huffpost--2020-03-16--Taylor Swift Has A Message For Fans Ignoring Coronavirus Pandemic

Taylor Swift wants her fans to step up and stop being social .
The singer on Sunday night urged her massive following to engage in extreme caution and cancel plans amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Guys - I follow you online and I love you guys so much and need to express my concern that things aren ’ t being taken seriously enough right now , ” she said on her Instagram stories .
“ I ’ m seeing lots of get togethers and hangs and parties still happening .
This is the time to cancel plans , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t assume that because you don ’ t feel sick that you aren ’ t possibly passing something on to someone elderly or vulnerable to this.
” “ It ’ s a really scary time but we need to make social sacrifices right now , ” she said .
Swift ’ s message came on the heels of Ariana Grande lambasting those who dismissed the seriousness of the global pandemic .
Grande also reminded followers that while they might not be the ones getting sick , they could be passing it along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more vulnerable .
“ The ‘ we will be fine because we ’ re young ’ mindset is putting people who aren ’ t young and/or healthy in a lot of danger .
You sound stupid and privileged and you need to care more about others .
Like now , ” she added .
“ well some of us have to work !
” i understand and entirely support your frustration .
i do not mean to disrespect anyone who doesn ’ t have the privilege of cancelled work or being able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this is a national emergency and a pandemic of global proportion .
— Ariana Grande ( @ ArianaGrande ) March 15 , 2020 Also on Sunday , actor Hilary Duff issued a somewhat blunter plea : “ To all you young millennial assholes that keep going out and partying : Go home .
Stop killing old people please.
” Meanwhile , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday advised against attending gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks .
And after a weekend of parades and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country began to announce the closures of restaurants , bars , movie theaters and gyms as cases of COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus , skyrocketed .

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Taylor Swift wants her fans to step up and stop being social.
The singer on Sunday night urged her massive following to engage in extreme caution and cancel plans amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Guys - I follow you online and I love you guys so much and need to express my concern that things aren’t being taken seriously enough right now,” she said on her Instagram stories.
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“I’m seeing lots of get togethers and hangs and parties still happening. This is the time to cancel plans,” Swift wrote, adding, “Don’t assume that because you don’t feel sick that you aren’t possibly passing something on to someone elderly or vulnerable to this.”
“It’s a really scary time but we need to make social sacrifices right now,” she said.
Taylor Swift/Instagram
Swift’s message came on the heels of Ariana Grande lambasting those who dismissed the seriousness of the global pandemic. Grande also reminded followers that while they might not be the ones getting sick, they could be passing it along to others who are older or otherwise more vulnerable.
“Please don’t turn a blind eye,” Grande said. “It is incredibly dangerous and selfish to take this situation that lightly.”
“The ‘we will be fine because we’re young’ mindset is putting people who aren’t young and/or healthy in a lot of danger. You sound stupid and privileged and you need to care more about others. Like now,” she added.
“well some of us have to work!”
i understand and entirely support your frustration. i do not mean to disrespect anyone who doesn’t have the privilege of cancelled work or being able to call out of their work. but, this is a national emergency and a pandemic of global proportion. — Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) March 15, 2020
Also on Sunday, actor Hilary Duff issued a somewhat blunter plea: “To all you young millennial assholes that keep going out and partying: Go home. Stop killing old people please.”
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday advised against attending gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks. And after a weekend of parades and packed bars and gatherings, governors across the country began to announce the closures of restaurants, bars, movie theaters and gyms as cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, skyrocketed.


huffpost--2020-03-16--The Only Way To Protect Elderly Prisoners From Coronavirus Is To Release Them

COVID-19 has officially entered the United States prison system .
Prisoners and prison employees have tested positive for the coronavirus in Pennsylvania and Washington , and a police investigator in New York died from the virus on Sunday , according to the New York City Department of Corrections .
Public health officials have warned of the dangers of the coronavirus spreading in prisons and jails after more than 500 prisoners were infected in China on the onset of the outbreak last month , and now , correctional facilities in the U.S. are faced with the exact circumstances for which they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of concern is the fastest-growing prison population in the United States : people over the age of 55 .
There are currently nearly 125,000 prisoners in this age group ― a number that has quadrupled in the last two decades .
Of those prisoners , more than 26,000 are also over the age of 65 .
And many of them are in crowded facilities where it ’ s nearly impossible to practice the social distancing experts say is vital to slow the spread of the virus .
Compassionate release ― the release of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compelling ” reasons to be released before they ’ ve formally served their time — happens already , but it ’ s rare .
Typically , compassionate release is granted in cases of terminal illness or old age , but exceptionally few cases ― just 6 % ― are actually approved .
“ Biological age is one thing , ” he said , “ but these are people who have had a lot of struggles .
They have the burden of disease of a population that ’ s about 10 years older … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s a risk factor , but other diseases put them at a higher risk of disease outcomes .
It ’ s a very unhealthy population.
” “ It ’ s very clear that the people that are sick and older are at the lowest risk of trouble when they get out if they have enough support , ” he said .
“ We have an opportunity to get a lot of these people out of prisons.
” Judges in Ohio are already taking steps to make this happen .
The Cuyahoga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday morning to decide how to best move forward with guilty pleas , and whether to release the most vulnerable ( and least dangerous ) inmates .
During a public health crisis , mandatory minimums can be a death sentence for that fast-growing population of prisoners over the age of 55 .
In fact , between the years of 2001 and 2007 alone , nearly 8,500 people over the age of 55 died behind bars .
Now , when the best way to combat the spread of infectious disease is through preventive health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing ― all tough thing to achieve in an overcrowded prison ― advocates are concerned that correctional departments won ’ t act fast enough to halt the spread of COVID-19 among the most vulnerable prison population .
Prisoners and their families are often unaware that this is an option in the first place , and when they do inquire about the process , they are often met with “ walls of ignorance or silence or hostility and unkindness , ” said Mary Price , the general counsel of FAMM , a criminal justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act passed in 2018 , compassionate release functioned through the Federal Bureau of Prisons ― a “ toxic set of circumstances , ” according to Price .
But the First Step Act changed the process by which incarcerated people can request compassionate release , namely by allowing prisoners to file their own motions directly to their district courts .
“ For the people who are going to die from this , I don ’ t think there ’ s any way that they could possibly move with the speed that they would need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Price noted .
“ The compassionate release program is not set up for this.
” Meanwhile , prisoner advocates and some prison officials are desperately trying to protect the elderly inmates who remain inside .
The Federal Bureau Of Prisons announced Friday that it would be halting outside visits at all 122 federal facilities .
In Rhode Island , Rich is working to get temporary release for some inmates , and at the very least , get those arrested screened before they ’ re incarcerated .

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COVID-19 has officially entered the United States prison system. Prisoners and prison employees have tested positive for the coronavirus in Pennsylvania and Washington, and a police investigator in New York died from the virus on Sunday, according to the New York City Department of Corrections.
Public health officials have warned of the dangers of the coronavirus spreading in prisons and jails after more than 500 prisoners were infected in China on the onset of the outbreak last month, and now, correctional facilities in the U.S. are faced with the exact circumstances for which they are openly unprepared.
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A major source of concern is the fastest-growing prison population in the United States: people over the age of 55. There are currently nearly 125,000 prisoners in this age group ― a number that has quadrupled in the last two decades. Of those prisoners, more than 26,000 are also over the age of 65. And many of them are in crowded facilities where it’s nearly impossible to practice the social distancing experts say is vital to slow the spread of the virus.
Given the mortal threat to many of these elderly prisoners, an idea that may have seemed radical only weeks ago is now being considered: Just release them.
“We have an opportunity to get a lot of these people out of prisons.” - Dr. Josiah Rich, Brown University
Compassionate release ― the release of prisoners who have developed “extraordinary and compelling” reasons to be released before they’ve formally served their time — happens already, but it’s rare. Typically, compassionate release is granted in cases of terminal illness or old age, but exceptionally few cases ― just 6% ― are actually approved.
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Experts say the doors need to be opened, and now, to avoid mass death inside U.S. prisons and jails.
“We have an aging, highly susceptible population that we’re keeping incarcerated,” Dr. Josiah Rich, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Brown University in Rhode Island, told HuffPost. Rich works in the Rhode Island correctional system, researching infectious disease and providing medical care for HIV-positive inmates and inmates with addiction issues.
“Biological age is one thing,” he said, “but these are people who have had a lot of struggles. They have the burden of disease of a population that’s about 10 years older … Not only are they aging, and that’s a risk factor, but other diseases put them at a higher risk of disease outcomes. It’s a very unhealthy population.”
It is precisely this demographic of older and immunocompromised people who are most likely to die of COVID-19.
Because of this, Rich believes that Iran, which released nearly 54,000 incarcerated people earlier this month, had the right idea.
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“It’s very clear that the people that are sick and older are at the lowest risk of trouble when they get out if they have enough support,” he said. “We have an opportunity to get a lot of these people out of prisons.”
Judges in Ohio are already taking steps to make this happen. The Cuyahoga County Court held a special hearing on Saturday morning to decide how to best move forward with guilty pleas, and whether to release the most vulnerable (and least dangerous) inmates.
A Growing Geriatric Prison Population
In 1993, there were 26,300 prisoners over the age of 55, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. By 2013, there were over 130,000.
That’s an increase of 400%.
This tremendous spike in older and elderly prisoners is the result of harsh sentencing laws passed in the 1990s. Mandatory minimums have resulted in decadeslong sentences and overcrowding in America’s jails and prisons.
During a public health crisis, mandatory minimums can be a death sentence for that fast-growing population of prisoners over the age of 55. In fact, between the years of 2001 and 2007 alone, nearly 8,500 people over the age of 55 died behind bars.
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Now, when the best way to combat the spread of infectious disease is through preventive health care measures, good hygiene and social distancing ― all tough thing to achieve in an overcrowded prison ― advocates are concerned that correctional departments won’t act fast enough to halt the spread of COVID-19 among the most vulnerable prison population.
Compassionate Release And COVID-19
Requesting and securing compassionate release is normally a monthslong process, at the very least.
Prisoners and their families are often unaware that this is an option in the first place, and when they do inquire about the process, they are often met with “walls of ignorance or silence or hostility and unkindness,” said Mary Price, the general counsel of FAMM, a criminal justice reform organization.
Before the First Step Act passed in 2018, compassionate release functioned through the Federal Bureau of Prisons ― a “toxic set of circumstances,” according to Price. But the First Step Act changed the process by which incarcerated people can request compassionate release, namely by allowing prisoners to file their own motions directly to their district courts.
Police stormed a demonstration near the Ministry of Justice building in Rome as people protested the suspension of family visits to prisons due to coronavirus last week. Yara Nardi / Reuters
Because of the lengthy bureaucratic process ― and the speed with which coronavirus is progressing ― it’s unlikely that geriatric prisoners could apply for compassionate release under the current circumstances alone.
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“For the people who are going to die from this, I don’t think there’s any way that they could possibly move with the speed that they would need to move to be released,” Price noted. “The compassionate release program is not set up for this.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana has already called for expedited parole hearings for elderly prisoners to encourage early releases, as well as for the release of people awaiting trial who aren’t considered a risk to public safety.
Meanwhile, prisoner advocates and some prison officials are desperately trying to protect the elderly inmates who remain inside. The Federal Bureau Of Prisons announced Friday that it would be halting outside visits at all 122 federal facilities. In Rhode Island, Rich is working to get temporary release for some inmates, and at the very least, get those arrested screened before they’re incarcerated.
“There are some things that can be done and some things that can’t,” Rich said, before mentioning the deadly prison riots in Italy that followed attempts to contain the coronavirus there. “We saw what happened in Italy … they know they’re sitting ducks, and they’re not happy about it.”
Keep up with the latest updates on the coronavirus at our live blog.


huffpost--2020-03-15--Animal Shelters Call For People To Foster Pets Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

If the COVID-19 pandemic has you spending more time at home , feeling bored and craving company , there may be a purr-fect solution that will also help an animal in need : fostering a pet .
Fostering a pet typically means that an adoptable animal lives with you temporarily while awaiting a more permanent home .
It helps prevent overcrowding in shelters , and can be especially helpful for animals that need special care , like very young kittens or puppies .
And the spread of the novel coronavirus has created a situation where some shelters are especially in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already had to close to the public or cancel events , and many others may need to do so in the coming days ― meaning fewer pets are being adopted out , even as animals continue to come in .
Shelters want to move as many animals as possible off the premises and into foster homes , in case they ’ re hit with staffing shortages as employees and volunteers get sick or need to self-quarantine .
“ If it ’ s a large-scale shelter and you have a skeletal staff , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more of a burden for those folks to have , ” Rayvid said .
“ The less animals that are there , the better work environment for [ staff ] and the better for the animals.
” “ Having a pet around ... is good for your head , ” he said .
“ It ’ s going to take you out of yourself a little bit .
If you get a dog , it ’ s going force you to go outside .
If you get a cat , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some time cuddling.
” Best Friends has a searchable directory of partner shelters and rescue groups that may need fosters , or you can use Google to find an organization near you .
There ’ s no evidence as of now that cats and dogs can become sick from COVID-19 , or that they ’ ve been a source of infection for humans .
But there are also precautions that health experts recommend .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people with COVID-19 avoid interacting with pets and have another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at least until “ more information is known about the virus.
” If you must care for pets while sick , the CDC urges you to wear a face mask and wash your hands before and after interacting with them .
If you ’ re not in a position to foster but still want to help animals in your community , Rayvid recommends donating to local shelters or rescues or to a pet food bank , especially since the pandemic is leaving some people out of work .
And while the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s been heartened by how many people have already stepped forward to help each other and help animals .
“ We ’ re in really uncertain times right now , and one of the things that we ’ re seeing is that the animal welfare community is really pulling together , ” he said .
“ It ’ s really nice to see everyone banding together to help .
”

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If the COVID-19 pandemic has you spending more time at home, feeling bored and craving company, there may be a purr-fect solution that will also help an animal in need: fostering a pet.
Fostering a pet typically means that an adoptable animal lives with you temporarily while awaiting a more permanent home. It helps prevent overcrowding in shelters, and can be especially helpful for animals that need special care, like very young kittens or puppies. And the spread of the novel coronavirus has created a situation where some shelters are especially in need of fosters.
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“What we’re trying to do is prepare for the worst at this point,” Eric Rayvid, a spokesperson for Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare nonprofit, told HuffPost.
FatCamera via Getty Images
Some shelters have already had to close to the public or cancel events, and many others may need to do so in the coming days ― meaning fewer pets are being adopted out, even as animals continue to come in. Shelters want to move as many animals as possible off the premises and into foster homes, in case they’re hit with staffing shortages as employees and volunteers get sick or need to self-quarantine.
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“If it’s a large-scale shelter and you have a skeletal staff, that’s just going to be that much more of a burden for those folks to have,” Rayvid said. “The less animals that are there, the better work environment for [staff] and the better for the animals.”
And, he noted, fostering is a great opportunity for those practicing social distancing or being told to work from home.
“Having a pet around ... is good for your head,” he said. “It’s going to take you out of yourself a little bit. If you get a dog, it’s going force you to go outside. If you get a cat, it’s going to force you to spend some time cuddling.”
Best Friends has a searchable directory of partner shelters and rescue groups that may need fosters, or you can use Google to find an organization near you.
There’s no evidence as of now that cats and dogs can become sick from COVID-19, or that they’ve been a source of infection for humans. But there are also precautions that health experts recommend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people with COVID-19 avoid interacting with pets and have another household member care for them if possible, at least until “more information is known about the virus.” If you must care for pets while sick, the CDC urges you to wear a face mask and wash your hands before and after interacting with them.
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If you’re not in a position to foster but still want to help animals in your community, Rayvid recommends donating to local shelters or rescues or to a pet food bank, especially since the pandemic is leaving some people out of work.
And while the global situation can be frightening, Rayvid said he’s been heartened by how many people have already stepped forward to help each other and help animals.
“We’re in really uncertain times right now, and one of the things that we’re seeing is that the animal welfare community is really pulling together,” he said. “It’s really nice to see everyone banding together to help.”


huffpost--2020-03-16--Know A Health Care Worker? Here's How You Can Support Them Right Now.

Reach out to a doctor if you can before heading to the ER Check in on their well-being Cook their @ @ @ @ @ help out with child care if you ’ re in a position to do so @ @ @ @ @ with this that you should keep in mind : You should only volunteer if it @ @ @ @ @ re able to handle .
Also , make sure you ’ re not sick or @ @ @ @ @ to anyone who has been .
The need to limit the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ ’ s only best to do this in situations where you believe it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Don ’ t make them your own personal coronavirus source Send them things that will @ @ @ @ @ patience if you ’ re a patient Provide them with the essentials everyone else is @ @ @ @ @ and lay off the jokes

venimo via Getty Images Those in the medical field — from doctors to nurses to physician assistants to receptionists to housekeeping staff — are on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak. Here's how to help their mental health.
With the new coronavirus continuing to be a front-and-center issue, health care workers are working double time. They’re providing comfort and care to those who have COVID-19, screening potential patients and fielding questions from everyone else.
We’ve all been told to get plenty of sleep, wash our hands and keep away from crowds ― but what about your medical practitioner neighbors, family or friends? In such busy times, these people need support as well, and many of them are too overstretched to reach out and ask for it.
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“If you know of anyone who works in any aspect of health care in any role ― nurse, housekeeper, kitchen support, security officer, doctor, pharmacist, lab technician, supply chain, etc. ― it’s important to keep them in mind at this crucial time,” said Terry Hudson-Jinks, the senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Tufts Medical Center.
Hudson-Jinks said these busy professionals may need to adjust their schedules in the weeks ahead to make sure health centers and hospitals can handle the influx of ill patients.
“We need them all to keep our doors open and care delivered, and if you know someone in these roles, you can make a difference,” she explained.
We talked to some experts who are currently on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic to get their advice on how you can help make a difference in their worlds:
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Follow trusted, expert advice
Natasha Bhuyan, a practicing family physician in Phoenix, said you can help by heeding expert and government-issued advice. This includes washing your hands and practicing social distancing.
“And don’t stockpile medical masks or hand sanitizer in mass amounts so front-line health care providers and patients in need are able to access them,” she said.
Additionally, refrain from trusting or sharing any unvetted health information on social media. Check websites like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
“One of the biggest ways to help is to ignore clickbait and only get information from reputable sources like the CDC,” said Tiffany Clemmy, an emergency room nurse in Onslow County, North Carolina. She noted that much of the information available online is not accurate (or is taken wildly out of context) and is unnecessarily adding to the public’s panic.
Reach out to a doctor if you can before heading to the ER
If you’re sick in any capacity and it’s not an emergency, call your doctor or do a telemedicine appointment first. This applies if you have mild COVID-19 symptoms, like a cough or a low fever, as well.
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Rushing to the ER or urgent care in a panic can “clog the system, increase wait times for the critically ill, add significantly to stress levels for health care workers and expose you to other diseases,” Clemmy explained.
Check in on their well-being
A simple “How are you doing?” can go a long way with someone who is knee-deep in coronavirus chaos. Just keep in mind that “the majority of individuals are more than likely to say they’re fine as opposed to admit to being stressed,” said Ashley McGirt, a licensed mental health therapist in Seattle.
The key is a tiny bit of distraction. McGirt suggested sending a thoughtful text, sharing a funny story or joke to lighten the mood, or getting in some personal time over Skype, FaceTime or Zoom.
Cook their meals for them
As these folks manage high levels of stress and fatigue, taking the “What’s for dinner?” question out of the equation can provide a nice reprieve.
If you live with or are the spouse of a health care worker, make a home-cooked meal for them. Additionally, “food via delivery service (like Postmates) or a care package with their favorite snacks at home or work is highly recommended,” said Sharon Cobb, program director and assistant professor at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
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Cobb also said it can help to make sure that your loved one is frequently hydrating themselves and, if you live with them, you can help them start their day with their favorite latte or smoothie.
MoMo Productions via Getty Images
Offer to help out with child care if you’re in a position to do so
Many schools and child care centers are closing in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus, creating huge child care issues for health care workers. And “most health care workers do not have the option to work from home, and many are facing a significantly increased workload,” Clemmy said, adding that, in some positions, overtime might even be mandated.
Offering to take care of a health care worker’s children “will take a huge weight off of their shoulders, and allow them to focus on caring for those who need them most,” Clemmy said.
There are a few caveats with this that you should keep in mind: You should only volunteer if it’s something you’re able to handle. Also, make sure you’re not sick or haven’t been exposed to anyone who has been. The need to limit the spread of the virus is urgent, so it’s only best to do this in situations where you believe it’s healthy to do so.
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Be a listening ear
“My brother ... is on the front lines in residency where he is taking care of a patient with coronavirus at his hospital. I can’t physically be there to help him out, but I am an ear to him, which is just as supportive and comforting for him,” said Bindiya Gandhi, a family medicine doctor in Decatur, Georgia.
She added that she’s found giving and showing him more compassion and love as well as just supporting him is “making a world of a difference.”
Respect transition time
The moments after arriving home serve as a kind of detox, and people’s needs for this time vary, said Laurie Helgoe, an associate professor of behavioral sciences at Ross University School of Medicine and a clinical psychologist who works with medical professionals.
“Some of us, especially the introverts among us, need a dose of nothing ― quiet, solitude, time to change, shower, think, or go for a short solitary walk or run,” she said, while others may “need to detox through conversation or shared activity.”
“As my role involves a lot of talking to patients, once I am home it is the last thing I want to do,” said Giuseppe Aragona, a general practitioner at Prescription Doctor. “I need to save my voice for the next day at work and ― mostly ― I need to recover mentally for a few minutes once I’m home.”
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Yiu Yu Hoi via Getty Images
Don’t make them your own personal coronavirus source
Tracey Evans, a research fellow at the U.K.’s University of Plymouth and a scientific writer, said to refrain from pestering your loved one with coronavirus questions, as the very last thing a friend would need is to be used as an information tool.
“They will be exhausted both physically and mentally,” she said.
Evans added that if you are going to chat with them, “state that the coronavirus is off-limits.”
“Their life is dominated by the virus, questions and concerns. Make it a coronavirus-free friendship, unless they lead it,” she said.
Provide normalcy
“In times of crisis, the simple things become anchors,” Helgoe said. Doing things like asking a loved one you live with if they want to join you on the couch to binge a new television show or making popcorn can go a long way in helping them shake off the day.
Helgoe said one of her colleagues told her that coming home to a clean place, having a spot to relax like a bath, and an outlet to do everyday activities like board games or reading really keeps her grounded. “Activity that served as a reminder that some part of our world and existence is sound, healthy, renewing, affirming,” Helgoe added.
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Send them things that will boost their mood
Did video of a dog rolling down a hill make you laugh out loud today? Share it with a loved one in the medical field.
The simple, easy gesture of sending a meme, a positive news story, or a cute video, can go a long way, said Alexandra Friedmann Finkel, co-owner and therapist at Kind Minds Therapy in New York.
“Health care workers need distraction and positivity to interrupt the constant spiral of anxiety and tension that they are experiencing at the hospitals and community,” she said.
Have some patience if you’re a patient
“For patients, please try to understand when your doctor keeps you waiting during this crisis,” said Janette Nesheiwat, a family and emergency doctor in New York.
“Understand that we don’t sit to eat or drink or take any coffee breaks or smoke breaks; that we work 13- to 14-hour shifts straight in hot. painful, tight masks that are hard to breathe in,” she explained.
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Express your gratitude
“Sometimes the simple things such as saying, ‘Thank you for taking the time to get back to me and being available when I need you’ are the most rewarding,” said David Nazarian, a physician at My Concierge MD in Beverly Hills.
“Expressing your gratitude and understanding can go much further than anything else one can provide to a health care provider,” he added. “In times of medical crisis or in the pandemic we are experiencing at this time, I truly appreciate all of the support, appreciation, trust and understanding that they provide me and my practice.”
Maskot via Getty Images
Provide them with the essentials everyone else is busy hoarding
If you have extra, share it with the people who need it the most.
“At this time, as our health care workers are working odd hours and long shifts, they may have not had the opportunity to buy supplies for home ― sanitizers, thermometer, disinfectants, etc.,” said Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor of health science at Ball State University in Indiana. “A bag of sanitizers, multivitamins, and chocolates with a card would be so touching and supportive ― it’s the gesture that counts.”
Do some chores
A little help goes a long way, especially for a medical professional who is currently stretched too thin and doesn’t have time to do the simple things that they used to be able to do, Aragona said.
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If you can, do your loved one’s laundry or run an errand for them (again, only if it’s healthy to do so). They likely won’t have the time and it takes a mental load off of them.
Take COVID-19 seriously and lay off the jokes
Humor is important but so is acknowledging the severity of the pandemic. While some people may be making light of the situation, many people have been affected by COVID-19.
“Health care workers are putting in additional time and efforts to be there to help others. Much of this includes missing out on time with family and friends in order to ensure that patients and the community are safe,” said Joshua Mansour, an oncologist and hematologist in Los Angeles.


huffpost--2020-03-16--Dow Records Worst Point Drop As Fed's Shock Cut Increases Worries Over Virus Spread

NEW YORK ( Reuters ) - U.S. stocks fell sharply on Monday as the Federal Reserve ’ s drastic move to cut interest rates to near zero fueled anxiety over the extent of economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic .
The Fed ’ s second emergency interest rate cut in less than two weeks and its pledge to purchase more than $ 700 billion in assets came late on Sunday , ahead of its scheduled policy meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday .
It added to the alarm about the pandemic that has paralyzed parts of the global economy and squeezed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how effectively policymakers will be able to mitigate the economic damage from the spreading virus .
The market is down despite the Fed ’ s move because “ this is a different type of crisis .
Lower rates will not create demand when people are home , ” said Solita Marcelli , deputy chief investment officer for the Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management .
“ But this doesn ’ t mean what the Fed has done is futile .
Lower rates are a precondition to other policies , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be done , but it ’ s understandable the way the market is reacting.
” The benchmark index slid as much as 11.4 % early in the session , shedding about $ 2 trillion in market value , before bargain-hunting helped the main indexes claw back some losses .
Trading on Wall Street ’ s three main stock indexes was halted for 15 minutes shortly after the open as the S & P 500 index .SPX plunged 8 % , crossing the 7 % threshold that triggers an automatic cutout .
Rate-sensitive financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leading declines among the major S & P sectors .
The sector also came under pressure after the big U.S. banks halted their share buy-backs .
Energy stocks .SPNY also fell sharply along with oil prices , and the S & P 500 technology index .SPLRCT was down more than 9 % .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 2,120.11 points , or 9.14 % , to 21,065.51 , the S & P 500 .SPX lost 233.51 points , or 8.61 % , to 2,477.51 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 7,164.52 .
The markets should stay open despite the intense volatility , the head of the U.S. securities regulator said , quashing speculation that the government might shut down the country ’ s exchanges to stop the plunge in stock prices .
Bars , restaurants , theatres and movie houses in New York and Los Angeles were ordered shut , and U.S. states pleaded with the Trump administration to coordinate a national response to the outbreak .
Bars , restaurants , theaters and movie houses in New York and Los Angeles were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Trump administration to coordinate a national response to the outbreak .
Nike Inc ( NKE.N ) , Lululemon Athletica Inc ( LULU.O ) and Under Armour Inc ( UAA.N ) said they would close stores in the United States and some other markets , dragging the S & P 500 retail index .SPXRT sharply lower .
The S & P 1500 airlines index .SPCOMAIR slumped after United Airlines Holdings Inc ( UAL.O ) booked $ 1.5 billion less revenue in March and warned employees that planes could be flying nearly empty @ @ @ @

ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell sharply on Monday as the Federal Reserve’s drastic move to cut interest rates to near zero fueled anxiety over the extent of economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Fed’s second emergency interest rate cut in less than two weeks and its pledge to purchase more than $700 billion in assets came late on Sunday, ahead of its scheduled policy meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. It added to the alarm about the pandemic that has paralyzed parts of the global economy and squeezed company revenue.
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Investors are worried over how effectively policymakers will be able to mitigate the economic damage from the spreading virus.
The market is down despite the Fed’s move because “this is a different type of crisis. Lower rates will not create demand when people are home,” said Solita Marcelli, deputy chief investment officer for the Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management.
“But this doesn’t mean what the Fed has done is futile. Lower rates are a precondition to other policies,” she said. “So I think this has to be done, but it’s understandable the way the market is reacting.”
The benchmark index slid as much as 11.4% early in the session, shedding about $2 trillion in market value, before bargain-hunting helped the main indexes claw back some losses.
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Trading on Wall Street’s three main stock indexes was halted for 15 minutes shortly after the open as the S&P 500 index .SPX plunged 8%, crossing the 7% threshold that triggers an automatic cutout.
Rate-sensitive financial stocks .SPSY tumbled more than 11%, leading declines among the major S&P sectors. The sector also came under pressure after the big U.S. banks halted their share buy-backs.
Energy stocks .SPNY also fell sharply along with oil prices, and the S&P 500 technology index .SPLRCT was down more than 9%.
Heavyweights Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) and Facebook Inc (FB.O) were among the biggest drags on the S&P 500.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 2,120.11 points, or 9.14%, to 21,065.51, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 233.51 points, or 8.61%, to 2,477.51 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 710.35 points, or 9.02%, to 7,164.52.
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Wall Street’s fear gauge jumped 21.15 points to 78.98.
The markets should stay open despite the intense volatility, the head of the U.S. securities regulator said, quashing speculation that the government might shut down the country’s exchanges to stop the plunge in stock prices.
Bars, restaurants, theatres and movie houses in New York and Los Angeles were ordered shut, and U.S. states pleaded with the Trump administration to coordinate a national response to the outbreak.
Bars, restaurants, theaters and movie houses in New York and Los Angeles were ordered shut, and U.S. states pleaded with the Trump administration to coordinate a national response to the outbreak.
Nike Inc (NKE.N), Lululemon Athletica Inc (LULU.O) and Under Armour Inc (UAA.N) said they would close stores in the United States and some other markets, dragging the S&P 500 retail index .SPXRT sharply lower.
The S&P 1500 airlines index .SPCOMAIR slumped after United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL.O) booked $1.5 billion less revenue in March and warned employees that planes could be flying nearly empty into the summer.
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Adding to worries, severe virus containment measures sent China’s factory production tumbling at its fastest pace in three decades.
Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 13.72-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 11.32-to-1 ratio favored decliners.
The S&P 500 posted no new 52-week highs and 332 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 3 new highs and 1,321 new lows.


huffpost--2020-05-29--How Nail Salons Will Be Different When They Reopen Amid Coronavirus

After staying at home for weeks to ward off the coronavirus , going back to our local nail salon promises a slice of normalcy in our otherwise upturned lives .
But as states let non-essential businesses open their doors again , beauty salons will have to look and function differently than they did pre-pandemic .
“ There are safe ways to do it , but it ’ s about vigilant infection control measures and those are often prone to human error .
So business owners need to take care to follow stringent guidelines and also enforce them with customers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has been a coronavirus hotspot in Florida , nails salons like Mano reopened on May 18 .
Mano requires customers not only to apply hand sanitizer but also to wash their hands , according to the salon ’ s founder , Monique Magnaye .
Everyone inside the salon must wear a mask .
Acrylic dividers have been placed between clients and employees at each manicure station , she said , and stations are set 6 feet apart .
The waiting area is now outside the salon to minimize the number of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touchpoints within the salon are being repeatedly cleaned .
“ Clients have responded great , and pretty much everyone comes in with a mask and keeps it on throughout their service , ” said Magnaye .
“ I think they very much appreciate our efforts and know that their cooperation keeps everything running smoothly and everyone feeling safe.
” “ We were quite taken aback with Gov .
[ Brian ] Kemp ’ s decision to reopen salons on April 24 , ” said one Atlanta nail salon owner , who wished not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their salon didn ’ t throw open its doors until they could put the proper systems in place to keep staff and clients safe .
When this salon did reopen , the owner said it did so with strict protocols , most of which came from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers .
Everyone in the salon must wear masks , clients must wash hands before touching surfaces and they must take a health questionnaire .
They are also working with a reduced staff .
“ Currently , on busy days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average weekday we have five .
This is in comparison to 13 to 14 on a busy day pre-pandemic and eight to nine on a weekday pre-pandemic , ” said the owner .
In California — where Gov .
Gavin Newsom recently said the state ’ s first case of community spread involved a nail salon ( he declined to be more specific ) ― there is still no clear date when salons will be able to open .
But when that date arrives , Kristin Gyimah , founder and CEO of Dime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll be ready .
“ I have already begun working on this in order to be sure we have everything we need to reopen when allowed and to be able to train our staff prior to our reopening to avoid mistakes and confusion , ” she said .
“ It ’ s going to be challenging to streamline some required safety measures , but training and clear guidelines will ensure our executing them consistently and correctly .
So far , Gyimah said she ’ s already installed sneeze guards at the front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She also put together a COVID-19 safety measures handbook and training guide for staff , which covers such matters as helping clients to browse nail colors without touching them , installing multiple hand sanitizing stations , taking staff temperature checks and wearing uniforms that function as personal protective equipment .
And of course , the salon will require employees to wear masks , which will be swapped out midday for new ones .
In addition to what nail salons are doing , Popescu suggested some ways that customers can protect themselves .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re getting a manicure ( cross-contamination is super easy ) , ask about what the salon is doing to prevent transmission , and when you ’ re visiting , see if they ’ re following guidance .
If they ’ re not , that ’ s a red flag , ” she said .
When asked if she would go to a nail salon right now , this was Popescu ’ s answer : “ Right now I ’ m not seeing the continued downwards trend in Arizona cases where I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot comes down to that and the safety measures salons are putting into place , ” she said , adding , “ But my plan is to touch base with my favorite artist and see what her strategies are and even offer to help refine them.
” With that said , it ’ s important to remember that getting your nails done at a salon is not necessary .
You can try a full beauty routine at home or just stick with basic nail care for now .
While salons are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their clients , any interaction carries a risk .
So before you go , be aware of what ’ s happening in your community , take precautions and , most of all , be safe .

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After staying at home for weeks to ward off the coronavirus, going back to our local nail salon promises a slice of normalcy in our otherwise upturned lives. But as states let non-essential businesses open their doors again, beauty salons will have to look and function differently than they did pre-pandemic.
Is it too early to get your nails done? It depends, said Saskia Popescu, senior infection prevention epidemiologist at George Mason University.
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“Since nail salons are one of those higher-risk environments due to the face-to-face contact for a prolonged period of time in small enclosed spaces, safety measures will be critical,” she said.
Widespread community transmission of the virus, a stressed health care system and limited testing are all reasons, Popescu said, that we should be cautious generally about reopening non-essential businesses.
Johnny Louis via Getty Images Nail technician Habe is protected by a plexiglass barrier while giving a customer a manicure at Nails and Spa salon on May 20, 2020, in Miramar, Florida.
“There are safe ways to do it, but it’s about vigilant infection control measures and those are often prone to human error. So business owners need to take care to follow stringent guidelines and also enforce them with customers,” she said.
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As nail salons reopen or make plans to, managers are putting new strict safety protocols in place, sometimes even beyond what might be required by local governments.
In Miami, which has been a coronavirus hotspot in Florida, nails salons like Mano reopened on May 18. Mano requires customers not only to apply hand sanitizer but also to wash their hands, according to the salon’s founder, Monique Magnaye. Everyone inside the salon must wear a mask. Acrylic dividers have been placed between clients and employees at each manicure station, she said, and stations are set 6 feet apart. The waiting area is now outside the salon to minimize the number of people inside. And, of course, touchpoints within the salon are being repeatedly cleaned.
“It’s about vigilant infection control measures and those are often prone to human error. So business owners need to take care to follow stringent guidelines and also enforce them with customers.” - Saskia Popescu, senior infection prevention epidemiologist at George Mason University
“Clients have responded great, and pretty much everyone comes in with a mask and keeps it on throughout their service,” said Magnaye. “I think they very much appreciate our efforts and know that their cooperation keeps everything running smoothly and everyone feeling safe.”
In Georgia, where the state started reopening despite a rise in daily COVID-19 cases, many salons were caught off guard.
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“We were quite taken aback with Gov. [Brian] Kemp’s decision to reopen salons on April 24,” said one Atlanta nail salon owner, who wished not to be named. The owner said their salon didn’t throw open its doors until they could put the proper systems in place to keep staff and clients safe.
When this salon did reopen, the owner said it did so with strict protocols, most of which came from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. Everyone in the salon must wear masks, clients must wash hands before touching surfaces and they must take a health questionnaire.
Since opening, however, the salon has loosened a few of its restrictions. “We do accept some walk-ins and we uphold them to the same standard as our appointments,” the owner said.
They are also working with a reduced staff. “Currently, on busy days we have eight technicians, on an average weekday we have five. This is in comparison to 13 to 14 on a busy day pre-pandemic and eight to nine on a weekday pre-pandemic,” said the owner.
In California — where Gov. Gavin Newsom recently said the state’s first case of community spread involved a nail salon (he declined to be more specific) ― there is still no clear date when salons will be able to open. But when that date arrives, Kristin Gyimah, founder and CEO of Dime Nails in Los Angeles, said she’ll be ready.
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“I have already begun working on this in order to be sure we have everything we need to reopen when allowed and to be able to train our staff prior to our reopening to avoid mistakes and confusion,” she said. “It’s going to be challenging to streamline some required safety measures, but training and clear guidelines will ensure our executing them consistently and correctly.
So far, Gyimah said she’s already installed sneeze guards at the front desk and all of the nail stations. She also put together a COVID-19 safety measures handbook and training guide for staff, which covers such matters as helping clients to browse nail colors without touching them, installing multiple hand sanitizing stations, taking staff temperature checks and wearing uniforms that function as personal protective equipment. And of course, the salon will require employees to wear masks, which will be swapped out midday for new ones.
Johnny Louis via Getty Images Nail technician Jimmie and her customer wear masks during a pedicure at Nails and Spa salon on May 20, 2020, in Miramar, Florida.
But the big question remains: Are these safety measures enough to make nail salons safe?
Popescu said the salons’ efforts as described “are definitely great strategies.” She would also encourage them “to communicate with clients about not visiting when sick, [implement] enhanced cleaning/disinfecting measures for the business and between clients, and make sure people don’t bring guests.”
In addition to what nail salons are doing, Popescu suggested some ways that customers can protect themselves. “Avoid using your phone while you’re getting a manicure (cross-contamination is super easy), ask about what the salon is doing to prevent transmission, and when you’re visiting, see if they’re following guidance. If they’re not, that’s a red flag,” she said.
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When asked if she would go to a nail salon right now, this was Popescu’s answer: “Right now I’m not seeing the continued downwards trend in Arizona cases where I’d feel comfortable with it, so a lot comes down to that and the safety measures salons are putting into place,” she said, adding, “But my plan is to touch base with my favorite artist and see what her strategies are and even offer to help refine them.”
With that said, it’s important to remember that getting your nails done at a salon is not necessary. You can try a full beauty routine at home or just stick with basic nail care for now. While salons are going above and beyond to protect themselves and their clients, any interaction carries a risk. So before you go, be aware of what’s happening in your community, take precautions and, most of all, be safe.


huffpost--2020-05-29--Grimes Is Selling A Piece Of Her Soul, In Case You're Interested

The “ Delete Forever ” singer ― whose real name is Claire Elise Boucher ― recently spoke with Bloomberg about her upcoming online fine art exhibitions , which are aptly titled “ Selling Out.
” While the artist told the outlet she ’ s selling a variety of “ drawings , prints , photographs , and conceptual pieces , ” one particular item far outshines the rest .
Though one can imagine how hard it is to come up with a name ― let alone a price ― for a percentage of her immaterial essence ( thank you , Merriam-Webster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this work “ Selling Out.
” Grimes said she thought about auctioning her soul off for $ 10 million , but ultimately decided against the crazy high price tag .
“ I didn ’ t want anyone to buy it , so I said we should just make it $ 10 million and then it probably won ’ t sell , ” Grimes said of arriving at a specific price , alongside the help of her lawyer , whom she says helped draft a contract for the piece .
She says she later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best offer , ” as , according to Bloomberg , the coronavirus pandemic and economic uncertainty pushed her to ask , “ With the current state of the world , do you want to put something up for $ 10 million ?
” “ The deeper we got with it , the more philosophically interesting it became , ” the entertainer added .
“ Also , I really wanted to collaborate with my lawyer on art .
The idea of fantastical art in the form of legal documents just seems very intriguing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not even the craziest headline Grimes has garnered this month .
The singer recently welcomed her first child , a son , with boyfriend Elon Musk .
The two quickly dethroned any other wild celebrity baby name with a unique moniker that seems almost impossible to top : X Æ A-12 Musk .
Grimes and Elon Musk attend the 2018 Costume Institute Benefit at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7 , 2018 , in New York City .
Grimes attempted to explain the name in a tweet , writing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variable , ” and that Æ was a reference to both love and artificial intelligence .
The “ A-12 ” part of the name is nod to the precursor to the SR-71 aircraft but , as a a spokesperson for the California Department of Health previously told HuffPost , it wasn ’ t allowed as only characters within the 26 letters of the alphabet are permitted .

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Grimes has no problem with “Selling Out,” it seems.
The “Delete Forever” singer ― whose real name is Claire Elise Boucher ― recently spoke with Bloomberg about her upcoming online fine art exhibitions, which are aptly titled “Selling Out.”
While the artist told the outlet she’s selling a variety of “drawings, prints, photographs, and conceptual pieces,” one particular item far outshines the rest.
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Depending on what you’re willing to pay, Grimes is gamely offering up a sliver of her soul.
Grimes attends the world premiere of "Captain Marvel" in Hollywood on March 4, 2019. ROBYN BECK via Getty Images
Though one can imagine how hard it is to come up with a name ― let alone a price ― for a percentage of her immaterial essence (thank you, Merriam-Webster), the entertainer is also calling this work “Selling Out.”
Grimes said she thought about auctioning her soul off for $10 million, but ultimately decided against the crazy high price tag.
“I didn’t want anyone to buy it, so I said we should just make it $10 million and then it probably won’t sell,” Grimes said of arriving at a specific price, alongside the help of her lawyer, whom she says helped draft a contract for the piece.
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She says she later decided on selling it to the “best offer,” as, according to Bloomberg, the coronavirus pandemic and economic uncertainty pushed her to ask, “With the current state of the world, do you want to put something up for $10 million?”
“The deeper we got with it, the more philosophically interesting it became,” the entertainer added. “Also, I really wanted to collaborate with my lawyer on art. The idea of fantastical art in the form of legal documents just seems very intriguing to me.”
Despite the idea, it’s not even the craziest headline Grimes has garnered this month. The singer recently welcomed her first child, a son, with boyfriend Elon Musk.
The two quickly dethroned any other wild celebrity baby name with a unique moniker that seems almost impossible to top: X Æ A-12 Musk.
Grimes and Elon Musk attend the 2018 Costume Institute Benefit at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018, in New York City. Taylor Hill via Getty Images
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Grimes attempted to explain the name in a tweet, writing that the X stood for “the unknown variable,” and that Æ was a reference to both love and artificial intelligence.
The “A-12” part of the name is nod to the precursor to the SR-71 aircraft but, as a a spokesperson for the California Department of Health previously told HuffPost, it wasn’t allowed as only characters within the 26 letters of the alphabet are permitted.
Sure enough, Grimes said on an Instagram post that they’ve changed the little one’s name to X Æ A-Xii.


huffpost--2020-05-29--11 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

11 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

We ’ re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of May 23 to 29 .
Check @ @ @ @ @ : Maria Velez of Orlando , Florida , hugs the tombstone of her son Stephen @ @ @ @ @ National Cemetery on Memorial Day in Seville , Ohio , on May 25 , 2020.
@ @ @ @

We’re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of May 23 to 29. Check them out below.
Above: Maria Velez of Orlando, Florida, hugs the tombstone of her son Stephen at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery on Memorial Day in Seville, Ohio, on May 25, 2020. Credit: Aaron Josefczyk/Reuters


huffpost--2020-05-29--They Were Making Poverty Wages, Plus Tips, Before COVID-19. Now What?

No industry has been immune from job loss in this health crisis , but for service workers like May-Seward , @ @ @ @ @ awful .
Restaurant workers have lost jobs at a rate three times as high as @ @ @ @ @ Millions are out of work ― and most of these people were working for tips @ @ @ @ @ some make as little as $ 2.13 an hour , the federal tipped minimum wage @ @ @ @ @ offer a bit more .
Other workers might earn a flat fee per shift ― @ @ @ @ @ the books , under the table .
Some Just Give Up

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Sarah May-Seward was making just $45 per shift, working a few days a week at what she calls a little hole-in-the-wall neighborhood bar and grill in White Lake, Michigan. She did a bit of everything: bartended, worked the fryer, waited tables.
The base pay wasn’t much stretched over an 8- to 10-hour shift, and the tips were hit or miss ― a few dollars on a Monday night to a few hundred dollars on a Saturday. But the job offered flexibility. May-Seward cares for her daughter, Gabby, who has disabilities and uses a wheelchair. She could grab shifts when her husband, a firefighter, was home or her mother-in-law could come over.
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“It’s a small business. We know the owner very well. We’re close-knit; we cover for each other,” she told HuffPost. “If my daughter was sick and I needed to stay home, we’re alway able to do that. That’s why I started working there.”
Then the restaurant apocalypse hit. May-Seward’s bar shut down in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, along with restaurants all over the country. At first, the 38-year-old didn’t think she would even qualify for unemployment benefits. Even though she does declare some of her tips in her taxes, she assumed she didn’t make enough money.
No industry has been immune from job loss in this health crisis, but for service workers like May-Seward, it’s been particularly awful. Restaurant workers have lost jobs at a rate three times as high as in any other industry. Millions are out of work ― and most of these people were working for tips. On the books, some make as little as $2.13 an hour, the federal tipped minimum wage since 1996. Some states offer a bit more. Other workers might earn a flat fee per shift ― or just get paid off the books, under the table.
Even as states “open up,” these workers aren’t just going to go back and start earning their pre-pandemic wages. Restaurants will likely be seating diners in a reduced capacity. Even if they go back to work, they’ll face a lower volume of customers and a higher risk of getting sick.
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In the meantime, getting unemployment benefits for workers making poverty wages is a struggle. Service workers are the least likely of any type of worker to apply for unemployment, according to data from the Labor Department released in 2018. Often they get lost in a maze of underfunded state unemployment agencies; some are even told they make too little to qualify for benefits.
Sarah May-Seward found out her restaurant income was under the threshold for receiving unemployment benefits. Courtesy Sarah May-Seward
May-Seward was no exception. She had heard Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer talking about how service workers could get benefits in this crisis. She spent days calling the unemployment office. When she finally got through, May-Seward learned her income was just under the threshold to qualify for benefits, which are based on the full state minimum wage, $9.65 an hour. The tipped minimum wage in Michigan is $3.67.
This is a common problem for tipped workers, said Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, an activist group fighting to eliminate the tipped minimum wage altogether.
“We pay the largest workforce of women $2. Now these women are getting nothing because they earn too little.” - Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage
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Her group has heard from service workers around the country who have problems like May-Seward’s. “Many are saying, ‘The state unemployment system is telling me my wages are too low to meet the threshold.’ Or they earn cash tips. And the state says they didn’t earn enough,” Jayaraman said.
The problem is particularly acute, she said, among women of color who are more likely to be working in places where cash tips are more common, and workers are even less likely to fully report their tips.
Wait staff and bartenders often say they don’t accurately report all their tips to the Internal Revenue Service because it’s difficult to actually track them and some employers discourage it.
But the real issue is that no one should be earning $2 an hour in 2020. “This should be an indication these workers aren’t making enough to begin with,” Jayaraman said.
The practice of forcing workers to be paid primarily in tips, solely at the discretion of customers, has its roots in racism ― a way to keep African American workers underpaid after emancipation. And it’s long been favored by the restaurant industry.
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The racist underpinnings continue to this day ― African Americans tend to be tipped less than white service workers.
Today, the poverty-level wages disproportionately fall on women, who make up two-thirds of the workers who rely on tips.
“We pay the largest workforce of women $2,” she said. “Now these women are getting nothing because they earn too little.”
Stimulus Lifeline
Tipped workers got thrown what seemed like a major lifeline in late March, when the $2 trillion economic stimulus package was enacted. It included a significant expansion in unemployment benefits for those who normally wouldn’t be eligible, such as gig workers or part-timers. And, this is key, the law kicked in an extra $600 a week for those who became unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For some, this was huge. More than what they were making in tips. Or maybe the money isn’t as good as in the before times, but still it’s good enough to make the rent and pay for necessities.
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“I’m doing fine. I’m doing OK. What I’m doing right now is like a mediocre week,” said Kenneth John Jimenez, a 36-year-old bartender in Brooklyn describing his current financial situation.
Jimenez is getting his $600 benefit, plus around $300 a week in regular unemployment. Previously, he was making the New York tipped minimum wage ― a relatively generous $9 an hour ― and tips.
Kenneth John Jimenez, 36, working at a bar in Brooklyn, New York, where he made $9 an hour plus tips. Now he's getting $600 a week in pandemic unemployment assistance plus about $300 a week in regular jobless benefits. Arber Muric
With over a decade of experience tending bar, Jimenez says he’s in a better position than most. First, he declared about 10% of what he earned in tips, making him eligible for a relatively decent amount of state unemployment.
Many of his peers work for a shift fee, often under the table ― or they declare less and aren’t able to pull in as much in benefits.
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Also, Jimenez lives in New York, which has done a relatively good job in getting benefits to jobless workers. And if you live in a state where things aren’t running as smoothly, getting that extra $600 is a challenge.
Calling And Calling And Calling
For May-Seward, in Michigan, getting the $600 was an epic journey involving a lot of phone calls.
“I thrive off stress, so it’s cool,” she said.
After she was told she earned too little to qualify for benefits, May-Seward heard Jayaraman, of One Fair Wage, interviewed on one of her favorite podcasts, “Lovett or Leave It,” hosted by Jon Lovett, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama.
She emailed Jayaraman, applied for help to the group’s fund for workers and offered to volunteer with them. She is now the unemployment lead for Michigan for the organization. “It’s an unpaid title, but I like it,” she said.
She’s also running for office, for township trustee, she said. The only Democrat in the race in her pro-Trump district.
Two weeks later, when the stimulus package was signed into law, she applied for the new benefits. She was denied again.
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She didn’t give up. May-Seward called the governor’s office. Twice. One Fair Wage helped her get in touch with someone at the unemployment office. But it still took a ton of phone calls.
“I wound up calling for three days straight, constantly, every 20 seconds,” May-Seward said. “On the third day, at 5:55 at close of business, I got on the line with somebody.”
Finally, a few weeks later at the beginning of this month, May-Seward, she started getting her money. May-Seward is now getting $160 a week through Michigan’s expanded unemployment benefits plus the $600.
What happened to May-Seward is happening around the country, Jayaraman said. Workers who made too little to qualify for regular benefits are getting mistakenly denied the pandemic benefits ― and have to jump through hoops to rectify the issue.
Some Just Give Up
“Every time I’ve called [the unemployment office,] I’ve been hung up on,” said Gwyneth Duesbery, who was working as a host at a steakhouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines closed it down.
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She filed for unemployment just two days after the restaurant closed. A month or so later, she heard back: Denied. She said she doesn’t know why.
Duesbery, who recently graduated from college with a degree in sociology, said she was also told to apply for the pandemic benefits with broader eligibility criteria but has sort of given up on the whole process.
““There’s a lot up in the air. The one thing I’m scared about is if things get bad all over again and then we’re closed till God knows when.” - Kenneth John Jimenez, unemployed Brooklyn bartender
“For the first while, I was doing it frequently and trying to call, and then I got frustrated with the system and it wasn’t working and I couldn’t figure it out,” she said. For now, her boyfriend is still working and able to cover rent and expenses; and she was able to get emergency assistance through One Fair Wage’s program. “We’re lucky.”
Tipped workers often think they don’t qualify for benefits ― but they do, said Michele Evermore, a senior policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project, who specializes in unemployment insurance.
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Technically, states will let tipped workers file a form attesting to how much they make in tips.
“It’s a weird thing that not that many people know about,” she said. And even if they do, reporting tips accurately can be tricky ― workers need the numbers to line up with what they’ve already reported to the IRS, she said.
Evermore said that, even in regular non-pandemic times, workers who are in lower-income sectors are less likely to apply for unemployment benefits. Non-unionized workers are also less likely to apply.
Still, Evermore said workers should give it a shot. “It’s important for people to at least try to get benefits and not to discourage them,” she said, citing the record-high levels of unemployment. The numbers are putting knots in her stomach, she said.
The Future Is Grim
The extra $600 a week, which has been described by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) as “unemployment insurance on steroids,” expires in July. And, even though the unemployment rate is expected to top 20% soon, it’s not clear if Congress is going to extend the benefit.
Republicans are saying that they believe the money is keeping people from taking jobs.
But there aren’t jobs yet for most restaurant workers ― particularly ones in New York and other hard-hit areas.
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A 45-year-old restaurant worker who lives in Brooklyn and worked until March in an upscale restaurant in Manhattan said that when the extra $600 runs out, he’ll probably have to leave the city entirely and move in with his mother in California.
Yet he said he kind of feels guilty because the unemployment benefits, for now, mean he’s better off than most. He asked that his name not be published because he thinks it’ll hurt his chances of getting rehired.
“I feel the Grim Reaper behind me, but it feels like something terrible has got to happen,” he said. Of the five restaurants his employer owns, he was told that only one is reopening this summer, he said. There’s just not going to be the same level of work as before.
Without the pandemic benefit, he’d only be getting around $100 a week in unemployment in New York State. His rent is $1,200 a month.
Whether or not they’re getting unemployment benefits, all these workers said they were scared. What happens when the money runs out? What if there’s a second wave that sends everybody back into lockdown?
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“There’s a lot up in the air,” said Jimenez, the bartender in Brooklyn. “The one thing I’m scared about is if things get bad all over again and then we’re closed till God knows when.”
May-Seward is less worried about what happens when the benefits run out than she is about going back to work.
The area Michigan where she lives has been rife with anti-lockdown protests from people outraged over the idea of wearing masks and who don’t want to stay home anymore.
May-Seward is afraid of having to police customers to stay socially distant. “It’s really risky to police anybody. We see what happened in the news,” she said, pointing to reports that some workers have been attacked and even shot by customers who were unwilling to stay back or stay masked.
She’s worried about her health, too. “We’re high risk,” she said. May-Seward has asthma. Her daughter has disabilities and recently fought off a debilitating bout of pneumonia and is at high-risk if she contracts the coronavirus.
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There’s also the issue of tips coming back. When restaurants do reopen, there will likely be requirements on how many people can dine at once ― meaning less volume and fewer tips.


huffpost--2020-05-29--The Plot To Steal Your Unemployment Benefits

Kristina Kozak of Salt Lake City started receiving unemployment benefits in April after she was furloughed from her job at REI .
This month , with stores reopening in a limited capacity , the company asked her to come back .
But she has asthma , upper respiratory issues and a compromised immune system due to a rare form of lipodystrophy that causes problems with her internal organs .
Going back as the pandemic continues seemed like a risk .
She said she called the Utah Department of Workforce Services and explained her health problem but was still told she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused the job .
The agency sent a form for her health care provider to fill out to document her health problems .
But they said they needed it back by May 31 , and she couldn ’ t get a medical appointment until June 3 .
Now she ’ s trying to decide whether to take medical leave , which would allow her to keep her health insurance but with substantially less income , or to return to work and risk exposure to the coronavirus .
The other option would be to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance and probably also her unemployment benefits .
The Department of Labor has specifically said that someone is eligible for benefits under the new rules if they refuse to return to their job because a health provider has advised them to self-quarantine due to a “ serious health condition ” causing a compromised immune system .
It ’ s one of several criteria requiring self-certification , meaning the applicant attests to their doctor ’ s advice and a note from the doctor shouldn ’ t be necessary .
But many states have failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia last week , Senate Democrats said the department ought to make sure states “ proactively ” help people switch from regular to pandemic benefits if they have to turn down an offer due to an underlying health condition .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said people with moderate to severe asthma or compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
The department has not responded to the letter .
A spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided guidance to states on administering regular unemployment insurance in the context of the pandemic and that “ good cause ” provisions allowing people to refuse work and keep their benefits are a matter of state law .
The spokesperson also acknowledged that workers may still be eligible for the PUA benefits if they refuse work , depending on “ fact-specific circumstances.
” Some states are less strict .
The California Employment Development Department , for instance , has said workers can refuse to go back to work and keep their regular unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential .
The Texas Workforce Commission has outlined legitimate reasons for job refusal for anyone at risk of serious illness or who lives with someone who is .
Several workers around the country have told HuffPost they just don ’ t know whether they can keep their benefits if they refuse to go back to their jobs , despite their health conditions .
When they try to call their state workforce agency , they can ’ t get an answer ― and often can ’ t get an actual human being on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she filed an unemployment claim in April and has spent hours on the phone trying to reach someone at the Maine Department of Labor but was told that because she ’ d voluntarily quit , she couldn ’ t get benefits .
She said she received a letter this week notifying her the department had scheduled an interview to review her case ― on July 21 .

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President Donald Trump wants workers to be “warriors” willing to risk their lives returning to their jobs, even though officials in his own administration fear a coronavirus resurgence if people let up on social distancing.
Trump can’t force states to reopen, and he can’t force people to go out to restaurants. But he does have some leverage over workers.
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Congress created expansive new unemployment benefits that Trump’s Department of Labor, in concert with state workforce agencies, is trying to withhold from people who won’t return to their jobs ― even if it’s not safe.
Kristina Kozak of Salt Lake City started receiving unemployment benefits in April after she was furloughed from her job at REI. This month, with stores reopening in a limited capacity, the company asked her to come back. But she has asthma, upper respiratory issues and a compromised immune system due to a rare form of lipodystrophy that causes problems with her internal organs. Going back as the pandemic continues seemed like a risk.
“Any sickness I get goes right to my chest,” said Kozak, 46. “I tend to get a lot sicker than other people.”
She said she called the Utah Department of Workforce Services and explained her health problem but was still told she’d probably lose benefits if she refused the job. The agency sent a form for her health care provider to fill out to document her health problems. But they said they needed it back by May 31, and she couldn’t get a medical appointment until June 3.
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Now she’s trying to decide whether to take medical leave, which would allow her to keep her health insurance but with substantially less income, or to return to work and risk exposure to the coronavirus. The other option would be to quit the job and lose her health insurance and probably also her unemployment benefits.
Her attempts to get hold of anyone at the state office who might be better able to clarify her options have been unsuccessful.
There are supposed to be exceptions for people like Kozak.
When Congress passed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March, it added $600 per week to unemployment benefits and broadened eligibility to include people who are not eligible for regular benefits, such as the self-employed, gig workers and people who quit their jobs because of the pandemic.
The extra money and new criteria were supposed to help people stay home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The Department of Labor has specifically said that someone is eligible for benefits under the new rules if they refuse to return to their job because a health provider has advised them to self-quarantine due to a “serious health condition” causing a compromised immune system. It’s one of several criteria requiring self-certification, meaning the applicant attests to their doctor’s advice and a note from the doctor shouldn’t be necessary. But many states have failed to make this policy clear.
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An unprecedented 40 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits over the past few months, and the vast majority of the claims are for regular benefits rather than the special Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), the formal name of the benefits with the broader eligibility criteria.
Kozak is receiving regular state-funded unemployment insurance, which typically bars eligibility to people who quit their jobs. If she’s deemed ineligible for the regular benefits, she would theoretically become eligible for the pandemic benefits, which would pay the same amount, including the extra $600.
Kevin Burt, director of the unemployment insurance division at the Utah Department of Workforce Services, said someone with underlying health problems wouldn’t necessarily lose their state benefits for turning down work ― contrary to what Kozak said she was told.
Burt said the department considers someone’s health risks if they say they had good cause to refuse employment, “and those that are verified as high risk are approved for good cause and can remain on their state unemployment benefits with no need to apply” for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
In a letter to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia last week, Senate Democrats said the department ought to make sure states “proactively” help people switch from regular to pandemic benefits if they have to turn down an offer due to an underlying health condition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said people with moderate to severe asthma or compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
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Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, right, joins President Donald Trump during a daily coronavirus briefing last month at the White House. Senate Democrats have asked the Labor Department to help eligible people switch from regular jobless benefits to special pandemic unemployment aid. Alex Wong via Getty Images
The department has not responded to the letter. A spokesperson noted to HuffPost that the department has provided guidance to states on administering regular unemployment insurance in the context of the pandemic and that “good cause” provisions allowing people to refuse work and keep their benefits are a matter of state law. The spokesperson also acknowledged that workers may still be eligible for the PUA benefits if they refuse work, depending on “fact-specific circumstances.”
But the spokesperson declined to comment on whether the department should make sure eligible workers don’t miss out on benefits for no good reason.
Scalia boasted in April that he had made sure Uber and Lyft drivers would qualify for the new pandemic unemployment assistance. But as of last week, nine states had not managed to start paying the PUA benefits to anyone at all.
Scalia has seemed more concerned that there might be loafers abusing the system. The Labor Department’s most recent guidance to states told them to encourage employers to notify them of anyone refusing to return to their job, since cracking down on fraud is a “top priority” for the department.
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Millions of people who think they’re eligible for pandemic unemployment assistance are going to be disappointed, said Indivar Dutta-Gupta, co-director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty & Inequality in Washington, D.C.
“If this were a Clinton or Biden administration we wouldn’t be having this conversion,” Dutta-Gupta said. “They would have issued guidance to states saying, ’You can’t take people’s benefits away if they don’t feel safe.”
“I don’t want to think about drowning in my own lung fluids or renal failure.” - Nancy Russell
Utah put out a press release encouraging employers to notify the state of such job refusers while burying information about possible exceptions in a document answering frequently asked questions for employees, which specifies that anyone who claims they’re at high risk of serious illness better have some medical documentation to prove it.
Some states are less strict. The California Employment Development Department, for instance, has said workers can refuse to go back to work and keep their regular unemployment benefits if their job isn’t essential. The Texas Workforce Commission has outlined legitimate reasons for job refusal for anyone at risk of serious illness or who lives with someone who is.
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Several workers around the country have told HuffPost they just don’t know whether they can keep their benefits if they refuse to go back to their jobs, despite their health conditions. When they try to call their state workforce agency, they can’t get an answer ― and often can’t get an actual human being on the line.
Nancy Russell said she resigned in April from her job at an AIDS service organization near her home in Waterville, Maine. She said she’s HIV-positive and recently finished radiation for breast cancer. She loved her job but thought it would be too risky to continue being around co-workers and clients.
Russell, 77, said she filed an unemployment claim in April and has spent hours on the phone trying to reach someone at the Maine Department of Labor but was told that because she’d voluntarily quit, she couldn’t get benefits. She said she received a letter this week notifying her the department had scheduled an interview to review her case ― on July 21.
“If I was younger and didn’t have Social Security, what would I do? Lose my house?” she said.
Still, the decision to quit working wasn’t that difficult.
“I don’t want to think about drowning in my own lung fluids or renal failure,” she said. “No, thank you.”
The first person to tell someone whether they’ll be able to keep their unemployment benefits is often their own employer, since employers are notified of claims each week and have the power to contest them.
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Mark Sheets of Lisbon, Ohio, works for a company that repairs high-tech gadgets inside people’s homes. He’d been furloughed and receiving unemployment since April, but his employer has asked him to return to work, which involves house calls. Since he has diabetes, he didn’t think that was a good idea ― but he said his manager told him he’d be fired and lose his benefits if he didn’t come back.
“I believed him, and then I decided to go to a couple different websites and researched what my rights were,” Sheets said.
He said he’d got a note from his doctor ordering him to stay home but spent hours on the phone trying to figure out how to get the note to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. He said that when he most recently logged on to the department website, where he certifies his continued eligibility each week, there was a form for his doctor to fill out. So he called his doctor’s office and filled out the form with the doctor’s secretary on the phone.
“I want to work,” he said in an email. “I just don’t want to be laying in a hospital bed on a ventilator, near death, wishing I had made a better choice.”


huffpost--2020-05-29--Conan Zings Trump, Red-State Grads In Harvard Commencement Speech

Conan O ’ Brien took jabs at President Donald Trump and students from red states in his commencement speech to @ @ @ @ @ ( Watch it above . )
Speaking from his yard on a day of virtual @ @ @ @ @ school ’ s Class of 2020 , O ’ Brien noted he was the first @ @ @ @ @ “ standing on the spot where his dog urinated seven minutes ago.
” The “ @ @ @ @ @ timely advice for the coronavirus pandemic : “ To you students who moved back home @ @ @ @ @ please continue to be patient , wear a face mask outside , and trust in @ @ @ @ @ you who moved back home to a red state , I ’ ll see you @ @ @ @ @ ” The Harvard alum ( ’ 85 ) challenged students to turn the outbreak into @ @ @ @ @ ” or “ go the Trump route and blame all your problems on the previous @ @ @ @

Conan O’Brien took jabs at President Donald Trump and students from red states in his commencement speech to Harvard graduates on Thursday. (Watch it above.)
Speaking from his yard on a day of virtual festivities for the Ivy League school’s Class of 2020, O’Brien noted he was the first Harvard commencement speaker to be “standing on the spot where his dog urinated seven minutes ago.”
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The “Conan” host offered some timely advice for the coronavirus pandemic:
“To you students who moved back home to a blue state, please continue to be patient, wear a face mask outside, and trust in science. To those of you who moved back home to a red state, I’ll see you guys tonight at Applebees!”


huffpost--2020-05-29--FDA Finds Contamination In Several Brands Of Diabetes Drug

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — U.S. health regulators are telling five drugmakers to recall their versions of a widely used diabetes medication after laboratory tests found elevated levels of a contaminant linked to cancer .
The Food and Drug Administration said late Thursday that several batches of the drug metformin tested positive for unsafe levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine , a possible cancer-causing chemical that can form as a manufacturing byproduct .
The agency has stepped up testing after the chemical was found in dozens of shipments of blood pressure and heartburn drugs last year , triggering recalls of Zantac and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tablets are a staple of diabetes care , reducing excess sugar in the blood .
People with Type 2 diabetes use metformin alone or with other drugs to help control their blood sugar levels .
More than 34 million people in the U.S. have this disease .
Patients should continue taking metformin drugs until their doctor can prescribe a replacement , the FDA said in a statement , noting the risks of discontinuing .
Regulators are still assessing whether the recalls will lead to shortages of metformin , but noted that a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drugs that don ’ t appear to be affected by the issue .
Drugmaker Apotex Corp. recalled its extended-release metformin distributed in the U.S. earlier this week after the FDA found contamination in one lot .
Apotex said in a statement it voluntarily recalled all supplies of the drug “ out of an abundance of caution.
” The company said it stopped selling the drug in the U.S. in February 2019 and that little remains on the market .
The FDA announcement did not name the four other drugmakers who have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FDA is responsible for ensuring that medicines for the U.S. market are made in safe , sanitary conditions that meet federal quality standards .
But government inspectors have repeatedly criticized the agency for falling short in reviewing overseas manufacturing plants as the pharmaceutical supply chain has increasingly spread to Asia .
In March , the FDA suspended nearly all U.S. and foreign inspections due to safety concerns and travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus outbreak .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is solely responsible for all content .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators are telling five drugmakers to recall their versions of a widely used diabetes medication after laboratory tests found elevated levels of a contaminant linked to cancer.
The Food and Drug Administration said late Thursday that several batches of the drug metformin tested positive for unsafe levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine, a possible cancer-causing chemical that can form as a manufacturing byproduct. The agency has stepped up testing after the chemical was found in dozens of shipments of blood pressure and heartburn drugs last year, triggering recalls of Zantac and other popular over-the-counter and prescription medications.
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Metformin tablets are a staple of diabetes care, reducing excess sugar in the blood. People with Type 2 diabetes use metformin alone or with other drugs to help control their blood sugar levels. More than 34 million people in the U.S. have this disease.
Patients should continue taking metformin drugs until their doctor can prescribe a replacement, the FDA said in a statement, noting the risks of discontinuing. Regulators are still assessing whether the recalls will lead to shortages of metformin, but noted that a number of other companies make generic versions of the drugs that don’t appear to be affected by the issue.
Drugmaker Apotex Corp. recalled its extended-release metformin distributed in the U.S. earlier this week after the FDA found contamination in one lot. Apotex said in a statement it voluntarily recalled all supplies of the drug “out of an abundance of caution.” The company said it stopped selling the drug in the U.S. in February 2019 and that little remains on the market.
The FDA announcement did not name the four other drugmakers who have been requested to recall their products.
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The agency noted that no contamination problems have been found in immediate-release metformin.
The FDA is responsible for ensuring that medicines for the U.S. market are made in safe, sanitary conditions that meet federal quality standards. But government inspectors have repeatedly criticized the agency for falling short in reviewing overseas manufacturing plants as the pharmaceutical supply chain has increasingly spread to Asia.
In March, the FDA suspended nearly all U.S. and foreign inspections due to safety concerns and travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
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