huffpost--2020-03-31--What To Do If You're Worried About Your Grandparents And Coronavirus

“ I tell her every day I love her and we will get through this together and not to worry too much , that things will improve , ” she said .
“ Her concerns are always about what ’ s going to happen if she contracts it , will she survive , will they want to keep her alive.
” “ Some other family members were not happy with my attitude , but I was not about to risk the health of the people I love most in the world , ” he said .
“ My sister was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college .
I ’ m sure there ’ s a good possibility that she wasn ’ t exposed — but even if the chance is half a percent , it ’ s not worth the risk when we can prevent that chance altogether.
” Why our worry feels so intense right now .
How to deal with your worry in a productive way .
That ’ s out of your hands .
Instead of focusing on everything you can ’ t do , ask yourself what still is in your control , Mascardo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s window with a sign of encouragement or send a peppy email to cheer her up ?
Can you help your grandparents , or others in their position , by volunteering to buy groceries ?
If they ’ re in an assisted living facility , can you support their staff by providing meals , sewing masks or writing them a thank-you note ?
“ Tell yourself things like , ‘ I ’ ve done all that I can do for now .
It ’ s OK to still care , but now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ ” Hart said .
“ Or maybe it ’ s ‘ I can look forward to calling my grandparents tomorrow and talking with them about ways we can virtually connect.
’ Find statements that help you self-soothe and move out of draining emotions.
” “ I talk to my parents more now than I have in a long time , and not only to get on their case about staying home , ” he said .
“ It ’ s not only older and compromised people I ’ m calling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to and hearing from people who I ’ ve heard from infrequently over the past several years .
I think there ’ s a chance that COVID-19 will bring us all closer together .
”

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Roze Rahim, a 24-year-old student, lives in Queens, New York, with her grandmother. As her primary caregiver, all Rahim can think about lately is how her grandma, who already has a host of respiratory issues, might be affected by the coronavirus.
It’s weighing on her grandmother’s mind, too.
“My grandma Shirley watches Ellen DeGeneres every single day, and there is a lot of breaking news happening throughout the show,” she said. “All day she has to sit through news about the virus not affecting younger people as much but being a huge concern for the elderly, and every day she becomes more and more stressed out.”
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Recently, Rahim’s parents, who also live with them, started showing symptoms of the virus, so they had to temporarily move into the basement. Now more than ever, her grandma needs reassurance and support.
“I tell her every day I love her and we will get through this together and not to worry too much, that things will improve,” she said. “Her concerns are always about what’s going to happen if she contracts it, will she survive, will they want to keep her alive.”
In those moments, she said, she tries her best to sway her grandmother’s mind away from those concerns.
Rahim’s hardly alone in her worry. Knowing the virus seems to more seriously affect older people has complicated many of our relationships with our grandparents. Italy has experienced the highest number of deaths from the virus, in part because of about 23% of residents are 65 or older, according to The New York Times.
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Halfpoint Images via Getty Images Now is the time to teach your grandparents how to use FaceTime, experts say.
When confronted with those numbers, we’re also confronted with something we usually like to push far out of our minds: our grandparents’ mortality.
“As a culture, we sometimes shield younger people away from worrying about or being too concerned with death and loss,” said Allison Hart, a psychological assistant at WellspaceSF in San Francisco. “The hope is that they will only have to consider it when it’s necessary.”
Hart said this might be the first time some younger people have been asked to consider the day-to-day life of an older person and their role in being responsible for that life ― “and not just any life, but their own family members,” she said.
When things started getting worse earlier this month, Harrison Burchett, a videographer and photographer in Kentucky, took it upon himself to push social distancing on his family members, including his skeptical grandparents, who really just wanted to see their grandkids.
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“Some other family members were not happy with my attitude, but I was not about to risk the health of the people I love most in the world,” he said. “My sister was going to visit them, coming from college. I’m sure there’s a good possibility that she wasn’t exposed — but even if the chance is half a percent, it’s not worth the risk when we can prevent that chance altogether.”
This is a picture of my grandpa, he’s in his late 70s and has diabetes. His opportunity to recover from coronavirus is a lot better if we can spread this thing out and give our healthcare professionals more time. pic.twitter.com/bMPMv5KL0o — Harrison Burchett (@htbcreative) March 15, 2020
For many young people, it’s knowing that you could be an asymptomatic carrier who passes the virus on to your grandparent that’s most troubling. Ryan Nelson-Caine, a school technician in Minnesota, said that’s what he worries about with his grandfather, who’s recovering from chemotherapy.
“I work in a school, a literal Petri dish,” he said. “At this point, we’re mostly holding steady and my grandpa’s staying home. My grandma’s very concerned. She’s a stereotypical Midwestern grandmother, and it’s just killing her to know there’s nothing she can do, but there’s no point risking it.”
There’s a lot out of Nelson-Caine’s control, but he does his small part: limiting his contact with his grandparents (and anyone who may see them, like his parents) and calling them to stay in touch.
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Why our worry feels so intense right now.
The worry we’re all feeling right now is actually a certain type of grief called anticipatory grief. It means you grieve the loss of something before it’s even happened, said Therese Mascardo, a psychologist in California who offers online therapy.
“Oftentimes anticipatory grief can be even worse than acute grief because people’s minds often imagine the most catastrophic worst-case scenarios,” she said. “For example, you might picture your older relative dying in a hospital bed alone.”
Understandably, most people didn’t have a mental framework for pandemic problems until this started happening.
“We are in an unprecedented time, and the problems we are facing ― self-isolation, not being able to see older relatives, the fear of infecting them with a potentially deadly virus ― most people haven’t faced these realities until now,” she said. “In many ways, our psyche is not equipped to know how to cope with these kinds of problems.”
Yes, you know your grandparents will die someday, Mascardo said, but usually we imagine them dying due to known causes, such as age-related health complications. COVID-19 is different ― it wasn’t even something you could die of until a few months ago ― and that’s what makes it so unnerving, she said.
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How to deal with your worry in a productive way.
As scary as the current situation is, there are ways to channel your concern so you feel less powerless (and maybe even a little more connected to your grandparents, in spite of the physical distance). Here a few ways:
1. Focus on what you can control.
You can’t control how the virus might potentially affect your grandma. You can’t control the people who continue to throw house parties and don’t seem to give a damn about “flattening the curve” of rising coronavirus cases.
That’s out of your hands. Instead of focusing on everything you can’t do, ask yourself what still is in your control, Mascardo said: Could you visit your grandma’s window with a sign of encouragement or send a peppy email to cheer her up? Can you help your grandparents, or others in their position, by volunteering to buy groceries? If they’re in an assisted living facility, can you support their staff by providing meals, sewing masks or writing them a thank-you note?
“Focus on what you can do and be mindful of thoughts you’re giving real estate to in your head,” Mascardo said.
martin-dm via Getty Images Worry can be a good thing, but not if you're dealing with high levels of stress about COVID-19.
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2. Know the difference between good worry and bad worry.
Just like all emotions, worry can be adaptive, motivating us to act quickly and take action in stressful circumstances, Hart said. When we worry, it’s a sign that we care, that we are interested and invested in making sure we do our part.
“Worry is part of the emotional concoction that helps younger people take social distancing action,” she said. “It is partly responsible for helping us rise to the challenge of figuring out what’s in our control. It can be a good thing.”
Worry is less adaptive once we are doing what we can, and yet nothing seems to be enough to calm our alert system.
Once you’ve done your part ― keeping yourself and relatives away from your grandparents, calling frequently ― it’s important to transition to more adaptive mindsets than worry, like acceptance and hope.
“Tell yourself things like, ‘I’ve done all that I can do for now. It’s OK to still care, but now I have to take care of myself,‘” Hart said. “Or maybe it’s ‘I can look forward to calling my grandparents tomorrow and talking with them about ways we can virtually connect.’ Find statements that help you self-soothe and move out of draining emotions.”
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3. Lean into your grandparent’s experiences with pandemics and health emergencies.
It’s easy to see your grandparent as a passive actor in this pandemic. They’re part of the population most at risk from COVID-19 and they may have ongoing medical issues that make them seem especially vulnerable.
But they’ve had to be strong before in the face of pandemics and health crises: Maybe your older relative experienced the polio epidemic in the 1940s and 1950s. Or maybe your grandma remembers family stories about the 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed an estimated 675,000 Americans among a staggering 20 million to 50 million people globally.
Harris & Ewing/Underwood Archives/Getty Images A nurse checking on a patient at the Walter Reed Hospital Flu Ward in Washington during the influenza pandemic of 1918.
Ask your grandparents about these events. Not only will it reassure both of you that global health crises do eventually end, but you can also get advice on how to get through hard times like these.
“I talk about all this frequently with my grandma, who lives next door to me,” said Charlie Freyre, a client account manager from Connecticut. (Of course, he keeps his distance when they talk, but they do have wine nights from across their backyards.)
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“My first conversation with her, I asked her something to the effect of ‘Do you ever remember anything like this?’ and she compared this to her childhood experience living through the polio epidemic,” he said. “That’s when it really hit me, just the sheer weight of her life experience and how incredibly valuable that perspective would be in keeping a calm head when the rest of the world is seemingly aflame with panic.”
4. Over-communicate with your older relatives.
This is a time to embrace technology ― even if means walking your Luddite Uncle Bob through using FaceTime.
“If you can’t do that, then talk ― yes, talk ― to each other on the phone,” said Shane G. Owens, a psychologist and the assistant director of campus mental health at Farmingdale State College (SUNY). “Text-based communication is OK but not nearly as personal or comforting for most as talking or video-chatting.”
“I talk to my parents more now than I have in a long time, and not only to get on their case about staying home,” he said. “It’s not only older and compromised people I’m calling, though. I find myself reaching out to and hearing from people who I’ve heard from infrequently over the past several years. I think there’s a chance that COVID-19 will bring us all closer together.”
Beyond that, sharing pictures and videos directly with family members you can’t be close to right now is a great idea.
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“If nothing else, when we all make it through this, we’re going to have unrivaled documentary evidence of our resilience and strength through the COVID-19 response,” Owens said.


huffpost--2020-03-31--Democrats Urge Trump To Follow Through On Oversight Of Corporate Bailouts

The massive coronavirus aid package , which includes direct payments to many Americans as well as loans to struggling small businesses , set up three mechanisms to oversee nearly $ 500 billion in loans the Treasury Department will be in charge of dispensing to major corporations : first , a bipartisan panel of members of Congress ; second , a committee of inspectors general ; and third , a special inspector general to be appointed by the president .
In a signing statement for the bill on Friday , however , Trump suggested he would not comply with some aspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general for pandemic recovery ( SIGPR ) agreed on by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Democrats , whose votes were crucial to getting the bill to the president ’ s desk .
The position was modeled after a special inspector general charged with identifying and alerting the public and Congress to waste , fraud and abuse in the 2008 Wall Street bailout .
Specifically , Trump said he would treat as optional a provision requiring the special inspector general to notify Congress if it is unreasonably denied information about loan decisions made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on behalf of the Administration , negotiated and agreed to the scope and terms of the SIGPR authority , both generally to Congress and to each of us personally , ” Sens .
Chuck Schumer of New York , Ron Wyden of Oregon , and Sherrod Brown of Ohio wrote in a letter addressed to Mnuchin on Tuesday .
“ This oversight authority was critical for gaining support for your request for over $ 500 billion to aid struggling companies , states , municipalities , and other troubled entities , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Provision of these funds was conditioned on the SIGPR ’ s creation .
As such , the SIGPR ’ s unfettered operation is not only a legal necessity , but also a condition you personally agreed to ― SIGPR ’ s structure is your structure , and it imperative that you defend it.
” In their letter , the Democrats urged Trump to nominate the special inspector general right away as the administration begins implementation of the law .
“ We urge the President to nominate an independent Special Inspector General to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-standing practice of consulting with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency regarding this selection , ” they wrote .
The nation ’ s inspectors general on Monday appointed Glenn Fine , the Defense Department ’ s acting inspector general , to lead the committee ’ s oversight efforts over the coronavirus aid package .
In a statement issued by his office , Schumer said Fine has a “ good reputation as a tough federal prosecutor , ” calling on him to “ exercise his full oversight authority to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law as intended .
It ’ s unclear when a special inspector general will be named and confirmed by the Senate as required by law , however .
The upper chamber is not expected to return from recess until April 20 , per Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) downplayed Trump ’ s efforts to skirt oversight of the law during an interview with MSNBC ’ s Rachel Maddow on Friday , saying that the president ’ s signing statement is “ not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will exercise its oversight and we will have our panel appointed by the House to , in real time , to make sure we know where those funds are being expended , ” she said .

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WASHINGTON ― Top Democrats are urging the Trump administration to quickly appoint a special inspector general in charge of scrutinizing aid to major corporations under the $2 trillion economic rescue package Congress passed last week.
The massive coronavirus aid package, which includes direct payments to many Americans as well as loans to struggling small businesses, set up three mechanisms to oversee nearly $500 billion in loans the Treasury Department will be in charge of dispensing to major corporations: first, a bipartisan panel of members of Congress; second, a committee of inspectors general; and third, a special inspector general to be appointed by the president.
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In a signing statement for the bill on Friday, however, Trump suggested he would not comply with some aspects of the role of the special inspector general for pandemic recovery (SIGPR) agreed on by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Democrats, whose votes were crucial to getting the bill to the president’s desk. The position was modeled after a special inspector general charged with identifying and alerting the public and Congress to waste, fraud and abuse in the 2008 Wall Street bailout.
Specifically, Trump said he would treat as optional a provision requiring the special inspector general to notify Congress if it is unreasonably denied information about loan decisions made by the Treasury Department.
“You, on behalf of the Administration, negotiated and agreed to the scope and terms of the SIGPR authority, both generally to Congress and to each of us personally,” Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Sherrod Brown of Ohio wrote in a letter addressed to Mnuchin on Tuesday.
“This oversight authority was critical for gaining support for your request for over $500 billion to aid struggling companies, states, municipalities, and other troubled entities,” the senators added in the letter. “Provision of these funds was conditioned on the SIGPR’s creation. As such, the SIGPR’s unfettered operation is not only a legal necessity, but also a condition you personally agreed to ― SIGPR’s structure is your structure, and it imperative that you defend it.”
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In their letter, the Democrats urged Trump to nominate the special inspector general right away as the administration begins implementation of the law.
“We urge the President to nominate an independent Special Inspector General to this critical position without delay and continue the long-standing practice of consulting with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency regarding this selection,” they wrote.
The nation’s inspectors general on Monday appointed Glenn Fine, the Defense Department’s acting inspector general, to lead the committee’s oversight efforts over the coronavirus aid package. In a statement issued by his office, Schumer said Fine has a “good reputation as a tough federal prosecutor,” calling on him to “exercise his full oversight authority to ensure that the Trump administration implements” the law as intended.
It’s unclear when a special inspector general will be named and confirmed by the Senate as required by law, however. The upper chamber is not expected to return from recess until April 20, per Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) downplayed Trump’s efforts to skirt oversight of the law during an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Friday, saying that the president’s signing statement is “not a surprise to anyone.”
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huffpost--2020-03-31--U.N. Leaders Call For Solidarity, While Workers Who Serve Them Get Laid Off

Courtesy of Mohamed Maher Mohamed Maher served diplomats at the U.N. headquarters for more than three decades .
After spending more than three decades pouring wine for ambassadors at United Nations headquarters , Mohamed Maher , the maitre d ’ of the diplomats ’ dining room , expected better treatment from the world body during the COVID-19 pandemic .
But when the coronavirus began to spread in New York , the company that services U.N. headquarters laid off Maher and dozens of other waiters , bartenders , cooks and servers .
At the same time , U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” workers and their families as the global economy crumpled .
Professional-grade U.N. staff now get to work from home on their laptops , while the blue-collar workers who cooked their lunches and brewed them coffee have lost their jobs and will lose their health care coverage .
“ I ’ ve been there for 34 years .
My colleagues have put in 20 to 25 years , dedicating all our work and our time to serve the U.N. staff and the [ diplomatic ] delegations for all those years .
So really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maher told HuffPost .
“ I want the U.N. to treat everybody fairly.
” The catering company CulinArt , which has a contract to run several eateries and cafes on the Manhattan U.N. site , has laid off that entire service staff — about 100 workers — since March 13 , as COVID-19 cases grew steadily across the city .
Many of the discharged caterers now rank among the record-setting 3.3 million people who filed claims for unemployment in the U.S. last week , Maher said .
While a new $ 2 trillion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary support , he and his fellow U.N. workers are disappointed that the people they ’ ve served for years are doing so little to help them .
The workers earn upwards of $ 15 per hour , with contracts that offer little security .
Like Maher , who came to the U.S. from Egypt in 1980 , many of them are immigrants .
The axed workers also include such financially vulnerable groups as women and breadwinners for poor households .
The dismissed caterers have pleaded for help from U.N. bigwigs ― including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Assembly ― but to no avail , according to Maher .
CulinArt declined to comment on the layoffs .
U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told HuffPost that while staffers employed directly by the U.N. are paid during the lockdown , CulinArt operates independently .
He added : “ All companies that subcontract to the U.N. are supposed to maintain fair labor practices.
” Meanwhile , U.N. leaders have expressed the importance of helping anyone suffering during the pandemic .
Speaking to journalists on March 19 , the secretary-general predicted a global recession of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losses and said women and other vulnerable groups would be the “ hardest hit.
” “ This is , above all , a human crisis that calls for solidarity , ” Guterres said in the same week that caterers were being given notice .
“ Our human family is stressed and the social fabric is being torn .
People are suffering , sick and scared.
” During his time at U.N. headquarters , Maher has overseen lunches for everyone from Bill Clinton to Tony Blair , George W. Bush and Jacques Chirac , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kofi Annan , who served from 1997 to 2006 .
Maher is worried that he will lose his health care coverage , which lapses if he doesn ’ t work enough shifts , and that he ’ ll struggle to support his wife and daughter during a contagion that experts say could drag on for months .
He has already signed up for unemployment benefits and hopes for a speedy return to business as usual .
Arthur Phillips , an organizer for Unite Here Local 100 , which represents the caterers , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wages and health insurance costs of workers in any shutdown deal it agrees to with the catering firm .

Mohamed Maher served diplomats at the U.N. headquarters for more than three decades. Courtesy of Mohamed Maher
After spending more than three decades pouring wine for ambassadors at United Nations headquarters, Mohamed Maher, the maitre d’ of the diplomats’ dining room, expected better treatment from the world body during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But when the coronavirus began to spread in New York, the company that services U.N. headquarters laid off Maher and dozens of other waiters, bartenders, cooks and servers.
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At the same time, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres offered lofty talk about protecting “scared” workers and their families as the global economy crumpled. Professional-grade U.N. staff now get to work from home on their laptops, while the blue-collar workers who cooked their lunches and brewed them coffee have lost their jobs and will lose their health care coverage.
“I’ve been there for 34 years. My colleagues have put in 20 to 25 years, dedicating all our work and our time to serve the U.N. staff and the [diplomatic] delegations for all those years. So really all the staff is upset,” Maher told HuffPost. “I want the U.N. to treat everybody fairly.”
The catering company CulinArt, which has a contract to run several eateries and cafes on the Manhattan U.N. site, has laid off that entire service staff — about 100 workers — since March 13, as COVID-19 cases grew steadily across the city.
Many of the discharged caterers now rank among the record-setting 3.3 million people who filed claims for unemployment in the U.S. last week, Maher said. While a new $2 trillion bailout package from U.S. lawmakers might offer temporary support, he and his fellow U.N. workers are disappointed that the people they’ve served for years are doing so little to help them.
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At U.N. headquarters, Maher oversaw lunches for high-level leaders, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Courtesy of Mohamed Maher
The workers earn upwards of $15 per hour, with contracts that offer little security. Like Maher, who came to the U.S. from Egypt in 1980, many of them are immigrants. The axed workers also include such financially vulnerable groups as women and breadwinners for poor households.
The dismissed caterers have pleaded for help from U.N. bigwigs ― including Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, the president of the General Assembly ― but to no avail, according to Maher.
CulinArt declined to comment on the layoffs. U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told HuffPost that while staffers employed directly by the U.N. are paid during the lockdown, CulinArt operates independently. He added: “All companies that subcontract to the U.N. are supposed to maintain fair labor practices.”
Meanwhile, U.N. leaders have expressed the importance of helping anyone suffering during the pandemic. Speaking to journalists on March 19, the secretary-general predicted a global recession of “record dimensions” with huge job losses and said women and other vulnerable groups would be the “hardest hit.”
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“This is, above all, a human crisis that calls for solidarity,” Guterres said in the same week that caterers were being given notice. “Our human family is stressed and the social fabric is being torn. People are suffering, sick and scared.”
During his time at U.N. headquarters, Maher has overseen lunches for everyone from Bill Clinton to Tony Blair, George W. Bush and Jacques Chirac, as well as his favorite secretary-general, Kofi Annan, who served from 1997 to 2006.
Maher is worried that he will lose his health care coverage, which lapses if he doesn’t work enough shifts, and that he’ll struggle to support his wife and daughter during a contagion that experts say could drag on for months. He has already signed up for unemployment benefits and hopes for a speedy return to business as usual.
“Hopefully the stimulus that Congress approved will help pay my biggest costs, the mortgage and the maintenance,” said Maher.
Arthur Phillips, an organizer for Unite Here Local 100, which represents the caterers, said the U.N. should push CulinArt to cover the wages and health insurance costs of workers in any shutdown deal it agrees to with the catering firm.
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“The U.N. needs to step up to the plate and make sure Mohamed and his colleagues are made whole,” Phillips told HuffPost.
“It’s shameful,” he said, “that these workers may be left out without being able to pay their bills in the middle of a pandemic while the U.N. makes public statements about standing together in this crisis.”


huffpost--2020-03-31--Trump Moves Forward On Biggest Environmental Rollback To Date Amid Pandemic Chaos

The White House released the final version of its rules to roll back Obama-era auto emissions standards , taking a critical step toward completing what would be President Donald Trump ’ s most substantial environmental change since taking office as the novel coronavirus pandemic rages .
The rule , called the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient ( SAFE ) Vehicles Rule and written by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation , would lower fuel economy standards for vehicles sold in the United States from 54 miles per gallon by 2025 to 40 miles per gallon .
The two-digit change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under the new standard , which could be implemented as soon as this spring , the U.S. auto fleet would emit nearly additional 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide over their lifespans on the road than they would under the existing rule .
That ’ s nearly the annual emissions of Japan , the world ’ s fifth-largest source of planet-heating carbon dioxide .
The Trump administration insisted it was acting on behalf of American car buyers who prefer gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks to fuel-efficient cars and electric vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposing the rollback two years ago that the health benefits of decreasing air pollution from the U.S. auto fleet were dwarfed by the harm caused by discouraging the purchase of newer , safer vehicles .
That math did not bear out when the White House first proposed its replacement to the 2012 fuel mileage rule .
Yet the administration fought on anyway , dividing the auto industry between a handful of manufacturers who sided with California regulators , who supported keeping the stronger existing standards , and another group that publicly backed federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules .
In October , the fight took an abrupt turn when the administration backed down , and the Department of Justice abandoned an investigation into the companies that sided with California .
But as the United States became the epicenter of the global pandemic of COVID-19 , the respiratory disease caused by the new virus , the White House ramped up its environmental agenda , halting virtually all the EPA ’ s enforcement of anti-pollution laws and approving new pipelines and mining projects .
“ The Trump administration is facing one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so while this new rule might offer a bit of regulatory certainty it ’ s coming at a time of complete economic uncertainty , and seems to be more of an ideological power move than anything else , ” said Jessica Caldwell , an analyst at the auto industry consultancy Edmunds .
“ Even in the midst of a global pandemic , the Trump Administration continues to jeopardize the health of millions of Americans by weakening air pollution protections , ” Heather McTeer Toney , the national field director of Moms Clean Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ These rollbacks are dangerous , and further reveal the true priority of Trump ’ s EPA : protect polluters at all costs , even if it sacrifices the health of Americans.
” “ It will harm the air we breathe , stall progress in fighting the climate crisis and increase the cost of driving , ” McCarthy said in a statement .
“ The only winner from this action is the oil industry , which wants us stuck driving dirty gas guzzlers as long as possible.
” “ We ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who denied warnings of a pandemic .
We can ’ t afford any more consequences of climate denial , ” he tweeted Tuesday morning with a link to a Los Angeles Times news article on the finalized rule .
“ All of us , especially young people , have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall .
”

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The White House released the final version of its rules to roll back Obama-era auto emissions standards, taking a critical step toward completing what would be President Donald Trump’s most substantial environmental change since taking office as the novel coronavirus pandemic rages.
The rule, called the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule and written by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation, would lower fuel economy standards for vehicles sold in the United States from 54 miles per gallon by 2025 to 40 miles per gallon.
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“By reducing regulatory burdens, thereby reducing regulatory costs, we will get more Americans into new, safer, cleaner vehicles,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a call with reporters Tuesday.
The two-digit change carries 10-digit implications for climate change. Under the new standard, which could be implemented as soon as this spring, the U.S. auto fleet would emit nearly additional 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide over their lifespans on the road than they would under the existing rule. That’s nearly the annual emissions of Japan, the world’s fifth-largest source of planet-heating carbon dioxide.
President Donald Trump pats down his hair as he speaks during the Coronavirus Task Force daily briefing on COVID-19 in the Rose Garden. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
The Trump administration insisted it was acting on behalf of American car buyers who prefer gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks to fuel-efficient cars and electric vehicles. The administration argued repeatedly since first proposing the rollback two years ago that the health benefits of decreasing air pollution from the U.S. auto fleet were dwarfed by the harm caused by discouraging the purchase of newer, safer vehicles.
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“The benefits of the final SAFE rule outweigh the costs and will result in thousands of lives saved,” Wheeler said Tuesday.
That math did not bear out when the White House first proposed its replacement to the 2012 fuel mileage rule. Yet the administration fought on anyway, dividing the auto industry between a handful of manufacturers who sided with California regulators, who supported keeping the stronger existing standards, and another group that publicly backed federal authorities in their quest to weaken the rules.
In October, the fight took an abrupt turn when the administration backed down, and the Department of Justice abandoned an investigation into the companies that sided with California.
But as the United States became the epicenter of the global pandemic of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, the White House ramped up its environmental agenda, halting virtually all the EPA’s enforcement of anti-pollution laws and approving new pipelines and mining projects.
“The Trump administration is facing one of the biggest crises in modern history, so while this new rule might offer a bit of regulatory certainty it’s coming at a time of complete economic uncertainty, and seems to be more of an ideological power move than anything else,” said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at the auto industry consultancy Edmunds.
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Environmental groups on Tuesday condemned the administration for continuing to push its pro-polluter agenda as Americans are focused on a rapidly worsening public health crisis.
“Even in the midst of a global pandemic, the Trump Administration continues to jeopardize the health of millions of Americans by weakening air pollution protections,” Heather McTeer Toney, the national field director of Moms Clean Air Force, said in a statement. “These rollbacks are dangerous, and further reveal the true priority of Trump’s EPA: protect polluters at all costs, even if it sacrifices the health of Americans.”
Gina McCarthy, the former EPA administrator during President Barack Obama’s second term and current president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the Trump rollback simply “makes no sense.”
“It will harm the air we breathe, stall progress in fighting the climate crisis and increase the cost of driving,” McCarthy said in a statement. “The only winner from this action is the oil industry, which wants us stuck driving dirty gas guzzlers as long as possible.”
Even Obama, who has so far remained mum on his successor’s assault on his regulatory legacy, made a rare public comment on the rollback.
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“We’ve seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic. We can’t afford any more consequences of climate denial,” he tweeted Tuesday morning with a link to a Los Angeles Times news article on the finalized rule. “All of us, especially young people, have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall.”


huffpost--2020-04-16--You're At Home Eating Egg Salad. Here's How To Make It Less Sad.

Egg salad has always been an economical mainstay to make at home or to pick up from a restaurant or convenience store .
With a third of the global population quarantined or self-isolating during the coronavirus pandemic , now is a good time to revisit this simple , highly adaptable , high-in-protein food .
“ Egg salad is some of the best quarantine food , because it is affordable , easy , versatile and , of course , delicious , ” said Julia Keister , owner of Lil ’ s Bagels in Covington , Kentucky .
“ You can make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pretty much eat it for any meal.
” “ I think using the best-raised eggs you can find makes any egg dish taste better , especially something like this where eggs are really the highlight , ” said Evan Hanczor , chef at the Brooklyn- and Tokyo-based Egg .
“ That being said , I think everyone is trying to buy sustainable and organic when they can , ” Schneider said .
“ It ’ s not always the most inexpensive option , so I think people should do what works best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit lighter and brighter , ” she said .
In the warmer months , Egg Shop serves the egg salad as a condiment on a chicken sandwich .
“ I love that egg salad is cold , which is why I crave it in the summer , ” she said .
“ I also love that it can be many things to many different people .
The openness to different flavor profiles is very on-trend , if you ask me.
” Sletten , however , is all about adding mayo , either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As a kid , my mom was a Hellmann ’ s mayonnaise connoisseur , ” he said .
“ She ’ d lather that stuff on .
When I ’ m not making my own , I stick with the Hellmann ’ s. ” “ The aioli is the secret to our egg salad , ” said Dylan Murray , Local Foods ’ owner and chef-partner .
“ It ’ s funny because aioli is an egg-based sauce , but that ’ s what gives the lush texture .
The mustard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives that fresh bright flavor .
Egg salad is a comfort food but can be decadent at the same time.
” For his “ pantry recipe , ” Levi Rollins , owner of the Houston-based Urban Eats , likes to mix up eggs with cream cheese , mayo , truffle oil , onion and pesto .
“ My take is merely based on my love of truffle and fresh herbs , ” Rollins said .
“ I also crave a thicker , creamier salad , hence the cream cheese.
” Keister said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ some structure , ” but Schneider smashes the hard-boiled eggs with her hands .
“ We like to be playful and get messy , ” Schneider said .
“ Crushing the eggs with your hands can bring a sense of childlike wonder , and who doesn ’ t want to feel like that , especially right now ?
” “ If I ’ m serving egg salad on a baguette or bagel , I kind of like it a bit chunkier , so I ’ ll give the eggs a rough chop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break down a bit more in the bowl when mixing in the other ingredients , ” he said .
“ If on a soft sliced bread , I ’ ll usually go for a smoother mixture.
” “ We use local eggs .
We use only Hellmann ’ s mayonnaise and a little salt and a little pepper .
Then we whip it , ” Gruber said .
“ That is it .
If you use quality eggs and quality mayonnaise , that ’ s all you need .
We sell approximately 175 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week.
” “ I also like a little smoked paprika , which gives it all a more savory , smoky flavor , ” Hanczor said .
“ If you ’ ve ever had or seen pickled green coriander berries , those are probably my favorite addition to an egg salad .
They offer an amazing salty , tangy pop , kind of like capers but with a bright , cilantro-y flavor.
” Keister ’ s more traditional egg salad ― she adds red onion , dill , mayo and some spices ― was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and visiting a bagel shop every weekend .
She has concocted a Jewish deli-inspired sandwich called The Yenta sandwich : egg salad placed between slices of rye bread ( or a bagel , if you prefer ) , pickled green tomatoes , lettuce and chopped liver .
“ What I love about egg salad is , I love making it and then eating it later , ” Sletten said .
“ There ’ s something about the level of the moisture that soaks into the bread .
It kind of makes it this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sandwich kind of crumples up little and becomes one ?
I love that aspect of egg salad .
I don ’ t know why .
Maybe it ’ s a childhood memory thing .
”

Egg salad has always been an economical mainstay to make at home or to pick up from a restaurant or convenience store. With a third of the global population quarantined or self-isolating during the coronavirus pandemic, now is a good time to revisit this simple, highly adaptable, high-in-protein food.
Julia Keister An egg salad sandwich from Lil’s Bagels in Covington, Kentucky.
HuffPost asked several chefs and restaurant owners about their best tips for making egg salad.
“Egg salad is some of the best quarantine food, because it is affordable, easy, versatile and, of course, delicious,” said Julia Keister, owner of Lil’s Bagels in Covington, Kentucky. “You can make a lot for just a few dollars and pretty much eat it for any meal.”
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Traditionally, egg salad is made from chopped hard-boiled eggs that are combined with mustard, vinegar and/or lemon juice, mayo and ingredients like onion and capers.
The Eggs
First, opinions on eggs vary.
“I think using the best-raised eggs you can find makes any egg dish taste better, especially something like this where eggs are really the highlight,” said Evan Hanczor, chef at the Brooklyn- and Tokyo-based Egg.
Chef Paul Sletten of Rockford, Illinois, restaurants Abreo, Social Urban Bar and Restaurant, and food truck Disco Chicken likes the “super deep orange yolk” of pasture-raised eggs. Sarah Schneider, founder of Egg Shop in New York City, also likes to use pasture-raised.
“That being said, I think everyone is trying to buy sustainable and organic when they can,” Schneider said. “It’s not always the most inexpensive option, so I think people should do what works best for them.”
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Keister typically uses local, organic farm eggs, but said the kinds of eggs you use doesn’t make much difference ― “as long as you have a good recipe.”
The Mayo
Next, what kind of mayo should you use? Or do you even use mayo at all?
Egg Shop’s healthy recipe, which can be found in the restaurant’s cookbook, substitutes Greek yogurt for mayo. Schneider said she has “never liked mayo,” but mixing yogurt with olive oil becomes “mayo-light.”
“It’s a bit lighter and brighter,” she said. In the warmer months, Egg Shop serves the egg salad as a condiment on a chicken sandwich. “I love that egg salad is cold, which is why I crave it in the summer,” she said. “I also love that it can be many things to many different people. The openness to different flavor profiles is very on-trend, if you ask me.”
Sletten, however, is all about adding mayo, either Hellmann’s or his homemade version. “As a kid, my mom was a Hellmann’s mayonnaise connoisseur,” he said. “She’d lather that stuff on. When I’m not making my own, I stick with the Hellmann’s.”
At Local Foods in Houston, they mix eggs with house-made aioli, Dijon mustard, fresh chopped parsley, salt and pepper and a dash of truffle oil.
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“The aioli is the secret to our egg salad,” said Dylan Murray, Local Foods’ owner and chef-partner. “It’s funny because aioli is an egg-based sauce, but that’s what gives the lush texture. The mustard provides the acid, and the parsley gives that fresh bright flavor. Egg salad is a comfort food but can be decadent at the same time.”
Local Foods At Local Foods in Houston, they mix eggs with house-made aioli, Dijon mustard, fresh chopped parsley, salt, pepper and a dash of truffle oil.
For his “pantry recipe,” Levi Rollins, owner of the Houston-based Urban Eats, likes to mix up eggs with cream cheese, mayo, truffle oil, onion and pesto. “My take is merely based on my love of truffle and fresh herbs,” Rollins said. “I also crave a thicker, creamier salad, hence the cream cheese.”
The Texture
Another key to making egg salad is deciding whether to chop the eggs.
Keister said she chops them so they’ll have “some structure,” but Schneider smashes the hard-boiled eggs with her hands. “We like to be playful and get messy,” Schneider said. “Crushing the eggs with your hands can bring a sense of childlike wonder, and who doesn’t want to feel like that, especially right now?”
For Hanczor, the chopping decision depends on the kind of bread.
“If I’m serving egg salad on a baguette or bagel, I kind of like it a bit chunkier, so I’ll give the eggs a rough chop with a knife and they’ll break down a bit more in the bowl when mixing in the other ingredients,” he said. “If on a soft sliced bread, I’ll usually go for a smoother mixture.”
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Ziggy Gruber, owner of Houston deli Kenny & Ziggy’s, whips his egg salad — similar to making deviled eggs — in a food processor.
“We use local eggs. We use only Hellmann’s mayonnaise and a little salt and a little pepper. Then we whip it,” Gruber said. “That is it. If you use quality eggs and quality mayonnaise, that’s all you need. We sell approximately 175 pounds [of egg salad] a week.”
Toppings And Mix-Ins
Toppings and mix-ins are just as important as the mayo.
Schneider likes to add bacon bits, and Keister enjoys a slice of crispy bacon on top of a sandwich. At home, Sletten will add Cajun seasoning. Schneider recommended sprinkling hot sauce into the base to give egg salad a spicy kick, and Hanczor suggested minced hot pickled peppers.
“I also like a little smoked paprika, which gives it all a more savory, smoky flavor,” Hanczor said. “If you’ve ever had or seen pickled green coriander berries, those are probably my favorite addition to an egg salad. They offer an amazing salty, tangy pop, kind of like capers but with a bright, cilantro-y flavor.”
“For a creamy Japanese-style egg salad, I’ll toss in a small splash of milk,” Hanczor said. He adds Kewpie mayo to the mixture and serves the salad on Japanese milk bread or a soft pullman loaf.
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Egg Shop In the warmer months, New York's Egg Shop serves egg salad on a chicken sandwich.
Keister’s more traditional egg salad ― she adds red onion, dill, mayo and some spices ― was influenced by her time living in Brooklyn and visiting a bagel shop every weekend. She has concocted a Jewish deli-inspired sandwich called The Yenta sandwich: egg salad placed between slices of rye bread (or a bagel, if you prefer), pickled green tomatoes, lettuce and chopped liver.
However, there’s a has a catch: “Lil’s does have a secret ingredient in our egg salad that is not in most egg salads.” She wouldn’t divulge the secret.
Pre-Make Your Sandwich
Letting the egg salad marinate a bit can be an important part of the process.
“What I love about egg salad is, I love making it and then eating it later,” Sletten said. “There’s something about the level of the moisture that soaks into the bread. It kind of makes it this school-bag lunch sensation. You know how the sandwich kind of crumples up little and becomes one? I love that aspect of egg salad. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s a childhood memory thing.”
He suggested making the sandwiches — he prefers store-bought wheat bread — and letting them sit for a couple of days before consuming. “If you make it right away, it can be messy and sloppy and fall off the bread,” he said.
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Hanczor also recommended making the mixture at least a day in advance so it can “meld into a consistent texture.”
Whether you keep to the classic style of egg salad or decide to get creative, you really can’t go wrong with a quarantine egg salad.
“There’s nothing that doesn’t go well with eggs,” Sletten said.


huffpost--2020-04-15--If You're A Single Parent, Here's What To Do If You Get COVID-19

“ As a mother , I always think about the needs of my children , ” the mom of two boys , ages 13 and 10 , and creator of Single Moms Planet , told HuffPost .
“ But this pandemic has made me think even more about what they ’ ll need if I ’ m not there .
Who will take care of them ?
Where will they live ?
How will their financial needs be met ?
” The stakes seem that much higher when you read stories about single parents who ’ ve had coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sundee Rutter .
The 42-year-old stage 4 breast cancer survivor and single mother of six died from COVID-19 complications on March 16 in Washington state .
In the story ’ s most heartbreaking detail , Rutter had to say goodbye to her kids through walkie-talkie .
It ’ s an unnerving time for single parents , no doubt , but planning ahead can take some of the stress out of the situation .
Below , experts share how divorced or single parents can prepare if they get sick .
Unless your child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can generally take the same approach as you would with the flu , said Sachin Nagrani , a physician and medical director for Heal , a telemedicine provider of doctor house calls .
“ Isolate as much as possible at home , sleep in a separate bedroom , minimize close contact and wear a mask when in the same room , ” he told HuffPost .
“ Disinfecting high-traffic areas such as bathroom and kitchen and door handles is important .
Washing hands frequently is essential.
” That said , don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help from family or close friends if your energy is zapped from the virus , said Marcus Plescia , the chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials , a nonprofit organization that represents public health agencies across the country .
“ I get that it ’ s very challenging to isolate much if you are the only caregiver , ” he said .
“ But the reassuring news is that there seems to be very little or hardly any serious disease in children , so they are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan — and an emergency caregiver — in mind .
Every single parent has a different situation .
Some may be the primary caretaker but have a parenting partner who ’ s in their children ’ s lives .
If that ’ s the case for you , get on the same page about how to keep yourselves and the kids from becoming sick .
If one of you were to get gravely ill , the other would in all probability take the parenting lead .
If you ’ re a single parent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designate as your child ’ s caregiver in the event that you ’ re incapacitated , give some thought to who you ’ d select .
When selecting a legal guardian , pick someone who will provide children with as much stability as possible , said Ann Margaret Carrozza , an estate planning attorney in New York .
You may want to look into term life insurance , which provides coverage for a set period of time , usually around 20 to 30 years .
Insurance brokers may try to push you into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life insurance policies are much more affordable .
Manage your stress and take care of yourself .
Focus on what you can control in this situation : keeping your kids as safe and healthy as possible and prioritizing your own self-care and health practice .
That means making sure you get your rest , eat well , exercise and wash your hands thoroughly and often after going out .

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There’s one thought that races through single mom Neferteri Plessy’s head constantly lately: What would happen if I get coronavirus and I can’t take of my kids?
“As a mother, I always think about the needs of my children,” the mom of two boys, ages 13 and 10, and creator of Single Moms Planet, told HuffPost. “But this pandemic has made me think even more about what they’ll need if I’m not there. Who will take care of them? Where will they live? How will their financial needs be met?”
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It’s a subject that makes her uneasy, but now, more than ever, Plessy knows it’s important to get personal affairs in order in case of illness or even death.
The stakes seem that much higher when you read stories about single parents who’ve had coronavirus. Take, for instance, the story of Sundee Rutter. The 42-year-old stage 4 breast cancer survivor and single mother of six died from COVID-19 complications on March 16 in Washington state. In the story’s most heartbreaking detail, Rutter had to say goodbye to her kids through walkie-talkie.
“For single parents, it’s a reminder we must be prepared for what may lie ahead,” Plessy said.
It’s an unnerving time for single parents, no doubt, but planning ahead can take some of the stress out of the situation. Below, experts share how divorced or single parents can prepare if they get sick.
If you’re experiencing mild symptoms of the virus, stay home but keep your distance.
The good news: If you suspect you’ve contracted COVID-19 but are only experiencing mild symptoms of the virus ― fatigue, dry cough, aches, chills, sore throat, runny nose and diarrhea ― you can stay home but self-isolate.
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Unless your child is undergoing chemotherapy or has asthma, you can generally take the same approach as you would with the flu, said Sachin Nagrani, a physician and medical director for Heal, a telemedicine provider of doctor house calls.
“Isolate as much as possible at home, sleep in a separate bedroom, minimize close contact and wear a mask when in the same room,” he told HuffPost. “Disinfecting high-traffic areas such as bathroom and kitchen and door handles is important. Washing hands frequently is essential.”
For parents of toddlers or infants who need direct care, wearing a mask and washing hands will be your best lines of defense, Nagrani said.
That said, don’t be afraid to reach out for help from family or close friends if your energy is zapped from the virus, said Marcus Plescia, the chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, a nonprofit organization that represents public health agencies across the country.
“I get that it’s very challenging to isolate much if you are the only caregiver,” he said. “But the reassuring news is that there seems to be very little or hardly any serious disease in children, so they are not at great risk.”
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Westend61 via Getty Images If you’re experiencing mild symptoms of the virus, stay home but keep your distance.
Have an emergency plan — and an emergency caregiver — in mind.
Every single parent has a different situation. Some may be the primary caretaker but have a parenting partner who’s in their children’s lives. If that’s the case for you, get on the same page about how to keep yourselves and the kids from becoming sick. If one of you were to get gravely ill, the other would in all probability take the parenting lead.
If you’re a single parent without a co-parent or an ex to designate as your child’s caregiver in the event that you’re incapacitated, give some thought to who you’d select. When selecting a legal guardian, pick someone who will provide children with as much stability as possible, said Ann Margaret Carrozza, an estate planning attorney in New York.
“Close geographic proximity matters,” she said. “Ask yourself: Would selecting this person allow my children to remain in the same school and not lose established friendships during a time of emotional upheaval?”
Recognize that there’s no “perfect guardian” and instead look for a person who will treat your children with warmth and patience, while allowing them to have fun, Carozza said.
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If you’re struggling to select one person, the attorney suggests suggesting two “B+ candidates” and have them act together.
“The children would physically reside with one guardian, but both named guardians would participate in medical and education decisions,” she said.
NoSystem images via Getty Images When selecting a legal guardian, pick someone who will provide children with as much stability as possible.
Get key estate-planning documents in order.
Life insurance may make sense for you, especially if your kids’ other parent isn’t in the picture.
You may want to look into term life insurance, which provides coverage for a set period of time, usually around 20 to 30 years. Insurance brokers may try to push you into a whole life insurance policy but term life insurance policies are much more affordable.
David Bross, an estate planning specialist at Truepoint Wealth Counsel, told HuffPost that single parents should consider preparing three big estate-planning documents:
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A financial power of attorney (FPOA): “This is a legal document that gives an agent the authority to carry on a person’s financial affairs and protect their property by acting on their behalf,” he said. “The FPOA gives the agent the ability to pay bills, write checks, make deposits, sell or purchase assets or sign any tax returns.”
“This is a legal document that gives an agent the authority to carry on a person’s financial affairs and protect their property by acting on their behalf,” he said. “The FPOA gives the agent the ability to pay bills, write checks, make deposits, sell or purchase assets or sign any tax returns.” A health care power of attorney (HCPOA): “This is a legal document which gives an agent the authority to make healthcare decision on your behalf if you are incompetent or incapacitated,” Bross said.
“This is a legal document which gives an agent the authority to make healthcare decision on your behalf if you are incompetent or incapacitated,” Bross said. A living will: “This is a legal document that allows you to specify what end-of-life treatment you do or don’t want to receive it you become terminally ill or are permanently unconscious with no chance of survival without the administration of life support,” he said. “Without a living will, the decision to remove live support is left in the hands of your health care agent or family members. This can be a very emotional decision for family members. By creating a living will, you set forth your wishes and take that decision out of your family member’s hands.
Manage your stress and take care of yourself.
Yes, it’s important to identify people who can serve as emergency caregivers and prepare key documents. But it’s equally important to manage your stress and anxiety over what could happen.
Focus on what you can control in this situation: keeping your kids as safe and healthy as possible and prioritizing your own self-care and health practice. That means making sure you get your rest, eat well, exercise and wash your hands thoroughly and often after going out.
As for things you don’t have control over ― feeling isolated and financially strained, potentially catching the virus ― work on learning to accept the unknown and the uneasy feelings that go along with it, said Gina Delucca, a clinical psychologist at Wellspace SF.
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“Know that your feelings are normal and valid, and that it’s OK to feel whatever you’re feeling,” Delucca told HuffPost last month. “Remind yourself that what’s going on is temporary and try to find comfort in knowing that we are all going through these tough times of uncertainty together.”


huffpost--2020-04-16--Facebook Plans To Warn Users Who 'Liked' Coronavirus Hoaxes

The company will soon be letting users know if they liked , reacted to , or commented on posts with harmful misinformation about the virus that was removed by moderators , by directing those who engaged with those posts to information about virus myths debunked by the World Health Organization .
Facebook and other platforms have already taken steps to curb the wave of dangerous misinformation that has spread along with the coronavirus .
Facebook has banned bogus ads promising coronavirus treatments or cures .
No such thing exists .
There is no vaccine , though there is a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giant is altering its algorithms and , through an information page , attempting to put before users facts about the virus from global health organizations , as well as state and local health departments .
Conspiracy theories about the origin of the virus and the vaccines being developed to prevent it still pop up daily .
Posts or videos that promote unverified treatments and cures have raked in thousands of a views .
Facebook users , for example , viewed a false claim that the virus is destroyed by chlorine dioxide nearly 200,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today from Avaaz , a left-leaning advocacy group that tracks and researches online misinformation .
The group found more than 100 pieces of misinformation about the coronavirus on Facebook , viewed millions of times even after the claims had been marked as false or misleading by fact checkers .
Other false claims were not labeled as misinformation , despite being declared by fact-checkers as false .
Facebook partners with news organizations around the world to provide fact checks of misleading content on its site .
The Associated Press is part of that fact-checking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been deadly .
Last month , Iranian media reported more than 300 people had died and 1,000 were sickened in the country after ingesting methanol , a toxic alcohol rumored to be a remedy on social media .
An Arizona man also died after taking chloroquine phosphate — a product that some mistake for the anti-malaria drug chloroquine , which President Donald Trump and conservative pundits have touted as a treatment for COVID-19 .
Health officials have warned the drug hasn ’ t been proven safe or effective as a virus therapy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations around the globe to provide fact checks of misleading content on its site .
The Associated Press is part of the fact-checking program .
Facebook users already see a warning label over articles , posts or videos in their feed that those fact checkers have marked as false or misleading .
On Thursday the company announced that it put warning labels on 40 million coronavirus-related posts in March alone thanks to the roughly 4,000 articles those fact checkers produced .
The warning labels stop about 95 % of users from viewing the @ @

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NEW YORK (AP) — Have you liked or commented on a Facebook post about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Facebook is about to begin letting you know if you’ve spread bad information.
The company will soon be letting users know if they liked, reacted to, or commented on posts with harmful misinformation about the virus that was removed by moderators, by directing those who engaged with those posts to information about virus myths debunked by the World Health Organization.
Social media is awash in bad takes about the outbreak and platforms have begun to combat that misinformation.
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Facebook said Thursday that people will begin seeing warning messages in coming weeks.
Facebook and other platforms have already taken steps to curb the wave of dangerous misinformation that has spread along with the coronavirus.
Facebook has banned bogus ads promising coronavirus treatments or cures. No such thing exists. There is no vaccine, though there is a global race to develop one.
The tech giant is altering its algorithms and, through an information page, attempting to put before users facts about the virus from global health organizations, as well as state and local health departments.
That hasn’t stopped the spread of bad information.
Conspiracy theories about the origin of the virus and the vaccines being developed to prevent it still pop up daily. Posts or videos that promote unverified treatments and cures have raked in thousands of a views.
Advertisement
Facebook users, for example, viewed a false claim that the virus is destroyed by chlorine dioxide nearly 200,000 times, estimates a new study out today from Avaaz, a left-leaning advocacy group that tracks and researches online misinformation.
The group found more than 100 pieces of misinformation about the coronavirus on Facebook, viewed millions of times even after the claims had been marked as false or misleading by fact checkers. Other false claims were not labeled as misinformation, despite being declared by fact-checkers as false. Facebook partners with news organizations around the world to provide fact checks of misleading content on its site. The Associated Press is part of that fact-checking program.
“Coronavirus misinformation content mutates and spreads faster than Facebook’s current system can track it,” Avaaz said in its report.
Fake information on social media has been deadly. Last month, Iranian media reported more than 300 people had died and 1,000 were sickened in the country after ingesting methanol, a toxic alcohol rumored to be a remedy on social media. An Arizona man also died after taking chloroquine phosphate — a product that some mistake for the anti-malaria drug chloroquine, which President Donald Trump and conservative pundits have touted as a treatment for COVID-19. Health officials have warned the drug hasn’t been proven safe or effective as a virus therapy.
The side effects of chloroquine can be dangerous.


huffpost--2020-04-16--I Don’t Need A Self-Isolation Project. I Need Time To Grieve.

Photo Courtesy of Sunny Fitzgerald The author on April 3 in Honolulu , Hawaii , where she lives , on the day that both the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced their recommendations that the public use face masks .
I was supposed to spend the day tying up loose ends and packing for an Antarctica assignment , but the World Health Organization had just declared a global pandemic less than 24 hours before and countries around the world were increasingly implementing travel restrictions .
The dangers of catching and spreading the coronavirus were becoming clearer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and closed borders were suddenly greater .
So a few hours after the announcement , on the eve of my departure , I decided to postpone .
Now , instead of catching my flight to Ushuaia — coincidentally dubbed the “ City at the End of the World ” for its southernmost position at the tip of Argentina — I was scrolling a newsfeed filled with posts about empty store shelves and impending lockdowns , wondering whether I wasn ’ t already witnessing the end of the world right here from home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I sat down to work as if it were any other Thursday .
But the gnawing heaviness persisted for hours , then days , intermittently drowned out only by the voices of people I was interviewing over the phone .
Each time I hung up , the heaviness returned .
And when I caught my mind drifting in the direction of despair , I remembered the last time I ’ d experienced similar all-consuming emotions .
A year ago , almost to the exact day , a friend was tragically killed — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people on board the Ethiopian Airlines flight that crashed shortly after takeoff .
He had been my first roommate in a new city , at a pivotal point in my life when I had taken the leap to live in Jordan .
He was kind , selfless , and humble .
He had a quirky sense of humor and a huge heart .
And like so many of the passengers on that ill-fated flight , he had dedicated his time to humanitarian causes .
He was working with refugees in Jordan when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was en route to deliver a training in Kenya for his job with another humanitarian organization when the plane went down on March 10 , 2019 .
He didn ’ t deserve such a horrific end to such a sweet existence .
His death was like dynamite — it rocked my foundational understanding of everything I thought I knew about life and left sad , scattered fragments in its wake .
But I didn ’ t allow myself time to grieve immediately after .
Instead , I tried to power through and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that had a devastating impact on my mental and physical health .
So this year , when productivity and marketing emails started streaming in after the pandemic announcement , proposing all the ways we should maximize our time , I furiously deleted them and unsubscribed to anyone insisting that I find ways to fill my days .
I wasn ’ t interested in “ apps to turn your phone into a productivity machine.
” I didn ’ t need reorganizing tips from Target or “ habits to dramatically improve productivity.
” I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workshops , shoes to WFH in or tips for how to “ clean that dirty liver.
” ( But I do have a lot of questions : Who is life planning when we can ’ t even leave the house ?
Why would anyone wear shoes while working from home ?
And who are these people up in my inbox calling my liver dirty ? )
This time , it wasn ’ t a friend ’ s death that initially prompted the grief I was feeling ( though I have since lost a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other health issues ) .
It was the omnipresent layers of loss we were suddenly and globally submerged in : the daily death tolls blasting across our screens , swift shutdowns of businesses , the absence of physical connection , the abrupt loss of our pre-pandemic lives .
For some , like front-liners and other essential workers , there is the increased risk and demands of additional hours and isolation from loved ones .
For others , including teachers and students , there is the loss of the in-person communities they cherish .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to support or health care , there ’ s a genuine concern about starvation and safety .
For everyone , the coronavirus canceled life as we knew it .
For these reasons and so many others , it ’ s natural to feel a deep need to grieve .
And while I ’ d love to pick up a paintbrush or finish writing the TV series that ’ s been on my to-do list for the past two years , that ’ s not feasible for me and many others in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evenly distributed a surplus of time , money and energy to everyone .
Some of us are now spending more effort and hours chasing down work to replace income lost and scrambling to ensure our families are fed something — so we might not have the energy or resources at the end of the day to prepare a picture-perfect # coronachef meal .
Others are putting in long hours at essential jobs and can ’ t even step foot into their own houses , let alone have the chance to tackle a home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trauma can dramatically deplete energy and creativity , so even folks who do have extra time may find they don ’ t have the desire to dive into a # quarantineproject .
( There ’ s nothing wrong with doing those things if you ’ ve got the time and resources .
Just understand that not everyone does , and no one should be expected to operate at their pre-pandemic pace . )
Last year I learned that fighting grief was futile , so instead of searching for distractions or escape , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I let the anger , heartbreak , disappointment , sadness and fear flow through me .
I sobbed between interviews .
I screamed at the mirror .
I sprinted in the street , trying to convince my legs to hurt more than my heart .
I let my feelings bubble up instead of shoving them down .
You don ’ t realize how much mental energy you ’ re expending on resistance until you see how much freer you feel after acceptance .
Grief is not linear or logical , and sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t follow a checklist or sensical steps to some specific endpoint , and there ’ s no “ right way ” through it .
Over the course of the last year , I came to understand that grief isn ’ t a constant — which is both good and bad news : It ’ s not the same forever , yet it never fully goes away .
Some days it ’ s dormant , and other days it storms in and sends tears rushing down your face .

The author on April 3 in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she lives, on the day that both the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced their recommendations that the public use face masks. Photo Courtesy of Sunny Fitzgerald
There’s a distinct breath-stealing, gut-punch feeling in the morning moment when grief comes barging in before your eyes even adjust to the light of a new day.
It’s the heaviness of emptiness — the weight of a void in your life where something that mattered to you used to exist.
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I woke up with that feeling on March 12.
I was supposed to spend the day tying up loose ends and packing for an Antarctica assignment, but the World Health Organization had just declared a global pandemic less than 24 hours before and countries around the world were increasingly implementing travel restrictions. The dangers of catching and spreading the coronavirus were becoming clearer, and the risks of canceled flights and closed borders were suddenly greater. So a few hours after the announcement, on the eve of my departure, I decided to postpone.
Now, instead of catching my flight to Ushuaia — coincidentally dubbed the “City at the End of the World” for its southernmost position at the tip of Argentina — I was scrolling a newsfeed filled with posts about empty store shelves and impending lockdowns, wondering whether I wasn’t already witnessing the end of the world right here from home.
I still had deadlines to meet, so I sat down to work as if it were any other Thursday. But the gnawing heaviness persisted for hours, then days, intermittently drowned out only by the voices of people I was interviewing over the phone. Each time I hung up, the heaviness returned. And when I caught my mind drifting in the direction of despair, I remembered the last time I’d experienced similar all-consuming emotions.
A year ago, almost to the exact day, a friend was tragically killed — along with all of the other 156 people on board the Ethiopian Airlines flight that crashed shortly after takeoff. He had been my first roommate in a new city, at a pivotal point in my life when I had taken the leap to live in Jordan. He was kind, selfless, and humble. He had a quirky sense of humor and a huge heart.
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And like so many of the passengers on that ill-fated flight, he had dedicated his time to humanitarian causes. He was working with refugees in Jordan when I first met him in 2017, and he was en route to deliver a training in Kenya for his job with another humanitarian organization when the plane went down on March 10, 2019. He didn’t deserve such a horrific end to such a sweet existence.
His death was like dynamite — it rocked my foundational understanding of everything I thought I knew about life and left sad, scattered fragments in its wake. But I didn’t allow myself time to grieve immediately after. Instead, I tried to power through and produce work at my usual pace — and that had a devastating impact on my mental and physical health.
So this year, when productivity and marketing emails started streaming in after the pandemic announcement, proposing all the ways we should maximize our time, I furiously deleted them and unsubscribed to anyone insisting that I find ways to fill my days. I wasn’t interested in “apps to turn your phone into a productivity machine.” I didn’t need reorganizing tips from Target or “habits to dramatically improve productivity.” I wasn’t looking for life planning workshops, shoes to WFH in or tips for how to “clean that dirty liver.” (But I do have a lot of questions: Who is life planning when we can’t even leave the house? Why would anyone wear shoes while working from home? And who are these people up in my inbox calling my liver dirty?)
I didn’t need a Pinterest project or any other fill-my-time, fix-my-life thing people were peddling. I needed a chance to mourn.
This time, it wasn’t a friend’s death that initially prompted the grief I was feeling (though I have since lost a colleague to COVID-19 and my grandfather to other health issues). It was the omnipresent layers of loss we were suddenly and globally submerged in: the daily death tolls blasting across our screens, swift shutdowns of businesses, the absence of physical connection, the abrupt loss of our pre-pandemic lives.
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For some, like front-liners and other essential workers, there is the increased risk and demands of additional hours and isolation from loved ones. For others, including teachers and students, there is the loss of the in-person communities they cherish. For many, and especially those without access to support or health care, there’s a genuine concern about starvation and safety. For everyone, the coronavirus canceled life as we knew it. For these reasons and so many others, it’s natural to feel a deep need to grieve.
But while the world is locked down, many of our usual outlets for processing emotions — such as get-togethers, gym activities, time outdoors and travel — are restricted or shut down entirely.
So I decided that if I’m required to shelter-in-place with grief, I’d better get comfortable with it.
Recognizing familiar feelings of grief early on helped me avoid descending to the same depths of darkness I had plummeted into following my friend’s death last year. This time around, I knew that pushing through projects wouldn’t fast-track my grief — it would only prolong it.
And while I’d love to pick up a paintbrush or finish writing the TV series that’s been on my to-do list for the past two years, that’s not feasible for me and many others in this moment. The pandemic hasn’t evenly distributed a surplus of time, money and energy to everyone. Some of us are now spending more effort and hours chasing down work to replace income lost and scrambling to ensure our families are fed something — so we might not have the energy or resources at the end of the day to prepare a picture-perfect #coronachef meal.
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Others are putting in long hours at essential jobs and can’t even step foot into their own houses, let alone have the chance to tackle a home improvement project. Grief, fear and trauma can dramatically deplete energy and creativity, so even folks who do have extra time may find they don’t have the desire to dive into a #quarantineproject. (There’s nothing wrong with doing those things if you’ve got the time and resources. Just understand that not everyone does, and no one should be expected to operate at their pre-pandemic pace.)
Last year I learned that fighting grief was futile, so instead of searching for distractions or escape, this time I sat still and acknowledged it. I let the anger, heartbreak, disappointment, sadness and fear flow through me. I sobbed between interviews. I screamed at the mirror. I sprinted in the street, trying to convince my legs to hurt more than my heart. I let my feelings bubble up instead of shoving them down. You don’t realize how much mental energy you’re expending on resistance until you see how much freer you feel after acceptance.
Grief is not linear or logical, and sometimes it comes in waves. You can’t follow a checklist or sensical steps to some specific endpoint, and there’s no “right way” through it. Over the course of the last year, I came to understand that grief isn’t a constant — which is both good and bad news: It’s not the same forever, yet it never fully goes away. Some days it’s dormant, and other days it storms in and sends tears rushing down your face.
Productivity can’t protect us from it. But I believe acceptance of grief can diminish the element of surprise. When we make the conscious decision to accept it in whatever form it shows up, we sap some of its strength and gain back a bit of our serenity.
Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch!


huffpost--2020-04-16--How To Say 'No' To Virtual Hangouts (Even If You Don’t Have Plans)

In some respects , socializing during coronavirus quarantining is easier than before .
You no longer have to change out of your pajamas or get off the couch to hang out with friends or family .
But even virtual get-togethers can be taxing in their own way .
Receiving a bunch of invitations to FaceTime , Zoom , Google Hangout and Houseparty can feel overwhelming when you ’ re exhausted just trying to get through the day .
“ Being quarantined has added a layer of emotional stress , along with doing our paid jobs , cooking more , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online classes , ” social psychologist Susan Newman , author of “ The Book of No : 365 Ways to Say it and Mean it―and Stop People-Pleasing Forever , ” told HuffPost .
“ Factor in wiping down groceries and cleaning .
Most of us are not chilling out and watching Netflix or TV.
” In general , we have a tough time when we think we ’ re letting people down , Newman said .
“ If you are a people-pleaser who wants to keep others happy or someone who avoids confrontation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ no ’ to meeting up virtually , ” she said .
“ You might also worry you will miss something important , even fun , by not joining in.
” Under normal circumstances , if a pal asks you to do something and you ’ re busy , you just say so ― your kid has a birthday party that day or you ’ re out of town for the weekend .
But now , with almost everyone home all the time , “ legitimate ” reasons for declining invitations are harder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are home and they know it , your usual ‘ outs ’ are out , ” Newman said .
“ You can ’ t claim you are racing off to a meeting , you have a date or are driving your child to a soccer game.
” Some people will feel a sense of guilt if they don ’ t accept every Zoom invitation that comes their way — even though they shouldn ’ t .
Right now , protecting our time is especially important .
“ Be choosy about the meetings you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule , not everyone else ’ s , or you will resent the time online , ” Newman said .
“ Self-care should be your top priority so you have the energy and time to meet all the demands being made on you during this period of social distancing.
” While some virtual hangouts cheer you up and make you feel more connected , others may leave you more anxious than when you started .
Feel empowered to say “ no ” to anything that ’ s going to make you feel worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to explain why you ’ re choosing to sit this one out , keep it honest and brief .
O-Pries and Newman offer some suggestions below ― just go with whatever best captures your reasoning .
“ Thank you for inviting me .
I am actually trying to limit my screen time a bit more , since social distancing has me looking at my devices most of the time , ” O-Pries recommended .
“ I just need to give my eyes and my mind a break .
I ’ m sure I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
In some respects, socializing during coronavirus quarantining is easier than before. You no longer have to change out of your pajamas or get off the couch to hang out with friends or family.
But even virtual get-togethers can be taxing in their own way. Receiving a bunch of invitations to FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangout and Houseparty can feel overwhelming when you’re exhausted just trying to get through the day.
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“Being quarantined has added a layer of emotional stress, along with doing our paid jobs, cooking more, and perhaps homeschooling our children or supervising their online classes,” social psychologist Susan Newman, author of “The Book of No: 365 Ways to Say it and Mean it―and Stop People-Pleasing Forever,” told HuffPost. “Factor in wiping down groceries and cleaning. Most of us are not chilling out and watching Netflix or TV.”
As Vice’s Rachel Miller put it, “Simply being alive during a pandemic requires a ton of energy.”
Hardest introvert thing right now is extracting yourself from lengthy Zooms when your friends know you have nowhere else to be 😅 — Brit Bennett (@britrbennett) March 28, 2020
So why is it hard to say no when someone wants to make plans with us, digital or otherwise?
In general, we have a tough time when we think we’re letting people down, Newman said. “If you are a people-pleaser who wants to keep others happy or someone who avoids confrontation, you will have more trouble saying ‘no’ to meeting up virtually,” she said. “You might also worry you will miss something important, even fun, by not joining in.”
Under normal circumstances, if a pal asks you to do something and you’re busy, you just say so ― your kid has a birthday party that day or you’re out of town for the weekend. But now, with almost everyone home all the time, “legitimate” reasons for declining invitations are harder to come by.
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“Because you are home and they know it, your usual ‘outs’ are out,” Newman said. “You can’t claim you are racing off to a meeting, you have a date or are driving your child to a soccer game.”
FilippoBacci via Getty Images You don't need to make up some elaborate excuse. A polite but firm "no" gets the job done.
Some people will feel a sense of guilt if they don’t accept every Zoom invitation that comes their way — even though they shouldn’t. Right now, protecting our time is especially important.
“Every person reading this has every good reason to set boundaries in order to take care of themselves right now, including declining virtual social invitations,” said Nicole O-Pries, a therapist at Virginia Affirming Counseling in Richmond, Virginia.
So it’s OK to be a little more selective when it comes to what online gatherings you say yes to these days.
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“Be choosy about the meetings you accept and be sure they fit your schedule, not everyone else’s, or you will resent the time online,” Newman said. “Self-care should be your top priority so you have the energy and time to meet all the demands being made on you during this period of social distancing.”
While some virtual hangouts cheer you up and make you feel more connected, others may leave you more anxious than when you started. Feel empowered to say “no” to anything that’s going to make you feel worse right now.
“This is particularly the case when the virtual happy hour becomes a round-robin of sharing the most recent terrible truths of this pandemic,” O-Pries said. “These social interactions may feel similar to watching too much COVID-19 media coverage.”
How To Decline A Virtual Invite
You don’t need to make up some B.S. reason to justify your not wanting to socialize at the moment. Give a polite but firm “no” and move on.
Something like: “I can’t this time, but I hope you will continue to invite me to any future events,” O-Pries suggested.
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But if you want to explain why you’re choosing to sit this one out, keep it honest and brief. O-Pries and Newman offer some suggestions below ― just go with whatever best captures your reasoning.
I’m limiting my screen time.
“Thank you for inviting me. I am actually trying to limit my screen time a bit more, since social distancing has me looking at my devices most of the time,” O-Pries recommended. “I just need to give my eyes and my mind a break. I’m sure I would like to do this sometime in the future.”
I promised my partner/roommate/kids I’d spend time with them.
“Or, the kids and I are going for a run, walk, jog, or playing a board game,” said Newman.
I’ve had too many Zoom work meetings this week.
“My office is waiting for a huge report from me,” Newman suggested. “Or, I have virtual meetings with my office every day weekly. I can’t handle any more.”
I’m just not up for a video call right now.
“I’m ‘virtual-ed’ out — let’s try texting,” Newman said. “Or, let’s set up a time to talk on the phone.”
Remember that while you may be concerned that you’re disappointing your family and friends by declining, they’ll probably be quite OK with your refusal, Newman said.
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“What most don’t realize is that when you say ‘no,’ people are not thinking about you as much as you worry about what they think,” Newman said. “Friends, in particular, will move on to find someone else to fill the virtual spot you open up by turning down the invitation.”


huffpost--2020-04-16--We Asked A Lighthouse Keeper About Loneliness And Social Isolation

“ I don ’ t really feel like physical isolation is the same as loneliness , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ when I was living in town because I was surrounded by people I didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ t know how to get to know.
” Etzkorn recently began attending church online , @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus pandemic .
She admits that she misses being able to go in @ @ @ @ @ eating out .
Groceries are delivered via helicopter once a month or so , and @ @ @ @ @ to eat food in the order it goes bad .

“I don’t really feel like physical isolation is the same as loneliness,” she said. “I felt very isolated when I was living in town because I was surrounded by people I didn’t know and didn’t know how to get to know.”
Etzkorn recently began attending church online, after services went virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic. She admits that she misses being able to go in person — that, and eating out. Groceries are delivered via helicopter once a month or so, and the couple schedules their meals to eat food in the order it goes bad.