huffpost--2020-05-19--A Contact Tracing Expert On The Challenges Of Preventing The Coronavirus

Contact tracing involves interviewing people who have tested positive and offering them support services .
It also means identifying anyone else who has come into contact with them and letting those people know they may have been exposed to the virus .
Building programs that do this effectively will take a massive mobilization of resources .
Health experts estimate that the U.S. may need somewhere between 100,000 and 300,000 contact tracers , while New York state plans to hire as many as 17,000 tracers alone .
In order to help train thousands of new contact tracers , Johns Hopkins University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video lessons and tests that range from the basics of coronavirus transmission to the ethics of contact tracing and communication skills for helping people who have tested positive .
HuffPost spoke with Dr. Emily Gurley , an associate scientist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the course instructor , about the challenges of contact tracing in the United States and how we can measure its effectiveness .
But I think that training the contact person is only one part of building trust with a public health intervention .
You also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and make sure people understand what you ’ re doing and why you ’ re doing it .
I don ’ t see it as solely up to one individual contact tracer to be able to create that trust .
The background trust has to be there , and what they ’ re doing is sort of building on that and facilitating it .
Well , if people don ’ t trust what ’ s happening or understand it , then the program won ’ t be as successful .
There is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who have concerns about these programs have concerns for different reasons .
We really need to get at the heart of what people are uncomfortable with and why , and clarify any misinformation that they may have .
I think some people really do have misinformation , and that ’ s part of what fuels their distrust .
I understand why people will have concerns about sharing private information with someone else .
We should all wonder who wants to know this and why — that ’ s a valid question .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the time because there ’ s a need to and we get something out of it .
The same is true for contact tracing ― this is for a medical purpose .
This is how you know when you ’ ve been exposed and you might be infectious , so you need to protect the people that are closest to you , the people that you love .
I can ’ t imagine that anyone would want to unknowingly infect someone else , and this is the only way we have now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know that some people are unhappy with stay-at-home orders or social distancing because of the economic consequences .
Contact tracing is a program that can help us get back to a life that looks more normal .
This is helping us to do that without huge increases in cases and deaths .
Nobody wants to see that .
This is our best chance at reducing the risk as much as we can while trying to restart our lives .
So just training a bunch of people to do contact tracing and hiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job done .
We have to be monitoring indicators of the contact tracing system .
There are very good ways to do this , it ’ s just basic data analysis .
Looking at the proportion of people that you ’ re able to find or when are you able to quarantine contacts , for example .
What proportion of contacts are you able to trace , and how quickly do you find cases after their onset of symptoms ?
All these different timelines can be measured to see how effective the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to improve those timelines and how to make those programs more effective , but I think there ’ s often a misconception that this is an all-or-nothing thing ― well , we have too many cases so we can ’ t do contact tracing ― which is not true .
You may not be able to really make a difference if you don ’ t have enough contact tracers , you may not be able to stop the spread , but you ’ re still reducing the size of the outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this , ideally , is to keep transmission level so that you don ’ t have a big increase in cases .
That ’ s not the case at all , but any contact tracing you do is going to have some effect .
At the end of the day , anything you do is going to have an effect , but is it going to be good enough to keep transmission steady and keep it from going out of control ?
When you open up society , you ’ re giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be really good at shutting those opportunities down or you ’ re going to see more cases .
Absolutely .
People talk a lot about South Korea and contact tracing there .
It was very fast and efficient , but they do things that we don ’ t do .
They have one ID for each person and that ID is used to register your phone , it ’ s used for all your medical records .
It ’ s one ID that ’ s linked to a government system , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ve tested positive and these are all the GPS points from your phone .
They can notify everybody immediately and all that is in one system , all linked up .
We don ’ t have that , and we will never have that .
It ’ s not an all-or-nothing .
The U.S. is already doing contact tracing and they ’ re already stopping infections .
The question is : Are they doing it enough , and are they doing it quickly enough to be able to keep disease transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Without knowing the metrics of how the systems are functioning , without really getting into the weeds about the details in any particular city or state , it ’ s hard to know that .

A woman wearing a face mask uses her phone during the coronavirus pandemic on May 16 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As the United States attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus and some states begin to ease lockdown restrictions, there has been an increased focus on using contact tracing programs to prevent the number of COVID-19 cases from surging.
Contact tracing involves interviewing people who have tested positive and offering them support services. It also means identifying anyone else who has come into contact with them and letting those people know they may have been exposed to the virus. Building programs that do this effectively will take a massive mobilization of resources. Health experts estimate that the U.S. may need somewhere between 100,000 and 300,000 contact tracers, while New York state plans to hire as many as 17,000 tracers alone.
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In order to help train thousands of new contact tracers, Johns Hopkins University has launched a free online course with video lessons and tests that range from the basics of coronavirus transmission to the ethics of contact tracing and communication skills for helping people who have tested positive. HuffPost spoke with Dr. Emily Gurley, an associate scientist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the course instructor, about the challenges of contact tracing in the United States and how we can measure its effectiveness.
One thing that struck me during your course is how much more contact tracing involves than just monitoring cases and recording interactions. How do you train people on building rapport and getting contacts to trust them with their private information?
There’s definitely a training component and we try to start that in the course, giving tips on building rapport and things like active listening. There’s also a lot of training that would happen afterward once you start working with a particular health department, even more on-the-job training.
But I think that training the contact person is only one part of building trust with a public health intervention. You also have to work with the whole community and make sure people understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. I don’t see it as solely up to one individual contact tracer to be able to create that trust. The background trust has to be there, and what they’re doing is sort of building on that and facilitating it.
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There is an increasingly politicized nature of this outbreak where some people have negative attitudes toward social distancing or public health programs. Are you worried about how that’s going to affect contact tracing programs?
Well, if people don’t trust what’s happening or understand it, then the program won’t be as successful. There is no doubt about that. I think that people who have concerns about these programs have concerns for different reasons. We really need to get at the heart of what people are uncomfortable with and why, and clarify any misinformation that they may have. I think some people really do have misinformation, and that’s part of what fuels their distrust.
I understand why people will have concerns about sharing private information with someone else. We should all wonder who wants to know this and why — that’s a valid question. But we share private information with people all the time because there’s a need to and we get something out of it. The same is true for contact tracing ― this is for a medical purpose. This is how you know when you’ve been exposed and you might be infectious, so you need to protect the people that are closest to you, the people that you love. I can’t imagine that anyone would want to unknowingly infect someone else, and this is the only way we have now to help people not do that.
I know that some people are unhappy with stay-at-home orders or social distancing because of the economic consequences. Contact tracing is a program that can help us get back to a life that looks more normal. This is helping us to do that without huge increases in cases and deaths. Nobody wants to see that. This is our best chance at reducing the risk as much as we can while trying to restart our lives.
There’s this huge effort right now to train and scale up the number of contact tracers. What do we need in place to monitor these programs and gauge whether we’re doing a good job? How do we know that this is working?
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So just training a bunch of people to do contact tracing and hiring them is not enough to get the job done. We have to be monitoring indicators of the contact tracing system. There are very good ways to do this, it’s just basic data analysis. Looking at the proportion of people that you’re able to find or when are you able to quarantine contacts, for example. What proportion of contacts are you able to trace, and how quickly do you find cases after their onset of symptoms? All these different timelines can be measured to see how effective the program is.
Systems should be looking at how to improve those timelines and how to make those programs more effective, but I think there’s often a misconception that this is an all-or-nothing thing ― well, we have too many cases so we can’t do contact tracing ― which is not true. You may not be able to really make a difference if you don’t have enough contact tracers, you may not be able to stop the spread, but you’re still reducing the size of the outbreak. What we’re trying to do with this, ideally, is to keep transmission level so that you don’t have a big increase in cases.
I guess there’s a misconception that if we trace enough people, we can outright stop this — but that’s just not the case?
That’s not the case at all, but any contact tracing you do is going to have some effect. At the end of the day, anything you do is going to have an effect, but is it going to be good enough to keep transmission steady and keep it from going out of control? When you open up society, you’re giving the virus new opportunities. You have to be really good at shutting those opportunities down or you’re going to see more cases.
Are there things about the U.S. outbreak that present unique challenges for contact tracing? Other nations have centralized health care systems to log cases and information, for instance.
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Absolutely. People talk a lot about South Korea and contact tracing there. It was very fast and efficient, but they do things that we don’t do. They have one ID for each person and that ID is used to register your phone, it’s used for all your medical records. It’s one ID that’s linked to a government system, and at any given time they can see you’ve tested positive and these are all the GPS points from your phone. They can notify everybody immediately and all that is in one system, all linked up. We don’t have that, and we will never have that.
In the United States, even just getting a test and then getting test results back into one database that’s reported to a state or city can be quite onerous. There are many different steps along the way, and it just means that we’re at a disadvantage from that perspective because it’s slower.
Is there a worry that the U.S. just won’t reach the necessary timely testing levels to work successfully in conjunction with contact tracing?
It’s not an all-or-nothing. The U.S. is already doing contact tracing and they’re already stopping infections. The question is: Are they doing it enough, and are they doing it quickly enough to be able to keep disease transmission level? That’s the question. Without knowing the metrics of how the systems are functioning, without really getting into the weeds about the details in any particular city or state, it’s hard to know that.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.


huffpost--2020-05-19--Self-Checkout Headaches May Be Putting Walmart Workers Too Close To Shoppers

The artificial-intelligence-based system , developed by an Ireland-based company called Everseen , uses cameras to read the movements of customers , and determine if an item was bagged but not scanned at the self-checkout kiosk .
It then alerts a self-checkout host to intervene and help the customer scan whatever was missed .
But that same system has now become a serious concern for some Walmart employees during the coronavirus pandemic .
Emails reviewed by HuffPost show corporate employees discussing the system ’ s errors ― flagging legitimate scans as non-scans , and prompting workers to step in when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even wonder if the system should be shut down in the interests of social distancing , which would take away a backstop against theft .
A Walmart employee familiar with the issue said the system ’ s “ false positives ” have taken on new meaning as grocery workers and other frontline employees have gotten sick and died due to the coronavirus .
The system is used in many but not all Walmart stores .
Walmart and Everseen declined to discuss the system in detail .
But a Walmart spokesperson said employees have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the company does not believe the Everseen program to be a problem based on the data it has evaluated .
The self-checkout kiosks , the spokesperson noted , are cleaned regularly and employees are provided with protective equipment like masks and gloves .
“ Self-checkout is just one of the ways that we ’ ve offered customers solutions to get the items they need safely during this time , in addition to other options like delivery , pickup , touchless payment at the register and shopping online , ” the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option now , as much as ever , and we will continue to work hard to ensure the in-store experience for our customers is safe , affordable and convenient , as well as safe for our associates.
” Many customers prefer using self-checkout during the pandemic , since it would seem to eliminate the need to interact with a cashier , and thereby decrease the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 .
For years , retailers like Walmart have been making a push toward self-checkout in large part to save on labor costs .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s bargain that self-checkout presents for retailers .
Self-checkout allows them to rely on fewer full-time cashiers , but by outsourcing the scanning work to customers they become more vulnerable to “ shrink ” ― the loss of inventory , be it due to theft or honest mistakes .
Preventing shrink is a top concern of Walmart ’ s “ asset protection ” division , which helps oversee the use of Everseen .
On its website , Everseen says it provides “ technological solutions ” for retailers , through an AI platform that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computer vision algorithms and neural networks.
” In layman ’ s speak , the system uses cameras to track the motions of shoppers and their items .
By squaring those motions with what ’ s scanned at the registers , the system can pick up items that weren ’ t scanned but may soon head out the door .
In an ideal scenario , a self-checkout host could then intervene tactfully and check to see if all the items were scanned properly .
The system is meant to head off any inventory loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s also meant to replace the troublesome weight sensors that get tripped up by unexpected items in the bagging area .
Walmart has gradually ramped up the use of Everseen since an initial pilot program .
The Wall Street Journal reported in February that the system was now in more than 2,000 Walmart locations , with the chain getting rid of many of those weight sensors .
The company has more than 5,000 Walmart and Sam ’ s Club stores in the U.S .
According to the Journal , Walmart is developing its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may replace Everseen .
Everseen declined to answer questions related to Walmart and the pandemic , including whether the company knows how frequently its system makes mistakes , saying it does not discuss clients .
A spokesperson said Everseen “ is committed to helping its customers deliver the best possible experience for shoppers and store associates ” amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Walmart has kept its doors open as an essential business selling household staples during the pandemic .
Grocery stores and big-box retailers like Target and Walmart saw a surge in sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. , as Americans stocked up and prepared to hunker down .
Bloomberg reported Tuesday that in the most recent quarter Walmart saw its fastest sales growth in nearly two decades .
Many grocery workers on the front lines of the pandemic have gotten sick since the start of the pandemic , and dozens have passed away .
The United Food and Commercial Workers union , which does not represent Walmart employees , estimated last week that 65 grocery workers had died from COVID-19 and nearly 10,000 had been infected .

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When Walmart began rolling out a new theft-deterrence system three years ago, the retail giant hoped it would improve the self-checkout experience for shoppers while saving the company money.
The artificial-intelligence-based system, developed by an Ireland-based company called Everseen, uses cameras to read the movements of customers, and determine if an item was bagged but not scanned at the self-checkout kiosk. It then alerts a self-checkout host to intervene and help the customer scan whatever was missed.
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But that same system has now become a serious concern for some Walmart employees during the coronavirus pandemic. Emails reviewed by HuffPost show corporate employees discussing the system’s errors ― flagging legitimate scans as non-scans, and prompting workers to step in when they shouldn’t have to. They even wonder if the system should be shut down in the interests of social distancing, which would take away a backstop against theft.
A Walmart employee familiar with the issue said the system’s “false positives” have taken on new meaning as grocery workers and other frontline employees have gotten sick and died due to the coronavirus. The system is used in many but not all Walmart stores.
“It’s no longer just an annoyance,” said the employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. “Now it’s a health issue.”
Walmart and Everseen declined to discuss the system in detail. But a Walmart spokesperson said employees have been addressing safety issues throughout the pandemic, and the company does not believe the Everseen program to be a problem based on the data it has evaluated. The self-checkout kiosks, the spokesperson noted, are cleaned regularly and employees are provided with protective equipment like masks and gloves.
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A lot of other issues might prompt a self-checkout host to step over and help a customer, like a problem with a coupon or debit card, the spokesperson added.
“Self-checkout is just one of the ways that we’ve offered customers solutions to get the items they need safely during this time, in addition to other options like delivery, pickup, touchless payment at the register and shopping online,” the company said. “Customers are using this option now, as much as ever, and we will continue to work hard to ensure the in-store experience for our customers is safe, affordable and convenient, as well as safe for our associates.”
Walmart saw a surge in sales after the pandemic began and shoppers stocked up on household staples. NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people maintain six feet of distance between one another to limit the spread of COVID-19, though such precautions aren’t always possible in a grocery store environment.
Many customers prefer using self-checkout during the pandemic, since it would seem to eliminate the need to interact with a cashier, and thereby decrease the possibility of transmitting COVID-19. For years, retailers like Walmart have been making a push toward self-checkout in large part to save on labor costs.
Advertisement
The use of Everseen highlights the devil’s bargain that self-checkout presents for retailers. Self-checkout allows them to rely on fewer full-time cashiers, but by outsourcing the scanning work to customers they become more vulnerable to “shrink” ― the loss of inventory, be it due to theft or honest mistakes. Preventing shrink is a top concern of Walmart’s “asset protection” division, which helps oversee the use of Everseen.
On its website, Everseen says it provides “technological solutions” for retailers, through an AI platform that “combines advanced machine learning technology with computer vision algorithms and neural networks.” In layman’s speak, the system uses cameras to track the motions of shoppers and their items. By squaring those motions with what’s scanned at the registers, the system can pick up items that weren’t scanned but may soon head out the door.
In an ideal scenario, a self-checkout host could then intervene tactfully and check to see if all the items were scanned properly. The system is meant to head off any inventory loss without a hostile confrontation. It’s also meant to replace the troublesome weight sensors that get tripped up by unexpected items in the bagging area.
“Employees even wonder if the system should be shut down in the interests of social distancing.”
Walmart has gradually ramped up the use of Everseen since an initial pilot program. The Wall Street Journal reported in February that the system was now in more than 2,000 Walmart locations, with the chain getting rid of many of those weight sensors. The company has more than 5,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in the U.S. According to the Journal, Walmart is developing its own version of a similar system that may replace Everseen.
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Everseen declined to answer questions related to Walmart and the pandemic, including whether the company knows how frequently its system makes mistakes, saying it does not discuss clients. A spokesperson said Everseen “is committed to helping its customers deliver the best possible experience for shoppers and store associates” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Self-checkouts continue to be an important innovation, and now bring the especially important benefits of a generally contactless shopping experience, avoiding manned-lanes in busy stores with limited staff available,“ the spokesperson said in an email.
Walmart has kept its doors open as an essential business selling household staples during the pandemic. Grocery stores and big-box retailers like Target and Walmart saw a surge in sales after coronavirus cases began to grow in the U.S., as Americans stocked up and prepared to hunker down. Bloomberg reported Tuesday that in the most recent quarter Walmart saw its fastest sales growth in nearly two decades.
Many grocery workers on the front lines of the pandemic have gotten sick since the start of the pandemic, and dozens have passed away. The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which does not represent Walmart employees, estimated last week that 65 grocery workers had died from COVID-19 and nearly 10,000 had been infected.
Three weeks ago Walmart had to temporarily close a location in Worcester, Massachusetts, where more than 80 employees tested positive for the virus. Local health officials found that employees there weren’t wearing personal protective equipment, according to local news reports. The store reopened days later after a deep cleaning.


huffpost--2020-05-19--Oregon Supreme Court Says Virus Restrictions Still In Force, Halting Lower Court's Order

The Oregon Supreme Court ruled Monday night that Democratic Gov .
Kate Brown ’ s emergency coronavirus restrictions would remain in place for the time being — putting the brakes on a rural judge ’ s decision earlier in the day that had invalidated Brown ’ s executive orders aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 .
Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff had granted a preliminary injunction on more than 20 of Brown ’ s executive orders , including those mandating business closures and banning dine-in services at restaurants , Oregon Public Broadcasting reported .
Shirtcliff said in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions to state residents outweighed the danger posed to them by the coronavirus .
His ruling — which took effect immediately — was issued in response to a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a group of Oregon churches and others that claimed the state ’ s social distancing rules were unconstitutional .
Brown has faced pressure from some Oregonians to reopen the state amid the coronavirus pandemic .
An April poll , however , found that a vast majority of Oregon residents ― more than 80 % ― were in support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protester at the Re-Open Oregon Rally on May 2 , 2020 , in Salem , Oregon .
Demonstrators gathered at the state capitol to demand a reopening of the state and to protest Gov .
Kate Brown 's stay-at-home order which was put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Following the lower court ’ s ruling on Monday , Brown said she would immediately appeal the decision to the state ’ s Supreme Court .
Within hours , the higher court had issued a temporary stay on Shirtcliff ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the churches ’ lawsuit .
“ From the beginning of this crisis , I have worked within my authority , using science and data as my guide , heeding the advice of medical experts .
This strategy has saved lives and protected Oregonians from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic , ” Brown wrote .
“ There are no shortcuts for us to return to life as it was before this pandemic .
Moving too quickly could return Oregon to the early days of this crisis , when we braced for overfilled hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of this crisis , I have worked within my authority , using science and data as my guide , heeding the advice of medical experts .
This strategy has saved lives and protected Oregonians from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic — Governor Kate Brown ( @ OregonGovBrown ) May 19 , 2020 The science remains clear : By physically distancing , wearing face coverings , staying home as much as possible and only gradually reopening our communities , we can save lives and keep Oregonians safe .
— Governor Kate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 Last Wednesday , the Wisconsin Supreme Court tossed out Gov .
Tony Evers ’ ( D ) extension of a statewide stay-at-home order , ruling the Democrat had overstepped his authority in prolonging the restrictions .
A few days later , a federal judge in North Carolina ruled that churches and other religious entities could temporarily hold indoor services , invalidating Gov .
Roy Cooper ’ s ( D ) executive order prohibiting large gatherings inside houses of worship .
Cooper said he wouldn ’ t appeal the ruling .

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The Oregon Supreme Court ruled Monday night that Democratic Gov. Kate Brown’s emergency coronavirus restrictions would remain in place for the time being — putting the brakes on a rural judge’s decision earlier in the day that had invalidated Brown’s executive orders aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.
Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff had granted a preliminary injunction on more than 20 of Brown’s executive orders, including those mandating business closures and banning dine-in services at restaurants, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
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Shirtcliff said in his opinion that the damage caused by such restrictions to state residents outweighed the danger posed to them by the coronavirus.
His ruling — which took effect immediately — was issued in response to a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a group of Oregon churches and others that claimed the state’s social distancing rules were unconstitutional.
Brown has faced pressure from some Oregonians to reopen the state amid the coronavirus pandemic. An April poll, however, found that a vast majority of Oregon residents ― more than 80% ― were in support of Brown’s stay-at-home restrictions.
A protester at the Re-Open Oregon Rally on May 2, 2020, in Salem, Oregon. Demonstrators gathered at the state capitol to demand a reopening of the state and to protest Gov. Kate Brown's stay-at-home order which was put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Getty Images
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Following the lower court’s ruling on Monday, Brown said she would immediately appeal the decision to the state’s Supreme Court. Within hours, the higher court had issued a temporary stay on Shirtcliff’s injunction, pending a review of the churches’ lawsuit.
The governor responded to the Supreme Court’s decision in a statement on Twitter.
“From the beginning of this crisis, I have worked within my authority, using science and data as my guide, heeding the advice of medical experts. This strategy has saved lives and protected Oregonians from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Brown wrote. “There are no shortcuts for us to return to life as it was before this pandemic. Moving too quickly could return Oregon to the early days of this crisis, when we braced for overfilled hospitals and ventilators in short supply.”
From the beginning of this crisis, I have worked within my authority, using science and data as my guide, heeding the advice of medical experts. This strategy has saved lives and protected Oregonians from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic — Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) May 19, 2020
The science remains clear: By physically distancing, wearing face coverings, staying home as much as possible and only gradually reopening our communities, we can save lives and keep Oregonians safe. — Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) May 19, 2020
Judges in other states have heard similar cases in recent weeks.


huffpost--2020-05-19--10 Sneaky Ways Your Coronavirus Anxiety Is Coming Out

1 .
You ’ re feeling more tired than usual , even if you don ’ t do much during the day Rachel Wright , a therapist in New York City , said excess cortisol levels have a negative impact on the quality of rest and ability to fall asleep .
To rectify , do what you can to create a nighttime ritual , stick to a consistent bedtime , avoid screens for an hour or so before bed , and limit caffeine intake in the afternoon so you can support your sleep cycle the best you can .
4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy into hobbies or activities This also includes enthusiasm in how you schedule your time , whether it be on Zoom with or in your daily routine .
For example , “ some people will find themselves inclined to exercise more ― a really healthy way to modulate anxiety ― but simply chalk up their newfound workout intensity to having more time , ” Talley said .
“ Perhaps , but it may also be how they respond to anxiety.
” 5 .
You don ’ t have much interest in anything 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agitation of other mental health conditions It ’ s super-important to keep tabs on your emotions and ensure you have the right resources to support your mental health .
Reach out to your therapist if you have one , and if you don ’ t try chatting with a professional via teletherapy or another support route .
Also , stay on top of any medications you need , journal and take time for yourself .
Do whatever you need to do to prioritize your mind .
8 .
You ’ re getting more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You get angry or have more frequent outbursts “ For people who feel that some important aspect of life is in danger ― like their health or the health of loved ones ― and that they have little control over the outcome , it is not unusual for them to become angry , ” Talley said .
“ The more one is used to feeling in control , the more likely one is to feel anger .
”

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It's been one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Explore HuffPost's Bent Not Broken project to learn how the coronavirus has disrupted our mental health, and how to manage our well-being moving forward.
Anxiety is pretty damn sneaky.
Kevin Gilliland, a clinical psychologist and executive director at i360 in Dallas, said that when he asks patients if they think they have anxiety, the answer is most often “no.”
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In reality, they really do struggle with the mental health problem, he said. Anxiety can be hard to pinpoint or identify because presents in many different ways that may seem unrelated.
This is especially true right now when it comes to the anxiety many of us are feeling due to the coronavirus pandemic. Our lives have been altered in unimaginable and numerous ways, which can trigger the stress hormone cortisol and lead to emotional and physical symptoms.
“Good old fashioned ‘run of the mill’ anxiety is often manifested in ways people don’t associate with anxiety,” said Forrest Talley, a psychologist based in Folsom, California.
Curious how you can spot when that anxiety is coming out? Below, the experts break down the subtle signs to watch for:
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1. You’re feeling more tired than usual, even if you don’t do much during the day
If you haven’t had the same gusto each day that you usually do, you’re not alone. Gilliland noted that energy loss is “the most common and confusing side effect of this pandemic, especially for people that are typically active or frequent exercisers.”
“Even if you’re not a ‘morning person,’ you’re definitely not a night person right now,” Gilliland said. “All this stress and worry starts to drain our battery in a hurry and by mid-afternoon, most people are on a slippery slope to the couch or bed.”
2. You aren’t sleeping well
Perhaps you’re tired all the time and you want to sleep, but no dice. Or maybe you do fall asleep, but the quality isn’t great. Blame it on your anxiety. “Insomnia frequently occurs in anxious people,” Talley said.
Rachel Wright, a therapist in New York City, said excess cortisol levels have a negative impact on the quality of rest and ability to fall asleep. To rectify, do what you can to create a nighttime ritual, stick to a consistent bedtime, avoid screens for an hour or so before bed, and limit caffeine intake in the afternoon so you can support your sleep cycle the best you can.
Fotografía de eLuVe via Getty Images
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3. You startle easily
We all get startled from time to time, but if you’re more jumpy than usual it’s time to take notice. Your body and brain could be on high alert because of anxiety.
If your anxiety is presenting in tension and hypervigilance, “it doesn’t take much of the unexpected to have us come unwound,” Gilliland said. In other words, the mildest of triggers ― think a falling cup or a closing door ― might set off a larger than usual response.
4. You’re channeling lots of energy into hobbies or activities
Are you baking banana bread like we’re on the precipice of a banana famine? Taking 16 free online courses, and learning two new languages? Fostering a dog, growing tomatoes and strawberries, and sanitizing your house from top to bottom?
Excessive enthusiasm or extreme productivity might be your coping mechanism, or how your anxiety is presenting.
“Some may find that they now tend to focus their mental energies on organizing their schedules, or the house or shopping routines,” Talley said. “The ability to gain control through organizing provides a counterbalance to the sense of having little control over that which makes them anxious.”
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This also includes enthusiasm in how you schedule your time, whether it be on Zoom with or in your daily routine. For example, “some people will find themselves inclined to exercise more ― a really healthy way to modulate anxiety ― but simply chalk up their newfound workout intensity to having more time,” Talley said. “Perhaps, but it may also be how they respond to anxiety.”
Make sure you’re taking time to rest and confront anything you may be feeling.
5. You don’t have much interest in anything
On the flip side, “COVID anxiety can appear as apathy,” said Habib Sadeghi, an integrative health expert and author of “The Clarity Cleanse.”
This is because routines that have given us structure and a sense of purpose are now disrupted or gone entirely. “When we can’t follow our routine or do the things that are important to us, like work, go to school, or work out, life can feel meaningless,” Sadeghi said.
The antidote? “It’s important to use this time to create new routines for ourselves and find new interests,” he said. (Just be careful not to fall into the trap mentioned above. There is a balance.)
A loss of interest in some of your favorite activities (which in severe cases is referred to as anhedonia, a symptom of depression) is not out of the ordinary right now ― but it may also be an indicator that you need some professional support.
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6. Intense loneliness
We’re arguably spending more time away from our loved ones than normal, which can increase loneliness. The remedy isn’t necessarily the most ideal option, but it can work: virtual connection. “Be sure you’re reaching out to family and friends over the phone and on live chat video platforms like Zoom,” he said. “Seeing and/or hearing the other person provides a connection that’s more personal and nurturing.”
Talley also attributed this symptom to people withdrawing from their support system due to anxiety. This can have a negative impact on your relationships, which then fuels the cycle further.
Justin Paget via Getty Images
7. You’re experiencing reactivation or agitation of other mental health conditions
Coronavirus-related anxiety might compromise progress that you made on other mental health conditions. Sadeghi advised to watch for the reactivation of post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression in particular.
Even if you don’t have a diagnosed mood disorder or mental illness, those cortisol levels can contribute to mood swings or “feeling like you’re on a mood roller coaster,” Wright said.
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“A sense of despair, or possible mild depressive symptoms, may crop up,” Talley added. “Most people will not realize that the origins of this sadness have their roots in anxiety.”
It’s super-important to keep tabs on your emotions and ensure you have the right resources to support your mental health. Reach out to your therapist if you have one, and if you don’t try chatting with a professional via teletherapy or another support route. Also, stay on top of any medications you need, journal and take time for yourself. Do whatever you need to do to prioritize your mind.
8. You’re getting more headaches or other physical issues
Talley noted that you may see some physical symptoms that may appear to be all over the map. Think headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, ulcers, insomnia, rashes, hand tremors, general restlessness and gastrointestinal issues. Keep an eye out for these, and use them as a “check engine light” of sorts. They could be a sign you’re experiencing major anxiety.
9. You get angry or have more frequent outbursts
“For people who feel that some important aspect of life is in danger ― like their health or the health of loved ones ― and that they have little control over the outcome, it is not unusual for them to become angry,” Talley said. “The more one is used to feeling in control, the more likely one is to feel anger.”
This anger may be directed at yourself or at others. You might be overly self-critical about everything you do at work or pick apart your appearance, for example. Or you may find yourself snapping at your partner or getting frustrated with your parents more than usual.
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“It is not uncommon for anxiety to cause people to become irritable,” Talley said. “Many who are anxious and irritable during this pandemic will attribute the irritability to the restrictions that have been imposed. In truth, their irritability is also due to their anxiety.”
10. You keep forgetting things
Having trouble staying on top of your to-dos? Forget something you were in the middle of? This is a cognitive symptom of anxiety, Talley said. Your brain is overloaded with stress and may struggle to manage tasks and mental checklists that seemed routine before.
“Some may find themselves more absent-minded and forgetful,” he said. “Their brain is overloaded with anxiety that distracts them, and depletes their ability to concentrate.”
If you’re dealing with any of these issues, reach out for professional support. Leaning on your loved ones is great, but there’s nothing wrong with seeking guided help. You don’t need to be at rock bottom to benefit from therapy.
Other than that, make sure you’re keeping up a healthy routine. That includes getting lots of rest, drinking plenty of water, eating well and regularly, moving your body in any way that feels good, and more. As we said, anxiety is pretty damn sneaky ― but you can tame it.


huffpost--2020-05-09--'We’ll Lose Everything’: Many Stuck In Maddening Unemployment Claim Limbo

“ The reality is that all of us are living in this heightened state of anxiety right now , not @ @ @ @ @ contracting COVID but also from the general disruption to our lives , ” Torres said @ @ @ @ @ the additional stressor of job loss and the uncertainty about whether the benefits are going @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s further going to exacerbate the person ’ s level of anxiety.
” @ @ @ @ @ Don ’ t Give Up ’

Illustration by Isabella Carapella / HuffPost; Photo: Getty Images
Elise Rodriguez, 51, has made her own way for as long as she can remember. A single mother of three, she’s worked long hours over the years to put food on the table and to be an example of perseverance and resolve for her kids.
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But like millions of other Americans, the rug was pulled out from under her feet in March when she was laid off from her job as an office manager due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rodriguez was stressed, but she knew the unemployment insurance she was entitled to as a taxpayer would help ease the financial burden.
What she didn’t expect was weeks of mental anguish caused by not knowing if or when she would ever receive those benefits. The hundreds of calls she would make to New York’s labor department each day in hopes of getting an update on her case. An outdated and overwhelmed system without answers. The exhausting oscillation between guarded optimism and hopelessness.
It’s been more than five weeks since Rodriguez filed her initial claim and she said she hasn’t received a dime from New York state.
“I haven’t paid the rent. I haven’t paid the car insurance. I haven’t paid my cellphone bill,” Rodriguez said. “We’re used to being self-sufficient. And I feel like our dignity is really suffering, that sense of self-worth.”
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“It’s very frustrating because you’re at the mercy of another organization and it’s beyond your control,” she added. “I’ve always been very independent. These circumstances, it really breaks you down.”
Elise Rodriguez lost her job as an office manager because of the coronavirus crisis. She said it's been more than five weeks since she filed for unemployment in New York, and still hasn't received a check. Courtesy of Elise Rodriguez
HuffPost heard from dozens of Americans across the country ― from California to Florida, New Jersey to Michigan ― who described the same maddening process of trying to get unemployment benefits during the pandemic.
Many struggled to reach the unemployment offices to get answers. Some emailed local lawmakers for help. All of them are being let down by a system meant to support them at a time when they need it most.
Marco Nieves, a 36-year-old dog groomer in Brooklyn, has likened the busy signals and automated prompts that lead nowhere to “mental abuse.”
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“It’s exhausting,” said Nieves, who’s been out of work for nearly six weeks. “There’s all these walls and errors. ... I feel paralyzed and frightened because there’s no timeline.”
“I’m at the point where I just don’t know what to do,” said Nikia Davis, 33, who was laid off from her job as a clinical assistant at a mental health center in Wisconsin in late March. “There’s a lot of uncertainty and money is just like dwindling.”
System Overload
More than 33 million Americans have filed jobless claims since mid-March, marking a surge of unemployment this country hasn’t seen since the Great Depression. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted in late March boosted benefits by $600 per week, lengthened their duration by 13 weeks, and also extended eligibility to those who don’t typically qualify for traditional unemployment benefits, including people who are self-employed or are seeking part-time jobs.
But some state’s labor departments, which may be understaffed and rely on antiquated software, have struggled to update their systems and respond to the crush of new claims.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Labor Department acknowledged in a statement Friday that “some claimants have faced challenges in getting their claims filed” due to the surge in claims, and noted that each state has its own process for handling requests.
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To help with these issues at state unemployment offices, the Department of Labor has distributed more than $800 million in emergency funding and is providing guidance and support, the spokesperson said.
“States are working tirelessly to identify solutions to improve their capacity to manage the increased volume of claims,” the spokesperson said. All 50 states began distributing the extra $600 last week, the spokesperson said.
Arnashia McCain uses her phone to copy phone numbers posted on the locked doors of a Georgia Department of Labor office, May 7 in Norcross, Georgia. McCain, who said she drives for Lyft and has had her hours cut in her job in retail, has been unable check on the status of her her unemployment claim. ASSOCIATED PRESS
But 19 states are still not sending out benefits to newly eligible categories of workers, according to the Labor Department’s latest figures. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate committee that oversees unemployment insurance, told reporters Thursday that Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia should be on the phone to states every day asking how to help.
“The secretary has a bully pulpit and he sure as heck isn’t using it,” Wyden said.
Along with unemployment benefits, the CARES Act devoted $290 billion for federal economic stimulus checks to be paid out directly to households. Depending on their income, Americans could receive up to $1,200 as well as an additional $500 per dependent child under 17 years old.
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Americans started to receive stimulus payments in mid-April, which have reached 130 million households so far. Rodriguez said she finally received hers this week. She isn’t sure whether to pay bills with it now or stow it away in case she needs it for provisions in the future.
“I don’t know how much longer I’m going to have wait for unemployment,” she said. “Do I hoard it because I don’t know what’s going to happen?”
Like Rodriguez, who was essentially living paycheck-to-paycheck before the pandemic, Jessica Rummage in Kentucky has nearly depleted her savings while waiting for her unemployment benefits to come through.
Rummage, 39, said she’s rarely able to connect with anyone from her state’s labor department, but receives conflicting information when she does. She hasn’t had any income since she was laid off from her job at the end of March.
“The anxiety in our home is through the roof,” she said. “We’re rationing things like bread and eggs and pasta and toilet paper.”
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Rummage has been living with her 18-year-old son, who was also laid off from his job amid the pandemic, and her parents. She worries about her dad, who is 66 years old, diabetic and suffering from prostate cancer.
“He has hospital bills,” Rummage said. “Time is running out for us. Our savings can only go so far.”
“I had to go get SNAP benefits so we don’t starve,” she added, referring to the federal nutritional assistance program.
‘Heightened State Of Anxiety’
Jesse Baylis, a 34-year-old living on Long Island, said the stress of losing his retail job, receiving no unemployment checks and being late on bills all while homeschooling his two young sons has been monumental.
“My mental health has taken a huge turn for the worse,” he said. “It wouldn’t be so hard if I would actually get the unemployment I was approved for. I feel as if I am at the edge of a ledge and I’m never going to take that step back and be able to provide for my family.”
The mental health impacts on a person experiencing job loss and uncertainty over unemployment benefits could be significant, said Dr. Felix Torres, special adviser to the American Psychiatric Association on the United Nations.
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“The reality is that all of us are living in this heightened state of anxiety right now, not only from the fear of contracting COVID but also from the general disruption to our lives,” Torres said. “Add to that the additional stressor of job loss and the uncertainty about whether the benefits are going to come in, then that’s further going to exacerbate the person’s level of anxiety.”
A sign at the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission offices in Oklahoma City states the offices are closed due to the coronavirus in an April photo. ASSOCIATED PRESS
People should be mindful of the symptoms of depression and anxiety, which can include irritability, feelings of sadness or detachment, poor appetite and trouble falling asleep.
“We need to look at those symptoms, which can surface rather quickly or that can sort of be underneath the surface and insidiously pop back up,” Torres said.
Michaela Gates, 40, in Oklahoma said she hasn’t been able to sleep more than two or three hours a night since being laid off from her job in early March. Her husband, who works in the oil and gas industry, has been furloughed.
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She struggled to make progress with her claim despite repeated calls to the unemployment office, and tweets and emails to local representatives and labor department officials.
“I’m worried that we won’t be able to keep a roof over our children’s head and that we will lose everything,” said Gates, who has six children ― four of whom still live at home.
“We have jumped through hoops for weeks,” she said Wednesday. “It’s mentally draining.”
Facebook Groups Offer Support
Desperate for answers and support, people have turned to Facebook groups.
Dial 9 to go straight to an operator, one person advises. Call as soon as the labor department opens, another recommends. Call your local representatives. Tweet at the unemployment office. The list of advice goes on.
Several people told HuffPost that both the tips and the sense of camaraderie they’ve received from the groups has been helpful. But the desperation from some group members can be worrisome and upsetting.
“I swear to GOD that I’m going to snap! They don’t release payments. They don’t answer email. It’s impossible to even get into the queue because the system disconnects your call,” wrote one Facebook user in New York. “I’m almost out of money.”
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Hew Kowalewski, a furloughed employee of Disney World, stands next to window of his home April 13, in Kissimmee, Florida. Many of Florida's jobless have reported problems filing applications for unemployment benefits. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Within minutes of waking up this morning out of nowhere I just broke down and started crying,” wrote a Facebook user from Florida. “I am so overwhelmed by this whole thing. I am a single income household and besides the stimulus I haven’t seen a dime. ... I’m usually able to stay strong minded but I feel myself breaking.”
What’s more, some members of the Facebook groups worry they’re being preyed upon by scammers. One woman in New York told HuffPost she believes someone called her pretending to be from the labor department. The caller referenced her comment in the Facebook group and then asked for her social security number.
Actual Labor Department representatives will verify a few things to prove their legitimacy, including the date you filed your unemployment claim and the type of claim you filed. But the woman said the caller never did that.
‘Just Keep Going And Don’t Give Up’
Claimants who have received their benefits after weeks of waiting compare it to winning the lottery. For seemingly no rhyme or reason, after endless phone calls and website refreshes, their claim is suddenly approved.
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On Thursday morning, Gates was pleasantly surprised to find a portion of her pandemic assistance had finally been approved in the system. She’s hopeful the money will be available in her bank account within the next few days. But she worries it won’t be, given everything she’s been through.
Her focus now is on all the other people who are still desperately seeking answers. Her sleepless nights are often spent trying to find resources for other people going through the same thing.
“You just keep going and don’t give up,” Gates said. “I was not going to give up and I’m still not going to give up until I figure out if everybody here is getting what they need.”
Arthur Delaney contributed reporting.
If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources.


huffpost--2020-05-19--At Least 100 Catholic Schools Across The Country May Not Reopen This Fall

COVID-19 has thrown pre-K , K-12 , and higher education into a state of financial disarray .
The pandemic has been particularly catastrophic for private Catholic schools : At least 100 across the country are expected not to reopen in the fall , according to the National Catholic Education Association .
The reasons for the devastation are threefold : Families who have lost jobs are unenrolling , for fear that they won ’ t be able to afford tuition ; schools have had to cancel spring fundraisers that help keep the institutions afloat ; and without in-person services , churches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major source of education funding — have taken a hit .
At All Saints , tuition only covered 52 % of the school ’ s expenses this year , while tuition covers about 80 % of a typical Catholic school ’ s expenses , according to Louis P. DeAngelo , the Wilmington Diocese superintendent of schools .
About 50 % of students receive financial assistance at All Saints , where the student body has a substantial immigrant population .
Tuition is $ 6,400 a year for first through eighth graders , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preschool .
“ The Catholic schools that serve wealthier clientele will probably be fine , but the ones that serve the working class and the poor , it will be difficult , ” said Mears .
“ If this trend continues , I worry there won ’ t be Catholic school options , especially for the middle class and poor.
” Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has worked to give private schools a bigger share of coronavirus relief funding , but public school groups say her action violates the intent of the Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and directly takes funding away from low-income students in public schools .
While private schools around the country say they ’ re struggling , public schools ― which serve 90 % of the nation ’ s children ― also anticipate having to lay off hundreds of thousands of teachers .
The Catholic school closures announced so far are taking place all over the country , from St. Louis to Houston to Red Bluff , California .
The Diocese of Camden , New Jersey , has announced that five of its schools will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school in Maryland , which boasts notable alumnae like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , also announced that it would be closing its doors .
The closure of All Saints is symptomatic of larger issues .
The Wilmington Diocese had already announced the closure of two other schools before the pandemic hit .
All Saints itself opened after three schools in the area had to merge .
In recent years , the school seemed to have turned a corner , steadily getting enrollment rates on an upward trajectory .
Having to explain the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rather than in person , felt like salt in an already painful wound .
Many parents in the school community had lost their jobs and were facing personal and financial upheaval .
This only caused more tumult .
“ We couldn ’ t be together .
We haven ’ t been together .
So I think it ’ s very raw , ” said Muir over the phone , choking back tears .
“ We ’ re never going to do school again together .
We ’ re never going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called to be together.
” Around half of the schools ’ approximately 200 students have already been placed in other nearby Catholic schools .
While the students ’ new schools are making efforts to make sure they will be able to receive the same amount of financial assistance , it ’ s not guaranteed , said DeAngelo .
All Saints ’ current students will be finishing the academic year remotely .
“ The real concern is the people who say they ’ re coming next year , who registered for the schools .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come is the big unknown , ” said Steven Cheeseman , superintendent of schools for the diocese in Bridgeport , Connecticut , which announced in April that it won ’ t be able to reopen one of its schools , after the pandemic hindered its ability to recruit students .
One school in Allentown , Pennsylvania , had already been suffering from declining enrollment and sustaining the school was increasingly cutting into its parish ’ s savings .
Then the coronavirus hit , and “ weekly collections over the past eight weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school , ” Matt Kerr , secretary for external affairs for the Diocese of Allentown , said in an e-mail .
The diocese announced the closure in April .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Things were looking bright for All Saints Catholic School in Wilmington, Delaware. Even as enrollment in Catholic schools was dropping nationwide, its student population had grown 6% this year. Its finances were looking up too: Fundraising increased 368% in the past four years.
Then the unexpected happened: a pandemic hit.
The school’s finances were suddenly in shambles. The foundations it relied on for financial support refocused their spending on serving families’ immediate needs, like hunger. The school’s meticulous plan for growth and sustainability unraveled.
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In late April, All Saints announced that it wouldn’t be able to reopen next year, forcing its approximately 200 students to find other schools.
COVID-19 has thrown pre-K, K-12, and higher education into a state of financial disarray. The pandemic has been particularly catastrophic for private Catholic schools: At least 100 across the country are expected not to reopen in the fall, according to the National Catholic Education Association.
“There simply isn’t money,” Kathy Mears, interim president and CEO of the group, told HuffPost.
The reasons for the devastation are threefold: Families who have lost jobs are unenrolling, for fear that they won’t be able to afford tuition; schools have had to cancel spring fundraisers that help keep the institutions afloat; and without in-person services, churches’ offertory collections — which typically provide a major source of education funding — have taken a hit.
Foundations that help Catholic schools are also shifting their spending priorities amid widespread unemployment and financial devastation.
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Like so much of the impact of COVID-19, the effects of these school closures will be stratified by class.
At All Saints, tuition only covered 52% of the school’s expenses this year, while tuition covers about 80% of a typical Catholic school’s expenses, according to Louis P. DeAngelo, the Wilmington Diocese superintendent of schools. About 50% of students receive financial assistance at All Saints, where the student body has a substantial immigrant population. Tuition is $6,400 a year for first through eighth graders, and $6,100 for students in kindergarten and preschool.
“The Catholic schools that serve wealthier clientele will probably be fine, but the ones that serve the working class and the poor, it will be difficult,” said Mears. “If this trend continues, I worry there won’t be Catholic school options, especially for the middle class and poor.”
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has worked to give private schools a bigger share of coronavirus relief funding, but public school groups say her action violates the intent of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and directly takes funding away from low-income students in public schools. While private schools around the country say they’re struggling, public schools ― which serve 90% of the nation’s children ― also anticipate having to lay off hundreds of thousands of teachers.
The Catholic school closures announced so far are taking place all over the country, from St. Louis to Houston to Red Bluff, California. The Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, has announced that five of its schools will not be reopening. The oldest all-girls Catholic school in Maryland, which boasts notable alumnae like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also announced that it would be closing its doors.
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In a call with Catholic leaders last month, President Donald Trump promised to help these schools, calling himself the “best [president] in the history of the Catholic Church,” according to the Catholic news website Crux.
But so far, Mears estimated that the closures will impact at least 50,000 students.
“I know we’re important to the country,” said Mears, noting that a majority of sitting Supreme Court justices attended Catholic or Jesuit schools as children, as did Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “We hope some schools will reopen, but history tells us most will not.”
Enrollment in Catholic schools has been on a steep decline for decades. In 1965, there were around 13,000 Catholic schools around the country, Mears said. Now the number sits just over 6,000.
The closure of All Saints is symptomatic of larger issues. The Wilmington Diocese had already announced the closure of two other schools before the pandemic hit. All Saints itself opened after three schools in the area had to merge. In recent years, the school seemed to have turned a corner, steadily getting enrollment rates on an upward trajectory.
When the school building closed on March 13 and teachers and families shifted to remote learning, they had no expectation they would never be able to return. Mary Elizabeth Muir, the school’s principal, said she expected only a two-week break.
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But it became apparent as the state stay-out-home order turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months that the school was no longer sustainable. The boards and leaders that oversee the school came to a painful conclusion.
“We weren’t able to create a budget for next year, not one that was viable,” said Muir.
Having to explain the situation to teachers and families over video chat, rather than in person, felt like salt in an already painful wound. Many parents in the school community had lost their jobs and were facing personal and financial upheaval. This only caused more tumult.
“We couldn’t be together. We haven’t been together. So I think it’s very raw,” said Muir over the phone, choking back tears. “We’re never going to do school again together. We’re never going to be together in the way that we were called to be together.”
Jessica Dzielak is being impacted by the closure of All Saints in two ways: She’s been a preschool teacher there for two years, and her daughter is also one of the preschool’s students.
She told HuffPost that she was in a “fog” after she learned of the closure on a Zoom call. Her children could sense her unhappiness, and would discuss how mommy had to find a new job.
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“The staff is the best staff I’ve ever worked with,” said Dzielak, who has already found a new position at another local Catholic school, which her daughter will also attend. “It was devastating.”
Around half of the schools’ approximately 200 students have already been placed in other nearby Catholic schools. While the students’ new schools are making efforts to make sure they will be able to receive the same amount of financial assistance, it’s not guaranteed, said DeAngelo. All Saints’ current students will be finishing the academic year remotely.
Around the country, it’s a similar story in different locations, with a sense that the worst may be yet to come.
“The real concern is the people who say they’re coming next year, who registered for the schools. Are they actually going to be able to come is the big unknown,” said Steven Cheeseman, superintendent of schools for the diocese in Bridgeport, Connecticut, which announced in April that it won’t be able to reopen one of its schools, after the pandemic hindered its ability to recruit students.
One school in Allentown, Pennsylvania, had already been suffering from declining enrollment and sustaining the school was increasingly cutting into its parish’s savings. Then the coronavirus hit, and “weekly collections over the past eight weeks have been far less than could support the school,” Matt Kerr, secretary for external affairs for the Diocese of Allentown, said in an e-mail. The diocese announced the closure in April.
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Mears speculated that 100 closed schools is likely an underestimate, and that the number of permanent closures will grow in coming months.
“I would hate for our country to lose a great source of education,” she said.


huffpost--2020-05-19--Randy Rainbow Channels 'Fiddler On The Roof' To Rip Donald Trump

Randy Rainbow , who has a tradition of mocking President Donald Trump , just tweaked the song “ Tradition ” @ @ @ @ @ ( Watch the video above . )
The parody of the song from “ Fiddler @ @ @ @ @ called “ Distraction , ” which the comedian says is the president ’ s strategy @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Whether it ’ s “ Obamagate , ” hydroxychloroquine or false claims about @ @ @ @ @ has fiddled around enough to spark more Broadway-inspired satire from Rainbow .
“ He tries @ @ @ @ @ stupefies and stalls/How long ’ til he just starts/ Posting pictures of his balls , @ @ @ @ @

Randy Rainbow, who has a tradition of mocking President Donald Trump, just tweaked the song “Tradition” to bash him again. (Watch the video above.)
The parody of the song from “Fiddler on the Roof” is called “Distraction,” which the comedian says is the president’s strategy while he mishandles the coronavirus pandemic.
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Whether it’s “Obamagate,” hydroxychloroquine or false claims about COVID-19 testing, the president has fiddled around enough to spark more Broadway-inspired satire from Rainbow.
“He tries his best to baffle us/He stupefies and stalls/How long ’til he just starts/ Posting pictures of his balls,” the comedian sings.
Distraction!


huffpost--2020-03-02--How To Stop Touching Your Face (Or At Least Do It Less Frequently)

Keep Track Of Your Face-Touching Habits “ Most people touch their faces mindlessly , ” explained Paul Hokemeyer , a New York-based psychotherapist and author of “ Fragile Power.
” “ They rub their eyes or grab their lips when they ’ re confused .
They bite their fingernails when they ’ re nervous .
The central feature of these actions is that they occur below the level of our conscious mind and evolve from the most primitive part of our biology known as the limbic system.
” Try To Touch Something Else Wearing glasses is a way to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands .
And it tends to be less comfortable to lean on your face when you ’ re wearing glasses .
At least one study has shown that women are less likely to touch their faces when wearing makeup as well .
If nail-biting is your issue , consider using a bad-tasting polish to make yourself stop .
“ The vagal system facilitates the body ’ s rest , repair and digest functions , ” she said .
“ You can stimulate the vagus nerve using this technique : Make sure your torso @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― so that you can breathe deeply into your abdomen .
Breathe in through your nose for four to five seconds , allowing your belly to expand while your chest remains quiet , then exhale for four to five seconds , allowing your belly to relax.
” “ One main way to reverse the habit and make you more aware and accountable is the ‘ hand-stretch , ’ ” DePompo explained .
“ Once you catch yourself face-touching , the rule would be you extend all the fingers of that hand for no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three minutes .
It will be uncomfortable but not harmful .
This will train you to be VERY aware of your hands and will in a short time keep your hands at bay.
” Be Realistic About Your Goal Focus On What You Can Control More Easily “ I think it ’ s probably more important to keep your hands clean than to stop touching your face , ” said Brad Stulberg , a performance coach and researcher .
“ It ’ s much easier to remember to wash your hands since you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― like going to the bathroom and eating , which most people do a few times a day .
If your hands are clean , then touching your face isn ’ t such a big deal.
” “ This is a good time for people to think about why they are so scared of coronavirus and adopt healthy behaviors that might keep them healthy in other areas of their life , ” Stulberg said .
” It ’ s not that this doesn ’ t have the potential to be serious , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand-washing there ’ s not much anyone can do .
So channel some of that nervous energy into the behavior changes that we KNOW help keep you healthy and alive for a long time .
”

PeopleImages via Getty Images Experts say there are habit-breaking ways to stop touching your face for good.
As the coronavirus outbreak nears pandemic levels, experts have been sharing the same advice for individuals looking to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19: Wash your hands and don’t touch your face.
While the former is simple enough, the latter poses more of a challenge. Basically, it’s pretty damn hard to stop touching your face.
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After a day of effort, I’m sad to report that the odds of me not constantly touching my face going forward are extremely low. — McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) February 28, 2020
I have touched my face more tonight than I have in my entire life. My face skin CRIES OUT to be touched. It’s like The Telltale Face over here. — Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) March 2, 2020
CDC: don’t touch your face
Me:
pic.twitter.com/rWByMxsDJ8 — Brooke Rogers 🌻 (@bkerogers) February 28, 2020
A small 2015 study highlighted the frightening frequency of hand-to-face contact in individuals. Researchers filmed 26 medical students at a lecture and counted how many times they touched their faces. On average, each of the students touched their face 23 times in one hour ― with 44% fo those contacts involving a mucous membrane like the mouth, nose or eyes.
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Touching your face, especially around your mucous membranes, makes it much easier for viruses and bacteria to enter your body, infect you and turn you into a host to further spread disease.
“It also causes acne, so break the habit for beauty. And someone touching their face incessantly appears less confident, attentive, and present than someone who is not,” said Sanam Hafeez, a psychologist in New York.
To help people cut back on their face-touching, HuffPost spoke to Hafeez and other experts to identify some techniques that may help with the seemingly impossible task.
Keep Track Of Your Face-Touching Habits
The first step to breaking or altering a habit is to develop a strong awareness of when and why you engage in this behavior. For something like nail-biting or face-touching, it can be an impulsive thing done out of boredom, anxiety or a sensory need.
“Most people touch their faces mindlessly,” explained Paul Hokemeyer, a New York-based psychotherapist and author of “Fragile Power.” “They rub their eyes or grab their lips when they’re confused. They bite their fingernails when they’re nervous. The central feature of these actions is that they occur below the level of our conscious mind and evolve from the most primitive part of our biology known as the limbic system.”
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Try to become hyperaware of your habits and identify your triggers in order to insert a hard stop between the motivation and the action.
“It is key to spend a day noting time and place for your touching your face,” said Paul DePompo, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Southern California. “This may be when you are reading, driving, zoning out, under stress, etc.”
Try To Touch Something Else
“Free hands can be roaming hands,” Hafeez noted. “Because we tend to touch our faces when we’re doing things like reading or watching TV, we should try to occupy our hands with something else when we’re engaging in these activities.”
The best way to break a habit is to replace it with something incompatible, said Denise Cummins, a cognitive scientist who researches thinking and decision-making.
“If you typically lean your face on your hand, try to develop the habit of holding something in your hand ― such as a ‘worry ball’ ― or crossing your hands over your forearms,” Cummins said. “These actions are incompatible with leaning your face on your hand.”
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Substitute one soothing behavior (touching your face) with another (squeezing a stress ball). DePompo recommended placing fidget spinners, small plush toys, and other “squeezy” objects in the places where you do the most face-touching, like your car, nightstand, bathroom sink and desk. Be sure to regularly and properly disinfect these objects as well.
Maskot via Getty Images Take note of your habits and triggers is a key step.
Make It Uncomfortable
Another way to break the habit of touching your face is to make it uncomfortable.
“If you tend to lean your face on your hand when you’re reading things on your computer, try wearing wool or nubby fingerless gloves that feel unpleasant when held against the delicate skin on your face,” Cummins suggested.
Although gloves can become contaminated over time and should be washed, researchers believe viruses don’t live as long on soft materials, compared to hard surfaces.
Wearing glasses is a way to create a barrier between your eyes and your hands. And it tends to be less comfortable to lean on your face when you’re wearing glasses. At least one study has shown that women are less likely to touch their faces when wearing makeup as well. If nail-biting is your issue, consider using a bad-tasting polish to make yourself stop.
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Put Up Reminders
It’s easy to forget that you’re trying to kick a habit as you go through your day, but setting little reminders may help boost your awareness and efforts.
“Cognitive-behavioral techniques such as a post-it on your computer screen saying ‘DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE’ and having colleagues remind and even penalize each other is another way to reduce face touching,” Hafeez said. You can also set periodic phone alarms or calendar alerts.
Practice Mindfulness
Face-touching is often a nervous habit related to anxiety.
“When we’re anxious, we tend to touch ourselves to soothe ourselves. We put our hands on our face, run our hands through our hair, cross our arms, and so on,” Cummins noted.
Practicing mindfulness habits like intentional breathing and meditation can help you cut down on these behaviors and manage anxiety in general. Cummins is a proponent of “vagal breathing,” an exercise which can stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain stem down the abdomen.
“The vagal system facilitates the body’s rest, repair and digest functions,” she said. “You can stimulate the vagus nerve using this technique: Make sure your torso is straight and open ― no slouching ― so that you can breathe deeply into your abdomen. Breathe in through your nose for four to five seconds, allowing your belly to expand while your chest remains quiet, then exhale for four to five seconds, allowing your belly to relax.”
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This exercise can help reduce stress responses and increase higher level thinking and emotion regulation, thus reducing the emotional triggers that cause many people to frequently touch their faces.
Use Rewards Or Punishments
If you need a higher level of intervention, rewards and punishments can incentivize you to take control of your face-touching habits.
“One main way to reverse the habit and make you more aware and accountable is the ‘hand-stretch,’” DePompo explained. “Once you catch yourself face-touching, the rule would be you extend all the fingers of that hand for no less than 2 and a half to three minutes. It will be uncomfortable but not harmful. This will train you to be VERY aware of your hands and will in a short time keep your hands at bay.”
Hokemeyer suggested giving yourself immediate rewards for incremental changes you successfully implement.
“Allow yourself to binge on a television show, eat a bowl of popcorn or buy a new shade of fingernail polish,” he said. “Nothing brings change to old behaviors like new rewards.”
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He also touted the value of accountability buddies like a friend, colleague or partner. “Ask them to bring your face-touching behaviors to your attention when you do it,” he said.
Still, you don’t want to let it harm your relationship with that person. “Certainly the best way to do this is with a degree of humor and lightheartedness,” Hokemeyer added.
mihailomilovanovic via Getty Images Don't expect to be able to quit cold turkey.
Be Realistic About Your Goal
Don’t be hard on yourself if you still continue to touch your face during the day.
“It took years to form so expecting to quit cold turkey is not only impractical, it sets us up for failure,” Hafeez said. “Expect to reduce it over time. If you touch your face five times an hour, make it two or three ... until it becomes two to three times a day.”
Hokemeyer highlighted the importance of making incremental shifts, rather than quick, radical behavioral changes.
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“You’ll need to honor the fact that changing a habit takes time and practice. You’ll be amazed and hopefully amused at how deeply embedded and persistent these reactions are in your psyche,” he said. “You’ll also find that changing can be exhausting and frustrating. So easy does it. These behaviors didn’t evolve over night and they won’t be changed overnight either.”
Focus On What You Can Control More Easily
Because changing your face-touching habits requires time and effort, it’s important to also focus on the protective measures you can easily take today.
“I think it’s probably more important to keep your hands clean than to stop touching your face,” said Brad Stulberg, a performance coach and researcher. “It’s much easier to remember to wash your hands since you can pair that with certain daily activities ― like going to the bathroom and eating, which most people do a few times a day. If your hands are clean, then touching your face isn’t such a big deal.”
He also emphasized other healthy behaviors that will benefit individuals and their communities amid a global health crisis. These include getting a flu shot, exercising, eating healthy foods, not smoking and getting seven to nine hours of sleep at night.
“This is a good time for people to think about why they are so scared of coronavirus and adopt healthy behaviors that might keep them healthy in other areas of their life,” Stulberg said. ”It’s not that this doesn’t have the potential to be serious, it’s just that outside of regular hand-washing there’s not much anyone can do. So channel some of that nervous energy into the behavior changes that we KNOW help keep you healthy and alive for a long time.”


huffpost--2020-03-02--Netanyahu Holds Solid Lead In Israeli Elections

Netanyahu , the longest-serving leader in Israeli history , has been a caretaker prime minister for more than a year as a divided country has weathered two inconclusive votes and prolonged political paralysis .
With opinion polls forecasting another deadlock , Netanyahu is seeking a late surge in support to score a parliamentary majority along with other nationalist parties that will give him a fourth consecutive term in office and fifth overall .
He faces a stiff challenge once again from retired military chief Benny Gantz , whose centrist Blue and White party is running even with Netanyahu ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister is unfit to lead because of the serious charges against him .
Both parties appear unable to form a coalition with their traditional allies .
With the prospect of a unity government between them seemingly off the table after a particularly nasty campaign , the vote may well turn into merely a preamble to another election .
“ I hope that today marks the start of a healing process , where we can begin living together again , ” Gantz said upon casting his ballot in his hometown of Rosh Ha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters not to “ get drawn in by the lies or by the violence ” after the acrimonious campaign .
Election day is a national holiday in Israel and the country usually boasts one of the highest turnouts among Western democracies .
But the second repeat vote and fears over the coronavirus , which has so far been kept largely in check , look to hinder participation .
Netanyahu has tried to portray himself as a statesman who is uniquely qualified to lead the country through challenging times .
Gantz has tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering himself as a calming influence and an honest alternative .
President Donald Trump ’ s Mideast initiative , which strongly favors Israel and was rejected by the Palestinians , had been expected to give Netanyahu a major boost .
But both Netanyahu and Gantz welcomed the initiative , and it appears to have had little impact on voters .
Gantz says he favors a national unity government with Likud , but only if it rids itself of its longtime leader because of the corruption charges against him .
Netanyahu , who still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insists he must remain prime minister in any unity deal .
With his career on the line , Netanyahu has campaigned furiously .
He ’ s taken a hard turn to the right in hopes of rallying his nationalist base , promising to expand and annex West Bank settlements .
In a campaign marked by ugly smears , Netanyahu ’ s surrogates have spread unfounded allegations that Gantz is corrupt , unstable and susceptible to blackmail by Iran .
The most recent attempt appears to have backfired .
Recordings have revealed Netanyahu lied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a plot to secretly record a Gantz consultant disparaging his boss .
Channel 12 broadcast audio Sunday night of Netanyahu speaking to the rabbi who clandestinely recorded the Gantz adviser and discussing when it would be leaked .
Netanyahu is desperate to score a narrow 61-seat majority in parliament with his hard-line religious and nationalist allies before going on trial March 17 .
Netanyahu has failed to secure himself immunity from prosecution , but with a strong hold on power he could seek other avenues to derail the legal proceedings against him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looms as a potential kingmaker , with neither Netanyahu nor Gantz able to secure a parliamentary majority without his support .
Lieberman has not committed himself to either candidate , although he has promised there will not be a fourth election .
That ’ s when the real jockeying may get underway , with attention shifting to President Reuven Rivlin , who is responsible for choosing a candidate for prime minister .
He is supposed to select the leader who he believes has the best chance of putting together a stable coalition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the largest party , but not necessarily .
Just as important is the number of lawmakers outside the party who recommend the candidate .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
JERUSALEM (AP) — Exit polls indicate that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a solid edge over his main rival in Israel’s third election in under a year. But it is unclear whether Netanyahu can clinch a parliamentary majority needed to claim victory.
Exit polls on Israel’s main TV channels projected Netanyahu’s Likud Party and its religious and nationalist allies would capture 60 seats, leaving it one seat short of the majority needed to claim victory.
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If final results give Netanyahu a parliamentary majority, it would pave the way for a new term and give him a boost as he prepares to go on trial for corruption charges.
But if he falls short, the country’s year-long political deadlock will continue, and the country could potentially face a fourth consecutive election.
Israeli exit polls are often imprecise and final results could change. Official results are expected to come in throughout the night.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israelis voted Monday in an unprecedented third election in less than a year to decide whether longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stays in power despite his upcoming trial on corruption charges.
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Netanyahu, the longest-serving leader in Israeli history, has been a caretaker prime minister for more than a year as a divided country has weathered two inconclusive votes and prolonged political paralysis. With opinion polls forecasting another deadlock, Netanyahu is seeking a late surge in support to score a parliamentary majority along with other nationalist parties that will give him a fourth consecutive term in office and fifth overall.
He faces a stiff challenge once again from retired military chief Benny Gantz, whose centrist Blue and White party is running even with Netanyahu’s Likud on a campaign message that the prime minister is unfit to lead because of the serious charges against him.
Both parties appear unable to form a coalition with their traditional allies. With the prospect of a unity government between them seemingly off the table after a particularly nasty campaign, the vote may well turn into merely a preamble to another election.
“I hope that today marks the start of a healing process, where we can begin living together again,” Gantz said upon casting his ballot in his hometown of Rosh Ha’ayin in central Israel, warning voters not to “get drawn in by the lies or by the violence” after the acrimonious campaign.
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There was little fanfare ahead of the vote, with a noticeable absence of campaign posters on the streets and public rallies that typically characterize the run-up to Israeli elections.
With voter fatigue clearly a factor, turnout could prove to be decisive. The elections commission said 56.3% of eligible voters had cast ballots by 6 p.m. (1600 GMT, 11 a.m. EST), the highest turnout by that time of the day since 1999.
Election day is a national holiday in Israel and the country usually boasts one of the highest turnouts among Western democracies. But the second repeat vote and fears over the coronavirus, which has so far been kept largely in check, look to hinder participation.
Israel set up some 15 stations to allow voting by hundreds of Israelis who have been ordered to remain in home quarantine after possible exposure to the virus.
“The corona thing is completely under control. Today we’ve taken all the precautions that are necessary. People can go and vote with complete confidence,” Netanyahu said after casting his ballot in Jerusalem.
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Netanyahu has tried to portray himself as a statesman who is uniquely qualified to lead the country through challenging times. Gantz has tried to paint him as divisive and scandal-plagued, offering himself as a calming influence and an honest alternative.
President Donald Trump’s Mideast initiative, which strongly favors Israel and was rejected by the Palestinians, had been expected to give Netanyahu a major boost. But both Netanyahu and Gantz welcomed the initiative, and it appears to have had little impact on voters.
Gantz says he favors a national unity government with Likud, but only if it rids itself of its longtime leader because of the corruption charges against him. Netanyahu, who still enjoys widespread support in his party, insists he must remain prime minister in any unity deal.
With his career on the line, Netanyahu has campaigned furiously. He’s taken a hard turn to the right in hopes of rallying his nationalist base, promising to expand and annex West Bank settlements. In a campaign marked by ugly smears, Netanyahu’s surrogates have spread unfounded allegations that Gantz is corrupt, unstable and susceptible to blackmail by Iran.
The most recent attempt appears to have backfired. Recordings have revealed Netanyahu lied on live television about not being involved in a plot to secretly record a Gantz consultant disparaging his boss. Channel 12 broadcast audio Sunday night of Netanyahu speaking to the rabbi who clandestinely recorded the Gantz adviser and discussing when it would be leaked.
Advertisement
Netanyahu is desperate to score a narrow 61-seat majority in parliament with his hard-line religious and nationalist allies before going on trial March 17. Netanyahu has failed to secure himself immunity from prosecution, but with a strong hold on power he could seek other avenues to derail the legal proceedings against him.
Netanyahu is charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust stemming from accusations he accepted lavish gifts from billionaire friends and promised to promote advantageous legislation for a major newspaper in exchange for favorable coverage. He vowed to prove his innocence in court.
Maverick politician Avigdor Lieberman once again looms as a potential kingmaker, with neither Netanyahu nor Gantz able to secure a parliamentary majority without his support. Lieberman has not committed himself to either candidate, although he has promised there will not be a fourth election.
Voting began at 7 a.m. with exit polls expected at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT, 3 p.m. EST). Official results are expected overnight.
That’s when the real jockeying may get underway, with attention shifting to President Reuven Rivlin, who is responsible for choosing a candidate for prime minister. He is supposed to select the leader who he believes has the best chance of putting together a stable coalition. The honor usually goes to the head of the largest party, but not necessarily. Just as important is the number of lawmakers outside the party who recommend the candidate.
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Rivlin’s selection will then have up to six weeks to form a coalition. If he fails, another candidate then has 28 days to form an alternative coalition. If that effort fails, new elections would be forced.