree in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has worked for the National Congress of American Indians and in the US Senate .
She is passionate about tribal food sovereignty and shares pictures of Native food on her Instagram .

In Kayenta, Arizona — the northwest corner of the Navajo Nation — the streets are eerily quiet. Famous landmarks like Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley are empty. Flea markets that are normally bustling hubs of commerce in this remote area are now closed. But for those living in and around Kayenta, there is still water to haul, wood to chop, and sheep to herd at home.
The town of 5,189 is taking stricter measures for social distancing since 18 cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, were confirmed over the past two weeks. On Saturday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez issued a stay-at-home order, prohibiting residents of the country’s largest Indian reservation — spanning 27,413 square miles from Arizona to Utah to New Mexico — from leaving their homes unless it is for food or medicine. Tribal police are already patrolling grocery store parking lots, enforcing social distancing and purchasing limits while children shop for their elders who wait in the car.
The Navajo Nation isn’t the only Indian community to feel the impact of the coronavirus. The first person in Oklahoma to die from Covid-19 complications was a 55-year-old citizen of the Cherokee Nation. A Northern Arapaho tribal member on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming tested positive on Saturday and the tribe has declared a state of emergency for the reservation that spans over 2.2 million acres. Last weekend, Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, lost her brother to Covid-19 after he was already battling a cancer diagnosis.
Natives living in urban areas like Salt Lake City, Seattle, and San Jose are contracting the virus in high numbers as well. According to the National Council on Urban Indian Health, “The Urban Indian Organizations located in Seattle, Washington, is projecting a monthly loss of $734,922 during this pandemic,” meaning the urban health clinics are dipping into their limited noncoronavirus-related funding to cope with the pandemic.
As of March 23, there are 35 confirmed cases in the Indian Health System, the federal government’s agency that provides medical services to Native people, including two deaths, according to Indian Country Today. This number likely does not include individuals who went immediately to a non-Native hospital or ICU because their symptoms were serious. In addition, testing is not accessible in most Native communities, leaving many cases to go unreported or experience extensive delays.
While nearly no one in the country is safe from the coronavirus outbreak, its impact on Indian Country looks different from the rest of the US. Tribal elders are more at risk of Covid-19 because of high rates of diabetes and heart disease. Clean water for proper hand-washing is not accessible in all tribal communities, and overcrowding in Native homes is also common as many are multi-generational, creating social distancing challenges. Meanwhile, emergency federal funding for tribal health organizations has been delayed within the bureaucracy at US Health and Human Services. Then there are the negative economic effects, with hospitality businesses like casinos — often tribes’ greatest source of income — closing. Indian Country’s resources were stretched thin to begin with, and the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating the disparities.
“Covid-19 could be a perfect storm for Indian Country,” Dante Desiderio, executive director for the Native American Financial Officers Association (NAFOA), told Vox. Not only could the virus cause a drastic death toll — especially among at-risk elders who serve as community knowledge keepers — it could also wreak havoc on tribal economies that have barely recovered from the economic crash of 2008. If the government doesn’t act fast, tribal populations, prosperity, and ways of life could be set back for a generation.
The American government isn’t doing enough to combat the virus in Indian Country
The federal government is obligated by hundreds of treaties with various tribes to provide health care to Native people. To execute this treaty obligation, Congress set up the Indian Health Service (IHS) in 1955 to provide direct medical care to Native people through local clinics and hospitals. Tribal leaders call this a “prepaid health care system,” where land cessions over the past few centuries have paid for the medical care administered today.
Earlier this month, the National Indian Health Board — which represents tribal governments, including those receiving health care directly from the IHS — conducted a rapid survey to assess the needs of tribes earlier this month during the US’s coronavirus outbreak. Only half of the respondents said they had received information from state or federal governments. Less than a fifth reported receiving resources (money, technical assistance, or supplies) from the state or federal governments, and only 3 percent reported having diagnostic test kits.
“The federal government keeps putting tribes in touch with their state and local health authorities, but in some places, they simply are not serving the tribes,” Stacy Bohlen, CEO of the National Indian Health Board, told Vox. “It’s a mixed result across Indian Country.” When asked if Indian Country is prepared to fight the pandemic, Bohlen said, “I believe we are not prepared, our country as a whole is not prepared.”
On March 6, Congress allocated $40 million in coronavirus aid to Indian Country through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which was supposed to pay for surveillance of the virus, laboratory capacity, infection control, and other initial preparedness and response activities. Congress also allocated another $64 million in aid directly to the Indian Health Service last week. On March 20, the US Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees both the CDC and the IHS, announced it was ready to disperse $80 million in funding from the first two relief packages to tribes, tribal organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations. However, sources familiar with the IHS said as of March 21, 98 percent of tribal clinics have not yet received funds from the initial allocation because of the lack of bureaucratic mechanisms to distribute funds from the CDC.
”History won’t be kind if the federal government forgets about Indian Country during this crisis”
Still, tribal health advocates continue to look ahead. For the next round of coronavirus aid, they’re asking for $1.2 billion for health-related spending in Indian Country. This would include funding to recruit doctors and nurses, secure medical supplies and protective gear, as well as increase testing capacity at tribal clinics. Currently, there are no IHS clinics that can run Covid-19 lab tests in-house.
Since the health impacts of the virus are exacerbated by a slow federal response, tribal advocates are asking for funding that allows tribal governments to have the most flexibility to address the outbreak in their local communities. They also ask that Congress include tribal governments every time state and local governments are listed in legislation. This often-unintended exclusion creates massive policy hurdles down the line that could mean life-or-death decisions in Indian Country when tribes do not have explicit authorization from Congress to take action to protect their communities.
”History won’t be kind if the federal government forgets about Indian Country during this crisis,” VaRene Martin, first vice president of NAFOA and citizen of Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, told Vox.
Much as blue-state governors have acted more swiftly and effectively in recent weeks than the federal government has when it comes to their communities’ public health, the same could be said for tribal leaders who are taking every step possible to stop the spread of the virus. Of the 574 federally recognized tribes, 53 have declared public health emergencies, 41 have imposed travel restrictions, and 39 have closed their reservations or issued a stay-at-home notice, according to the Department of the Interior.
“We took swift action [to declare a state of emergency] as we saw the numbers of confirmed cases in the state escalate from 5 to 14 to 21,” Melanie Benjamin, chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota, told Vox. Tribal governments, just like state and local governments, become eligible for a large number of federal funds after they officially declare a state of emergency. “We shut down schools and sent all nonessential employees home. We took every precaution we could up front,” she said. “My biggest concern is if that virus shows up here.”
The circumstances that make Indian Country so vulnerable to coronavirus
To prevent the spread of Covid-19, CDC guidelines ask individuals to wash their hands and sanitize all surfaces — both of which require access to clean water. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, 13 percent of Native American homes lack safe water or adequate wastewater disposal facilities, compared to the national average of less than 1 percent. Advocates are asking for $1 billion in assistance for safe water and sanitation systems in Indian Country, short of the $5 billion the Government Accountability Office says is needed to cover all tribal areas.
Another factor that makes Native communities vulnerable to the coronavirus is the overcrowding in tribal housing. Sixteen percent of American Indian and Alaska Native households in tribal areas are overcrowded, eight times the national average. Many tribal homes are intergenerational, where grandparents are active in their grandchildrens’ lives, making transmission to elderly and at-risk individuals very easy and social distancing more difficult. “Social distancing is not a cultural value of Native people, but it’s a safety measure that we need to adopt,” Bohlen of the National Indian Health Board told Vox.
A third factor is health: Those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes and hypertension have higher death rates from Covid-19 than those without. And American Indians and Alaska Natives have higher rates of diabetes than any other racial group in America at 16 percent, double the rate of white Americans at 8 percent. When it comes to high blood pressure, Native people have 3 percent higher rates compared to non-Hispanic whites. Both of these factors make the Native American population more at risk for the severe impacts of the coronavirus.
Much like national and global economies, tribal economies have also taken a hit during the pandemic. The hospitality industry — resorts, golf courses, casinos, and restaurants — is the largest source of income for tribes and their surrounding rural communities. Native American food and retail businesses, as well as casinos that normally operate 24 hours a day, have all closed their doors.
“The hardest decision so far was deciding when to shut down our two casinos,” Benjamin told Vox. For the Mille Lacs Band and many other tribes, these casinos serve as the economic engine for the community. The $32.8 billion tribal casino industry provides critical funds for elder, youth, and health programs, as well as jobs for tribal members. Benjamin worries that “for some tribes farther North where the population is smaller, this is going to be devastating. Smaller tribes in more rural regions will be hit first and be hit the hardest economically.”
For many Native people, the coronavirus outbreak is reminiscent of the diseases that swept across Indian Country in the 1800s and 1900s that killed a majority of their ancestors. An estimated 90 percent of Native Americans died from disease and warfare when white colonizers spread across the continent.
Even in times of crisis and uncertainty, though, Native people continue to find strength and resilience in their culture. To heal a young girl who was close to death during the outbreak of influenza in 1918, the Anishnaabe created the jingle dress dance. According to the Anishinaabe story, the young girl’s grandfather, a medicine man, dreamed of a dress made out of jingles that would create a healing sound when she danced in it. When the girl first put on the dress her grandfather made, she was too weak to dance. But with her relatives holding her up, she started to dance on her own, making a rain-like sound, and she eventually recovered from her illness. Since then, the jingle dress dance has become a popular women’s powwow dance, as well as a traditional healing and prayer dance. The wooshing sound of the jingles can be heard at gatherings across the country every summer.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, hundreds of videos have been shared across social media of women partaking in the traditional Anishnaabe healing dance and praying for those who are ill. When asked about the popularity of the videos, Benjamin, whose tribe is of the Anishnaabe culture, said: “Our resilience is what is going to get us through this.”
Maria Givens is an enrolled member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe (Schitsu’umsh) in northern Idaho and resides on Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute homelands in Boulder, Colorado. She has a master’s degree in environmental issues from the University of Colorado and has worked for the National Congress of American Indians and in the US Senate. She is passionate about tribal food sovereignty and shares pictures of Native food on her Instagram.


vox--2020-03-25--What are the symptoms of the new coronavirus?

So you ’ re not feeling well , and you ’ re afraid you might be infected with the new coronavirus disease , Covid-19 .
Given that the United States is now beginning to test widely for the disease , and more cases are popping up , that might be a reasonable suspicion .
Health officials are ramping up the response measures , advising people to stay at home as much as possible .
Several states and cities have now imposed more severe measures like lockdowns and stay-at-home-orders to contain the virus .
But cases of Covid-19 are following an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That means that the number of infections is rising rapidly in proportion to the number of people infected .
You may have been exposed if you have traveled to a region with novel coronavirus transmission or if you ’ ve been in close contact with someone who has Covid-19 , something that ’ s becoming harder to avoid without social distancing .
And some people spreading the virus may not show any symptoms at all .
Here are some signs you may have the illness : The World Health Organization , based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness can present in different ways , ranging from no symptoms at all to severe pneumonia .
Some symptoms are more frequently seen than others .
Based on confirmed cases , the WHO says 88 percent of infected people experienced a fever and 67.7 percent had a dry cough .
Less frequent symptoms include thick mucus from coughs ( sputum ) ( 33.4 percent ) , shortness of breath ( 18.6 percent ) , sore throat ( 13.9 percent ) , and headache ( 13.6 percent ) .
“ Covid-19 disease usually begins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sore throat and malaise , ” writes Megan Murray , a professor of epidemiology at Harvard Medical School , in an FAQ for the Abundance Foundation .
“ Unlike the coronavirus infections that cause the common cold , it is not usually associated with a runny nose.
” These symptoms emerge five or six days after infection on average , but can show up in as little as a day or as much as two weeks after exposure .
The following symptoms , reported in certain research , have not been confirmed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : • A recent , yet-to-be-published German study found that some Covid-19 patients can present with the symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection , similar to the common cold : runny nose , congestion , and sneezing .
( The study involved a very small number of patients , however . )
• In a study of 204 Covid-19 patients , researchers in China found that half of patients experienced gastrointestinal symptoms , including diarrhea , vomiting , and abdominal pain .
• There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the infected .
The American Academy of Ophthalmology reported that Covid-19 can present as conjunctivitis , causing red or pink , itchy eyes .
The British Rhinological Society also noted in a letter that evidence is mounting that Covid-19 can lead to anosmia , a loss of the sense of smell , even in patients that show no other symptoms .
“ We don ’ t have the answer to that yet , although there ’ s quite a bit of interest in this online , ” Maria Van Kerkhove , the Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on loss of smell , according to the Washington Post .
If you have any of these symptoms , what should you do ?
People in one of the high-risk groups — those who are over 60 years old ; have diabetes , hypertension , or preexisting breathing problems ; or are being treated for cancer — should seek immediate medical treatment .
And let your health care provider know before you get there that you suspect you may have Covid-19 .
That way , the clinic can take appropriate precautions for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not in a high-risk group and have mild or severe symptoms , you should also call a health professional — a doctor , a nurse , or a public health official .
They will work with your local health department and figure out whether you need to get tested or get treatment .
And make no mistake : While the elderly face the highest risks , all age groups can get sick from Covid-19 , so everyone needs to take precautions and pay attention to their symptoms .
Doctors and health officials advise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if your symptoms do not appear to be life-threatening .
Also , don ’ t panic .
Most people who get infected get better , often on their own with just rest , fluids , and fever medication .
If you are advised to stay home , there are several other measures you should take , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The most important step is to avoid exposing other people to the illness , especially in the early stages of symptoms , when the disease is most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school or work , avoiding public transit or ride shares , and separating yourself from the people and animals in your home .
It also means avoiding sharing household items like towels , dishes , and bedding .
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue over your mouth and nose .
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds .
Clean the surfaces in your home that you come into contact with regularly , like counters , doorknobs , bedside tables , keyboards , and phones .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the viral particles ... end up on surfaces ( door handles , subway poles , coins ) where they might remain viable , ” Murray writes .
When leaving your home , wear a surgical face mask to avoid spreading the virus — if you ’ re sick .
Health officials say that masks do little to protect the wearer if they aren ’ t infected .
Officials are also urging the public not to buy N95 masks because they are needed by health workers and are in short supply .
All the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms .
Call your health care provider if your symptoms get worse .
If you have a health emergency and need to call 911 , let the dispatcher know that you may have Covid-19 so responders can prepare .
These steps may seem tedious , but remember that they serve to protect not just you but also the people around you .
Controlling an outbreak is everyone ’ s job .
What do you want to know about the coronavirus outbreak and the surrounding news ?
Fill out the survey below ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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


vox--2020-03-25--The Senate has struck a $2 trillion deal on the coronavirus stimulus. Here’s what’s in it.

Senate Democrats have reached a deal with the Trump White House and Senate Republicans on a massive $ 2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package that is targeting relief toward America ’ s workers , hospitals , industries , and state and local governments .
“ At last , we have a deal , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said early Wednesday morning .
“ After days of intense discussions , the Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement on a historic relief package for this pandemic.
” McConnell added the Senate will vote on the bill later in the day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tense negotiations that occasionally erupted into public shouting matches on the Senate floor , lawmakers worked relatively quickly for Congress as they responded to an unprecedented economic crisis caused by the pandemic .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and White House Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met six times on Monday alone , working until the early hours of the morning on Tuesday to hammer out a deal .
In a statement , Schumer said he was pleased with the result .
“ Rather than accept such a fundamentally flawed , partisan bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a bipartisan bill with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and President Trump , ” Schumer said .
“ I am pleased to report that our hard work has paid off.
” The final product is so large in part because it contains both Republican and Democratic proposals : $ 500 billion in federal funding for big businesses and municipalities hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak , as well as a direct one-time cash payment to Americans and four months of expanded unemployment insurance .
Schumer , the lead Democrat negotiating , appeared on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announce Democrats were closer to a deal after securing several key provisions , including expanded unemployment insurance for laid-off workers , and oversight on that $ 500 billion loan program for businesses .
“ Last night , I thought we were on the five-yard line .
Right now , we ’ re on the two , ” Schumer said .
“ At this point , of the few outstanding issues , I don ’ t see any one that can ’ t be overcome within the next few hours.
” Now that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely move quickly to get the bill to the floor and passed Wednesday .
McConnell spent the beginning of the week signaling impatience and frustration with Senate Democrats , whom he blamed for unnecessarily holding up the process after they shot down two procedural votes to move the bill forward .
Democrats , meanwhile , blamed McConnell for cutting them out of the beginning of the bill drafting process and not bringing them in until Republicans had put forward their opening bid .
By Tuesday afternoon , both Democratic leaders and McConnell had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on multiple television shows this morning and afternoon after releasing her own $ 2.5 trillion bill on Monday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was confident a deal could be struck in the Senate .
And McConnell echoed the same sentiment .
“ Today , the Senate can get back on track .
Today , we can make all of the Washington drama fade away , ” McConnell said .
“ If we act today , what Americans will remember , and what history will record , is that the Senate did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal has been reached , the Senate will likely move with urgency to get it across the finish line with a vote .
Then , it still must clear the House , where Democrats have been discussing passing the bill by unanimous consent — both to expedite the bill ’ s passage and to protect members by keeping them at home .
There is still a ways to go until the bill lands on President Donald Trump ’ s desk ready to be signed , but the biggest hurdle has now been cleared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for businesses : The biggest sticking point between Democrats and Republicans throughout the negotiations was $ 500 billion in emergency loans both for large businesses and municipalities grappling with the coronavirus outbreak .
For instance , $ 50 billion of that money was allotted to passenger airlines , according to the Washington Post .
Rather than trying to negotiate that figure down , Democrats instead negotiated to have strings attached to it .
Instead of giving the Trump administration broad discretion to make the loans , Schumer and Pelosi said there will likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treasury Department specifically to oversee these funds , as well as a congressional oversight panel to examine how the money is being used .
Schumer ’ s office also announced they secured a provision that will “ prohibit businesses controlled by the President , Vice President , Members of Congress , and heads of Executive Departments from receiving loans or investments from Treasury programs.
” The children , spouses or in-laws of lawmakers and executive officials also can not receive these loans .
A slew of additional conditions , championed by progressives and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirement for companies to implement a $ 15 minimum wage , have not made it into the final legislation .
“ Unemployment insurance on steroids ” : Schumer announced Monday afternoon that unemployment insurance will be expanded to grapple with a new surge in claims , calling it “ unemployment insurance on steroids.
” The new bill will increase unemployment insurance by $ 600 per week for four months .
This money is in addition to what states pay as a base unemployment salary .
This benefit would extend to gig economy workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still getting health insurance from their employers , but are not receiving a paycheck .
Expanded funds for hospitals , medical equipment , and health care worker protections : In a statement , Schumer reported to Senate Democrats that the latest bill will contain $ 150 billion for hospitals treating coronavirus patients .
Of that money , $ 100 billion will go to hospitals , $ 1 billion will go to the Indian Health Service , and the remainder will be used to increase medical equipment capacity .
Increased aid to state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about $ 150 billion of federal money would be allocated for state and local governments who are dealing with the impacts of the crisis in their local communities , including $ 8 billion for tribal governments .
Direct payments to adults below a certain income threshold : The legislation would include a one-time $ 1,200 check that would be sent to most adults making $ 75,000 or less annually , according to past tax returns .
A $ 500 payment would also be sent to cover every child in qualifying households .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the direct payments initially proposed by Republicans , which would have given less to many individuals who do not have taxable income .
It now includes the majority of adults who are under the $ 75,000 threshold and phases the payment out as people ’ s incomes increase .
Loans to small businesses : There would be $ 367 billion in the bill aimed at providing loans for small businesses , according to the Washington Post .
What comes next The Senate still needs to approve the deal in a vote , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor of it to pass .
That will happen Wednesday , McConnell told reporters .
The package will then head over to the House , where Democrats also have their own $ 2.5 trillion economic stimulus bill , which Pelosi unveiled on Monday .
In order to proceed expeditiously , it ’ s quite possible the House will simply take up the Senate deal , rather than going to conference to hash out differences between the two chambers .
If so , its next challenge will be figuring out how best to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many House members are currently working remotely , there ’ s the possibility that lawmakers approve the legislation via a process known as unanimous consent , when a bill is able to pass as long as no one objects to it , even if most members aren ’ t physically present .
House Rules Chair Jim McGovern has urged his colleagues to consider unanimous consent or voice voting with the members who are present , instead of remote voting .
If lawmakers were to go the unanimous consent route , that means that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present could object to the bill ’ s passage and potentially delay proceedings even further .
Previously , for example , Rep. Louie Gohmert had threatened to object to another legislative package that focused predominantly on expanding paid sick days and paid leave benefits to a subset of workers , though he ultimately relented .
It ’ s possible another lawmaker could voice this type of opposition again , though they would likely face immense pressure from both the public and their colleagues not to do so .
Despite this scenario , remote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet .
As ABC News reports , one of the concerns raised about remote voting is that it contradicts policies that have been laid out in the Constitution regarding how Congress should convene in person .
Some lawmakers have worried , too , that it could set a concerning precedent for other votes that take place down the line .
While the possibility could pick up momentum if it appears necessary in the weeks to come , it ’ s not expected to happen this week with the stimulus bill .

The Senate on Wednesday evening passed a massive $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package targeting relief toward America’s workers, hospitals, industries, and state and local governments. The legislation, which was approved via a unanimous 96-0 vote, now heads to the House, which is expected to vote on it this Friday.
“We’re going to pass this bipartisan relief package, send it over the House so they can put it on the President’s desk,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday evening. “Our nation obviously is going through a kind of crisis that is totally unprecedented in recent memory.” He added that the upper chamber’s next anticipated vote won’t take place until April 20, though lawmakers would stay “nimble” in case they needed to return before then.
Though the preceding days had been filled with tense negotiations that occasionally erupted into public shouting matches on the Senate floor, lawmakers worked relatively quickly for Congress as they responded to an unprecedented economic crisis caused by the pandemic. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and White House Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met six times on Monday alone, working until the early hours of the morning on Tuesday to hammer out a deal. In a statement, Schumer said he was pleased with the result.
“Rather than accept such a fundamentally flawed, partisan bill, Senate Democrats have been working hard on a bipartisan bill with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and President Trump,” Schumer said. “I am pleased to report that our hard work has paid off.”
The final product is so large in part because it contains both Republican and Democratic proposals: $500 billion in federal funding for big businesses and municipalities hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, as well as a direct one-time cash payment to Americans and four months of expanded unemployment insurance.
Schumer, the lead Democrat negotiating, appeared on the Senate floor early Tuesday afternoon to announce Democrats were closer to a deal after securing several key provisions, including expanded unemployment insurance for laid-off workers, and oversight on that $500 billion loan program for businesses.
“Last night, I thought we were on the five-yard line. Right now, we’re on the two,” Schumer said. “At this point, of the few outstanding issues, I don’t see any one that can’t be overcome within the next few hours.”
After a deal was reached early Wednesday morning, McConnell moved quickly to get the bill to the floor, and fielded objections by some members of his conference over the unemployment insurance provisions. McConnell had previously spent the beginning of the week signaling impatience and frustration with Senate Democrats, whom he blamed for unnecessarily holding up the process after they shot down two procedural votes to move the bill forward.
Democrats, meanwhile, blamed McConnell for cutting them out of the beginning of the bill drafting process and not bringing them in until Republicans had put forward their opening bid.
Now that the Senate has approved this deal, it must still clear the House, where Democrats have been discussing passing the bill by voice vote — both to expedite the bill’s passage and to protect members by keeping them at home.
What the plan includes
A $500 billion loan program for businesses: The biggest sticking point between Democrats and Republicans throughout the negotiations was $500 billion in emergency loans both for large businesses and municipalities grappling with the coronavirus outbreak. For instance, $50 billion of that money was allotted to passenger airlines, according to the Washington Post.
Rather than trying to negotiate that figure down, Democrats instead negotiated to have strings attached to it. Instead of giving the Trump administration broad discretion to make the loans, Schumer and Pelosi said there will likely be a new inspector general in the Treasury Department specifically to oversee these funds, as well as a congressional oversight panel to examine how the money is being used. Schumer’s office also announced they secured a provision that will “prohibit businesses controlled by the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and heads of Executive Departments from receiving loans or investments from Treasury programs.” The children, spouses or in-laws of lawmakers and executive officials also cannot receive these loans.
Some additional conditions, championed by progressives and supported by the public, including a requirement for companies to implement a $15 minimum wage, have not made it into the final legislation.
“Unemployment insurance on steroids”: Schumer announced Monday afternoon that unemployment insurance will be expanded to grapple with a new surge in claims, calling it “unemployment insurance on steroids.” The new bill will increase unemployment insurance by $600 per week for four months. This money is in addition to what states pay as a base unemployment salary. This benefit would extend to gig economy workers, freelancers, and furloughed workers who are still getting health insurance from their employers, but are not receiving a paycheck.
Expanded funds for hospitals, medical equipment, and health care worker protections: The bill contains $150 billion to boost the health care system, according to Schumer. Of that money, $100 billion will go to hospitals, $1 billion will go to the Indian Health Service, and the remainder will be used to increase medical equipment capacity.
Increased aid to state and local governments: Schumer also said about $150 billion of federal money would be allocated for state and local governments who are dealing with the impacts of the crisis in their local communities, including $8 billion for tribal governments.
Direct payments to adults below a certain income threshold: The legislation includes a one-time $1,200 check that would be sent to most adults making $75,000 or less annually, according to past tax returns. A $500 payment would also be sent to cover every child in qualifying households. The final policy marks a significant change from the direct payments initially proposed by Republicans, which would have given less to many individuals who do not have taxable income. It now includes the majority of adults who are under the $75,000 threshold and phases the payment out as people’s incomes increase.
Loans to small businesses: There is $367 billion in the bill aimed at providing loans for small businesses, according to the Washington Post.
What comes next
The package now heads over to the House, where Democrats also have their own $2.5 trillion economic stimulus bill, which Pelosi unveiled on Monday. In order to proceed expeditiously, the House is expected to take up the Senate deal, rather than going to conference to hash out differences between the two chambers.
Since the majority of lawmakers are currently on recess, the lower chamber’s challenge was figuring out how to vote on it.
House Rules Chair Jim McGovern had urged his colleagues to consider unanimous consent or voice voting with the members who are present, instead of remote voting. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced Wednesday that lawmakers would use voice voting this Friday, Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt reports.
As ABC News reports, one of the concerns that had been raised about remote voting is that it contradicts policies that have been laid out in the Constitution regarding how Congress should convene in person. Some lawmakers have worried, too, that it could set a concerning precedent for other votes that take place down the line. While the possibility could pick up momentum if it appears necessary in the weeks to come, it’s not set to happen this week with the stimulus bill.