huffpost--2020-03-15--Brothers Accused Of Price Gouging Medical Supplies Face State Probe

Two brothers accused of profiting off of coronavirus fears by buying up thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer and medical masks to resell at inflated prices have been ordered to halt operations amid an investigation by the Tennessee Attorney General ’ s Office .
Matt Colvin and Noah Colvin of Hixson , Tennessee , were served a complaint from the AG ’ s office on Saturday shortly after they showed off their incredible stash of goods to media outlets .
“ I saw a demand , that ’ s what I have to say about that , ” Matt Colvin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which he said he collected while driving around to stores in Tennessee and Kentucky .
Until his online store was shut down by Amazon over price gouging complaints , he sold 300 bottles of hand sanitizer for between $ 8 and $ 70 each , he told The New York Times .
Colvin said he doesn ’ t believe what he was doing was price gouging , in part because alcohol-based hand sanitizer is expensive to ship , since it is considered a hazardous material .
“ Just because it cost me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t mean it ’ s not going to cost me $ 16 to get it to your door , ” Colvin told the Times .
He also expressed a belief that his business was acting as a public service , arguing that he was moving resources from areas that didn ’ t have an overwhelming demand to areas that did .
Matt Colvin stands with medical supplies that he said he purchased from stores in Tennessee and Kentucky to sell online for a profit .
But with his online stores shut down , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer and no one to sell them to .
He compared his fast rise and fall to “ whiplash.
” “ From being in a situation where what I ’ ve got coming and going could potentially put my family in a really good place financially to , ‘ What the heck am I going to do with all of this ?
’ ” he told the Times .
In the wake of his interviews , Colvin said on a website that reportedly belongs to him that all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a local church and first responders .
A spokesperson for the Tennessee Attorney General ’ s Office confirmed Sunday that most of the products were donated to a local church after the office verified the church ’ s plan to disseminate the hand sanitizer .
Roughly one-third of the items were being held to return to Kentucky .
She said the brothers donated the items voluntarily , but that doing so would not “ get them off the hook.
” Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee declared a state of emergency on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is the disease caused by the coronavirus .
This declaration makes it illegal for vendors to charge too much for certain items .

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Two brothers accused of profiting off of coronavirus fears by buying up thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer and medical masks to resell at inflated prices have been ordered to halt operations amid an investigation by the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.
Matt Colvin and Noah Colvin of Hixson, Tennessee, were served a complaint from the AG’s office on Saturday shortly after they showed off their incredible stash of goods to media outlets.
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“I saw a demand, that’s what I have to say about that,” Matt Colvin told Chattanooga station WRCB-TV of his inventory, which he said he collected while driving around to stores in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Until his online store was shut down by Amazon over price gouging complaints, he sold 300 bottles of hand sanitizer for between $8 and $70 each, he told The New York Times.
Colvin said he doesn’t believe what he was doing was price gouging, in part because alcohol-based hand sanitizer is expensive to ship, since it is considered a hazardous material.
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“Just because it cost me $2 in the store doesn’t mean it’s not going to cost me $16 to get it to your door,” Colvin told the Times.
He also expressed a belief that his business was acting as a public service, arguing that he was moving resources from areas that didn’t have an overwhelming demand to areas that did.
Matt Colvin stands with medical supplies that he said he purchased from stores in Tennessee and Kentucky to sell online for a profit. WRCB
But with his online stores shut down, Colvin lamented that he was stuck with 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer and no one to sell them to. He compared his fast rise and fall to “whiplash.”
“From being in a situation where what I’ve got coming and going could potentially put my family in a really good place financially to, ‘What the heck am I going to do with all of this?’” he told the Times.
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In the wake of his interviews, Colvin said on a website that reportedly belongs to him that all of his remaining hand sanitizer will be donated to a local church and first responders.
A spokesperson for the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office confirmed Sunday that most of the products were donated to a local church after the office verified the church’s plan to disseminate the hand sanitizer. Roughly one-third of the items were being held to return to Kentucky.
She said the brothers donated the items voluntarily, but that doing so would not “get them off the hook.”
“If our investigation determines that they broke the price gouging statute, we will seek appropriate penalties,” the spokesperson said.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the spread of COVID-19, which is the disease caused by the coronavirus. This declaration makes it illegal for vendors to charge too much for certain items.
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Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron released a joint statement on Saturday encouraging the public to report potential price gouging or suspicious activity to authorities for review.


huffpost--2020-03-15--Labs Will Now Process Up To 4,000 Coronavirus Tests A Day, White House Says

JIM WATSON via Getty Images Reporters ask questions as President Donald Trump departs after speaking during a press briefing about the coronavirus on Sunday .
Labs across the country will be able to process a total of 4,000 coronavirus tests each day starting this week , Trump administration officials said in a press conference on Sunday .
More than a million additional tests will be available this week and officials suggested that processing capacity could be ramped up soon as well .
“ We are going from somewhat manual , relatively slow phases to a testing regimen that we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of individuals per week and maybe even more , ” said Admiral Brett Giroir , who heads coronavirus testing for the Department of Health and Human Services , during a press conference on Sunday .
During the same press conference , Vice President Mike Pence reiterated that all coronavirus testing will be free for every American , thanks to a deal negotiated in the House of Representatives .
“ Because of the good , bipartisan work done in the House of Representatives , now all coronavirus testing is free , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― including the uninsured , ” Pence said .
Health care facilities will administer tests and prioritize people who need them most , including health care workers , first responders and Americans over the age of 65 .
Sunday ’ s press conference came during a week in which states across the U.S. heightened their responses to the spread of the coronavirus , issuing states of emergency , canceling public gatherings , and urging citizens to stay indoors to avoid contracting or passing along COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a belated response to the spreading coronavirus since initially dismissing it as a Democratic Party-led hoax in February .
As the numbers of reported cases have risen in recent weeks , the federal government has been unable to provide adequate testing capabilities that would give public health officials a better sense of how far the virus has spread .
Because the majority of Americans can not currently get tested and , therefore , do not know whether they are carriers , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-imposed isolation ― to curb the spread .
Earlier on Sunday , Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , warned that Americans are not avoiding social contact as much as they should be .
“ I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing , ” Fauci said .

Reporters ask questions as President Donald Trump departs after speaking during a press briefing about the coronavirus on Sunday. JIM WATSON via Getty Images
Labs across the country will be able to process a total of 4,000 coronavirus tests each day starting this week, Trump administration officials said in a press conference on Sunday.
More than a million additional tests will be available this week and officials suggested that processing capacity could be ramped up soon as well.
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“We are going from somewhat manual, relatively slow phases to a testing regimen that we can test many tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of individuals per week and maybe even more,” said Admiral Brett Giroir, who heads coronavirus testing for the Department of Health and Human Services, during a press conference on Sunday.
He added: “This is really a game-changer for us.”
During the same press conference, Vice President Mike Pence reiterated that all coronavirus testing will be free for every American, thanks to a deal negotiated in the House of Representatives.
“Because of the good, bipartisan work done in the House of Representatives, now all coronavirus testing is free, and it’s free for every American ― including the uninsured,” Pence said.
Health care facilities will administer tests and prioritize people who need them most, including health care workers, first responders and Americans over the age of 65.
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Sunday’s press conference came during a week in which states across the U.S. heightened their responses to the spread of the coronavirus, issuing states of emergency, canceling public gatherings, and urging citizens to stay indoors to avoid contracting or passing along COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
The Trump administration has tried to coordinate a belated response to the spreading coronavirus since initially dismissing it as a Democratic Party-led hoax in February. As the numbers of reported cases have risen in recent weeks, the federal government has been unable to provide adequate testing capabilities that would give public health officials a better sense of how far the virus has spread.
Because the majority of Americans cannot currently get tested and, therefore, do not know whether they are carriers, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised people to practice “social distancing” ― or self-imposed isolation ― to curb the spread.
Earlier on Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned that Americans are not avoiding social contact as much as they should be.


huffpost--2020-03-15--Australia Imposes 14-Day Self-Isolation On All International Travelers

SYDNEY ( Reuters ) ― Australia will impose 14-day self-isolation on international travelers arriving from midnight Sunday and ban cruise ships from foreign ports for 30 days , mirroring restrictions in nearby New Zealand aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus .
The strict measures were designed to slow the spread of the global pandemic across Australia and help the country “ flatten the peak ” of the virus , Morrison told a news conference .
“ To help stay ahead of this curve , we will impose a universal precautionary self-isolation requirement on all international arrivals to Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ Further the Australian government will also ban cruise ships from foreign ports from arriving at Australian ports for an initial 30 days.
” The new border restrictions come as Australia recorded more than 250 cases of coronavirus and three deaths .
As of mid-March , COVID-19 , the deadly respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus , has infected 156,00 people globally and killed more than 5,800 .
The bans mean foreign nationals who have been in any of the four nations will not be allowed into Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left those countries .
Australian citizens and permanent residents traveling from those countries will still be able to enter Australia but must self-isolate for a fortnight after returning home .
Qantas Airways said it would give passengers on all Qantas and Jetstar flights the option to cancel and receive travel credits , while Virgin Australia said it was assessing how it could best support its customers .
Australia has advised against non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday , but this is yet to apply to schools and universities .
Morrison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing ” , such as keeping a meter ( three feet ) apart and not to shake hands , in order to reduce transmissions .
He said the rate of community transmission had started to increase and that social distancing would help limit demand on the healthcare systems , which would mean better treatment for elderly and those in remote and vulnerable communities .
“ That ’ s what happens when you get this right and we ’ ve seen other countries going down this path.
” Neighboring New Zealand on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including its own citizens , to self-isolate for two weeks and banned cruise ships .
The Australian government is yet to restrict the operation of schools , but earlier on Sunday the Health Minister Greg Hunt did not rule out such a measure in the coming months .

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SYDNEY (Reuters) ― Australia will impose 14-day self-isolation on international travelers arriving from midnight Sunday and ban cruise ships from foreign ports for 30 days, mirroring restrictions in nearby New Zealand aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the new measures after a meeting with a newly formed national cabinet, dubbed the coronavirus ‘war cabinet’.
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The strict measures were designed to slow the spread of the global pandemic across Australia and help the country “flatten the peak” of the virus, Morrison told a news conference.
“To help stay ahead of this curve, we will impose a universal precautionary self-isolation requirement on all international arrivals to Australia and that is effective from midnight tonight,” he said.
“Further the Australian government will also ban cruise ships from foreign ports from arriving at Australian ports for an initial 30 days.”
"All people coming to Australia will be required, I stress, to self-isolate for 14 days.”
Australia announced a new measure to curve the spread of the #coronavirus including a self-isolation requirement for all travelers arriving in the country #COVIDー19 #Covid19Aus pic.twitter.com/F2omRxHBkP — QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) March 15, 2020
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The new border restrictions come as Australia recorded more than 250 cases of coronavirus and three deaths.
As of mid-March, COVID-19, the deadly respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, has infected 156,00 people globally and killed more than 5,800.
Australia has already imposed bans on travelers from Italy, South Korea, Iran and China, countries with high infection rates.
The bans mean foreign nationals who have been in any of the four nations will not be allowed into Australia for 14 days from the time they left those countries.
Australian citizens and permanent residents traveling from those countries will still be able to enter Australia but must self-isolate for a fortnight after returning home.
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Qantas Airways said it would give passengers on all Qantas and Jetstar flights the option to cancel and receive travel credits, while Virgin Australia said it was assessing how it could best support its customers.
DISTANCING
Australia has advised against non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday, but this is yet to apply to schools and universities.
Morrison on Sunday urged people to practice “social distancing”, such as keeping a meter (three feet) apart and not to shake hands, in order to reduce transmissions.
He said the rate of community transmission had started to increase and that social distancing would help limit demand on the healthcare systems, which would mean better treatment for elderly and those in remote and vulnerable communities.
“Slowing the spread will free up beds,” he said.
“That’s what happens when you get this right and we’ve seen other countries going down this path.”
Neighboring New Zealand on Saturday said it would require incoming travelers, including its own citizens, to self-isolate for two weeks and banned cruise ships.
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The Australian government is yet to restrict the operation of schools, but earlier on Sunday the Health Minister Greg Hunt did not rule out such a measure in the coming months.


huffpost--2020-03-15--NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Calls On Trump To Use Military In Coronavirus Fight

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) , in an opinion piece published in The New York Times on Sunday , called on President Donald Trump to use the military to expand hospital capacity as the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States .
Cuomo warned that the U.S. must take significant action now or risk experiencing an even worse situation than what is unfolding in Italy , which has seen its health care system completely overwhelmed amid the pandemic .
“ You must anticipate that , without immediate action , the imminent failure of hospital systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
“ Ask your experts , how many intensive-care beds do we need for our vulnerable populations , and how many do we have now ?
” There have been more than 1,600 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. with at least 41 deaths .
Those numbers are expected to jump as access to testing increases over the next few weeks .
U.S. health officials warn that hundreds of thousands , if not millions , of Americans could be hospitalized by COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s an average of just 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people in the U.S. , according to the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development .
In New York state alone , which has a population of about 20 million , there are 53,470 hospital beds , only 3,186 of which are intensive-care beds , according to Cuomo .
“ States can not build more hospitals , acquire ventilators or modify facilities quickly enough , ” he wrote .
“ At this point , our best hope is to utilize the Army Corps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment and people power to retrofit and equip existing facilities — like military bases or college dormitories — to serve as temporary medical centers .
Then we can designate existing hospital beds for the acutely ill. ” He added that mobilizing the Army Corps of Engineers would be legal in this situation because Trump has already declared a national emergency in response to the coronavirus .
This action allows the federal government to allocate certain funds and removes some legal barriers .
“ Doing so still won ’ t provide enough intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the military for help , “ but it is our best hope.
” The Democratic governor also urged Trump to decrease regulation of COVID-19 tests and authorize states to take more control of the process .
He also called on the president to create a “ uniform federal standard for when cities and states should shut down commerce and schools , or cancel events.
” “ We ’ re aware of the governor ’ s comments , but have not received a request to do any construction , ” Hoffman told reporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are some other options out there .
We ’ ve seen private companies that can do some of the construction .
”

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), in an opinion piece published in The New York Times on Sunday, called on President Donald Trump to use the military to expand hospital capacity as the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States.
Cuomo warned that the U.S. must take significant action now or risk experiencing an even worse situation than what is unfolding in Italy, which has seen its health care system completely overwhelmed amid the pandemic.
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“You must anticipate that, without immediate action, the imminent failure of hospital systems is all but certain,” Cuomo wrote. “Ask your experts, how many intensive-care beds do we need for our vulnerable populations, and how many do we have now?”
There have been more than 1,600 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. with at least 41 deaths. Those numbers are expected to jump as access to testing increases over the next few weeks.
U.S. health officials warn that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Americans could be hospitalized by COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, over the next several months.
“This would crush the nation’s medical system,” Cuomo wrote.
There’s an average of just 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people in the U.S., according to the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
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In New York state alone, which has a population of about 20 million, there are 53,470 hospital beds, only 3,186 of which are intensive-care beds, according to Cuomo.
“States cannot build more hospitals, acquire ventilators or modify facilities quickly enough,” he wrote. “At this point, our best hope is to utilize the Army Corps of Engineers to leverage its expertise, equipment and people power to retrofit and equip existing facilities — like military bases or college dormitories — to serve as temporary medical centers. Then we can designate existing hospital beds for the acutely ill.”
He added that mobilizing the Army Corps of Engineers would be legal in this situation because Trump has already declared a national emergency in response to the coronavirus. This action allows the federal government to allocate certain funds and removes some legal barriers.
“Doing so still won’t provide enough intensive care beds,” Cuomo said of tapping the military for help, “but it is our best hope.”
The Democratic governor also urged Trump to decrease regulation of COVID-19 tests and authorize states to take more control of the process. He also called on the president to create a “uniform federal standard for when cities and states should shut down commerce and schools, or cancel events.”
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The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
The Defense Department held a news conference Monday, where spokesman Jonathan Hoffman answered questions about Cuomo’s call for military support.
“We’re aware of the governor’s comments, but have not received a request to do any construction,” Hoffman told reporters. “At this time, I think there are some other options out there. We’ve seen private companies that can do some of the construction.”
Cuomo’s office did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.


huffpost--2020-03-15--Germany Tries To Stop U.S. From Luring Away Firm Seeking Coronavirus Vaccine

BERLIN ( Reuters ) - Berlin is trying to stop Washington from persuading a German company seeking a coronavirus vaccine to move its research to the United States , prompting German politicians to insist no country should have a monopoly on any future vaccine .
German government sources told Reuters on Sunday that the U.S. administration was looking into how it could gain access to a potential vaccine being developed by a German firm , CureVac .
Earlier , the Welt am Sonntag German newspaper reported that U.S. President Donald Trump had offered funds to lure CureVac to the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making counter-offers to tempt it to stay .
Responding to the report , a U.S. official said : “ This story is wildly overplayed .
The U.S. government has spoken with many ( more than 25 ) companies that claim they can help with a vaccine .
Most of these companies already received seed funding from U.S. investors.
” “ We will continue to talk to any company that claims to be able to help .
And any solution found would be shared with the world , ” the U.S. official added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quote in the newspaper , said : “ The German government is very interested in ensuring that vaccines and active substances against the new coronavirus are also developed in Germany and Europe.
” Welt am Sonntag quoted an unidentified German government source as saying Trump was trying to secure the scientists ’ work exclusively , and would do anything to get a vaccine for the United States , “ but only for the United States.
” The firm said it was in contact with many organizations and authorities worldwide , but would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ allegations about offers for acquisition of the company or its technology.
” Florian von der Muelbe , CureVac ’ s chief production officer and co-founder , told Reuters last week the company had started with a multitude of coronavirus vaccine candidates and was now selecting the two best to go into clinical trials .
The privately-held company based in Tuebingen , Germany hopes to have an experimental vaccine ready by June or July to then seek the go-ahead from regulators for testing on humans .
On its website , CureVac said CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Vice President Mike Pence , members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and senior representatives of pharmaceutical and biotech companies to discuss a vaccine .
CureVac in 2015 and 2018 secured financial backing for development projects from its investor the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , working on shots to prevent malaria and influenza .
Drugs based on mRNA provide a type of genetic blueprint that can be injected into the body to instruct cells to produce the desired therapeutic proteins .
That contrasts with the conventional approach of making these @ @ @ @ @ @

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BERLIN (Reuters) - Berlin is trying to stop Washington from persuading a German company seeking a coronavirus vaccine to move its research to the United States, prompting German politicians to insist no country should have a monopoly on any future vaccine.
German government sources told Reuters on Sunday that the U.S. administration was looking into how it could gain access to a potential vaccine being developed by a German firm, CureVac.
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Earlier, the Welt am Sonntag German newspaper reported that U.S. President Donald Trump had offered funds to lure CureVac to the United States, and the German government was making counter-offers to tempt it to stay.
Responding to the report, a U.S. official said: “This story is wildly overplayed. The U.S. government has spoken with many (more than 25) companies that claim they can help with a vaccine. Most of these companies already received seed funding from U.S. investors.”
“We will continue to talk to any company that claims to be able to help. And any solution found would be shared with the world,” the U.S. official added.
Employee Philipp Hoffmann, of German biopharmaceutical company CureVac, demonstrates research workflow on a vaccine for the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease at a laboratory in Tuebingen, Germany, March 12, 2020. (REUTERS/Andreas Gebert) Andreas Gebert / Reuters
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A German Health Ministry spokeswoman, confirming a quote in the newspaper, said: “The German government is very interested in ensuring that vaccines and active substances against the new coronavirus are also developed in Germany and Europe.”
“In this regard, the government is in intensive exchange with the company CureVac,” she added.
Welt am Sonntag quoted an unidentified German government source as saying Trump was trying to secure the scientists’ work exclusively, and would do anything to get a vaccine for the United States, “but only for the United States.”
CureVac issued a statement on Sunday, in which it said: “The company rejects current rumors of an acquisition”.
The firm said it was in contact with many organizations and authorities worldwide, but would not comment on speculation. It rejected “allegations about offers for acquisition of the company or its technology.”
A German Economy Ministry spokeswoman said Berlin “has a great interest” in producing vaccines in Germany and Europe.
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She cited Germany’s foreign trade law, under which Berlin can examine takeover bids from non-EU, so-called third countries “if national or European security interests are at stake”.
EXPERIMENTAL VACCINE
Florian von der Muelbe, CureVac’s chief production officer and co-founder, told Reuters last week the company had started with a multitude of coronavirus vaccine candidates and was now selecting the two best to go into clinical trials.
The privately-held company based in Tuebingen, Germany hopes to have an experimental vaccine ready by June or July to then seek the go-ahead from regulators for testing on humans.
On its website, CureVac said CEO Daniel Menichella early this month met Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and senior representatives of pharmaceutical and biotech companies to discuss a vaccine.
CureVac in 2015 and 2018 secured financial backing for development projects from its investor the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, working on shots to prevent malaria and influenza.
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In the field of so-called mRNA therapeutics, CureVac competes with U.S. biotech firm Moderna and German rival BioNTech, which Pfizer has identified as a potential collaboration partner.
Drugs based on mRNA provide a type of genetic blueprint that can be injected into the body to instruct cells to produce the desired therapeutic proteins. That contrasts with the conventional approach of making these proteins in labs and bio-reactors.
In the case of vaccines, the mRNA prompts body cells to produce so-called antigens, the tell-tale molecules on the surface of viruses, that spur the immune system into action.
Companies working on other coronavirus-vaccine approaches include Johnson & Johnson and INOVIO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. .


huffpost--2020-03-15--Trump Reportedly Sees Upside To Coronavirus: Promoting His Closed Borders Agenda

At his resort that evening , Trump told the donors that “ nobody is blaming us ” for the virus @ @ @ @ @ from another guest who asked for anonymity to quote the president ’ s private remarks @ @ @ @ @ the stock markets , the president seemed eager to spin the potential upside — that @ @ @ @ @ the world would promote his “ America First ” agenda .
“ Certain industries are @ @ @ @ @ hard — cruise ships and airlines and certain industries , ” the president said , @ @ @ @ @ “ But at the same time , I ’ ve been saying for a long @ @ @ @ @ our country and travel in our country , and that ’ s going to happen @ @

At his resort that evening, Trump told the donors that “nobody is blaming us” for the virus, according to an account from another guest who asked for anonymity to quote the president’s private remarks. Despite big drops in the stock markets, the president seemed eager to spin the potential upside — that the closing of borders around the world would promote his “America First” agenda.
“Certain industries are going to be hit very hard — cruise ships and airlines and certain industries,” the president said, according to the guest. “But at the same time, I’ve been saying for a long time people should stay in our country and travel in our country, and that’s going to happen.”


huffpost--2020-03-15--Former Impeachment Investigator Tests Positive For COVID-19, Slams Testing Process

The upshot of my experience is that there are almost certainly hundreds of thousands ( if not millions ) of @ @ @ @ @ States with COVID19 .
I didn ’ t take no for an answer to get @ @ @ @ @ people might .
And they go home to transmit it unknowingly .
And because I @ @ @ @ @ contact with a “ known positive , ” docs said my family could go about @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t know if people are positive if they can ’ t get a @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s great failing — the only way to stop this is to test @ @ @ @ @ I may be the first you know who tested positive , but I won ’ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s take care of each other , listen to the experts and the @ @ @ @ @ who are taking the lead in the absence of the fed government , and get @ @ @ @

The upshot of my experience is that there are almost certainly hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people walking around the United States with # COVID19. I didn’t take no for an answer to get a test, but many people might. And they go home to transmit it unknowingly.
And because I did not knowingly come into contact with a “known positive,” docs said my family could go about their business. But we can’t know if people are positive if they can’t get a test! This is the administration’s great failing — the only way to stop this is to test.
One final note: I may be the first you know who tested positive, but I won’t be the last. Let’s take care of each other, listen to the experts and the cities, states and corporations who are taking the lead in the absence of the fed government, and get through this together.


huffpost--2020-03-15--My Teen Daughter Is Sick But Can't Get The Coronavirus Test. That's Simply Not OK.

She was not able to take the test in December with her classmates because of a sequence of very unfortunate injuries that eventually took her out of school for nearly two months , so she has had her eyes set on March 14 since then .
She is a girl who likes making a schedule and sticking to it , and missing the December test date was hard .
And so , while she goes untested , she has the potential to infect others , including her family .
And though Molly has been home , in social isolation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Like so many other parents with sick kids in these past weeks , I have hesitated to utter a word about Molly ’ s illness to friends or acquaintances .
I have not wanted to cause alarm or panic .
To be clear , I have no specific reason to think that Molly has COVID-19 .
And if she does , I am not in a panic that she will not recover .
She is 16 , and , from what I have heard , the virus has difficulty adhering to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also learned that things can change quickly in the second week of the illness , and that the damage to the lungs can be permanent .
But we have all been watching the spread of the virus across the nation and around the world , and we have all been reading about the alarming shortage of tests in the United States .
Yet many school districts have remained open , because shuttering them is not a simple decision : Low-income families depend on schools to provide breakfast and lunch , and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But open schools enable the potential spread of illness from one potentially carrier to the next , to the next .
But what I see is that we are often very bad at thinking about the big picture .
The big picture is messy and complicated .
It ’ s easy for a political figure , or even a nurse fielding calls on a hotline , to tell people to get tested for COVID-19 and to direct them to their doctors or to the emergency room .
But the doctors don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room , the sick will be exposed to other sick people and will add their own germs to the mix , only to be sent home because hospitals can not meet the demand .
Some people might currently be proud of the relatively low — but rising — number of cases in this country without asking if we have all of the information we need .
But that pride is foolish .
Without adequate information , how can a school district , or even the College Board overseeing standardized tests , make responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Officials are only operating with the available information , and so Molly ’ s sister went to school on Friday , along with the other children in this city .
The SAT was set to proceed on schedule until the very last minute , after the first local case of COVID-19 was confirmed .
It ’ s not even so difficult , but it requires that we think beyond what we can see in front of us — thinking about the kind of care that keeps a sick teenager out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides the tests that she needs now in order to keep all of us safe .

Ann Wallace with her daughter Molly on vacation in 2019. Courtesy of Ann E. Wallace
My daughter Molly was supposed to take the SAT on Saturday, but she is under parent-imposed quarantine right now due to worries about her potentially having COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus).
She was not able to take the test in December with her classmates because of a sequence of very unfortunate injuries that eventually took her out of school for nearly two months, so she has had her eyes set on March 14 since then. She is a girl who likes making a schedule and sticking to it, and missing the December test date was hard.
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I thought missing the test would be even harder. But it was not.
Perhaps the disappointment will sink in later, when she is feeling better. Or perhaps there is some solace in knowing that the entire world has been turned upside down at the moment, not just hers.
And yet, while her friends are relieved that school has finally been closed for a week due to growing fears and precautions related to COVID-19, her feeling is different. Because Molly has been sick for nearly a week with a painful dry cough and a fever.
Her fever has generally been low grade, hovering around 100.5. But it has gone higher. And she has had it every day since Monday. The cough started earlier, last Sunday. And it has grown more painful each day.
Those symptoms, not alarming in ordinary times, are cause for genuine concern right now, because they are the symptoms associated with COVID-19. I don’t know if she has the virus. We might not ever know, because I cannot get Molly tested.
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In New Jersey, Molly’s symptoms are currently not enough to warrant a test. The state Department of Health has approved tests only for those who have recently traveled abroad to the identified high-risk nations or have had known direct contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19. Molly does not meet either of those criteria.
And so, while she goes untested, she has the potential to infect others, including her family. And though Molly has been home, in social isolation, since Monday afternoon, we have not. Like so many other parents with sick kids in these past weeks, I have hesitated to utter a word about Molly’s illness to friends or acquaintances. I have not wanted to cause alarm or panic.
“While she goes untested, she has the potential to infect others, including her family. And though Molly has been home, in social isolation, since Monday afternoon, we have not.”
To be clear, I have no specific reason to think that Molly has COVID-19. And if she does, I am not in a panic that she will not recover. She is 16, and, from what I have heard, the virus has difficulty adhering to the lungs of young people. But I have also learned that things can change quickly in the second week of the illness, and that the damage to the lungs can be permanent.
What’s more, I worry that if she is infected, she may have unknowingly spread the illness to others, perhaps some who are elderly or immunodeficient and could have a difficult time recovering from COVID-19. I have multiple sclerosis, which is an autoimmune disease, so I am also worried about my health.
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Beyond our family concerns, my broader worry is that all week I have watched people make decisions based on the fact that there had been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in my city. That changed Friday when the first case here was confirmed.
But we have all been watching the spread of the virus across the nation and around the world, and we have all been reading about the alarming shortage of tests in the United States. Yet many school districts have remained open, because shuttering them is not a simple decision: Low-income families depend on schools to provide breakfast and lunch, and many parents do not have alternate childcare. But open schools enable the potential spread of illness from one potentially carrier to the next, to the next.
The leadership in my home of Jersey City has been proactive in preparing for COVID-19. This has included setting up a hotline for residents concerned they may be sick. I called the hotline on Friday and shared my daughter’s symptoms, hoping that she might be cleared for a test. At the very least, I want her listed in the Department of Health’s records.
I received a return call from a nurse on Saturday morning, about 20 hours later. In that time, my daughter’s temperature had thankfully all but returned to normal, even as her cough persists.
The nurse advised me to have Molly tested at her doctor’s office. I replied that she had been to her pediatrician but the doctor’s office did not have tests and that no tests are being administered without the approval of the Department of Health. The well-meaning nurse, who works for the Department of Health, seemed unsure about this.
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She pivoted and advised me to take Molly to the emergency room. Again, I asked, Will they test her there? Because my understanding is that all tests must be approved by the Department of Health. She assured me, yes, they would test her.
Moments later, a nurse from my pediatrician’s office called to check in on Molly. She listened with incredulity when I recounted the conversation and told me to stay put unless Molly’s breathing becomes labored or she is not urinating.
Apparently, a trip to the ER will not yield us anything at this point, other than exposure to more sick people. And if Molly is indeed infected with COVID-19, she would expose others, who, in the catch-22 created by the stringent testing criteria and scarcity of tests, would also not qualify for testing.
I had cancer when I was very young and throughout my life have had chronic health problems, including multiple sclerosis, so I have spent decades navigating the healthcare system. I’ve become adept at finding competent, compassionate medical professionals, in whom I place great trust.
But what I see is that we are often very bad at thinking about the big picture. The big picture is messy and complicated. It’s easy for a political figure, or even a nurse fielding calls on a hotline, to tell people to get tested for COVID-19 and to direct them to their doctors or to the emergency room. But the doctors don’t have tests, and in the emergency room, the sick will be exposed to other sick people and will add their own germs to the mix, only to be sent home because hospitals cannot meet the demand.
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Some people might currently be proud of the relatively low — but rising — number of cases in this country without asking if we have all of the information we need. But that pride is foolish. Without adequate information, how can a school district, or even the College Board overseeing standardized tests, make responsible decisions about whether to close its doors? Officials are only operating with the available information, and so Molly’s sister went to school on Friday, along with the other children in this city. The SAT was set to proceed on schedule until the very last minute, after the first local case of COVID-19 was confirmed.
“Some people might currently be proud of the relatively low — but rising — number of cases in this country without asking if we have all of the information we need. But that pride is foolish. Without adequate information, how can a school district ... make responsible decisions about whether to close its doors?”
What is difficult is thinking ahead, protecting each other, and being forthcoming about all that we do not know.
It’s not even so difficult, but it requires that we think beyond what we can see in front of us — thinking about the kind of care that keeps a sick teenager out of the busy, contaminating emergency room, and provides the tests that she needs now in order to keep all of us safe.
Perhaps my daughter’s experiences last fall — when her world was a triangulation of home, doctors and physical therapy — prepared Molly well for the life of social isolation, uncertainty and dashed plans that she once again finds herself in now. Perhaps it puts her ahead of the curve in understanding how to remain calm in the face of the unknown immediate future.
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And perhaps it prepared me for the maddening work of safeguarding her health, while trying to appreciate the perspective of her teachers, who are facing other demands, and even of her sister, who has her own set of needs.
I feel cautiously optimistic that my child is on the mend, and that her illness is nothing but a blip that will be behind her in a few weeks. But I don’t know what kind of consequences could await others, including myself, if she has or had COVID-19 and may have unknowingly spread it before her self-quarantine. And I know we as a nation can do better.
We must. We have known about COVID-19 for months, and infectious disease specialists have offered their expertise at every turn on safeguarding our communities. We had time to secure tests and to set up systems for navigating this outbreak.
So many regular people — neighbors, teachers, small business owners, arts organizations directors, health care professionals, local governmental leaders — are being pushed to the limit while they do the work of calming nerves and adjusting routines to keep COVID-19 in check. Perhaps the federal government will follow the example set by people. I hope it does because this is one test we cannot afford to fail.
Ann E. Wallace, PhD writes of her experiences with cancer and MS, motherhood, love and life in contemporary America. Her new poetry collection, “Counting by Sevens,” is available from Main Street Rag. Her work has recently been featured in journals such as Mom Egg Review, Wordgathering, Snapdragon, Riggwelter, and Rogue Agent, and can also be found on her website AnnWallacePhD.com. She lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, where she is an English professor at New Jersey City University. You can follow her on Twitter @annwlace409.
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huffpost--2020-03-15--GOP Rep. Devin Nunes, Bucking Advice Of Health Experts, Says 'Go To Your Local Pub'

There ’ s a lot of concerns with the economy here because people are scared to go out .
One @ @ @ @ @ do , if you ’ re healthy , you and your family , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ just go out , go to a local restaurant ― likely you can get in @ @ @ @ @ not hurt the working people in this country that are relying on wages and tips @ @ @ @ @ going .
Just don ’ t run to the grocery store and buy $ 4,000 @ @ @ @ @ your local pub .

There’s a lot of concerns with the economy here because people are scared to go out. One of the things you can do, if you’re healthy, you and your family, it’s a great time to just go out, go to a local restaurant ― likely you can get in easily.
Let’s not hurt the working people in this country that are relying on wages and tips to keep their small business going. Just don’t run to the grocery store and buy $4,000 of food. Go to your local pub.


huffpost--2020-04-11--The Last 16 Days Of Robert Beaupre's Life

By Tuesday , texts from Beau “ were difficult and brief.
” He didn ’ t have the energy .
She sent him a few pictures of their dog , Annie .
The nurses at the 8th Floor ICU nursing station also told her to call when she needed to talk .
“ They were just amazing and so compassionate when they were frustrated by what they didn ’ t know yet , ” Linda said .
“ And , you know , they were doing everything that they were able to do.
’ ’ The text was a blow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ventilators in my mind are for people who are not going to make it .
This is kind of one step before they die .
But then I thought , OK , I ’ ve read stuff about this before … .
There were still reports of people that were vented for a couple of weeks and were able to come off.
” ‘ What Would You Want To Be Done ?
’ She hasn ’ t decided what to do with her husband ’ s ashes .
She looks forward to having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She ’ s found talks with friends and family therapeutic , as well as writing about her husband .
In his obituary , she listed his many interests , including buying , repairing and selling vintage clocks ; reading books in French and listening to a French-speaking Windsor , Ontario , radio station ; sailing ; and practicing his repertoire of more than 60 songs on his classical , finger-style guitar three to four hours a day .

DETROIT ― It was extremely unusual for Robert Beaupre to feel unwell.
He was 67, but he took no medicines and didn’t have any chronic health problems, except for a little arthritis in his fingers that he noticed when he played classical guitar, one of his many passions. He was healthy and active.
So Beau, as most of his friends called him, dismissed the slight fever he developed on March 14.
“He was just kind of annoyed to get sick,’’ said Linda, his wife of 35 years. Their daughter-in-law, 34, was about to have surgery in Arizona for an aggressive type of colon cancer, and Linda was planning to fly there to help with the grandkids.
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When Beaupre woke up the next morning, he told his wife he felt terrible and was going to the emergency room.
His choice to drive there alone underscored that he didn’t consider it serious. He assured his wife, “I’m fine. I just have a fever. It’s no big deal,’” she recalled.
Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital, a large community hospital four miles from their home, in Rochester Hills, an upscale suburb north of Detroit, quickly saw Beaupre, and a chest X-ray found his lungs were clear. He was sent home with instructions to quarantine himself.
Linda Beaupre gazes out a window of her home on Wednesday. She lost her husband of 35 years to COVID-19. Seth Herald for HuffPost
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“The hospital gave him a sheet listing nine symptoms, and it said if any return, to come back to the ER,” Linda said. “The only symptom of the nine that he had was a fever.”
He was not tested for COVID-19 because he had no cough or sore throat, two of its hallmark symptoms. “We totally understood that they were so scarce that they were just being saved for people who had specific symptoms,’’ Linda said.
His fever kind of came and went for the next few days, she said. “He’d feel really, really bad when his fever went up, but then it would go back down.” His appetite was off, and he had chills and aches. But there was no cough.
They watched “Law and Order” reruns and played with their rescue St. Bernard, Annie. Mostly Beaupre napped. Four days went by. Linda canceled her trip to Arizona. By Friday, he was more or less the same.
A Rapid Shift
On March 21, he awoke coughing. Linda insisted they go back to the hospital. “He said, ‘OK.’ He looked so exhausted.’’
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This time, Linda drove. It was chilly and windy, with a hint of snow flurries. At the ER, they took his temperature, put a mask on him and brought him through the lone entrance, typically used for ambulances. Linda couldn’t even hug him goodbye.
They first diagnosed him with pneumonia. By Sunday, tests confirmed he had COVID-19.
Early on, Beau texted his wife, likely with help from the hospital’s nursing staff. “I have just been moved to the ICU ostensibly as a precaution as they try to get my O2 and fever under control. Room 823. Actually, I feel pretty good.”
She called him a few times, but “he’d say things to me, but I couldn’t understand. He didn’t have the energy to enunciate well. I had to keep asking, what did you say? I’m sorry I can’t hear you.”
By Tuesday, texts from Beau “were difficult and brief.” He didn’t have the energy. She sent him a few pictures of their dog, Annie. The nurses at the 8th Floor ICU nursing station also told her to call when she needed to talk. “They were just amazing and so compassionate when they were frustrated by what they didn’t know yet,” Linda said. “And, you know, they were doing everything that they were able to do.’’
His vital signs were good Tuesday. But that night he started to decline. The staff decided to intubate him.
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Her phone pinged at 7 a.m. Wednesday with a text from her husband, likely sent by a nurse. “Had the absolute worst night of my life,” it read. “4 nurses came in and helped regulate my breathing … and got my oxygen elevated. Sweetie ― I was really afraid I wasn’t going to make it.”
The text was a blow to the gut for Linda. “Ventilators in my mind are for people who are not going to make it. This is kind of one step before they die. But then I thought, OK, I’ve read stuff about this before …. There were still reports of people that were vented for a couple of weeks and were able to come off.”
Texts from Robert to Linda while he was being treated at a hospital. This was the only way he could communicate with his wife during that time. Courtesy Linda Beaupre
Linda texted him back: “I wish for you to be able to feel my love and the love of SO MANY PEOPLE who are thinking, praying, and worrying for and about you. I’m so scared and wish I was with you. You have to get better please.”
She called the nurses’ station and was told he was resting comfortably. He’d been sedated, but his vital signs remained good. The nurses told her the ventilator would allow his lungs to rest ― it would “give his body the strength to fight the virus.”
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Then she got a note from Chadd Mowry, a cardiac nurse at Ascension Rochester and a friend and hockey teammate of her youngest son. He spent so much time at the Beaupre home growing up he was almost like a son, Linda said, but they hadn’t seen him since the boys graduated from high school in 2007.
He’d happened to see Beau’s name on a list of patients, and he texted Linda a photo of the note he left for him: “Hi, Mr. Beaupre. It’s Chadd Mowry . . . I came in to check on you and let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there. I look forward to talking to you after you beat this virus. You got this!”
They kept texting, and Mowry became Beau’s biggest advocate inside the hospital. “I feel so bad about this,” Mowry wrote. “Mr. Beaupre was always so great to me. We loved being at your house. Hang in there.’’
Chadd Mowry, an ICU nurse and family friend, communicated with Robert through handwritten signs. Courtesy Linda Beaupre
As her husband’s health deteriorated, the hospital let Linda visit. She was taken to a secured area, given a large protective cover-all, a helmet-like head covering and double masks and gloves, and was instructed on how to properly suit up and protect herself. She was told not to touch anything in the room, or him, so she sat bedside, talking to him.
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He was unconscious by then, with his hands tucked under a sheet. She sat next to his bed and talked to him for nearly an hour. When she got home, she wrote down more things she wanted to say to her husband ― about their life together, their four sons, hockey, and his love of sailing, woodworking and cabinetry.
His brother, Dave Beaupre, is 18 months older. He said his brother “could do almost anything he put his mind to.” He was an actor, but he also built the sets at the now-defunct Manchester theater where he met Linda. He wrote and acted in a one-man play, “Hem,” about Ernest Hemingway.
“The breadth of his talents just astonished people,” said Dave, who lives just a few miles away from his brother. They talked or texted almost daily, and he last saw his brother two weeks before he was hospitalized.
He never got to say goodbye, but he sent Beau a last text: “I love you bro.’’
‘What Would You Want To Be Done?’
As Beau’s health declined, Linda asked Mowry if there was someplace else he should be.
“They were doing everything they can,” she said, but she asked Mowry, “What if this were your dad? What would you want to be done?”
Mowry said he’d want him transferred to the University of Michigan’s University Hospital, which had technology most other hospitals don’t. Beau’s doctor agreed to a transfer.
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But almost three days went by, and Linda heard nothing about the transfer. In the meantime, the hospital tried adjusting his medicines. By then, Beaupre had developed heart issues and his kidneys were beginning to fail; his doctors had tried giving him the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which has helped some COVID patients, but caused heart problems in others.
About 10:30 p.m. that Saturday ― seven days after his March 21 admission ― the hospital called to say Beaupre’s transfer had been approved if he could be stabilized and undergo dialysis to shore up his failing kidneys.
Linda awoke Sunday to a text from Mowry saying the transfer could not happen, even though they’d tried for several hours to stabilize him. That afternoon, a hospital staffer called and invited her to visit again. She stayed for six hours, talking to him about their family and friends, things they’d laughed about over the years, and their plans.
“At one point I said, ‘I’m really sorry that you have to just listen to me talk,’” she said. “It’s a running joke in our marriage that I talk a lot.”
She already knew it was unlikely she’d be with her husband when he died. “The few times I let myself think he might not survive this, I thought it would be the absolute lottery to be there with him when he died.’’
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She went home, and when she awoke the next morning around 5:30 a.m., she had missed a call from the hospital. Her husband had died at 4:35 a.m. on March 30.
Linda standing outside her home on Wednesday. Seth Herald for HuffPost
Now Linda mourns at home, alone, except for their St. Bernard. She remains under quarantine and hopes she and her two youngest sons, who live in the area and had seen their father before he was hospitalized, can get a COVID-19 test. Until then, she talks at a distance from her driveway to those who stop by.
One friend left a hockey stick with a blue ribbon and Beau’s name on her front porch. Someone else tied a blue ribbon with a “Bows for Beau” sign around a tree in her front yard.
She hasn’t decided what to do with her husband’s ashes. She looks forward to having a proper memorial when she can. She’s found talks with friends and family therapeutic, as well as writing about her husband. In his obituary, she listed his many interests, including buying, repairing and selling vintage clocks; reading books in French and listening to a French-speaking Windsor, Ontario, radio station; sailing; and practicing his repertoire of more than 60 songs on his classical, finger-style guitar three to four hours a day.
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“The soundtrack of my life is quiet now,” Linda wrote in the obituary. “I will so miss his robust and abiding sense of humor.’’
The family mourns virtually, in Zoom meetings, calls and texts. They recall Beaupre’s “bursting laugh” and large, inquisitive personality.
“He’d talk to everyone,’’ said his brother, Dave. “It doesn’t matter if you were 8 or 98. He was one of the funniest people you’d ever know.”
What gives them some relief is Beaupre himself ― that his life had an impact, that he brought love and joy to everyone left behind.
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huffpost--2020-04-14--How To Make Your Own Cleaning Products That Kill Coronavirus

These days , even clean freaks are getting a run for their money .
In order to keep the coronavirus at bay , it ’ s important to disinfect your kitchen , bathrooms ― even the air ― sometimes multiple times per day .
But with the recent panic-buying that ’ s wiped store shelves clean of commercial disinfectants , you might not have the usual products on hand .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting your home that are crucial to follow when making your own disinfectants .
For example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important to use EPA-registered disinfectants that have been vetted for their effectiveness against COVID-19 and allow enough contact time on the surface for the disinfectant to work .
There are just a handful of solutions you need for DIY cleaning products , according to Dean Davies , cleaning supervisor for Fantastic Services , which specializes in antiviral sanitization .
You may already have them in your medicine cabinet or pantry .
If not , you may be able to find them in stores , though inventory may be limited right now .
Hydrogen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydrogen peroxide is effective against a whole army of microorganisms , such as bacteria , yeasts , fungi , viruses and spores .
A solution of at least 3 % will kill germs ― including the cold virus ― after six to eight minutes of exposure .
Isopropyl alcohol : Also known as rubbing alcohol , this chemical compound has proven disinfecting qualities when left on surfaces for at least 30 seconds .
Since rubbing alcohol is water-soluble , it can be diluted , but the concentration needs to be at least 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mind that while alcohol is considered safe for all surfaces , it could discolor some plastics , so be sure to perform a spot test first .
Household bleach : Bleach is strong and effective at killing bacteria and viruses when diluted properly .
According to the CDC , that ’ s 4 teaspoons of bleach per 1 quart of water .
Just be sure to let your bleach solution sit for at least 10 minutes before wiping it off , and be sure it isn ’ t expired .
A word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other chemicals can create dangerous compounds ; never combine bleach with ammonia , rubbing alcohol or acidic compounds , such as vinegar .
Your safest bet is to use bleach with water only .
In addition to these chemicals , you will need a squeeze or spray bottle , paper towels and/or cotton fabric .
Again , some of these items might be hard to find , so try to work with what you have .
How To Make Your Own DIY Disinfecting Products Though washing your hands with plain old soap and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them clean and prevent the spread of coronavirus , you don ’ t always have access to a sink .
The next best thing is using hand sanitizer , but you need to be sure your ratios are correct when making it yourself , otherwise it isn ’ t effective .
Start with isopropyl alcohol , which you may be able to find online at Walmart or Amazon if you don ’ t have it at home .
Usually , isopropyl alcohol comes in either 90 % or 95 % concentration , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and above will work .
Mix three parts alcohol with one part aloe vera gel , which prevents your skin from drying out .
( If you can ’ t find pre-made aloe gel , you can also scrape some out of the leaves of an aloe plant .
Cut the sides of a leaf and remove the top skin .
Using a spoon , scrape the gel out .
In a high-speed blender , blend the collected gel for two to three minutes , then use a strainer to filter the gel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you might want to minimize the use of harsh chemicals in your home , especially in your kitchen where food is prepared , the truth is that you need to rely on the tough stuff to kill the coronavirus and other harmful germs .
Some “ natural ” household items may have helpful cleaning properties but will not disinfect :

LOADING ERROR LOADING
These days, even clean freaks are getting a run for their money. In order to keep the coronavirus at bay, it’s important to disinfect your kitchen, bathrooms ― even the air ― sometimes multiple times per day. But with the recent panic-buying that’s wiped store shelves clean of commercial disinfectants, you might not have the usual products on hand.
Fortunately, you can make DIY hand sanitizer, disinfecting spray and wipes. Here’s what you need to know about making your own cleaning products that kill the coronavirus.
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Items You’ll Need
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting your home that are crucial to follow when making your own disinfectants. For example, the CDC says that it’s important to use EPA-registered disinfectants that have been vetted for their effectiveness against COVID-19 and allow enough contact time on the surface for the disinfectant to work.
There are just a handful of solutions you need for DIY cleaning products, according to Dean Davies, cleaning supervisor for Fantastic Services, which specializes in antiviral sanitization. You may already have them in your medicine cabinet or pantry. If not, you may be able to find them in stores, though inventory may be limited right now.
Hydrogen peroxide: According to the CDC, hydrogen peroxide is effective against a whole army of microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses and spores. A solution of at least 3% will kill germs ― including the cold virus ― after six to eight minutes of exposure.
Isopropyl alcohol: Also known as rubbing alcohol, this chemical compound has proven disinfecting qualities when left on surfaces for at least 30 seconds. Since rubbing alcohol is water-soluble, it can be diluted, but the concentration needs to be at least 70% to kill coronaviruses. Also keep in mind that while alcohol is considered safe for all surfaces, it could discolor some plastics, so be sure to perform a spot test first.
Advertisement
Household bleach: Bleach is strong and effective at killing bacteria and viruses when diluted properly. According to the CDC, that’s 4 teaspoons of bleach per 1 quart of water. Just be sure to let your bleach solution sit for at least 10 minutes before wiping it off, and be sure it isn’t expired. A word of caution: Mixing bleach with certain other chemicals can create dangerous compounds; never combine bleach with ammonia, rubbing alcohol or acidic compounds, such as vinegar. Your safest bet is to use bleach with water only.
In addition to these chemicals, you will need a squeeze or spray bottle, paper towels and/or cotton fabric. Again, some of these items might be hard to find, so try to work with what you have.
How To Make Your Own DIY Disinfecting Products
Hand Sanitizer
Though washing your hands with plain old soap and water is the best way to keep them clean and prevent the spread of coronavirus, you don’t always have access to a sink. The next best thing is using hand sanitizer, but you need to be sure your ratios are correct when making it yourself, otherwise it isn’t effective.
Ajith Karunarathne, a cellular chemist and assistant professor in the University of Toledo’s department of chemistry and biochemistry, shared his recipe for hand sanitizer.
Start with isopropyl alcohol, which you may be able to find online at Walmart or Amazon if you don’t have it at home. Usually, isopropyl alcohol comes in either 90% or 95% concentration, according to Karunarathne, but anything 90% and above will work.
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Mix three parts alcohol with one part aloe vera gel, which prevents your skin from drying out. (If you can’t find pre-made aloe gel, you can also scrape some out of the leaves of an aloe plant. Cut the sides of a leaf and remove the top skin. Using a spoon, scrape the gel out. In a high-speed blender, blend the collected gel for two to three minutes, then use a strainer to filter the gel and remove leaf debris.)
If you want, add a few drops of essential oil to the mix for a nice scent.
Transfer your sanitizer to a clean, empty container. You can refill empty hand sanitizer bottles, or use any small container that’s easy to carry with you. Karunarathne said that if you see cloudy sedimentation, shake the container before use.
Disposable Disinfecting Wipes
If your store is sold out of Clorox wipes, you can easily make your own, according to Davies.
Start with a roll of paper towels and cut it in half horizontally so that you’re left with two toilet paper-like rolls.
Mix 2 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of bleach.
Place one paper towel roll flat into an airtight container and pour the solution over the top. The container should be large enough to hold all the liquid while ensuring the paper towels are fully saturated.
Take out the cardboard center roll and pull out fresh paper towels from the middle.
Reusable Disinfecting Wipes
Instead of relying on single-use (and hard to find) disinfectant wipes, Kris Bordessa, a sustainability expert and author of “Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant Living,” says you can make reusable ones instead.
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Start with an old T-shirt or other cotton fabric. Cut it into squares, about the same size as a commercial wipe.
Soak these cloths with your bleach solution or a mixture of 2/3 cup 99% isopropyl alcohol and 1/3 cup water.
Store your used wipes in a sealed container until laundry day, then wash them using the hot water setting before resoaking them in your solution and reusing.
Don’t Rely On “Natural” Cleaners For Coronavirus
Though you might want to minimize the use of harsh chemicals in your home, especially in your kitchen where food is prepared, the truth is that you need to rely on the tough stuff to kill the coronavirus and other harmful germs. Some “natural” household items may have helpful cleaning properties but will not disinfect:


huffpost--2020-04-15--Coronavirus Live Updates: Read The Latest About The COVID-19 Outbreak

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and the measures being taken to flatten the curve of transmission .
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below .
( To see the latest updates , you may need to refresh the page .
All times are Eastern .
For earlier updates on the pandemic , go here . )
Wuhan Raises Coronavirus Death Toll By 50 % — 4/17/20 , 4 a.m .
ET Officials in Wuhan , China have revised the coronavirus death toll by 50 % , increasing the number of fatalities by 1,290 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total to 3,869 .
State media reported on Friday that the undercount was due to admission facilities at hospitals being overwhelmed during the peak of the crisis .
The number of total cases in the city of 11 million people was also raised by 325 to 50,333 , accounting for approximately two-thirds of China ’ s total 82,367 announced cases .
Questions have long swirled about the accuracy of China ’ s case reporting , with Wuhan , in particular , going several days in January without reporting new cases or deaths ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to minimize the impact of the outbreak .
China ’ s Economy Shrinks For First Time In Decades ― 4/16/20 , 11:20 p.m .
ET China ’ s economy plummeted by 6.8 % in the first three months of 2020 compared with a year earlier , according to data released Thursday by the National Bureau of Statistics of China , ending a decades-long period of growth .
It ’ s the country ’ s first contraction since at least 1992 , when China first began reporting its quarterly GDP , Reuters reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s second-largest economy starts to re-emerge from the coronavirus crisis after it came to a near standstill to contain the spread of the pandemic .
The drop was larger than the 6.5 % decline forecast by Reuters analysts and a reversal of a 6 % expansion in last year ’ s fourth quarter .
The data is a stark sign of the challenges ahead in restoring the global economy .
“ What is really important was that before March , everybody was expecting China to have a V-shaped recovery because it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but now we are seeing this demand shock , ” Bo Zhuang , chief China economist at TS Lombard , told CNBC .
“ The internal demand shock was massive .
That tells us that after coronavirus , even after the lockdowns have been lifted , people are cautious to consume .
Shopping malls are open but they are not consuming , and that is the key.
” Daily Coronavirus Death Rate Hits 4,591 In U.S. , Nearly Double Previous Record — 4/16/20 , 10:55 p.m .
ET The number of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States skyrocketed on Thursday to 4,591 people , according to several reports .
Both The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post , citing data released by Johns Hopkins University , said the death rate was more than double the previous record set on Wednesday .
A reported 2,569 people died that day after being infected with COVID-19 , many in New York , an epicenter of the pandemic .
More than 662,000 people in America have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 33,000 have died .
Cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Nick Visser Black People Are Dying From COVID-19 At Disproportionately High Rates In California , Per Early Data — 4/16/20 2 p.m .
ET Early data on coronavirus cases in California shows that Black people are dying at disproportionately high rates from COVID-19 , per the state ’ s Department of Public Health .
While Black people make up 6 % of California residents , they represent 7 % of reported COVID-19 cases in the state and 12 % of deaths so far , per CDPH data released Wednesday .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only 65 % of total COVID-19 cases and 87 % of deaths reported to the state department .
Overall , California has seen over 27,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 880 deaths , as of Thursday .
The disproportionate rate of death from COVID-19 among Black people matches reports from other localities , including Michigan , Louisiana , Chicago , Milwaukee and more .
Earlier this week , Sens .
Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) , Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
and other lawmakers introduced legislation to require the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in coronavirus cases nationwide .
Harris ’ ‘ VoteSafe ’ Legislation Seeks To Expand Access To Voting During Coronavirus Pandemic — 4/16/20 , 12:40 p.m .
ET Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) announced new legislation on Thursday , called the VoteSafe Act , which seeks to expand access to voting during the pandemic .
The legislation would expand vote-by-mail and early voting and provide funds to states to implement curbside voting and other initiatives .
Earlier this month , voters in Wisconsin were forced to stand in long lines and gather in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite public health guidelines of social distancing , after Republicans in the state and U.S. Supreme Court overruled efforts to postpone the election .
“ The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the obstacles many already face when voting , ” Harris said in a press release .
“ Even before the pandemic , Native Americans , Black and Latinx voters , and voters with disabilities too often faced long lines , inaccessible voting locations , and outright hostility by election officials.
” Harris ’ bill would spend $ 5 billion on improving access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million committed to the task in the coronavirus stimulus package that Congress passed in late March .
New York Extends Stay-At-Home Order For At Least Another Month — 4/16/20 , 12:18 p.m .
ET New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) is extending the state ’ s stay-at-home order , NYS on PAUSE , until May 15 , and neighboring states are expected to follow suit , he said at his daily press conference Thursday .
“ What happens after then ?
” he said .
“ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the data shows.
” The state reported another day of stabilizing infections .
The three-day average rate of change in hospitalizations sharply decreased on Wednesday , and the rate of intubations also decreased .
Both indicators have dropped for several consecutive days .
However , about 2,000 people are still being hospitalized each day , and on Wednesday , the state reported 606 more deaths .
On Wednesday , Cuomo announced an executive order mandating the use of masks and other face coverings in places where it is difficult to practice social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grocery stores .
During his press conference Thursday , he outlined some possible approaches to gradually reopening the economy , such as evaluating business reopenings based on whether they are more or less essential and their risk of infection .
A key obstacle to figuring out when and how to reopen is the lack of widespread testing and contact tracing .
The United Kingdom ’ s coronavirus lockdown will be extended for three weeks , Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced Thursday .
The decision was made as the country ’ s epidemic appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections .
The extended lockdown means Britons will have to continue staying at home , practice social distancing when they go outside for exercise , work or essential shopping if necessary , and self-isolating if they have COVID-19 symptoms .
Ministers and officials have stressed that it will not be possible to lift any of the lockdown measures until the U.K. is past the disease ’ s high point .
Raab , who is deputizing for Boris Johnson while the prime minister recovers from the coronavirus , announced the measures after chairing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His announcement came as the number of people who have died in U.K. hospitals rose by 861 in 24 hours , bringing the total to 13,729 .
Glitches Delay Stimulus Payments For Millions : Report — 4/16/20 , 11:50 a.m .
ET A series of mishaps prevented millions of Americans from receiving federal stimulus payments on Wednesday , The Washington Post reported , citing the Treasury Department officials and economic experts .
Many Americans had expected to see $ 1,200 or more deposited into their bank accounts , as part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aid , Relief and Economic Security Act last month .
But those who filed their taxes via H & R Block , TurboTax and other tax services did not receive payments because the IRS did not have their direct deposit information .
Some parents reported that the IRS failed to include the $ 500-per-child-under-17 payments outlined in the CARES Act .
Others were frustrated when they tried to use the IRS ’ s “ Get My Payment ” tool to track the status of their payments , only to receive the message “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the “ appropriate banking information for all TurboTax filers , which can be used by them to distribute stimulus payments , ” a TurboTax spokesperson told HuffPost .
“ This is true regardless of whether a customer chose to receive their refund on a debit card , selected refund transfer or other services.
” IRS and Treasury officials told the Post they are aware of the issues and are working to fix them .
5.2 Million Americans Filed For Unemployment Last Week — 4/16/20 , 8:45 a.m .
ET Another 5.2 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bringing the total number of jobless claims in the past month to a staggering 22 million , the Labor Department reported Thursday .
Layoffs are spreading beyond service industries like hotels and restaurants into white-collar professional occupations , according to The Associated Press .
Roughly one-third of U.S. jobs — or about 50 million positions — are vulnerable to coronavirus-related layoffs , economists told the AP .
Death Toll In U.S .
Tops 30,000 — 4/16/20 , 7:20 a.m. EST The virus ’ s death toll in the U.S. has doubled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
The number of deaths hit 15,000 on April 9 .
Of the world ’ s more than 2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 , roughly 30 % ― or about 600,000 people ― are in the U.S. , making it the country with the most known infections .
Spain is a distant second with more than 182,000 confirmed cases and over 19,000 deaths .
The U.K. health secretary has confirmed that 27 National Health Service staff have now died after contracting COVID-19 .
Matt Hancock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ very sadly ” been 27 verified deaths , referring explicitly to the death of 28-year-old Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong , a heavily pregnant nurse who died after contracting the virus .
More than £65,000 has now been raised for Agyapong ’ s family , including her newborn daughter who was delivered via emergency caesarean .
Read more on HuffPost U.K. Los Angeles Mayor Says He Doesn ’ t See Large Gatherings Happening Until 2021 — 4/15/20 , 6:50 p.m .
ET Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti thinks it is “ very difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year is over .
That includes concerts and professional sports , he said on CNN .
“ It ’ s difficult to imagine us getting together in the thousands anytime soon , so I think we should be prepared for that this year , ” Garcetti said , adding that “ until there ’ s either a vaccine , some sort of pharmaceutical intervention or herd immunity , the science is the science.
” Michigan Gov .
Says Protest Against Stay-At-Home Order Will ‘ Come At A Cost ’ — 4/15/20 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of largely right-wing protesters demonstrated at Michigan ’ s capitol in Lansing to protest the governor ’ s stay-at-home order meant to prevent further spread of the coronavirus .

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and the measures being taken to flatten the curve of transmission.
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below. (To see the latest updates, you may need to refresh the page. All times are Eastern. For earlier updates on the pandemic, go here.)
Wuhan Raises Coronavirus Death Toll By 50% — 4/17/20, 4 a.m. ET
Officials in Wuhan, China have revised the coronavirus death toll by 50%, increasing the number of fatalities by 1,290 to the 2,579 previously counted and bringing the total to 3,869.
State media reported on Friday that the undercount was due to admission facilities at hospitals being overwhelmed during the peak of the crisis.
The number of total cases in the city of 11 million people was also raised by 325 to 50,333, accounting for approximately two-thirds of China’s total 82,367 announced cases.
Questions have long swirled about the accuracy of China’s case reporting, with Wuhan, in particular, going several days in January without reporting new cases or deaths ― leading to accusations that officials were seeking to minimize the impact of the outbreak.
— Sarah Turnnidge
China’s Economy Shrinks For First Time In Decades ― 4/16/20, 11:20 p.m. ET
China’s economy plummeted by 6.8% in the first three months of 2020 compared with a year earlier, according to data released Thursday by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, ending a decades-long period of growth.
It’s the country’s first contraction since at least 1992, when China first began reporting its quarterly GDP, Reuters reported.
The historic slump comes as the world’s second-largest economy starts to re-emerge from the coronavirus crisis after it came to a near standstill to contain the spread of the pandemic.
The drop was larger than the 6.5% decline forecast by Reuters analysts and a reversal of a 6% expansion in last year’s fourth quarter. The data is a stark sign of the challenges ahead in restoring the global economy.
“What is really important was that before March, everybody was expecting China to have a V-shaped recovery because it was actually [about] China supply disruption, but now we are seeing this demand shock,” Bo Zhuang, chief China economist at TS Lombard, told CNBC.
“The internal demand shock was massive. That tells us that after coronavirus, even after the lockdowns have been lifted, people are cautious to consume. Shopping malls are open but they are not consuming, and that is the key.”
― Josie Harvey
Daily Coronavirus Death Rate Hits 4,591 In U.S., Nearly Double Previous Record — 4/16/20, 10:55 p.m. ET
The number of coronavirus deaths reported in a single 24-hour period in the United States skyrocketed on Thursday to 4,591 people, according to several reports.
Both The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, citing data released by Johns Hopkins University, said the death rate was more than double the previous record set on Wednesday. A reported 2,569 people died that day after being infected with COVID-19, many in New York, an epicenter of the pandemic.
More than 662,000 people in America have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 33,000 have died. Cases globally topped 2 million this week.
— Nick Visser
Black People Are Dying From COVID-19 At Disproportionately High Rates In California, Per Early Data — 4/16/20 2 p.m. ET
Early data on coronavirus cases in California shows that Black people are dying at disproportionately high rates from COVID-19, per the state’s Department of Public Health.
While Black people make up 6% of California residents, they represent 7% of reported COVID-19 cases in the state and 12% of deaths so far, per CDPH data released Wednesday.
It’s worth noting this data analysis reflects only 65% of total COVID-19 cases and 87% of deaths reported to the state department. Overall, California has seen over 27,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 880 deaths, as of Thursday.
The disproportionate rate of death from COVID-19 among Black people matches reports from other localities, including Michigan, Louisiana, Chicago, Milwaukee and more.
Earlier this week, Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and other lawmakers introduced legislation to require the federal government to report data on race and ethnicity in coronavirus cases nationwide.
— Sarah Ruiz-Grossman
Harris’ ‘VoteSafe’ Legislation Seeks To Expand Access To Voting During Coronavirus Pandemic — 4/16/20, 12:40 p.m. ET
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) announced new legislation on Thursday, called the VoteSafe Act, which seeks to expand access to voting during the pandemic. The legislation would expand vote-by-mail and early voting and provide funds to states to implement curbside voting and other initiatives.
Earlier this month, voters in Wisconsin were forced to stand in long lines and gather in large groups in order to vote, despite public health guidelines of social distancing, after Republicans in the state and U.S. Supreme Court overruled efforts to postpone the election.
“The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the obstacles many already face when voting,” Harris said in a press release. “Even before the pandemic, Native Americans, Black and Latinx voters, and voters with disabilities too often faced long lines, inaccessible voting locations, and outright hostility by election officials.”
Harris’ bill would spend $5 billion on improving access to voting, compared to the $400 million committed to the task in the coronavirus stimulus package that Congress passed in late March.
— Sarah Ruiz-Grossman
New York Extends Stay-At-Home Order For At Least Another Month — 4/16/20, 12:18 p.m. ET
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is extending the state’s stay-at-home order, NYS on PAUSE, until May 15, and neighboring states are expected to follow suit, he said at his daily press conference Thursday.
“What happens after then?” he said. “I don’t know. We will see based on what the data shows.”
The state reported another day of stabilizing infections. The three-day average rate of change in hospitalizations sharply decreased on Wednesday, and the rate of intubations also decreased. Both indicators have dropped for several consecutive days. However, about 2,000 people are still being hospitalized each day, and on Wednesday, the state reported 606 more deaths.
On Wednesday, Cuomo announced an executive order mandating the use of masks and other face coverings in places where it is difficult to practice social distancing, such as public transit and grocery stores.
During his press conference Thursday, he outlined some possible approaches to gradually reopening the economy, such as evaluating business reopenings based on whether they are more or less essential and their risk of infection. A key obstacle to figuring out when and how to reopen is the lack of widespread testing and contact tracing.
— Marina Fang
UK Lockdown Extended For 3 Weeks — 4/16/20, 12:15 p.m. ET
The United Kingdom’s coronavirus lockdown will be extended for three weeks, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced Thursday.
The decision was made as the country’s epidemic appears to be reaching its peak number of infections.
The extended lockdown means Britons will have to continue staying at home, practice social distancing when they go outside for exercise, work or essential shopping if necessary, and self-isolating if they have COVID-19 symptoms.
Ministers and officials have stressed that it will not be possible to lift any of the lockdown measures until the U.K. is past the disease’s high point.
Raab, who is deputizing for Boris Johnson while the prime minister recovers from the coronavirus, announced the measures after chairing the government’s COVID-19 meeting on Thursday.
His announcement came as the number of people who have died in U.K. hospitals rose by 861 in 24 hours, bringing the total to 13,729.
— Arj Singh
Glitches Delay Stimulus Payments For Millions: Report — 4/16/20, 11:50 a.m. ET
A series of mishaps prevented millions of Americans from receiving federal stimulus payments on Wednesday, The Washington Post reported, citing the Treasury Department officials and economic experts.
Many Americans had expected to see $1,200 or more deposited into their bank accounts, as part of the economic stimulus package passed in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act last month. But those who filed their taxes via H&R Block, TurboTax and other tax services did not receive payments because the IRS did not have their direct deposit information.
Some parents reported that the IRS failed to include the $500-per-child-under-17 payments outlined in the CARES Act. Others were frustrated when they tried to use the IRS’s “Get My Payment” tool to track the status of their payments, only to receive the message “Payment Status Not Available.”
The IRS has the “appropriate banking information for all TurboTax filers, which can be used by them to distribute stimulus payments,” a TurboTax spokesperson told HuffPost. “This is true regardless of whether a customer chose to receive their refund on a debit card, selected refund transfer or other services.”
IRS and Treasury officials told the Post they are aware of the issues and are working to fix them.
— Hayley Miller
5.2 Million Americans Filed For Unemployment Last Week — 4/16/20, 8:45 a.m. ET
Another 5.2 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the total number of jobless claims in the past month to a staggering 22 million, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
Layoffs are spreading beyond service industries like hotels and restaurants into white-collar professional occupations, according to The Associated Press. Roughly one-third of U.S. jobs — or about 50 million positions — are vulnerable to coronavirus-related layoffs, economists told the AP.
Read more here.
— Hayley Miller
Death Toll In U.S. Tops 30,000 — 4/16/20, 7:20 a.m. EST
The virus’s death toll in the U.S. has doubled to 30,000 in just a week, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The number of deaths hit 15,000 on April 9.
Of the world’s more than 2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, roughly 30% ― or about 600,000 people ― are in the U.S., making it the country with the most known infections. Spain is a distant second with more than 182,000 confirmed cases and over 19,000 deaths.
— Hayley Miller
UK Confirms 27 NHS Coronavirus Deaths — 4/16/20, 5:15 a.m. ET
The U.K. health secretary has confirmed that 27 National Health Service staff have now died after contracting COVID-19.
Matt Hancock told the BBC on Thursday there had “very sadly” been 27 verified deaths, referring explicitly to the death of 28-year-old Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, a heavily pregnant nurse who died after contracting the virus.
More than £65,000 has now been raised for Agyapong’s family, including her newborn daughter who was delivered via emergency caesarean. Read more on HuffPost U.K.
— Sarah Turnnidge
Los Angeles Mayor Says He Doesn’t See Large Gatherings Happening Until 2021 — 4/15/20, 6:50 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti thinks it is “very difficult to see” any large events happening before the year is over. That includes concerts and professional sports, he said on CNN.
“It’s difficult to imagine us getting together in the thousands anytime soon, so I think we should be prepared for that this year,” Garcetti said, adding that “until there’s either a vaccine, some sort of pharmaceutical intervention or herd immunity, the science is the science.”
— Lydia O’Connor
Michigan Gov. Says Protest Against Stay-At-Home Order Will ‘Come At A Cost’ — 4/15/20, 6:00 p.m. ET
On Wednesday, thousands of largely right-wing protesters demonstrated at Michigan’s capitol in Lansing to protest the governor’s stay-at-home order meant to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.