huffpost--2020-05-01--Amazon And Major Retail Workers Strike For Hazard Pay, Better Safety

The unprecedented coalition of workers for Amazon , Instacart , Whole Foods , Walmart , Target , Shipt and FedEx demanded hazard pay , better access to personal protective equipment on the job and an expanded ability to stay home with pay if they feel sick .
In the current crisis , people who work in delivery and fulfillment centers have become essential employees for millions of Americans working and learning at home .
These are low-wage jobs in a country where wage growth has been stagnant for years .
Although companies have initiated some new safety policies , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly as online orders are surging .
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ’ personal fortune has grown by $ 24 billion during the pandemic so far , bringing it to a mind-numbing $ 138 billion .
He has been the world ’ s richest person since 2017 .
( Amazon also owns Whole Foods . )
Meanwhile , people who work at Amazon , Whole Foods , Target and other companies are demanding hazard pay of around $ 5 per order for putting their lives on the line , according to a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work from home are at a greater risk of contracting the virus , which could potentially land them in the hospital for weeks and stick them with burdensome medical bills .
As HuffPost ’ s Dave Jamison reported earlier this week , the hazard pay that workers are currently receiving is so marginal that it barely factors into their decision to err on the cautious side or continue working through the pandemic .
“ How can you expect people to show up and keep it together when you ’ re basically just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one Amazon worker , who asked not to be identified out of fear of retaliation .
“ I ’ ve seen otherwise cheerful people absolutely miserable.
” Workers also need a continuous supply of masks and gloves to stay safe ; an unknown number of stores and fulfillment centers have been hit by the virus already .
Amazon , Whole Foods and Instacart employees say they need paid sick leave and back pay for days they have already been out sick .
Workers for Amazon and Whole Foods would also like to halt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retaliation against those who speak out about workplace safety .
Former Amazon employee , Christian Smalls , stands with fellow demonstrators during a protest outside of an Amazon warehouse as the outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) continues in the Staten Island borough of New York on May 1 , 2020 .
Amazon has been particularly opaque about COVID-19′s effects on its workforce , going so far as to fire an employee in March for staging a walkout to protest lax safety policies .
It remains unclear precisely how many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or died of the disease , but a group of Amazon employees in Indiana estimates that the number of cases is at least 600 across more than 155 buildings nationwide .
“ Now we were able to form this alliance that is speaking truth to power , ” Christian Smalls , the Amazon worker fired in March , said on WNYC ’ s “ Brian Lehrer Show ” on Friday morning .
“ It ’ s disgraceful , but at the same time , we all know the truth now .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Smalls , it ’ s going to be Amazon versus the people .
”

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Essential workers who stock grocery store shelves, fill online orders and deliver packages to American homes staged a general strike on Friday.
The unprecedented coalition of workers for Amazon, Instacart, Whole Foods, Walmart, Target, Shipt and FedEx demanded hazard pay, better access to personal protective equipment on the job and an expanded ability to stay home with pay if they feel sick.
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In the current crisis, people who work in delivery and fulfillment centers have become essential employees for millions of Americans working and learning at home. These are low-wage jobs in a country where wage growth has been stagnant for years.
Although companies have initiated some new safety policies, many workers believe they could be doing more, particularly as online orders are surging. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ personal fortune has grown by $24 billion during the pandemic so far, bringing it to a mind-numbing $138 billion. He has been the world’s richest person since 2017. (Amazon also owns Whole Foods.)
People protest working conditions outside of an Amazon warehouse fulfillment center on May 1, 2020, in the Staten Island borough of New York City. Stephanie Keith via Getty Images
Meanwhile, people who work at Amazon, Whole Foods, Target and other companies are demanding hazard pay of around $5 per order for putting their lives on the line, according to a press release about the strikes. Those unable to work from home are at a greater risk of contracting the virus, which could potentially land them in the hospital for weeks and stick them with burdensome medical bills.
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As HuffPost’s Dave Jamison reported earlier this week, the hazard pay that workers are currently receiving is so marginal that it barely factors into their decision to err on the cautious side or continue working through the pandemic.
“How can you expect people to show up and keep it together when you’re basically just giving them chicken feed?” said one Amazon worker, who asked not to be identified out of fear of retaliation. “I’ve seen otherwise cheerful people absolutely miserable.”
Protesters concerned about Amazon's handling of the coronavirus are demanding more safety precautions for workers during the pandemic. Stephanie Keith via Getty Images
Workers also need a continuous supply of masks and gloves to stay safe; an unknown number of stores and fulfillment centers have been hit by the virus already.
Amazon, Whole Foods and Instacart employees say they need paid sick leave and back pay for days they have already been out sick. Workers for Amazon and Whole Foods would also like to halt shipments of nonessential items and stop corporate retaliation against those who speak out about workplace safety.
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Former Amazon employee, Christian Smalls, stands with fellow demonstrators during a protest outside of an Amazon warehouse as the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in the Staten Island borough of New York on May 1, 2020. Lucas Jackson / Reuters
Amazon has been particularly opaque about COVID-19′s effects on its workforce, going so far as to fire an employee in March for staging a walkout to protest lax safety policies. It remains unclear precisely how many of the company’s workers have contracted or died of the disease, but a group of Amazon employees in Indiana estimates that the number of cases is at least 600 across more than 155 buildings nationwide.
“Now we were able to form this alliance that is speaking truth to power,” Christian Smalls, the Amazon worker fired in March, said on WNYC’s “Brian Lehrer Show” on Friday morning.
“It’s disgraceful, but at the same time, we all know the truth now. It’s never going to be Amazon versus Chris Smalls, it’s going to be Amazon versus the people.”
Workers at Amazon warehouses, Whole Foods stores, along with Instacart and Shipt deliverers, have been staging walkouts to voice concerns about their risky workplace conditions since the number of cases began to explode in March.


huffpost--2020-05-01--A Democratic Group Is Crashing Trump’s Coronavirus Town Hall With Attack Ads

MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images President Donald Trump speaks on protecting America 's seniors from the COVID-19 pandemic in the East Room of the White House on April 30 , 2020 .
A Democratic super PAC is buying television time around President Donald Trump ’ s Fox News town hall on Sunday night and is planning to air ads attacking his response to the coronavirus pandemic in key swing states .
American Bridge , which is focused on limiting Trump ’ s margins among white working-class voters , is airing the 30-second spot in smaller television markets in the states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ads feature Trump declaring , “ there is so much unnecessary death in this country ” while news headlines onscreen outline flaws in the Trump administration ’ s COVID-19 response and the growing severity of the pandemic .
More than 60,000 Americans have died , while more than 30 million Americans have applied for unemployment in recent weeks .
The Trump administration has spent the past week declaring victory over the pandemic .
The president has opted to end his daily coronavirus briefings , and some states are beginning to reopen parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medical professionals note an ongoing shortage of COVID-19 tests and a growing number of cases in many parts of the country .
Trump ’ s approval rating has slipped since the beginning of the crisis , and public polling shows him trailing former Vice President Joe Biden , the all-but-certain Democratic nominee , both nationally and in toss-up states .
The town hall , the Trump administration hopes , will give the president an opportunity to sell his response to the pandemic to an increasingly skeptical public .
The two-hour event will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 90 minutes .
American Bridge ’ s ads are part of the group ’ s efforts to limit Trump ’ s advantage among white working-class voters , who backed the president overwhelmingly in 2016 and are a key part of his political base in 2020 .
“ Sunday evening , voters can count on hearing more lies and whitewashed narratives about Donald Trump ’ s failed coronavirus response , so it ’ s only fair that voters get to hear the unadulterated truth , ” said American Bridge President Bradley Beychok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months and failed to take action , instead choosing to golf and hit the conga line in Mar-a-Lago.
” The ads are airing in places with high populations of white working-class voters , including the Michigan cities of Grand Rapids , Flint , and Traverse City ; Pittsburgh , Harrisburg , Wilkes Barre , Johnstown , and Erie in Pennsylvania ; and Green Bay , La Crosse , and Wausau in Wisconsin .

President Donald Trump speaks on protecting America's seniors from the COVID-19 pandemic in the East Room of the White House on April 30, 2020. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
A Democratic super PAC is buying television time around President Donald Trump’s Fox News town hall on Sunday night and is planning to air ads attacking his response to the coronavirus pandemic in key swing states.
American Bridge, which is focused on limiting Trump’s margins among white working-class voters, is airing the 30-second spot in smaller television markets in the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
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The ads feature Trump declaring, “there is so much unnecessary death in this country” while news headlines onscreen outline flaws in the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response and the growing severity of the pandemic. More than 60,000 Americans have died, while more than 30 million Americans have applied for unemployment in recent weeks.
“Donald Trump’s lost time cost lives,” the ad declares.
The Trump administration has spent the past week declaring victory over the pandemic. The president has opted to end his daily coronavirus briefings, and some states are beginning to reopen parts of their economies, even as Democrats and medical professionals note an ongoing shortage of COVID-19 tests and a growing number of cases in many parts of the country.
Trump’s approval rating has slipped since the beginning of the crisis, and public polling shows him trailing former Vice President Joe Biden, the all-but-certain Democratic nominee, both nationally and in toss-up states.
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The town hall, the Trump administration hopes, will give the president an opportunity to sell his response to the pandemic to an increasingly skeptical public. The two-hour event will feature Trump taking questions from viewers for at least 90 minutes.
American Bridge’s ads are part of the group’s efforts to limit Trump’s advantage among white working-class voters, who backed the president overwhelmingly in 2016 and are a key part of his political base in 2020.
“Sunday evening, voters can count on hearing more lies and whitewashed narratives about Donald Trump’s failed coronavirus response, so it’s only fair that voters get to hear the unadulterated truth,” said American Bridge President Bradley Beychok. “Trump ignored intelligence reports for months and failed to take action, instead choosing to golf and hit the conga line in Mar-a-Lago.”
The ads are airing in places with high populations of white working-class voters, including the Michigan cities of Grand Rapids, Flint, and Traverse City; Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Wilkes Barre, Johnstown, and Erie in Pennsylvania; and Green Bay, La Crosse, and Wausau in Wisconsin.


huffpost--2020-05-01--'Incensed' Sheriff Slams 'Dysfunctional' Tyson For 900 COVID-19 Cases In Iowa Hot Spot

A furious Iowa sheriff blasted the “ inept ” and “ dysfunctional ” Tyson Fresh Meats plant in his county where about 900 workers contracted COVID-19 .
He blasted a full-page ad that Tyson took out in The New York Times ( and The Washington Post and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ) on Monday that bemoaned the effect of COVID-19 on the meat business and warned that the “ food supply chain is breaking.
” “ We know ” that the Iowa coronavirus outbreak and threats to the food supply chain are “ due to these inept , reactionary and dysfunctional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Waterloo plant , which employs 2,800 workers , Thompson told Maddow .
“ It ’ s frustrating that my citizens ... are more at risk than any other county in the state , ” he told Maddow .
As of Wednesday , Tyson workers were linked to about 90 % of the 1,327 COVID-19 cases in Black Hawk County , which has the highest number of coronavirus in the state , USA Today reported .
Additionally , about 900 of the 2,200 employees at a Tyson pork processing plant in Logansport , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , WISH-TV in Indianapolis reported Wednesday .
Again , that ’ s the lion ’ s share of the 1,200 cases in Cass County , where the plant is located .
Tyson has closed both the Waterloo and Logansport plants and is working with county health officials to improve safety .
Despite the shocking coronavirus rates at the Tyson meat plants and others , President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to keep the plants open .
Despite the infection rates , Republicans in Washington are pushing to indemnify businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .
At the same time , frightened workers who refuse to return to work because they fear for their lives face not qualifying for unemployment benefits .

A furious Iowa sheriff blasted the “inept” and “dysfunctional” Tyson Fresh Meats plant in his county where about 900 workers contracted COVID-19.
“It incenses me,” Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson told Rachel Maddow Wednesday night on MSNBC.
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He blasted a full-page ad that Tyson took out in The New York Times (and The Washington Post and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) on Monday that bemoaned the effect of COVID-19 on the meat business and warned that the “food supply chain is breaking.”
“We know” that the Iowa coronavirus outbreak and threats to the food supply chain are “due to these inept, reactionary and dysfunctional responses” to what was happening in the Waterloo plant, which employs 2,800 workers, Thompson told Maddow.
“It’s frustrating that my citizens ... are more at risk than any other county in the state,” he told Maddow.
As of Wednesday, Tyson workers were linked to about 90% of the 1,327 COVID-19 cases in Black Hawk County, which has the highest number of coronavirus in the state, USA Today reported.
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Additionally, about 900 of the 2,200 employees at a Tyson pork processing plant in Logansport, Indiana, have also tested positive for the coronavirus, WISH-TV in Indianapolis reported Wednesday. Again, that’s the lion’s share of the 1,200 cases in Cass County, where the plant is located.
Tyson has closed both the Waterloo and Logansport plants and is working with county health officials to improve safety.
Despite the shocking coronavirus rates at the Tyson meat plants and others, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to keep the plants open.
Despite the infection rates, Republicans in Washington are pushing to indemnify businesses to protect them from lawsuits from infected workers. At the same time, frightened workers who refuse to return to work because they fear for their lives face not qualifying for unemployment benefits.
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huffpost--2020-05-01--Reporter Who Tweeted About Face-Mask Fiasco Says He Was Banned From Future Pence Trips

A Voice of America journalist who contradicted second lady Karen Pence regarding the vice president ’ s dismissal of face-mask protocol at the Mayo Clinic was banned Thursday from taking further trips with Mike Pence , The Washington Post reported .
A representative from Pence ’ s office later told Voice of America managers that the punishment might be lifted if the media organization or White House bureau chief Steve Herman apologizes , the newspaper reported .
Karen Pence insisted in a Fox News interview Thursday that her husband had no idea he was supposed to wear a mask during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayo Clinic in Minnesota .
However , the hospital posted a tweet that was later deleted which said the vice president had been informed about the requirement .
After the second lady ’ s interview , Herman tweeted that Pence ’ s office had informed journalists the day before the trip that masks were required for anyone accompanying him to the clinic : All of us who traveled with him were notified by the office of @ VP the day before the trip that wearing of masks was required by the @ MayoClinic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ //t.co/LFqh27LusD — Steve Herman ( @ W7VOA ) April 30 , 2020 A copy of the directive from Pence ’ s office on the trip that was obtained by the Post clearly states that masks were required .
“ Please note , the Mayo Clinic is requiring [ that ] all individuals traveling with the VP wear masks , ” the document read , per the Post .
“ Please bring one to wear while on the trip.
” The document was marked “ off the record ” and for “ planning purposes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such trips .
After his tweet , the White House Correspondents ’ Association told Herman that Pence ’ s office had banned him from all future travel on Air Force Two .
Wall Street Journal reporter Gordon Lubold tweeted the same information two days before Herman and emphasized that everyone was wearing a mask during the Mayo Clinic visit .
He tweeted the information again after Karen Pence ’ s interview : Here at the Clinic with Pence and mayo made it clear **everyone should have a mask and VP is the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Gordon Lubold ( @ glubold ) April 28 , 2020 also , everyone in the entire Mayo Clinic had a mask on , everyone , and we were all told the day before we had to wear a mask if we entered the clinic https : //t.co/cNW4fJ87Q4 — Gordon Lubold ( @ glubold ) April 30 , 2020 The vice president ’ s decision to ignore face mask protocol amid the coronavirus pandemic ignited a storm of controversy .
Pence , who is head of the federal coronavirus task force , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
“ As vice president of the United States , I ’ m tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis , and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus , ” Pence told pool reporters .
He also said he wanted to look people “ in the eye , ” even though the masks don ’ t cover the eyes .

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A Voice of America journalist who contradicted second lady Karen Pence regarding the vice president’s dismissal of face-mask protocol at the Mayo Clinic was banned Thursday from taking further trips with Mike Pence, The Washington Post reported.
A representative from Pence’s office later told Voice of America managers that the punishment might be lifted if the media organization or White House bureau chief Steve Herman apologizes, the newspaper reported.
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Karen Pence insisted in a Fox News interview Thursday that her husband had no idea he was supposed to wear a mask during his visit earlier this week to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. However, the hospital posted a tweet that was later deleted which said the vice president had been informed about the requirement.
Everyone else on the tour work face masks.
After the second lady’s interview, Herman tweeted that Pence’s office had informed journalists the day before the trip that masks were required for anyone accompanying him to the clinic:
All of us who traveled with him were notified by the office of @VP the day before the trip that wearing of masks was required by the @MayoClinic and to prepare accordingly. https://t.co/LFqh27LusD — Steve Herman (@W7VOA) April 30, 2020
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A copy of the directive from Pence’s office on the trip that was obtained by the Post clearly states that masks were required.
“Please note, the Mayo Clinic is requiring [that] all individuals traveling with the VP wear masks,” the document read, per the Post. “Please bring one to wear while on the trip.”
The document was marked “off the record” and for “planning purposes only,” which is standard for such trips.
After his tweet, the White House Correspondents’ Association told Herman that Pence’s office had banned him from all future travel on Air Force Two.
Wall Street Journal reporter Gordon Lubold tweeted the same information two days before Herman and emphasized that everyone was wearing a mask during the Mayo Clinic visit. He tweeted the information again after Karen Pence’s interview:
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Here at the Clinic with Pence and mayo made it clear **everyone should have a mask and VP is the only one not wearing one https://t.co/GCxahM8UVa — Gordon Lubold (@glubold) April 28, 2020
also, everyone in the entire Mayo Clinic had a mask on, everyone, and we were all told the day before we had to wear a mask if we entered the clinic https://t.co/cNW4fJ87Q4 — Gordon Lubold (@glubold) April 30, 2020
According to the Post, VOA managers were still discussing the matter with Pence’s office late Thursday.
The vice president’s decision to ignore face mask protocol amid the coronavirus pandemic ignited a storm of controversy. Pence, who is head of the federal coronavirus task force, said he didn’t need to wear one.
“As vice president of the United States, I’m tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus,” Pence told pool reporters. He also said he wanted to look people “in the eye,” even though the masks don’t cover the eyes.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing face masks in public where social distancing can be difficult to maintain.
Pence did wear a face mask — and protective glasses — during a tour of a General Motors plant on Thursday.
A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus


huffpost--2020-04-01--Air Force Academy Eases Social Distancing Rules After 2 Suicides

COLORADO SPRINGS , Colo. ( AP ) — Social distancing restrictions at the Air Force Academy have been relaxed after it reported two cadet suicides in less than a week following attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Emails obtained from the academy show the Colorado Springs base had received complaints about how the policies made the school prison-like for about 1,000 seniors who remained on the campus , the Gazette reported .
The Air Force ’ s Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein met with leaders and cadets at the academy Monday following the reported suicides last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after graduation at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs .
The academy said it will ease coronavirus social distancing restrictions following the deaths of two cadets .
“ After last night and today , thank you for all the conversations and direct engagement with me and ( Air Force ) senior leaders , ” superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria said in an email Monday announcing policy changes .
“ I asked them to come out and talk to you and I am grateful that despite the travel restrictions , they wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjustments came after academy leaders sent cadets from the lower three classes home to finish the year online and kept the remaining senior class on campus , spreading them out across emptied dormitories .
They were ordered to stay on campus and stay separated from one another while taking online classes and eating take-out meals from the school ’ s dining facility .
The cadets who died by suicide were seniors .
The changes were made in response to the deaths , though it is not clear to what extent the isolation played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now able to venture off campus for drive-through food , wear civilian clothing on Fridays and congregate in small groups compliant with state guidelines , academy leaders said in an email to students and staff .
Long marching practice tours where cadets are closer than six feet from their classmates were also temporarily suspended .
Alcohol also will be allowed on the campus , just not in dormitories or cars , and staff was encouraged to bring their dogs to work , according to the email .
Some have argued the changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak that the stricter rules intended to prevent .

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Social distancing restrictions at the Air Force Academy have been relaxed after it reported two cadet suicides in less than a week following attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Emails obtained from the academy show the Colorado Springs base had received complaints about how the policies made the school prison-like for about 1,000 seniors who remained on the campus, the Gazette reported.
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The Air Force’s Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein met with leaders and cadets at the academy Monday following the reported suicides last week.
People watch an air show after graduation at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The academy said it will ease coronavirus social distancing restrictions following the deaths of two cadets. RJ Sangosti via Getty Images
“After last night and today, thank you for all the conversations and direct engagement with me and (Air Force) senior leaders,” superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria said in an email Monday announcing policy changes. “I asked them to come out and talk to you and I am grateful that despite the travel restrictions, they wanted to talk to you.”
The policy adjustments came after academy leaders sent cadets from the lower three classes home to finish the year online and kept the remaining senior class on campus, spreading them out across emptied dormitories. They were ordered to stay on campus and stay separated from one another while taking online classes and eating take-out meals from the school’s dining facility.
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The cadets who died by suicide were seniors. The changes were made in response to the deaths, though it is not clear to what extent the isolation played a role in the suicides.
Cadets are now able to venture off campus for drive-through food, wear civilian clothing on Fridays and congregate in small groups compliant with state guidelines, academy leaders said in an email to students and staff. Long marching practice tours where cadets are closer than six feet from their classmates were also temporarily suspended.
“No one is being punished for social distancing violations. Be smart!” Silveria said.
Alcohol also will be allowed on the campus, just not in dormitories or cars, and staff was encouraged to bring their dogs to work, according to the email.
The academy did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.


huffpost--2020-03-31--White House Predicts As Many As 240,000 U.S. Deaths From Coronavirus

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Americans to brace for a “ rough two-week period ” ahead as the White House released new projections that there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained .
“ We really believe we can do a lot better than that , ” said Dr. Deborah Birx , the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force .
That would require all Americans to take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow the spread of the coronavirus “ a matter of life and death ” and urged the public to heed his administration ’ s guidelines .
He predicted the country would soon see a “ light at the end of the tunnel ” in the pandemic that has killed more than 3,500 Americans and infected 170,000 more .
“ I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead , ” Trump said .
“ We ’ re going to go through a very tough two weeks.
” Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top infectious disease expert , said the numbers are “ sobering ” and called on Americans to “ step on the accelerator ” with their collective mitigation efforts .
“ We are continue to see things go up , ” Fauci said .
“ We can not be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.
” Birx said pandemic forecasts initially predicted 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths in the U.S .
But that was a worst-case scenario , without efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have not yet seen a spike in cases as New York has could take action to flatten the curve of rising hospitalizations and deaths .
As for the projection of 100,000-240,000 deaths , Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said : “ We don ’ t accept that number , that that ’ s what it ’ s going to be .
... We want to do much better than that.
” The comments came after Trump announced Sunday that he was extending to April 30 the social distancing guidelines that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work from home , suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus .
It was an abrupt reversal for Trump , who spent much of last week targeting April 12 as the day he wanted to see Americans “ pack the pews ” for Easter Sunday services .
Trump spoke after another troubling day for the stock market , which has been in a free fall as the cononavirus ground the economy to a near-halt and left millions unemployed .
The Dow Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or roughly 1.9 % , to seal the worst first-quarter finish of its 135-year history .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Americans to brace for a “rough two-week period” ahead as the White House released new projections that there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.
Public health officials stressed that the number could be less if people change their behavior.
“We really believe we can do a lot better than that,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force. That would require all Americans to take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease, she said.
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Trump called American efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus “a matter of life and death” and urged the public to heed his administration’s guidelines. He predicted the country would soon see a “light at the end of the tunnel” in the pandemic that has killed more than 3,500 Americans and infected 170,000 more.
“I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead,” Trump said. “We’re going to go through a very tough two weeks.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said the numbers are “sobering” and called on Americans to “step on the accelerator” with their collective mitigation efforts.
“We are continue to see things go up,” Fauci said. “We cannot be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.”
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Birx said pandemic forecasts initially predicted 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. But that was a worst-case scenario, without efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus through social distancing.
Birx said states that have not yet seen a spike in cases as New York has could take action to flatten the curve of rising hospitalizations and deaths.
As for the projection of 100,000-240,000 deaths, Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said: “We don’t accept that number, that that’s what it’s going to be. ... We want to do much better than that.”
The comments came after Trump announced Sunday that he was extending to April 30 the social distancing guidelines that urged Americans to cease social gatherings, work from home, suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus.
It was an abrupt reversal for Trump, who spent much of last week targeting April 12 as the day he wanted to see Americans “pack the pews” for Easter Sunday services.
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Many states and local governments already have stiffer controls in place on mobility and gatherings.


huffpost--2020-04-01--D.C. Corrections Officers Support Inmates’ Coronavirus Lawsuit Against the DOC

The lawsuit , filed March 30 by the Public Defender Service and the American Civil Liberties Union , criticized the Department of Corrections ’ treatment of incarcerated people who could die or be seriously injured if infected with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , and argued for more testing , better safety measures and the release of some vulnerable incarcerated people .
“ I can say that without exception , these are the absolute worst conditions I have ever experienced , ” said Jannease Johnson , who has worked at the DOC for 29 years , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C. , jail on Wednesday .
“ Management has left the staff and inmates to become infected , sick and/or die.
” At least four people detained in the facility have tested positive for COVID-19 , and Johnson said that by next week , “ half of our officers will be home on quarantine.
” The DOC has not been following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for the coronavirus pandemic “ at all , ” said Cpl .
Benjamin Olubasusi , the chairman of the DOC ’ s labor committee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have refused to listen to their concerns , and that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ( D ) warned it would be illegal for the corrections officers to go on strike .
“ The leaders are now leaving us to die , ” Olubasusi said .
While those inside prisons and jails nationwide have spoken out about how the cramped and unsanitary conditions inside will cause the coronavirus to spread , this lawsuit is the first example of jail staff participating in legal action against their own employer during the outbreak .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Hannon , the DOC labor committee ’ s lawyer .
“ No person in the United States who is following this pandemic would do any of the things that correctional officers are required to do .
Our folks have to have the protection mandated by the CDC.
” Deputy Mayor Kevin Donahue told HuffPost that while the Department of Corrections can not comment on pending litigation , “ we have been planning for the safety and well-being of all vulnerable populations in the District , which includes residents in the custody of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the coronavirus will “ spread like wildfire ” in jails and prison , and hundreds of people inside of correctional facilities have already tested positive for the virus .
At the D.C. facility , 65 incarcerated people were quarantined in March after coming into contact with a law enforcement officer who tested positive for the disease .
Despite this danger , the lawsuit contends , people incarcerated at the D.C. jail say they are not being adequately tested for COVID-19 or given sufficient medical care when they have symptoms .
They say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hand sanitizer , cleaning supplies or protective gear necessary to prevent a coronavirus outbreak .
Inmates have to clean their own cells , but are not given masks or gloves to protect themselves and have been instructed to clean their cells with water and their own soap .
Some people said they didn ’ t have access to soap for at least a week , since they couldn ’ t buy it from the jail ’ s commissary .
Plus , they share cells with multiple people , with toilets a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of late March , were forced to participate in activities involving groups of 30 people sitting less than one foot apart , according to the filing .
This is concerning for correctional officers as well , who are the ones most likely to get infected and bring COVID-19 into the jail , since they are moving in and out of the facility .
Yet they are not being given masks , sufficient gloves , gowns or disinfectants , according to the lawsuit .
Employees said their jobs don ’ t allow them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns aren ’ t being taken seriously , even though new inmates are not being screened for symptoms of COVID-19 before entering the facility .
The lawsuit demands that the DOC release some of the 1,620 people detained in the jail and protect them by conducting more thorough testing , giving them access to hygiene supplies , and providing incarcerated people and staff with gloves and masks .

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District of Columbia correctional workers are supporting a lawsuit against the Washington, D.C., Department of Corrections over what they say is a failure to protect incarcerated people during the coronavirus outbreak.
The lawsuit, filed March 30 by the Public Defender Service and the American Civil Liberties Union, criticized the Department of Corrections’ treatment of incarcerated people who could die or be seriously injured if infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and argued for more testing, better safety measures and the release of some vulnerable incarcerated people.
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But correctional officers are being put at risk, too. So the DOC’s labor union took the unusual step of announcing its support for the lawsuit.
“I can say that without exception, these are the absolute worst conditions I have ever experienced,” said Jannease Johnson, who has worked at the DOC for 29 years, at a press conference outside the Washington, D.C., jail on Wednesday. “Management has left the staff and inmates to become infected, sick and/or die.”
At least four people detained in the facility have tested positive for COVID-19, and Johnson said that by next week, “half of our officers will be home on quarantine.”
“I can say that without exception, these are the absolute worst conditions I have ever experienced.” - Jannease Johnson, D.C. DOC employee
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The DOC has not been following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for the coronavirus pandemic “at all,” said Cpl. Benjamin Olubasusi, the chairman of the DOC’s labor committee. He said both department and city leaders have refused to listen to their concerns, and that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) warned it would be illegal for the corrections officers to go on strike. “The leaders are now leaving us to die,” Olubasusi said.
While those inside prisons and jails nationwide have spoken out about how the cramped and unsanitary conditions inside will cause the coronavirus to spread, this lawsuit is the first example of jail staff participating in legal action against their own employer during the outbreak.
“The situation is desperate,” said J. Michael Hannon, the DOC labor committee’s lawyer. “No person in the United States who is following this pandemic would do any of the things that correctional officers are required to do. Our folks have to have the protection mandated by the CDC.”
Deputy Mayor Kevin Donahue told HuffPost that while the Department of Corrections cannot comment on pending litigation, “we have been planning for the safety and well-being of all vulnerable populations in the District, which includes residents in the custody of the Department of Corrections.”
Experts have said the coronavirus will “spread like wildfire” in jails and prison, and hundreds of people inside of correctional facilities have already tested positive for the virus. At the D.C. facility, 65 incarcerated people were quarantined in March after coming into contact with a law enforcement officer who tested positive for the disease.
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Despite this danger, the lawsuit contends, people incarcerated at the D.C. jail say they are not being adequately tested for COVID-19 or given sufficient medical care when they have symptoms. They say they are unable to get the soap, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies or protective gear necessary to prevent a coronavirus outbreak. Inmates have to clean their own cells, but are not given masks or gloves to protect themselves and have been instructed to clean their cells with water and their own soap. Some people said they didn’t have access to soap for at least a week, since they couldn’t buy it from the jail’s commissary. Plus, they share cells with multiple people, with toilets a few feet away from their beds, and as of late March, were forced to participate in activities involving groups of 30 people sitting less than one foot apart, according to the filing.
This is concerning for correctional officers as well, who are the ones most likely to get infected and bring COVID-19 into the jail, since they are moving in and out of the facility. Yet they are not being given masks, sufficient gloves, gowns or disinfectants, according to the lawsuit. Employees said their jobs don’t allow them to social distance and that their health concerns aren’t being taken seriously, even though new inmates are not being screened for symptoms of COVID-19 before entering the facility.
The correctional officers who are part of the DOC’s labor committee will support the plaintiffs in the lawsuit by detailing the conditions inside the jail, according to Hannon.
The lawsuit demands that the DOC release some of the 1,620 people detained in the jail and protect them by conducting more thorough testing, giving them access to hygiene supplies, and providing incarcerated people and staff with gloves and masks.
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huffpost--2020-05-12--Stacey Abrams Endorses Joe Biden

Stacey Abrams Endorses Joe Biden

WASHINGTON , May 12 ( Reuters ) - Former Georgia state minority leader Stacey Abrams , a possible Democratic vice presidential pick , endorsed presumptive nominee Joe Biden for U.S. president on Tuesday , citing his stance on climate change , economic recovery and voting rights .
Abrams , a rising Democratic Party star , gained a national profile in her failed bid to become Georgia ’ s governor in 2018 and is a leading voting rights advocate in the southern state .
Biden , the former U.S. vice president , has vowed to pick a woman to join his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a running mate .
“ Vice President Biden is the leader America needs — a leader who will restore dignity , competence and compassion to the Oval Office while restoring America ’ s moral leadership around the world , ” Abrams said in a statement .
.
@ JoeBiden is the leader America needs .
I look forward to continuing my strong support for his candidacy and doing all I can to make sure he is elected this November .
pic.twitter.com/2FA5AHjZzQ — Stacey Abrams ( @ staceyabrams ) May 12 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting climate change , pushing for an economic recovery for all , and protecting every American ’ s right to vote .
“ While marginalized communities struggle under Donald Trump ’ s failed leadership and people of color face disproportionate consequences of COVID-19 , Joe Biden will take no one for granted , ” Abrams said .
Other candidates likely being considered are Biden ’ s former rivals for the 2020 Democratic nomination , Senators Kamala Harris , Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren .
Others include Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests during the coronavirus outbreak and Representative Val Demings of Florida , a key battleground state .

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WASHINGTON, May 12 (Reuters) - Former Georgia state minority leader Stacey Abrams, a possible Democratic vice presidential pick, endorsed presumptive nominee Joe Biden for U.S. president on Tuesday, citing his stance on climate change, economic recovery and voting rights.
Abrams, a rising Democratic Party star, gained a national profile in her failed bid to become Georgia’s governor in 2018 and is a leading voting rights advocate in the southern state.
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Biden, the former U.S. vice president, has vowed to pick a woman to join his ticket and suggested he would consider her as a running mate.
“Vice President Biden is the leader America needs — a leader who will restore dignity, competence and compassion to the Oval Office while restoring America’s moral leadership around the world,” Abrams said in a statement.
.@JoeBiden is the leader America needs. I look forward to continuing my strong support for his candidacy and doing all I can to make sure he is elected this November. pic.twitter.com/2FA5AHjZzQ — Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) May 12, 2020
She praised Biden’s commitment to fighting climate change, pushing for an economic recovery for all, and protecting every American’s right to vote.
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“While marginalized communities struggle under Donald Trump’s failed leadership and people of color face disproportionate consequences of COVID-19, Joe Biden will take no one for granted,” Abrams said.
Other candidates likely being considered are Biden’s former rivals for the 2020 Democratic nomination, Senators Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren.
Others include Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who has gained a high profile leading Michigan amid protests during the coronavirus outbreak and Representative Val Demings of Florida, a key battleground state.


huffpost--2020-05-14--Republicans Say Congress Has Given Out Enough Coronavirus Relief For Now

The U.S. keeps shedding jobs by the millions , a deepening economic calamity that has the Federal Reserve pleading with Congress to keep its foot on the gas in providing Americans additional fiscal relief amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
“ I don ’ t think we have yet felt the urgency of acting immediately .
That time could develop , but I don ’ t think it has yet , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) said earlier this week , urging lawmakers to instead consider the trillions that Congress has already appropriated to emergency coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we may need additional money to address this crisis , ” added Sen. John Thune ( R-S.D . )
on Wednesday .
“ But it ’ s important to remember that every dollar of what we ’ ve appropriated for coronavirus is borrowed money.
” Since returning to Washington two weeks ago , the Republican-controlled Senate has done no legislating directly related to the coronavirus pandemic .
It has held several hearings on testing and reopening the economy , as well as one for an inspector general nominee in charge of oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2 trillion stimulus package Congress passed in March .
Other than coalescing around a yet-to-be-unveiled proposal to shield corporations and health care providers from lawsuits , Senate Republicans and the Trump administration appear satisfied with a wait-and-see approach on further spending , even as jobless claims hit 36 million and deaths from the virus crossed the 86,000 mark this week .
While speaking with HuffPost , Sen. Joe Manchin ( D-W.Va. ) addressed the majority leader : “ We ’ ve already hit the pause , Mitch .
You want to hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pause has already been hit .
Next thing you hit stop , I guess .
We ’ ve still got people hurting.
” Their case was echoed on Wednesday by Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell , who was picked for the job by President Donald Trump .
Appearing on a livestream sponsored by the Peterson Institute for International Economics , Powell urged Congress to continue providing stimulus , warning that failing to do so would only prolong the nation ’ s economic recovery in the future .
“ Additional fiscal support could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps avoid long-term economic damage and leaves us with a stronger recovery , ” Powell said .
“ This tradeoff is one for our elected representatives , who wield powers of taxation and spending.
” But conservative senators anxious about the added levels of debt were unswayed by calls for more federal spending , including to finance another round of economic relief payments from the federal government .
Congress provided most Americans with stimulus checks of up to $ 1,200 , with an additional $ 500 per child , but many Democratic lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans .
The bill unveiled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) includes a second wave of $ 1,200 payments with more inclusive eligibility requirements .
“ I would be glad to do that if we weren ’ t stacking on this deficit on the $ 25 trillion existing deficit .
...
There is not an unlimited borrowing in the world , ” Sen. James Lankford ( R-Okla. ) said when asked about Powell ’ s comments .
Josh Hawley ( R-Mo . )
, a freshman senator who has been floated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , proposed a radical program along with Cory Gardner ( R-Colo. ) that would subsidize business ’ payrolls during the crisis .
The plan calls for the federal government to reimburse 80 % of wages up to $ 50,000 to keep workers on payroll through the year ― with more provided to employers who rehire workers who have been laid off .
Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) also introduced a plan to provide front-line workers with hazard pay during the pandemic , the only GOP lawmaker to endorse such a proposal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now face a greater risk of contracting the coronavirus , like people in the health care or food processing industries .
But Hawley and Romney remain outliers within the broader Senate GOP conference .
Republican leaders are continuing to push for added employer liability protections and don ’ t expect actual negotiating with House Democrats to take place for at least several more weeks .
Trump , meanwhile , seems more focused on former President Barack Obama and his vice president Joe Biden , the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee .
On Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee to call Obama to testify regarding something he ’ s referred to as “ OBAMAGATE .
”

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The U.S. keeps shedding jobs by the millions, a deepening economic calamity that has the Federal Reserve pleading with Congress to keep its foot on the gas in providing Americans additional fiscal relief amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
But to many Republicans, the daunting situation calls for introspection and not further legislative action on major programs to help people struggling to make ends meet.
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“I don’t think we have yet felt the urgency of acting immediately. That time could develop, but I don’t think it has yet,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said earlier this week, urging lawmakers to instead consider the trillions that Congress has already appropriated to emergency coronavirus relief programs.
“Nobody is questioning that we may need additional money to address this crisis,” added Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) on Wednesday. “But it’s important to remember that every dollar of what we’ve appropriated for coronavirus is borrowed money.”
Since returning to Washington two weeks ago, the Republican-controlled Senate has done no legislating directly related to the coronavirus pandemic. It has held several hearings on testing and reopening the economy, as well as one for an inspector general nominee in charge of oversight of major relief programs, including the $2 trillion stimulus package Congress passed in March.
Other than coalescing around a yet-to-be-unveiled proposal to shield corporations and health care providers from lawsuits, Senate Republicans and the Trump administration appear satisfied with a wait-and-see approach on further spending, even as jobless claims hit 36 million and deaths from the virus crossed the 86,000 mark this week.
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The slowdown has left Democrats, who introduced another massive $3 trillion emergency relief measure in the House, screaming for more federal action.
“Just how long will it take, how much economic hardship will suffice, before Senate Republicans feel the urgency to act?” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) asked in a floor speech Thursday.
While speaking with HuffPost, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) addressed the majority leader: “We’ve already hit the pause, Mitch. You want to hit the stop or the pause? The pause has already been hit. Next thing you hit stop, I guess. We’ve still got people hurting.”
Their case was echoed on Wednesday by Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell, who was picked for the job by President Donald Trump. Appearing on a livestream sponsored by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Powell urged Congress to continue providing stimulus, warning that failing to do so would only prolong the nation’s economic recovery in the future.
“Additional fiscal support could be costly, but worth it if it helps avoid long-term economic damage and leaves us with a stronger recovery,” Powell said. “This tradeoff is one for our elected representatives, who wield powers of taxation and spending.”
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But conservative senators anxious about the added levels of debt were unswayed by calls for more federal spending, including to finance another round of economic relief payments from the federal government. Congress provided most Americans with stimulus checks of up to $1,200, with an additional $500 per child, but many Democratic lawmakers are pushing for more direct aid to Americans. The bill unveiled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) includes a second wave of $1,200 payments with more inclusive eligibility requirements.
“I would be glad to do that if we weren’t stacking on this deficit on the $25 trillion existing deficit. ... There is not an unlimited borrowing in the world,” Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said when asked about Powell’s comments.
Not every Republican believes the Senate should be hitting the brakes on more government spending to address the coronavirus pandemic, however.
Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a freshman senator who has been floated as a potential presidential candidate in 2024, proposed a radical program along with Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) that would subsidize business’ payrolls during the crisis. The plan calls for the federal government to reimburse 80% of wages up to $50,000 to keep workers on payroll through the year ― with more provided to employers who rehire workers who have been laid off.
The idea is modeled after countries like Germany and Denmark. Senate Democrats introduced a similar measure this month, though the legislation authored by House Democrats did not include direct government payroll support.
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Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) also introduced a plan to provide front-line workers with hazard pay during the pandemic, the only GOP lawmaker to endorse such a proposal. The initiative would compensate essential workers who now face a greater risk of contracting the coronavirus, like people in the health care or food processing industries.
But Hawley and Romney remain outliers within the broader Senate GOP conference. Republican leaders are continuing to push for added employer liability protections and don’t expect actual negotiating with House Democrats to take place for at least several more weeks.
Trump, meanwhile, seems more focused on former President Barack Obama and his vice president Joe Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee. On Thursday, the president urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to call Obama to testify regarding something he’s referred to as “OBAMAGATE.”
Asked Thursday about the 20% unemployment rate and the tens of millions of Americans out of work, Trump quickly interjected, seeking to absolve himself of responsibility.
“Nobody blames me for that,” the president said in interview with Fox News.


huffpost--2020-05-14--What Does It Take To Be A Contact Tracer? Let Them Explain.

It was sort of voluntary on some level , like , “ Here ’ s something that we would like you to do .
Are you up for it ?
” I was absolutely up for it .
When you accept a position with the city and county , you agree to be a disaster service worker when and if you are called upon .
I ’ m pretty sure , especially in California , we all imagined that would be for an earthquake or something .
I don ’ t think we ever imagined it would be for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Has your career background helped you do the job of contact tracing ?
Absolutely .
I couldn ’ t imagine a better use of my skills in this situation .
As a librarian , we deal with the public , we have lots of conversations with lots of different people .
We are used to doing research and getting to the bottom of something .
As a librarian , I sit at a reference desk most days .
Someone comes to my reference desk with something that they need or what they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s called a reference interview , which is a series of open and closed questions to get to putting the right information and the right materials into their hands .
As a contact tracer , you are conducting an interview and you want to make sure you are asking open and closed questions to understand the situation that the person is in , make sure that they have everything that they need to either self-isolate or self-quarantine , and also [ ask ] how is their health , and where are they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What does a contact tracing shift for you look like ?
One call might be very quick , another call might require more time .
We start each shift with a team huddle .
It ’ s a meeting that happens with a team of tracers and the leader of that team , and there ’ s always a clinician as well ― a doctor or a nurse .
You all get together on Zoom and discuss upcoming things .
Usually there ’ s another team that ’ s leaving or just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have anything that needs following up on , that ’ s passed on to the team that ’ s starting .
Sometimes that ’ s challenging because you can see the push and pull , and in those cases you just do your best to impress upon someone the importance [ of staying home ] , not just for the community , but for their families , for themselves ― a “ we ’ re all in this together ” kind of thing .
What advice do you want to give people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be ready to be in a fast-paced environment , be ready to do things on the fly .
We have a script of things that we want to make sure we say to a person , in terms of how they need to arrange their space ― especially if they are living with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 ― and in terms of how they want to clean .
Those things stay the same , but every conversation is different .
You have to be pretty agile .
What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
It ’ s definitely knowing that I ’ m giving people information that is pretty vital to keeping them safe .
We really care about the community and making sure that people are safe and have what they need , and it is very gratifying when they feel cared for and they let you know it .
Jade Murray , a 22-year-old college graduate who majored in public health , has been a contact tracer for a rural Utah health department since early April .
She also juggles a customer-facing communications job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
One of my professors reached out to me because he also does part-time work at one of the rural health departments here , and offered me a position to do contact tracing because it would be really good exposure for me within the field I just got a degree in , and because considering that most public health jobs are on a hiring freeze right now , it would look good on a resume .
I was all for it .
What ’ s the job like ?
We work in teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a head nurse , epidemiologist , contact tracer , other students within public health , and other health department employees .
Once the nurse has taken the initial statement from the individual who tested positive for COVID-19 and gathered all of their contacts , it ’ s then passed to us contact tracers to contact them for the next 14 days , or 14 days from their exposure .
Now that our economy here in Utah reopened May 1 , we ’ re starting to see a lot more patients that have become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacts .
How do you gain people ’ s trust if they don ’ t want to share information ?
It happens a lot .
You really have to be persistent and you have to be kind .
You can ’ t get frustrated because you can ’ t say that you wouldn ’ t be the same if you were in that situation .
Not every person likes to share personal information and that ’ s totally OK .
Eventually , they come around and they open up , because they usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resource for work .
If I ’ m contacting 20-30 people , those are all cases , and they each have their own contacts within that case as well .
It can prolong the time spent on one case .
Have you had any individuals in your cases pass away ?
I haven ’ t yet .
All of my patients that I ’ ve had thus far have recovered fully .
They ’ ve been released from 14-day monitoring .
What ’ s the most rewarding part of the job ?
Honestly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the end of the quarantine period with the individual .
They sound better on the phone , they sound healthier , they sound happy ― how much joy they have in their voice when they share with me like , “ I finally got a good night ’ s sleep.
” Watching people progress along the line of recovery with COVID-19 is rewarding in and of itself .
What is your way of decompressing from the job ?
I ’ ve always been a caregiver .
I grew up taking care of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple sclerosis , so I ’ ve always been someone who loves helping people .
So it ’ s not anything heavier than I ’ ve been through in my personal life .
Being in Utah , we ’ ve got great resources for getting outdoors , like the mountains .
My partner and I , on the weekends or when we have free time after a work shift , we ’ ll walk a trailhead .
That ’ s kind of our escape from certain realities that we ’ re going through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be a contact tracer ?
Right now , we ’ re projected to do it until July , which is when most things here in Utah are projected to be reopened to full .
However , that could change , and that really just depends on how these next months play out with people maintaining social distance and taking the precautions recommended by the CDC .

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To stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, there is a job with new, active openings all across America: contact tracing.
But contract tracing is not a new role. It’s an old public health strategy used to track the spread of diseases.
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“Before we had things like vaccines or even treatments for some diseases, that was a critical tool you could use. You could find people who had been exposed and try to quarantine them,” said Emily Gurley, an epidemiologist at John Hopkins University. “It’s been used to control other big outbreaks so they don’t become pandemics, like Ebola in West Africa, SARS” and MERS.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, there were an estimated 2,200 contact tracers working in the U.S. Now, public health experts say we need thousands more. Tom Frieden, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told STAT News that the U.S. should have “an army of 300,000 people” to help contain COVID-19.
HUFFPOST ILLUSTRATION/PHOTOS COURTESY OF JESSICA JARAMILLO, JADE MURRAY Contact tracing is one of the most-needed jobs in America right now. "I average 20-30 cases that I contact a day. It adds up," said Jade Murray, right, who is pictured with Jessica Jaramillo.
Gurley is also the lead instructor for the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s five-hour online course on contract tracing ― a prerequisite for the job in New York state. Great contact tracers, she said, perform multiple roles.
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“You have to be a detective, you have to be part social worker, making sure people have what they need to isolate in quarantine, and it’s part therapist, because in order to meaningfully engage with someone you have to meaningfully engage with someone,” Gurley said. “And that means bearing witness to what they’re going through, providing them some support and helping them come up with a plan.”
HuffPost talked with two working contact tracers about the challenges and rewards of the job, and their advice for people who want to join their work.
Jessica Jaramillo, librarian on emergency assignment
Courtesy of Jessica Jaramillo Jessica Jaramillo is using her librarian reference skills to give members of her community the information they need.
Jessica Jaramillo, 41, is a librarian and San Francisco Public Library district manager who became a contact tracer in service of the city’s response to COVID-19. As a municipal employee, she can be assigned as a disaster service worker whenever the mayor declares a citywide emergency.
What led you to become a contact tracer?
I received an email saying that I was identified as a person who had skills that they were looking for to do contact tracing.
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For me, it was because just like in the rest of the country, in San Francisco the Latino community has been one of ― if not the most ― hard hit, economically and healthwise. Being bilingual, being Latina, I really wanted to help the community get the resources and the assistance that they need to get through this.
It was sort of voluntary on some level, like, “Here’s something that we would like you to do. Are you up for it?” I was absolutely up for it. When you accept a position with the city and county, you agree to be a disaster service worker when and if you are called upon. I’m pretty sure, especially in California, we all imagined that would be for an earthquake or something. I don’t think we ever imagined it would be for a pandemic, but here we are.
Has your career background helped you do the job of contact tracing?
Absolutely. I couldn’t imagine a better use of my skills in this situation. As a librarian, we deal with the public, we have lots of conversations with lots of different people. We are used to doing research and getting to the bottom of something. As a librarian, I sit at a reference desk most days. Someone comes to my reference desk with something that they need or what they’re looking for and I conduct what’s called a reference interview, which is a series of open and closed questions to get to putting the right information and the right materials into their hands.
As a contact tracer, you are conducting an interview and you want to make sure you are asking open and closed questions to understand the situation that the person is in, make sure that they have everything that they need to either self-isolate or self-quarantine, and also [ask] how is their health, and where are they and how are their needs being met.
What does a contact tracing shift for you look like?
One call might be very quick, another call might require more time. We start each shift with a team huddle. It’s a meeting that happens with a team of tracers and the leader of that team, and there’s always a clinician as well ― a doctor or a nurse. You all get together on Zoom and discuss upcoming things. Usually there’s another team that’s leaving or just ending their shift, so if they have anything that needs following up on, that’s passed on to the team that’s starting.
We’re using a couple of different software [programs], one to make the phone calls via the computer and another one that is secured and in accord with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, which is where all the information is held. We get assigned people through that software.
We stay in touch with each other throughout the shift via messaging. You’re never out there completely by yourself, because you have your team lead, you have a clinician. These are people you can call upon when you run into needing a bit of help troubleshooting a particular conversation.
You work your way through as many calls as you can. Sometimes it’s just leaving a message. Sometimes it’s setting up testing, making sure people have food or referring them to other services to get support.
“Sometimes it’s challenging, because you’re having conversations, but people aren’t experiencing quarantine or self-isolation in a vacuum. They have other life concerns.” - Jessica Jaramillo
What’s the biggest challenge with the job?
People have a pretty big need right now, and they’re trying to balance the choices of their health and their financial situation. Sometimes it’s challenging, because you’re having conversations, but people aren’t experiencing quarantine or self-isolation in a vacuum. They have other life concerns. You can’t always ask someone to make this really tough decision to not go to work, to not leave their home.
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Sometimes that’s challenging because you can see the push and pull, and in those cases you just do your best to impress upon someone the importance [of staying home], not just for the community, but for their families, for themselves ― a “we’re all in this together” kind of thing.
What advice do you want to give people who want to become contact tracers?
You should be ready to be in a fast-paced environment, be ready to do things on the fly. We have a script of things that we want to make sure we say to a person, in terms of how they need to arrange their space ― especially if they are living with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 ― and in terms of how they want to clean. Those things stay the same, but every conversation is different. You have to be pretty agile.
What’s the most rewarding part of the job?
It’s definitely knowing that I’m giving people information that is pretty vital to keeping them safe. We really care about the community and making sure that people are safe and have what they need, and it is very gratifying when they feel cared for and they let you know it.
How long do you plan to do this?
As a disaster service worker, there’s usually a set time period for which I’m assigned. But truthfully, I want to extend that as much as I can. The two things that we know are two of the most powerful tools we have to abating this disease as much as we can: testing and contact tracing.
I know that this is really important work and I hope to do it for as long as the city and county of San Francisco will give me the opportunity.
Jade Murray, recent public health graduate
Courtesy of Jade Murray Murray told HuffPost that her past experiences in health care and customer service have helped her build relationships as a contact tracer.
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Jade Murray, a 22-year-old college graduate who majored in public health, has been a contact tracer for a rural Utah health department since early April. She also juggles a customer-facing communications job.
How did you get the job?
One of my professors reached out to me because he also does part-time work at one of the rural health departments here, and offered me a position to do contact tracing because it would be really good exposure for me within the field I just got a degree in, and because considering that most public health jobs are on a hiring freeze right now, it would look good on a resume. I was all for it.
What’s the job like?
We work in teams of five. These five teams have a head nurse, epidemiologist, contact tracer, other students within public health, and other health department employees. Once the nurse has taken the initial statement from the individual who tested positive for COVID-19 and gathered all of their contacts, it’s then passed to us contact tracers to contact them for the next 14 days, or 14 days from their exposure.
We monitor their signs and symptoms, if they’ve got a temperature, fever, cough, shortness of breath, if they’re feeling muscle-achy ... We basically are a resource for them, to answer any questions they have related to their diagnosis.
First day you reach out, you obviously have to explain, “Hey, I’m a contact tracer at your local health department, we’re following you for the next amount of time they’re going to be followed,” explain the situation, how they can reach out to you if they need anything. They have my number; they can call me whenever they need me. It’s important that they realize that we’re not spammers. That’s a misconception right now.
Courtesy of Jade Murray Murray does her contact tracing job from home.
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What’s the biggest challenge with the role?
One is just getting people to respond, reply, pick up the phone, so we can monitor them. The second is the pushback of people wanting their own autonomy, not wanting to quarantine for 14 days. That also is a struggle.
Now that our economy here in Utah reopened May 1, we’re starting to see a lot more patients that have become positive, but they also have more contacts.
How do you gain people’s trust if they don’t want to share information?
It happens a lot. You really have to be persistent and you have to be kind. You can’t get frustrated because you can’t say that you wouldn’t be the same if you were in that situation. Not every person likes to share personal information and that’s totally OK. Eventually, they come around and they open up, because they usually end up needing something, like a resource for work.
“Something that is not talked about enough with being a contact tracer is that you hear some pretty rough stories.” - Jade Murray
What advice would you give someone who wants to do contact tracing?
Something that is not talked about enough with being a contact tracer is that you hear some pretty rough stories. Individuals get super sick, individuals pass away, you hear stories of people going through hard times. That in itself can also take a huge mental toll on you. It’s important when you’re in this position to know your own resources.
For instance, at our health department we have weekly meetings, but we also have relationships with each individual on our team so if we get too overwhelmed with the cases, someone is willing to take that on. Right now, I’d say I average 20-30 cases that I contact a day. It adds up ... I can spend two or three hours with a couple of individuals in a day.
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If I’m contacting 20-30 people, those are all cases, and they each have their own contacts within that case as well. It can prolong the time spent on one case.
Have you had any individuals in your cases pass away?
I haven’t yet. All of my patients that I’ve had thus far have recovered fully. They’ve been released from 14-day monitoring.
What’s the most rewarding part of the job?
Honestly, it’s when we get to the end of the quarantine period with the individual. They sound better on the phone, they sound healthier, they sound happy ― how much joy they have in their voice when they share with me like, “I finally got a good night’s sleep.” Watching people progress along the line of recovery with COVID-19 is rewarding in and of itself.
What is your way of decompressing from the job?
I’ve always been a caregiver. I grew up taking care of my mom. She’s got multiple sclerosis, so I’ve always been someone who loves helping people. So it’s not anything heavier than I’ve been through in my personal life. Being in Utah, we’ve got great resources for getting outdoors, like the mountains. My partner and I, on the weekends or when we have free time after a work shift, we’ll walk a trailhead. That’s kind of our escape from certain realities that we’re going through.
How long do you think you will be a contact tracer?
Right now, we’re projected to do it until July, which is when most things here in Utah are projected to be reopened to full. However, that could change, and that really just depends on how these next months play out with people maintaining social distance and taking the precautions recommended by the CDC.
Interviews have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity and length.


huffpost--2020-05-14--9 States Sue EPA For Easing Pollution Monitoring Requirements During Pandemic

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) ― Nine states on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for relaxing a range of companies ’ compliance and monitoring requirements with federal clean air and water laws in response to the coronavirus pandemic , arguing the policy is too broad and not transparent .
Under the temporary policy announced on March 26 , the EPA said it would not seek penalties for violations of routine compliance monitoring , integrity testing , sampling , laboratory analysis , training , and reporting or certification obligations in situations where the EPA agrees that COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by New York Attorney General Letitia James , argued that the EPA issued a broad and open-ended policy that gives polluters too much leeway instead of using enforcement discretion “ as authorized by law.
” “ The policy ’ s effective waiver of these requirements , which are foundational to our federal environmental laws , exceeds EPA ’ s authority , ” the attorneys general said .
EPA chief Andrew Wheeler said earlier this year that he expected “ regulated facilities to comply with regulatory requirements , where reasonably practicable ” amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nine states ― New York , California , Illinois , Maryland , Michigan , Minnesota , Oregon , Vermont and Virginia ― argue that the EPA lacks legal authority to waive “ critical monitoring and reporting obligations that inform regulators and the general public of pollution hazards ” and failed to weigh the impacts the relaxation policy will have on public health amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Their lawsuit comes a month after more than a dozen environmental groups led by the Natural Resources Defense Council , whose president is former Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge in the same New York federal court .
Former Obama EPA enforcement chief Cynthia Giles , who filed a brief last week supporting the environmental group lawsuit , told Reuters that the agency has never applied this kind of policy so broadly .
“ In the past , EPA has only eased compliance obligations in a targeted way to address specific problems , such as Superstorm Sandy , ” she said .
Current EPA chief Andrew Wheeler told reporters in March that the coronavirus outbreak was an unprecedented national crisis and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with regulatory requirements , where reasonably practicable .
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) ― Nine states on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for relaxing a range of companies’ compliance and monitoring requirements with federal clean air and water laws in response to the coronavirus pandemic, arguing the policy is too broad and not transparent.
Under the temporary policy announced on March 26, the EPA said it would not seek penalties for violations of routine compliance monitoring, integrity testing, sampling, laboratory analysis, training, and reporting or certification obligations in situations where the EPA agrees that COVID-19 was the cause.
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The states, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, argued that the EPA issued a broad and open-ended policy that gives polluters too much leeway instead of using enforcement discretion “as authorized by law.”
“The policy’s effective waiver of these requirements, which are foundational to our federal environmental laws, exceeds EPA’s authority,” the attorneys general said.
EPA chief Andrew Wheeler said earlier this year that he expected “regulated facilities to comply with regulatory requirements, where reasonably practicable” amid the coronavirus pandemic. Reuters
The coalition of the nine states ― New York, California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont and Virginia ― argue that the EPA lacks legal authority to waive “critical monitoring and reporting obligations that inform regulators and the general public of pollution hazards” and failed to weigh the impacts the relaxation policy will have on public health amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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Their lawsuit comes a month after more than a dozen environmental groups led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, whose president is former Obama EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy filed their own challenge in the same New York federal court.
Former Obama EPA enforcement chief Cynthia Giles, who filed a brief last week supporting the environmental group lawsuit, told Reuters that the agency has never applied this kind of policy so broadly.
“In the past, EPA has only eased compliance obligations in a targeted way to address specific problems, such as Superstorm Sandy,” she said.
Current EPA chief Andrew Wheeler told reporters in March that the coronavirus outbreak was an unprecedented national crisis and that he expected “regulated facilities to comply with regulatory requirements, where reasonably practicable.”


huffpost--2020-03-20--What Are 'Essential Services' During The Coronavirus Crisis?

As cities across the U.S. tighten quarantine and other restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus , one word keeps popping up concerning the services , jobs and activities permitted to continue : “ essential.
” “ I will sign an Executive Order mandating that 100 % of [ the ] workforce must stay home , excluding essential services , ” New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) tweeted Friday .
Early in the week , San Francisco officials announced that even non-vulnerable people were “ required to stay home except to get food , care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care , or go to an essential job.
” On Thursday , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) issued a statewide stay-at-home order , asking residents to leave their homes only when necessary .
But what is considered an essential job or service ?
Here at HuffPost , we ’ ve been asked about laundromats ( yes ) and hardware stores ( yes ) .
Although the list will likely vary according to local concerns and the nature of a given event , disaster or pandemic , here is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ essential , ” according to various governments including San Francisco , Miami , New York state and Miami-Dade County : Keep up with the latest updates on the coronavirus at our live blog .

As cities across the U.S. tighten quarantine and other restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus, one word keeps popping up concerning the services, jobs and activities permitted to continue: “essential.”
“I will sign an Executive Order mandating that 100% of [the] workforce must stay home, excluding essential services,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) tweeted Friday. Early in the week, San Francisco officials announced that even non-vulnerable people were “required to stay home except to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care, or go to an essential job.”
But what is considered an essential job or service? Here at HuffPost, we’ve been asked about laundromats (yes) and hardware stores (yes). Although the list will likely vary according to local concerns and the nature of a given event, disaster or pandemic, here is a general idea of what may be considered “essential,” according to various governments including San Francisco, Miami, New York state and Miami-Dade County:
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Gas stations, auto supply stores, auto repair shops and related facilities
Pharmacies
Grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks and convenience stores
Liquor stores
Restaurants (only for delivery, takeout and drive-thru)
Hardware stores and plumbers
Contractors and other tradesmen, appliance repair personnel
Exterminators and other service providers
Landscape and pool care businesses, including residential landscape and pool care
Construction sites and engineering and architecture firms
Banks and related financial institutions including insurance and accounting services
Phone and computer sellers
Community benefit organizations on a case-by-case basis
Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers
Healthcare providers, h ospitals, clinics and healthcare operations including research and laboratory services, medical wholesale and distribution, and dentists
ospitals, clinics and healthcare operations including research and laboratory services, medical wholesale and distribution, and dentists Businesses that provide shelter and/or social services
Newspapers, television, radio and other media outlets
Businesses offering mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes
Airlines, taxis and other private transportation providers
Home-based care for seniors, adults or children
Assisted living facilities, nursing homes, adult day care centers and senior facilities
Pet supply stores
Veterinary offices
Police stations
Fire stations
Building code enforcement
Jails
Courts
Garbage/sanitation and recycling services
Public transportation (Muni, BART, subways)
Utilities (water, power and gas, telecommunications)
Certain city, county, state and federal offices
Funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries
Maintenance staff, cleaners, janitors and doormen
Manufacturing including food processing, chemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, paper products, safety and sanitary products