huffpost--2020-03-12--House Democrats Unveil Broad Package To Help Americans Affected By Coronavirus

WASHINGTON , March 11 ( Reuters ) - Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday unveiled a broad package of proposals to help Americans affected by the coronavirus outbreak , while officials suspended public tours through the Capitol building .
The legislation , which Democratic leaders aimed to rush to the House floor for debate and passage on Thursday , would grant workers 14 days of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave , a summary of the bill shows .
Other provisions in the 124-page “ Families First Coronavirus Response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment insurance to furloughed workers and hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding for children ’ s , seniors ’ and other federal nutrition programs .
An additional $ 500 million would be provided to help feed low-income pregnant women or mothers with young children who lose their jobs or are laid off because of the virus outbreak .
Democrats introduced the measure as President Donald Trump announced he would suspend travel for Europe to the United States in his latest bid to contain the coronavirus .
The tours would be suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional official said , adding it was not yet clear when the suspensions would start .
After a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrats earlier on Wednesday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hoped legislation to help Americans navigate through the coronavirus crisis would win the backing of the Trump administration .
“ This vote tomorrow is going to be an act of confidence that ... we ’ re acting on a national health emergency , ” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal said .
Neal said that on Tuesday he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ he surely seemed supportive of the positions I had taken.
” Democrats have refused to back Trump ’ s call for at least temporarily suspending the payroll tax as a way of helping families get through the coronavirus crisis .
They have argued that the proposal is too broad and would not be the most effective way of helping Americans .
If passed by the House and Senate and approved by Trump , the House ’ s bill would result in “ billions ” of dollars of federal funds being dispensed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The additional emergency funds would come on top of the $ 8.3 billion pledged in a bill enacted last week to help develop a coronavirus vaccine , accelerate the provision of medical supplies and test kits across the United States that are in short supply and help foreign countries control the spread of the highly contagious virus , which causes the sometimes fatal respiratory illness COVID-19 .
House Democrats hope to pass this second coronavirus bill through Congress before it begins a scheduled recess at the end of this week .
Additional bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The number of U.S. coronavirus cases has risen steadily and has affected almost three-quarters of U.S. states .
More than 1,000 cases and 32 deaths have been reported .
“ Most of my tours have been canceled because people are not coming , ” Shalala said of her south Florida constituents .
She added that many official meetings are being conducted by telephone “ just because people are not coming to Washington or they ’ ve decided to not leave their offices .
”

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WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday unveiled a broad package of proposals to help Americans affected by the coronavirus outbreak, while officials suspended public tours through the Capitol building.
The legislation, which Democratic leaders aimed to rush to the House floor for debate and passage on Thursday, would grant workers 14 days of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave, a summary of the bill shows.
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Other provisions in the 124-page “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” introduced late on Wednesday include unemployment insurance to furloughed workers and hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding for children’s, seniors’ and other federal nutrition programs.
An additional $500 million would be provided to help feed low-income pregnant women or mothers with young children who lose their jobs or are laid off because of the virus outbreak.
Another $400 million would help local food banks meet increased demand.
The legislation also would guarantee free coronavirus testing for anyone who requires it, including uninsured people.
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Democrats introduced the measure as President Donald Trump announced he would suspend travel for Europe to the United States in his latest bid to contain the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, a Capitol official confirmed that the spreading coronavirus prompted a decision to temporarily stop tourist visits, although the landmark building will remain open for legislative business.
The tours would be suspended through the end of March, a congressional official said, adding it was not yet clear when the suspensions would start.
An estimated 3 million visitors stream through the Capitol annually.
After a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrats earlier on Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hoped legislation to help Americans navigate through the coronavirus crisis would win the backing of the Trump administration.
“This vote tomorrow is going to be an act of confidence that ... we’re acting on a national health emergency,” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal said.
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Neal said that on Tuesday he spoke with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and “he surely seemed supportive of the positions I had taken.”
Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, has also been talking to Mnuchin.
Democrats have refused to back Trump’s call for at least temporarily suspending the payroll tax as a way of helping families get through the coronavirus crisis. They have argued that the proposal is too broad and would not be the most effective way of helping Americans.
If passed by the House and Senate and approved by Trump, the House’s bill would result in “billions” of dollars of federal funds being dispensed, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said.
The additional emergency funds would come on top of the $8.3 billion pledged in a bill enacted last week to help develop a coronavirus vaccine, accelerate the provision of medical supplies and test kits across the United States that are in short supply and help foreign countries control the spread of the highly contagious virus, which causes the sometimes fatal respiratory illness COVID-19.
House Democrats hope to pass this second coronavirus bill through Congress before it begins a scheduled recess at the end of this week. Additional bills could follow later, lawmakers said.
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Its fate in the Republican-led Senate was unclear.
The number of U.S. coronavirus cases has risen steadily and has affected almost three-quarters of U.S. states. More than 1,000 cases and 32 deaths have been reported.
Even before the decision limiting access to the Capitol, the number of visits was falling, said Democratic Representative Donna Shalala, ex-President Bill Clinton’s secretary of health.


huffpost--2020-03-11--New Rochelle Residents Face Uncertainty A Day Into Coronavirus Containment

Less than a day after New York officials placed the suburb of New Rochelle under an official containment over the coronavirus outbreak , residents are still trying to understand what it means for their everyday lives .
Erin Harrell Riley , who lives within the containment zone , had to start working from home , as did her husband , who works in Manhattan .
Their 4-year-old daughter ’ s school shut down last Sunday and their usual babysitter , a student at the nearby Iona College , went back to her hometown after her campus shut down .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Riley , 40 , told HuffPost on Wednesday .
“ The streets are very quiet .
There ’ s not a lot of traffic or cars , but for the most part , there ’ s a sense of calm yet apprehension.
” Last week , Riley assumed based on local news reports that they were living close to the first patient who was diagnosed with the coronavirus in New Rochelle , the epicenter of an outbreak just outside of New York City .
“ New Rochelle is a particular problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference Tuesday night .
“ The numbers have been going up , the numbers continue to go up , the numbers are going up unabated , and we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle.
” “ I was a little taken aback , ” she said .
“ I can imagine communicating this type of information is challenging , [ but ] you would have hoped you could have [ received ] the information on the inside first.
” As of Wednesday afternoon , Riley was still trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine were .
Under Cuomo ’ s order , residents are banned from attending large gatherings at schools , community centers and places of worship within the containment zone .
However , the public roads remain open and residents can move freely to grocery stores .
Riley has been able to visit her elderly father at his home outside of the containment zone to bring him supplies , as he is also not leaving the house .
“ I don ’ t know if we were getting accurate , clear-cut , clean communication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s seen at least one media outlet report incorrect information .
Her husband had to double-check the information on New Rochelle ’ s city website , which debunked the report .
“ It is very important to clarify that this is not an exclusion or quarantine zone .
No one is prohibited from leaving the area , ” he said .
“ It is purely a prohibition on large gatherings in order to make sure that the spread of the virus is mitigated to the greatest degree possible.
” New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus known officially as COVID-19 .
While the state has 173 cases total , 108 of those cases were in New Rochelle .
Cuomo said Tuesday that setting up a containment area in New Rochelle was necessary to slow the spread of the virus .
The containment is scheduled to last until March 25 .

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Less than a day after New York officials placed the suburb of New Rochelle under an official containment over the coronavirus outbreak, residents are still trying to understand what it means for their everyday lives.
Erin Harrell Riley, who lives within the containment zone, had to start working from home, as did her husband, who works in Manhattan. Their 4-year-old daughter’s school shut down last Sunday and their usual babysitter, a student at the nearby Iona College, went back to her hometown after her campus shut down.
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“I believe people are taking this seriously,” Riley, 40, told HuffPost on Wednesday. “The streets are very quiet. There’s not a lot of traffic or cars, but for the most part, there’s a sense of calm yet apprehension.”
Last week, Riley assumed based on local news reports that they were living close to the first patient who was diagnosed with the coronavirus in New Rochelle, the epicenter of an outbreak just outside of New York City.
Her suspicion was confirmed on Tuesday when Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced that he was sending the National Guard to her area.
Riley’s neighborhood was within the containment zone, listed on an official map.
“New Rochelle is a particular problem,” Cuomo said at a press conference Tuesday night. “The numbers have been going up, the numbers continue to go up, the numbers are going up unabated, and we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle.”
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Erin Harrrell Riley learned her quiet residential street was within the coronavirus containment zone after Gov. Andrew Cuomo's press conference Tuesday night. HuffPost US
Riley received the news that she lived within the containment area when she saw the press conference on the news.
“I was a little taken aback,” she said. “I can imagine communicating this type of information is challenging, [but] you would have hoped you could have [received] the information on the inside first.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, Riley was still trying to understand what the official rules of her quarantine were. Under Cuomo’s order, residents are banned from attending large gatherings at schools, community centers and places of worship within the containment zone.
However, the public roads remain open and residents can move freely to grocery stores. Riley has been able to visit her elderly father at his home outside of the containment zone to bring him supplies, as he is also not leaving the house.
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Riley said it has been difficult to find a single specific source of information that keeps her updated on the containment.
“I don’t know if we were getting accurate, clear-cut, clean communication,” Riley told HuffPost, saying she’s seen at least one media outlet report incorrect information. Her husband had to double-check the information on New Rochelle’s city website, which debunked the report.
“Even now, things are still getting a little bit muddled,” Riley added.
In an interview with NPR on Wednesday, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said there was “actually a great deal of confusion about that” when asked how the containment zone worked.
Bramson held a separate news conference, which officials posted to YouTube on Wednesday, to clarify that the containment did not mean the entire area was under quarantine.
“It is very important to clarify that this is not an exclusion or quarantine zone. No one is prohibited from leaving the area,” he said. “It is purely a prohibition on large gatherings in order to make sure that the spread of the virus is mitigated to the greatest degree possible.”
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New York has the second-highest number of reported cases of the virus known officially as COVID-19. While the state has 173 cases total, 108 of those cases were in New Rochelle.
A suburban area that mostly falls within the containment area in New Rochelle, New York, on March 11, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cuomo said Tuesday that setting up a containment area in New Rochelle was necessary to slow the spread of the virus. The containment is scheduled to last until March 25.
“This is literally a matter of life and death,” Cuomo said Tuesday night. “That’s not an overly rhetorical statement.”
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The governor deployed the National Guard to the containment area to clean public places, including schools, and deliver food and supplies to residents.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Riley had not seen any National Guard troops as she ran errands around her town and visited her father outside of the containment zone.
The only change she’s seen in her area is the presence of state police monitoring the area, along with the usual town police.
She also said the main roads, which are typically busy with students and cars, are quieter than usual.
Riley noted that the people in her community don’t seem overly panicked, but they are concerned about what to do next.
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huffpost--2020-03-12--Trump Runs To Travel Ban Comfort Zone But Ignores The Bigger Coronavirus Problems

WASHINGTON – A day after President Donald Trump retreated again to his comfort zone of banning foreigners from the country , his administration still can not explain the ongoing inability to test large numbers of Americans for coronavirus or share whether there is a plan to address a potential shortage of acute-care hospital beds .
“ We ’ re in great shape .
Compared to other places , we are in really good shape , and we want to keep it that way .
That ’ s why I did the ban with respect to Europe , ” Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the visiting prime minister of Ireland , the day after imposing a 30-day ban on most Europeans entering the United States .
But neither Trump nor his top administration officials addressed the continuing difficulty Americans around the country face in getting a test for the coronavirus .
Nor was there discussion about what happens if the number of serious cases spikes — as happened in China , Iran and Italy — and outstrips the number of intensive-care beds available .
“ This is a failing .
It is a failing .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told members of the House Oversight Committee .
“ The idea of anybody getting it easily the way people in other countries are doing it , we ’ re not set up for that .
Do I think we should be ?
Yes .
But we ’ re not.
” “ By next week the number of tests should be in the millions , not the thousands , ” former Vice President Joe Biden said in a prepared speech from Wilmington , Delaware .
“ We can do that , but we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ticking.
” Biden also criticized Trump for dismantling the pandemic response team created by former President Barack Obama , for whom Biden served .
“ It was designed for exactly this scenario .
But for some reason I still don ’ t understand , President Trump eliminated ... that office two years ago , ” Biden said .
Trump has made it one of his top priorities to undo as many of Obama ’ s accomplishments as possible , but he claimed during a news conference last month that he took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people on staff when they weren ’ t immediately needed .
“ We know all the people .
We know all the good people , ” Trump said .
“ Some of the people we cut , they haven ’ t been used for many , many years .
And if ― if we have a need , we can get them very quickly.
” That assertion is but one of a number of misleading claims and outright falsehoods Trump has made during the crisis , as he continues his lifelong habit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even on a matter that affects the lives of hundreds of millions of people .
For weeks , Trump downplayed the danger the virus posed , suggesting that the seasonal flu was worse and claiming it would go away by itself come April .
He even called news coverage about it another “ hoax ” designed to tank the stock markets and damage his reelection chances .
On March 6 , he claimed — falsely — that the delay in getting coronavirus testing kits available was the fault of rules passed under Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta ( during which he wore a campaign hat ) , he ran through a string of falsehoods about the disease , including the claim , “ Anybody that wants a test can get a test.
” Trump during his 2016 campaign called for a complete ban on Muslims from entering the United States .
As president , that became a travel ban from a number of mainly Muslim countries .
When the coronavirus appeared as a new epidemic in China , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had been there — even though many health experts said the effort could not effectively block a virus as contagious and with as long an incubation period as this one .
The logic of this was not entirely clear .
The United Kingdom has more cases of COVID-19 — including its own health minister — than a number of countries in the Schengen zone .
However , the United Kingdom and Ireland both have Trump golf resorts .
During the Oval Office photo opportunity , Trump claimed the U.K. exemption had do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
“ It ’ s got the border .
It ’ s got very strong borders .
And they ’ re doing a very good job .
They don ’ t have very much infection at this point .
And hopefully they ’ ll keep it that way , ” he said .

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WASHINGTON – A day after President Donald Trump retreated again to his comfort zone of banning foreigners from the country, his administration still cannot explain the ongoing inability to test large numbers of Americans for coronavirus or share whether there is a plan to address a potential shortage of acute-care hospital beds.
“We’re in great shape. Compared to other places, we are in really good shape, and we want to keep it that way. That’s why I did the ban with respect to Europe,” Trump said during a White House photo opportunity with the visiting prime minister of Ireland, the day after imposing a 30-day ban on most Europeans entering the United States.
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But neither Trump nor his top administration officials addressed the continuing difficulty Americans around the country face in getting a test for the coronavirus. Nor was there discussion about what happens if the number of serious cases spikes — as happened in China, Iran and Italy — and outstrips the number of intensive-care beds available.
Indeed, on Capitol Hill, the widely respected head of the infectious diseases program at the National Institutes of Health conceded that coronavirus testing has been a failure.
“This is a failing. It is a failing. Let’s admit it,” Anthony Fauci told members of the House Oversight Committee. “The idea of anybody getting it easily the way people in other countries are doing it, we’re not set up for that. Do I think we should be? Yes. But we’re not.”
Neither Trump nor his top administration officials addressed the continuing difficulty Americans around the country face in getting a test for the coronavirus. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Trump’s likely Democratic opponent this November took the opportunity to call for increased immediate testing, as well as the deployment of temporary hospitals for patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
“By next week the number of tests should be in the millions, not the thousands,” former Vice President Joe Biden said in a prepared speech from Wilmington, Delaware. “We can do that, but we are not ready yet, and the clock is ticking.”
Biden also criticized Trump for dismantling the pandemic response team created by former President Barack Obama, for whom Biden served. “It was designed for exactly this scenario. But for some reason I still don’t understand, President Trump eliminated ... that office two years ago,” Biden said.
Trump has made it one of his top priorities to undo as many of Obama’s accomplishments as possible, but he claimed during a news conference last month that he took the action because he did not like having people on staff when they weren’t immediately needed. “We know all the people. We know all the good people,” Trump said. “Some of the people we cut, they haven’t been used for many, many years. And if ― if we have a need, we can get them very quickly.”
That assertion is but one of a number of misleading claims and outright falsehoods Trump has made during the crisis, as he continues his lifelong habit of lying to make himself look good, even on a matter that affects the lives of hundreds of millions of people.
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For weeks, Trump downplayed the danger the virus posed, suggesting that the seasonal flu was worse and claiming it would go away by itself come April. He even called news coverage about it another “hoax” designed to tank the stock markets and damage his reelection chances.
On March 6, he claimed — falsely — that the delay in getting coronavirus testing kits available was the fault of rules passed under Obama. Two days later, on a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (during which he wore a campaign hat), he ran through a string of falsehoods about the disease, including the claim, “Anybody that wants a test can get a test.”
His 11-minute speech from the Oval Office on Wednesday night was similarly an exercise of claiming great success, rather than in laying out a detailed plan, apart from a new travel ban.
Trump during his 2016 campaign called for a complete ban on Muslims from entering the United States. As president, that became a travel ban from a number of mainly Muslim countries. When the coronavirus appeared as a new epidemic in China, Trump responded in late January by banning foreigners who had been there — even though many health experts said the effort could not effectively block a virus as contagious and with as long an incubation period as this one.
Trump nevertheless on Wednesday declared a new ban on foreign nationals from countries in the Schengen Area, which permit free travel across their borders without passport control — a distinction that excludes the United Kingdom, Ireland, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania.
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The logic of this was not entirely clear. The United Kingdom has more cases of COVID-19 — including its own health minister — than a number of countries in the Schengen zone. However, the United Kingdom and Ireland both have Trump golf resorts.
During the Oval Office photo opportunity, Trump claimed the U.K. exemption had do with Britain’s performance keeping out the virus. “It’s got the border. It’s got very strong borders. And they’re doing a very good job. They don’t have very much infection at this point. And hopefully they’ll keep it that way,” he said.


huffpost--2020-03-12--Here Are The Latest Images Showing How The World Is Responding To Coronavirus

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen , countries around the world are responding to the threat .
Some are taking sharp actions , such as limiting travel and closing mass gatherings such as sporting events to the public .
See the latest photos showing reaction to the coronavirus across the world below .
Above : In this handout image provided by UEFA , a soccer match between Valencia CF and Atalanta at Estadio Mestalla kicks off in an empty stadium on March 10 , in Valencia , Spain .
A picture taken on March 13 , 2020 , shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s outer ring .
Albania has stepped up measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus and banned circulation of all cars ( except ambulances and supplies ) for 3 days and urged people to stay home .
Devotees , wearing face masks amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus , arrive to pray at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on March 13 , 2020 .
Iranian firefighters disinfect streets in the capital Tehran in a bid to halt the wild spread of coronavirus on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ esquadra police officer stands on the closed off road near Igualada , Spain , Friday , March 13 , 2020 .
Over 60,000 people awoke Friday in four towns near Barcelona confined to their homes and with police blocking roads .
Workers wearing protective clothing disinfect the main hall of the Parliament , in Ankara Turkey , Friday , March 13 , 2020 , as a precaution against the coronavirus .
Pigeons gather on Piazza del Duomo by Milan ’ s cathedral on March 10 in Milan .
Italy imposed unprecedented national restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 to control the coronavirus .
A news agent reads an Italian newspaper that reads : “ Tutti a casa ” ( Everyone at home ) , inside her newsstand while wearing gloves on March 10 in Salerno , Italy .
Lori Spencer visits her mom Judie Shape , 81 , who Spencer says has tested positive for the coronavirus , at Life Care Center of Kirkland , the Seattle-area nursing home at the epicenter of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreaks in the U.S. , on March 11 .
A worker wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public bus at Transport Company of Bratislava as a precautionary measure against the spread of the coronavirus in Bratislava , Slovakia , on March 11 .

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen, countries around the world are responding to the threat. Some are taking sharp actions, such as limiting travel and closing mass gatherings such as sporting events to the public.
See the latest photos showing reaction to the coronavirus across the world below.
Above: In this handout image provided by UEFA, a soccer match between Valencia CF and Atalanta at Estadio Mestalla kicks off in an empty stadium on March 10, in Valencia, Spain.
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Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images
A South Korean disinfection worker wearing protective clothing sprays anti-septic solution to prevent the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread in a subway station on March 13, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea.
GENT SHKULLAKU via Getty Images
A picture taken on March 13, 2020, shows an aerial view of empty Tirana’s outer ring. Albania has stepped up measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus and banned circulation of all cars (except ambulances and supplies) for 3 days and urged people to stay home.
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NARINDER NANU via Getty Images
Devotees, wearing face masks amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, arrive to pray at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on March 13, 2020.
- via Getty Images
Iranian firefighters disinfect streets in the capital Tehran in a bid to halt the wild spread of coronavirus on March 13, 2020.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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A mosso de esquadra police officer stands on the closed off road near Igualada, Spain, Friday, March 13, 2020. Over 60,000 people awoke Friday in four towns near Barcelona confined to their homes and with police blocking roads.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Workers wearing protective clothing disinfect the main hall of the Parliament, in Ankara Turkey, Friday, March 13, 2020, as a precaution against the coronavirus.
MIGUEL MEDINA via Getty Images
Pigeons gather on Piazza del Duomo by Milan’s cathedral on March 10 in Milan. Italy imposed unprecedented national restrictions on its 60 million people on March 10 to control the coronavirus.
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Ezra Acayan via Getty Images
A disinfection worker sprays antiseptic solution to prevent COVID-19 aboard a fire truck along a street on March 11 in Manila.
Pablo Cuadra via Getty Images
Empty shelves in supermarket at Madrid’s Arganzuela district on March 10.
Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis via Getty Images
Tourists wearing protective masks take a selfie on March 8 in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in Italy.
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Ivan Romano via Getty Images
A news agent reads an Italian newspaper that reads: “Tutti a casa” (Everyone at home), inside her newsstand while wearing gloves on March 10 in Salerno, Italy.
Chalinee Thirasupa / Reuters
Muay Thai fighters perform at Walking Street inside an empty bar, lacking tourists, after the coronavirus outbreak in Pattaya, Thailand, on March 11.
JASON REDMOND / Reuters
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Lori Spencer visits her mom Judie Shape, 81, who Spencer says has tested positive for the coronavirus, at Life Care Center of Kirkland, the Seattle-area nursing home at the epicenter of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreaks in the U.S., on March 11.
Kim Kyung Hoon / Reuters
A boy wearing a hat with a protective screen, following an outbreak of COVID-19, blows soap bubbles at a park in Daegu, South Korea, March 12.
VLADIMIR SIMICEK via Getty Images
A worker wearing protective clothes disinfects an interior of a public bus at Transport Company of Bratislava as a precautionary measure against the spread of the coronavirus in Bratislava, Slovakia, on March 11.
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Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images
Disinfection workers wearing protective gear spray antiseptic solution in a Seoul subway car on March 11 in South Korea.
PHILIP FONG via Getty Images
A face mask-clad airline employee works at the departure hall of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on March 10.
Stefano Mazzola/Awakening via Getty Images
An ecological operator sanitizes a garbage can in Piazza San Marco against coronavirus on March 11, in Venice, Italy.
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MLADEN ANTONOV via Getty Images
An aerial photo shows unused tourist buses parked on a lot near Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on March 8.
Antonio Masiello via Getty Images


huffpost--2020-03-12--Joe Biden Rips Trump Over Coronavirus 'Xenophobia', Unveils His Own Plan

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday took aim at President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the growing coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. , urging elected leaders to follow the recommendations of public health professions and unveiling his own plan to combat the spread of the disease .
“ We will lead by science .
... Downplaying it , being overly dismissive , or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease , ” Biden said in an address from his hometown of Wilmington , Delaware .
“ But neither should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ xenophobia.
” The front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination sought to project calm and stability amid a global pandemic that has disrupted the lives of Americans and threatened an economic recession .
It followed Trump ’ s error-laded Oval Office address on Wednesday night , which caused confusion at home and abroad when the president misstated several of his administration ’ s policies aimed at addressing the outbreak , including a ban on some travel from European countries .
Biden said that labeling COVID-19 a “ foreign virus , ” as Trump called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not displace the accountability for the misjudgments that have taken place so far by the Trump administration.
” “ The coronavirus doesn ’ t have a political affiliation .
It will not discriminate on national origin , race , or zip code .
It will touch people in positions of power , as well as the most vulnerable in society , ” Biden said .
The coronavirus pandemic and Trump ’ s handling of it has become a major issue in the campaign ― and altered the logistics of the presidential campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , canceled rallies in recent days due to the growing outbreak .
Biden is scheduled to hold “ virtual ” events on Friday .
Meanwhile , the location of the much-anticipated one-on-one debate between Biden and Sanders was changed by the Democratic National Committee on Thursday because of coronavirus concerns .
Originally scheduled to take place in Arizona ― which holds a primary on Tuesday ― it now held in a studio in Washington “ in order to reduce cross-country travel , ” the DNC announced .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience and there will be no “ spin room ” ― the gathering place for journalists to hear from campaign officials after the face-off .
In the U.S. , the rapidly expanding global pandemic has already killed dozens and infected at least 1,200 people .
States and localities are reporting major problems with the availability of testing for the disease , a crucial step toward reducing its spread .
Infections have continued to grow , prompting dramatic measures in some states with community outbreaks , including the closure of college campuses , cancellation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on large gatherings .
Trump , targeted with a barrage of criticism following his Wednesday night speech , continued to insist on Thursday that testing for the coronavirus has been going “ very smooth.
” Biden disputed that assertion in his speech , saying the administration ’ s “ failure on testing is colossal.
” He called for more public health funding , more hospital beds to deal with the coming influx of patients , emergency paid leave for workers sidelined by the coronavirus and far more mobile testing sites across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also report the number of tests conducted in the country to the public every day .
“ No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks , ” he added .
“ But when I ’ m president we will be better prepared .
...
I ’ ll always tell you the truth .
This is the responsibility of the president .
”

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Former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday took aim at President Donald Trump’s handling of the growing coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., urging elected leaders to follow the recommendations of public health professions and unveiling his own plan to combat the spread of the disease.
“We will lead by science. ... Downplaying it, being overly dismissive, or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease,” Biden said in an address from his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. “But neither should we panic — or fall back on xenophobia.”
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The front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination sought to project calm and stability amid a global pandemic that has disrupted the lives of Americans and threatened an economic recession. It followed Trump’s error-laded Oval Office address on Wednesday night, which caused confusion at home and abroad when the president misstated several of his administration’s policies aimed at addressing the outbreak, including a ban on some travel from European countries.
Biden said that labeling COVID-19 a “foreign virus,” as Trump called it in his address, “does not displace the accountability for the misjudgments that have taken place so far by the Trump administration.”
“The coronavirus doesn’t have a political affiliation. It will not discriminate on national origin, race, or zip code. It will touch people in positions of power, as well as the most vulnerable in society,” Biden said.
Sanders is also scheduled to deliver his own remarks on the virus on Thursday.
The coronavirus pandemic and Trump’s handling of it has become a major issue in the campaign ― and altered the logistics of the presidential campaign. Biden and his primary rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), canceled rallies in recent days due to the growing outbreak. Biden is scheduled to hold “virtual” events on Friday.
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Meanwhile, the location of the much-anticipated one-on-one debate between Biden and Sanders was changed by the Democratic National Committee on Thursday because of coronavirus concerns. Originally scheduled to take place in Arizona ― which holds a primary on Tuesday ― it now held in a studio in Washington “in order to reduce cross-country travel,” the DNC announced.
It also will no longer feature a live audience and there will be no “spin room” ― the gathering place for journalists to hear from campaign officials after the face-off.
In the U.S., the rapidly expanding global pandemic has already killed dozens and infected at least 1,200 people. States and localities are reporting major problems with the availability of testing for the disease, a crucial step toward reducing its spread. Infections have continued to grow, prompting dramatic measures in some states with community outbreaks, including the closure of college campuses, cancellation of sporting events, and some bans on large gatherings.
Nationally, it has led to the suspensions of the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball seasons and cancellation of Broadway plays.
Trump, targeted with a barrage of criticism following his Wednesday night speech, continued to insist on Thursday that testing for the coronavirus has been going “very smooth.”
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Biden disputed that assertion in his speech, saying the administration’s “failure on testing is colossal.” He called for more public health funding, more hospital beds to deal with the coming influx of patients, emergency paid leave for workers sidelined by the coronavirus and far more mobile testing sites across the country.
He said the White House should also report the number of tests conducted in the country to the public every day.
“Anyone that needs to be tested should be tested at no charge,” Biden said.
“No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks,” he added. “But when I’m president we will be better prepared. ... I’ll always tell you the truth. This is the responsibility of the president.”


huffpost--2020-03-12--Trevor Noah Has An X-Rated Plan To Help You Avoid Coronavirus Infection

“ Daily Show ” host Trevor Noah has some advice for Americans worried about the coronavirus infection spreading across the nation : Don ’ t panic .
“ Some people are letting their panic make them dumb as shit , ” Noah said before showing clips of people panic-buying toilet paper and even fighting over it .
“ I feel like people in First World countries don ’ t know what to panic about , ” he said .
“ Toilet paper ?
Are you shitting me ?
” “ You can use newspaper , you just rub it together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can use paper towels , ” he said .
“ Hell , everyone in America has a dog .
Push comes to shove , you wipe your ass on the dog.
” Noah also issued a warning about coronavirus misinformation and played a clip of a reporter debunking possible cures touted on social media .
“ Drinking bleach , snorting cocaine and masturbating is not the way to cure corona , ” Noah said .
“ It ’ s the way to kick off the most rock-and-roll party of your life.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t cure coronavirus , masturbating just might help .
“ If you stay in and you do that all day , you ’ ll probably have less chance of catching the virus , ” he said .
“ If the CDC really wants people to self-quarantine , forget the Purell .
They should just be handing out lotion.
” Check out more of his segment below :

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“Daily Show” host Trevor Noah has some advice for Americans worried about the coronavirus infection spreading across the nation: Don’t panic.
“Some people are letting their panic make them dumb as shit,” Noah said before showing clips of people panic-buying toilet paper and even fighting over it.
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“I feel like people in First World countries don’t know what to panic about,” he said. “Toilet paper? Are you shitting me?”
Then, Noah offered some other options.
“You can use newspaper, you just rub it together, this is a true thing. You can use paper towels,” he said. “Hell, everyone in America has a dog. Push comes to shove, you wipe your ass on the dog.”
Noah also issued a warning about coronavirus misinformation and played a clip of a reporter debunking possible cures touted on social media.
“Drinking bleach, snorting cocaine and masturbating is not the way to cure corona,” Noah said. “It’s the way to kick off the most rock-and-roll party of your life.”
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He added that while these suggestions won’t cure coronavirus, masturbating just might help.
“If you stay in and you do that all day, you’ll probably have less chance of catching the virus,” he said. “If the CDC really wants people to self-quarantine, forget the Purell. They should just be handing out lotion.”


huffpost--2020-03-12--Bernie Sanders Explains What The Trump Administration Needs To Do About Coronavirus

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) spoke out against President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic , calling it “ ridiculous ” that the administration can ’ t guarantee an “ affordable ” vaccine .
The presidential candidate appeared on “ The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon , ” on Wednesday and spoke candidly about how the United States should tackle some issues associated with the outbreak .
He noted that the country is run by a president who is “ anti-science ” and who subsequently appointed Vice President Mike Pence , who is not “ known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to lead the task force in charge of the disease ; and he went on to say that the country needs someone it can trust to do everything they can to fight this pandemic .
We have to make sure that everybody , right now , feels free when you ’ re sick to go to a doctor , regardless of your income .
And you know what ?
The government will pay that bill .
Number two , we are the only major country on Earth not to guarantee paid medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are people who are sick today , who may actually believe they have symptoms of the coronavirus who are going to work because they have no income .
... We have got to do what every other country on Earth does and guarantee paid family and medical leave and do it right now on an emergency basis .
Sanders also addressed the need for a coronavirus vaccine and the Trump administration ’ s refusal to guarantee it will be “ affordable ” because it has “ got to worry about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crock .
That is ridiculous .
We have got to make sure that when that vaccine comes out , it is available to everybody in this country , regardless of their income , ” he said .
Sanders ’ remarks come on the heels of Trump meeting with executives from Gilead Sciences , Regeneron Pharmaceuticals , Moderna , GlaxoSmithKline , Pfizer , Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi to discuss creating a coronavirus vaccine .
CNBC noted that Trump lauded the companies as the “ biggest in the world ” and the “ most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to implement a drug pricing plan the industry is trying to stave off.
” Sanders also lambasted Trump ’ s rhetoric on the campaign trail and implored him to focus on the issues the country is facing instead of the Democratic primary .
“ What amazes me , here we have a stock market that is collapsing .
You have a coronavirus that is scaring the entire world .
We have climate change , which is a threat to the human planet , and Donald Trump keeps worrying about the Democratic primary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. President , if you watch anything other than Fox [ News ] , I don ’ t know that you do .
Why don ’ t you do your job ?
Pay attention to the needs of the American people .
Don ’ t worry so much about the Democratic primary .
”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) spoke out against President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, calling it “ridiculous” that the administration can’t guarantee an “affordable” vaccine.
The presidential candidate appeared on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon,” on Wednesday and spoke candidly about how the United States should tackle some issues associated with the outbreak.
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He noted that the country is run by a president who is “anti-science” and who subsequently appointed Vice President Mike Pence, who is not “known to be much of a scientist,” to lead the task force in charge of the disease; and he went on to say that the country needs someone it can trust to do everything they can to fight this pandemic.
Sanders then offered some emergency measures the government could take:
We have to make sure that everybody, right now, feels free when you’re sick to go to a doctor, regardless of your income. And you know what? The government will pay that bill. Number two, we are the only major country on Earth not to guarantee paid medical leave. If you can believe it, there are people who are sick today, who may actually believe they have symptoms of the coronavirus who are going to work because they have no income. ... We have got to do what every other country on Earth does and guarantee paid family and medical leave and do it right now on an emergency basis.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has killed more than 4,000 people worldwide and continues to spread rapidly.
Sanders also addressed the need for a coronavirus vaccine and the Trump administration’s refusal to guarantee it will be “affordable” because it has “got to worry about the drug companies.”
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“That is a crock. That is ridiculous. We have got to make sure that when that vaccine comes out, it is available to everybody in this country, regardless of their income,” he said.
Sanders’ remarks come on the heels of Trump meeting with executives from Gilead Sciences, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Moderna, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi to discuss creating a coronavirus vaccine. CNBC noted that Trump lauded the companies as the “biggest in the world” and the “most prestigious,” but also “threatened to implement a drug pricing plan the industry is trying to stave off.”
Sanders also lambasted Trump’s rhetoric on the campaign trail and implored him to focus on the issues the country is facing instead of the Democratic primary.
“What amazes me, here we have a stock market that is collapsing. You have a coronavirus that is scaring the entire world. We have climate change, which is a threat to the human planet, and Donald Trump keeps worrying about the Democratic primary,” he said.
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huffpost--2020-06-05--12 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

12 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

We ’ re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of May 30 to June 6 .
@ @ @ @ @ Above : Demonstrators took part in a protest Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles , sparked @ @ @ @ @ Floyd .

We’re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of May 30 to June 6. Check them out below.
Above: Demonstrators took part in a protest Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles, sparked by the death of George Floyd.


huffpost--2020-06-05--What You Should Know About Flying Right Now

Just because summer has unofficially begun doesn ’ t mean summer travel should be starting up anytime soon .
At this stage of the coronavirus pandemic , public health experts still do not recommend nonessential travel , and that includes flying .
“ It is important to avoid air travel because it inherently involves spending time in places where others have passed through every day such as airports , public restrooms , and of course airplanes , ” said Sachin Nagrani , a physician and medical director for the telemedicine and house call provider Heal .
Nevertheless , passengers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Transportation Security Administration screened 304,436 people at American airports .
( On the same weekday one year ago , that number was more than 2.3 million , so air travel is still significantly down . )
If you must take a flight at this time , there are ways to mitigate the risks and help protect your health and safety and that of your fellow travelers .
Below , Nagrani and Jeremy Tarr , digital editorial director of Fodor ’ s Travel , share their guidance for safe air travel right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think everyone needs to realize that it ’ s going to be very , very different than what they ’ re used to , ” said Tarr .
“ It ’ s going to feel weird , it might feel uncomfortable , and , depending on the person , it might feel really scary.
” “ If you must fly , consider your local travel method to and from the airport and any rules that the airport may have instituted for safety , such as modified pick-up and drop-off procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airport website , ” Nagrani advised .
If possible , drive yourself to the airport or have someone in your household drop you off .
You can take car services like Uber and Lyft , which require drivers and passengers to wear face masks , but you may want to wipe down your surroundings .
Public transit is less costly but exposes you to more risk .
To slow the spread of the virus , public officials advise wearing a mask in public spaces , including airports and airplanes .
Most airlines mandate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their flights , and many airports require them inside the terminal .
“ Wear a mask at all times , unless told by TSA or some other official to lower it for identification purposes , ” Tarr advised .
It may not be the most comfortable accessory for long periods of time , but this is an important way to protect the safety of you and your fellow travelers .
To minimize risk , airlines have severely limited their food and beverage services , so be sure to fill your water bottle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board .
Consider taking some vitamin C and other immune-boosting vitamins or nutrients before the journey , too .
Social distance as best you can .
“ Airports were never particularly fun , and now they ’ re even worse .
But the key is to follow the same protocols you do pretty much everywhere else right now , ” Tarr noted .
“ Keep your distance , and if someone else isn ’ t keeping their distance , politely say something.
” Practice social distancing to the best of your ability at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which may be a little different as well .
“ Talk to the flight crew and to see what can be arranged , ” said Tarr .
“ United is sending alerts to passengers 24 hours in advance if their flight hits 70 % capacity and is allowing you to choose a different flight.
” The TSA is now allowing each passenger to carry one 12-oz .
container of hand sanitizer through security , so you ’ ll be able to disinfect your hands frequently .
Many airports also have sanitizer stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest guidelines .

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Just because summer has unofficially begun doesn’t mean summer travel should be starting up anytime soon. At this stage of the coronavirus pandemic, public health experts still do not recommend nonessential travel, and that includes flying.
“It is important to avoid air travel because it inherently involves spending time in places where others have passed through every day such as airports, public restrooms, and of course airplanes,” said Sachin Nagrani, a physician and medical director for the telemedicine and house call provider Heal.
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Nevertheless, passengers are flying in the U.S. On Wednesday, the Transportation Security Administration screened 304,436 people at American airports. (On the same weekday one year ago, that number was more than 2.3 million, so air travel is still significantly down.)
If you must take a flight at this time, there are ways to mitigate the risks and help protect your health and safety and that of your fellow travelers. Below, Nagrani and Jeremy Tarr, digital editorial director of Fodor’s Travel, share their guidance for safe air travel right now.
Prepare for it to feel different.
“I think everyone needs to realize that it’s going to be very, very different than what they’re used to,” said Tarr. “It’s going to feel weird, it might feel uncomfortable, and, depending on the person, it might feel really scary.”
Still, he added, most airlines are making an effort to keep passengers feeling safe and are receptive to concerns.
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“Research what your airline has done before you book your flight and especially before you board,” he suggested.
Choose a safe transit method to the airport.
“If you must fly, consider your local travel method to and from the airport and any rules that the airport may have instituted for safety, such as modified pick-up and drop-off procedures, which can be found on the airport website,” Nagrani advised.
If possible, drive yourself to the airport or have someone in your household drop you off. You can take car services like Uber and Lyft, which require drivers and passengers to wear face masks, but you may want to wipe down your surroundings. Public transit is less costly but exposes you to more risk.
Wear a mask at all times.
To slow the spread of the virus, public officials advise wearing a mask in public spaces, including airports and airplanes. Most airlines mandate that passengers wear masks for the duration of their flights, and many airports require them inside the terminal.
“Wear a mask at all times, unless told by TSA or some other official to lower it for identification purposes,” Tarr advised. It may not be the most comfortable accessory for long periods of time, but this is an important way to protect the safety of you and your fellow travelers.
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Bring your own provisions.
To minimize risk, airlines have severely limited their food and beverage services, so be sure to fill your water bottle at the airport to stay hydrated on board. Consider taking some vitamin C and other immune-boosting vitamins or nutrients before the journey, too.
Many airport shops and restaurants are still closed, so you may also want to bring your own snacks from home for your travels.
SOPA Images via Getty Images A sign reminding passengers to stay six feet apart at a screening checkpoint at Orlando International Airport on May 21, 2020.
Social distance as best you can.
“Airports were never particularly fun, and now they’re even worse. But the key is to follow the same protocols you do pretty much everywhere else right now,” Tarr noted. “Keep your distance, and if someone else isn’t keeping their distance, politely say something.”
Plexiglass partitions between passengers and crew are more common, and there are some changes in the security processes, like more staggered lanes and spacing between individuals.
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Practice social distancing to the best of your ability at the gate and throughout the boarding process, which may be a little different as well.
“One thing you’ll most likely experience is that planes are being boarded from the rear to ensure that passengers limit interactions with one another,” said Tarr.
Brace for close quarters.
While there are significantly fewer people flying right now, there are also fewer flights and routes in service, so planes aren’t as empty as they looked in mid-March.
In fact, some passengers on recent flights have complained on Twitter about the number of people on board. If you’re concerned about in-flight spacing, you can discuss your options with airline employees.
“Talk to the flight crew and to see what can be arranged,” said Tarr. “United is sending alerts to passengers 24 hours in advance if their flight hits 70% capacity and is allowing you to choose a different flight.”
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Clean your hands frequently.
The TSA is now allowing each passenger to carry one 12-oz. container of hand sanitizer through security, so you’ll be able to disinfect your hands frequently. Many airports also have sanitizer stations in the terminals.
Tarr also recommends proper hand-washing at the airport. “I know airport bathrooms are often shockingly, revoltingly disgusting ― but most of them have sensors for soap and water,” he said.
Limit touching surfaces.
“Before travel, consider checking in online and downloading a boarding pass for low-touch experience,” Nagrani advised. Avoid touching any surfaces unless needed.
You can also cut down on the risk of touching surfaces by wearing gloves, but the CDC guidance doesn’t deem them necessary.
Wipe down your seat area.
You don’t have to go full-on Naomi Campbell, but it doesn’t hurt to wipe down your seat area when you board a flight.
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Many airlines have shared ways they’re stepping up their cleaning procedures, with measures like high-grade disinfectant, more frequent cleanings and electrostatic spraying.
Keep up with the latest guidelines.
As experts learn more about the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, guidelines change.


huffpost--2020-06-05--Mark Hamill's 'Star Wars' Surprise Brings Nurse To Tears

One nurse just got a gift from a galaxy far , far away .
As the coronavirus pandemic continues , “ Jimmy Kimmel Live !
” has been paying tribute to health care workers , and on Thursday ’ s show the spotlight was on Chloé Ducos , a San Diego nurse and major “ Star Wars ” fan .
Ducos has seen the “ Star Wars ” movies more than 10 times , she admits to Jimmy Kimmel , though nowadays she is spending time on the front lines of a battle closer to home .
The nurse told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administering COVID-19 tests , inevitably picking patients ’ boogers in the process , before the comedian said he had someone special to introduce her to .
Then , Luke Skywalker himself , Mark Hamill , made an appearance ― as did this reaction from Ducos : “ Chloé , the Force is strong with you , ” Hamill said .
“ I applaud you for having seen the ‘ Star Wars ’ movies more than I have.
” During the segment , Hamill praised Ducos for being a real-life hero , as she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kimmel then gifted Ducos with $ 10,000 through PayPal and PayPal vouchers for her co-workers while Hamill added a signed lightsaber .
The Force is strong with all of them .

One nurse just got a gift from a galaxy far, far away.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has been paying tribute to health care workers, and on Thursday’s show the spotlight was on Chloé Ducos, a San Diego nurse and major “Star Wars” fan.
Ducos has seen the “Star Wars” movies more than 10 times, she admits to Jimmy Kimmel, though nowadays she is spending time on the front lines of a battle closer to home. The nurse told the host she works in a tent administering COVID-19 tests, inevitably picking patients’ boogers in the process, before the comedian said he had someone special to introduce her to.
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Then, Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, made an appearance ― as did this reaction from Ducos:
“Chloé, the Force is strong with you,” Hamill said. “I applaud you for having seen the ‘Star Wars’ movies more than I have.”
During the segment, Hamill praised Ducos for being a real-life hero, as she continually wiped away tears from her eyes. Kimmel then gifted Ducos with $10,000 through PayPal and PayPal vouchers for her co-workers while Hamill added a signed lightsaber.
The Force is strong with all of them.


huffpost--2020-06-03--How To Talk To Kids About Racism And The George Floyd Protests

First and foremost , do NOT avoid talking about what ’ s happening right now .
Some parents may not feel ready to have “ the talk ” with their kids about racial conflict and police brutality and how it will impact them ; others have grown up steeped in a problematic “ colorblind ” ideology and feel unsure about how to lead open , frank conversations with their own kids .
Also , all parents just naturally want to shield their children from anger and violence .
In part , that ’ s because kids are so much more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for .
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics ( AAP ) , babies ’ brains can pick up racial differences by the time they ’ re 6 months old , and between the ages of 2 and 4 most kids can internalize racial bias .
By age 12 ?
“ Many children become set in their beliefs , ” the AAP says .
Before you sit down to talk with your kid about race , racism and the current protests , it ’ s important to spend some time thinking about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might feel overwhelmed if they haven ’ t really thought it out , ” Stevenson said .
“ I think those who have thought it out are going to be much more useful.
” A few pointers : Try and be calm ( though it ’ s also OK to show your emotions ) ; try and be factual ; and really consider your child ’ s age and personality when determining what level of detail you want to get into .
But don ’ t shy away from the really thorny stuff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say something like , ” ‘ Some police are very good and kind , and some [ do ] not always follow the rules , ’ ” Stevenson said .
Use that as a jumping off point to talk about examples that apply to their lives right now .
Talk to your kid about how you ’ d like them to respond or behave if someone calls them a racial slur or if they witness someone calling a friend a racial slur , Stevenson said .
Kids have a lot of questions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about race more broadly — and that ’ s a good thing , according to the experts .
Don ’ t feel like you have to know all of the answers right away , and don ’ t shut down any questions they have , even if they feel hard or frightening .
Model the behavior you ’ d like to see .
They ’ ll pay attention to your more deliberate actions as well , which is why many parents opt to take their children to protests .
( Here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely during the COVID-19 pandemic . )
Now is a good time to talk to them about what activism means to you and your family , and to invite them to participate .
“ Protest is really about having a voice , so bring it down to their level .
Say , ‘ Have you ever felt the need to put your foot down and speak up for something that wasn ’ t right or fair ?
’ ” said Patel .
Make sure this is an ongoing conversation .

MARK FELIX via Getty Images
As the protests over the killing of George Floyd continue nationwide, many parents are struggling with how exactly to discuss it all with their kids — particularly their young kids.
Parents know it is vital to teach their kids about race, racism and police brutality. But those conversations are hard and the stakes are incredibly high.
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HuffPost Parents spoke with two experts who provided some basic guidance for parents as they talk to their children about the current national outrage, and the ongoing struggle against racism in America.
First and foremost, do NOT avoid talking about what’s happening right now.
Some parents may not feel ready to have “the talk” with their kids about racial conflict and police brutality and how it will impact them; others have grown up steeped in a problematic “colorblind” ideology and feel unsure about how to lead open, frank conversations with their own kids. Also, all parents just naturally want to shield their children from anger and violence.
But experts said that just about the worst thing parents can do is avoid talking about what’s happening in the United States right now, and about racism more broadly.
“I would always argue for the earlier, the better for having these conversations,” said Howard Stevenson, a professor of urban education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.
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In part, that’s because kids are so much more aware than we often give them credit for. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies’ brains can pick up racial differences by the time they’re 6 months old, and between the ages of 2 and 4 most kids can internalize racial bias. By age 12? “Many children become set in their beliefs,” the AAP says.
The window to profoundly shape how children perceive and react to racial bias is brief. Have a plan.
“Embrace their curiosity. There is no taboo topic.” - Reena Patel, educational psychologist
Before you sit down to talk with your kid about race, racism and the current protests, it’s important to spend some time thinking about what you want to say. “Parents might feel overwhelmed if they haven’t really thought it out,” Stevenson said. “I think those who have thought it out are going to be much more useful.”
A few pointers: Try and be calm (though it’s also OK to show your emotions); try and be factual; and really consider your child’s age and personality when determining what level of detail you want to get into.
But don’t shy away from the really thorny stuff, like police brutality. You could say something like, ”‘Some police are very good and kind, and some [do] not always follow the rules,’” Stevenson said. Use that as a jumping off point to talk about examples that apply to their lives right now. Talk to your kid about how you’d like them to respond or behave if someone calls them a racial slur or if they witness someone calling a friend a racial slur, Stevenson said.
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Encourage questions.
Kids have a lot of questions about the protests, about George Floyd and about race more broadly — and that’s a good thing, according to the experts. Don’t feel like you have to know all of the answers right away, and don’t shut down any questions they have, even if they feel hard or frightening.
“Embrace their curiosity,” said Reena Patel, an educational psychologist. “There is no taboo topic.”
One effective response if you want to think about things a bit more? Some version of: “That’s a great question! Let’s try and learn more about that together.”
Model the behavior you’d like to see.
Just about every parent knows that kids not only pay attention to what you say; they pay extremely close attention to what you do.
“It’s often true that children bring up racial stuff to parents before parents bring it up to them, and that is another way children learn about race — by watching how their parents react,” said Stevenson.
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“Parents, this can be a really good time to reexamine your own behaviors and biases.”
They’ll pay attention to your more deliberate actions as well, which is why many parents opt to take their children to protests. (Here’s some guidance on how to do so safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.) Now is a good time to talk to them about what activism means to you and your family, and to invite them to participate.
“Protest is really about having a voice, so bring it down to their level. Say, ‘Have you ever felt the need to put your foot down and speak up for something that wasn’t right or fair?’” said Patel.
Make sure this is an ongoing conversation.


huffpost--2020-06-05--Coronavirus Live Updates: Read The Latest About The COVID-19 Outbreak

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and the measures being taken to flatten the curve of transmission .
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below .
( To see the latest updates , you may need to refresh the page .
All times are Eastern .
For earlier updates on the pandemic , go here . )
Canada Extends U.S. Border Restrictions , Lifts Some Travel Restrictions For Immediate Family Members — 6/8/20 , 1:30 p.m .
ET The Canadian government will now allow anyone with immediate family members in Canada to enter the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show symptoms , provided they self-quarantine for 14 days upon arriving .
The loosening restrictions go into effect at midnight Eastern time tonight , the government said , “ to keep families together and support unity while respecting the need for continued vigilance and border measures at this time.
“ The U.S.-Canada border , which has been closed to discretionary travel since March 21 and limited to essential purposes like deliveries of food and medical supplies , will remain restricted through at least June 21 .
Read more on the revised conditions here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New York City Begins Phased Reopening — 6/8/20 , 9:30 a.m .
ET New York City , the area of the U.S. hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic , officially begins its phased reopening process Monday , with a handful of businesses resuming operations .
It ’ s a major milestone for the city , where new COVID-19 cases have plummeted in recent weeks , after peaking in mid-April .
Across New York state , the percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back as positive has leveled off at about 1 % for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Cuomo said over the weekend .
Businesses in phase one of the reopening include manufacturing , wholesale , construction , landscaping and some retail , if they can ensure curbside or contactless pickup .
Employers are required to provide masks to employees and follow cleaning protocols and , under a state executive order , businesses can turn away customers if they are not wearing masks .
About 400,000 New Yorkers are expected to return to work Monday .
Mayor Bill de Blasio and public transit officials have faced fierce criticism for not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure safety on the city ’ s buses and subways .
They initially told riders to make their own decisions on whether they feel comfortable taking mass transit , or recommended commuting via car instead , even though most workers do not have the means to do so .
Since then , the city has pledged to make masks and hand sanitizer available at stations and will increase the frequency of buses and trains to limit crowding .
The subway system will remain closed from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. each night until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinfect the trains .
Study : Shutdowns Prevented 60 Million Infections In U.S. – 6/8/20 , 7:40 a.m .
ET Coronavirus restrictions such as stay-at-home orders prevented about 4.8 million confirmed infections ( and about 60 million total infections ) in the U.S. , according to a study published Monday in the scientific journal Nature .
In their study , researchers at the University of California at Berkeley examined the effects of 1,717 local , regional and national policies on the growth rate of infections in six countries : China , France , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S .
They found that the combined effect of these policies reduced the infection rate by “ a substantial and statistically significant amount.
” There have been over 1.9 million documented cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. and more than 110,000 deaths , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Brazil Hides Soaring Death Toll As Government Takes Down Key Data – 6/8/20 , 6:15 a.m .
The Brazilian government has been accused of “ masking ” the deadly impact of the pandemic after the health ministry removed months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tracking COVID-19 .
The ministry also stopped giving a total count of confirmed cases , which have shot past 685,000 – more than anywhere outside the United States – or a total death toll , which passed Italy this week , and was nearing 38,000 on Sunday .
“ The cumulative data ... does not reflect the moment the country is in , ” President Jair Bolsonaro said on Twitter .
Neither Bolsonaro nor the ministry gave a reason for erasing most of the data on the covid.saude.gov.br website , which had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Diego Iraheta , the Editor-in-Chief of HuffPost Brazil , wrote in an editorial that the move was “ yet another attack on the free press ” in the country .
“ The Bolsonaro government is trying to mask the dramatic reality of the pandemic in Brazil .
It acts with intent to restrict access to public information about public health , which should be easily available to the press to report the ( increasing ) size of the problem , ” Iraheta wrote .
Bolsonaro has long played down the dangers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the health ministry with military officials and argued against state lockdowns to fight the virus , hobbling the country ’ s public health response .
UK Travel Quarantine Comes Into Force – 6/8/20 , 5:45 a.m .
ET Arrivals into Britain are now required to self-isolate for two weeks under new government rules , in a bid to prevent a second wave of COVID-19 .
All passengers – bar a handful of exemptions – will have to fill out an online locator form giving their contact and travel details , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolate .
People who fail to comply could be fined £1,000 ( $ 1,260 ) in England , and police will be allowed to use “ reasonable force ” to make sure they follow the rules .
The plans have been met with strong criticism from opposition parties as well as the travel industry .
British Airways has begun legal proceedings over what it calls the government ’ s “ unlawful ” quarantine measures .
Speaking about the quarantine for international arrivals , Ryanair boss Michael O ’ Leary said : “ What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those countries have a much lower COVID rate than the UK.
” He added : “ Millions of jobs are going to be lost in British tourism because British hotels , British guest houses , British visitor attractions – all over London , the Globe , the London Eye , Madame Tussauds – will be empty , because the hundreds of thousands of Italians and Spanish and French people you get coming to Britain every July and August simply won ’ t travel.
” Read more .
New Zealand Appears To Have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
ET With the recovery of its last known COVID-19 case , New Zealand appears to have eradicated the coronavirus .
The nation of 5 million people will lift almost all lockdown restrictions but keep strict border controls in place , Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday .
Ardern said she did a little dance in her living room when she heard the news .
“ We can hold public events without limitations .
Private events such as weddings , functions and funerals without limitations , ” Ardern said .
“ Retail is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without limitations .
Public transport and travel across the country is fully opened.
” Experts say that New Zealand ’ s remote location and Ardern ’ s quick action to lock down the country helped it eliminate the spread of the disease .
New Zealand has had 1,504 cases of the disease , with 22 deaths .
There have now been at least 400,000 coronavirus-linked deaths reported worldwide , as the number of documented cases globally inches toward 7 million , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Roughly a quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — have occurred in the United States , largely within New York , New Jersey and Massachusetts .
The U.S. has the highest number of documented cases and deaths in the world .
Nearly 2 million cases have been reported nationwide as of Sunday , though experts believe that number is likely an undercount .
Coronavirus cases have spiked in some states , including Texas , Utah and Arizona , as local governments begin reopening their economies .
More than half of the COVID-19 cases in Utah happened in the last 30 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Texas ’ biggest cities recorded new cases this past week , ABC News reported : Dallas County had 298 new cases while Harris County , home to Houston , had 108 .
Arizona also hit a new record number of cases , bringing the state total to 25,451 on Saturday , according to Arizona Central .
NYC Sees Significant Drop In Coronavirus Deaths ― 6/5/20 , 11:00 a.m .
ET New York City , which has had the highest rates of coronavirus infections and deaths in the U.S. , saw its biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newly released records put out by the city show there were zero confirmed coronavirus deaths Wednesday , the New York Daily News reports .
However , three deaths were listed as having a “ probable ” connection to COVID-19 , which may later be reclassified to count as coronavirus-related deaths .
The first confirmed death from the virus in the city occurred March 11 .
The death toll hit its peak on April 7 , with 570 deaths in one day .
Fauci Says Protests Are ‘ Perfect Set-Up ’ For Coronavirus ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests continue across the country demanding police accountability and justice for the death of George Floyd , the nation ’ s top infectious diseases expert is warning of the potential health risks .
Dr. Anthony Fauci told WTOP about the likelihood of the coronavirus spreading during nationwide protests attended by thousands of people at a time .
“ It ’ s a perfect set-up for further spread of the virus in terms of creating some blips that could turn into some surges , ” he told WTOP .
“ There certainly is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reducing your risk for contracting coronavirus while protesting here .
Brazil Death Toll Passes Yet Another Grim Milestone — 6/5/20 , 4:00 a.m .
ET

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and the measures being taken to flatten the curve of transmission.
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below. (To see the latest updates, you may need to refresh the page. All times are Eastern. For earlier updates on the pandemic, go here.)
Canada Extends U.S. Border Restrictions, Lifts Some Travel Restrictions For Immediate Family Members — 6/8/20, 1:30 p.m. ET
The Canadian government will now allow anyone with immediate family members in Canada to enter the country if they do not have COVID-19 or show symptoms, provided they self-quarantine for 14 days upon arriving.
The loosening restrictions go into effect at midnight Eastern time tonight, the government said, “to keep families together and support unity while respecting the need for continued vigilance and border measures at this time.“The U.S.-Canada border, which has been closed to discretionary travel since March 21 and limited to essential purposes like deliveries of food and medical supplies, will remain restricted through at least June 21.
Read more on the revised conditions here.
— Marina Fang
Once The Epicenter Of The Pandemic, New York City Begins Phased Reopening — 6/8/20, 9:30 a.m. ET
New York City, the area of the U.S. hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, officially begins its phased reopening process Monday, with a handful of businesses resuming operations.
It’s a major milestone for the city, where new COVID-19 cases have plummeted in recent weeks, after peaking in mid-April. Across New York state, the percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back as positive has leveled off at about 1% for the past few days, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said over the weekend.
Businesses in phase one of the reopening include manufacturing, wholesale, construction, landscaping and some retail, if they can ensure curbside or contactless pickup. Employers are required to provide masks to employees and follow cleaning protocols and, under a state executive order, businesses can turn away customers if they are not wearing masks.
About 400,000 New Yorkers are expected to return to work Monday. Mayor Bill de Blasio and public transit officials have faced fierce criticism for not coming up with a robust plan to ensure safety on the city’s buses and subways. They initially told riders to make their own decisions on whether they feel comfortable taking mass transit, or recommended commuting via car instead, even though most workers do not have the means to do so.
Since then, the city has pledged to make masks and hand sanitizer available at stations and will increase the frequency of buses and trains to limit crowding. The subway system will remain closed from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. each night until further notice so that transit workers can disinfect the trains.
— Marina Fang
Study: Shutdowns Prevented 60 Million Infections In U.S. – 6/8/20, 7:40 a.m. ET
Coronavirus restrictions such as stay-at-home orders prevented about 4.8 million confirmed infections (and about 60 million total infections) in the U.S., according to a study published Monday in the scientific journal Nature.
In their study, researchers at the University of California at Berkeley examined the effects of 1,717 local, regional and national policies on the growth rate of infections in six countries: China, France, Iran, Italy, South Korea and the U.S. They found that the combined effect of these policies reduced the infection rate by “a substantial and statistically significant amount.”
There have been over 1.9 million documented cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. and more than 110,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
— Hayley Miller
Brazil Hides Soaring Death Toll As Government Takes Down Key Data – 6/8/20, 6:15 a.m.
The Brazilian government has been accused of “masking” the deadly impact of the pandemic after the health ministry removed months of data from a website that had been tracking COVID-19.
The ministry also stopped giving a total count of confirmed cases, which have shot past 685,000 – more than anywhere outside the United States – or a total death toll, which passed Italy this week, and was nearing 38,000 on Sunday.
“The cumulative data ... does not reflect the moment the country is in,” President Jair Bolsonaro said on Twitter. Neither Bolsonaro nor the ministry gave a reason for erasing most of the data on the covid.saude.gov.br website, which had been a key public resource for tracking COVID-19.
Diego Iraheta, the Editor-in-Chief of HuffPost Brazil, wrote in an editorial that the move was “yet another attack on the free press” in the country.
“The Bolsonaro government is trying to mask the dramatic reality of the pandemic in Brazil. It acts with intent to restrict access to public information about public health, which should be easily available to the press to report the (increasing) size of the problem,” Iraheta wrote.
Bolsonaro has long played down the dangers of the pandemic, replaced medical experts in the health ministry with military officials and argued against state lockdowns to fight the virus, hobbling the country’s public health response.
— James Martin
UK Travel Quarantine Comes Into Force – 6/8/20, 5:45 a.m. ET
Arrivals into Britain are now required to self-isolate for two weeks under new government rules, in a bid to prevent a second wave of COVID-19. All passengers – bar a handful of exemptions – will have to fill out an online locator form giving their contact and travel details, as well as the address of where they will isolate.
People who fail to comply could be fined £1,000 ($1,260) in England, and police will be allowed to use “reasonable force” to make sure they follow the rules.
The plans have been met with strong criticism from opposition parties as well as the travel industry. British Airways has begun legal proceedings over what it calls the government’s “unlawful” quarantine measures.
Speaking about the quarantine for international arrivals, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said: “What’s irrational about it is all of those countries have a much lower COVID rate than the UK.”
He added: “Millions of jobs are going to be lost in British tourism because British hotels, British guest houses, British visitor attractions – all over London, the Globe, the London Eye, Madame Tussauds – will be empty, because the hundreds of thousands of Italians and Spanish and French people you get coming to Britain every July and August simply won’t travel.” Read more.
— James Martin
New Zealand Appears To Have Eradicated Virus — 6/8/2020, 2:50 a.m. ET
With the recovery of its last known COVID-19 case, New Zealand appears to have eradicated the coronavirus. The nation of 5 million people will lift almost all lockdown restrictions but keep strict border controls in place, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday.
Ardern said she did a little dance in her living room when she heard the news. “We can hold public events without limitations. Private events such as weddings, functions and funerals without limitations,” Ardern said. “Retail is back without limitations. Hospitality is back without limitations. Public transport and travel across the country is fully opened.”
Experts say that New Zealand’s remote location and Ardern’s quick action to lock down the country helped it eliminate the spread of the disease. New Zealand has had 1,504 cases of the disease, with 22 deaths.
— Liza Hearon
Number Of Documented COVID-19 Deaths Reaches 400,000 Worldwide — 6/7/20, 10:05 a.m.
There have now been at least 400,000 coronavirus-linked deaths reported worldwide, as the number of documented cases globally inches toward 7 million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Roughly a quarter of those deaths — or about 100,000 — have occurred in the United States, largely within New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. The U.S. has the highest number of documented cases and deaths in the world.
Nearly 2 million cases have been reported nationwide as of Sunday, though experts believe that number is likely an undercount.
—Hayley Miller
Coronavirus Cases Spike In Texas, Utah, Arizona ― 6/6/20, 9:05 p.m.
Coronavirus cases have spiked in some states, including Texas, Utah and Arizona, as local governments begin reopening their economies.
More than half of the COVID-19 cases in Utah happened in the last 30 days, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Texas’ biggest cities recorded new cases this past week, ABC News reported: Dallas County had 298 new cases while Harris County, home to Houston, had 108.
Arizona also hit a new record number of cases, bringing the state total to 25,451 on Saturday, according to Arizona Central.
—Carla Russo
NYC Sees Significant Drop In Coronavirus Deaths ― 6/5/20, 11:00 a.m. ET
New York City, which has had the highest rates of coronavirus infections and deaths in the U.S., saw its biggest drop yet in deaths this week.
Newly released records put out by the city show there were zero confirmed coronavirus deaths Wednesday, the New York Daily News reports. However, three deaths were listed as having a “probable” connection to COVID-19, which may later be reclassified to count as coronavirus-related deaths.
The first confirmed death from the virus in the city occurred March 11. The death toll hit its peak on April 7, with 570 deaths in one day.
— Sebastian Murdock
Fauci Says Protests Are ‘Perfect Set-Up’ For Coronavirus ― 6/5/20, 10:30 a.m. ET
As protests continue across the country demanding police accountability and justice for the death of George Floyd, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert is warning of the potential health risks.
Dr. Anthony Fauci told WTOP about the likelihood of the coronavirus spreading during nationwide protests attended by thousands of people at a time.
“It’s a perfect set-up for further spread of the virus in terms of creating some blips that could turn into some surges,” he told WTOP. “There certainly is a risk.”
Read HuffPost’s guide to reducing your risk for contracting coronavirus while protesting here.
— Sebastian Murdock
Brazil Death Toll Passes Yet Another Grim Milestone — 6/5/20, 4:00 a.m. ET


huffpost--2020-06-05--Ithaca Could Be The First U.S. City To Move Forward On Canceling Rent

Bruce Yuanyue Bi via Getty Images The Ithaca Common Council approved a resolution that would give the mayor the authority to forgive all outstanding rental debt accrued over the last three months .
On Wednesday , the Ithaca Common Council , the city ’ s governing body , approved a resolution that would give the mayor the authority to forgive all outstanding rental debt accrued by tenants and small businesses over the last three months .
The resolution would not affect tenants who have already paid their rent and it would not apply to future rental payments .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to start over from scratch .
“ This is a statement to the state that if they ’ re not going to do something to address this problem , give us the power , ” said Stephen Smith , an alderperson on the Ithaca Common Council who voted for the resolution .
The proposal , which Smith described as a “ last resort , ” must still be approved by the New York State Department of Health .
The measure would also ban evictions in the city , freeze rents at their current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extensions to tenants .
The resolution , which appears to be the first of its kind in the United States , comes amid a nationwide debate about how to address the impacts of the pandemic .
With unemployment hitting nearly unprecedented levels , housing experts and political officials fear a wave of evictions once states begin to lift their temporary eviction bans .
For months , activists have called for cities to cancel rental and mortgage payments and forgive outstanding debts .
“ We ’ re already seeing tenants in Ithaca getting threatened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Cornell student and co-founder of the Ithaca Tenants Union , the organization leading the effort to pass the local resolution .
“ We know that mass evictions lead to mass homelessness .
The state has showed time and time again that they ’ re willing to go to bat for landlords and homeowners .
This is a way of saying that we need to protect the most vulnerable people first.
” The Democratic mayor of Ithaca , Svante Myrick , said that if New York state grants him the authority to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forgive all outstanding payments immediately .
Debt forgiveness would likely be means-tested for renters .
City officials have also called on the state to allocate funds to keep landlords whole .
The resolution , Myrick said , is a tool to force a conversation between landlords , tenants , and state and local officials about how best to distribute the impacts of the coming coronavirus-caused recession .
“ It ’ s become clear that Congress is going to bail out the people at the top and let the people at the bottom drown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea [ of canceling rent ] still has problems but it ’ s better than the reality that we ’ re living in.
” The urgency in passing the resolution came from the looming expiration of New York State ’ s blanket eviction ban on June 20 .
While the current state moratorium prevents all evictions , the next phase of the ban requires tenants to prove that their failure to pay rent was due to the COVID-19 fallout .
Genevieve Rand , an organizer for the Ithaca Tenants Union , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disadvantage renters who don ’ t speak English .
The Ithaca Tenants Union , which was founded late last year , has been advocating for a rental debt cancellation since March .
The organization set up online petitions and organized phone banks for renters to call city officials every 15 minutes .
In late May , it held a protest of more than 100 cars parading through downtown Ithaca .
Even before the pandemic , the issue of affordable housing in the city was becoming more acute .
Average home prices have more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ithacans are renters , nearly 60 % of whom are rent-burdened ( meaning they spend more than 30 % of their income on housing ) .
Ithaca ’ s economy is heavily dependent on college students and tourists and the related service sectors .
All these factors make the city especially vulnerable to the economic impacts of the coronavirus .
“ If you accept that we ’ re experiencing a financial collapse , then the conversation should be about who should experience the effects , ” Rand said .
“ We think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it should be in the higher socioeconomic strata .
They have power to lobby for themselves .
Renters don ’ t. ” “ If other cities are located in states that are failing to act , they should be looking at every tool they can get their hands on to bring people together and avoid mass homelessness , ” he said .
“ We could give money to banks and hope that they ’ re giving loans to small businesses , or we could give money directly to people .
Renters are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the things they need to get by .
They ’ re going to pay it forward , ” said Smith .

The Ithaca Common Council approved a resolution that would give the mayor the authority to forgive all outstanding rental debt accrued over the last three months. Bruce Yuanyue Bi via Getty Images
Ithaca, New York, might become the first U.S. city to cancel rental debt for tenants caught in the coronavirus pandemic’s economic destruction.
On Wednesday, the Ithaca Common Council, the city’s governing body, approved a resolution that would give the mayor the authority to forgive all outstanding rental debt accrued by tenants and small businesses over the last three months. The resolution would not affect tenants who have already paid their rent and it would not apply to future rental payments. But it would allow tenants who have fallen behind to start over from scratch.
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“This is a statement to the state that if they’re not going to do something to address this problem, give us the power,” said Stephen Smith, an alderperson on the Ithaca Common Council who voted for the resolution. The proposal, which Smith described as a “last resort,” must still be approved by the New York State Department of Health. The measure would also ban evictions in the city, freeze rents at their current levels and oblige landlords to offer lease extensions to tenants.
The resolution, which appears to be the first of its kind in the United States, comes amid a nationwide debate about how to address the impacts of the pandemic. With unemployment hitting nearly unprecedented levels, housing experts and political officials fear a wave of evictions once states begin to lift their temporary eviction bans. For months, activists have called for cities to cancel rental and mortgage payments and forgive outstanding debts.
“We’re already seeing tenants in Ithaca getting threatened by landlords,” said Liel Sterling, a Cornell student and co-founder of the Ithaca Tenants Union, the organization leading the effort to pass the local resolution. “We know that mass evictions lead to mass homelessness. The state has showed time and time again that they’re willing to go to bat for landlords and homeowners. This is a way of saying that we need to protect the most vulnerable people first.”
“It’s become clear that Congress is going to bail out the people at the top and let the people at the bottom drown.” - Svante Myrick, mayor of Ithaca
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The Democratic mayor of Ithaca, Svante Myrick, said that if New York state grants him the authority to cancel rental debts, he would not forgive all outstanding payments immediately. Debt forgiveness would likely be means-tested for renters. City officials have also called on the state to allocate funds to keep landlords whole. The resolution, Myrick said, is a tool to force a conversation between landlords, tenants, and state and local officials about how best to distribute the impacts of the coming coronavirus-caused recession.
“It’s become clear that Congress is going to bail out the people at the top and let the people at the bottom drown,” Myrick said. “The idea [of canceling rent] still has problems but it’s better than the reality that we’re living in.”
Organizing During A Pandemic
The urgency in passing the resolution came from the looming expiration of New York State’s blanket eviction ban on June 20. While the current state moratorium prevents all evictions, the next phase of the ban requires tenants to prove that their failure to pay rent was due to the COVID-19 fallout. Genevieve Rand, an organizer for the Ithaca Tenants Union, said the narrower moratorium will burden poor tenants and disadvantage renters who don’t speak English.
“If you don’t show up to court, you get evicted,” Rand said. “If you’re an undocumented worker, you get no protection at all. The new eviction moratorium leaves our most vulnerable people even more vulnerable.”
The Ithaca Tenants Union, which was founded late last year, has been advocating for a rental debt cancellation since March. The organization set up online petitions and organized phone banks for renters to call city officials every 15 minutes. In late May, it held a protest of more than 100 cars parading through downtown Ithaca.
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Experts fear that a wave of evictions driven by the coronavirus pandemic could cause a significant increase in homelessness. David Livingston via Getty Images
Even before the pandemic, the issue of affordable housing in the city was becoming more acute. Average home prices have more than doubled since 1999. Nearly three-quarters of Ithacans are renters, nearly 60% of whom are rent-burdened (meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing). Ithaca’s economy is heavily dependent on college students and tourists and the related service sectors. All these factors make the city especially vulnerable to the economic impacts of the coronavirus.
“If you accept that we’re experiencing a financial collapse, then the conversation should be about who should experience the effects,” Rand said. “We think that if anyone should be impacted, it should be in the higher socioeconomic strata. They have power to lobby for themselves. Renters don’t.”
Rand herself is a barista who was laid off early in the pandemic. Her lease is up next month and she expects the state’s narrower moratorium will give her no protection against eviction.
“I still haven’t been able to get an unemployment or stimulus check,” she said. “It’s the worst possible time to figure out how to make a deposit and pay first month’s rent on a new apartment.”
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If the city’s resolution is approved by the state, Smith, the Common Council member, said he hopes that it can become a nationwide model.
“If other cities are located in states that are failing to act, they should be looking at every tool they can get their hands on to bring people together and avoid mass homelessness,” he said.
“We could give money to banks and hope that they’re giving loans to small businesses, or we could give money directly to people. Renters are going to spend that money on food and the things they need to get by. They’re going to pay it forward,” said Smith.
As for the future of the resolution, it is likely to be an uphill battle. One local landlord has already denounced the initiative as socialism. Another Ithaca alderperson, Ducson Nguyen, told The Ithaca Times that approval at the state level is a “longshot.”
Myrick, for his part, remains optimistic.
“I’m not confident,” he said, “but I’m hopeful.”