huffpost--2020-02-18--Virus Claims Life Of Hospital Director In Hard-Hit Wuhan

Liu is at least the seventh health worker to die of the COVID-19 disease among the more than 1,700 doctors and nurses who have become sick .
His death comes as authorities are cautiously cheering a reduction in the number of new daily cases and deaths , along with the results of a study showing most people who contracted the virus experienced only mild symptoms .
The outbreak has caused massive disruptions and China may postpone its biggest political meeting of the year to avoid having people travel to Beijing while the virus is still spreading .
One of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s biannual auto show , also is being postponed , and many sports and entertainment events have been delayed or canceled .
In announcing Liu ’ s death , the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said he had taken part in the battle against the virus from the start and had made “ important contributions in the work of fighting and controlling ” the virus .
Earlier this month , public outrage was stirred by the death from the virus of Wuhan doctor Li Wenliang , who had been threatened by police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unusual respiratory illness in December before it had spread widely and the city was placed under quarantine .
Wuhan and its surrounding cities in Hubei province have accounted for the vast majority of infections and deaths , prompting the government to enforce a travel ban that has spread to other parts of the country and now includes a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine period for anyone traveling outside their home district .
Two new prefabricated hospitals have been built to deal with the overflow in Wuhan and thousands of medical staff have been brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help .
A study by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention found more than 80 % of the cases studied were mild and the number of new infections seemed to be falling since early this month .
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was too early to know if the reported decline would continue , however .
“ Every scenario is still on the table , ” he said at a news conference .
The seeming drop in the number of new cases follows a large spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases by doctors ’ diagnoses without waiting for laboratory test results .
Health authorities there said the change was meant to get patients treated faster .
The Chinese study examined 44,672 cases of the disease that were confirmed in the mainland as of Feb. 11 .
Severe symptoms such as pneumonia occurred in 14 % of them and critical illness in 5 % .
The fatality rate was 2.3 % — 2.8 % for males versus 1.7 % for females .
The death rate is lower than for SARS and MERS , diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that causes COVID-19 .
But the new virus ultimately could prove more deadly if it spreads to far more people than the others did .
The COVID-19 cases include relatively few children , and the risk of death rises with age or other health problems and was higher in Hubei province versus elsewhere in China .
The study warned that while cases seem to have been declining since Feb. 1 , that could change as people return to work and school after the Lunar New Year holidays , typically the biggest travel period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments have sought to forestall that by extending the holiday break , encouraging telecommuting and self-quarantines and conducting health checks on travelers .
Travel to and from the worst-hit central China region was associated with the initial cases of COVID-19 confirmed abroad .
But Japan , Singapore and South Korea have identified new cases without clear ties to China or previously known patients , raising concern of the virus spreading locally .
The U.S. evacuated 328 American passengers , with most of them placed in a 14-day quarantine at military bases in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the virus were taken to a hospital in Omaha , Nebraska , and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said any more passengers who show symptoms will be taken to hospitals .

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BEIJING (AP) — As a mysterious new virus enveloped central China’s Wuhan early this year, Liu Zhiming mobilized all the resources of his hospital in the city’s Wuchang district to deal with the thousands of sick people arriving daily, threatening to overwhelm the local health care system.
That dedication appears to have cost him his life, with Wuhan’s health bureau announcing Tuesday that he became infected and died despite “all-out” attempts to save him.
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Liu is at least the seventh health worker to die of the COVID-19 disease among the more than 1,700 doctors and nurses who have become sick. His death comes as authorities are cautiously cheering a reduction in the number of new daily cases and deaths, along with the results of a study showing most people who contracted the virus experienced only mild symptoms.
China on Tuesday reported 1,886 new cases and 98 more deaths. That raised the number of deaths in mainland China to 1,868 and the total number of confirmed cases to 72,436.
“Now the prevention and control work is at a critical time,” President Xi Jinping told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a phone call Tuesday, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Japan, meanwhile, announced that 88 more cases of the virus were confirmed aboard a quarantined cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 542 among the 3,700 initially on board.
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The U.N. secretary general told The Associated Pres that the virus outbreak “is not out of control but it is a very dangerous situation.”
Antonio Guterres said in an interview in Lahore, Pakistan, that “the risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that.”
The outbreak has caused massive disruptions and China may postpone its biggest political meeting of the year to avoid having people travel to Beijing while the virus is still spreading. One of the automotive industry’s biggest events, China’s biannual auto show, also is being postponed, and many sports and entertainment events have been delayed or canceled.
Despite strict rules on use of masks and safety suits, medical workers have been prominent among the victims, particularly in the early stage of the outbreak.
In announcing Liu’s death, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said he had taken part in the battle against the virus from the start and had made “important contributions in the work of fighting and controlling” the virus.
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During that process, “unfortunately he became infected and passed away at 10:54 Tuesday morning at the age of 51 after all-out efforts to save him failed,” the commission said.
The Hubei native had graduated from Wuhan University’s School of Medicine in 1991 and went on to a career as a chief physician, neurosurgeon and administrator.
Earlier this month, public outrage was stirred by the death from the virus of Wuhan doctor Li Wenliang, who had been threatened by police after releasing word of an outbreak of an unusual respiratory illness in December before it had spread widely and the city was placed under quarantine.
Wuhan and its surrounding cities in Hubei province have accounted for the vast majority of infections and deaths, prompting the government to enforce a travel ban that has spread to other parts of the country and now includes a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine period for anyone traveling outside their home district. Two new prefabricated hospitals have been built to deal with the overflow in Wuhan and thousands of medical staff have been brought in from other parts of the country to help.
A study by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention found more than 80% of the cases studied were mild and the number of new infections seemed to be falling since early this month. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was too early to know if the reported decline would continue, however. “Every scenario is still on the table,” he said at a news conference.
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The seeming drop in the number of new cases follows a large spike last week after Hubei province began counting cases by doctors’ diagnoses without waiting for laboratory test results. Health authorities there said the change was meant to get patients treated faster.
The Chinese study examined 44,672 cases of the disease that were confirmed in the mainland as of Feb. 11. Severe symptoms such as pneumonia occurred in 14% of them and critical illness in 5%. The fatality rate was 2.3% — 2.8% for males versus 1.7% for females.
The death rate is lower than for SARS and MERS, diseases caused by coronaviruses related to the one that causes COVID-19. But the new virus ultimately could prove more deadly if it spreads to far more people than the others did. The COVID-19 cases include relatively few children, and the risk of death rises with age or other health problems and was higher in Hubei province versus elsewhere in China.
The study warned that while cases seem to have been declining since Feb. 1, that could change as people return to work and school after the Lunar New Year holidays, typically the biggest travel period for Chinese travelers. Beijing and other governments have sought to forestall that by extending the holiday break, encouraging telecommuting and self-quarantines and conducting health checks on travelers.
Travel to and from the worst-hit central China region was associated with the initial cases of COVID-19 confirmed abroad. But Japan, Singapore and South Korea have identified new cases without clear ties to China or previously known patients, raising concern of the virus spreading locally.
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The largest number of cases outside China is the 542 among passengers and crew of the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined at a port near Tokyo. The infections have led to heavy criticism of the decision to quarantine passengers on the vessel.
The U.S. evacuated 328 American passengers, with most of them placed in a 14-day quarantine at military bases in California and Texas. Thirteen who tested positive for the virus were taken to a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said any more passengers who show symptoms will be taken to hospitals.
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Associated Press writers Maria Cheng in London and Marilynn Marchione, David Pitt, Olga R. Rodriguez and Ken Miller in the U.S. contributed to this report.
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huffpost--2020-02-18--Apple Warns China Virus Will Cut iPhone Production, Sales

CUPERTINO , Calif. ( AP ) — Apple Inc. is warning investors that it won ’ t meet its second-quarter financial guidance because the viral outbreak in China has cut production of iPhones .
The Cupertino , California-based company said Monday that all of its iPhone manufacturing facilities are outside Hubei province , the epicenter of the outbreak , and all have been reopened .
But the company said production is ramping up slowly .
“ The health and well-being of every person who helps make these products possible is our paramount priority , and we are working in close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts as this ramp continues , ” Apple said in a statement .
The death toll from COVID-19 , a disease caused by the new coronavirus , was 1,770 as of Monday .
Apple says demand for iPhones is also down in China because many of Apple ’ s 42 retail stores there are closed or operating with reduced hours .
China is Apple ’ s third largest retail market for iPhones , after the U.S. and Europe .
Outside China , Apple said iPhone demand has been strong and is in line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Jan. 28 , Apple said it expected second quarter revenue between $ 63 billion and $ 67 billion .
Apple ’ s second quarter ends March 30 .
Apple says the situation is evolving and it will provide more information on its next earnings call in April .

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CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple Inc. is warning investors that it won’t meet its second-quarter financial guidance because the viral outbreak in China has cut production of iPhones.
The Cupertino, California-based company said Monday that all of its iPhone manufacturing facilities are outside Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, and all have been reopened. But the company said production is ramping up slowly.
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“The health and well-being of every person who helps make these products possible is our paramount priority, and we are working in close consultation with our suppliers and public health experts as this ramp continues,” Apple said in a statement.
The death toll from COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus, was 1,770 as of Monday.
Apple says demand for iPhones is also down in China because many of Apple’s 42 retail stores there are closed or operating with reduced hours. China is Apple’s third largest retail market for iPhones, after the U.S. and Europe.
Outside China, Apple said iPhone demand has been strong and is in line with the company’s expectations.
On Jan. 28, Apple said it expected second quarter revenue between $63 billion and $67 billion. Apple’s second quarter ends March 30.
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huffpost--2020-02-18--Quarantined Cruise Ship In Japan Became Incubator For Coronavirus

TOKYO ( AP ) — As an extraordinary two-week quarantine of a cruise ship ends Wednesday in Japan , many scientists say it was a failed experiment : The ship seemed to serve as an incubator for the new virus from China instead of an isolation facility meant to prevent the worsening of an outbreak .
As of Tuesday , 542 cases of the virus , known as COVID-19 , have been identified among the 3,711 quarantined passengers and crew , making the ship the site of the most infections outside of China .
The Diamond Princess cruise ship is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen the disease spread efficiently beyond China .
“ It ’ s difficult to enforce a quarantine in a ship environment and I ’ m absolutely sure there were some passengers who think they ’ re not going to let anyone tell them what they can and can not do , ” he said .
He suggested that if the passengers had been quarantined on land , having more space might have allowed for better infection control procedures .
But he acknowledged that attempting to quarantine more than 3,700 people was logistically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has continued to spread , we have to presume everyone leaving the ship is potentially infected , and therefore they have to go through another two-week quarantine period , ” he said .
“ Not to do so would be reckless.
” Japanese health officials say a 14-day quarantine on the ship is adequate , noting that all but one of more than 500 Japanese returnees from the epicenter of the virus in China who initially tested negative were found to be virus-free at the end of their 14-day quarantine .
Those officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
About 1,000 crew members were told to wear surgical masks , wash their hands , use disinfectant sprays and stop operations at restaurants , bars and other entertainment areas after Feb. 5 , when the first group of 10 infections was reported and the start of the 14-day quarantine was announced .
“ It ’ s never good to lose your civil liberties and your rights of movement , but two more weeks of quarantine is not an undue burden if you ’ re trying to protect spread of a disease , @ @ @ @

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TOKYO (AP) — As an extraordinary two-week quarantine of a cruise ship ends Wednesday in Japan, many scientists say it was a failed experiment: The ship seemed to serve as an incubator for the new virus from China instead of an isolation facility meant to prevent the worsening of an outbreak.
Since the virus was identified late last year in central China, it has sickened tens of thousands of people and killed more than 1,800.
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As of Tuesday, 542 cases of the virus, known as COVID-19, have been identified among the 3,711 quarantined passengers and crew, making the ship the site of the most infections outside of China. The Diamond Princess cruise ship is also the only place where health officials have seen the disease spread efficiently beyond China.
The question now is: Why?
Two buses leave a port where the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship is docked in Yokohama on Saturday, Feb. 15. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Japanese government has repeatedly defended the effectiveness of the quarantine. But some experts suggest it may have been less than rigorous.
In a possible sign of lax quarantine protocols, three Japanese health officials who helped in the quarantine checks on the ship were also infected.
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“There are sometimes environments in which disease can spread in a more efficient way,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization’s health emergencies program. Ryan said cruise ships in particular were known to occasionally accelerate spread.
“It’s an unfortunate event occurring on the ship and we trust that the authorities in Japan and the governments who are taking back people will be able to follow up those individuals in the appropriate way,” he said.
Japan’s health minister, Katsunobu Kato, told reporters Tuesday that all passengers who remained on the cruise ship have had samples taken and that those who tested negative would start getting off the vessel beginning Wednesday, when their required 14-day quarantine is scheduled to end.
A passenger stands on the balcony of the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess on Sunday, Feb. 9. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“They all want to go home as early as possible, and we hope to assist them so that everyone can get home smoothly,” Kato said.
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The process is expected to take until Friday because of the large number of people involved.
“Obviously the quarantine hasn’t worked, and this ship has now become a source of infection,” said Dr. Nathalie MacDermott, an outbreak expert at King’s College London.
She said the exact mechanism of the virus’ spread was unknown. Although scientists believe the disease is spread mostly by droplets — when people cough or sneeze — it’s possible there are other ways of transmission.
“We need to understand how the quarantine measures on board were implemented, what the air filtration on board is like, how the cabins are connected and how waste products are disposed of,” MacDermott said.
“There could also be another mode of transmission we’re not familiar with,” she said, noting the possibility of environmental spread and the importance of “deep-cleaning” the entire ship to prevent people from touching contaminated surfaces.
Medical workers in protective suits lead a passenger who tested positive for a new coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship on Wednesday, Feb. 5. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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During the 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS, a related virus, more than 300 people were infected through a defective sewage system in a Hong Kong housing estate. MacDermott said it was possible there was a similar issue aboard the Diamond Princess.
“There’s no reason this (quarantine) should not have worked if it had been done properly,” she said.
Cruise ships have often been struck by outbreaks of diseases like norovirus, which can spread quickly in the close quarters of a boat and among elderly passengers with weaker immune systems. But MacDermott said it would be highly unusual for an entire boat to be quarantined.
“They might quarantine the people affected in their rooms until they’re 48 hours clear of symptoms, but certainly not all passengers,” she said.
Some passengers on the Diamond Princess described the ship as a “floating prison” but were allowed to walk on the decks every day while wearing a mask and were told to keep their distance from others.
“I suspect people were not as isolated from other people as we would have thought,” said Dr. Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia in England. He said the continued spread of the virus could be due to compliance problems.
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Japanese health officials are conducting extensive medical checks on all 3,700 passengers and crew of the cruise ship that returned to Japan after one passenger tested positive for the new coronavirus. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“It’s difficult to enforce a quarantine in a ship environment and I’m absolutely sure there were some passengers who think they’re not going to let anyone tell them what they can and cannot do,” he said. He suggested that if the passengers had been quarantined on land, having more space might have allowed for better infection control procedures. But he acknowledged that attempting to quarantine more than 3,700 people was logistically challenging.
Hunter said it was “a huge disappointment” that the quarantine hadn’t curbed the spread of the virus and that it was unfortunate some passengers returning to their home countries would now face a second period of isolation.
“Given how the virus has continued to spread, we have to presume everyone leaving the ship is potentially infected, and therefore they have to go through another two-week quarantine period,” he said. “Not to do so would be reckless.”
Japanese health officials say a 14-day quarantine on the ship is adequate, noting that all but one of more than 500 Japanese returnees from the epicenter of the virus in China who initially tested negative were found to be virus-free at the end of their 14-day quarantine.
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This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, orange, emerging from the surface of cells, green, cultured in the lab. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Those officials also defended precautions taken on the ship. About 1,000 crew members were told to wear surgical masks, wash their hands, use disinfectant sprays and stop operations at restaurants, bars and other entertainment areas after Feb. 5, when the first group of 10 infections was reported and the start of the 14-day quarantine was announced.
Passengers were instructed to stay in their cabins and not walk around or contact other passengers. Those in windowless cabins could go out on the deck for about an hour each day.
The quarantine was largely for passengers because crew members kept sharing double rooms and continued to serve guests by delivering food, letters, towels and amenities, and entering passenger cabins for cleaning. Crew members also ate in groups in a crew mess hall.
“Unlike passengers, crew members share their rooms, they share food, and that’s why some of them are infected even after the quarantine started,” said Shigeru Omi, a former regional director for the World Health Organization.
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Patients infected with the coronavirus take rest at a temporary hospital converted from the Wuhan Sports Center in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province on Feb. 17. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Omi said quarantine is one of the measures considered effective early on. But the virus has already made its way into local communities across Japan, where untraceable cases have been popping up, he said.
At this stage, “the spreading of the virus will be inevitable, and that’s why quarantine is out of the question,” Omi said.
He said the focus now should shift from border control to preventing the spread in local communities.
Other scientists said that passengers should have been removed from the ship from the beginning.
“Boats are notorious places for being incubators for viruses,” said Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at the New York University School of Medicine. “It’s only morally justified to keep people on the boat if there are no other options.”
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Caplan said that a second quarantine was warranted, but that officials had done a poor job of explaining what would happen if their original plan failed.
“It’s never good to lose your civil liberties and your rights of movement, but two more weeks of quarantine is not an undue burden if you’re trying to protect spread of a disease,” he said.
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huffpost--2020-05-28--Michigan Court Orders Defiant Barber To Close His Shop

DETROIT ( AP ) — A Michigan court on Thursday ordered a barber to close his shop and stop defying the state ’ s coronavirus restrictions , though he vowed to keep cutting hair .
The Michigan appeals court overturned a decision by a Shiawassee County judge and directed him to sign an injunction sought by state regulators .
Karl Manke , 77 , said he ’ s not backing down .
He told The Associated Press that he got the news while cutting someone ’ s hair and he doesn ’ t intend to comply with it .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said by phone from his shop in Owosso , about 70 miles northwest of Detroit .
“ If they want to put me in jail , put me in jail .
...
I will be governed — fair governing — but not ruled .
This is a police state action.
” Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer has kept barbershops and hair salons closed for weeks , citing a high risk of virus transmission as stylists cut hair and people wait for their turn .
“ Uncontroverted evidence clearly revealed that COVID-19 is a highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a 2-1 decision .
“ Uncontroverted evidence revealed that COVID-19 is spread by infected persons showing no symptoms that could serve to warn others of the possibility of infection.
” Manke reopened his shop on May 4 , saying he needed to make money and declaring that the “ government is not my mother.
” He has been ticketed for violating Whitmer ’ s orders .
Separate from the court case , he ’ s had his shop and barber ’ s licenses suspended .
Nonetheless , customers have traveled from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haircut and endorse his defiance .
Manke gave free haircuts last week during a protest at the state Capitol .
Texas hair salon owner Shelley Luther , who was briefly jailed for opening her shop , appeared at a rally outside Manke ’ s business .
Elsewhere in Michigan , state regulators inspected Ardor and Grit Salon in Holland , according to the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation .
The owner , Sarah Huff , participated in the Capitol protest , and her shop has been open since May 15 .
“ She needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she can do so safely , ” attorney Patrick Wright said .
In Springfield , Missouri , Great Clips salons were temporarily closed after receiving threatening messages .
Two hairstylists who tested positive for the coronavirus might have exposed 140 clients to the illness .

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DETROIT (AP) — A Michigan court on Thursday ordered a barber to close his shop and stop defying the state’s coronavirus restrictions, though he vowed to keep cutting hair.
The Michigan appeals court overturned a decision by a Shiawassee County judge and directed him to sign an injunction sought by state regulators.
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Karl Manke, 77, said he’s not backing down. He told The Associated Press that he got the news while cutting someone’s hair and he doesn’t intend to comply with it.
“I could care less,” he said by phone from his shop in Owosso, about 70 miles northwest of Detroit. “If they want to put me in jail, put me in jail. ... I will be governed — fair governing — but not ruled. This is a police state action.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has kept barbershops and hair salons closed for weeks, citing a high risk of virus transmission as stylists cut hair and people wait for their turn.
“Uncontroverted evidence clearly revealed that COVID-19 is a highly communicable illness,” the appeals court said in a 2-1 decision. “Uncontroverted evidence revealed that COVID-19 is spread by infected persons showing no symptoms that could serve to warn others of the possibility of infection.”
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Manke’s attorney, David Kallman, later asked the Michigan Supreme Court to intervene.
Manke reopened his shop on May 4, saying he needed to make money and declaring that the “government is not my mother.” He has been ticketed for violating Whitmer’s orders. Separate from the court case, he’s had his shop and barber’s licenses suspended. Nonetheless, customers have traveled from all over the state to get a haircut and endorse his defiance.
Manke gave free haircuts last week during a protest at the state Capitol. Texas hair salon owner Shelley Luther, who was briefly jailed for opening her shop, appeared at a rally outside Manke’s business.
Elsewhere in Michigan, state regulators inspected Ardor and Grit Salon in Holland, according to the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation. The owner, Sarah Huff, participated in the Capitol protest, and her shop has been open since May 15.
“She needs to make a living and she believes she can do so safely,” attorney Patrick Wright said.
In Springfield, Missouri, Great Clips salons were temporarily closed after receiving threatening messages. Two hairstylists who tested positive for the coronavirus might have exposed 140 clients to the illness.
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Check out more of the AP’s coronavirus coverage at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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huffpost--2020-05-28--How To Maximize Your Severance Package If You’ve Lost Your Job

Severance is not guaranteed , unless a state law , employment contract or collective bargaining agreement says otherwise .
But when it is offered to you , you should know that the agreement you are entering may be negotiable .
Study how severance will impact your ability to get unemployment insurance .
Before you sign a severance agreement on the dotted line , consider what the payout is going to do to your long-term finances , including your ability to get unemployment insurance .
Depending on where you live , severance pay might prohibit you from qualifying for unemployment insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severance pay is disqualifying , ” said George Wentworth , senior counsel with the National Employment Law Project .
“ Most states will allocate it to whatever number of weeks it represents , so if you are given four weeks of pay in a lump sum at the time of your termination , most states are going to say you are ineligible [ for unemployment insurance ] for the first four weeks you are unemployed.
“ In Texas , for example , residents can not get unemployment benefits while receiving certain types of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severance pay is not considered to be wages when it comes to unemployment insurance , so unemployed workers can receive both at the same time .
Some states , including Massachusetts and Connecticut , will take into account whether you had to forfeit a right or claim against your employer in order to receive your severance pay , Wentworth said .
He noted that in those two states , “ That kind of payment is not going to be treated as a dismissal payment and it will not be a bar to [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even if you know you will be receiving severance , experts agreed that you should still file for unemployment insurance as soon as possible because of known delays with the process during the pandemic .
“ I would say yes that you should apply right away , because we are seeing many states taking much longer than usual to calculate eligibility and get people paid , ” Wentworth said .
The timing of the payout can impact your taxes this year .
That ’ s why Rassas recommends conferring with a tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tax implications of the timing of the severance payments .
“ Depending upon an individual ’ s income in the current year and projected for the coming year , it might make sense to negotiate the acceleration of the payment or a delay , ” she said .
In some cases , employees may want to request installments rather than a lump sum to avoid paying more taxes and to stretch out the severance money .
When a lump sum is a large amount of money , it may put a person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they may have to pay more in taxes , whereas , if they ’ re doing it in installments , which is lower , they may not have to owe as much , ” said Amber Clayton , the knowledge center director at the Society for Human Resource Management .
Consider negotiating for severance benefits beyond money .
Just because your company is doing layoffs for financial reasons doesn ’ t mean you shouldn ’ t negotiate for a severance deal in your favor .
Retirement benefits , health benefits continuance , outplacement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits HR professionals said they offered employees after an involuntary job separation , according to a 2019 RiseSmart survey .
“ The pandemic is placing a financial strain on employers of all sizes , but individuals should attempt to negotiate for some time of outplacement assistance , ” Rassas said .
“ This can include assistance from a career coach , interview coach or résumé writer who should be able to review not only an individual ’ s résumé , but also their cover letter , selection of references , and other job-search @ @ @

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If you are among the millions of Americans losing a job during the coronavirus pandemic, you may also be dealing with a severance package.
Severance is not guaranteed, unless a state law, employment contract or collective bargaining agreement says otherwise. But when it is offered to you, you should know that the agreement you are entering may be negotiable.
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If so, don’t leave money on the table. Recognize that these unusual times may call for unusual requests you should feel empowered to ask for.
“These are unprecedented times, so impacted individuals should definitely try to brainstorm with their employers to devise creative situations that might be mutually beneficial,” said Lori Rassas, a human resources consultant, executive coach and author of “The Perpetual Paycheck.”
Study how severance will impact your ability to get unemployment insurance.
Before you sign a severance agreement on the dotted line, consider what the payout is going to do to your long-term finances, including your ability to get unemployment insurance. Depending on where you live, severance pay might prohibit you from qualifying for unemployment insurance.
Westend61 via Getty Images In Texas and many other states, a person is ineligible for unemployment insurance while receiving severance pay. But that's not the case in California.
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“Most states will say that severance pay is disqualifying,” said George Wentworth, senior counsel with the National Employment Law Project. “Most states will allocate it to whatever number of weeks it represents, so if you are given four weeks of pay in a lump sum at the time of your termination, most states are going to say you are ineligible [for unemployment insurance] for the first four weeks you are unemployed.“
In Texas, for example, residents cannot get unemployment benefits while receiving certain types of severance pay. But in California, severance pay is not considered to be wages when it comes to unemployment insurance, so unemployed workers can receive both at the same time.
Some states, including Massachusetts and Connecticut, will take into account whether you had to forfeit a right or claim against your employer in order to receive your severance pay, Wentworth said. He noted that in those two states, “That kind of payment is not going to be treated as a dismissal payment and it will not be a bar to [unemployment] benefits,” Wentworth said.
Even if you know you will be receiving severance, experts agreed that you should still file for unemployment insurance as soon as possible because of known delays with the process during the pandemic. “I would say yes that you should apply right away, because we are seeing many states taking much longer than usual to calculate eligibility and get people paid,” Wentworth said.
The timing of the payout can impact your taxes this year.
Typically, your severance payout is taxable in the year that the money is received, so it may matter if your payout takes place in a lump sum or in incremental payments over multiple tax years.
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That’s why Rassas recommends conferring with a tax advisor or other financial planner to evaluate the tax implications of the timing of the severance payments. “Depending upon an individual’s income in the current year and projected for the coming year, it might make sense to negotiate the acceleration of the payment or a delay,” she said.
In some cases, employees may want to request installments rather than a lump sum to avoid paying more taxes and to stretch out the severance money. When a lump sum is a large amount of money, it may put a person “in a higher tax bracket and they may have to pay more in taxes, whereas, if they’re doing it in installments, which is lower, they may not have to owe as much,” said Amber Clayton, the knowledge center director at the Society for Human Resource Management.
Consider negotiating for severance benefits beyond money.
Just because your company is doing layoffs for financial reasons doesn’t mean you shouldn’t negotiate for a severance deal in your favor. Retirement benefits, health benefits continuance, outplacement services and commission payouts were among the benefits HR professionals said they offered employees after an involuntary job separation, according to a 2019 RiseSmart survey.
Because some employers contest unemployment claims and delay the process, getting a commitment your company won’t take such an action could also be helpful.
Getting your employer’s commitment to help you land a new job is another type of non-payment benefit you can ask for.
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huffpost--2020-05-28--Explore In 3D: How I Created A Unique Quarantine Camping Experience

Nicole Chan Nicole Chan Loeb and her husband Jason decided to bring their love of camping indoors during quarantine life .
My husband , Jason , and I have been living in this new world , sheltering at home in our apartment that generally has looked perpetually the same for the last 10 years .
After several weeks of working , living , eating , cleaning and KonMari-ing in the same four rooms , Jason decided to shake things up .
One afternoon , I finished a Zoom call with a few colleagues .
I walked into the dining room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orange fabric , wall to wall , floor to ceiling !
Jason had pushed our dining table and chairs off to the side and set up our Big Agnes tent , complete with its rain cover ( got ta be prepared ! )
.
He had moved in the sleeping bag and even some of his essential electronics , like his hanging lanterns and portable battery pack .
On desktop , use your mouse to zoom and rotate the object in 3D ; on mobile , place the object in your space , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in augmented reality .
It ’ s been more than four weeks since we ’ ve had it up , and it ’ s been fun to make camping meals , like chili , and eat it in our tent .
While inside the tent , we ’ ve had virtual game nights , played a few more guitar chords .
Thanks to in-tent Wi-Fi , we ’ ve also watched a lot of Netflix !
Sometimes we get a little fancy , with a small tin of foie gras and crackers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pint of Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream .
Jason and I also co-founded Trapology , a Boston escape room , and for the last five years , we have designed and produced games in which groups of people have to solve puzzles in order to “ escape.
” Ironically , there will be no escaping until it ’ s safe out of the procrastination tent and our apartment .
At first , our procrastination tent felt out of place in our already small living room .
Now , I ’ m not sure how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back .

Nicole Chan Loeb and her husband Jason decided to bring their love of camping indoors during quarantine life. Nicole Chan
I’m a Boston photographer, and I primarily work from my home studio.
My husband, Jason, and I have been living in this new world, sheltering at home in our apartment that generally has looked perpetually the same for the last 10 years. After several weeks of working, living, eating, cleaning and KonMari-ing in the same four rooms, Jason decided to shake things up.
One afternoon, I finished a Zoom call with a few colleagues. I walked into the dining room and was greeted by an explosion of orange fabric, wall to wall, floor to ceiling!
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Jason had pushed our dining table and chairs off to the side and set up our Big Agnes tent, complete with its rain cover (gotta be prepared!). He had moved in the sleeping bag and even some of his essential electronics, like his hanging lanterns and portable battery pack.
“This is our procrastination tent,” Jason said proudly.
View Nicole’s space in 3D:
On desktop, use your mouse to zoom and rotate the object in 3D; on mobile, place the object in your space, use your fingers to resize and rotate in augmented reality.
It’s been more than four weeks since we’ve had it up, and it’s been fun to make camping meals, like chili, and eat it in our tent.
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While inside the tent, we’ve had virtual game nights, played a few more guitar chords. Thanks to in-tent Wi-Fi, we’ve also watched a lot of Netflix!
Sometimes we get a little fancy, with a small tin of foie gras and crackers. More often, it’s a pint of Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream.
Jason and I also co-founded Trapology, a Boston escape room, and for the last five years, we have designed and produced games in which groups of people have to solve puzzles in order to “escape.”
Ironically, there will be no escaping until it’s safe out of the procrastination tent and our apartment.
At first, our procrastination tent felt out of place in our already small living room. Now, I’m not sure how we’re ever going to go back.
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Nicole Chan Loeb and her husband Jason decided to bring their love of camping indoors during quarantine life. Nicole Chan


huffpost--2020-05-28--How Hawaii's Unique Graduation Traditions Are Upended By Coronavirus

High school graduations are a large part of Hawaii’s cultural fabric, celebrated with a fanfare unique to the islands. “College graduations aren’t guaranteed,” said Kealoha Charles, a recent high school graduate.
In 2018, about 90% of youth graduated from high school, but only 30% graduated from college. Just 55% of local youth attend college to begin with, a proportion that hasn’t shifted since 2013.
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Because of this, local students and their families pull out all the stops to celebrate high school graduations. Most are marked by a lei ceremony, blow-out celebrations and epic senior song performances. Family and friends travel throughout the islands and from around the world to attend.
“I don’t think that people in the mainland know how crazy [it gets],” said Chrislyn Antonio, a recent graduate.
This year, though, many schools were abruptly shut down due to COVID-19, leaving high school seniors devastated. Some schools may not do anything to mark the event. But families, friends, graduates and community members continue to pull together to throw independent celebrations when they can.
Drive-by lei ceremonies and virtual ceremonies have been the new trend, modifying the old tradition to fit new social distancing requirements. One Oahu public school even invited graduates to walk a red carpet to get their diplomas while socially distancing.
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Stay-at-home orders in Hawaii have been extended to June 30, after which many graduates are moving off-island to pursue school and employment. They are hoping to be able to see at least their closest friends one more time in person before they part ways.
Asha Silva
Asha Silva, a Leilehua High School graduate, shows off her colorful leis at her home in Mililani, Hawaii, on May 23. Marie Eriel Hobro for HuffPost
Asha Silva is the first of four children to graduate high school and was looking forward to sharing that experience with her family. Instead, she said, “Everyone’s on edge” now. Her dad lost his job because of the pandemic, and her mom may be forced to take a pay cut as a public school teacher.
Though lei ceremonies are common in Hawaii, Silva has never been to one. She was saving that moment for her own graduation. But “now I regret not going” to other ceremonies, she said. To add insult to injury, past graduates were making fun of her class on social media for not having a traditional ceremony.
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Silva’s mom helped her feel better, though, when she pointed out that her graduation year will be one of the most memorable in history. Silva learned how to make her own ti leaf lei with her mother during the quarantine and plans to wear it to her graduation ceremony. She and her classmates will participate in a livestreamed drive-thru ceremony.
Silva will then celebrate with her family and prepare to move back to her birthplace, North Carolina, in a few months to reunite with her birth mother and to begin college.
Ashley Phommavong
Ashley Phommavong, a Mililani High School graduate, was one of the few graduates to attend a socially distanced ceremony. Marie Eriel Hobro for HuffPost
“It was a sad experience – but enjoyable at the same time,” Ashley Phommavong said about her school’s graduation, in which she and other graduates were able to walk to pick up their diplomas.
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Some high schools left graduates without any form of recognition, but Phommavong’s was one of few to put on a socially distanced ceremony, rolling out a red carpet for them to receive their diplomas.
Phommavong played alto saxophone in the school’s marching band. The band was set to attend a competition in Ohio when the school lockdown was announced. She recalls crying at first, worried about graduation while scrambling to put together one final performance with her bandmates just two days after the lockdown. They were not prepared and could only invite a limited number of people, but they completed the performance as their last event of senior year.
Phommavong misses interacting with her friends in person but has enjoyed bonding with her family. Her parents joined TikTok and “try to get us to make videos together,” she said, laughing.
There’s also one upside to drive-by lei ceremonies. “When you get to lei them, you can actually take your time.” Before COVID-19, lei ceremonies were often packed to the brim, making it hard for graduates to find their friends in the crowd, let alone to give them leis. With social distancing measures enforced and individual drive-by celebrations, that is no longer a problem.
Phommavong has learned not to take anything for granted — even simple things such as attending school each day with friends. Next, she will be moving to Oregon for college.
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Princeton Liugalua
LEFT: Darnelle Man Liugalua (left) helps her son, Princeton Liugalua (middle), put on his money tuiga with the help of Fefe Liugalua (right) at the Liugalua residence in Waipahu, Hawaii, on May 16. RIGHT: Princeton Liugalua, a Pearl City High School graduate, had a drive-by graduation party that drew more than 300 people. Marie Eriel Hobro for HuffPost
Princeton Liugalua loves to sing and play music, and pre-lockdown, he used to take his ukulele to school to jam with his friends. That is all different now. “All that hard work I put into learning, ... I feel like it went down the drain a little bit,” he said.
Still, he’s made the most out of this time: bonding with his younger brothers, FaceTiming with his grandpa and connecting with other families through weekly Zoom sessions with his church.
“The type of graduation we have in Hawaii is way different than the mainland,” Liugalua said of typical years.
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Liugalua’s family still found a way to make his graduation special. His drive-by graduation party drew more than 300 people. His mother made more than 350 bento box meals to give out to everyone who stopped by. A lot of people came whom he didn’t even expect, he said. At the end, he and his cousin danced the taualuga (Samoan money dance) on the street outside his home, surrounded by his family.
Liugalua recently found out that he will get to perform his class’ senior song with two of his best friends at their high school’s alternative ceremony. “This could be our last time singing together,” he said.
Liugalua plans to move to Las Vegas to pursue employment and a potential career in entertainment.
Jordan Fujimoto
Jordan Fujimoto, a Mililani High School graduate, poses during his drive-by lei ceremony in Mililani, Hawaii, on May 17. Marie Eriel Hobro for HuffPost
Jordan Fujimoto is the oldest of seven children. He was working as an essential worker at McDonald’s at the beginning of the pandemic, but stopped a few weeks into quarantine for his safety. Now he mostly stays at home but remains social by swimming and diving with small groups of friends when he can. The water is clearer now, with “a lot more fish,” he said.
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Fujimoto has been reflecting on God and how he believes he is being taught a lesson during this time: to become closer to his sisters and his family. “Some days are really good, and some days are like, ʻHo, brah!′ I get so irritated at every little thing. ... There’s the good days and the bad days.”
One of the good days was his graduation, during which the entire town came out to support students. Local firefighters and neighbors held up signs as the graduates drove by, and he rode with his divorced parents in the same car for the first time in years. “I want to thank my family, my mom and my stepdad for raising me up good and taking care of me,” he said.
Fujimoto will be moving to Texas in a few months to join the Air National Guard.
Chrislyn Antonio
Chrislyn Antonio, a Mililani High School graduate, with her daughter, Embrie-Rose Lanias, in Mililani, Hawaii. Antonio has been busy with a small face-mask business that's named after her daughter. Marie Eriel Hobro for HuffPost
Chrislyn Antonio went to every football game in high school and made lots of friends. Graduation was supposed to be a time when “you see everyone that loves you and that you love,” she said.
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Antonio had been looking forward to graduation at Aloha Stadium, celebrating with family, giving leis to her classmates and singing her senior song. Each school year, seniors choose a song (or mashup/medley of songs) and rehearse during graduation practice, many for weeks or months ahead of time. This year, her class was going to sing “Good Times Together,” a classic local song from the ʻ80s.
Antonio finished her classes early because she was pregnant but had been coming regularly for graduation practices. “[We] didn’t know the last day of school was the last day,” she said.
Antonio has been doing well but worries about her boyfriend, his family and her baby – who all suffer from asthma.
Antonio has been staying busy with a small business named after her daughter, Embrie-Rose. She sews accessories and face masks, donating one free mask to anyone working in the medical field. She even sent a few to her labor and delivery nurse for her and her family. They connected recently on Instagram and have kept in touch.
Antonio will be attending college in the fall and has decided to pursue a nursing degree.
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Kealoha Charles
Kealoha Charles, a Kailua High School graduate, was planning to wear the Kānaka Maoli flag, or native Hawaiian flag. Marie Eriel Hobro for HuffPost
Kealoha Charles is an activist, student council member and water polo player and has been dancing hula since she was 6 years old. For her older sister’s high school graduation, the family prepared for more than a week, catching squid for luau (a traditional Hawaiian dish) and organizing for the celebration. Charles’ sister has had health issues since she was a baby, so making it to graduation was a big deal. “It’s been a fight their entire life just to make it to graduation,” Charles said about Hawaii high school graduates.
Charles compares graduation to a baby’s first luau, which is also a major celebration in Hawaii. “Babies living past [the age of 1] was rare when Westerners came,” she said. “If the baby lived until 1, it meant that they would survive.”
Charles has been planning to wear the Kānaka Maoli flag, or native Hawaiian flag, and her Doc Martens to graduation since the beginning of the year (which meant breaking school rules). She is now expressing herself freely, including dyeing her hair dark purple. “If I’m going out, I’m going extra,” she said with a laugh.
She wants people to remember that “It’s OK to have really bad days. It’s OK to be mad, to be sad.” Yet this is also extra time for extra love, she said.
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Charles wants to support Hawaii’s keiki (children) and will be studying social work at a local university in the fall.
Gemalyn Yutob
Gemalyn Yutob, a Leilehua High School graduate, found her drive-by graduation a way to stay positive amid the pandemic. Marie Eriel Hobro for HuffPost
Gemalyn Yutob is an extroverted dancer who was once busy with school, friends and the youth dance classes she’d teach prior to quarantine. Now she is using her downtime to bond with her older siblings, virtually explore dance studios throughout the island of Oahu and work on her solo choreography.
“We’re such a small island. Not a lot of big things happen, especially for our youth,” Yutob said, which is why she feels graduation is so important in Hawaii. “At times it can be dark” dealing with COVID-19 and all the abrupt changes it has brought, she said.
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Yutob points to her drive-by graduation as a bright spot in the dark. “The environment in my school is the best,” she said. “It’s a way to stay positive and feel like my achievements are still being recognized,” she added. Her school held an alternative ceremony, which she felt was enough for her.
Yutob is the only one in her friend group staying on the island for college and hopes the quarantine will lift before her friends leave. “I don’t want to bend the rules and take chances — but if I have the chance, I would love to see them.”
Yutob will be studying liberal arts and social sciences in the fall and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in child therapy.
Gabby Pino
Gabby Pino, a Mililani High School graduate, is originally from New Mexico and moved to Hawaii in elementary school. Marie Eriel Hobro for HuffPost
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“Graduation shows me that I did it — and no one can take that away from me,” Gabby Pino said.
Pino is originally from New Mexico and moved to Hawaii in elementary school. She is proud of her Native American heritage and helps keep her native language alive by staying in touch with her New Mexico grandparents. Two of her family members there have died because of COVID-19; Native Americans have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic throughout the Southwest. “We’re all feeling it,” she said.
“I didn’t expect the last two months of senior year to be taken away from me,” Pino said. But she has learned to be more present. “I’ve been taking more time to take care of myself,” she said.
Pino has used her extra time to study for her Advanced Placement psychology exam. She has also been spending more time with her dad and two brothers while her mother continues to work full time as an essential worker.
Pino’s school held an alternative graduation. It felt “like I was still walking across the stage” as she walked down the sidewalk to collect her diploma, she said. She appreciates her teachers and the school’s staff for making that happen for them.
Pino is moving to Rhode Island in the fall to pursue a degree in political science.
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Nainoa Brown-Kahananui
Nainoa Brown-Kahananui, a Waiʻanae High School graduate, at the entrance of Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae in Waiʻanae, Hawaii, on May 23. Brown-Kahananui has lived in what its residents call Oahu's largest "houseless village" for years. Marie Eriel Hobro for HuffPost
To Nainoa Brown-Kahananui, graduation “shows that we fought through 12 years of schooling and actually made it.” Many parents never graduated, so they hope that their kids will get to have that experience.
During high school, Brown-Kahananui’s outgoing nature would shine through in his love of singing, dancing, cheerleading and volleyball. Overall, he described his high school experience as a “roller coaster.”
Brown-Kahananui’s freshman year was particularly rough because he lost his mother: “My mom was my world.” He lost motivation for school and almost dropped out — until one of his friends reached out and encouraged him to push forward for his mom. After that, he got more involved and was determined to graduate for her.
Brown-Kahananui said he never expected to have a drive-by lei ceremony, but his aunty and hānai (informally adopted) mother, Twinkle Borge, and family organized one for him.
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As a longtime resident of Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae — which residents refer to as the largest “houseless village” on Oahu — Brown-Kahananui is part of a tight-knit community that often comes together to help each other. His lei ceremony was one of the best things to come out of this COVID-19 quarantine time, along with “spending time talking to my family members and getting closer than I ever been before,” he said.
Brown-Kahananui missed prom but plans to hold his own alternative prom with friends once social distancing rules are relaxed.
Brown-Kahananui will move to the Big Island of Hawaii in the fall to study psychology.
Sterling Hauki Williams Jr.
Sterling Hauki Williams Jr., a Waiʻanae High School graduate, stands atop a customized electronic road sign at his home in Waiʻanae, Hawaii, on May 23. Marie Eriel Hobro for HuffPost
Less than a week away from what would have been his school’s traditional ceremony, Sterling Hauki Williams Jr. is still in the dark about what his school will be doing. After contacting his principal and friends in student government, he is unsure if there will be any kind of virtual or socially distanced ceremony for his graduating class. “I don’t know how to feel about it,” he said.
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With no formal support in place for island-wide alternative graduations, Williams said he feels like the Department of Education doesn’t care at all. Despite this, he appreciates the time getting closer with his family and friends and how everyone is still figuring out ways to support each other with drive-by grad parties, virtual hangouts and small gatherings.
“We went on break not knowing that was our last goodbyes of high school,” Williams said. But he stressed that he “had, and is still trying to have, the best high school experience.”


huffpost--2020-05-28--More Than 40 Million Americans Have Sought Jobless Aid Amid Pandemic

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Roughly 2.1 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week , a sign that companies are still slashing jobs in the face of a deep recession even as more businesses reopen and rehire some laid-off employees .
About 41 million people have now applied for aid since the virus outbreak intensified in March , though not all of them are still unemployed .
The Labor Department ’ s report Thursday includes a count of all the people now receiving unemployment aid : 21 million .
That is a rough measure of the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 14.7 % in April , the highest since the Great Depression , and many economists expect it will near 20 % in May .
States are gradually restarting their economies by letting some businesses — from gyms , retail shops and restaurants to hair and nail salons — reopen with some restrictions .
As some of these employers , including automakers , have recalled a portion of their laid-off employees , the number of people receiving unemployment benefits has fallen .
First-time applications for unemployment aid , though still high by historical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight weeks .
In addition to those who applied last week , an additional 1.2 million applied under a new program for self-employed and gig workers , who are eligible for jobless aid for the first time .
These figures aren ’ t adjusted for seasonal variations , so the government doesn ’ t include them in the overall data .
Analysts are monitoring incoming economic data to gauge how consumers are responding as many retail establishments gradually reopen .
Jobs won ’ t return in any significant way as long as Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous levels .
Data from Chase Bank credit and debit cards shows that consumers have slowly increased their spending since the government distributed stimulus checks in mid-April .
Consumer spending had plunged 40 % in March compared with a year earlier but has since rebounded to 20 % below year-ago levels .
Most of that increase has occurred in online shopping , which has recovered to pre-virus levels after having tumbled about 20 % .
But offline spending , which makes up the vast majority of consumer spending , is still down 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Chase , after having plummeted 50 % at its lowest point .
The U.S. government is set to sketch its latest picture Thursday of the layoffs that have left tens of millions of people unemployed but have slowed as states increasingly allow businesses to reopen .
Even with companies calling some laid-off employees back to work , millions more likely filed for unemployment benefits last week after nearly 39 million sought aid in the previous nine weeks as the coronavirus paralyzed the economy .
The pace of layoffs has declined for seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cratering of the job market may have bottomed out .
By historical standards , though , the number of weekly applications remains enormous .
The job cuts reflect an economy that was seized by the worst downturn since the Great Depression after the virus forced the widespread shutdown of businesses .
The economy is thought to be shrinking in the April-June quarter at an annual rate approaching 40 % .
That would be , by far , the worst quarterly contraction on record .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Roughly 2.1 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, a sign that companies are still slashing jobs in the face of a deep recession even as more businesses reopen and rehire some laid-off employees.
About 41 million people have now applied for aid since the virus outbreak intensified in March, though not all of them are still unemployed. The Labor Department’s report Thursday includes a count of all the people now receiving unemployment aid: 21 million. That is a rough measure of the number of unemployed Americans.
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The national jobless rate was 14.7% in April, the highest since the Great Depression, and many economists expect it will near 20% in May.
States are gradually restarting their economies by letting some businesses — from gyms, retail shops and restaurants to hair and nail salons — reopen with some restrictions. As some of these employers, including automakers, have recalled a portion of their laid-off employees, the number of people receiving unemployment benefits has fallen.
First-time applications for unemployment aid, though still high by historical standards, have now fallen for eight straight weeks. In addition to those who applied last week, an additional 1.2 million applied under a new program for self-employed and gig workers, who are eligible for jobless aid for the first time. These figures aren’t adjusted for seasonal variations, so the government doesn’t include them in the overall data.
Analysts are monitoring incoming economic data to gauge how consumers are responding as many retail establishments gradually reopen. Jobs won’t return in any significant way as long as Americans remain slow to resume spending at their previous levels.
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Data from Chase Bank credit and debit cards shows that consumers have slowly increased their spending since the government distributed stimulus checks in mid-April. Consumer spending had plunged 40% in March compared with a year earlier but has since rebounded to 20% below year-ago levels.
Most of that increase has occurred in online shopping, which has recovered to pre-virus levels after having tumbled about 20%. But offline spending, which makes up the vast majority of consumer spending, is still down 35% from a year ago, according to Chase, after having plummeted 50% at its lowest point.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story is below:
The U.S. government is set to sketch its latest picture Thursday of the layoffs that have left tens of millions of people unemployed but have slowed as states increasingly allow businesses to reopen.
Even with companies calling some laid-off employees back to work, millions more likely filed for unemployment benefits last week after nearly 39 million sought aid in the previous nine weeks as the coronavirus paralyzed the economy.
The pace of layoffs has declined for seven straight weeks, a sign that the cratering of the job market may have bottomed out. By historical standards, though, the number of weekly applications remains enormous.
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The job cuts reflect an economy that was seized by the worst downturn since the Great Depression after the virus forced the widespread shutdown of businesses. The economy is thought to be shrinking in the April-June quarter at an annual rate approaching 40%. That would be, by far, the worst quarterly contraction on record.


huffpost--2020-05-28--Experts Predict How The Coronavirus Could Permanently Change Child Care

Before the COVID-19 pandemic , the way I cared for my children looked very different .
I used to drop my elder kid off at school , then I ’ d walk my younger one to the family-run day care where he spent eight hours a day , five days a week .
Of course , for the past two-plus months , both of my boys have been home with me all the time .
My husband and I squabble over who watches them while the other tries to cram in some work , then we swap .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that we have stayed healthy thus far , but like so many others , we do not think of this as a sustainable model .
I have had actual dreams about being able to work a full day without simultaneously fetching snacks , changing diapers or breaking up brawls .
Experts caution , however , that even as much of the country starts to reopen , child care will look strikingly different than it did prior to COVID-19 .
It will be a long time before things are back to what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There ’ s going to be a huge focus on “ de-densification.
” Day cares ( both those that have remained open and those that will reopen ) will follow various protocols and guidelines set forth by organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics , as well as by state and local health officials .
And all of those recommendations are very much still being formulated , Tannen said .
“ Each day care and program has to follow those guidelines , then they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do we do on top of [ those guidelines ] to make sure our community feels safe ?
’ ” Tannen said .
“ It ’ s going to be a process and it ’ s going to take time.
” One major area of focus ?
“ De-densification ” — basically , finding ways to make sure that even in bustling day cares , kids aren ’ t piled on top of each other all day .
That ’ s a significant challenge for many reasons , not least of which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a toddler to grasp in any kind of meaningful way .
“ One of the biggest challenges for younger kids is that they want to reach out and touch each other , ” said Ellen Birnbaum , director of early childhood programs for 92Y .
“ How do you tell a child they can ’ t do that ?
There are so many layers to this.
” Similar discussions are happening about schools , whenever they reopen .
Despite that , providers are looking at several concrete strategies , like staggered drop-offs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooms and spacing out kids ’ sleep spaces during nap time — ideally , at least six feet apart .
The goal will be creating as much distance among kiddos in a setting where that ’ s pretty damn tough .
There will be even stricter rules for cleanliness .
Tannen and Birnbaum noted that after 9/11 , child care centers around the country really stepped up their security protocols — many of which remain in place decades later .
Similarly , they believe many measures day cares put in place to limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay .
For example , the CDC says that day cares should check all kids ’ temperatures at drop-off while maintaining social distance ( meaning staff members hand a thermometer to a parent to take a reading and watch ) .
The CDC has called for “ intensified ” cleaning and disinfecting .
And day care centers will step up the number of times kids wash their hands throughout the day .
“ Parents and children alike will notice that their child care center looks remarkably different than when they were last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO of national child care provider Bright Horizons .
“ Some of the differences include : all teachers and staff will wear masks in [ our ] centers ; child care staff should be doing health checks on children and parents who arrive at the center each day ; both teachers and children engage in frequent handwashing ; staff are routinely cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and toys ; [ and ] only single-serve snacks will be served to children.
” Many child care options will simply be gone .
Experts have been warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wipe out day cares and preschools around the country .
A recent analysis from the liberal think tank the Center for American Progress suggests that some 4.5 million child care slots are at risk of disappearing nationwide as child care providers struggle to stay afloat in the face of sweeping closures .
More families could turn to one-on-one care .
There aren ’ t numbers anyone can look to at this point to see if families are opting out of group care settings and looking instead to hire nannies or babysitters , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story said it is a possibility .
Parents and nannies are going to have to reset expectations .

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Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the way I cared for my children looked very different. I used to drop my elder kid off at school, then I’d walk my younger one to the family-run day care where he spent eight hours a day, five days a week.
Of course, for the past two-plus months, both of my boys have been home with me all the time. My husband and I squabble over who watches them while the other tries to cram in some work, then we swap.
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We’re grateful for the extra time together and that we have stayed healthy thus far, but like so many others, we do not think of this as a sustainable model. I have had actual dreams about being able to work a full day without simultaneously fetching snacks, changing diapers or breaking up brawls.
Experts caution, however, that even as much of the country starts to reopen, child care will look strikingly different than it did prior to COVID-19. It will be a long time before things are back to what we’re used to — if ever.
“There’s no question child care is going to look different,” Sally Tannen, director of the community center 92Y’s Parenting Center, told HuffPost.
Here are five big-picture predictions about how child care in this country will be transformed.
There’s going to be a huge focus on “de-densification.”
Day cares (both those that have remained open and those that will reopen) will follow various protocols and guidelines set forth by organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as by state and local health officials. And all of those recommendations are very much still being formulated, Tannen said.
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“Each day care and program has to follow those guidelines, then they individually have to say: ‘What do we do on top of [those guidelines] to make sure our community feels safe?’” Tannen said. “It’s going to be a process and it’s going to take time.”
One major area of focus? “De-densification” — basically, finding ways to make sure that even in bustling day cares, kids aren’t piled on top of each other all day. That’s a significant challenge for many reasons, not least of which is that social distancing is an impossible concept for a toddler to grasp in any kind of meaningful way.
“One of the biggest challenges for younger kids is that they want to reach out and touch each other,” said Ellen Birnbaum, director of early childhood programs for 92Y. “How do you tell a child they can’t do that? There are so many layers to this.” Similar discussions are happening about schools, whenever they reopen.
Despite that, providers are looking at several concrete strategies, like staggered drop-offs, keeping groups of children in separate rooms and spacing out kids’ sleep spaces during nap time — ideally, at least six feet apart. The goal will be creating as much distance among kiddos in a setting where that’s pretty damn tough.
“After 9/11, child care centers around the country really stepped up their security protocols — many of which remain in place decades later. Similarly, many measures day cares put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 could be here to stay.”
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There will be even stricter rules for cleanliness.
Tannen and Birnbaum noted that after 9/11, child care centers around the country really stepped up their security protocols — many of which remain in place decades later. Similarly, they believe many measures day cares put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 could be here to stay.
For example, the CDC says that day cares should check all kids’ temperatures at drop-off while maintaining social distance (meaning staff members hand a thermometer to a parent to take a reading and watch). The CDC has called for “intensified” cleaning and disinfecting. And day care centers will step up the number of times kids wash their hands throughout the day.
“Parents and children alike will notice that their child care center looks remarkably different than when they were last there,” echoed Stephen Kramer, CEO of national child care provider Bright Horizons. “Some of the differences include: all teachers and staff will wear masks in [our] centers; child care staff should be doing health checks on children and parents who arrive at the center each day; both teachers and children engage in frequent handwashing; staff are routinely cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and toys; [and] only single-serve snacks will be served to children.”
d3sign via Getty Images COVID-19 has transformed child care in America — and those changes could be with us for quite some time.
Many child care options will simply be gone.
Experts have been warning for months that the coronavirus pandemic will wipe out day cares and preschools around the country. A recent analysis from the liberal think tank the Center for American Progress suggests that some 4.5 million child care slots are at risk of disappearing nationwide as child care providers struggle to stay afloat in the face of sweeping closures.
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“It’s an amplification of a problem that was already an issue,” said Nina Perez, early learning national director for the advocacy organization MomsRising, referring to the fact that many child care providers were already operating on extremely thin margins. “What I anticipate is that [COVID-19] was like putting gasoline on a fire.”
Perez said day care closures will put many families in a tough spot. Some people will be able to find another child care provider, although that is no easy task under even the best of circumstances. She believes others won’t.
“We’re seeing folks who already have to leave the workforce, because being responsible for full-time child care is incredibly challenging,” Perez said.
More families could turn to one-on-one care.
There aren’t numbers anyone can look to at this point to see if families are opting out of group care settings and looking instead to hire nannies or babysitters, but several of the experts interviewed for this story said it is a possibility.
“Families that have traditionally relied on daycare, summer camps, and/or before and after-school programs are now reconsidering group childcare settings and opting for one-on-one or one family/one nanny care,” said Michelle LaRowe, editor-in-chief of Nanny Magazine.
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Of course, for many parents, that will not be an option. On average, nannies and babysitters cost more than day cares do.
Parents and nannies are going to have to reset expectations.
Many parents who used to work in an office setting are currently working from home — an arrangement that could continue indefinitely in many cases. That is one major change that families and their children’s babysitters will have to navigate together, according to LaRowe.
“Traditionally, there has been a large pool of nannies who will not consider positions with an at-home parent who are now having to consider these positions,” she said. “Nannies are having to shift their job ideals to adapt to the changing market.” For many, that also means having conversations about what role, if any, a child’s babysitter might play in remote education.
But that’s just a part of it. COVID-19 agreements have become commonplace, LaRowe said, and she anticipates that many of the topics covered will continue to be an issue for some time.
“Parents and nannies are having conversations about what happens if one party becomes exposed to COVID-19,” she said, “what the expectations are around social distancing, what they will do if one party becomes sick, what duties and responsibilities may change if the children are home from school for an extended period of time starting in the fall, and how sick leave and time off will be handled.”


huffpost--2020-05-28--We're Used To Being Spontaneous. Here's How To Cope Now That We Can't Be.

For many of us , it ’ s been a couple of months since coronavirus measures went into effect .
And with no clear end to the pandemic in sight , it ’ s normal to feel anxious , down or lonely .
The coping mechanisms we used in the past , like going over to a friend ’ s apartment or planning a trip , are no longer readily available and may not be for a while .
Even when we weren ’ t feeling low , we had those options available to us : We could grab dinner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We could bar-hop to see where the night took us .
We could wander around a street fair or a farmers market .
That spontaneity ― our ability to do what we wanted , with whom we wanted , when we wanted ― is a legitimate loss to mourn , according to therapists .
Without it , we can feel stuck , isolated or confined ( even though we know the lockdown is keeping people safe and healthy ) .
That makes our mental health worse than it already is .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether it ’ s a backyard , fire escape , rooftop or stoop , spending time there daily can also change your perspective for the better , Lustbader said .
If you ’ re able , you can also try going for a walk or a drive on a new route to discover places you may not have seen before .
The gym and the yoga studio may be closed ― and maybe you don ’ t feel comfortable running with a mask in still-crowded parks ― but get your heart rate going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online workout video or a favorite song and dance around your room .
If you can get out of your apartment , even if it ’ s just to walk around the block a few times , that can be enough to change your mood for the better .
“ If you can be outside , get sunshine or a breeze on your face , be in nature , it helps you remember there is a beautiful world out there , ” said Cassandra Vieten , a licensed clinical psychologist and executive director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation .
And if you ’ re not able to get outside , watching nature videos can remind you .
“ When you experience awe and wonder if changes your physiology and makes you feel more spacious inside , ” Vieten said .
With Zoom fatigue setting in , making a good old-fashioned phone call might be a more satisfying way to connect with someone , according to Lustbader .
And hearing about their experience with shutdown can help get you out of your own head .
It ’ s no replacement for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it ’ s still a worthwhile way to relate , commiserate and laugh with someone .
Similarly , performing an act of kindness or reaching out to someone who might be struggling distracts you from getting hung up on your own problems , according to Veiten .
“ When you ’ re stuck inside yourself , one thing that really helps is to specifically do something for someone else , ” Veiten said .
“ Call them and say you were thinking of them , or make a mask for someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you try to control [ the way you feel ] or shove it away , the more it ’ s going to fight you later , ” Veiten explained .
“ Allow those feelings of being scared or irritated to come up , notice them , allow them to move through you.
” Finding approximations for our old ways of life ― like calling a friend we can ’ t see in person or having coffee on our fire escape instead of going to a favorite cafe ― are necessary actions to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re limited in where we can go physically , we can do things to get ourselves in a different place mentally .

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It's been one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Explore HuffPost's Bent Not Broken project to learn how the coronavirus has disrupted our mental health, and how to manage our well-being moving forward.
For many of us, it’s been a couple of months since coronavirus measures went into effect. And with no clear end to the pandemic in sight, it’s normal to feel anxious, down or lonely.
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The coping mechanisms we used in the past, like going over to a friend’s apartment or planning a trip, are no longer readily available and may not be for a while. Even when we weren’t feeling low, we had those options available to us: We could grab dinner with co-workers after a long day. We could bar-hop to see where the night took us. We could wander around a street fair or a farmers market.
That spontaneity ― our ability to do what we wanted, with whom we wanted, when we wanted ― is a legitimate loss to mourn, according to therapists. Without it, we can feel stuck, isolated or confined (even though we know the lockdown is keeping people safe and healthy). That makes our mental health worse than it already is.
Here are some small actions you can take to combat those dispiriting feelings and maintain your well-being in the months ahead.
Westend61 via Getty Images Spending time in “new” spaces can alleviate that common quarantine feeling of being trapped or claustrophobic.
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Change your scene.
According to Wendy Lustbader, a licensed mental health counselor and author of “What’s Worth Knowing,” one of the best ways to immediately alleviate feelings of stress or confinement is to change your view.
Small acts like rearranging your furniture or clearing space for a seat by the window can improve your outlook — literally — by providing “a new prospect, something different to look at,” Lustbader explained.
Lustbader said that spending time in “new” spaces can alleviate that common quarantine feeling of being trapped or claustrophobic.
“Don’t discount the power of how a really small change can have an impact on you and change your sensory reality,” she said.
If you have access to an outdoor space, whether it’s a backyard, fire escape, rooftop or stoop, spending time there daily can also change your perspective for the better, Lustbader said. If you’re able, you can also try going for a walk or a drive on a new route to discover places you may not have seen before.
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Kentaroo Tryman via Getty Images “If you can be outside, get sunshine or a breeze on your face, be in nature, it helps you remember there is a beautiful world out there,” one expert suggested.
Move your body.
The gym and the yoga studio may be closed ― and maybe you don’t feel comfortable running with a mask in still-crowded parks ― but get your heart rate going however you can.
Put on an online workout video or a favorite song and dance around your room. If you can get out of your apartment, even if it’s just to walk around the block a few times, that can be enough to change your mood for the better.
“You go back in your apartment and you’re in a different state of mind ― that’s energy that’s going to help you,” Lustbader said.
Being around nature can also improve your mood slightly when you’re down.
“If you can be outside, get sunshine or a breeze on your face, be in nature, it helps you remember there is a beautiful world out there,” said Cassandra Vieten, a licensed clinical psychologist and executive director of the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation.
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And if you’re not able to get outside, watching nature videos can remind you. “When you experience awe and wonder if changes your physiology and makes you feel more spacious inside,” Vieten said.
Call a friend
With Zoom fatigue setting in, making a good old-fashioned phone call might be a more satisfying way to connect with someone, according to Lustbader. And hearing about their experience with shutdown can help get you out of your own head. It’s no replacement for spending time in person, of course, but it’s still a worthwhile way to relate, commiserate and laugh with someone.
Similarly, performing an act of kindness or reaching out to someone who might be struggling distracts you from getting hung up on your own problems, according to Veiten.
“When you’re stuck inside yourself, one thing that really helps is to specifically do something for someone else,” Veiten said. “Call them and say you were thinking of them, or make a mask for someone and deliver it.”
10'000 Hours via Getty Images With Zoom fatigue setting in, making a good old-fashioned phone call might be a more satisfying way to connect with someone.
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Acknowledge your feelings.
Recognize that what we’re experiencing is hard for everyone, and you’re not alone, Veiten said. Take time to acknowledge the negative feelings.
“The more you try to control [the way you feel] or shove it away, the more it’s going to fight you later,” Veiten explained. “Allow those feelings of being scared or irritated to come up, notice them, allow them to move through you.”
Lustbader recommended naming your losses or the things that you miss and letting yourself grieve for them. As a next step, you can then ask yourself, “How can I recreate some of those elements that got me going?”
Finding approximations for our old ways of life ― like calling a friend we can’t see in person or having coffee on our fire escape instead of going to a favorite cafe ― are necessary actions to keep us connected and hopeful. While we’re limited in where we can go physically, we can do things to get ourselves in a different place mentally.
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huffpost--2020-05-28--'Feisty Old Polish Grandmother,' 103, Beats Coronavirus Then Cracks Open A Beer

Jennie Stejna , a 103-year-old great-great grandmother in Massachusetts , celebrated defeating the coronavirus in the best way possible : @ @ @ @ @ one .
“ She always had that feisty fighting spirit , ” granddaughter Shelley Gunn @ @ @ @ @ She didn ’ t give up.
” Family members told Wicked Local that Stejna , @ @ @ @ @ “ hardcore Boston sports fan ” developed a fever , tested positive for the virus @ @ @ @ @ she beat COVID-19 ― and the nursing home staff let her celebrate with a Bud @ @ @ @ @ , below , shows Stejna savoring her Bud Light and commenting on how cold it @ @ @ @ @ Shelley ’ s husband , told the website that Stejna ’ s battle got so @ @ @ @ @ he asked if she were ready to go to heaven .
“ This feisty old @ @ @ @ @ beat the coronavirus , ” Adam Gunn told Wicked Local .
The website said she @ @ @ @ @ grandchildren , four great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren .

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This Bud’s for her.
Jennie Stejna, a 103-year-old great-great grandmother in Massachusetts, celebrated defeating the coronavirus in the best way possible: by knocking back a cold one.
“She always had that feisty fighting spirit,” granddaughter Shelley Gunn told Wicked Local. “She didn’t give up.”
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Family members told Wicked Local that Stejna, a nursing home resident and “hardcore Boston sports fan” developed a fever, tested positive for the virus and quickly worsened.
But she beat COVID-19 ― and the nursing home staff let her celebrate with a Bud Light:
Jennie Stejna, 103, beat coronavirus. So, she celebrated with a beer. https://t.co/pvanvIxAwJ — USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 27, 2020
Footage from TMZ, below, shows Stejna savoring her Bud Light and commenting on how cold it is.
Adam Gunn, Shelley’s husband, told the website that Stejna’s battle got so bad that at one point he asked if she were ready to go to heaven.
She replied: “Hell, yes!”
“This feisty old Polish grandmother of ours officially beat the coronavirus,” Adam Gunn told Wicked Local.
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