huffpost--2020-04-27--GOP Governor Calls Florida 'God's Waiting Room' For Retirees

Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) on Sunday characterized his state as “ God ’ s waiting room ” for seniors during an update on COVID-19 .
“ Florida is ground zero for the nursing home ; I mean we ’ re God ’ s waiting room , ” DeSantis said at a news briefing in Orlando .
“ We have a huge number of facilities , a huge number of residents.
” DeSantis commented on Florida ’ s vulnerable nursing home population while discussing plans to reopen the state for business .
As of Sunday , Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,074 deaths .
However , DeSantis said that parts of the state were now on “ the other side ” of the coronavirus outbreak .
The number of daily new cases in Florida in the last week peaked last week at 1,232 , but the tally appeared to be climbing again Saturday with 823 cases , up significantly from the previous day .
Thomas Unnasch , co-director for the Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research at the University of South Florida , cautioned that it will be difficult to determine if cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We will really not know if we ’ re past it until we actually see a week or two of steadily declining case numbers across the Tampa Bay area , and the entire state , before we can really say we ’ re on the downslope , ” Unnasch told WUSF Public Media on Friday .
Although DeSantis claimed the dire predictions for Florida had not materialized , he also emphasized that he was not in a rush to move the state back to normal .
He said he did not envision movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or allowing sporting events with fans until “ far in the future.
” Earlier this month , he deemed World Wrestling Entertainment an “ essential ” business during the outbreak , and said that other sports and entertainment operations could be considered essential on a case-by-case basis .
DeSantis has come under fire for being slow to react to the coronavirus crisis .
He didn ’ t institute a statewide stay-at-home order until April .
DeSantis claimed he was awaiting instructions from the Trump administration , which never came .
The order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not yet clear what he will do then .
More than a week ago DeSantis told local officials they were free to reopen beaches when they saw fit .
He encouraged continued social distancing on the beaches , but that was clearly ignored on Jacksonville Beach :

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Sunday characterized his state as “God’s waiting room” for seniors during an update on COVID-19.
“Florida is ground zero for the nursing home; I mean we’re God’s waiting room,” DeSantis said at a news briefing in Orlando. “We have a huge number of facilities, a huge number of residents.”
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Watch the video above.
“God’s waiting room” is a decades-old derogatory phrase about the large number of retirees in the state, noted WPLG Local 10 TV.
DeSantis commented on Florida’s vulnerable nursing home population while discussing plans to reopen the state for business. As of Sunday, Florida had recorded 31,500 cases of COVID-19 and 1,074 deaths. However, DeSantis said that parts of the state were now on “the other side” of the coronavirus outbreak.
The number of daily new cases in Florida in the last week peaked last week at 1,232, but the tally appeared to be climbing again Saturday with 823 cases, up significantly from the previous day.
Thomas Unnasch, co-director for the Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research at the University of South Florida, cautioned that it will be difficult to determine if cases have peaked without more data.
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“We will really not know if we’re past it until we actually see a week or two of steadily declining case numbers across the Tampa Bay area, and the entire state, before we can really say we’re on the downslope,” Unnasch told WUSF Public Media on Friday.
Although DeSantis claimed the dire predictions for Florida had not materialized, he also emphasized that he was not in a rush to move the state back to normal. He said he did not envision movie theaters or bars reopening any time soon, or allowing sporting events with fans until “far in the future.”
Earlier this month, he deemed World Wrestling Entertainment an “essential” business during the outbreak, and said that other sports and entertainment operations could be considered essential on a case-by-case basis.
DeSantis has come under fire for being slow to react to the coronavirus crisis. He didn’t institute a statewide stay-at-home order until April. DeSantis claimed he was awaiting instructions from the Trump administration, which never came. The order expires on Thursday, and it’s not yet clear what he will do then.
More than a week ago DeSantis told local officials they were free to reopen beaches when they saw fit. He encouraged continued social distancing on the beaches, but that was clearly ignored on Jacksonville Beach:
People flock to newly opened beach in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Sam Greenwood via Getty Images
Critics on Twitter were taken aback by DeSantis’ characterization of the state’s population of retirees, particularly during such a deadly outbreak:
This is an awful thing to say, especially now.
Gov. Ron DeSantis calls Florida 'God's waiting room' for seniors.https://t.co/k7mZu70KkG — Covie (@roper_93) April 26, 2020
Florida is "God's waiting room?" Well, Seniors? Do you enjoy bein' the punchline in the Republican stand-up routine?https://t.co/h0NxMaflqr — Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) April 26, 2020
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huffpost--2020-04-27--New Zealand To Ease Restrictions As Rate Of New COVID-19 Cases Fall Below 1%

WELLINGTON ( Reuters ) ― New Zealanders will be able to go fishing , surfing , hunting and hiking this week for the first time in more than a month as the country begins to ease its way out of a strict lockdown that successfully slowed the spread of the coronavirus .
Around 400,000 people will return to work after the country shifts its alert level down a notch at midnight on Monday , but shops and restaurants will remain closed as several social restrictions remain in place .
New Zealand ’ s 5 million residents were subjected to one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to the pandemic , with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern closing offices , schools , bars and restaurants , including take away and delivery services , on March 26 .
Keen fishers will be permitted to cast a line from a wharf only as boating , yachting and other team sports or training remained barred .
Hunting will be allowed on private land with special restrictions .
“ We must make sure that we do not let the virus run away on us again and cause a new wave of cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference on Monday .
“ To succeed we need to hunt down the last few cases of the virus.
” New Zealand has reported 1,122 cases of COVID-19 , including 19 deaths , with the daily rate of new infections staying under 1 % for the past two weeks .
Going hard and early against COVID-19 has put New Zealand in a good position to avoid the wave of devastation we ’ ve seen abroad .
Alert Level 3 will see some restrictions eased , to allow our economy to begin recovering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of the virus .
pic.twitter.com/WG2LJWd0So — New Zealand Labour ( @ nzlabour ) April 27 , 2020 Ben Kennings , general manager for industry group Surfing New Zealand , said people were itching to return to sea in a country where an average 60,000 boarders hit the waves weekly .
“ We have done well to stay out of the water , but tomorrow there ’ s going to be a lot of people keen to go surfing , ” Kennings said .
“ It is an individual sport that can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments in Australia and New Zealand has risen since the start of the pandemic , opinion polls show , with their idealogically opposite leaders hailed for their management of the crisis .
In Australia , where the rate of new daily cases has likewise slowed to below 1 % , two states with small numbers of cases will ease restrictions this week .
Western Australia is allowing indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people to resume from Monday , while Queensland will later this week allow picnics , retail shopping and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 miles ) from home .
Other states in Australia ’ s federal political system , where COVID-19 cases have been higher , are not yet relaxing their rules .
Both countries have floated the idea of opening up travel between them , creating a coronavirus-free trans-tasman bubble although no decision has yet been made .
While Ardern has generally received public support , there has been growing criticism that similar results may have been achieved with less stringent lockdown measures , as in Australia .
Treasury has forecast gross domestic product to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the jobless rate to hit 13 % , even with NZ $ 20 billion of fiscal measures announced by Ardern and quantitative easing by the central bank .

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WELLINGTON (Reuters) ― New Zealanders will be able to go fishing, surfing, hunting and hiking this week for the first time in more than a month as the country begins to ease its way out of a strict lockdown that successfully slowed the spread of the coronavirus.
Around 400,000 people will return to work after the country shifts its alert level down a notch at midnight on Monday, but shops and restaurants will remain closed as several social restrictions remain in place.
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New Zealand’s 5 million residents were subjected to one of the strictest lockdowns in the world in response to the pandemic, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern closing offices, schools, bars and restaurants, including take away and delivery services, on March 26.
Beaches, waterfronts and playgrounds were also shut, effectively restricting people to their homes and short walks around their neighbourhood.
Many businesses, including parliament and the courts, began preparations over the weekend to restart operations this week while maintaining ongoing social distancing rules.
Eateries announced contactless delivery plans, retail stores showcased their latest collections online for home delivery and office towers posted social distancing rules in elevators and public areas.
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Still, Ardern stressed that public gatherings remain banned and asked people to remain in their “bubble”.
Keen fishers will be permitted to cast a line from a wharf only as boating, yachting and other team sports or training remained barred. Hunting will be allowed on private land with special restrictions.
“We must make sure that we do not let the virus run away on us again and cause a new wave of cases and deaths,” Ardern said at a news conference on Monday. “To succeed we need to hunt down the last few cases of the virus.”
New Zealand has reported 1,122 cases of COVID-19, including 19 deaths, with the daily rate of new infections staying under 1% for the past two weeks.
Going hard and early against COVID-19 has put New Zealand in a good position to avoid the wave of devastation we’ve seen abroad. Alert Level 3 will see some restrictions eased, to allow our economy to begin recovering, while also ensuring we keep on top of the virus. pic.twitter.com/WG2LJWd0So — New Zealand Labour (@nzlabour) April 27, 2020
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Ben Kennings, general manager for industry group Surfing New Zealand, said people were itching to return to sea in a country where an average 60,000 boarders hit the waves weekly.
“We have done well to stay out of the water, but tomorrow there’s going to be a lot of people keen to go surfing,” Kennings said. “It is an individual sport that can be practiced with social distancing.”
Trust in governments in Australia and New Zealand has risen since the start of the pandemic, opinion polls show, with their idealogically opposite leaders hailed for their management of the crisis.
In Australia, where the rate of new daily cases has likewise slowed to below 1%, two states with small numbers of cases will ease restrictions this week. Western Australia is allowing indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people to resume from Monday, while Queensland will later this week allow picnics, retail shopping and drives of up to 50 kms (31 miles) from home. Other states in Australia’s federal political system, where COVID-19 cases have been higher, are not yet relaxing their rules.
Both countries have floated the idea of opening up travel between them, creating a coronavirus-free trans-tasman bubble although no decision has yet been made.
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ECONOMY REBOOT
While Ardern has generally received public support, there has been growing criticism that similar results may have been achieved with less stringent lockdown measures, as in Australia.
Ardern now faces the challenge of restarting a $200 billion trade and tourism dependent economy from a standing start, while facing national elections in September.
Treasury has forecast gross domestic product to fall by as much as one-third and the jobless rate to hit 13%, even with NZ$20 billion of fiscal measures announced by Ardern and quantitative easing by the central bank.
Ardern stressed this week’s eased conditions were focused on opening up the economy, rather than people’s social lives.


huffpost--2020-04-04--Appalachian Communities Brace For Coronavirus: It's Going 'To Wipe Us Out'

Coal workers ’ pneumoconiosis , better known as black lung , is a scarring of the lungs caused by years of coal dust inhalation .
At least one in 10 underground miners has black lung , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , but experts say the actual number could be much higher .
As the lungs scar , it becomes harder to breathe , so the thought of adding COVID-19 , the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus , to the mix is terrifying to these workers .
Already in the past week , reports have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tested positive for the coronavirus .
And as the pandemic continues to spread rapidly , many fear it ’ s only a matter of time until the virus contributes to a triple-whammy in Appalachian mining communities : a population with elevated health risks , an economy in free-fall and limited health care resources .
“ Nobody knows what this virus is going to do when it gets to this area , ” said Jimmy Moore , a 74-year-old black lung patient in Shelby Gap , Kentucky , who spent 22 years in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His 51-year-old son , he said , has an even more serious case of black lung .
“ It ’ s probably just going to wipe us out.
” After about 20 years of declines , the United States started seeing more black lung cases in the 1990s , said Dr. Leonard Go , a physician and black lung researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University .
Researchers aren ’ t sure why the problem has increased , Go said , but they suspect changes in mining technology that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coal deposits .
Appalachia , which stretches from New York to Alabama and once produced most of the nation ’ s coal , is particularly at risk from the pandemic because of its residents ’ poor health .
Appalachians are more likely than other Americans to have ailments such as cancer , heart disease and diabetes , due in part to smoking and a more sedentary lifestyle , according to the Appalachian Regional Commission , all of which could exacerbate the effects of COVID-19 .
In southwestern Virginia , where hundreds of coal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers have seen a recent uptick in progressive massive fibrosis , which essentially is a more serious type of black lung .
Doctors and others in the area have spent the past few weeks desperately trying to get former coal miners and other vulnerable patients to take COVID-19 seriously , said Teresa Tyson , president and CEO of The Health Wagon , which operates free clinics in Wise , Virginia , and surrounding counties .
Jerry Coleman , for example , who mined coal for 37 years in West Virginia , developed both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now drives 40 miles to Charleston , West Virginia , to see his pulmonologist and oncologist , and he worries about getting there in time if the virus comes to his area .
Meanwhile , in southern West Virginia ’ s coal country , a breathing clinic that treats black lung patients and others with respiratory problems laid off several employees rather than expose them to COVID-19 .
Those employees routinely checked on black lung patients , said the clinic ’ s Dr. Dan Doyle , who ’ s trying to find a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients during the pandemic with fewer employees .
Generations of miners are faced with a troubling dichotomy .
Mines continue to operate during the pandemic , with states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania designating it an “ essential ” service .
This puts workers , whose health may already be compromised , at risk of contracting the coronavirus .
Meanwhile , the unfolding economic impact on the industry ― which is seeing some coal companies shutting operations , idling mines and furloughing workers ― points to the broader reality that was already setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power is on its way out .
Given all of this , retired miner Coleman said lawmakers need to do more to protect both current and former miners .
His son , who followed him into the profession despite the health risks , is worried about continuing to work during the pandemic , Coleman said , but he worries more about losing his job .

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Coal is no longer the commodity it once was, but its legacy in Appalachia remains: scores of miners with black lung disease who are now at a high risk of suffering from the coronavirus.
Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, better known as black lung, is a scarring of the lungs caused by years of coal dust inhalation. At least one in 10 underground miners has black lung, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but experts say the actual number could be much higher. As the lungs scar, it becomes harder to breathe, so the thought of adding COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, to the mix is terrifying to these workers.
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Already in the past week, reports have emerged that two coal miners in Pennsylvania have tested positive for the coronavirus. And as the pandemic continues to spread rapidly, many fear it’s only a matter of time until the virus contributes to a triple-whammy in Appalachian mining communities: a population with elevated health risks, an economy in free-fall and limited health care resources.
“Nobody knows what this virus is going to do when it gets to this area,” said Jimmy Moore, a 74-year-old black lung patient in Shelby Gap, Kentucky, who spent 22 years in the mines before retiring in 2000. His 51-year-old son, he said, has an even more serious case of black lung. “It’s probably just going to wipe us out.”
Mining is a dangerous business. In 2010, a deadly coal dust explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia — where coal is a top employer — killed 29 miners. Andrew Lichtenstein via Getty Images
After about 20 years of declines, the United States started seeing more black lung cases in the 1990s, said Dr. Leonard Go, a physician and black lung researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University. Researchers aren’t sure why the problem has increased, Go said, but they suspect changes in mining technology that create more dust from the rocks surrounding coal deposits.
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Changes in working habits also have contributed, Go said. “We hear a lot more about people working overtime. They’re just breathing in more dust and have less time to clear that out.”
Appalachia, which stretches from New York to Alabama and once produced most of the nation’s coal, is particularly at risk from the pandemic because of its residents’ poor health. Appalachians are more likely than other Americans to have ailments such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, due in part to smoking and a more sedentary lifestyle, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission, all of which could exacerbate the effects of COVID-19.
In southwestern Virginia, where hundreds of coal miners have black lung disease, health workers have seen a recent uptick in progressive massive fibrosis, which essentially is a more serious type of black lung. Doctors and others in the area have spent the past few weeks desperately trying to get former coal miners and other vulnerable patients to take COVID-19 seriously, said Teresa Tyson, president and CEO of The Health Wagon, which operates free clinics in Wise, Virginia, and surrounding counties.
“We are seriously worried about our population out here,” said Tyson, a nurse practitioner whose father is a former coal miner who has black lung. COVID-19 “would be a nail in the coffin.”
“Every day,” she said, “I’m reiterating to my dad, ‘Give me your grocery list and do not go outside.’”
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At least one in 10 underground miners has black lung, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. GREG BAKER via Getty Images
The Appalachian region has also lost dozens of rural hospitals in recent years, according to the University of North Carolina ― a trend in rural areas across the country. Black lung patients often travel an hour or more to visit doctors, Go said.
Jerry Coleman, for example, who mined coal for 37 years in West Virginia, developed both lung cancer and black lung. He now drives 40 miles to Charleston, West Virginia, to see his pulmonologist and oncologist, and he worries about getting there in time if the virus comes to his area.
And coronavirus has already stretched regional health care resources even thinner.
Tyson said her staff has spent weeks preparing for COVID-19. They made sure black lung patients had three months of medicine, she said, and have been checking in by phone and video.
“There are a few of us who haven’t taken any time off in weeks,” Tyson said. “It’s like we’re eating and breathing COVID.”
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Meanwhile, in southern West Virginia’s coal country, a breathing clinic that treats black lung patients and others with respiratory problems laid off several employees rather than expose them to COVID-19. Those employees routinely checked on black lung patients, said the clinic’s Dr. Dan Doyle, who’s trying to find a way to keep an eye on housebound patients during the pandemic with fewer employees.
“The ball’s probably in my court,” Doyle said. “Our plan has been to contact them on a weekly basis. You can hear over the phone how their breathing is.”
Telemedicine, which allows doctors to use video and other interactive tools to treat patients from afar, would be helpful during the pandemic, Doyle said. But, he added, many rural black lung patients have neither the technology nor broadband service for telemedicine.
Go believes that most clinics have suspended their black lung evaluation. And while the $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill included some help for rural hospitals and clinics, Go urged legislators to do more to fund black lung clinics that have had to shut their doors.
Coal miners fear not only for their health, but their jobs too. AP Photo/David Goldman
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Generations of miners are faced with a troubling dichotomy. Mines continue to operate during the pandemic, with states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania designating it an “essential” service. This puts workers, whose health may already be compromised, at risk of contracting the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the unfolding economic impact on the industry ― which is seeing some coal companies shutting operations, idling mines and furloughing workers ― points to the broader reality that was already setting in before the coronavirus outbreak: Coal power is on its way out.
Given all of this, retired miner Coleman said lawmakers need to do more to protect both current and former miners. His son, who followed him into the profession despite the health risks, is worried about continuing to work during the pandemic, Coleman said, but he worries more about losing his job.
“A lot of people don’t understand coal mining and the damage it’s done to our lungs,” he said. “Now that everyone is phasing out coal, they’re all forgetting about the poor old coal miner.”
The United Mine Workers, the union that represents coal miners, declined to answer questions about the risks to workers. But in a March 24 letter to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, union president Cecil Roberts urged the agency to provide respirators and masks to miners and to ensure mining facilities are properly disinfected.
In an attempt to take advantage of the government’s stimulus bill, the flailing industry asked for cuts in the taxes they pay that go towards supporting workers impacted by black lung disease. The request was ultimately left out of the bill.
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The National Mining Association, which lobbied for these cuts, told HuffPost in a written statement that companies are “adjusting to this new reality and following government guidelines, with distancing measures being taken, increased cleaning schedules ... and limits on gatherings of groups.”
But in southern West Virginia, Doyle said he hasn’t seen much change in mining operations in recent weeks. Mine workers, recognizable in blue outfits with reflective stripes, are still walking around town as usual, he said, possibly spreading the virus without knowing.
“It looks to me like they’re going about their business,” Doyle said. “Until their co-workers start falling ill, I don’t think they’re going to change. A lot of people here are not convinced they need to do anything.”
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huffpost--2020-02-25--CDC Urges Americans To Prepare For Coronavirus Spread

Federal health officials said Tuesday that Americans should prepare to see a nationwide spread of the new coronavirus that has so far killed around 2,700 people worldwide .
Nancy Messonnier , a director with the CDC ’ s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , told reporters that the U.S. is “ buying more time to prepare ” for likely outbreaks with its current containment measures .
She continued : “ Ultimately , we expect we will see community spread in this country .
It ’ s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness.
” It ’ s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore , but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness .
Fears about the virus , named COVID-19 , caused a massive 1,000-point drop in the stock market on Monday and another dramatic dip on Tuesday as the Trump administration scrambled to take action .
On Monday night , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget ― which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) criticized as insufficient ― to help battle the virus .
So far , COVID-19 meets two out of three criteria for a pandemic , which is defined as the worldwide spread of a new disease .
She outlined three categories of protective measures that Americans can take : personal measures , which include hand-washing ; community measures , which include “ social distancing efforts ” such as quarantines and school closures ; and environmental measures , which involve frequent surface-cleaning .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that disruption to daily life may be severe .
But these are things that people need to start thinking about now , ” Messonnier said .
“ You should ask your children ’ s schools about their plans for school dismissals or school closures .
Ask about plans for teleschool , ” she said .
COVID-19 is different from other novel viruses in that it has a relatively low fatality rate of 2 % , unlike viruses that have caused panic in the past .
Avian flu , for example , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because COVID-19 also has the ability to spread without causing severe symptoms ― and for some people , no symptoms at all ― an article in The Atlantic this week predicted that a large swath of the population is likely to contract it within the next year .
As of Tuesday , COVID-19 has sickened more than 80,000 people globally after appearing in China ’ s Wuhan region late last year .
There have been just 14 confirmed cases in the U.S. so far , with an additional 39 cases among people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to U.S. shores .

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Federal health officials said Tuesday that Americans should prepare to see a nationwide spread of the new coronavirus that has so far killed around 2,700 people worldwide.
Nancy Messonnier, a director with the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters that the U.S. is “buying more time to prepare” for likely outbreaks with its current containment measures.
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“To date, our containment strategies have been largely successful. We have relatively few cases in the United States,” Messonnier said.
She continued: “Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in this country. It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness.”
Community spread, in public health lingo, means that people become infected without knowing how or where they became infected.
“It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness.” - Nancy Messonnier, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC
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Fears about the virus, named COVID-19, caused a massive 1,000-point drop in the stock market on Monday and another dramatic dip on Tuesday as the Trump administration scrambled to take action. On Monday night, the administration requested a supplemental $2.5 billion budget ― which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) criticized as insufficient ― to help battle the virus.
The markets appeared affected again after the CDC’s warning Tuesday morning.
In response, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow made wildly misleading claims about the virus on CNBC aimed at quelling fears.
“We have contained this,” Kudlow erroneously said, adding, “I won’t say airtight but pretty close to airtight.”
So far, COVID-19 meets two out of three criteria for a pandemic, which is defined as the worldwide spread of a new disease.
Authorities have been seeing a steady uptick in cases that lack a known source of exposure to the virus, Messonnier said.
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She outlined three categories of protective measures that Americans can take: personal measures, which include hand-washing; community measures, which include “social distancing efforts” such as quarantines and school closures; and environmental measures, which involve frequent surface-cleaning.
“I understand this whole situation may seem overwhelming and that disruption to daily life may be severe. But these are things that people need to start thinking about now,” Messonnier said.
She encouraged parents, in particular, to make alternate child care plans.
“You should ask your children’s schools about their plans for school dismissals or school closures. Ask about plans for teleschool,” she said.
The CDC also recommends that businesses increase the use of videoconferencing to avoid physical gatherings in the event of an outbreak.
COVID-19 is different from other novel viruses in that it has a relatively low fatality rate of 2%, unlike viruses that have caused panic in the past. Avian flu, for example, has a fatality rate of around 60%. Because COVID-19 also has the ability to spread without causing severe symptoms ― and for some people, no symptoms at all ― an article in The Atlantic this week predicted that a large swath of the population is likely to contract it within the next year.
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Messonnier also urged Americans to understand what they are up against, saying: “As more and more countries experience community spread, successful containment at our borders becomes harder and harder.”


huffpost--2020-02-26--Brazil Confirms First Coronavirus Case In Latin America

RIO DE JANEIRO ( AP ) — Brazil ’ s government confirmed on Wednesday that a 61-year-old Brazilian man who traveled to Italy this month has Latin America ’ s first confirmed case of the contagious new coronavirus .
“ We will now see how this virus behaves in a tropical country in the middle of summer , how its behavior pattern will be , ” Brazil ’ s Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said in a press conference .
The Brazilian man spent two weeks in northern Italy ’ s Lombardy region on a work trip , where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry said .
Authorities had already said Tuesday evening that a first laboratory test for the COVID-19 virus had a positive result , and were waiting for a second test to confirm .
Since the virus began to spread throughout the world from China , Brazil and other countries in the region have registered dozens of suspected cases , all of which previously had been discarded following tests .
According to the Health Ministry , the man began to show symptoms compatible with the illness , such as a dry cough , throat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the epicenter of the outbreak in Italy , and there have been hundreds of confirmed cases there as well as several deaths .
Sao Paulo ’ s Albert Einstein Institute , where the man received medical attention , carried out respiratory tests , and the Adolfo Lutz Institute in the same city carried out the subsequent test confirming the virus The man was in stable condition and in isolation at home in Sao Paulo .
Brazil ’ s national health agency Anvisa has been working to map all contact the man had with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , and on the plane returning to Brazil .
Yesterday Anvisa requested the flight manifest to investigate other possible cases .
Due to the spread of the virus worldwide , Brazil adopted the preventative measure of broadening its critieria for analysis of suspected cases on Monday .
The Health Ministry had determined that people with fever and flu symptoms returning from Italy and six other countries should be considered suspected cases .
Those countries are Germany , France , Australia , Malaysia , the United Arab Emirates , and the Philippines .

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s government confirmed on Wednesday that a 61-year-old Brazilian man who traveled to Italy this month has Latin America’s first confirmed case of the contagious new coronavirus.
“We will now see how this virus behaves in a tropical country in the middle of summer, how its behavior pattern will be,” Brazil’s Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said in a press conference.
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The Brazilian man spent two weeks in northern Italy’s Lombardy region on a work trip, where he contracted the contagious virus, the health ministry said.
Authorities had already said Tuesday evening that a first laboratory test for the COVID-19 virus had a positive result, and were waiting for a second test to confirm.
Since the virus began to spread throughout the world from China, Brazil and other countries in the region have registered dozens of suspected cases, all of which previously had been discarded following tests.
According to the Health Ministry, the man began to show symptoms compatible with the illness, such as a dry cough, throat pain and flu symptoms. Lombardy is the epicenter of the outbreak in Italy, and there have been hundreds of confirmed cases there as well as several deaths.
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Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Institute, where the man received medical attention, carried out respiratory tests, and the Adolfo Lutz Institute in the same city carried out the subsequent test confirming the virus The man was in stable condition and in isolation at home in Sao Paulo.
Brazil’s national health agency Anvisa has been working to map all contact the man had with other people in the hospital, at home, and on the plane returning to Brazil. Yesterday Anvisa requested the flight manifest to investigate other possible cases.
Due to the spread of the virus worldwide, Brazil adopted the preventative measure of broadening its critieria for analysis of suspected cases on Monday. The Health Ministry had determined that people with fever and flu symptoms returning from Italy and six other countries should be considered suspected cases. Those countries are Germany, France, Australia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines.


huffpost--2020-02-25--How To Prepare For A Pandemic, According To U.S. Health Officials

The new coronavirus epidemic is likely to grow into a pandemic , with additional cases expected in the U.S. possibly within the coming days , federal health officials said this week .
Despite these growing concerns , health officials on Tuesday said it ’ s not yet clear what this could mean for the general public .
What is known , however , is how the public and government health agencies can prepare .
“ It ’ s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore , but rather more a question of when this will happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will become infected , ” Dr. Anne Schuchat , the Center for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s principal deputy director told reporters Tuesday of the disease ’ s spread in the U.S. A woman , who declined to give her name , wears a mask out of concern for the coronavirus in New York .
Health officials on Tuesday advised the public to stay aware and informed .
Though there are no known current medical product shortages , FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said “ the FDA is keenly aware that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply chain.
” HHS Secretary Alex Azar speaks about the coronavirus during a press briefing on the administration 's response to COVID-19 at the Department of Health and Human Services headquarters on Tuesday in Washington , DC .
“ We want people to be ready in terms of if we do see community spread , what would that mean for you .
Maybe something different in your community than another community , based on local circumstances , but we wanted people to look at what that road map might be , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person-to-person transmission of the virus , named COVID-19 , in the U.S. , the CDC ’ s website forecasts large numbers of people needing medical care at the same time , which could overwhelm health care providers and hospitals .
Schools , child care centers , workplaces and other places for mass gatherings may also experience more absenteeism .
The Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 , orange , emerging from the surface of cells , green , in a lab .
There is no immediate threat of contracting the disease in the U.S. , health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care systems may become overloaded , with elevated rates of hospitalizations and deaths .
Other critical infrastructure , such as law enforcement , emergency medical services , and transportation industry may also be affected , ” the CDC said .
Though there is no immediate threat of contracting the disease in the U.S. and all of the cases are contained , the Department of Homeland Security ’ s website offers a number of specific ways that people can prepare for a pandemic and what to do during one .

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The new coronavirus epidemic is likely to grow into a pandemic, with additional cases expected in the U.S. possibly within the coming days, federal health officials said this week.
Despite these growing concerns, health officials on Tuesday said it’s not yet clear what this could mean for the general public. What is known, however, is how the public and government health agencies can prepare.
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“It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of when this will happen and how many people in this country will become infected,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s principal deputy director told reporters Tuesday of the disease’s spread in the U.S.
Fortunately, according to Schuchat, there’s “literally a playbook” on how to respond to such a health risk, at the federal and local levels.
A woman, who declined to give her name, wears a mask out of concern for the coronavirus in New York. Health officials on Tuesday advised the public to stay aware and informed. ASSOCIATED PRESS
These measures include aggressive containment efforts, vaccine development, maintaining travel restrictions, and the Food and Drug Administration surveying the medical supply chain for potential shortages.
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Though there are no known current medical product shortages, FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said “the FDA is keenly aware that the outbreak will likely affect the medical product supply chain.”
Personal protection equipment like face masks are believed to be at risk of shortage in the future, he said.
For members of the general public, the joint message pushed, for now, is merely staying aware and informed.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar speaks about the coronavirus during a press briefing on the administration's response to COVID-19 at the Department of Health and Human Services headquarters on Tuesday in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson via Getty Images
“I think what’s really important for people (is) to stay informed, stay aware, and to learn about the circumstances,” said Schuchat.
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“We want people to be ready in terms of if we do see community spread, what would that mean for you. Maybe something different in your community than another community, based on local circumstances, but we wanted people to look at what that road map might be,” she said.
Should there be widespread, person-to-person transmission of the virus, named COVID-19, in the U.S., the CDC’s website forecasts large numbers of people needing medical care at the same time, which could overwhelm health care providers and hospitals. Schools, child care centers, workplaces and other places for mass gatherings may also experience more absenteeism.
The Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, orange, emerging from the surface of cells, green, in a lab. There is no immediate threat of contracting the disease in the U.S., health officials said. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Public health and health care systems may become overloaded, with elevated rates of hospitalizations and deaths. Other critical infrastructure, such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and transportation industry may also be affected,” the CDC said.
Though there is no immediate threat of contracting the disease in the U.S. and all of the cases are contained, the Department of Homeland Security’s website offers a number of specific ways that people can prepare for a pandemic and what to do during one.
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These proactive measures include:
Stocking a two-week supply of water and food.
Ensuring you have a continuous supply of regularly needed prescription drugs.
Stocking up on nonprescription drugs and other health supplies. This includes pain relievers, cough and cold medicines and vitamins.
Locating and storing copies of personal health records from doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other sources for personal reference.
Having a plan with family members and other loved ones on how they will receive care if they get sick or what will be needed to care for them in your home.
During a pandemic, health officials urge practicing good hygiene to limit the spread of germs and prevent infection. This can be done by:


huffpost--2020-02-26--WHO: Number Of New Coronavirus Cases Outside China Exceed Country Of Origin

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) — Crews scrubbed everything from money to buses , military bases were on high alert and quarantines were enforced Wednesday from a beachfront resort in the Atlantic to a remote island in the Pacific , as the world worked to halt the fast-spreading virus that for the first time counted more new cases outside China than inside the country where the epidemic originated .
Worries over the ever-expanding economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis multiplied , with factories idled , trade routes frozen and tourism crippled , while a growing list of countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borders .
Even the Olympics , five months away , wasn ’ t far enough off to keep people from wondering if it would go on as planned .
In Europe , where Germany , France and Spain were among the places with a growing caseload , an expanding cluster of more than 200 cases in northern Italy was eyed as a source for transmissions .
In the Middle East , where cases increased in Bahrain , Kuwait and Iraq , blame was directed toward Iran .
In Asia , where the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threats continued to emerge around the region , with South Korea battling a mass outbreak centered in the 2.5 million-person city of Daegu .
“ We ’ re going to be trying to slow down the spread so that our hospitals are not overwhelmed in one big gulp , one big hit , ” said Ian Mackay , who studies viruses at the University of Queensland in Australia .
Around the world , as Christians marked the start of the holy season of Lent with Ash Wednesday , worshipers found churches closed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in St. Peter ’ s Square , many of those gathered for Pope Francis ’ weekly audience wore face masks and clergy appeared to refrain from embracing the pontiff or kissing his ring .
Services in Singapore were broadcast online to keep people from crowded sanctuaries where germs could spread , bishops in South Korea shuttered churches for what they said was the first time in the Catholic Church ’ s 236-year history there , and in Malaysia and the Philippines , ashes were sprinkled on the heads of those marking the start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thumb to trace a cross of ashes .
“ We would like to be cautious so that the coronavirus will not spread , ” said the Rev .
Victorino Cueto , rector of the National Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help in Manila in the Philippines .
Major gatherings were eyed warily , with organizers scrambling to respond in the face of the epidemic .
Looming largest of all are the Olympic games , whose opening ceremonies are scheduled for July 24 in Tokyo .
A member of the International Olympic Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day earlier , saying the virus could force a cancellation of the games .
The Japanese government , in turn , gave mixed signals , insisting they would go forward yet urging that sports events now be curtailed .
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for major sports and cultural events in the coming two weeks to be canceled or postponed to stem further infections .
Meanwhile , the top government spokesman said Olympics preparations would proceed and the games would go on as planned .
The South Korean military announced additional infections among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its bases and some 9,570 people in isolation .
The U.S. military , which has 28,500 troops in South Korea , confirmed the first infection of an American soldier , a 23-year-old man based at Camp Carroll near Daegu , a day after Americans said a military spouse also had contracted the illness .
Bowling alleys , movie theaters and a golf course on four American bases in the country were closed .
“ This is a setback , it ’ s true , there ’ s no getting around that .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the war , ” Col. Edward Ballanco , commander of the U.S. Army Garrison Daegu told troops in a video message .
“ We are very well equipped to fight this thing off.
” Italy recorded 52 new infections on Wednesday and Greece became the newest country to see a case of the virus .
South Korea announced 284 new cases , largely in Daegu , bringing its total to 1,261 .
China , still the epicenter of the crisis even as new outposts caught the world ’ s attention , reported 406 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The country has a total of 78,604 cases of the virus and 2,715 fatalities .
China said Wednesday that those sickened by the virus included 555 prisoners who officials said likely became infected by guards using the same bus station as a nearby pulmonary hospital .
In a twist , China is now heavily regulating arrivals from abroad , with authorities placing South Koreans under monitoring , state broadcaster CCTV reported , after five people on a flight showed signs of fever .
And on the opposite side of the world , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Grand Cayman , where it was due to arrive Wednesday , following a decision by Jamaica to refuse it entry .
The cruise line expressed frustration with the moves , which came after it reported one crew member from the Philippines was sick with common seasonal flu .

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Crews scrubbed everything from money to buses, military bases were on high alert and quarantines were enforced Wednesday from a beachfront resort in the Atlantic to a remote island in the Pacific, as the world worked to halt the fast-spreading virus that for the first time counted more new cases outside China than inside the country where the epidemic originated.
Worries over the ever-expanding economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis multiplied, with factories idled, trade routes frozen and tourism crippled, while a growing list of countries braced for the illness to breach their borders. Even the Olympics, five months away, wasn’t far enough off to keep people from wondering if it would go on as planned.
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“We don’t expect a miracle in the short term,” said Kianoush Jahanpour of the health ministry in Iran, where an official tally of infections of 139 was doubted by some who thought the problem was far bigger.
The World Health Organization, meanwhile, reported that the number of new cases reported outside China on Tuesday exceeded the number of new cases in China for the first time.
“The sudden increases of cases in Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Korea are deeply concerning,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday.
About 81,000 people around the globe have been sickened by the coronavirus that kept finding new targets.
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With Brazil confirming the arrival of Latin America’s first case, the virus had a toehold on every continent but Antarctica.
In Europe, where Germany, France and Spain were among the places with a growing caseload, an expanding cluster of more than 200 cases in northern Italy was eyed as a source for transmissions. In the Middle East, where cases increased in Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq, blame was directed toward Iran. In Asia, where the crisis originated late last year in China, threats continued to emerge around the region, with South Korea battling a mass outbreak centered in the 2.5 million-person city of Daegu.
The illness had now spread to 37 countries, said world health officials, who simultaneously cautioned against the risks of unnecessary fears or stigma.
“We are in a fight that can be won if we do the right things,” WHO director-general Ghebreyesus said.
Though the virus pushed into countries both rich and poor, its arrival in places with little ability to detect, respond and contain it brought concern it could run rampant there and spread easily elsewhere.
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“We’re going to be trying to slow down the spread so that our hospitals are not overwhelmed in one big gulp, one big hit,” said Ian Mackay, who studies viruses at the University of Queensland in Australia.
In South Korea, workers sanitized public buses, while in China, banks disinfected banknotes using ultraviolet rays. In Germany, authorities stressed “sneezing etiquette,” while in the United States, doctors announced a clinical trial of a possible coronavirus treatment.
Around the world, as Christians marked the start of the holy season of Lent with Ash Wednesday, worshipers found churches closed and rituals changed by virus fears. Even in St. Peter’s Square, many of those gathered for Pope Francis’ weekly audience wore face masks and clergy appeared to refrain from embracing the pontiff or kissing his ring.
Services in Singapore were broadcast online to keep people from crowded sanctuaries where germs could spread, bishops in South Korea shuttered churches for what they said was the first time in the Catholic Church’s 236-year history there, and in Malaysia and the Philippines, ashes were sprinkled on the heads of those marking the start of Lent instead of using a damp thumb to trace a cross of ashes.
“We would like to be cautious so that the coronavirus will not spread,” said the Rev. Victorino Cueto, rector of the National Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help in Manila in the Philippines.
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Major gatherings were eyed warily, with organizers scrambling to respond in the face of the epidemic. Looming largest of all are the Olympic games, whose opening ceremonies are scheduled for July 24 in Tokyo. A member of the International Olympic Committee, Richard Pound, sounded alarms a day earlier, saying the virus could force a cancellation of the games. The Japanese government, in turn, gave mixed signals, insisting they would go forward yet urging that sports events now be curtailed.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for major sports and cultural events in the coming two weeks to be canceled or postponed to stem further infections. Meanwhile, the top government spokesman said Olympics preparations would proceed and the games would go on as planned.
Among the other crowded places that had officials worried: Military bases.
The South Korean military announced additional infections among its troops, with 20 cases on its bases and some 9,570 people in isolation. The U.S. military, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, confirmed the first infection of an American soldier, a 23-year-old man based at Camp Carroll near Daegu, a day after Americans said a military spouse also had contracted the illness. Bowling alleys, movie theaters and a golf course on four American bases in the country were closed.
“This is a setback, it’s true, there’s no getting around that. But it’s not the end of the war,” Col. Edward Ballanco, commander of the U.S. Army Garrison Daegu told troops in a video message. “We are very well equipped to fight this thing off.”
Italy recorded 52 new infections on Wednesday and Greece became the newest country to see a case of the virus. South Korea announced 284 new cases, largely in Daegu, bringing its total to 1,261. China, still the epicenter of the crisis even as new outposts caught the world’s attention, reported 406 new cases and 52 more deaths. The country has a total of 78,604 cases of the virus and 2,715 fatalities.
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China said Wednesday that those sickened by the virus included 555 prisoners who officials said likely became infected by guards using the same bus station as a nearby pulmonary hospital. In a twist, China is now heavily regulating arrivals from abroad, with authorities placing South Koreans under monitoring, state broadcaster CCTV reported, after five people on a flight showed signs of fever.
Indonesia said it evacuated 188 crew members from the World Dream cruise ship and planned to take them to remote Sebaru Island. The workers were released from quarantine in Hong Kong after finding no infections, but authorities mandated an additional observation period.
And on the opposite side of the world, the MSC Meraviglia was denied permission to land in Grand Cayman, where it was due to arrive Wednesday, following a decision by Jamaica to refuse it entry. The cruise line expressed frustration with the moves, which came after it reported one crew member from the Philippines was sick with common seasonal flu.
It brought reminders of the MS Westerdam, which was repeatedly denied entry to Asian ports before Cambodia welcomed its passengers.
MSC Cruises said the Meraviglia was sailing onward to Mexico.
___


huffpost--2020-02-26--Democrats Call Out Trump Administration's Poor Coronavirus Response At Debate

Candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination described how they would respond to the new coronavirus outbreak and called the Trump administration unprepared at Tuesday night ’ s debate , hours after federal health officials warned that a nationwide spread of the virus is inevitable .
The candidates united in pledging support for the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health ― whose budgets President Donald Trump has repeatedly sought to cut ― and said the president needed to show more leadership personally .
“ In the White House today , we have a self-described great genius — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told us that this coronavirus is going to end in two months , ” Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) said of Trump .
“ April is the magical date that this great scientist we have in the White House has determined — I wish I was kidding .
That is what he said.
” “ This president has not invested like he should have in his budget … he hasn ’ t yet really addressed the nation on this topic , ” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Barack Obama set up a White House team to deal with pandemic diseases during the Ebola crisis in 2014 , former Vice President Joe Biden noted .
Biden said he would replicate the Obama administration ’ s response and seek greater transparency from China , where the current virus , COVID-19 , appeared late last year .
It has since killed 2,700 people worldwide and sickened 80,000 .
“ I would be on the phone with China and making it clear we are going to need to be in your country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to know what ’ s going on , we have to be there with you and insist on it , ” Biden said .
“ I could get that done .
No one up here has ever dealt internationally with any of these world leaders ― I ’ m the only one that has.
” Under Trump , the CDC downsized its international collaborations to prevent the spread of epidemics starting last year because Obama-era funding had expired and the administration did not reallocate enough resources to make up for the shortfall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like billionaire Michael Bloomberg citing the departure of a top government global health official in 2018 and saying , “ the stock markets are falling apart because people are really worried , and they should be ” ― to the almost comical , as when Klobuchar made a pitch for people to regularly check the CDC website , noting that she was promoting that page instead of her own .
“ What we have to do is make sure we have treatment for those Americans , and that they are in a quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expose people , but we want to give them help , ” Klobuchar said in response to a question about barring travel for people affected by the virus .
“ CDC and my Administration are doing a GREAT job of handling Coronavirus , including the very early closing of our borders to certain areas of the world .
It was opposed by the Dems , ‘ too soon ’ , but turned out to be the correct decision , ” he wrote .
“ No matter how well we do , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are doing badly .
If the virus disappeared tomorrow , they would say we did a really poor , and even incompetent , job .
Not fair , but it is what it is .
So far , by the way , we have not had one death .
Let ’ s keep it that way !
” News reports suggest there was confusion inside the Trump administration as the president privately pushed for measures like preventing infected Americans from returning to the U.S. and stopping some from being quarantined in Alabama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is also reportedly debating how much to pressure Chinese President Xi Jinping after repeatedly suggesting Beijing had the situation under control .

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Candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination described how they would respond to the new coronavirus outbreak and called the Trump administration unprepared at Tuesday night’s debate, hours after federal health officials warned that a nationwide spread of the virus is inevitable.
The candidates united in pledging support for the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health ― whose budgets President Donald Trump has repeatedly sought to cut ― and said the president needed to show more leadership personally.
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“In the White House today, we have a self-described great genius — self-described — and this great genius has told us that this coronavirus is going to end in two months,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said of Trump. “April is the magical date that this great scientist we have in the White House has determined — I wish I was kidding. That is what he said.”
International cooperation would be key to his approach if he were president, the Vermont senator added.
“This president has not invested like he should have in his budget … he hasn’t yet really addressed the nation on this topic,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). “I would do all of that.”
Former President Barack Obama set up a White House team to deal with pandemic diseases during the Ebola crisis in 2014, former Vice President Joe Biden noted. Biden said he would replicate the Obama administration’s response and seek greater transparency from China, where the current virus, COVID-19, appeared late last year. It has since killed 2,700 people worldwide and sickened 80,000.
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“I would be on the phone with China and making it clear we are going to need to be in your country, you have to be open, we have to know what’s going on, we have to be there with you and insist on it,” Biden said. “I could get that done. No one up here has ever dealt internationally with any of these world leaders ― I’m the only one that has.”
Under Trump, the CDC downsized its international collaborations to prevent the spread of epidemics starting last year because Obama-era funding had expired and the administration did not reallocate enough resources to make up for the shortfall.
Campaigns veered from the serious ― like billionaire Michael Bloomberg citing the departure of a top government global health official in 2018 and saying, “the stock markets are falling apart because people are really worried, and they should be” ― to the almost comical, as when Klobuchar made a pitch for people to regularly check the CDC website, noting that she was promoting that page instead of her own.
“What we have to do is make sure we have treatment for those Americans, and that they are in a quarantine situation. We don’t want to expose people, but we want to give them help,” Klobuchar said in response to a question about barring travel for people affected by the virus.
Trump defended himself on Twitter during the debate.
“CDC and my Administration are doing a GREAT job of handling Coronavirus, including the very early closing of our borders to certain areas of the world. It was opposed by the Dems, ‘too soon’, but turned out to be the correct decision,” he wrote. “No matter how well we do, however, the Democrats talking point is that we are doing badly. If the virus disappeared tomorrow, they would say we did a really poor, and even incompetent, job. Not fair, but it is what it is. So far, by the way, we have not had one death. Let’s keep it that way!”
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News reports suggest there was confusion inside the Trump administration as the president privately pushed for measures like preventing infected Americans from returning to the U.S. and stopping some from being quarantined in Alabama because of concerns from his political allies. He is also reportedly debating how much to pressure Chinese President Xi Jinping after repeatedly suggesting Beijing had the situation under control.


huffpost--2020-02-26--U.S. Military: Soldier Based In South Korea Tested Positive For New Coronavirus

SEOUL ( Reuters ) - South Korea reported 284 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday , including a U.S. soldier , as health authorities prepared to test more than 200,000 members of a church hit hardest by the outbreak .
The new cases pushed the total tally to 1,261 , with the numbers expected to rise as the government widens its testing .
Of the new cases , 134 were from Daegu city , where a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , which has been linked to outbreaks , is located , the Korea Centers for Disease Control & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. military reported its first case of the coronavirus on Wednesday , in a 23-year-old soldier based in Camp Carroll , about 20 km ( 12 miles ) from Daegu .
The camp is also near a disability centre that has had its own outbreak of the virus .
The soldier was in self-quarantine at his home outside the base , according to a statement by United States Forces Korea ( USFK ) .
“ KCDC and USFK health professionals are actively conducting contact tracing to determine whether any others may have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noting the soldier had also recently visited Camp Walker , a base in Daegu .
On Monday , the widow of a former U.S. soldier tested positive for the virus after visiting several bases near Daegu , including Camp Walker .
American military bases across South Korea restricted entry and imposed health screening measures at their gates this week , leading to hours-long waits for some people trying to go to work at the bases .
The U.S. and South Korean militaries have said they are considering scaling back joint training because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the first signs of the epidemic ’ s fallout on global U.S. military activities .
Around 80 % of the country ’ s cases — including at the disability centre — are linked to the Daegu church , and to a hospital in nearby Cheongdo County , which some church members are believed to have visited .
The church said it had agreed to provide the government with contact details for all its members and people in trainee programmes , on the understanding the information would not be made public .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a market selling wildlife in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and has infected about 80,000 people and killed more than 2,700 people , the vast majority in China .
South Korean President Moon Jae-in ’ s administration has faced criticism from some citizens for his decision to only restrict arrivals from the epicentre of the outbreak in China , and not all arrivals from China .
Defending the government ’ s policies at a parliamentary hearing , Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said not only would it be impossible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country each day , it would have been useless as the spread of the virus was caused by South Korean citizens who had travelled to China .

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SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea reported 284 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, including a U.S. soldier, as health authorities prepared to test more than 200,000 members of a church hit hardest by the outbreak.
The new cases pushed the total tally to 1,261, with the numbers expected to rise as the government widens its testing.
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Of the new cases, 134 were from Daegu city, where a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which has been linked to outbreaks, is located, the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC) said.
The U.S. military reported its first case of the coronavirus on Wednesday, in a 23-year-old soldier based in Camp Carroll, about 20 km (12 miles) from Daegu. The camp is also near a disability centre that has had its own outbreak of the virus.
The soldier was in self-quarantine at his home outside the base, according to a statement by United States Forces Korea (USFK).
“KCDC and USFK health professionals are actively conducting contact tracing to determine whether any others may have been exposed,” the statement said, noting the soldier had also recently visited Camp Walker, a base in Daegu.
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On Monday, the widow of a former U.S. soldier tested positive for the virus after visiting several bases near Daegu, including Camp Walker.
American military bases across South Korea restricted entry and imposed health screening measures at their gates this week, leading to hours-long waits for some people trying to go to work at the bases.
The U.S. and South Korean militaries have said they are considering scaling back joint training because of mounting concerns about the coronavirus, in one of the first signs of the epidemic’s fallout on global U.S. military activities.
U.S. forces are a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War and continue to defend against threats from North Korea.
A USFK soldier stationed at Camp Carroll tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first time a U.S. service member has tested positive for the virus. We’re implementing all appropriate control measures to protect the force. https://t.co/kkfEIuW7Jb — U.S. Forces Korea (@USForcesKorea) February 26, 2020
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A twelfth death from the virus was reported on Wednesday, a 74-year-old man linked to the Daegu church.
Around 80% of the country’s cases — including at the disability centre — are linked to the Daegu church, and to a hospital in nearby Cheongdo County, which some church members are believed to have visited.
The church said it had agreed to provide the government with contact details for all its members and people in trainee programmes, on the understanding the information would not be made public.
“We have obtained a list of 212,000 number of the Shincheonji believers from the church last night,” vice health minister Kim Gang-lip told a media briefing.
“Local governments will check whether the believers have respiratory or fever related symptoms and visit their homes to test them.”
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The disease is believed to have originated in a market selling wildlife in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and has infected about 80,000 people and killed more than 2,700 people, the vast majority in China.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s administration has faced criticism from some citizens for his decision to only restrict arrivals from the epicentre of the outbreak in China, and not all arrivals from China.
A petition calling for Moon’s impeachment over his handling of the crisis had gathered more than 687,000 signatures as of Wednesday.
Defending the government’s policies at a parliamentary hearing, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said not only would it be impossible to quarantine the roughly 2,000 Chinese who enter the country each day, it would have been useless as the spread of the virus was caused by South Korean citizens who had travelled to China.


huffpost--2020-05-12--These Are The Self-Exams You Should Be Doing At Home Right Now

The coronavirus pandemic has not only affected many activities we enjoy , but also important tasks like doctor visits .
Nonessential trips to see our physicians are limited at this time , so we ’ re tasked with being our own health surveyors ― at least more vigilantly than we already are on a normal basis .
This includes monitoring your body for any changes .
There are a number of self-exams that can be conducted from your bed , shower or wherever you please to make sure nothing alarming is going on .
“ The key is to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― no two women ’ s breasts are the same , ” she said .
“ When I encourage my patients to do self-breast exams , it ’ s not to look for something abnormal , it ’ s to know what your breasts feel like , so if there is a change , you would recognize that something is different.
” As a first step , King suggested looking at yourself in the mirror , unclothed , and checking to see if your breasts look symmetrical .
She then suggested raising your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any changes in the breast such as dimpling of the skin or pulling of the breast in one direction .
King also added that it ’ s important to look at yourself from the side to check for any changes in the contour or appearance of the skin or nipple .
She added that breast tissue can go all the way up to the clavicle , into the underarm area , and along the side of the chest wall toward your back , so it ’ s important to check those areas too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a moderate amount of pressure when conducting the exam and make sure you ’ re doing it around the same time every month , which will help you avoid any changes that may come with a menstrual cycle .
Finally , “ when it comes to doing a breast exam , you want to do it where you ’ re comfortable .
Some women like to do it in the shower as part of their bathing ritual , and some women prefer to be lying on their back in bed , ” King @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you are feeling something abnormal , there is no reason to delay calling your doctor and going in to have it looked at .
If you are not sure , then check the same area again a couple of days later to see if you still feel the same thing , ” King said .
Check your skin for moles , sores and rashes To conduct a skin self-exam , Bentz recommended undressing and looking at yourself in a full-length mirror — front and back , under your arms , the entirety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month .
She added that sitting down with a hand mirror allows you to view harder-to-see areas of the body like the back of your legs , your elbows and your bottom .
“ You want to look for sores that don ’ t heal , that can be a sign of basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer , ” she said .
“ Pimples and bug bites should move , they shouldn ’ t be in the same place week after week .
You also want to look for new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those can be signs of dangerous melanomas .
”

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The coronavirus pandemic has not only affected many activities we enjoy, but also important tasks like doctor visits. Nonessential trips to see our physicians are limited at this time, so we’re tasked with being our own health surveyors ― at least more vigilantly than we already are on a normal basis.
This includes monitoring your body for any changes. There are a number of self-exams that can be conducted from your bed, shower or wherever you please to make sure nothing alarming is going on.
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Below, doctors share tips for conducting some self-exams at home, what to be on the lookout for when doing them, and when it’s best to consult your physician.
Perform an at-home breast self-exam
You should be doing this regardless of a pandemic, but it’s especially important now without gynecological or physical exams.
There are a number of things you should look out for when doing a self-exam on your breasts, said Tari A. King, chief of breast surgery at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and Anne E. Dyson professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School.
“The key is to be familiar with what your breasts feel like ― no two women’s breasts are the same,” she said. “When I encourage my patients to do self-breast exams, it’s not to look for something abnormal, it’s to know what your breasts feel like, so if there is a change, you would recognize that something is different.”
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As a first step, King suggested looking at yourself in the mirror, unclothed, and checking to see if your breasts look symmetrical. She then suggested raising your arms above your head to look for any changes in the breast such as dimpling of the skin or pulling of the breast in one direction. King also added that it’s important to look at yourself from the side to check for any changes in the contour or appearance of the skin or nipple.
Then you should start feeling your breast for changes, Start by having one hand elevated, behind your head, and then use the other hand to start examining the breast.
“Start in the middle, where the nipple is, feeling for any changes directly beneath the nipple. Then, work outward in a spiral pattern,” King said. Then move onto the other breast.
She added that breast tissue can go all the way up to the clavicle, into the underarm area, and along the side of the chest wall toward your back, so it’s important to check those areas too.
It’s best to use a moderate amount of pressure when conducting the exam and make sure you’re doing it around the same time every month, which will help you avoid any changes that may come with a menstrual cycle.
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Finally, “when it comes to doing a breast exam, you want to do it where you’re comfortable. Some women like to do it in the shower as part of their bathing ritual, and some women prefer to be lying on their back in bed,” King said.
If you discover a few lumps, don’t immediately panic. Sometimes this is natural.
“The challenge with self-breast exams is that many have lumpy breasts, which creates a lot of anxiety around not knowing what’s normal,” King said. Dense breast tissue and fibroids ― benign lumps ― often cause people to feel extremely worried.
However, if you think you’re feeling a lump or bump that’s new or if you’re just generally concerned, it doesn’t hurt to check in with a professional.
“If you are confident that you are feeling something abnormal, there is no reason to delay calling your doctor and going in to have it looked at. If you are not sure, then check the same area again a couple of days later to see if you still feel the same thing,” King said.
Gravity Images via Getty Images
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Check your skin for moles, sores and rashes
Skin exams are also important to maintain. Thankfully, it’s fairly easy to effectively check for abnormalities at home.
“For a skin self-exam, you don’t need anything special, just a full-length mirror, good lighting and a little hand mirror,” said Mary Ann D. Bentz, a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Associates of Southeastern Connecticut.
To conduct a skin self-exam, Bentz recommended undressing and looking at yourself in a full-length mirror — front and back, under your arms, the entirety of your body — at least once a month. She added that sitting down with a hand mirror allows you to view harder-to-see areas of the body like the back of your legs, your elbows and your bottom.
See a new mole or a different-looking spot? That’s when you should give your physician a heads up.
“You want to look for sores that don’t heal, that can be a sign of basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer,” she said. “Pimples and bug bites should move, they shouldn’t be in the same place week after week. You also want to look for new moles and moles that are changing colors. Those can be signs of dangerous melanomas.”
If you do see something questionable, Bentz suggested calling or finding a dermatologist to schedule a virtual visit. Suspicious bumps, rashes and moles can be shown to a doctor easily via video or photos.
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Bentz also added that the Skin Cancer Foundation offers patient-oriented information and skin cancer visuals to help you decipher what you’re looking at on your own skin.
“It’s really important to look at your skin. It’s pretty simple, takes less than five minutes and could save your life,” Bentz said.
NDStock via Getty Images
Conduct a testicular self-exam
Unlike most cancers, testicular cancer is most prevalent in younger individuals, with the average age of diagnosis being around age 33. Checking for testicular cancer is an easy process that can quickly be done from home during social distancing.
“Testicular self-exams are important because the testicles are very exposed on the outside of the body. We recommend that all young males do testicular self-exams,” said J. Ryan Mark, an assistant professor and urology physician at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
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He added that as soon as young men hit puberty, they should be conducting testicular self-exams on a monthly basis until at least their 40s.
“Once a month is the recommended frequency, usually in the shower. In the presence of warmth, the testicles are going to be more relaxed and easier to examine,” Mark said.
To do this, hold the area above the testicle so that the testicle doesn’t move around. Then slide your fingers over the surface of the testicles, which Mark said “should feel like a grape ― a very smooth lining and a little bit squishy.”
Behind the testicle is the epididymis, which is sometimes a little bit tender to examine, but it should be squishy as well, Mark added.
“Depending on the individual, you can have cysts there, which you’ll feel, and those will tend to be squishy,” he said. “But primarily what you’re worried about is a very hard mass in the testicle.”
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These masses are likely small ― people generally only feel them when they’re around 1 to 1.5 centimeters. Do your exams regularly and note if anything changes or is out of the ordinary.
“If you feel anything unusual, you should see a urologist,” Mark said.


huffpost--2020-04-20--Hazard Pay Proposal Hasn't Gone Anywhere In Congress

A Democratic plan released three weeks ago would increase front-line workers ’ wages by as much as $ 25,000 for the year , but the proposal is unlikely to make it into the next piece of stimulus legislation .
Congressional leaders have been racing to hammer out a deal this week on an interim coronavirus relief package centered around additional aid to small businesses .
Democrats have used their leverage in the negotiations to try and secure more funding for cities and states , as well as hospitals and coronavirus testing programs .
But hazard pay for essential workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken a back seat in talks with Republicans .
The pay premiums would have to go into a subsequent relief package , if they materialize at all .
The Senate could pass the latest measure for small businesses as early as Tuesday , provided the two sides reach an agreement on including aid to cities and states , one of the outstanding issues remaining .
The House would take action shortly afterward and would send the bill to Trump ’ s desk for signing .
On Monday , New York Gov .
Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling for an increase in pay for front-line workers , saying such a provision should be funded by the federal government and included in upcoming stimulus legislation .
“ This crisis is not over yet , and as long as these workers continue to work and expose themselves to the virus , they should be properly compensated , ” Cuomo said in a press conference .
“ I am calling on the federal government to provide hazard pay to these frontline workers and give them a 50 percent bonus because they are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay ― the idea that a worker who ’ s put in unusual danger should be compensated extra for it ― has emerged as a top demand by employees putting their health , and the health of their families , on the line amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Workers in health care facilities , grocery stores , meatpacking plants , transit systems and other workplaces are itching for a pay premium as they clock in during a nearly nationwide lockdown .
Essential workers : Has your employer given you extra pay for working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about hazard pay with us .
Please include a phone number if you ’ re willing to be interviewed .
Many companies have boosted worker pay temporarily during the pandemic by varying amounts .
Grocery chains like Whole Foods and Kroger , for instance , have increased wages by $ 2 per hour .
The poultry processor Sanderson Farms has offered a dollar-per-hour “ attendance bonus.
” The meat processor JBS , which has had to close plants due to outbreaks among its workforce , has negotiated a $ 4-per-hour increase with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union said Sunday .
But many workers have seen no pay increases at all , and those who have don ’ t necessarily feel their pay raises are commensurate with the dangers of working in the middle of COVID-19 .
Some have launched petitions calling on their employers to match or surpass temporary pay hikes instituted by their competitors .
Others have asked for time-and-a-half pay during the pandemic .
The Democratic plan would go far beyond what most employers have done so far , although the proposal is still a work in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) and his colleagues unveiled earlier this month would provide front-line workers with an extra $ 13 per hour worked , from the start of the pandemic through the end of this year .
The pay boost would be capped at $ 25,000 for those earning below $ 200,000 per year and at $ 5,000 for those earning more .
The same proposal includes a one-time incentive payment of $ 15,000 for new employees who choose to work in health care , home care and emergency response during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaged in “ essential work ” could apply for the funds , which would be added to workers ’ paychecks as a line item .
The entire fund would be funded by the federal government , not by employers .
Democrats did not specify all the occupations eligible for the “ Heroes Fund , ” as it was billed , but in addition to health care workers , they singled out grocery store employees , postal workers , sanitation workers and others as examples of employees who would qualify .

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Essential workers hoping to see bigger paychecks during the pandemic will have to wait as Congress tackles issues other than hazard pay.
A Democratic plan released three weeks ago would increase front-line workers’ wages by as much as $25,000 for the year, but the proposal is unlikely to make it into the next piece of stimulus legislation. Congressional leaders have been racing to hammer out a deal this week on an interim coronavirus relief package centered around additional aid to small businesses.
Advertisement
Democrats have used their leverage in the negotiations to try and secure more funding for cities and states, as well as hospitals and coronavirus testing programs. But hazard pay for essential workers, like many other Democratic proposals, has taken a back seat in talks with Republicans. The pay premiums would have to go into a subsequent relief package, if they materialize at all.
“Hazard pay for essential workers, like many other Democratic proposals, has taken a back seat in talks with Republicans.”
The Senate could pass the latest measure for small businesses as early as Tuesday, provided the two sides reach an agreement on including aid to cities and states, one of the outstanding issues remaining. The House would take action shortly afterward and would send the bill to Trump’s desk for signing.
On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) joined the chorus calling for an increase in pay for front-line workers, saying such a provision should be funded by the federal government and included in upcoming stimulus legislation.
Advertisement
“This crisis is not over yet, and as long as these workers continue to work and expose themselves to the virus, they should be properly compensated,” Cuomo said in a press conference. “I am calling on the federal government to provide hazard pay to these frontline workers and give them a 50 percent bonus because they are the true heroes in this crisis.”
Hazard pay ― the idea that a worker who’s put in unusual danger should be compensated extra for it ― has emerged as a top demand by employees putting their health, and the health of their families, on the line amid the coronavirus outbreak. Workers in health care facilities, grocery stores, meatpacking plants, transit systems and other workplaces are itching for a pay premium as they clock in during a nearly nationwide lockdown.
Essential workers: Has your employer given you extra pay for working during the pandemic? Share your thoughts about hazard pay with us. Please include a phone number if you’re willing to be interviewed.
Many companies have boosted worker pay temporarily during the pandemic by varying amounts. Grocery chains like Whole Foods and Kroger, for instance, have increased wages by $2 per hour. The poultry processor Sanderson Farms has offered a dollar-per-hour “attendance bonus.” The meat processor JBS, which has had to close plants due to outbreaks among its workforce, has negotiated a $4-per-hour increase with the United Food and Commercial Workers, the union said Sunday.
But many workers have seen no pay increases at all, and those who have don’t necessarily feel their pay raises are commensurate with the dangers of working in the middle of COVID-19. Some have launched petitions calling on their employers to match or surpass temporary pay hikes instituted by their competitors. Others have asked for time-and-a-half pay during the pandemic.
Advertisement
The Democratic plan would go far beyond what most employers have done so far, although the proposal is still a work in progress. The measure Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and his colleagues unveiled earlier this month would provide front-line workers with an extra $13 per hour worked, from the start of the pandemic through the end of this year.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) says the federal government should pony up for hazard pay. Pacific Press via Getty Images
The pay boost would be capped at $25,000 for those earning below $200,000 per year and at $5,000 for those earning more. The same proposal includes a one-time incentive payment of $15,000 for new employees who choose to work in health care, home care and emergency response during the pandemic.
Under the plan, employers engaged in “essential work” could apply for the funds, which would be added to workers’ paychecks as a line item. The entire fund would be funded by the federal government, not by employers.
Democrats did not specify all the occupations eligible for the “Heroes Fund,” as it was billed, but in addition to health care workers, they singled out grocery store employees, postal workers, sanitation workers and others as examples of employees who would qualify.
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huffpost--2020-05-01--Texas And Ohio Join States Easing Lockdown Restrictions

NEW YORK ( Reuters ) - Texas and Ohio pushed ahead on Friday with a phased relaxation of restrictions that U.S. states put in place weeks ago to curb the coronavirus pandemic , as Georgia took another step toward a full restart by allowing all businesses to reopen .
With White House guidelines for reopening having expired on Thursday , half of all U.S. states were forging ahead with a patchwork of strategies to allow businesses , from restaurants and retailers to construction and manufacturing , to emerge from a month of dormancy .
In Texas , one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores , restaurants , movie theaters and malls could resume activity on Friday while limiting capacity to 25 % of their listed occupancy , on orders of Governor Greg Abbott .
Ohio will start by allowing non-essential surgeries on Friday and then move to open construction and manufacturing on Monday , and retail shops and many consumer services on May 12 , Governor Mike DeWine said earlier this week .
States are feeling enormous pressure to reopen businesses and restore social life , despite a lack of wide-scale virus testing and other safeguards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak appears to have waned across many parts of the country .
No companies are required to reopen and it was unclear how many business owners and their employees would return to work , and how many patrons would venture back into stores and restaurants .
U.S. Labor Department data released on Thursday showed some 30 million Americans had sought unemployment benefits since March 21 .
The jobless toll amounts to more than 18.4 % of the U.S. working-age population , a level not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Midwest and mountain West , have moved to relax restrictions since Georgia led the way late last week .
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said late on Thursday he was relaxing his state ’ s month-long shelter-in-place orders , allowing all businesses to reopen on Friday .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said late on Thursday he was concerned about states and communities “ leapfrogging ” over the first phase of federal guidelines for reopening .
Phase One of the White House “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states and regions satisfy a series of criteria including a 14-day decline in cases of the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus , a robust testing program and the healthcare capacity to handle a possible surge .
They also recommend that Americans “ maximize physical distance ” and avoid social settings of more than 10 people and that employers encourage telework whenever possible and a gradual return to the workplace .
The number of coronavirus cases is still climbing in many parts of the country , although peaks appear to have been reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the U.S. outbreak , and other places .
Arizona , Kansas , Minnesota , Nebraska , Pennsylvania , Virginia and Wisconsin all reported a record number of new cases on Thursday , though greater testing could account for some of the increases , revealing infections present but previously undetected .
A highway sign on Interstate 75 advises travelers to limit travel in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) , taken through a vehicle window , in Cincinnati , Ohio , U.S. March 17 , 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the number of known infections nationwide had climbed to well over 1 million , including nearly 63,000 deaths , far exceeding the tally of American war dead from all the years of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam .

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Texas and Ohio pushed ahead on Friday with a phased relaxation of restrictions that U.S. states put in place weeks ago to curb the coronavirus pandemic, as Georgia took another step toward a full restart by allowing all businesses to reopen.
A classroom sits empty ahead of the statewide school closures in Ohio, inside Milton-Union Exempted Village School District in West Milton, Ohio, U.S., March 13, 2020. REUTERS/Kyle Grillot REFILE - CORRECTING NAME OF SCHOOL Kyle Grillot / Reuters
With White House guidelines for reopening having expired on Thursday, half of all U.S. states were forging ahead with a patchwork of strategies to allow businesses, from restaurants and retailers to construction and manufacturing, to emerge from a month of dormancy.
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In Texas, one of the most populous U.S. states, all retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls could resume activity on Friday while limiting capacity to 25% of their listed occupancy, on orders of Governor Greg Abbott.
Ohio will start by allowing non-essential surgeries on Friday and then move to open construction and manufacturing on Monday, and retail shops and many consumer services on May 12, Governor Mike DeWine said earlier this week.
States are feeling enormous pressure to reopen businesses and restore social life, despite a lack of wide-scale virus testing and other safeguards urged by health experts, as the outbreak appears to have waned across many parts of the country.
No companies are required to reopen and it was unclear how many business owners and their employees would return to work, and how many patrons would venture back into stores and restaurants.
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U.S. Labor Department data released on Thursday showed some 30 million Americans had sought unemployment benefits since March 21. The jobless toll amounts to more than 18.4% of the U.S. working-age population, a level not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
GEORGIA LEADS WAY
States, mostly in the South, the Midwest and mountain West, have moved to relax restrictions since Georgia led the way late last week. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said late on Thursday he was relaxing his state’s month-long shelter-in-place orders, allowing all businesses to reopen on Friday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said late on Thursday he was concerned about states and communities “leapfrogging” over the first phase of federal guidelines for reopening.
“Obviously, you could get away with that, but you’re making a really significant risk,” Fauci told CNN.
Phase One of the White House “Opening Up America Again” guidelines recommends states and regions satisfy a series of criteria including a 14-day decline in cases of the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus, a robust testing program and the healthcare capacity to handle a possible surge.
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They also recommend that Americans “maximize physical distance” and avoid social settings of more than 10 people and that employers encourage telework whenever possible and a gradual return to the workplace.
Large venues that include sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues and places of worship can operate under “strict physical distancing protocols,” the guidelines state.
The number of coronavirus cases is still climbing in many parts of the country, although peaks appear to have been reached in New York state, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, and other places.
Arizona, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin all reported a record number of new cases on Thursday, though greater testing could account for some of the increases, revealing infections present but previously undetected.
A highway sign on Interstate 75 advises travelers to limit travel in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), taken through a vehicle window, in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Bryan Woolston Bryan Woolston / Reuters
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Several states, including Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia, posted new highs in their daily death tolls.
As of late on Thursday, the number of known infections nationwide had climbed to well over 1 million, including nearly 63,000 deaths, far exceeding the tally of American war dead from all the years of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.