huffpost--2020-03-22--The Coronavirus Made Me Realize How Lucky I Am To Have My Online Friends

Prakasit Khuansuwan / EyeEm via Getty Images `` In a world that we ’ re now experiencing mostly virtually , is there really a difference between the friends we make online and the friends we once had in the so-called real world ? ''
Before the coronavirus arrived ― back when I used to be able to leave my house ― I had my “ real-life friends ” and my “ online friends , ” two categorically different groups of people in my mind .
My real-life friends were the people I didn ’ t necessarily see every single day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared physical experiences at some point in my life : dinners , movies , trips to exotic places .
These were people who had seen the hardware of my life , so they knew me from the inside out .
I measured that qualitatively .
For me , time spent together , physically , had equated to a certain brand of intimate knowledge .
Friendships are sacred to me .
I have been a close friend with many of the same people for the majority of my life and most of those friendships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have shared in countless joys and losses .
We have seen one another succeed and fail .
We have watched each other wed and divorce .
We have been there for each other as we ’ ve buried parents .
In addition to those friends I ’ ve made and kept from childhood , college and my days working in restaurants , I also have a large network of online friends ― people I share political jokes with or with whom I talk about topics as varied and personal as food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curate your passions , separate your individual interests and make choices .
You can find the people who are most like you , or who live most like you , and there ’ s a certain freedom and intimacy that comes with that understanding .
There are all kinds of niche communities on the internet , and some can help us express our true selves in a way that we might not be able to do often — or maybe even ever — in the real world .
That ’ s partly why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a place to air grievances , to be funny , to express knee-jerk reactions .
It allows me to commiserate with others who are like me and to offer up pieces of my life and myself to people who really get what I am putting out there while sharing parts of myself in ways I might not otherwise in my offline life .
Before the events related to the coronavirus unfolded over the past few weeks , I never realized how important my cyber friendships really were , or what they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciated , at least in a surface way , what I was gaining from them : They provided a sounding board , for one .
When my husband didn ’ t want to hear me complaining about the primary election anymore , my internet friends were always around to listen .
When my friends without kids didn ’ t want to know about my son ’ s latest diaper blowout , there was Facebook group specifically for moms that did .
When I made a picture-perfect chicken that no one in my offline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone from my internet community was there to share in my culinary triumph .
Still , I mostly saw these virtual relationships as secondary to my “ real ” friendships .
I wasn ’ t about to grab dinner with the guy messaging me about how he , too , couldn ’ t stand Bernie Sanders .
But it was nice to hear the voice of someone who agreed and shared my own thoughts .
Despite how much I was receiving from my online community , I failed to recognize that I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was gaining much more than just an opportunity to blow off steam .
I am now essentially a shut-in , since I am considered high-risk for serious coronavirus symptoms because I suffer from asthma , lifelong respiratory issues , and two recent bouts of bronchitis , from which I am still in recovery , and I also live in a highly infected state and community .
And because of the sudden and unexpected inability to socialize offline , I have come to realize how important my online community is ― and always has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my online community is my community .
I used to think that online life , however immediately gratifying , was nothing but surface tension ― an incomplete or even dishonest version of reality .
In truth , I talk to my online friends every day now ― some of them more than my “ real life ” friends ― because there ’ s no longer anywhere to go , and because I ’ m realizing how much of myself I gave to them , even before most of us were self-isolating , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me over the years and continue to give me in my current time of need .
My online friends and I may not ― and may never — meet offline , but I don ’ t see my college friends or childhood friends in the flesh all that often and I don ’ t know when I will again .
When you think about it , in a world that we ’ re now experiencing mostly virtually , is there really a difference between the friends we make online and the friends we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
What ’ s more , as we all look for new and more ways to be intimate at a time when we ’ re increasingly being sealed off from each other , our virtual friends are even more important than they were just a few weeks ago .
These relationships that we ’ ve formed and grown via our computers and phones may be just the thing that helps us survive this unprecedented and difficult time .
Online friendships , of course , don ’ t necessarily sprout from the same shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that offline friendships do .
There ’ s no physical-world history there , so to some people that might mean these internet relationships are less complex or less worthy .
But in the age of the coronavirus , everything is complex , and at the same time so much is simple .
I ’ ve now discovered that what truly matters is being known and seen and understood by someone , and we can do all of that virtually .
Sure , it may take a bit more work , and it certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the room with someone , but connecting online can be amazingly therapeutic and it can offer us some of the things we need right now to be a little ( or a lot ) less lonely .
I ’ m also learning new ways to communicate and be vulnerable and to express myself because of my online relationships , which in turn broaden and deepen all of my experiences ― virtual or not .
Even better , these are tools that I can use with my “ real life ” friends , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , online friends , too .
Ultimately , my online friends are my real friends .
I may never go to their weddings or their parents ’ funerals .
There may never be a long and complicated history , the way there might be with the offline friends who have known me longer and , in some ways , better .
But the whole world is changing and strangers are becoming friends and friends are becoming strangers .
And I am seeing the evolution myself , as the people I may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less intimately acquainted with me become just as relevant as the people who have held a stake and a place in my everyday life .
Except there really is no more “ everyday life ” ― not for me and not for anyone else .
My online community is as real and as valuable and offers me many of the same things as the friendships I ’ ve had offline for 30 years .
It ’ s too bad it took a pandemic to teach me this , but regardless , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m grateful to have more friends ― no matter where or how they exist ― to offer me comfort , guidance and laughter during these uncertain times .

"In a world that we’re now experiencing mostly virtually, is there really a difference between the friends we make online and the friends we once had in the so-called real world?" Prakasit Khuansuwan / EyeEm via Getty Images
Before the coronavirus arrived ― back when I used to be able to leave my house ― I had my “real-life friends” and my “online friends,” two categorically different groups of people in my mind. My real-life friends were the people I didn’t necessarily see every single day, but with whom I had regularly shared physical experiences at some point in my life: dinners, movies, trips to exotic places. These were people who had seen the hardware of my life, so they knew me from the inside out. I measured that qualitatively. For me, time spent together, physically, had equated to a certain brand of intimate knowledge.
Friendships are sacred to me. I have been a close friend with many of the same people for the majority of my life and most of those friendships span decades ― some over 30 years. We have shared in countless joys and losses. We have seen one another succeed and fail. We have watched each other wed and divorce. We have been there for each other as we’ve buried parents.
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In addition to those friends I’ve made and kept from childhood, college and my days working in restaurants, I also have a large network of online friends ― people I share political jokes with or with whom I talk about topics as varied and personal as food or parenting. Online, you can curate your passions, separate your individual interests and make choices. You can find the people who are most like you, or who live most like you, and there’s a certain freedom and intimacy that comes with that understanding.
There are all kinds of niche communities on the internet, and some can help us express our true selves in a way that we might not be able to do often — or maybe even ever — in the real world. That’s partly why I love being online: The internet is a place to air grievances, to be funny, to express knee-jerk reactions. It allows me to commiserate with others who are like me and to offer up pieces of my life and myself to people who really get what I am putting out there while sharing parts of myself in ways I might not otherwise in my offline life.
Before the events related to the coronavirus unfolded over the past few weeks, I never realized how important my cyber friendships really were, or what they were actually offering me. Sure, I appreciated, at least in a surface way, what I was gaining from them: They provided a sounding board, for one. When my husband didn’t want to hear me complaining about the primary election anymore, my internet friends were always around to listen. When my friends without kids didn’t want to know about my son’s latest diaper blowout, there was Facebook group specifically for moms that did. When I made a picture-perfect chicken that no one in my offline life seemed all that interested in, someone from my internet community was there to share in my culinary triumph.
Still, I mostly saw these virtual relationships as secondary to my “real” friendships. I wasn’t about to grab dinner with the guy messaging me about how he, too, couldn’t stand Bernie Sanders. But it was nice to hear the voice of someone who agreed and shared my own thoughts. Despite how much I was receiving from my online community, I failed to recognize that I was building genuine relationships, and that I was gaining much more than just an opportunity to blow off steam.
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I am now essentially a shut-in, since I am considered high-risk for serious coronavirus symptoms because I suffer from asthma, lifelong respiratory issues, and two recent bouts of bronchitis, from which I am still in recovery, and I also live in a highly infected state and community. And because of the sudden and unexpected inability to socialize offline, I have come to realize how important my online community is ― and always has been ― to me. In short, my online community is my community.
“I’m realizing how much of myself I gave to [my online friends], even before most of us were self-isolating, and how much they’ve given me over the years and continue to give me in my current time of need.”
I used to think that online life, however immediately gratifying, was nothing but surface tension ― an incomplete or even dishonest version of reality. In truth, I talk to my online friends every day now ― some of them more than my “real life” friends ― because there’s no longer anywhere to go, and because I’m realizing how much of myself I gave to them, even before most of us were self-isolating, and how much they’ve given me over the years and continue to give me in my current time of need.
My online friends and I may not ― and may never — meet offline, but I don’t see my college friends or childhood friends in the flesh all that often and I don’t know when I will again. When you think about it, in a world that we’re now experiencing mostly virtually, is there really a difference between the friends we make online and the friends we once had in the so-called real world? What’s more, as we all look for new and more ways to be intimate at a time when we’re increasingly being sealed off from each other, our virtual friends are even more important than they were just a few weeks ago. These relationships that we’ve formed and grown via our computers and phones may be just the thing that helps us survive this unprecedented and difficult time.
Online friendships, of course, don’t necessarily sprout from the same shared experiences, like childhood or college, that offline friendships do. There’s no physical-world history there, so to some people that might mean these internet relationships are less complex or less worthy. But in the age of the coronavirus, everything is complex, and at the same time so much is simple. I’ve now discovered that what truly matters is being known and seen and understood by someone, and we can do all of that virtually. Sure, it may take a bit more work, and it certainly isn’t the same as being in the room with someone, but connecting online can be amazingly therapeutic and it can offer us some of the things we need right now to be a little (or a lot) less lonely.
Advertisement
And maybe, when we’re holed up with no one but ourselves, the most important thing is truly how well we’re able to connect with others.
I’m also learning new ways to communicate and be vulnerable and to express myself because of my online relationships, which in turn broaden and deepen all of my experiences ― virtual or not. Even better, these are tools that I can use with my “real life” friends, who are now, it should be said, online friends, too.
Ultimately, my online friends are my real friends. I may never go to their weddings or their parents’ funerals. There may never be a long and complicated history, the way there might be with the offline friends who have known me longer and, in some ways, better. But the whole world is changing and strangers are becoming friends and friends are becoming strangers. And I am seeing the evolution myself, as the people I may have once thought of as less important or less intimately acquainted with me become just as relevant as the people who have held a stake and a place in my everyday life.
Except there really is no more “everyday life” ― not for me and not for anyone else. My online community is as real and as valuable and offers me many of the same things as the friendships I’ve had offline for 30 years. It’s too bad it took a pandemic to teach me this, but regardless, I’m glad it did. I’m grateful to have more friends ― no matter where or how they exist ― to offer me comfort, guidance and laughter during these uncertain times.
Hannah Selinger is a freelance food, wine and travel writer and mother of two based in East Hampton, New York. Her work has appeared in Eater, Glamour, The Independent U.K., The New York Times, The Washington Post, Wine Enthusiast, The Kitchn, Slate, Edible East End, Edible Long Island, Wine4Food, The Daily Beast, Heated by Bittman, Al Jazeera, Refinery29, Thrillist, Fodor’s, Business Insider and numerous other national and regional publications. She has work forthcoming in Airbnb Magazine, United Airlines’ Hemispheres, and American Airlines’ American Way.
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huffpost--2020-03-21--Former Real Madrid President Lorenzo Sanz Dies Of Coronavirus Complications

MADRID , March 21 - Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz has died aged 76 , his son Lorenzo said @ @ @ @ @ Real president was taken to hospital on Tuesday , with newspaper El Mundo saying he @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus .
His son said he had a respiratory disease .
Sanz presided over @ @ @ @ @ 2000 , in which they won two Champions League titles and one La Liga crown @ @ @ @ @ 1998 Champions League triumph was the first time they had won Europe ’ s top @ @ @ @ @ lifted a record 13 times , in 32 years .
“ My father has just @ @ @ @ @ ’ t deserve it to end this way .
One of the most brave and @ @ @ @ @ have known in my life has left us , ” Lorenzo Sanz Jr. said on @ @ @ @ @ Richard Martin Editing by Christian Radnedge )

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MADRID, March 21 - Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz has died aged 76, his son Lorenzo said on Saturday.
The former Real president was taken to hospital on Tuesday, with newspaper El Mundo saying he had been suffering from the novel coronavirus. His son said he had a respiratory disease.
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Sanz presided over the club between 1995 and 2000, in which they won two Champions League titles and one La Liga crown among other trophies. Their 1998 Champions League triumph was the first time they had won Europe’s top prize, which they have lifted a record 13 times, in 32 years.


huffpost--2020-03-22--The Best Recipes, Workouts And Other Hacks We Tried At Home This Week

There ’ s no “ right ” way to navigate this coronavirus pandemic ; everyone lives and copes differently .
That being said , fostering a sense of community may make getting through this time a little bit easier .
Enter this weekly guide .
Every Sunday , we ’ ll bring you a short list of products , routines , workouts , recipes , apps or other things we tried the previous week that are making life easier during this universally stressful time .
Take a look at this week ’ s suggestions below : Words can not begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my therapist right now .
You don ’ t need to be in crisis to benefit from talking to a mental health professional .
Social distancing and quarantine will have emotional impacts on everyone .
I ’ m so glad to have a space where I can freely talk about how all of this is affecting me ( being a health editor in the time of coronavirus ― not easy ! )
and get solid advice .
I ’ ve left my sessions feeling slightly lighter than when we started .
―Lindsay Holmes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped prepare me for this .
There was a time in my life where the thought of this much time alone with my own thoughts would have sent me into a tailspin , but as it stands I am comfortable and confident that I am enough , and the introspection can be looked at in a positive way .
I have a ton of anxiety about my loved ones and about the people most vulnerable to the outbreak , but spinning my perspective has really helped me .
―Jamie Feldman , lifestyle and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole new reality of work-at-home and school-at-home and family time-at-home and everything-at-home , and all the lines are blurring together much more than usual .
So I ’ m trying to set aside time where there ’ s no work , just me and my 5-year-old , when we can catch up and hear about what ’ s on each other ’ s minds .
I ’ ve found that adding a 30- or 45-minute window in the middle of my workday and putting it on the calendar forces me to take a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m busy , so I can step away from the computer and connect with my daughter .
She needs me as much as work does now , after all .
―Kate Palmer , head of HuffPost Life I read as soon as I get into bed .
I feel like I ’ m on information overdrive all day , it ’ s nice to take a non-screen moment at the end of these long days .
―Kate Auletta , senior editor , Culture & Parenting Making smoothies with frozen fruit and oatmeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eat my fruit without worrying if they ’ re going to expire .
One less anxiety !
Here ’ s a quick recipe : My mom has made this recipe from “ The Greens Cook Book ” ever since I was a kid , especially for birthdays , special occasions or when I ’ m feeling down .
It reminds me of being home with my family , so it ’ s been my go-to recipe when I need some comfort .
I love the combination of flavors , and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The only ingredients are cherry tomatoes , shallots , garlic , olive oil , Italian parsley , parmesan cheese , salt and pepper and cockscombs pasta ( though you could use any other shape ) .
―Sarah Kenien , audience editor This week I did a workout posted by a local gym with my friend on FaceTime .
We set a timer for 20 minutes and did five squats and five burpees every minute , on the minute .
I was SWEATING and we got to chat in between each set , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a free service , but it ’ s worth a mention : The United States Postal Service has a program called Informed Delivery that sends you an email each morning with photos of the mail you ’ re going to receive later that day .
I have to navigate long hallways , an elevator , a crowded lobby and a mailroom to retrieve my mail , which feels like a lot of possible exposure in this time of coronavirus .
I love using Informed Delivery to know which days it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which days I can skip the trip because there ’ s nothing but junk mail in my box .
―Janie Campbell , senior editor , Life Buying this Purple cushion has transformed my hard dining chair into an acceptable office chair .
I recommend it for those of us using our kitchen tables and living rooms as home offices right now .
―Monica Torres A selection of teas for your afternoon break I ordered a lot of tea from In Pursuit Of Tea , a small business my friend runs .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they need all the support they can get ( plus , it ’ s the most delicious tea ) .
I ’ ve also been using fancy teacups in the afternoon while I work .
It ’ s just a tiny stupid thing , but it feels like a treat compared to the recyclable paper cups we drank from at the office .
―Kristen Aiken , senior editor , Food & Style

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There’s no “right” way to navigate this coronavirus pandemic; everyone lives and copes differently. That being said, fostering a sense of community may make getting through this time a little bit easier.
Enter this weekly guide. Every Sunday, we’ll bring you a short list of products, routines, workouts, recipes, apps or other things we tried the previous week that are making life easier during this universally stressful time. Take a look at this week’s suggestions below:
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Routine recommendations
Teletherapy
Words cannot begin to express how grateful I am for my therapist right now. You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from talking to a mental health professional. Social distancing and quarantine will have emotional impacts on everyone. I’m so glad to have a space where I can freely talk about how all of this is affecting me (being a health editor in the time of coronavirus ― not easy!) and get solid advice. I’ve left my sessions feeling slightly lighter than when we started. ―Lindsay Holmes, senior wellness editor
Therapy has really helped prepare me for this. There was a time in my life where the thought of this much time alone with my own thoughts would have sent me into a tailspin, but as it stands I am comfortable and confident that I am enough, and the introspection can be looked at in a positive way. I have a ton of anxiety about my loved ones and about the people most vulnerable to the outbreak, but spinning my perspective has really helped me. ―Jamie Feldman, lifestyle and personal reporter
Making family time an appointment
My family is juggling this whole new reality of work-at-home and school-at-home and family time-at-home and everything-at-home, and all the lines are blurring together much more than usual. So I’m trying to set aside time where there’s no work, just me and my 5-year-old, when we can catch up and hear about what’s on each other’s minds. I’ve found that adding a 30- or 45-minute window in the middle of my workday and putting it on the calendar forces me to take a break and lets my colleagues know I’m busy, so I can step away from the computer and connect with my daughter. She needs me as much as work does now, after all. ―Kate Palmer, head of HuffPost Life
Reading before bed
I read as soon as I get into bed. I feel like I’m on information overdrive all day, it’s nice to take a non-screen moment at the end of these long days. ―Kate Auletta, senior editor, Culture & Parenting
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Recipe recommendations
Arx0nt via Getty Images
An easy morning smoothie with kitchen staples
Making smoothies with frozen fruit and oatmeal has been a great way for me to eat my fruit without worrying if they’re going to expire. One less anxiety! Here’s a quick recipe:
1/2 to 3/4 cup of frozen fruits of your choice. Frozen cherries taste amazing because they’re naturally sweet! I love them best, but have been making it work with frozen strawberries and blueberries.
Frozen cherries taste amazing because they’re naturally sweet! I love them best, but have been making it work with frozen strawberries and blueberries. 1 cup of oatmeal. If you soak the oats overnight in water, the smoothie is smoother. But if you forget, like I often do, it will still taste good if you soak them for at least 10 minutes in water.
If you soak the oats overnight in water, the smoothie is smoother. But if you forget, like I often do, it will still taste good if you soak them for at least 10 minutes in water. 1 cup of oat milk. Any other kind of milk will work here too, or water (though it is creamier with some sort of plant or dairy milk).
Any other kind of milk will work here too, or water (though it is creamier with some sort of plant or dairy milk). 1 banana. The days I don’t have a banana, my smoothie is less tasty — but I make do and you can too!
The days I don’t have a banana, my smoothie is less tasty — but I make do and you can too! 1 spoonful of peanut butter. Dates are another optional add-in for sweetness.
―Monica Torres, work/life reporter
A simple and soothing pasta dish
My mom has made this recipe from “The Greens Cook Book” ever since I was a kid, especially for birthdays, special occasions or when I’m feeling down. It reminds me of being home with my family, so it’s been my go-to recipe when I need some comfort. I love the combination of flavors, and it’s pretty simple and quick to make. The only ingredients are cherry tomatoes, shallots, garlic, olive oil, Italian parsley, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and cockscombs pasta (though you could use any other shape). ―Sarah Kenien, audience editor
Workout recommendations
Interval training over FaceTime
This week I did a workout posted by a local gym with my friend on FaceTime. We set a timer for 20 minutes and did five squats and five burpees every minute, on the minute. I was SWEATING and we got to chat in between each set, which was fun. ―Jamie Feldman
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Running outside
I typically work out at the gym or do group fitness classes. But since that’s not an option right now (and I’ve been cooped up in my small apartment!), I’ve started running outside again. On Tuesday, I did a 20-minute jog, then did 22 minutes on Wednesday, 24 minutes on Thursday, etc. It was nice to get some fresh air and also have a small daily goal to work towards while building my endurance. ―Kelsey Borresen, senior lifestyle reporter The Peloton app I signed up for the 90-day free trial and have already done four classes. It feels kind of amazing to be in a world without coronavirus for a few minutes. ―Kate Auletta
Product recommendations
fizkes via Getty Images
An email that gives you a preview of your mail
This is a free service, but it’s worth a mention: The United States Postal Service has a program called Informed Delivery that sends you an email each morning with photos of the mail you’re going to receive later that day. I have to navigate long hallways, an elevator, a crowded lobby and a mailroom to retrieve my mail, which feels like a lot of possible exposure in this time of coronavirus. I love using Informed Delivery to know which days it’s worth the journey to the mailbox and which days I can skip the trip because there’s nothing but junk mail in my box. ―Janie Campbell, senior editor, Life
A seat cushion for your new remote workspace


huffpost--2020-03-22--American Expert Axed From CDC Post In China Months Before Coronavirus Outbreak

The American disease expert , a medical epidemiologist embedded in China ’ s disease control agency , left her post in July , according to four sources with knowledge of the issue .
The first cases of the new coronavirus may have emerged as early as November , and as cases exploded , the Trump administration in February chastised China for censoring information about the outbreak and keeping U.S. experts from entering the country to help .
Zhu and the other sources said the American expert , Dr. Linda Quick , was a trainer of Chinese field epidemiologists who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help track , investigate and contain diseases .
As an American CDC employee , they said , Quick was in an ideal position to be the eyes and ears on the ground for the United States and other countries on the coronavirus outbreak , and might have alerted them to the growing threat weeks earlier .
“ Dr .
Redfield and I made the offer on January 6th - 36 days ago , 60,000 cases and 1,300 deaths ago , ” Azar said .
“ We made the offer to send the CDC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get to the bottom of key scientific questions like , how transmissible is this disease ?
What is the severity ?
What is the incubation period and can there be asymptomatic transmission ?
”

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WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - Several months before the coronavirus pandemic began, the Trump administration eliminated a key American public health position in Beijing intended to help detect disease outbreaks in China, Reuters has learned.
The American disease expert, a medical epidemiologist embedded in China’s disease control agency, left her post in July, according to four sources with knowledge of the issue. The first cases of the new coronavirus may have emerged as early as November, and as cases exploded, the Trump administration in February chastised China for censoring information about the outbreak and keeping U.S. experts from entering the country to help.
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“It was heartbreaking to watch,” said Bao-Ping Zhu, a Chinese American who served in that role, which was funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2007 and 2011. “If someone had been there, public health officials and governments across the world could have moved much faster.”
Zhu and the other sources said the American expert, Dr. Linda Quick, was a trainer of Chinese field epidemiologists who were deployed to the epicenter of outbreaks to help track, investigate and contain diseases. As an American CDC employee, they said, Quick was in an ideal position to be the eyes and ears on the ground for the United States and other countries on the coronavirus outbreak, and might have alerted them to the growing threat weeks earlier.
No other foreign disease experts were embedded to lead the program after Quick left in July, according to the sources. Zhu said an embedded expert can often get word of outbreaks early, after forming close relationships with Chinese counterparts.
Zhu and the other sources said Quick could have provided real-time information to U.S. and other officials around the world during the first weeks of the outbreak, when they said the Chinese government tamped down on the release of information and provided erroneous assessments.
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Quick left amid a bitter U.S. trade dispute with China when she learned her federally funded post, officially known as resident adviser to the U.S. Field Epidemiology Training Program in China, would be discontinued as of September, the sources said. The U.S. CDC said it first learned of a “cluster of 27 cases of pneumonia” of unexplained origin in Wuhan, China, on Dec. 31.
Since then, the outbreak of the disease known as COVID-19 has spread rapidly worldwide, killing more than 13,600 people, infecting more than 317,000. The epidemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems some countries, including Italy, and threatens to do so in the United States and elsewhere.
In a statement to Reuters, the U.S. CDC said the elimination of the adviser position did not hinder Washington’s ability to get information and “had absolutely nothing to do with CDC not learning of cases in China earlier.”
A worker wearing a protective suit stands outside a hotel converted into a quarantine location for travelers from overseas in Beijing, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS / Andy Wong
The agency said its decision not to have a resident adviser “started well before last summer and was due to China’s excellent technical capability and maturity of the program.”
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The CDC said it has assigned two of its Chinese employees as “mentors” to help with the training program. The agency did not respond to questions about the mentors’ specific role or expertise.
“CDC has had a 30-year partnership with China CDC and close collaboration,” the statement said. “We had the right staff to engage China and ability to provide technical assistance were it requested.”
The CDC would not make Quick, who still works for the agency, available for comment.
Asked for comment on Chinese transparency and responsiveness to the outbreak, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred Reuters to remarks by spokesman Geng Shuang on Friday. Geng said the country “has adopted the strictest, most comprehensive, and most thorough prevention and control measures in an open, transparent, and responsible manner, and informed the (World Health Organization) and relevant countries and regions of the latest situation in a timely manner.”
One disease expert told Reuters he was skeptical that the U.S. resident adviser would have been able to get earlier or better information to the Trump administration, given the Chinese government’s suppression of information.
“In the end, based on circumstances in China, it probably wouldn’t have had made a big difference,” Scott McNabb, who was a CDC epidemiologist for 20 years and is now a research professor at Emory University. “The problem was how the Chinese handled it. What should have changed was the Chinese should have acknowledged it earlier and didn’t.”
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Workers in protective suits lead travelers to their transport outside the new China International Exhibition Center converted into a transit center for screening overseas arrivals in Beijing, on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS / Andy Wong
Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)said Friday that his agency learned of the coronavirus in early January, based on Redfield’s conversations with “Chinese colleagues.”
Redfield learned that “this looks to be a novel coronavirus” from Dr. Gao Fu, the head of the China CDC, according to an HHS administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Dr. Redfield always talked to Dr. Gao,” the official said.
HHS and CDC did not make Azar or Redfield available for comment.
Zhu and other sources said U.S. leaders should not have been relying on the China CDC director for alerts and updates. In general, they said, officials in China downplayed the severity of the outbreak in the early weeks and did not acknowledge evidence of person-to-person transmission until Jan. 20.
After the epidemic exploded and China had imposed strict quarantines, Trump administration officials complained that the Chinese had censored information about the outbreak and that the United States had been unable to get American disease experts into the country to help contain the spread.
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Azar told CNN on Feb. 14 that he and CDC director Redfield officially offered to send a CDC team into China on Jan. 6 but still had not received permission for them to enter the country. HHS oversees the CDC.
“Dr. Redfield and I made the offer on January 6th - 36 days ago, 60,000 cases and 1,300 deaths ago,” Azar said. “We made the offer to send the CDC experts in to assist their Chinese colleagues to get to the bottom of key scientific questions like, how transmissible is this disease? What is the severity? What is the incubation period and can there be asymptomatic transmission?”
Days later, the World Health Organization secured permission to send a team that included two U.S. experts. The team visited between Feb. 16th and 24th. By then, China had reported more than 75,000 cases.
On Feb. 25, the first day the CDC told the American public to prepare for an outbreak at home, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China of mishandling the epidemic through its “censorship” of medical professionals and media.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since then, as Trump has labeled the coronavirus the “Chinese virus” - a description the Chinese have condemned as stigmatizing. Last week, the Chinese government announced that Americans from three U.S. news organizations, The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, would be expelled from China.
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The decision to eliminate Quick’s job came as the CDC has scaled back the number of U.S. staffers in China over the last two years, the sources told Reuters.
“We had already withdrawn many technical public health experts,” the same expert said.
The CDC, however, disputed that staffing was a problem or that its information had been limited by the move. “It was not the staffing shortage that limited our ability” it said.
The U.S. CDC team in Beijing now includes three American citizens in permanent roles, an additional American who is temporary and around 10 Chinese nationals, the agency said. Of the Americans, one is an influenza expert with expertise in respiratory disease. Coronavirus is not influenza, though it is a respiratory disease.
The CDC team, aside from Quick, was housed at U.S. Embassy facilities. No American CDC staffer besides Quick was embedded with China’s disease control agency, the sources said.
China in recent weeks has reported a dramatic slowdown in new cases, the result of drastic containment measures including the lockdown of Hubei province, home to 60 million people.
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Nevertheless, the infectious disease experts who spoke with Reuters said, the United States could use people like Quick with contacts on the ground, especially if fears of a second wave of infections materializes.
Thomas R. Frieden, a former director of the CDC, said that if the U.S. resident adviser had still been in China, “it is possible that we would know more today about how this coronavirus is spreading and what works best to stop it.”
Dr. George Conway, a medical epidemiologist who knows Quick and had served as resident advisor between 2012 and 2015, said funding for the position had been tenuous for years because of a perennial debate among U.S health officials over whether China should be paying for funding its own training program.
Yet since the training program was launched in 2001, the sources familiar with it say, it has not only strengthened the ranks of Chinese epidemiologists in the field, but also fostered collegial relationships between public health officials in the two countries.
“We go there as credentialed diplomats and return home as close colleagues and often as friends,” Conway said.
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In 2007, Dr. Robert Fontaine, a CDC epidemiologist and one of the longest serving U.S. officials in the adviser’s position, received China’s highest honor for outstanding contributions to public health due to his contribution as a foreigner in helping to detect and investigate clusters of pneumonia of unknown cause.
But since last year, Frieden and others said, growing tensions between the Trump administration and China’s leadership have apparently damaged the collaboration.
“The message from the administration was, ‘Don’t work with China, they’re our rival,’” Frieden said.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


huffpost--2020-03-22--U.S. 'Not Necessarily' On Same Coronavirus Path As Italy, Top Disease Expert Says

Dr. Anthony Fauci , director for the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said Sunday that the United States is “ not necessarily ” on track to face the same catastrophic conditions as Italy , saying a travel restriction instituted in January may have helped curb the spread of the coronavirus .
The number of reported coronavirus cases and resulting deaths in Italy has soared over the past month .
In total , over 4,000 people have died and there have been more than 53,000 cases reported .
Fauci said on CBS News ’ “ Face The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flights from China may keep the United States from being put under the same pressure as Italy .
Under-resourced , overcrowded hospitals are experiencing triage in the European country , and health care professionals have to prioritize which patients receive care .
“ It is conceivable that once you get so many of these spreads ... they spread exponentially and you can never keep up with this tsunami , and I think that ’ s what unfortunately our colleagues and our dear friends in Italy are facing , ” Fauci said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the case that we will not be that way because we have from the beginning been able to put a bit of a clamp on it , ” he added .
Are we on the same trajectory as Italy in fight against # coronavirus ?
@ NIAIDNews head Dr. Anthony Fauci says `` Not necessarily at all . ''
He notes the country adequately shut out the input of the virus from China early on .
`` You can never keep up with the tsunami , '' he says .
pic.twitter.com/cGAZ00lYTt — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 22 , 2020 New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) said hospitals needed several thousand more ventilators to treat ill patients .
He has also ordered all nonessential workers in New York to stay home until further notice in order to curb the spread of the virus .
State and public health officials in New York have repeatedly called on the Trump administration to use its powers to ramp up the production and purchase of critical medical supplies , but President Donald Trump has reportedly told governors they should get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is terribly suffering , ” he said , “ but the kinds of mitigation issues that are going on right now , the things that we ’ re seeing in this country , this physical separation , at the same time as we ’ re preventing an influx of cases coming in , I think that ’ s going to go a long way to preventing us from becoming in Italy.
” After referring to the coronavirus as a “ hoax ” in February and dismissing its threat to Americans , Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belated response .
In that time , Fauci has become the administration ’ s foremost public health authority , frequently appearing in interviews to report data and clarify misinformation .
On Sunday , for example , Fauci had to answer for unproven claims Trump made about two drugs he said would treat coronavirus .

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Dr. Anthony Fauci, director for the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Sunday that the United States is “not necessarily” on track to face the same catastrophic conditions as Italy, saying a travel restriction instituted in January may have helped curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The number of reported coronavirus cases and resulting deaths in Italy has soared over the past month. In total, over 4,000 people have died and there have been more than 53,000 cases reported.
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Fauci said on CBS News’ “Face The Nation” that the State Department restricting flights from China may keep the United States from being put under the same pressure as Italy. Under-resourced, overcrowded hospitals are experiencing triage in the European country, and health care professionals have to prioritize which patients receive care.
But Fauci also acknowledged that the trajectory of coronavirus in the U.S. is “unpredictable.”
“It is conceivable that once you get so many of these spreads ... they spread exponentially and you can never keep up with this tsunami, and I think that’s what unfortunately our colleagues and our dear friends in Italy are facing,” Fauci said.
“I hope and I think it will be the case that we will not be that way because we have from the beginning been able to put a bit of a clamp on it,” he added.
Are we on the same trajectory as Italy in fight against #coronavirus? @NIAIDNews head Dr. Anthony Fauci says "Not necessarily at all."
He notes the country adequately shut out the input of the virus from China early on. "You can never keep up with the tsunami," he says. pic.twitter.com/cGAZ00lYTt — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 22, 2020
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New York City has become the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in the U.S.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said hospitals needed several thousand more ventilators to treat ill patients. He has also ordered all nonessential workers in New York to stay home until further notice in order to curb the spread of the virus. State and public health officials in New York have repeatedly called on the Trump administration to use its powers to ramp up the production and purchase of critical medical supplies, but President Donald Trump has reportedly told governors they should get the supplies themselves.
Still, Fauci claimed Sunday, New York is not on the same path as Italy.
“New York is terribly suffering,” he said, “but the kinds of mitigation issues that are going on right now, the things that we’re seeing in this country, this physical separation, at the same time as we’re preventing an influx of cases coming in, I think that’s going to go a long way to preventing us from becoming in Italy.”
After referring to the coronavirus as a “hoax” in February and dismissing its threat to Americans, Trump and his administration have tried to coordinate a belated response. In that time, Fauci has become the administration’s foremost public health authority, frequently appearing in interviews to report data and clarify misinformation.
On Sunday, for example, Fauci had to answer for unproven claims Trump made about two drugs he said would treat coronavirus.
“He’s coming [at] it from a hope, layperson’s standpoint; I’m coming [at] it from a scientific standpoint,” Fauci said.
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huffpost--2020-03-22--Hawaii To Quarantine All Arrivals To The State For 14 Days To Slow Coronavirus Spread

HONOLULU ( AP ) — Hawaii ’ s governor has instituted a mandatory 14-day quarantine starting Thursday of all people traveling to the state as part of efforts to fight the spread of coronavirus , Hawaii News Now reported .
The order applies to returning residents as well as visitors .
.
@ GovHawaii says he has signed a 2nd emergency proclamation mandating 14-day quarantine for everyone arriving into Hawaii , including visitors and returning residents .
`` This mandate is the first of its kind in the nation.
” This goes into effect on Thursday , March 26 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dyke ( @ MBVD ) March 22 , 2020 “ We need to come together as a community to fight this virus , ” Gov .
David Ige said at a news conference in the state Capitol .
“ This mandate is the first of its kind in the nation .
We want this action to send the message to visitors and residents alike that we appreciate their love for Hawaii but we are asking them to postpone their visit.
” The state announced 11 new cases of people with coronavirus , bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Hawaii News Now .
Three of them are hospitalized .
The U.S. Army announced a soldier with the 25th Infantry Battalion based in Hawaii tested positive for coronavirus , the first case linked to the Army community in the state .
Hawaii News Now reported .
The soldier is in isolation .

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s governor has instituted a mandatory 14-day quarantine starting Thursday of all people traveling to the state as part of efforts to fight the spread of coronavirus, Hawaii News Now reported.
The order applies to returning residents as well as visitors.
.@GovHawaii says he has signed a 2nd emergency proclamation mandating 14-day quarantine for everyone arriving into Hawaii, including visitors and returning residents. "This mandate is the first of its kind in the nation.” This goes into effect on Thursday, March 26 at 12 am. — Michelle Broder Van Dyke (@MBVD) March 22, 2020
“We need to come together as a community to fight this virus,” Gov. David Ige said at a news conference in the state Capitol. “This mandate is the first of its kind in the nation. We want this action to send the message to visitors and residents alike that we appreciate their love for Hawaii but we are asking them to postpone their visit.”
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The state announced 11 new cases of people with coronavirus, bringing Hawaii’s total to 48, according to Hawaii News Now. Three of them are hospitalized.


huffpost--2020-03-22--Restoration Hardware Sees Itself As 'Critical Infrastructure' During Coronavirus Outbreak

Workers at Restoration Hardware were given a letter to show police this week if they were stopped on their way to work in California .
The letter , obtained by HuffPost , argues that employees of the upscale furniture company can work despite a statewide shelter-in-place order prompted by the coronavirus outbreak because they are part of “ critical infrastructure.
” “ Unless the federal government is ordering furniture , I don ’ t know what they mean , ” said one employee who works in the company ’ s Tracy , California , call center and who spoke on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Newsom ( D ) issued the executive order on Thursday in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Certain critical sectors have been exempted for obvious reasons , such as emergency services , communications , and food and agriculture .
Restoration Hardware sells high-end furniture , bedding , bath fixtures and lighting through its stores and website .
It ’ s not clear how the company is part of what the state of California describes as “ functions critical to public health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security.
” The letter referred any questions from police to Carrie Cassidy , the company ’ s “ chief people officer , ” and David Kolek , its senior counsel .
Kolek did not immediately respond to a call on Saturday afternoon .
Cassidy told HuffPost the company had concluded after a legal review that its customer call center was an essential service .
Cassidy said customers may be wondering what happened to their orders and the company needs to be able to let them know .
Asked if it was essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order during a pandemic , Cassidy said that if the company ’ s orders don ’ t continue to move out of the ports , it could affect the movement of critical items like food and toilet paper .
Any employee who does not believe they are filling an essential role is not required to come into work , Cassidy said .
The letter provided to employees claims that Restoration Hardware ’ s workers fall within two critical sectors : communications and information technology , and transportation and logistics .
While some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have jobs in IT and logistics , the state ’ s explanation of those sectors pertains mostly to entities that provide communications or logistics , like telecommunications or shipping companies .
HuffPost readers : Has your employer told you your work is “ essential ” during the pandemic ?
Tell us about it .
The Restoration Hardware call center employee said their job consists primarily of fielding customer calls about bathroom vanities , bed linens and other home-furnishing products .
The worker said dozens of employees were continuing to work close to one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an environment that the worker described as disconcerting during a pandemic .
The company ’ s website now features a letter from its chief executive , Gary Friedman , explaining that certain stores had been ordered to close , so the company would be closing all of them nationwide through March 27 , “ to do our part in the fight against the continued spread of the coronavirus.
” “ And thank you to the men and women of team RH who have remained ready and willing to serve our guests during one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our lives , ” he wrote .

SOPA Images via Getty Images
Workers at Restoration Hardware were given a letter to show police this week if they were stopped on their way to work in California.
The letter, obtained by HuffPost, argues that employees of the upscale furniture company can work despite a statewide shelter-in-place order prompted by the coronavirus outbreak because they are part of “critical infrastructure.”
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“Unless the federal government is ordering furniture, I don’t know what they mean,” said one employee who works in the company’s Tracy, California, call center and who spoke on condition of anonymity.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued the executive order on Thursday in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Certain critical sectors have been exempted for obvious reasons, such as emergency services, communications, and food and agriculture.
Grocery stores, banks, pharmacies and some other retail locations have been allowed to stay open.
Restoration Hardware sells high-end furniture, bedding, bath fixtures and lighting through its stores and website. It’s not clear how the company is part of what the state of California describes as “functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security.”
The letter referred any questions from police to Carrie Cassidy, the company’s “chief people officer,” and David Kolek, its senior counsel. Kolek did not immediately respond to a call on Saturday afternoon.
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Cassidy told HuffPost the company had concluded after a legal review that its customer call center was an essential service. Cassidy said customers may be wondering what happened to their orders and the company needs to be able to let them know.
Asked if it was essential that a customer receive a Restoration Hardware order during a pandemic, Cassidy said that if the company’s orders don’t continue to move out of the ports, it could affect the movement of critical items like food and toilet paper.
“We have to move those goods so the ports don’t back up,” she said.
Any employee who does not believe they are filling an essential role is not required to come into work, Cassidy said.
The letter provided to employees claims that Restoration Hardware’s workers fall within two critical sectors: communications and information technology, and transportation and logistics. While some of the company’s employees no doubt have jobs in IT and logistics, the state’s explanation of those sectors pertains mostly to entities that provide communications or logistics, like telecommunications or shipping companies.
HuffPost readers: Has your employer told you your work is “essential” during the pandemic? Tell us about it.
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The Restoration Hardware call center employee said their job consists primarily of fielding customer calls about bathroom vanities, bed linens and other home-furnishing products. The worker said dozens of employees were continuing to work close to one another at the call center, in an environment that the worker described as disconcerting during a pandemic.
The call center worker said employees who were uncomfortable coming to work had been using whatever paid sick days or vacation time they had to stay home. “Most people are scared and nervous. This feels like we really just have dollar signs on our heads,” the employee said, adding: “You try to be polite to people when they have questions about a table lamp. It’s gut-wrenching. I feel like I can’t catch my breath after these calls. I just don’t want to be there.”
The company’s website now features a letter from its chief executive, Gary Friedman, explaining that certain stores had been ordered to close, so the company would be closing all of them nationwide through March 27, “to do our part in the fight against the continued spread of the coronavirus.”
He applauded health care and service workers around the country for soldiering on during a pandemic, as well as his own workforce.
“And thank you to the men and women of team RH who have remained ready and willing to serve our guests during one of the most unsettling and unpredictable times of our lives,” he wrote.
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huffpost--2020-03-22--A Medical Worker Describes Terrifying Lung Failure From COVID-19 — Even in His Young Patients

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom .
Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox .
As of Friday , Louisiana was reporting 479 confirmed cases of COVID-19 , one of the highest numbers in the country .
Ten people had died .
The majority of cases are in New Orleans , which now has one confirmed case for every 1,000 residents .
New Orleans had held Mardi Gras celebrations just two weeks before its first patient , with more than a million revelers on its streets .
I spoke to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to ensure that patients are breathing well .
He works in a medium-sized city hospital ’ s intensive care unit .
( We are withholding his name and employer , as he fears retaliation . )
Before the virus came to New Orleans , his days were pretty relaxed , nebulizing patients with asthma , adjusting oxygen tubes that run through the nose or , in the most severe cases , setting up and managing ventilators .
His patients were usually older , with chronic health conditions and bad lungs .
Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running ventilators for the sickest COVID-19 patients .
Many are relatively young , in their 40s and 50s , and have minimal , if any , preexisting conditions in their charts .
He is overwhelmed , stunned by the manifestation of the infection , both its speed and intensity .
The ICU where he works has essentially become a coronavirus unit .
He estimates that his hospital has admitted dozens of confirmed or presumptive coronavirus patients .
About a third have ended up on ventilators .
His hospital had not prepared for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One physician had tried to raise alarms , asking about negative pressure rooms and ventilators .
Most staff concluded that he was overreacting .
“ They thought the media was overhyping it , ” the respiratory therapist told me .
“ In retrospect , he was right to be concerned.
” He spoke to me by phone on Thursday about why , exactly , he has been so alarmed .
His account has been condensed and edited for clarity .
“ Reading about it in the news , I knew it was going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the flu every year so I was thinking : Well , it ’ s probably not that much worse than the flu .
But seeing patients with COVID-19 completely changed my perspective , and it ’ s a lot more frightening.
” “ I have patients in their early 40s and , yeah , I was kind of shocked .
I ’ m seeing people who look relatively healthy with a minimal health history , and they are completely wiped out , like they ’ ve been hit by a truck .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfectly fit , healthy people .
Patients will be on minimal support , on a little bit of oxygen , and then all of a sudden , they go into complete respiratory arrest , shut down and can ’ t breathe at all.
” “ We have an observation unit in the hospital , and we have been admitting patients that had tested positive or are presumptive positive — these are patients that had been in contact with people who were positive .
We go and check vitals on patients every four hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cardiac monitor , so we see that their heart rate has a sudden increase or decrease , or someone goes in and sees that the patient is struggling to breathe or is unresponsive .
That seems to be what happens to a lot of these patients : They suddenly become unresponsive or go into respiratory failure.
” “ It ’ s called acute respiratory distress syndrome , ARDS .
That means the lungs are filled with fluid .
And it ’ s notable for the way the X-ray looks : The entire lung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patients with ARDS are extremely difficult to oxygenate .
It has a really high mortality rate , about 40 % .
The way to manage it is to put a patient on a ventilator .
The additional pressure helps the oxygen go into the bloodstream .
“ Normally , ARDS is something that happens over time as the lungs get more and more inflamed .
But with this virus , it seems like it happens overnight .
When you ’ re healthy , your lung is made up of little balloons .
Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bunch of little leaves , the lung is made of little air sacs that are called the alveoli .
When you breathe in , all of those little air sacs inflate , and they have capillaries in the walls , little blood vessels .
The oxygen gets from the air in the lung into the blood so it can be carried around the body .
“ Typically with ARDS , the lungs become inflamed .
It ’ s like inflammation anywhere : If you have a burn on your arm , the skin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flow .
The body is sending it additional nutrients to heal .
The problem is , when that happens in your lungs , fluid and extra blood starts going to the lungs .
Viruses can injure cells in the walls of the alveoli , so the fluid leaks into the alveoli .
A telltale sign of ARDS in an X-ray is what ’ s called ‘ ground glass opacity , ’ like an old-fashioned ground glass privacy window in a shower .
And lungs look that way because fluid is white on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white ground glass , or sometimes pure white , because the lung is filled with so much fluid , displacing where the air would normally be.
” “ With our coronavirus patients , once they ’ re on ventilators , most need about the highest settings that we can do .
About 90 % oxygen , and 16 of PEEP , positive end-expiratory pressure , which keeps the lung inflated .
This is nearly as high as I ’ ve ever seen .
The level we ’ re at means we are running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience , this severity of ARDS is usually more typical of someone who has a near drowning experience — they have a bunch of dirty water in their lungs — or people who inhale caustic gas .
Especially for it to have such an acute onset like that .
I ’ ve never seen a microorganism or an infectious process cause such acute damage to the lungs so rapidly .
That was what really shocked me.
” “ It first struck me how different it was when I saw my first coronavirus patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holy shit , this is not the flu .
Watching this relatively young guy , gasping for air , pink frothy secretions coming out of his tube and out of his mouth .
The ventilator should have been doing the work of breathing but he was still gasping for air , moving his mouth , moving his body , struggling .
We had to restrain him .
With all the coronavirus patients , we ’ ve had to restrain them .
They really hyperventilate , really struggle to breathe .
When you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breathe and delirious with fever , you don ’ t know when someone is trying to help you , so you ’ ll try to rip the breathing tube out because you feel it is choking you , but you are drowning .
“ When someone has an infection , I ’ m used to seeing the normal colors you ’ d associate with it : greens and yellows .
The coronavirus patients with ARDS have been having a lot of secretions that are actually pink because they ’ re filled with blood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They are essentially drowning in their own blood and fluids because their lungs are so full .
So we ’ re constantly having to suction out the secretions every time we go into their rooms.
” “ Before this , we were all joking .
It ’ s grim humor .
If you are exposed to the virus and test positive and go on quarantine , you get paid .
We were all joking : I want to get the coronavirus because then I get a paid vacation from work .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was like , Holy shit , I do not want to catch this and I don ’ t want anyone I know to catch this .
“ I worked a long stretch of days last week , and I watched it go from this novelty to a serious issue .
We had one or two patients at our hospital , and then five to 10 patients , and then 20 patients .
Every day , the intensity kept ratcheting up .
More patients , and the patients themselves are starting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first started , we all had tons of equipment , tons of supplies , and as we started getting more patients , we started to run out .
They had to ration supplies .
At first we were trying to use one mask per patient .
Then it was just : You get one mask for positive patients , another mask for everyone else .
And now it ’ s just : You get one mask .
“ I work 12-hour shifts .
Right now , we are running about four times the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going .
We have such a large volume of patients , but it ’ s really hard to find enough people to fill all the shifts .
The caregiver-to-patient ratio has gone down , and you can ’ t spend as much time with each patient , you can ’ t adjust the vent settings as aggressively because you ’ re not going into the room as often .
And we ’ re also trying to avoid going into the room as much as possible to reduce infection risk of staff and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are trying to wean down the settings on the ventilator as much as possible , because you don ’ t want someone to be on the ventilator longer than they need to be .
Your risk of mortality increases every day that you spend on a ventilator .
The high pressures from high vent settings is pushing air into the lung and can overinflate those little balloons .
They can pop .
It can destroy the alveoli .
Even if you survive ARDS , although some damage can heal , it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They can get filled up with scar tissue .
ARDS can lead to cognitive decline .
Some people ’ s muscles waste away , and it takes them a long time to recover once they come off the ventilator .
“ There is a very real possibility that we might run out of ICU beds and at that point I don ’ t know what happens if patients get sick and need to be intubated and put on a ventilator .
Is that person going to die because we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
What if it goes on for months and dozens of people die because we don ’ t have the ventilators ?
“ Hopefully we don ’ t get there , but if you only have one ventilator , and you have two patients , you ’ re going to have to go with the one who has a higher likelihood of surviving .
And I ’ m afraid we ’ ll get to that point .
I ’ ve heard that ’ s happening in Italy .
”

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
As of Friday, Louisiana was reporting 479 confirmed cases of COVID-19, one of the highest numbers in the country. Ten people had died. The majority of cases are in New Orleans, which now has one confirmed case for every 1,000 residents. New Orleans had held Mardi Gras celebrations just two weeks before its first patient, with more than a million revelers on its streets.
I spoke to a respiratory therapist there, whose job is to ensure that patients are breathing well. He works in a medium-sized city hospital’s intensive care unit. (We are withholding his name and employer, as he fears retaliation.) Before the virus came to New Orleans, his days were pretty relaxed, nebulizing patients with asthma, adjusting oxygen tubes that run through the nose or, in the most severe cases, setting up and managing ventilators. His patients were usually older, with chronic health conditions and bad lungs.
Since last week, he’s been running ventilators for the sickest COVID-19 patients. Many are relatively young, in their 40s and 50s, and have minimal, if any, preexisting conditions in their charts. He is overwhelmed, stunned by the manifestation of the infection, both its speed and intensity. The ICU where he works has essentially become a coronavirus unit. He estimates that his hospital has admitted dozens of confirmed or presumptive coronavirus patients. About a third have ended up on ventilators.
His hospital had not prepared for this volume before the virus first appeared. One physician had tried to raise alarms, asking about negative pressure rooms and ventilators. Most staff concluded that he was overreacting. “They thought the media was overhyping it,” the respiratory therapist told me. “In retrospect, he was right to be concerned.”
He spoke to me by phone on Thursday about why, exactly, he has been so alarmed. His account has been condensed and edited for clarity.
“Reading about it in the news, I knew it was going to be bad, but we deal with the flu every year so I was thinking: Well, it’s probably not that much worse than the flu. But seeing patients with COVID-19 completely changed my perspective, and it’s a lot more frightening.”
“I have patients in their early 40s and, yeah, I was kind of shocked. I’m seeing people who look relatively healthy with a minimal health history, and they are completely wiped out, like they’ve been hit by a truck. This is knocking out what should be perfectly fit, healthy people. Patients will be on minimal support, on a little bit of oxygen, and then all of a sudden, they go into complete respiratory arrest, shut down and can’t breathe at all.”
“We have an observation unit in the hospital, and we have been admitting patients that had tested positive or are presumptive positive — these are patients that had been in contact with people who were positive. We go and check vitals on patients every four hours, and some are on a continuous cardiac monitor, so we see that their heart rate has a sudden increase or decrease, or someone goes in and sees that the patient is struggling to breathe or is unresponsive. That seems to be what happens to a lot of these patients: They suddenly become unresponsive or go into respiratory failure.”
“It’s called acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS. That means the lungs are filled with fluid. And it’s notable for the way the X-ray looks: The entire lung is basically whited out from fluid. Patients with ARDS are extremely difficult to oxygenate. It has a really high mortality rate, about 40%. The way to manage it is to put a patient on a ventilator. The additional pressure helps the oxygen go into the bloodstream.
“Normally, ARDS is something that happens over time as the lungs get more and more inflamed. But with this virus, it seems like it happens overnight. When you’re healthy, your lung is made up of little balloons. Like a tree is made out of a bunch of little leaves, the lung is made of little air sacs that are called the alveoli. When you breathe in, all of those little air sacs inflate, and they have capillaries in the walls, little blood vessels. The oxygen gets from the air in the lung into the blood so it can be carried around the body.
“Typically with ARDS, the lungs become inflamed. It’s like inflammation anywhere: If you have a burn on your arm, the skin around it turns red from additional blood flow. The body is sending it additional nutrients to heal. The problem is, when that happens in your lungs, fluid and extra blood starts going to the lungs. Viruses can injure cells in the walls of the alveoli, so the fluid leaks into the alveoli. A telltale sign of ARDS in an X-ray is what’s called ‘ground glass opacity,’ like an old-fashioned ground glass privacy window in a shower. And lungs look that way because fluid is white on an X-ray, so the lung looks like white ground glass, or sometimes pure white, because the lung is filled with so much fluid, displacing where the air would normally be.”
“With our coronavirus patients, once they’re on ventilators, most need about the highest settings that we can do. About 90% oxygen, and 16 of PEEP, positive end-expiratory pressure, which keeps the lung inflated. This is nearly as high as I’ve ever seen. The level we’re at means we are running out of options.
“In my experience, this severity of ARDS is usually more typical of someone who has a near drowning experience — they have a bunch of dirty water in their lungs — or people who inhale caustic gas. Especially for it to have such an acute onset like that. I’ve never seen a microorganism or an infectious process cause such acute damage to the lungs so rapidly. That was what really shocked me.”
“It first struck me how different it was when I saw my first coronavirus patient go bad. I was like, Holy shit, this is not the flu. Watching this relatively young guy, gasping for air, pink frothy secretions coming out of his tube and out of his mouth. The ventilator should have been doing the work of breathing but he was still gasping for air, moving his mouth, moving his body, struggling. We had to restrain him. With all the coronavirus patients, we’ve had to restrain them. They really hyperventilate, really struggle to breathe. When you’re in that mindstate of struggling to breathe and delirious with fever, you don’t know when someone is trying to help you, so you’ll try to rip the breathing tube out because you feel it is choking you, but you are drowning.
“When someone has an infection, I’m used to seeing the normal colors you’d associate with it: greens and yellows. The coronavirus patients with ARDS have been having a lot of secretions that are actually pink because they’re filled with blood cells that are leaking into their airways. They are essentially drowning in their own blood and fluids because their lungs are so full. So we’re constantly having to suction out the secretions every time we go into their rooms.”
“Before this, we were all joking. It’s grim humor. If you are exposed to the virus and test positive and go on quarantine, you get paid. We were all joking: I want to get the coronavirus because then I get a paid vacation from work. And once I saw these patients with it, I was like, Holy shit, I do not want to catch this and I don’t want anyone I know to catch this.
“I worked a long stretch of days last week, and I watched it go from this novelty to a serious issue. We had one or two patients at our hospital, and then five to 10 patients, and then 20 patients. Every day, the intensity kept ratcheting up. More patients, and the patients themselves are starting to get sicker and sicker. When it first started, we all had tons of equipment, tons of supplies, and as we started getting more patients, we started to run out. They had to ration supplies. At first we were trying to use one mask per patient. Then it was just: You get one mask for positive patients, another mask for everyone else. And now it’s just: You get one mask.
“I work 12-hour shifts. Right now, we are running about four times the number of ventilators than we normally have going. We have such a large volume of patients, but it’s really hard to find enough people to fill all the shifts. The caregiver-to-patient ratio has gone down, and you can’t spend as much time with each patient, you can’t adjust the vent settings as aggressively because you’re not going into the room as often. And we’re also trying to avoid going into the room as much as possible to reduce infection risk of staff and to conserve personal protective equipment.”
“But we are trying to wean down the settings on the ventilator as much as possible, because you don’t want someone to be on the ventilator longer than they need to be. Your risk of mortality increases every day that you spend on a ventilator. The high pressures from high vent settings is pushing air into the lung and can overinflate those little balloons. They can pop. It can destroy the alveoli. Even if you survive ARDS, although some damage can heal, it can also do long-lasting damage to the lungs. They can get filled up with scar tissue. ARDS can lead to cognitive decline. Some people’s muscles waste away, and it takes them a long time to recover once they come off the ventilator.
“There is a very real possibility that we might run out of ICU beds and at that point I don’t know what happens if patients get sick and need to be intubated and put on a ventilator. Is that person going to die because we don’t have the equipment to keep them alive? What if it goes on for months and dozens of people die because we don’t have the ventilators?
“Hopefully we don’t get there, but if you only have one ventilator, and you have two patients, you’re going to have to go with the one who has a higher likelihood of surviving. And I’m afraid we’ll get to that point. I’ve heard that’s happening in Italy.”


huffpost--2020-05-08--Trump Said He Could Kill Someone On 5th Ave. But How About 50,000 Across America?

ASSOCIATED PRESS President Donald Trump speaks during a Fox News virtual town hall at the Lincoln Memorial on May 3 .
By May 15 , 86,744 Americans had died of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
That works out to a rate of 264 deaths for every million Americans .
In contrast , South Korea and Germany , two countries whose responses have been praised by experts , have rates of 5 per million and 94 per million , respectively .
She and other crisis management and public health experts say that if Trump had quickly scaled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January and instituted contact tracing to isolate those infected — as South Korea and Germany did ― the United States might have kept its death total at a fraction of what it is today .
Jeremy Konyndyk , who worked on the widely praised 2014 Ebola response under Obama , said South Korea clearly had an advantage in combatting this virus after it improved its infectious disease response following the MERS outbreak in 2015 .
“ A South Korea-like performance was probably beyond us in the initial phase , because they had public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t , ” he said .
“ But we could have had as good or better than Germany if we had adopted South Korea ’ s attitude : assuming it was here already or soon would be , and vigorously preparing for that eventuality.
” Pressed for details of that response , however , Trump invariably falls back on the travel restrictions he imposed on Jan. 31 on foreigners who had been in China in the previous two weeks .
“ We banned people from China coming in , ” he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never been done before .
Nothing like that had ever been done before.
” Trump , however , never mentions that his “ ban ” came only after U.S. airlines had already stopped flights from China and dozens of other countries had already imposed similar restrictions .
What ’ s more , Trump ’ s order allowed another 40,000 travelers , primarily U.S. citizens and legal residents , to return from China — for the most part , without being tested or quarantined .
Even more important , experts said , was Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests and to come up with a comprehensive plan to isolate those who tested positive for the virus .
Had that approach been taken and properly executed , the proportionate number of cases and deaths could have been held to what has been accomplished by South Korea and Germany .
At a Feb. 26 press briefing , the first of what became a near-daily event for almost two months , Trump was still claiming that no deaths would take place .
“ When you have 15 people , and the 15 within a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down to close to zero .
That ’ s a pretty good job we ’ ve done , ” he said .
It took another week for Trump to finally acknowledge that the number of deaths would be significantly higher from the coronavirus than from the seasonal flu .
“ And so if we could hold that down , as we ’ re saying , to 100,000 — it ’ s a horrible number , maybe even less — but to 100,000 , ” he said at the March 15 briefing .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we altogether have done a very good job.
” But even in that interview , Trump repeated a line he has used previously about what will constitute success in his mind : the upper bound of the estimate of how many people would have died had no action been taken at all .
“ Because if I didn ’ t , we would have lost two million , two and a half million , maybe more than that , ” he said .

President Donald Trump speaks during a Fox News virtual town hall at the Lincoln Memorial on May 3. ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON ― Donald Trump once bragged he could get away with murdering someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, but can he get away with letting tens of thousands die of the coronavirus on Main Streets across America?
The answer to that question — the actual consequences of a president’s inaction, as opposed to the boast of a candidate — could determine whether he gets another four years in office.
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With the U.S. death toll likely to cross 100,000 before June, the cost in human lives of Trump’s failure to pay attention to his intelligence reports and take aggressive actions to curb the disease is already becoming clear.
By May 15, 86,744 Americans had died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That works out to a rate of 264 deaths for every million Americans. In contrast, South Korea and Germany, two countries whose responses have been praised by experts, have rates of 5 per million and 94 per million, respectively.
“This is malfeasance,” said Juliette Kayyem, who teaches emergency management at Harvard’s Kennedy School and worked in former President Barack Obama’s Department of Homeland Security. “This lays squarely with the White House.”
She and other crisis management and public health experts say that if Trump had quickly scaled up production of coronavirus tests by late January and instituted contact tracing to isolate those infected — as South Korea and Germany did ― the United States might have kept its death total at a fraction of what it is today.
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“This is malfeasance.” - Juliette Kayyem, former Department of Homeland Security official
The German death rate extrapolated across the United States’ larger population would have meant 30,965 COVID-19 fatalities to date. The even lower South Korean rate would have meant just 1,663 deaths.
Jeremy Konyndyk, who worked on the widely praised 2014 Ebola response under Obama, said South Korea clearly had an advantage in combatting this virus after it improved its infectious disease response following the MERS outbreak in 2015. “A South Korea-like performance was probably beyond us in the initial phase, because they had public health capacities in place that we didn’t,” he said. “But we could have had as good or better than Germany if we had adopted South Korea’s attitude: assuming it was here already or soon would be, and vigorously preparing for that eventuality.”
Kayyem said the U.S. number could have been lower still — likely below 20,000 at this point ― if elder care facilities had been immediately safeguarded and New York City been locked down much earlier.
“January, February, March were the squandered months,” she said, adding that consequential decisions were left to governors and mayors who did not have access to the intelligence warnings that Trump began receiving in early January. “You cannot run a national response with an Articles of Confederation mindset.”
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Trump, nevertheless, has repeatedly claimed that his response has been outstanding. “What we’ve done is incredible,” he said last week at a White House meeting with Republican lawmakers. “They’re saying great things about me and the job we’re doing.”
At a Rose Garden news conference Friday, he said: “I’m doing a great job.”
Pressed for details of that response, however, Trump invariably falls back on the travel restrictions he imposed on Jan. 31 on foreigners who had been in China in the previous two weeks. “We banned people from China coming in,” he told the GOP lawmakers. “It had never been done before. Nothing like that had ever been done before.”
Trump, however, never mentions that his “ban” came only after U.S. airlines had already stopped flights from China and dozens of other countries had already imposed similar restrictions. What’s more, Trump’s order allowed another 40,000 travelers, primarily U.S. citizens and legal residents, to return from China — for the most part, without being tested or quarantined.
Even more important, experts said, was Trump’s failure to mass produce functioning tests and to come up with a comprehensive plan to isolate those who tested positive for the virus. Had that approach been taken and properly executed, the proportionate number of cases and deaths could have been held to what has been accomplished by South Korea and Germany.
“We could have detected transmission chains on the West Coast and in New York City much earlier and greatly limited their growth,” Konyndyk said. “That in turn would have meant much lower spread to the rest of the country.”
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Trump instead spent seven full weeks downplaying the danger of the virus, describing it as milder than the seasonal flu, claiming it would go away on its own come April, and even calling concerns about it “a hoax” designed to hurt his reelection prospects.
Over that period, he continually redefined success to allow for ever higher numbers of fatalities.
In his first public statement on the pandemic threat on Jan. 22, Trump claimed he was not worried about the coronavirus because it had infected just “one person” who had come in from China.
At a Feb. 26 press briefing, the first of what became a near-daily event for almost two months, Trump was still claiming that no deaths would take place. “When you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero. That’s a pretty good job we’ve done,” he said.
In a March 9 tweet, Trump wrote: “So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!”
It took another week for Trump to finally acknowledge that the number of deaths would be significantly higher from the coronavirus than from the seasonal flu. “And so if we could hold that down, as we’re saying, to 100,000 — it’s a horrible number, maybe even less — but to 100,000,” he said at the March 15 briefing. “So we have between 100 and 200,000, and we altogether have done a very good job.”
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But on April 20, Trump was claiming the total would be far lower. “We’re going toward 50 or 60,000 people. ... We could end up at 50 to 60.”
“'Better than complete inaction’ is quite the victory lap.” - Jeremy Konyndyk, a disaster response official in the Obama administration
As that figure was exceeded, Trump raised his estimate. During a May 3 Fox News town hall shot at the Lincoln Memorial, Trump said, “I used to say 65,000. Now I’m saying 80 or 90, and it goes up and it goes up rapidly.”
And by the morning of May 8, he had upped his estimate even further. “We’ll be at 100,000, 110,000, higher,” he said during a phone interview with one of his favorite television shows, “Fox & Friends.”
But even in that interview, Trump repeated a line he has used previously about what will constitute success in his mind: the upper bound of the estimate of how many people would have died had no action been taken at all. “Because if I didn’t, we would have lost two million, two and a half million, maybe more than that,” he said.
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“‘Better than complete inaction’ is quite the victory lap,” Konyndyk said.
Victory, though, is exactly what Trump will claim, regardless of the actual facts, said Mac Stipanovich, a longtime Republican political consultant from Florida.
“He did shoot thousands of people in the street,” Stipanovich said, recalling Trump’s boast from the 2016 campaign. “Will he get away with it? I don’t know. He could. It’s going to be a ‘he said, she said’ thing.”
And what Trump has already been saying is that he has saved “millions” with his leadership.


huffpost--2020-05-08--Protesters Demonstrate In Indianapolis After Police Kill 3

Police did not have body camera or dash camera footage of either shooting , but they said both men exchanged gunfire with officers .
The pregnant woman was walking along an expressway ramp when an officer driving to work struck her with his vehicle .
Protesters converged on the first shooting scene Wednesday night , and dozens more gathered Thursday at the City County Building in downtown Indianapolis .
Many wore face masks aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus and at times shouted , “ No justice , no peace.
” Chief Randal Taylor of the Indianapolis Metropolitan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” incidents had shaken the public ’ s trust , but promised that the department would conduct thorough , transparent investigations into all three deaths .
“ We recognize and are saddened that this mutual trust , that we so value , has been eroded over the last 24 hours , but I remain steadfast in our commitment to be transparent with our community , not just today but throughout the entire process as we learn more about what happened last night , ” he said during a news conference .
Protests began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Reed ’ s shooting appeared on Facebook .
The video shows him being pursued by police before incoherent shouting and popping sounds are heard during a later foot chase .
Later , a male voice says , “ I think it ’ s going to be a closed casket , homie , ” an apparent reference to a closed-casket funeral .
Taylor said Thursday that he was “ aware of inappropriate comments made by an IMPD detective that was broadcast live on social media during the incident.
” He said “ immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the detective , who was responding to the shooting and was not present when it happened .
The department has conducted a pilot body camera program but has not finalized which cameras it wants to equip its officers with , Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said during a news conference with Taylor .
Reed ’ s shooting happened around 6 p.m. Wednesday after a pursuit that began after officers , including Taylor , observed someone driving recklessly on Interstate 65 , police said .
Supervisors ordered an end to that pursuit because the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 145 kph ) , it was later spotted by an officer on a city street before being parked .
That officer left his vehicle and Reed then ran , Bailey said .
Reed was shot as he and the officer exchanged gunfire .
Bailey said it appears that a gun found near Reed had been fired at least twice .
The officer who shot Reed is black , The Indianapolis Star reported , and he has been placed on administrative leave .
The car chase and foot chase were both captured on video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point after police stop pursuing him , he is heard laughing and cheering .
“ I ’ m not going to jail today !
” he shouts .
Moments later , he appears unsure where he has driven and says in the recording , “ Please come get me .
Please come get me !
” Reed then appears to park his car and leave it , followed by shouting and popping sounds , at which point he appears to drop his phone or collapse .
More popping sounds are heard .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as police investigated a burglary at an apartment complex .
Police said a man armed with a rifle shot at four responding officers as they approached the apartment about 1:30 a.m. Thursday .
Police said officers returned fire , killing the man , later identified as Rose .
Taylor said the initial investigation suggests that Rose “ may have made the call with the intention of initiating an ambush-style attack on the officers when they arrived.
” He did not rule out the possibility that Reed ’ s earlier fatal police shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but said there was no evidence to confirm that .
“ Our hearts this morning are with the families who lost loved ones during these tragic events .
All of us are trying to make a new normal in an un-normal time .
Incidents like these do not help restore normalcy to our community , ” said Chrystal Ratcliffe , the president of the NAACP branch .

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis police faced protests Thursday after officers fatally shot two men and killed a pregnant pedestrian in three separate incidents just hours apart.
Police did not have body camera or dash camera footage of either shooting, but they said both men exchanged gunfire with officers. The pregnant woman was walking along an expressway ramp when an officer driving to work struck her with his vehicle.
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Events surrounding the first shooting were livestreamed on Facebook, including comments by a responding detective that the police chief called “unacceptable.”
Protesters converged on the first shooting scene Wednesday night, and dozens more gathered Thursday at the City County Building in downtown Indianapolis. Many wore face masks aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus and at times shouted, “No justice, no peace.”
Chief Randal Taylor of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department acknowledged that the “tragic” incidents had shaken the public’s trust, but promised that the department would conduct thorough, transparent investigations into all three deaths.
“We recognize and are saddened that this mutual trust, that we so value, has been eroded over the last 24 hours, but I remain steadfast in our commitment to be transparent with our community, not just today but throughout the entire process as we learn more about what happened last night,” he said during a news conference.
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The Marion County Coroner’s office identified the man killed in the first shooting as Dreasjon Reed, 21, and the man killed later as McHale Rose, 19. Both men were black.
The pregnant woman was identified as Ashlynn Lisby, 23. Lisby was white. Neither she nor her fetus survived.
Protests began after video of the events leading up to Reed’s shooting appeared on Facebook. The video shows him being pursued by police before incoherent shouting and popping sounds are heard during a later foot chase. Later, a male voice says, “I think it’s going to be a closed casket, homie,” an apparent reference to a closed-casket funeral.
Taylor said Thursday that he was “aware of inappropriate comments made by an IMPD detective that was broadcast live on social media during the incident.” He said “immediate disciplinary action” would be pursued against the detective, who was responding to the shooting and was not present when it happened.
The department has conducted a pilot body camera program but has not finalized which cameras it wants to equip its officers with, Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said during a news conference with Taylor.
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Reed’s shooting happened around 6 p.m. Wednesday after a pursuit that began after officers, including Taylor, observed someone driving recklessly on Interstate 65, police said. Supervisors ordered an end to that pursuit because the vehicle was moving close to 90 mph (145 kph), it was later spotted by an officer on a city street before being parked.
That officer left his vehicle and Reed then ran, Bailey said. Reed was shot as he and the officer exchanged gunfire. Bailey said it appears that a gun found near Reed had been fired at least twice. The officer who shot Reed is black, The Indianapolis Star reported, and he has been placed on administrative leave.
The car chase and foot chase were both captured on video, apparently by Reed. At one point after police stop pursuing him, he is heard laughing and cheering. “I’m not going to jail today!” he shouts. Moments later, he appears unsure where he has driven and says in the recording, “Please come get me. Please come get me!”
Reed then appears to park his car and leave it, followed by shouting and popping sounds, at which point he appears to drop his phone or collapse. More popping sounds are heard.
The second shooting happened about eight hours later, as police investigated a burglary at an apartment complex. Police said a man armed with a rifle shot at four responding officers as they approached the apartment about 1:30 a.m. Thursday. Police said officers returned fire, killing the man, later identified as Rose.
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Taylor said the initial investigation suggests that Rose “may have made the call with the intention of initiating an ambush-style attack on the officers when they arrived.” He did not rule out the possibility that Reed’s earlier fatal police shooting may have spurred Rose’s actions, but said there was no evidence to confirm that.
Between those two shootings, Officer Jonathon Henderson, a 22-year veteran, struck Lisby with his vehicle. Police said Henderson requested help and rendered first aid to the woman. Lisby was pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Greater Indianapolis NAACP said in a statement Thursday that it was monitoring information about both fatal police shootings.
“Our hearts this morning are with the families who lost loved ones during these tragic events. All of us are trying to make a new normal in an un-normal time. Incidents like these do not help restore normalcy to our community,” said Chrystal Ratcliffe, the president of the NAACP branch.
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