vox--2020-04-25--India takes a small step toward relaxing its strict lockdown

India ’ s nationwide coronavirus lockdown — the world ’ s largest , and one of its strictest — was eased slightly on Saturday when small neighborhood convenience stores were allowed to reopen .
The incremental step represents the government ’ s desire to slowly reopen some business sectors and provide relief for small , cash-strapped businesses as the economy reels from stay-at-home orders that have been in place since March .
India ’ s federal home ministry announced on Friday that small retail shops could reopen with half their staff , and with the expectation that people physically distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores sell things like food , drinks , and mobile phone cards .
The opening up of neighborhood stores has exceptions : it doesn ’ t apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and hotspots across the country .
And even with the relaxation of rules for these shops , the sale of liquor and other nonessential items is banned , and shops in marketplaces like malls can not be reopened .
The relaxation of the lockdown comes after India allowed manufacturing and farming to start back up again in rural areas last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of poor wage-earners the ability to start making money again .
India ’ s lockdown was imposed on its 1.3 billion people with just four hours ’ notice on March 24 .
It was initially expected to last for three weeks but has since been extended until May 3 .
Under the current stay-at-home rules , people are not to leave their homes unless they ’ re trying to obtain food , medicine , or other essentials .
India has reported nearly 25,000 cases of coronavirus and 780 deaths , and new teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with lockdown rules .
Experts say , however , that the government is not testing nearly aggressively enough to properly count cases or fatalities .
India has provided assistance to the poor as the economy has ground to a halt .
The government says it has given out about 1,000 rupees ( $ 14 ) each to more than 350 million people under a state program , and distributed food grains to more than 50 million people and cooking gas bottles to about 10 million people for free .
The relief measures were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rupee stimulus package ( $ 22.5 billion ) — but many economists say it hasn ’ t gone far enough .
India wants to reopen its economy soon .
Critics say it ’ s not doing enough A Reuters survey of economists predicted that India ’ s economy is likely to see its worst quarter since the mid-1990s .
“ We don ’ t consider economic stimulus as strong enough to position the economy for a speedy recovery once the pandemic ends , ” Prakash Sakpal , Asia economist at ING Bank , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nobel Prize-winning economist at MIT , has criticized the government for not spending enough money to provide relief to the poor .
Roughly 70 million people in India live in extreme poverty — living on under $ 2 a day .
“ I know there ’ s a concern that what is the use of giving money to people when the markets are closed .
But , to begin with , you can tell people that money is coming and create a mood for demand , ” he told BBC .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be proactive in reassuring people.
” Banerjee pointed out that the pandemic has added to preexisting problems with consumer demand .
“ The economy was already facing a demand slump .
The [ coronavirus ] outbreak is a double whammy and many people have lost their earning capacity .
There ’ s an additional demand slump now , ” he said .
A crucial part of a country ’ s ability to reopen its economy is developing extremely robust testing capacities .
Effective testing — especially when coupled with contact tracing — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selective and responsive to hot spots .
But India has struggled with testing at the rate that ’ s appropriate for its enormous population size .
As Vox ’ s Alex Ward has explained , India ’ s testing regime was shockingly underwhelming in the early stages of the pandemic .
In the weeks after the first confirmed case of coronavirus in India , “ government officials were only testing people who had traveled internationally or had come into contact with someone who tested positive , ” Ward reported .
“ Because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lowest testing rates in the world as of March 13.
” Moreover , those tests were “ weak , ” Jayaprakash Muliyil , one of India ’ s most renowned epidemiologists , said , because they tested for any strain of coronavirus , including SARS and MERS .
Ultimately , India is caught in the same economic dilemma as any other country that has chosen to use sweeping lockdowns to shield the public from the virus .
But experts say that attempts to reopen it are going to be challenging .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ versus economic pain , ” Aurodeep Nandi , an economist at Nomura , told the Financial Times as manufacturing and agricultural work were starting to reopen .
“ While the aim is to nudge the economy from lockdown atrophy , the opening will ultimately be on a wing and a prayer that the number of cases does not escalate as India makes its way back to work.
” Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 contribution @ @ @ @

India’s nationwide coronavirus lockdown — the world’s largest, and one of its strictest — was eased slightly on Saturday when small neighborhood convenience stores were allowed to reopen.
The incremental step represents the government’s desire to slowly reopen some business sectors and provide relief for small, cash-strapped businesses as the economy reels from stay-at-home orders that have been in place since March.
India’s federal home ministry announced on Friday that small retail shops could reopen with half their staff, and with the expectation that people physically distance and wear masks and gloves. The stores sell things like food, drinks, and mobile phone cards.
The opening up of neighborhood stores has exceptions: it doesn’t apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and hotspots across the country. And even with the relaxation of rules for these shops, the sale of liquor and other nonessential items is banned, and shops in marketplaces like malls cannot be reopened.
The relaxation of the lockdown comes after India allowed manufacturing and farming to start back up again in rural areas last week, a move designed to give millions of poor wage-earners the ability to start making money again.
India’s lockdown was imposed on its 1.3 billion people with just four hours’ notice on March 24. It was initially expected to last for three weeks but has since been extended until May 3. Under the current stay-at-home rules, people are not to leave their homes unless they’re trying to obtain food, medicine, or other essentials.
India has reported nearly 25,000 cases of coronavirus and 780 deaths, and new teams are being set up to monitor compliance with lockdown rules. Experts say, however, that the government is not testing nearly aggressively enough to properly count cases or fatalities.
India has provided assistance to the poor as the economy has ground to a halt. The government says it has given out about 1,000 rupees ($14) each to more than 350 million people under a state program, and distributed food grains to more than 50 million people and cooking gas bottles to about 10 million people for free.
The relief measures were part of a broader $1.7 trillion rupee stimulus package ($22.5 billion) — but many economists say it hasn’t gone far enough.
India wants to reopen its economy soon. Critics say it’s not doing enough
A Reuters survey of economists predicted that India’s economy is likely to see its worst quarter since the mid-1990s.
“We don’t consider economic stimulus as strong enough to position the economy for a speedy recovery once the pandemic ends,” Prakash Sakpal, Asia economist at ING Bank, told Reuters.
Vinayak Banerjee, a Nobel Prize-winning economist at MIT, has criticized the government for not spending enough money to provide relief to the poor. Roughly 70 million people in India live in extreme poverty — living on under $2 a day.
“I know there’s a concern that what is the use of giving money to people when the markets are closed. But, to begin with, you can tell people that money is coming and create a mood for demand,” he told BBC. “People need reassurance. And the government has to be proactive in reassuring people.”
Banerjee pointed out that the pandemic has added to preexisting problems with consumer demand.
“The economy was already facing a demand slump. The [coronavirus] outbreak is a double whammy and many people have lost their earning capacity. There’s an additional demand slump now,” he said.
A crucial part of a country’s ability to reopen its economy is developing extremely robust testing capacities. Effective testing — especially when coupled with contact tracing — can allow governments to make quarantines more selective and responsive to hot spots.
But India has struggled with testing at the rate that’s appropriate for its enormous population size. As Vox’s Alex Ward has explained, India’s testing regime was shockingly underwhelming in the early stages of the pandemic. In the weeks after the first confirmed case of coronavirus in India, “government officials were only testing people who had traveled internationally or had come into contact with someone who tested positive,” Ward reported. “Because of that focus, India had one of the lowest testing rates in the world as of March 13.”
Moreover, those tests were “weak,” Jayaprakash Muliyil, one of India’s most renowned epidemiologists, said, because they tested for any strain of coronavirus, including SARS and MERS.
Ultimately, India is caught in the same economic dilemma as any other country that has chosen to use sweeping lockdowns to shield the public from the virus. But experts say that attempts to reopen it are going to be challenging.
“India is essentially debating between epidemiological gain versus economic pain,” Aurodeep Nandi, an economist at Nomura, told the Financial Times as manufacturing and agricultural work were starting to reopen. “While the aim is to nudge the economy from lockdown atrophy, the opening will ultimately be on a wing and a prayer that the number of cases does not escalate as India makes its way back to work.”


vox--2020-04-25--New York and Kentucky just made it easier to vote by mail

New York and Kentucky announced new programs on Friday aimed at improving access to mail-in ballots , as both states work to find ways to limit interaction at the polls during upcoming elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
On Friday , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear both signed executive orders mandating applications for absentee ballots be sent to all of their states ’ voters — upon returning the applications to state officials , voters will receive ballots .
“ I am issuing an Executive Order to ensure every New York voter automatically receives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because no New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their right to vote , ” Cuomo said in a statement .
Kentucky ’ s plan does not include prepaid postage , but does require the state to create a website so voters can request ballots online .
It also waives the requirement for absentee voters to notarize their ballot applications .
“ While there will be significant education and work required , we are committed to making sure this election will be held in a safe manner while we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beshear said in a statement .
Both Kentucky ’ s and New York ’ s primary elections have been postponed to June 23 because of the coronavirus outbreak .
New York ’ s was originally scheduled for April 28 , and Kentucky ’ s for May 19 .
New York has become the epicenter of the outbreak , with at least 271,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of April 25 , and more than 16,000 deaths .
Kentucky has nearly 3,800 cases , with 200 deaths .
The push for increased absentee voting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election in Wisconsin on April 7 illustrated the risk of forcing people to stand in long lines during an infectious disease outbreak .
That election led to at least 19 Wisconsin voters being diagnosed with Covid-19 .
Hoping to avoid similar scenarios , other states — like Ohio — have begun making voting an entirely mail-in process .
In some states that have not taken that step , certain specific jurisdictions , such as Florida ’ s Miami-Dade , Broward and Palm Beach counties — the last of which being where President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also established their own plans to mail out absentee ballot request forms to all voters .
But such measures have faced political pushback , with many Republicans , including Trump , arguing that mail-in voting carries with it a risk of fraud .
Voting experts have disputed these claims , finding voter fraud to be incredibly rare and noting that when it does happen , it does not privilege one party over another .
Scattershot efforts have some federal lawmakers calling for a national vote-by-mail system Nationally , some lawmakers are working to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sens .
Ron Wyden ( D-OR ) and Amy Klobuchar ( D-MN ) introduced an updated bill that would expand early and absentee voting , and mandate voting contingency plans for future emergencies like coronavirus .
As Vox ’ s Ella Nilsen has reported , 34 states allow all voters to vote by mail .
The remaining 16 states require applicants to provide an excuse — such as serving in the military or living abroad — to request a mail-in ballot .
( New York has such a requirement , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order . )
It remains to be seen how the coronavirus will affect November ’ s general election — and whether efforts to broaden the availability of vote-by-mail will come to fruition by then .
At a hearing on the subject on Wednesday , elections experts warned there may not be enough time to prepare for a nationwide mail-in election in November .
States may not have the time or resources to acquire the envelopes , ballots , and scanning machines needed , Washington state Secretary of State Kim Wyman told Wednesday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Covid-19 , I am very concerned that with only six months really to implement vote-by-mail or absentee voting in a jurisdiction , that it ’ s going to be a heavy lift , ” she said .
And she added that poorly implemented absentee voting structures could undermine faith in the election ’ s result .
On the state level , Ohio has seen the difficulties Wyman outlined .
In March , its primary was postponed at the last minute , causing confusion .
The state decided to move to an entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not receive ballots in time to vote , Ohio ’ s secretary of state has said .
It ’ s a reminder for increasingly cash-strapped states — and for federal lawmakers hoping to create national vote-by-mail programs — that to ensure a smooth transition to mass mail-in-voting this fall , action must be taken now .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 contribution to Vox today .

New York and Kentucky announced new programs on Friday aimed at improving access to mail-in ballots, as both states work to find ways to limit interaction at the polls during upcoming elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Friday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear both signed executive orders mandating applications for absentee ballots be sent to all of their states’ voters — upon returning the applications to state officials, voters will receive ballots.
“I am issuing an Executive Order to ensure every New York voter automatically receives a postage-paid application for an absentee ballot because no New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their right to vote,” Cuomo said in a statement.
Kentucky’s plan does not include prepaid postage, but does require the state to create a website so voters can request ballots online. It also waives the requirement for absentee voters to notarize their ballot applications.
“While there will be significant education and work required, we are committed to making sure this election will be held in a safe manner while we are in this worldwide health pandemic,” Beshear said in a statement.
Both Kentucky’s and New York’s primary elections have been postponed to June 23 because of the coronavirus outbreak. New York’s was originally scheduled for April 28, and Kentucky’s for May 19.
New York has become the epicenter of the outbreak, with at least 271,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of April 25, and more than 16,000 deaths. Kentucky has nearly 3,800 cases, with 200 deaths.
The push for increased absentee voting in both states comes weeks after a primary election in Wisconsin on April 7 illustrated the risk of forcing people to stand in long lines during an infectious disease outbreak. That election led to at least 19 Wisconsin voters being diagnosed with Covid-19.
Hoping to avoid similar scenarios, other states — like Ohio — have begun making voting an entirely mail-in process. In some states that have not taken that step, certain specific jurisdictions, such as Florida’s Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties — the last of which being where President Donald Trump is registered to vote — have also established their own plans to mail out absentee ballot request forms to all voters.
But such measures have faced political pushback, with many Republicans, including Trump, arguing that mail-in voting carries with it a risk of fraud. Voting experts have disputed these claims, finding voter fraud to be incredibly rare and noting that when it does happen, it does not privilege one party over another.
Scattershot efforts have some federal lawmakers calling for a national vote-by-mail system
Nationally, some lawmakers are working to expand mail-in voting for the long term. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced an updated bill that would expand early and absentee voting, and mandate voting contingency plans for future emergencies like coronavirus.
As Vox’s Ella Nilsen has reported, 34 states allow all voters to vote by mail. The remaining 16 states require applicants to provide an excuse — such as serving in the military or living abroad — to request a mail-in ballot. (New York has such a requirement, which is functionally waived under Cuomo’s executive order.)
It remains to be seen how the coronavirus will affect November’s general election — and whether efforts to broaden the availability of vote-by-mail will come to fruition by then.
At a hearing on the subject on Wednesday, elections experts warned there may not be enough time to prepare for a nationwide mail-in election in November. States may not have the time or resources to acquire the envelopes, ballots, and scanning machines needed, Washington state Secretary of State Kim Wyman told Wednesday’s panel.
“With the impacts of Covid-19, I am very concerned that with only six months really to implement vote-by-mail or absentee voting in a jurisdiction, that it’s going to be a heavy lift,” she said. And she added that poorly implemented absentee voting structures could undermine faith in the election’s result.
On the state level, Ohio has seen the difficulties Wyman outlined. In March, its primary was postponed at the last minute, causing confusion. The state decided to move to an entirely mail-in process. Now, some voters may not receive ballots in time to vote, Ohio’s secretary of state has said. It’s a reminder for increasingly cash-strapped states — and for federal lawmakers hoping to create national vote-by-mail programs — that to ensure a smooth transition to mass mail-in-voting this fall, action must be taken now.


vox--2020-04-25--The whiteness of anti-lockdown protests

The whiteness of anti-lockdown protests

Last weekend , thousands gathered in Washington , Michigan , Texas , Maryland , and California to protest lockdown orders resulting from the coronavirus pandemic .
Some marched with rifles draped across their backs and handguns resting on their hips , while others shared conspiracy theories about Bill Gates and his involvement with the Covid-19 vaccine .
Even in larger , less-rural cities in California , groups waved “ Trump 2020 ” flags and marched the streets with signs that read , “ No Liberty .
No Life.
” And these protests only seem to be picking up steam : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Capitol , carrying flags and wearing Tea Party regalia .
But what has been most glaringly obvious about these protests isn ’ t the far-right theatrics .
It ’ s that almost everyone marching to end stay-at-home orders is white .
And if they do return to “ regular life ” and refuse to distance themselves , their overt disregard will impact the population most vulnerable to the virus — black people .
It ’ s easy to dismiss the anti-lockdown protests as business per usual in the land of right-wing Trumpism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue at play that existed long before President Donald Trump took office , and that he has learned to artfully exploit .
It ’ s why it ’ s not surprising that in some areas , protesters waved Confederate flags or held signs that read , “ Give me liberty or give me Covid-19.
” The protests are symptomatic of the profound presence of whiteness and white supremacy in America .
On the surface , the protests are about the contentious debate over reopening the economy during a pandemic , when more commerce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our hospital systems .
Trump and other Republicans who have pushed to scrap lockdown orders sooner rather than later argue that doing so will prevent the country from going into economic collapse .
“ You ’ re going to lose more people by putting a country into a massive recession or depression , ” said Trump during a press conference on March 24 , when he first began pushing the idea of reopening the economy , only one week into the lockdown .
“ You can ’ t just come in and say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States of America , the biggest , the most successful country in the world by far.
” But if states open back up , it will come at whose expense ?
In the US , black Americans are dying of Covid-19 at disproportionate rates to other racial and ethnic groups .
According to an American Public Media Research Lab report published this week , almost 50,000 people have died of Covid-19 in the country .
Data for about three-fourths of those deaths reveals that the mortality rate for blacks is 2.7 times higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up only 13 percent of the population , they represent 30 percent of Covid-19 patients in the US .
The data continues to reveal which Americans face the greatest risk if the country is reopened .
To be fair , some protesters have expressed a deep financial need to return to work , to keep their lights on and a roof over their heads , which is understandable given that 26 million Americans have lost their jobs — skyrocketing the unemployment rate .
As the first of the month quickly approaches , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay their rent and only 80 million of 171 million Americans have received their CARES act stimulus checks so far .
But these protests are also attended by Trump supporters who have been convinced by conservative media pundits like Fox News contributor Bill Bennett , who during an April 13 interview on Fox , argued that the virus is actually less deadly than the seasonal flu and that “ this was not and is not a pandemic.
” Before Covid-19 began to ravage our country in February , the Trump administration doubled down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more deadly than the seasonal flu , and that containment was “ airtight.
” These claims were made despite the CDC warning that community spread was inevitable and the country would most likely experience severe interruptions in daily life .
Admittedly , I might also be eager to return to swapping germs , if I thought the virus was nothing worse than a cold and if I lived far away from the cities experiencing widespread infection , as many of the protesters do .
But this isn ’ t just happening in rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealthy , elite , and yes , very white cities and suburbs too .
Residents of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach , two Southern California coastal cities in Orange County , aired their grievances by the hundreds last week .
Protesters were seen socializing and laughing , wearing pro-Trump baseball caps while standing far less than the advised six feet apart .
Huntington Beach and Newport Beach have some of the highest numbers of confirmed cases in Orange County , yet the residents ’ eagerness to end social distancing orders feels informed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most impacted by Covid-19 — black communities .
Both of these cities are predominantly white and affluent ; Newport Beach ’ s median income hovers around $ 123,000 while Huntington Beach ’ s is about $ 88,000 , compared to the national median income of $ 62,000 .
While it might seem ludicrous that whiteness and income level would somehow make people immune to infection , there is some truth to such beliefs .
In the event that these rich white folks find themselves with a cough and fever , they are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of access to local testing centers and quality , unbiased health care .
Meanwhile , black people do not have access to quality and racially unbiased health care .
Between 2010 and 2018 , blacks were 1.5 times more likely to be uninsured compared to whites .
Black people also have a higher prevalence of heart disease and high blood pressure , and black men have the shortest life expectancy of all other racial and gender groups — and racism and discrimination are the drivers of these poor health outcomes and inequities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have never been more apparent than in this pandemic : Doctors have expressed concern that Covid-19 testing is not as accessible to black communities .
Meanwhile , blacks and Latinos also make up the largest number of essential workers , who are most at risk of infection .
Race and socioeconomics do absolutely play into who is most vulnerable to getting Covid-19 — and who is most likely to die .
On Twitter earlier this week , I saw a meme about whites feeling oppressed by the current lockdown order , which I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boy , was I wrong ) .
During an interview on Fox & Friends , Michigan Conservative Coalition Chair Meshawn Maddock shared that residents of Michigan “ feel oppressed ” and “ there are certain businesses and workers that should be able to safely get back to work right now.
” Oppressed is an interesting word choice .
Let ’ s start first with what racist oppression is .
Oppression is not getting a job , a promotion , a business loan , or approved for your dream home solely based on your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regularly .
On the other hand , oppression is not staying in the comfort of your home , with a full fridge , health care , and a 401k .
Oppression is also not a term that should be used willy-nilly , at the first feeling of discomfort , crying it to get your way — putting other people ’ s health and lives at risk .
Many of us are uncomfortable right now .
But please do not conflate discomfort with oppression .
Being white is the default identity in America .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s America ’ s norm , against which all others are measured , and there is a special kind of security that comes along with being the norm .
So when you suddenly do not have free rein to go about your business unchecked , it can feel like a massive threat .
And in turn , protesters have taken to the streets to fight to keep that security .
That feeling of “ oppression ” these white protesters have voiced is the residual effect of living in a country that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority status , and consequently , their perceived loss of power and privilege .
Ironically , some of these same conservative white groups that want to be liberated now also vehemently fought tooth and nail against movements such as Black Lives Matter and did not understand the value nor the need for blacks to speak out against their actual oppression .
Some of these whites fear the same oppression they have inflicted on people of color , and we ’ re seeing a glimpse of that fear , without any self-awareness , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most Americans , white people included , are sitting tight at home and obeying social distancing and shelter-in-place orders .
But as anti-lockdown protests become more politicized , outrage might begin to grow and others may inevitably join the chorus .
This could prove to benefit Trump come election time as he plays to his base , targeting states with Democratic governors who have imposed social distancing orders .
But while it ’ s natural to marvel at how reckless Trump ’ s tweets are — like the ones that called for residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ LIBERATE ” themselves — the discussion about the president ’ s Twitter fingers inciting social and racial upheaval is low-hanging fruit .
Trump is not the root cause of America ’ s ongoing saga with racism and white privilege .
His rhetoric simply brings to life white supremacist and racially privileged perspectives that have existed for centuries — and have been given the opportunity , in a deeply stressful time , to surface loudly , donning MAGA hats , and exercising their right to bear arms .
Dr. Maia Niguel Hoskin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , freelance writer , public speaker , and a researcher of all things race , mental health , and social media .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 contribution to Vox today .

Last weekend, thousands gathered in Washington, Michigan, Texas, Maryland, and California to protest lockdown orders resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Some marched with rifles draped across their backs and handguns resting on their hips, while others shared conspiracy theories about Bill Gates and his involvement with the Covid-19 vaccine.
Even in larger, less-rural cities in California, groups waved “Trump 2020” flags and marched the streets with signs that read, “No Liberty. No Life.” And these protests only seem to be picking up steam: On Friday, thousands stormed the Wisconsin State Capitol, carrying flags and wearing Tea Party regalia.
But what has been most glaringly obvious about these protests isn’t the far-right theatrics. It’s that almost everyone marching to end stay-at-home orders is white. And if they do return to “regular life” and refuse to distance themselves, their overt disregard will impact the population most vulnerable to the virus — black people.
It’s easy to dismiss the anti-lockdown protests as business per usual in the land of right-wing Trumpism. But there is a much larger issue at play that existed long before President Donald Trump took office, and that he has learned to artfully exploit. It’s why it’s not surprising that in some areas, protesters waved Confederate flags or held signs that read, “Give me liberty or give me Covid-19.” The protests are symptomatic of the profound presence of whiteness and white supremacy in America.
On the surface, the protests are about the contentious debate over reopening the economy during a pandemic, when more commerce risks more infections and the overwhelming of our hospital systems. Trump and other Republicans who have pushed to scrap lockdown orders sooner rather than later argue that doing so will prevent the country from going into economic collapse.
“You’re going to lose more people by putting a country into a massive recession or depression,” said Trump during a press conference on March 24, when he first began pushing the idea of reopening the economy, only one week into the lockdown. “You can’t just come in and say let’s close up the United States of America, the biggest, the most successful country in the world by far.”
But if states open back up, it will come at whose expense? In the US, black Americans are dying of Covid-19 at disproportionate rates to other racial and ethnic groups. According to an American Public Media Research Lab report published this week, almost 50,000 people have died of Covid-19 in the country. Data for about three-fourths of those deaths reveals that the mortality rate for blacks is 2.7 times higher than for whites. Although blacks make up only 13 percent of the population, they represent 30 percent of Covid-19 patients in the US. The data continues to reveal which Americans face the greatest risk if the country is reopened.
To be fair, some protesters have expressed a deep financial need to return to work, to keep their lights on and a roof over their heads, which is understandable given that 26 million Americans have lost their jobs — skyrocketing the unemployment rate. As the first of the month quickly approaches, many Americans are wondering how they’ll pay their rent and only 80 million of 171 million Americans have received their CARES act stimulus checks so far.
But these protests are also attended by Trump supporters who have been convinced by conservative media pundits like Fox News contributor Bill Bennett, who during an April 13 interview on Fox, argued that the virus is actually less deadly than the seasonal flu and that “this was not and is not a pandemic.” Before Covid-19 began to ravage our country in February, the Trump administration doubled down on claims that the virus was no more deadly than the seasonal flu, and that containment was “airtight.” These claims were made despite the CDC warning that community spread was inevitable and the country would most likely experience severe interruptions in daily life.
Admittedly, I might also be eager to return to swapping germs, if I thought the virus was nothing worse than a cold and if I lived far away from the cities experiencing widespread infection, as many of the protesters do.
But this isn’t just happening in rural areas. Protests are also happening in wealthy, elite, and yes, very white cities and suburbs too. Residents of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, two Southern California coastal cities in Orange County, aired their grievances by the hundreds last week. Protesters were seen socializing and laughing, wearing pro-Trump baseball caps while standing far less than the advised six feet apart.
Huntington Beach and Newport Beach have some of the highest numbers of confirmed cases in Orange County, yet the residents’ eagerness to end social distancing orders feels informed and motivated by the reality of who is most impacted by Covid-19 — black communities. Both of these cities are predominantly white and affluent; Newport Beach’s median income hovers around $123,000 while Huntington Beach’s is about $88,000, compared to the national median income of $62,000.
While it might seem ludicrous that whiteness and income level would somehow make people immune to infection, there is some truth to such beliefs. In the event that these rich white folks find themselves with a cough and fever, they are more likely to have the reassurance and privilege of access to local testing centers and quality, unbiased health care. Meanwhile, black people do not have access to quality and racially unbiased health care. Between 2010 and 2018, blacks were 1.5 times more likely to be uninsured compared to whites.
Black people also have a higher prevalence of heart disease and high blood pressure, and black men have the shortest life expectancy of all other racial and gender groups — and racism and discrimination are the drivers of these poor health outcomes and inequities. In fact, disparities such as these have never been more apparent than in this pandemic: Doctors have expressed concern that Covid-19 testing is not as accessible to black communities. Meanwhile, blacks and Latinos also make up the largest number of essential workers, who are most at risk of infection.
Race and socioeconomics do absolutely play into who is most vulnerable to getting Covid-19 — and who is most likely to die.
Oppression 101
On Twitter earlier this week, I saw a meme about whites feeling oppressed by the current lockdown order, which I knew had to be a joke (boy, was I wrong). During an interview on Fox & Friends, Michigan Conservative Coalition Chair Meshawn Maddock shared that residents of Michigan “feel oppressed” and “there are certain businesses and workers that should be able to safely get back to work right now.”
Oppressed is an interesting word choice. Let’s start first with what racist oppression is. Oppression is not getting a job, a promotion, a business loan, or approved for your dream home solely based on your race — things black people deal with regularly. On the other hand, oppression is not staying in the comfort of your home, with a full fridge, health care, and a 401k. Oppression is also not a term that should be used willy-nilly, at the first feeling of discomfort, crying it to get your way — putting other people’s health and lives at risk. Many of us are uncomfortable right now. But please do not conflate discomfort with oppression.
Being white is the default identity in America. Whiteness is our cultural tapestry. It’s America’s norm, against which all others are measured, and there is a special kind of security that comes along with being the norm. So when you suddenly do not have free rein to go about your business unchecked, it can feel like a massive threat. And in turn, protesters have taken to the streets to fight to keep that security. That feeling of “oppression” these white protesters have voiced is the residual effect of living in a country that has been shaped to cater to their racial majority status, and consequently, their perceived loss of power and privilege.
Ironically, some of these same conservative white groups that want to be liberated now also vehemently fought tooth and nail against movements such as Black Lives Matter and did not understand the value nor the need for blacks to speak out against their actual oppression. Some of these whites fear the same oppression they have inflicted on people of color, and we’re seeing a glimpse of that fear, without any self-awareness, in the pandemic.
To be clear, most Americans, white people included, are sitting tight at home and obeying social distancing and shelter-in-place orders. But as anti-lockdown protests become more politicized, outrage might begin to grow and others may inevitably join the chorus. This could prove to benefit Trump come election time as he plays to his base, targeting states with Democratic governors who have imposed social distancing orders.
But while it’s natural to marvel at how reckless Trump’s tweets are — like the ones that called for residents of Michigan, Minnesota, and Virginia to “LIBERATE” themselves — the discussion about the president’s Twitter fingers inciting social and racial upheaval is low-hanging fruit. Trump is not the root cause of America’s ongoing saga with racism and white privilege. His rhetoric simply brings to life white supremacist and racially privileged perspectives that have existed for centuries — and have been given the opportunity, in a deeply stressful time, to surface loudly, donning MAGA hats, and exercising their right to bear arms.
Dr. Maia Niguel Hoskin is a college professor of graduate-level counseling, freelance writer, public speaker, and a researcher of all things race, mental health, and social media.


vox--2020-04-25--Mississippi and Iowa join the ranks of states reopening nonessential businesses

Two more states have announced plans to loosen restrictions meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus , even as experts warn that diagnostic testing must dramatically increase before the country can safely reopen .
Friday , Iowa and Mississippi joined more than a dozen other states who have said they will reopen some nonessential businesses in the coming week .
The governors of both states , however , said many restrictions aimed at reducing social interaction will remain in place .
In Iowa , where there are nearly 4,500 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of April 25 , farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kim Reynolds ( R ) has signaled she will consider reopening other businesses , according to reporting by the Des Moines Register .
Hospitals will also be able to perform nonessential surgeries , reversing a ban that took effect in late March in effort to conserve medical equipment .
In Mississippi , which has more than 5,400 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of April 25 , Gov .
Tate Reeves ( R ) transitioned his state ’ s “ stay-at-home ” order to what he calls a “ safer-at-home ” order .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect for two weeks , beginning Monday .
It allows many businesses to reopen , encourages customers to follow social distancing guidelines , and instructs Mississippians to stay home “ as much as you possibly can ” and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer people .
They join states like Florida , where beaches and parks have reopened ; Minnesota , where some sport and recreation shops have reopened ; South Carolina and Georgia , which will allow their “ stay-at-home ” orders to expire almost completely ; and Tennessee , where restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service on Monday and where retail stores may reopen on Wednesday — as long as dining room and retail space capacity doesn ’ t exceed half of their maximums .
Both Iowa and Mississippi have taken steps to avoid some of the criticisms other states beginning to reopen have faced .
For example , Georgia ’ s reopening plan allows for businesses like hair salons and tattoo parlors to serve customers — Mississippi ’ s order does not .
And in Iowa , hospitals performing nonessential procedures will have to maintain a certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But epidemiologists have cautioned that such measures are not enough , and that much more is required before reopening any businesses at all will be safe , including ensuring states are able to substantially increase testing capacity and better equip hospitals .
States and the federal government have struggled to balance the public health risk posed by novel coronavirus — which is more contagious , deadlier , and lasts longer on surfaces than the flu — with the severe economic cost of shutting down public life .
Since March , more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits .
More than half of low-income Americans have reported that someone in their household lost work because of coronavirus , and that they will therefore struggle to pay bills this month .
But while reopening portions of the economy immediately might seem as if it would help those struggling with bills and unemployment , experts argue doing so risks achieving the worst of both worlds : failing to avoid an economic recession while also causing a new spike in coronavirus cases and deaths .
Steps have been outlined — by the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other experts — that could allow the economy to be restarted safely .
But experts say the US is far from ready to take them .
These steps include establishing a robust system for contact tracing — which identifies all people an infected person comes into contact with — and regular diagnostic testing .
In particular , epidemiologists have called for hundreds of thousands , if not millions , of daily tests , repeated on people over time , to properly understand the scope of the disease ’ s spread as people begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would also require ensuring sufficient protections for health care workers , who have faced significant equipment shortages and risk becoming overwhelmed if there is a spike in new cases .
There are also questions as to whether people are willing to patronize newly reopened businesses , as Vox ’ s Matthew Yglesias has written : Americans fear spreading or contracting infection , so much so that they ’ ve overwhelmingly participated in social distancing measures .
They tell pollsters by wide margins that they fear lifting those restrictions too soon much more so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to stay put even if it harms the economy .
They also fear economic hardship .
That ’ s led prudent people , even those left relatively unharmed by the downturn so far , to delay nonessential purchases , like new cars , appliances , clothes , and other goods .
Whatever choices state officials make about opening things up , there ’ s not going to be a vibrant economy until real steps are taken to address those dual sources of fear .
This lack of testing and uncertainty about people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonessential businesses are more or less engaging in an experiment in the midst of an unchecked viral outbreak , former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Jeffrey Koplan said last week .
“ There ’ s talk of [ new cases ] tapering off into a plateau and talk of it looking better than the models , but it feels very premature , ” Koplan said of declining case counts .
“ This is no time for this kind of experimentation.
” Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 articles , videos , and podcasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Two more states have announced plans to loosen restrictions meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, even as experts warn that diagnostic testing must dramatically increase before the country can safely reopen.
Friday, Iowa and Mississippi joined more than a dozen other states who have said they will reopen some nonessential businesses in the coming week. The governors of both states, however, said many restrictions aimed at reducing social interaction will remain in place.
In Iowa, where there are nearly 4,500 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of April 25, farmers markets will reopen Monday, and Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) has signaled she will consider reopening other businesses, according to reporting by the Des Moines Register. Hospitals will also be able to perform nonessential surgeries, reversing a ban that took effect in late March in effort to conserve medical equipment.
In Mississippi, which has more than 5,400 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of April 25, Gov. Tate Reeves (R) transitioned his state’s “stay-at-home” order to what he calls a “safer-at-home” order. The new order is expected to be in effect for two weeks, beginning Monday. It allows many businesses to reopen, encourages customers to follow social distancing guidelines, and instructs Mississippians to stay home “as much as you possibly can” and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer people.
They join states like Florida, where beaches and parks have reopened; Minnesota, where some sport and recreation shops have reopened; South Carolina and Georgia, which will allow their “stay-at-home” orders to expire almost completely; and Tennessee, where restaurants will be permitted to reestablish their dine-in service on Monday and where retail stores may reopen on Wednesday — as long as dining room and retail space capacity doesn’t exceed half of their maximums.
Both Iowa and Mississippi have taken steps to avoid some of the criticisms other states beginning to reopen have faced. For example, Georgia’s reopening plan allows for businesses like hair salons and tattoo parlors to serve customers — Mississippi’s order does not. And in Iowa, hospitals performing nonessential procedures will have to maintain a certain number of ICU beds for coronavirus patients.
But epidemiologists have cautioned that such measures are not enough, and that much more is required before reopening any businesses at all will be safe, including ensuring states are able to substantially increase testing capacity and better equip hospitals.
Experts warn a lack of testing could undermine reopening efforts
States and the federal government have struggled to balance the public health risk posed by novel coronavirus — which is more contagious, deadlier, and lasts longer on surfaces than the flu — with the severe economic cost of shutting down public life.
Since March, more than 26 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits. More than half of low-income Americans have reported that someone in their household lost work because of coronavirus, and that they will therefore struggle to pay bills this month.
But while reopening portions of the economy immediately might seem as if it would help those struggling with bills and unemployment, experts argue doing so risks achieving the worst of both worlds: failing to avoid an economic recession while also causing a new spike in coronavirus cases and deaths.
Steps have been outlined — by the White House’s public health officials and other experts — that could allow the economy to be restarted safely. But experts say the US is far from ready to take them.
These steps include establishing a robust system for contact tracing — which identifies all people an infected person comes into contact with — and regular diagnostic testing. In particular, epidemiologists have called for hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of daily tests, repeated on people over time, to properly understand the scope of the disease’s spread as people begin to reengage with normal life.
Reopening would also require ensuring sufficient protections for health care workers, who have faced significant equipment shortages and risk becoming overwhelmed if there is a spike in new cases.
There are also questions as to whether people are willing to patronize newly reopened businesses, as Vox’s Matthew Yglesias has written:
Americans fear spreading or contracting infection, so much so that they’ve overwhelmingly participated in social distancing measures. They tell pollsters by wide margins that they fear lifting those restrictions too soon much more so than too late. They’re willing to stay put even if it harms the economy. They also fear economic hardship. That’s led prudent people, even those left relatively unharmed by the downturn so far, to delay nonessential purchases, like new cars, appliances, clothes, and other goods. Whatever choices state officials make about opening things up, there’s not going to be a vibrant economy until real steps are taken to address those dual sources of fear.
This lack of testing and uncertainty about people’s economic appetites means states reopening nonessential businesses are more or less engaging in an experiment in the midst of an unchecked viral outbreak, former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Jeffrey Koplan said last week.
“There’s talk of [new cases] tapering off into a plateau and talk of it looking better than the models, but it feels very premature,” Koplan said of declining case counts. “This is no time for this kind of experimentation.”


vox--2020-04-25--WHO warns against coronavirus “immunity passports” due to reinfection concerns

The World Health Organization ( WHO ) released a scientific brief on Saturday recommending countries refrain from issuing certificates of immunity to people who have been infected with the novel coronavirus , warning there is “ currently no evidence ” that someone can not be reinfected .
Countries like Germany and Chile are looking into giving residents “ immunity passports ” that would allow people who have recovered from Covid-19 to be excluded from restrictive protection measures and to work outside the house .
Public health officials would use tests that detect antibodies to the virus to determine if someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WHO cautioned against this practice due to concerns that reinfection can not be ruled out based on antibodies alone .
“ There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from Covid-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection , ” the WHO says in the brief .
The report went even further , suggesting immunity passports could backfire and unwittingly accelerate the spread of the virus .
“ People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of such certificates may therefore increase the risks of continued transmission , ” the report says .
Part of the reason the WHO is counseling caution is because scientists don ’ t yet understand what ensures immunity to the virus .
“ Most of these [ antibody response ] studies show that people who have recovered from infection have antibodies to the virus .
However , some of these people have very low levels of neutralizing antibodies in their blood , suggesting that cellular immunity may also be critical for recovery , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know about immunity ?
The brief is a reminder that although scientists and public health experts have made great strides in their understanding of the new virus in a relatively short period of time , there ’ s still a lot unknown about both the SARS-CoV-2 virus , and the disease it causes , Covid-19 .
One of the largest outstanding questions is whether humans can develop immunity to coronavirus and what immunity would look like .
In their deep dive into Covid-19 immunity , Vox ’ s Brian Resnick and Umair Irfan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity is not completely understood in general : For reasons scientists don ’ t quite understand , for some infections , your immunity never wanes .
People who are immune to smallpox , for example , are immune for life : Antibodies that protect against smallpox have been found as long as 88 years after a vaccination .
Less reassuring here is that scientists have observed antibody levels to other coronaviruses ( there are four coronavirus strains that infect people as the common cold ) can wane over a period of years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibody levels will be at their highest .
But “ a year from now , that number is likely going to be a little bit lower , and five years from now it ’ s likely to be potentially a lot lower or a little bit lower , and we don ’ t know the factors that change that , ” [ University of Texas Medical Branch immunologist and coronaviruses expert Vineet ] Menachery says .
However , even if you lose the antibodies , it doesn ’ t mean you are again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , none of this is simple .
Part of the reason a loss of antibodies doesn ’ t always result in a loss of immunity is because the body stores antibody blueprints — when exposed to a virus a person already has antibodies for , the body can use those blueprints to quickly restart antibody production .
Whether this would happen with antibodies effective at fighting Covid-19 isn ’ t known .
It is known , however , that those who have recovered from Covid-19 have a range of antibodies in their systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less .
The reason why isn ’ t yet fully understood .
However , part of it , Resnick and Irfan note , may depend on when antibody tests are administered .
The body tends to have the greatest number of antibodies four to eight weeks after infection , meaning someone tested in that period may have more antibodies than someone given an antibody test later on .
It could also be the case , as the WHO noted in its brief , that immune responses outside of antibodies play a key role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other prominent scientists note the severity of an infection may affect how many antibodies one has — as well as the strength of any possible immunity .
Marc Lipsitch , a scholar of epidemiology and immunology at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health , wrote in the New York Times , that — based on a non-peer-reviewed study from China — he believes mild cases “ might not always build up protection.
” Lipsitch said studies of more serological surveys , or blood tests for antibodies , on large groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make better appraisals .
And they need to be sophisticated : “ Much will depend on how sensitive and specific the various tests are : how well they spot SARS-CoV-2 antibodies when those are present and if they can avoid spurious signals from antibodies to related viruses , ” he said .
There , however , are problems with these tests , currently ; experts have expressed concern about false positives and negatives from them , and those worries have cast some new , preliminary antibody studies in serious doubt .
Beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : whether people can be reinfected .
Resnick and Irfan spoke with scientists about reports from some countries that people are testing positive for coronavirus even after recovering from it — and they suggested it was an issue with testing : Should it be the case that humans are able to become immune to the coronavirus , there is also the question of how long immunity would last .
Lipsitch says based on current evidence and what the scientific community knows about similar viruses , it ’ s only possible to make “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ After being infected with SARS-CoV-2 , most individuals will have an immune response , some better than others .
That response , it may be assumed , will offer some protection over the medium term — at least a year — and then its effectiveness might decline , ” he wrote .
Despite all these questions about the reliability of testing and the conditions required to achieve immunity , some countries , desperate to restart their economies , are planning on using estimates of immunity to guide policy in the immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issuing its “ immunity passes ” next week .
And earlier in April , Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said it ’ s “ possible ” that the US would consider such a policy in the future .
“ I mean , it ’ s one of those things that we talk about when we want to make sure that we know who the vulnerable people are and not , ” he told CNN on April 10 .
“ This is something that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might actually have some merit , under certain circumstances.
” 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a scientific brief on Saturday recommending countries refrain from issuing certificates of immunity to people who have been infected with the novel coronavirus, warning there is “currently no evidence” that someone cannot be reinfected.
Countries like Germany and Chile are looking into giving residents “immunity passports” that would allow people who have recovered from Covid-19 to be excluded from restrictive protection measures and to work outside the house. Public health officials would use tests that detect antibodies to the virus to determine if someone has previously had the virus.
But the WHO cautioned against this practice due to concerns that reinfection cannot be ruled out based on antibodies alone.
“There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from Covid-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection,” the WHO says in the brief.
The report went even further, suggesting immunity passports could backfire and unwittingly accelerate the spread of the virus. “People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice. The use of such certificates may therefore increase the risks of continued transmission,” the report says.
Part of the reason the WHO is counseling caution is because scientists don’t yet understand what ensures immunity to the virus.
“Most of these [antibody response] studies show that people who have recovered from infection have antibodies to the virus. However, some of these people have very low levels of neutralizing antibodies in their blood, suggesting that cellular immunity may also be critical for recovery,” the brief says.
What do we know about immunity?
The brief is a reminder that although scientists and public health experts have made great strides in their understanding of the new virus in a relatively short period of time, there’s still a lot unknown about both the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the disease it causes, Covid-19. One of the largest outstanding questions is whether humans can develop immunity to coronavirus and what immunity would look like.
In their deep dive into Covid-19 immunity, Vox’s Brian Resnick and Umair Irfan explain that the first issue is that immunity is not completely understood in general:
For reasons scientists don’t quite understand, for some infections, your immunity never wanes. People who are immune to smallpox, for example, are immune for life: Antibodies that protect against smallpox have been found as long as 88 years after a vaccination. Less reassuring here is that scientists have observed antibody levels to other coronaviruses (there are four coronavirus strains that infect people as the common cold) can wane over a period of years. A few weeks after an infection, antibody levels will be at their highest. But “a year from now, that number is likely going to be a little bit lower, and five years from now it’s likely to be potentially a lot lower or a little bit lower, and we don’t know the factors that change that,” [University of Texas Medical Branch immunologist and coronaviruses expert Vineet] Menachery says. However, even if you lose the antibodies, it doesn’t mean you are again completely susceptible to the virus. Yes, none of this is simple.
Part of the reason a loss of antibodies doesn’t always result in a loss of immunity is because the body stores antibody blueprints — when exposed to a virus a person already has antibodies for, the body can use those blueprints to quickly restart antibody production. Whether this would happen with antibodies effective at fighting Covid-19 isn’t known.
It is known, however, that those who have recovered from Covid-19 have a range of antibodies in their systems — some have more, others have less. The reason why isn’t yet fully understood. However, part of it, Resnick and Irfan note, may depend on when antibody tests are administered. The body tends to have the greatest number of antibodies four to eight weeks after infection, meaning someone tested in that period may have more antibodies than someone given an antibody test later on. It could also be the case, as the WHO noted in its brief, that immune responses outside of antibodies play a key role in fighting the virus.
Still, other prominent scientists note the severity of an infection may affect how many antibodies one has — as well as the strength of any possible immunity. Marc Lipsitch, a scholar of epidemiology and immunology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, wrote in the New York Times, that — based on a non-peer-reviewed study from China — he believes mild cases “might not always build up protection.”
Lipsitch said studies of more serological surveys, or blood tests for antibodies, on large groups of people are going to be needed to make better appraisals. And they need to be sophisticated: “Much will depend on how sensitive and specific the various tests are: how well they spot SARS-CoV-2 antibodies when those are present and if they can avoid spurious signals from antibodies to related viruses,” he said.
There, however, are problems with these tests, currently; experts have expressed concern about false positives and negatives from them, and those worries have cast some new, preliminary antibody studies in serious doubt.
Beyond these concerns is a more immediate one: whether people can be reinfected. Resnick and Irfan spoke with scientists about reports from some countries that people are testing positive for coronavirus even after recovering from it — and they suggested it was an issue with testing:
The experts we spoke to say these reports are likely due to flaws in testing. “I think the risk of being infected more than once from SARS-CoV-2 is nil,” says Gregory Gray, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Duke University, in an email. That may be because as you progress in the illness, the testing for Covid-19 becomes more inconsistent. ... At least in the short term, it’s probably more the case that the people who have tested positive after recovering haven’t completely cleared the virus from their system or that a prior negative test was inaccurate.
Should it be the case that humans are able to become immune to the coronavirus, there is also the question of how long immunity would last.
Lipsitch says based on current evidence and what the scientific community knows about similar viruses, it’s only possible to make “an educated guess” as to immunity: “After being infected with SARS-CoV-2, most individuals will have an immune response, some better than others. That response, it may be assumed, will offer some protection over the medium term — at least a year — and then its effectiveness might decline,” he wrote.
Despite all these questions about the reliability of testing and the conditions required to achieve immunity, some countries, desperate to restart their economies, are planning on using estimates of immunity to guide policy in the immediate future. Chile is set to start issuing its “immunity passes” next week.
And earlier in April, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it’s “possible” that the US would consider such a policy in the future.
“I mean, it’s one of those things that we talk about when we want to make sure that we know who the vulnerable people are and not,” he told CNN on April 10. “This is something that’s being discussed. I think it might actually have some merit, under certain circumstances.”


vox--2020-04-25--If you need quick comfort, try reading a cookbook like it’s a novel

Welcome to Vox ’ s weekly book link roundup , a curated selection of the internet ’ s best writing on books and related subjects .
We made it through another week !
It ’ s time for a break .
Here is the internet ’ s best writing on books and related subjects for the week of April 19 , 2020 .
• The emergency Artist Relief fund has released its first round of 200 $ 5,000 grants to artists in financial need , Publishers Weekly reports .
The fund plans to continue for an additional four rounds .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Appeals ruled this week that literacy is a fundamental protected right , one that public schools are obligated to fulfill .
We next have to see if that ruling can survive the Supreme Court .
• At Atlas Obscura , Isaac Schultz introduces us to the team of chemists who figured out how to recreate a lost medieval blue ink : The team ventured into the southern , bleached-white town of Monsaraz to collect the fruit as per the manuscript ’ s instructions .
The hairy plant ’ s fruit—about the size of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to crush the seeds , which the team realized jeopardized the quality of the ink , they identified the chemical compound that made the mixture , confirming folium ’ s identity on the molecular scale .
It turns out folium is up with anthocyanins—the blue chemicals found in berries .
• At JStor Daily , Matthew Wills recommends Marguerite Young ’ s enormous 1965 novel Miss MacIntosh , My Darling : Perhaps fittingly for a cult success of the late 1960s , the book is a trip , literally and figuratively .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by bus across the Midwest , toward the hometown of her beloved nursemaid , the titular Miss MacIntosh .
That town , the wonderfully named What Cheer , is in fact a real place in Iowa ( pop .
646 in the 2010 census ) .
King says that the novel , now almost forgotten , is “ one of America ’ s most eccentric , incontrovertibly visionary , and incontestably original masterpieces , ” akin to the work of an “ outsider artist or art brut painter.
” • Carol Ann Duffy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeks to create a “ living record ” of the pandemic , the Guardian reports .
Here is one of the resulting poems , called “ Garden , ” by Andrew McMillan : in the beginning the dead like the first flowers for Adam were few enough to name them but soon they grew too many the vast fields of them • At LitHub , Jason Boog delves into the ways writers survived the Great Depression , plus the recession of 2008 : The Crisis Generation .
That phrase guided me through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars to get a copy of Newhouse ’ s out-of-print novel so I could show it to everybody I knew .
Like some misguided missionary , I ’ d show it to people and say , “ See ?
See ?
He ’ s talking about us !
” His book felt like a bomb with a busted timer that had stalled back in the 1930s and had been stuck on a dusty shelf for 80 years , losing none of its dangerous potency .
I wanted to fix the timer and blow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the Guardian , Geoff Dyer has a nicely obscure list of funny books : “ Hysteria of cruel fun ” is also an apt description of the bonkers world of Ivy Compton-Burnett .
In scope ( English upper-class households between the wars ) and form ( almost entirely dialogue ) , novels such as A House and Its Head and Manservant and Maidservant get by on the most meagre of narrative rations .
Imagine the Wodehouse books , with Jeeves and Wooster stranded at the precise moment , in Gaspar Noé ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to notice that the punch has been spiked .
Since this dread realisation can be expressed only within the clipped register of class and period , a tightly repressed mania holds sway .
Relief takes the form of howls of laughter from the reader .
• At Bon Appetit , Amanda Shapiro recommends reading your cookbooks straight through like regular books , and you know what , she ’ s right : I flipped to a random page and read a sidebar : “ 15 Thirty-Second Ways to Jazz Up Plain Rice.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tablespoon or more butter.
” ) Further down the page , I read a section called The Basics of Rice Pilaf .
It was boring , but I found myself taking deeper breaths .
On the next page , I read a recipe for Chicken Paella .
( “ Sometimes perceived as a major production , paella is nothing more than a combination of rice and something else.
” ) I read another sidebar , “ 17 Grain Dishes That Make Good Leftovers.
” I flipped to one of the recipes : Stuck-Pot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recipe and Bittman ’ s suggested variation ( swap the potato for pita ) .
I had no desire to make it , but I felt oddly calm .
And here ’ s the week in books at Vox : • Vox Book Club , The City We Became , Week 3 : New York City vs. Cthulhu • Now is the perfect time to discover children ’ s fantasy author Frances Hardinge • Ask a Book Critic : Books to read when you ’ re tired of being alone • Capitalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you can keep up with all our books coverage by visiting vox.com/books .
Happy reading !
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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 .

Welcome to Vox’s weekly book link roundup, a curated selection of the internet’s best writing on books and related subjects.
We made it through another week! It’s time for a break. Here is the internet’s best writing on books and related subjects for the week of April 19, 2020.
The emergency Artist Relief fund has released its first round of 200 $5,000 grants to artists in financial need, Publishers Weekly reports. The fund plans to continue for an additional four rounds.
The US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this week that literacy is a fundamental protected right, one that public schools are obligated to fulfill. We next have to see if that ruling can survive the Supreme Court.
At Atlas Obscura, Isaac Schultz introduces us to the team of chemists who figured out how to recreate a lost medieval blue ink:
The team ventured into the southern, bleached-white town of Monsaraz to collect the fruit as per the manuscript’s instructions. The hairy plant’s fruit—about the size of a walnut—yielded a blue mixture. Careful not to crush the seeds, which the team realized jeopardized the quality of the ink, they identified the chemical compound that made the mixture, confirming folium’s identity on the molecular scale. It turns out folium is up with anthocyanins—the blue chemicals found in berries.
At JStor Daily, Matthew Wills recommends Marguerite Young’s enormous 1965 novel Miss MacIntosh, My Darling:
Perhaps fittingly for a cult success of the late 1960s, the book is a trip, literally and figuratively. The narrator, Vera Cartwright, journeys by bus across the Midwest, toward the hometown of her beloved nursemaid, the titular Miss MacIntosh. That town, the wonderfully named What Cheer, is in fact a real place in Iowa (pop. 646 in the 2010 census). King says that the novel, now almost forgotten, is “one of America’s most eccentric, incontrovertibly visionary, and incontestably original masterpieces,” akin to the work of an “outsider artist or art brut painter.”
Carol Ann Duffy has launched an international poetry project that seeks to create a “living record” of the pandemic, the Guardian reports. Here is one of the resulting poems, called “Garden,” by Andrew McMillan:
in the beginning
the dead like the first flowers
for Adam were few enough to name them
but soon they grew too many
the vast fields of them
At LitHub, Jason Boog delves into the ways writers survived the Great Depression, plus the recession of 2008:
The Crisis Generation. That phrase guided me through the next few years. I paid 50 dollars to get a copy of Newhouse’s out-of-print novel so I could show it to everybody I knew. Like some misguided missionary, I’d show it to people and say, “See? See? He’s talking about us!” His book felt like a bomb with a busted timer that had stalled back in the 1930s and had been stuck on a dusty shelf for 80 years, losing none of its dangerous potency. I wanted to fix the timer and blow something up all over again.
At the Guardian, Geoff Dyer has a nicely obscure list of funny books:
“Hysteria of cruel fun” is also an apt description of the bonkers world of Ivy Compton-Burnett. In scope (English upper-class households between the wars) and form (almost entirely dialogue), novels such as A House and Its Head and Manservant and Maidservant get by on the most meagre of narrative rations. Imagine the Wodehouse books, with Jeeves and Wooster stranded at the precise moment, in Gaspar Noé’s Climax, when the cast begin to notice that the punch has been spiked. Since this dread realisation can be expressed only within the clipped register of class and period, a tightly repressed mania holds sway. Relief takes the form of howls of laughter from the reader.
At Bon Appetit, Amanda Shapiro recommends reading your cookbooks straight through like regular books, and you know what, she’s right:
I flipped to a random page and read a sidebar: “15 Thirty-Second Ways to Jazz Up Plain Rice.” (“1. Stir in a tablespoon or more butter.”) Further down the page, I read a section called The Basics of Rice Pilaf. It was boring, but I found myself taking deeper breaths. On the next page, I read a recipe for Chicken Paella. (“Sometimes perceived as a major production, paella is nothing more than a combination of rice and something else.”) I read another sidebar, “17 Grain Dishes That Make Good Leftovers.” I flipped to one of the recipes: Stuck-Pot Rice with Potato Crust. I read the recipe and Bittman’s suggested variation (swap the potato for pita). I had no desire to make it, but I felt oddly calm.
And here’s the week in books at Vox:
As always, you can keep up with all our books coverage by visiting vox.com/books. Happy reading!


vox--2020-04-26--Governors say Trump’s disinfectant comments prompted hundreds of poison center calls

Govs .
Larry Hogan of Maryland ( R ) and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan ( D ) said Sunday that President Donald Trump ’ s recent comments musing about whether disinfectant could potentially be injected as a remedy for coronavirus caused a surge in phone calls to emergency hotlines in their states inquiring about its truth .
“ When misinformation comes out , or you just say something that pops in your head , it does send a wrong message , ” Hogan said on ABC ’ s This Week .
“ We had hundreds of calls come into our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it was right to ingest Clorox or alcohol cleaning products — whether that was going to help them fight the virus.
” Hogan lamented that the government had to “ put out that warning to make sure that people were not doing something like that , which would kill people.
” And he offered a critique of the president ’ s behavior at the White House ’ s coronavirus press conferences : “ This has been important to me from day one , communicating very clearly on the facts , because people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listen when the governor holds a press conference , and they certainly pay attention when the president of the United States is standing there giving a press conference , ” Hogan said .
In an earlier appearance on This Week , Whitmer said she too had seen a worrying uptick in calls about ingesting disinfectants .
“ When the person with the most powerful position on the planet is encouraging people to think about disinfectants , whether it was serious or not , people listen , ” Whitmer said .
“ And so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people calling poison control , and so I think it ’ s really important that every one of us with a platform disseminate medically accurate information.
” Hogan ’ s and Whitmer ’ s comments added more weight to reports that Trump ’ s query about using disinfectant to fight the virus was causing public confusion — and that it may have even encouraged people to consume poisonous products .
The confusion began on Thursday during a White House briefing about coronavirus .
After listening to Bill Bryan , the undersecretary for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Homeland Security , detail research on sunlight and disinfectant ’ s ability to destroy the coronavirus , Trump turned to health official and coronavirus task force member Dr. Deborah Birx and asked if disinfectant could be used in the human body .
“ Is there a way we can do something like that , by injection inside or almost a cleaning ?
” he asked .
( The answer is no — and it can kill you . )
After that press conference , it wasn ’ t just Michigan and Maryland that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control centers .
A spokesperson for New York City ’ s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said the day after the briefing the city ’ s poison control center received an uptick of calls about exposure to chemicals , including nine cases “ specifically about exposure to Lysol , 10 cases specifically about bleach and 11 cases about exposures to other household cleaners.
” The public health director for Illinois , Ngozi Ezike , said Saturday there was “ a significant increase in calls ” to the state ’ s poison control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days residents have reported alarming acts such as using detergent solution for a sinus rinse and gargling with a mixture of bleach and mouthwash .
Even more concerning , Trump ’ s comments came at a time when there has already been an ongoing increase in reports of exposure to and ingestion of disinfectants and cleaners across the nation .
Due to that uptick , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted in a report last week that while data from poison control centers “ do not provide information showing a definite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there appears to be a clear temporal association with increased use of these products.
” Part of that temporal link may be due to more people using the disinfectants on household surfaces .
Nevertheless , following Trump ’ s press briefing , the CDC tweeted , “ Household cleaners and disinfectants can cause health problems when not used properly .
Follow the instructions on the product label to ensure safe and effective use.
” Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Vox today .

Govs. Larry Hogan of Maryland (R) and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan (D) said Sunday that President Donald Trump’s recent comments musing about whether disinfectant could potentially be injected as a remedy for the coronavirus caused a surge in phone calls to emergency hotlines in their states inquiring about its truth.
“When misinformation comes out, or you just say something that pops in your head, it does send a wrong message,” Hogan said on ABC’s This Week. “We had hundreds of calls come into our emergency hotline at our health department asking if it was right to ingest Clorox or alcohol cleaning products — whether that was going to help them fight the virus.”
Hogan lamented that the government had to “put out that warning to make sure that people were not doing something like that, which would kill people.”
And he offered a critique of the president’s behavior at the White House’s coronavirus press conferences: “This has been important to me from day one, communicating very clearly on the facts, because people listen to these press conferences, they listen when the governor holds a press conference, and they certainly pay attention when the president of the United States is standing there giving a press conference,” Hogan said.
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency warned that “under no circumstance” should disinfectants be ingested.
Gov. Larry Hogan says they received “hundreds of calls” seeking guidance following Trump’s comments and it’s important to communicate “facts.” https://t.co/zB7Ch1H4ND pic.twitter.com/RrFpJqmllo — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 26, 2020
In an earlier appearance on This Week, Whitmer said she too had seen a worrying uptick in calls about ingesting disinfectants.
“When the person with the most powerful position on the planet is encouraging people to think about disinfectants, whether it was serious or not, people listen,” Whitmer said. “And so we have seen an increase in numbers of people calling poison control, and so I think it’s really important that every one of us with a platform disseminate medically accurate information.”
Hogan’s and Whitmer’s comments added more weight to reports that Trump’s query about using disinfectant to fight the virus was causing public confusion — and that it may have even encouraged people to consume poisonous products.
The confusion began on Thursday during a White House briefing about the coronavirus. After listening to Bill Bryan, the undersecretary for science and technology at the Department of Homeland Security, detail research on sunlight and disinfectant’s ability to destroy the coronavirus, Trump turned to health official and coronavirus task force member Dr. Deborah Birx and asked if disinfectant could be used in the human body.
“Is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?” he asked. (The answer is no — and it can kill you.)
After that press conference, it wasn’t just Michigan and Maryland that saw a surge in calls to poison control centers.
A spokesperson for New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said the day after the briefing the city’s poison control center received an uptick of calls about exposure to chemicals, including nine cases “specifically about exposure to Lysol, 10 cases specifically about bleach and 11 cases about exposures to other household cleaners.”
The public health director for Illinois, Ngozi Ezike, said Saturday there was “a significant increase in calls” to the state’s poison control center, and said that in recent days residents have reported alarming acts such as using detergent solution for a sinus rinse and gargling with a mixture of bleach and mouthwash.
Even more concerning, Trump’s comments came at a time when there has already been an ongoing increase in reports of exposure to and ingestion of disinfectants and cleaners across the nation.
Due to that uptick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted in a report last week that while data from poison control centers “do not provide information showing a definite link between exposures and COVID-19 cleaning efforts, there appears to be a clear temporal association with increased use of these products.”
Part of that temporal link may be due to more people using the disinfectants on household surfaces. Nevertheless, following Trump’s press briefing, the CDC tweeted, “Household cleaners and disinfectants can cause health problems when not used properly. Follow the instructions on the product label to ensure safe and effective use.”


vox--2020-04-26--A single Trump tweet sums up his media strategy: Confusion

President Donald Trump has several huge fights on his hands : America is under attack from a brutal pandemic .
Its economy is collapsing .
And he is facing a difficult reelection campaign .
In the absence of real plans to solve any of these , Trump is relying on a move that comes reflexively for him : Blasting out messages that are either pointless digressions or outright lies — not to persuade people , but to distract and confuse them .
Take , for instance , a tweet he took the time to fire off Saturday afternoon that seemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : He wanted people to know exactly who he was talking to when he made his jaw-dropping remarks last week about injecting light and disinfectant to cure Covid-19 .
Like other things Trump says , this one has elements of truth embedded in a slurry of falsehood .
We can sort through that shortly .
What ’ s more important than the message here is the tactic he ’ s using .
Trump isn ’ t really interested in correcting the record , but he does want to create doubt .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distrust is one of Trump ’ s primary political tools , as journalism critic Jay Rosen has pointed out .
“ The Republican Party and the Trump campaign and the MAGA coalition are going to have to produce confusion and doubt on a scale that is unlike anything you ’ ve ever seen before , ” Rosen told me in a recent conversation .
“ The key for the Trump campaign is to create confusion , not belief .
And that ’ s what we ’ re going to see in the months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt and confusion about things that are overwhelmingly clear from the public record.
” Trump ’ s message this weekend is a perfect encapsulation of the strategy .
It doesn ’ t exonerate him in any way .
But it is supposed to chip away at the authority of the media outlets that cover him .
The accumulated weight of these niggles are meant to dissuade persuadable voters from believing ... anything .
Surrounding a little bit of truth with a lot of misleading other stuff helps create distrust Trump does have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday tweet : At various points in his April 23 press conference , he was indeed addressing Bill Bryan , an official from the Department of Homeland Security , who had given a presentation about how sunlight might affect the coronavirus .
In the viral clip where Trump muses about bringing UV light inside the body or using an “ injection ” of disinfectant , Trump is talking to Bryan , who is sitting next to Birx , but mostly obscured by Trump ’ s podium .
And the viral clip of Birx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it appear as if he was talking to her : On the other hand , Trump did indeed spend some of the press conference telling Birx she should be looking into his idea that you could “ apply light and heat to cure.
” It ’ s even spelled out in the White House ’ s own transcript of the event : But of course it doesn ’ t matter — at all — whether Trump was speaking to Birx or Bryan during the event .
What matters is that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at his press conference — that he has nonsensical and potentially dangerous ideas about how Americans should respond to the pandemic .
Trump first floated his “ I was talking to him , not her ” defense on Friday , but that was only in passing .
At the time , he was focused on his argument that his light/disinfectant theories weren ’ t theories at all — he was being sarcastic .
But the sarcasm argument quickly fizzled — even Fox News wouldn ’ t support it — so Trump has moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ ll stick with it .
Maybe he won ’ t .
But the underlying strategy is one the president clearly believes in .
He used it separately Saturday over a different point : Relitigating whether he called the coronavirus a “ hoax , ” or if he was calling critics of his slow , ineffective response to the virus a “ hoax.
” And just in case you missed it , Trump tried it again , seven hours later : You can go to the tape on this one , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On the other hand , if you do watch the same tape , you ’ ll see that on February 28 , Trump was boasting about “ losing nobody , so far ” to the virus , compared to reports of “ 35 , and 40,000 people — and we ’ ve lost nobody.
” The CDC now says the virus has killed more than 50,000 in the US .
But , again : Trump and his team don ’ t expect you to go to the tape , or spend more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All they want is for you to doubt the things you see , hear , and read .
And they ’ ll keep at it .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — 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 contribution to Vox today .

President Donald Trump has several huge fights on his hands: America is under attack from a brutal pandemic. Its economy is collapsing. And he is facing a difficult reelection campaign.
In the absence of real plans to solve any of these, Trump is relying on a move that comes reflexively for him: blasting out messages that are either pointless digressions or outright lies — not to persuade people, but to distract and confuse them.
Take, for instance, a tweet he took the time to fire off Saturday afternoon that seemed petty even by his own Twitter standards: He wanted people to know exactly whom he was talking to when he made his jaw-dropping remarks last week about injecting light and disinfectant to cure Covid-19.
Was just informed that the Fake News from the Thursday White House Press Conference had me speaking & asking questions of Dr. Deborah Birx. Wrong, I was speaking to our Laboratory expert, not Deborah, about sunlight etc. & the CoronaVirus. The Lamestream Media is corrupt & sick! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2020
Like other things Trump says, this one has elements of truth embedded in a slurry of falsehood. We can sort through that shortly.
What’s more important than the message here is the tactic he’s using. Trump isn’t really interested in correcting the record, but he does want to create doubt. And that’s because a fog of generalized distrust is one of Trump’s primary political tools, as journalism critic Jay Rosen has pointed out.
“The Republican Party and the Trump campaign and the MAGA coalition are going to have to produce confusion and doubt on a scale that is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before,” Rosen told me in a recent conversation. “The key for the Trump campaign is to create confusion, not belief. And that’s what we’re going to see in the months ahead: the massive effort to create doubt and confusion about things that are overwhelmingly clear from the public record.”
Trump’s message this weekend is a perfect encapsulation of the strategy. It doesn’t exonerate him in any way. But it is supposed to chip away at the authority of the media outlets that cover him. The accumulated weight of these niggles is meant to dissuade persuadable voters from believing ... anything.
Surrounding a little bit of truth with a lot of misleading other stuff helps create distrust
Trump does have the smallest of points with respect to his Saturday tweet: At various points in his April 23 press conference, he was indeed addressing Bill Bryan, an official from the Department of Homeland Security, who had given a presentation about how sunlight might affect the coronavirus.
In the viral clip where Trump muses about bringing UV light inside the body or using an “injection” of disinfectant, Trump is talking to Bryan, who is sitting next to Birx, but mostly obscured by Trump’s podium.
"The disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning. It gets in the lungs" -- Trump seems to suggests that injecting disinfectant inside people could be a treatment for the coronavirus pic.twitter.com/amis9Rphsm — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 23, 2020
And the viral clip of Birx reacting to Trump’s comments can make it appear as if he was talking to her:
On the other hand, Trump did indeed spend some of the press conference telling Birx she should be looking into his idea that you could “apply light and heat to cure.”
Get a load of Dr. Birx's demeanor after Trump tells her, "I would like you to speak to the medical doctors to see if there's any way that you can apply light and heat to cure [coronavirus]." pic.twitter.com/TP0QoSzkYl — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 23, 2020
It’s even spelled out in the White House’s transcript of the event:
THE PRESIDENT: Deborah, have you ever heard of that? The heat and the light, relative to certain viruses, yes, but relative to this virus? DR. BIRX: Not as a treatment. I mean, certainly fever — THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. DR. BIRX: — is a good thing. When you have a fever, it helps your body respond. But not as — I’ve not seen heat or (inaudible). THE PRESIDENT: I think it’s a great thing to look at. I mean, you know. Okay?
But of course it doesn’t matter at all whether Trump was speaking to Birx or Bryan during the event. What matters is that he was telling government officials — on camera, at his press conference — that he has nonsensical and potentially dangerous ideas about how Americans should respond to the pandemic.
Trump first floated his “I was talking to him, not her” defense on Friday, but that was only in passing. At the time, he was focused on his argument that his light/disinfectant theories weren’t theories at all — he was being sarcastic.
TRUMP: I was looking at you yesterday when I was being sarcastic about disinfectants
JEFF MASON: I wasn't there yesterday
ANOTHER REPORTER: You were looking at Dr Birx
TRUMP: I was looking at Bill, the doctor, I was looking at some of the reporters
*changes topic* pic.twitter.com/h8VxIknuey — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 24, 2020
But the sarcasm argument quickly fizzled — even Fox News wouldn’t support it — so Trump has moved on to a new one.
Maybe he’ll stick with it. Maybe he won’t. But the underlying strategy is one the president clearly believes in. He used it separately Saturday over a different point: relitigating whether he called the coronavirus a “hoax,” or if he was calling critics of his slow, ineffective response to the virus a “hoax.”
The Do Nothing Democrats are spending much of their money on Fake Ads. I never said that the CoronaVirus is a “Hoax”, I said that the Democrats, and the way they lied about it, are a Hoax. Also, it did start with “one person from China”, and then grew, & will be a “Miracle” end! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2020
And just in case you missed it, Trump tried it again, seven hours later:
I never said the pandemic was a Hoax! Who would say such a thing? I said that the Do Nothing Democrats, together with their Mainstream Media partners, are the Hoax. They have been called out & embarrassed on this, even admitting they were wrong, but continue to spread the lie! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2020
You can go to the tape on this one, too, and find evidence to support Trump.
On the other hand, if you do watch the same tape, you’ll see that on February 28, Trump was boasting about “losing nobody, so far” to the virus, compared to reports of “35, and 40,000 people — and we’ve lost nobody.”
The CDC now says the virus has killed more than 50,000 in the US.
But, again: Trump and his team don’t expect you to go to the tape or spend more than a second thinking about this.
All they want is for you to doubt the things you see, hear, and read. And they’ll keep at it.