huffpost--2020-03-17--Workers At These Companies Say They Can’t Get Sick Leave

Workers at Target , Walmart , Kroger , Taco Bell , Subway , Burger King and a slew of other well-known businesses say they don ’ t get paid sick leave , according to a survey of workers from The Shift Project , a joint research effort from two sociologists at the University of California , Berkeley , and the University of California , San Francisco .
The survey was first published in The New York Times editorial pages .
Universal sick leave policy is crucial to reducing the spread of illnesses such as COVID-19 , the disease caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now urging Americans to stay home if they ’ re not feeling well and to practice social distancing , at a minimum .
But many of these workers , who are working paycheck to paycheck , often in jobs that involve frequent interaction with customers , can ’ t follow that advice .
The United States stands alone among the most developed economies in the world in offering no paid sick leave guarantee .
Congress is now making some efforts to mandate paid sick leave .
This weekend , the House of Representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for increasing access to sick leave , among other measures , to combat the spread of the coronavirus — but it leaves out workers at large employers .
It ’ s very unusual for a fast-food restaurant to offer paid sick [ leave ] .
You can connect the dots there and think about how dangerous that is .
Kristin Harknett , sociology professor at the University of California , San Francisco It ’ s apparently even more common at large , high-touch retail and fast-food outlets .
Sixty percent of the workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve come to work sick , said Kristin Harknett , the sociology professor at the University of California , San Francisco , who conducted the research with Daniel Schneider of the University of California , Berkeley .
The survey ’ s findings are a good corollary to data from the Labor Department , which tracks who gets sick leave in the aggregate .
While 93 % of workers at the top of the income ladder do get paid sick time , only 30 % of the lowest-wage earners do , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The workers least likely to have paid sick leave are the ones most likely to be interacting with lots of people — typically , hourly employees in constant contact with the public , serving and preparing food or selling groceries .
Only 64 % of retail workers get paid sick leave .
Even if companies have paid sick leave policies on the books , workers may not be able to take sick days in practice .
Walmart started offering sick pay to all full- time workers last year , but according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 73 % of Walmart employees said they can actually take sick days .
Legowski , the Walmart associate , showed up for a shift a few weeks ago even after she was diagnosed with influenza A because she ’ d already taken a few sick days and didn ’ t have the option of taking another without being penalized .
She believed she ’ d be fired .
The Shift Project research found that some workers at large companies did report being able to take paid leave when they ’ re sick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Costco and Stop & Shop all said they were able to get paid sick leave , Harknett said , which is a signal to their competitors that this is a policy they might be able to afford .

Many of the country’s largest retailers and fast-food chains don’t pay employees when they’re sick ― a policy that could put those workers, their families and the public at risk as the coronavirus sweeps through the U.S.
Workers at Target, Walmart, Kroger, Taco Bell, Subway, Burger King and a slew of other well-known businesses say they don’t get paid sick leave, according to a survey of workers from The Shift Project, a joint research effort from two sociologists at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, San Francisco. The survey was first published in The New York Times editorial pages.
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Universal sick leave policy is crucial to reducing the spread of illnesses such as COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Public health officials are now urging Americans to stay home if they’re not feeling well and to practice social distancing, at a minimum. But many of these workers, who are working paycheck to paycheck, often in jobs that involve frequent interaction with customers, can’t follow that advice.
And while some restaurants and fast-food outlets are closing up shop in response to the epidemic, at large grocery stores like Target, Kroger and Walmart, hourly workers must face an anxious public eager to stock up on food, toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
“It’s impossible to avoid contact with people while I’m working,” said Brittany Legowski, a 21-year-old Walmart associate in Menomonie, Wisconsin, who recently worked while she had the flu and fears she will contract the coronavirus at work.
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The United States stands alone among the most developed economies in the world in offering no paid sick leave guarantee. Congress is now making some efforts to mandate paid sick leave. This weekend, the House of Representatives and the White House made a deal for increasing access to sick leave, among other measures, to combat the spread of the coronavirus — but it leaves out workers at large employers.
“It’s very unusual for a fast-food restaurant to offer paid sick [leave]. You can connect the dots there and think about how dangerous that is.” - Kristin Harknett, sociology professor at the University of California, San Francisco
Across the board, coming to work sick is very common. About half of Americans say they have gone to work sick in the past year, according to a recent HuffPost/YouGov survey.
It’s apparently even more common at large, high-touch retail and fast-food outlets. Sixty percent of the workers in the Shift Project study said they’ve come to work sick, said Kristin Harknett, the sociology professor at the University of California, San Francisco, who conducted the research with Daniel Schneider of the University of California, Berkeley.
The data published in The New York Times was based on surveys in 2018 and 2019 of about 35,000 workers at slightly fewer than 100 big employers, said Harknett. The researchers plan to put out a report expanding on their research in the future.
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More than half of the workers surveyed say they can’t take a sick day. Fast-food restaurant workers were the most likely to say they didn’t get paid sick leave, Harknett said.
She and Schneider estimate that more than a half-million McDonald’s workers don’t have access to sick pay; 165,000 workers at Burger King and 95,000 at Dunkin’ Donuts.
“It’s very unusual for a fast-food restaurant to offer paid sick [leave],” Harknett said. “You can connect the dots there and think about how dangerous that is.”
The survey’s findings are a good corollary to data from the Labor Department, which tracks who gets sick leave in the aggregate. While 93% of workers at the top of the income ladder do get paid sick time, only 30% of the lowest-wage earners do, according to 2019 data from the Labor Department.
The workers least likely to have paid sick leave are the ones most likely to be interacting with lots of people — typically, hourly employees in constant contact with the public, serving and preparing food or selling groceries. Only 64% of retail workers get paid sick leave.
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Part-time workers are even worse off. More than half do not get paid sick time.
Even if companies have paid sick leave policies on the books, workers may not be able to take sick days in practice. Walmart started offering sick pay to all full- time workers last year, but according to the survey cited in the Times, only 73% of Walmart employees said they can actually take sick days.
Target and Walmart have both announced emergency coronavirus sick leave policies recently, offering expanded leave to those who are diagnosed with COVID-19.
A spokeswoman from Walmart said all associates can earn up to 48 hours of paid sick time if they’re ill, to take care of a family member or for any other reason — including for last-minute emergencies.
“It’s important to keep in mind that we are reporting on what workers report about their access to paid sick, which is different from official company policy,” Harknett said.
“With my beat-up immune system, with coronavirus coming around, if I get sick, I lose my job. There’s no way around it.” - Brittany Legowski, 21-year-old Walmart associate
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Some workers may be part-time or new; others might be unaware they’re entitled to paid sick leave. Some companies require documentation from a doctor or health practitioner ― not always easy to access for low-income workers with poor health insurance or none at all.
On the flip side, Harknett said, some workers might luck out and have a manager who gives them paid time off.
Legowski, the Walmart associate, showed up for a shift a few weeks ago even after she was diagnosed with influenza A because she’d already taken a few sick days and didn’t have the option of taking another without being penalized. She believed she’d be fired.
“I had to work through the shift having influenza,” Legowski, who is a member of the group United For Respect, told HuffPost. “So now with my beat-up immune system, with coronavirus coming around, if I get sick, I lose my job. There’s no way around it.”
The Shift Project research found that some workers at large companies did report being able to take paid leave when they’re sick. Most workers at Ikea, Home Depot, Costco and Stop & Shop all said they were able to get paid sick leave, Harknett said, which is a signal to their competitors that this is a policy they might be able to afford.
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Still, the matter of Congress forcing companies to offer paid leave is complicated. As the country heads into an economic downturn sparked by the coronavirus, it’s not a great time to force major companies worried about a downturn in revenue to offer paid sick leave.
Legislation that offers businesses a tax credit to do sick leave actually could put workers’ jobs at some companies in danger. For example, some companies might lay off workers in anticipation of a new requirement to give paid sick leave, said Claudia Sahm, director of macroeconomic policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth.
“Why do you want to impose a new cost on McDonald’s at the same time their revenue ... is being hit hard by this? Do you think that is good for the low-income people they employ?” former Obama administration economic adviser Jason Furman tweeted recently. “I agree sick leave is important, we should be pushing Congress to pay for it,” he wrote.
That idea is unlikely to get through Congress, at least for now.
“I don’t support U.S. taxpayer money subsidizing corporations to provide benefits to workers that they should already be providing,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), tweeted over the weekend, defending the deal she made with Republicans on sick leave.
Are you a Walmart or Target associate who’s used, or tried to use, emergency coronavirus sick leave? Email: emily.peck@huffpost.com.


huffpost--2020-03-17--If You're Sick But Can't Get Tested For COVID-19, Here's What You Can Do

As cases of COVID-19 continue to climb throughout the world , people have been preparing for social distancing , quarantine and the possibility that they , too , may contract the novel coronavirus .
Due to test kit shortages , people experiencing mild symptoms may not qualify for testing yet unless they ’ ve been in contact with confirmed coronavirus patients or have visited high-risk areas .
As tests become more widely available , this will hopefully change , but in the meantime , you may have to treat your mild symptoms at home .
With that in mind , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find out how to treat these mild cases and what supplies you ’ ll want to have on hand as you recover from a flu-like illness at home .
( Hint : It ’ s not a six-month supply of toilet paper . )
If you live with family members or roommates , keep at least six feet between you and others at home for 14 days .
Stay in a separate room and use a different bathroom if possible .
While water is obviously a good choice , Yuan also recommended drinks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indeed , a cruise ship passenger who tested positive for COVID-19 wrote in The Washington Post that much of his hospital treatment consisted of “ what felt like gallons and gallons of Gatorade.
” “ Your ability to urinate and have bowel movements should not decrease when you are sick at home , as that could be a sign of not taking in enough fluids and food and lead to dehydration ― making you sicker and in need of care in a health facility , ” said Berliner .
“ As many local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours and running out of needed supplies , you do need to prepare now at home so that you and your family can survive at home for a 14-day self-isolation period when you may not be able to easily obtain more food and cleaning items , ” Berliner explained .
“ However , buying excessive amounts of these items ― hoarding supplies ― will only serve to make the situation more stressful for everyone as there will not be enough for others and result in you and your neighbors behaving in likely unpleasant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If You Need “ For people who have other medical problems , you ’ re going to want to make sure you have your supplies for that such as asthmatics and medications you would need for your asthma , ” said Deutsch .
“ People that have underlying conditions and are prone to getting infections like bronchitis or emphysema , having a course of antibiotics readily available might be something to discuss with your doctor as well.
” “ This includes coughing and sneezing into one ’ s elbow and not onto others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thoroughly washing one ’ s hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after bathroom use and after any contact with possibly contaminated surfaces , and generally staying clean by showering and wearing clean clothes at home , ” Berliner explained .

Maria Fjeldgaard-Sundstrøm / EyeEm via Getty Images Due to test kit shortages, people experiencing mild coronavirus symptoms may not qualify for testing yet unless they’ve been in contact with confirmed coronavirus patients or have visited high-risk areas.
As cases of COVID-19 continue to climb throughout the world, people have been preparing for social distancing, quarantine and the possibility that they, too, may contract the novel coronavirus.
You’ve likely read that most people with the disease experience “mild symptoms” that have been compared to the flu or a cold ― fever, fatigue, dry cough, aches, chills, sore throat, runny nose and diarrhea. More severe symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and pneumonia.
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If you’re experiencing severe symptoms, call 911 to get immediate medical care. If your symptoms are mild, however, contact a health professional via phone or telemedicine services for guidance.
Due to test kit shortages, people experiencing mild symptoms may not qualify for testing yet unless they’ve been in contact with confirmed coronavirus patients or have visited high-risk areas. As tests become more widely available, this will hopefully change, but in the meantime, you may have to treat your mild symptoms at home.
With that in mind, HuffPost spoke to a few doctors to find out how to treat these mild cases and what supplies you’ll want to have on hand as you recover from a flu-like illness at home. (Hint: It’s not a six-month supply of toilet paper.)
Self-Isolate
“First and foremost, if you experience mild symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat, body aches, diarrhea, and/or runny nose, you should self-isolate ― meaning stay home and away from others,” Daniel Berliner, a physician at the virtual health platform PlushCare, told HuffPost.
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Avoiding other people is a good practice for cold and flu-like illnesses generally. It also provides the opportunity to get lots of rest.
If you live with family members or roommates, keep at least six feet between you and others at home for 14 days. Stay in a separate room and use a different bathroom if possible.
“Avoid sharing personal household items,” said Tony Yuan, a physician and medical director at Doctor On Demand. “Set aside separate dishes, drinking glasses, eating utensils, towels, and bedding solely for your use.”
Stay Hydrated
It’s important to drink lots of fluids when you’re feeling sick.
“With a fever, you want to make sure you don’t get dehydration, and simple hydration will consistently prevent that side effect while you’re sick,” noted Jake Deutsch, a physician and founder of Cure Urgent Care.
While water is obviously a good choice, Yuan also recommended drinks with electrolytes like Gatorade or Pedialyte. Indeed, a cruise ship passenger who tested positive for COVID-19 wrote in The Washington Post that much of his hospital treatment consisted of “what felt like gallons and gallons of Gatorade.”
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Berliner said juices and other nutrient-filled beverages can help as well, but ultimately, the goal is just to stay hydrated to avoid hospitalization if possible.
“Your ability to urinate and have bowel movements should not decrease when you are sick at home, as that could be a sign of not taking in enough fluids and food and lead to dehydration ― making you sicker and in need of care in a health facility,” said Berliner.
Eat Well
In addition to drinking lots of fluids, you’ll want to eat a balanced diet. As experts have noted, it’s good to stock up on a two-week supply of nonperishable food items like soup, pasta, rice, and canned foods.
Deutsch recommended fruits and vegetables, foods that are high in vitamins and nutrients, and some carbohydrates. Yuan noted that broth, chicken soup, garlic, yogurt, leafy greens and vitamin C-containing fruits can be good for the immune system, too.
“As many local stores and mail-order vendors are limiting their hours and running out of needed supplies, you do need to prepare now at home so that you and your family can survive at home for a 14-day self-isolation period when you may not be able to easily obtain more food and cleaning items,” Berliner explained.
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“However, buying excessive amounts of these items ― hoarding supplies ― will only serve to make the situation more stressful for everyone as there will not be enough for others and result in you and your neighbors behaving in likely unpleasant ways to one another.”
Take Meds If You Need
Take stock of your medical supplies when preparing for a possible case of coronavirus.
“Have Tylenol on hand to bring down your fever,” Deutsch advised, adding that supplements like vitamin C and zinc can boost your immune system as well.
He and Yuan both recommended medications to address other symptoms, including decongestants containing phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine, cough suppressants with dextromethorphan, and expectorants containing guaifenesin.
“For people who have other medical problems, you’re going to want to make sure you have your supplies for that such as asthmatics and medications you would need for your asthma,” said Deutsch. “People that have underlying conditions and are prone to getting infections like bronchitis or emphysema, having a course of antibiotics readily available might be something to discuss with your doctor as well.”
A thermometer is also good to have on hand to track your fever.
Practice Good Hygiene
While home recuperating from a mild case of COVID-19 or flu-like illness, it’s important to keep practicing good hygiene.
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“This includes coughing and sneezing into one’s elbow and not onto others, wiping down touched surfaces with disinfectant, thoroughly washing one’s hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after bathroom use and after any contact with possibly contaminated surfaces, and generally staying clean by showering and wearing clean clothes at home,” Berliner explained.
It’s also important to thoroughly clean high-touch surfaces like counters, tabletops, doorknobs, keyboards and toilets. Be sure to have disinfecting wipes and disposable latex gloves.
Monitor Your Symptoms
As you take care of yourself in isolation, pay attention to your symptoms and be on the lookout for more severe ones like high fever or difficulty breathing. Contact a doctor for more guidance if things don’t get better.
“In most people, the mild symptoms will remain mild and, whether coronavirus, a cold, or the flu, the symptoms will decrease over this 14-day isolation period,” Berliner said. “If you have concerns at any time during your self-care period at home, contact your health care provider by phone for up-to-date advice regarding COVID-19 testing and your need for an on-site evaluation in a health care facility.”


huffpost--2020-03-17--Mel Brooks Makes A Blunt Joke About Self-Isolation Amid The Coronavirus

Mel Brooks wants to remind you that when you ’ re dismissive about the elderly during the coronavirus outbreak , you ’ re talking about him — and all his friends .
So Brooks teamed up with his son Max and a sliding glass door to create a PSA that ’ s not only funny and helpful but also puts things in stark perspective .
Max Brooks begins the PSA by saying he ’ s 47 years old and that his father — who created comedy classics like “ Blazing Saddles , ” “ Young Frankenstein ” and “ History @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — is 93 .
As the two stand on either side of a sliding glass door to keep the filmmaker safe , the younger Brooks gets to the point of their message .
“ If I get coronavirus , I ’ ll probably be OK , ” he says .
“ But if I give it to [ my dad ] , he could give it to Carl Reiner , who can give it to Dick Van Dyke , and before I know it , I ’ ve wiped out a whole generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sound advice about what everyone can do to help prevent the spread of the virus — such as washing your hands and practicing social distancing .
Meanwhile , Mel Brooks makes goofy facial expressions behind the glass door and eventually shoos his son away .
Brooks isn ’ t the only celebrity to speak out against flippant responses to the current crisis .
“ Lizzie McGuire ” and “ Younger ” star Hilary Duff posted a video on social media Sunday telling “ millennial assholes ” to “ stop killing old people ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor Swift , on the other hand , took a gentler approach in a plea to her fans .
“ Guys - I follow you online and I love you guys so much and need to express my concern that things aren ’ t being taken seriously enough right now , ” she said on her Instagram stories .
“ I ’ m seeing lots of get togethers and hangs and parties still happening .
This is the time to cancel plans , ” Swift wrote , adding , “ Don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel sick that you aren ’ t possibly passing something on to someone elderly or vulnerable to this .
”

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Mel Brooks wants to remind you that when you’re dismissive about the elderly during the coronavirus outbreak, you’re talking about him — and all his friends.
So Brooks teamed up with his son Max and a sliding glass door to create a PSA that’s not only funny and helpful but also puts things in stark perspective.
Advertisement
Max Brooks begins the PSA by saying he’s 47 years old and that his father — who created comedy classics like “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein” and “History of the World, Part 1” — is 93.
As the two stand on either side of a sliding glass door to keep the filmmaker safe, the younger Brooks gets to the point of their message.
“If I get coronavirus, I’ll probably be OK,” he says. “But if I give it to [my dad], he could give it to Carl Reiner, who can give it to Dick Van Dyke, and before I know it, I’ve wiped out a whole generation of comedic legends.”
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The PSA offers sound advice about what everyone can do to help prevent the spread of the virus — such as washing your hands and practicing social distancing. Meanwhile, Mel Brooks makes goofy facial expressions behind the glass door and eventually shoos his son away.
Max Brooks via Twitter
Brooks isn’t the only celebrity to speak out against flippant responses to the current crisis.
“Lizzie McGuire” and “Younger” star Hilary Duff posted a video on social media Sunday telling “millennial assholes” to “stop killing old people” by “going out and partying.” Taylor Swift, on the other hand, took a gentler approach in a plea to her fans.
“Guys - I follow you online and I love you guys so much and need to express my concern that things aren’t being taken seriously enough right now,” she said on her Instagram stories.
“I’m seeing lots of get togethers and hangs and parties still happening. This is the time to cancel plans,” Swift wrote, adding, “Don’t assume that because you don’t feel sick that you aren’t possibly passing something on to someone elderly or vulnerable to this.”


huffpost--2020-03-17--There's Now More Research Saying Coronavirus Is Less Severe In Kids

As the new coronavirus has continued to spread , parents around the globe have let out a collective sigh of relief that — based on what is known about the virus so far — it appears to be less serious in children .
And new findings released early in the journal Pediatrics this week strengthen that belief , suggesting children do , in fact , experience milder symptoms of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
It relied on data from more than 2,000 children in China , about one-third of whom had lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This study does show that this virus appears to be less severe in children than adults , but it also shows that some children do require hospitalization , ” Dr. Sean O ’ Leary , a pediatric infectious disease specialist with the University of Colorado Denver , told HuffPost .
About 11 % of infants had severe or critical illness , followed by 7 % of kids age 1 to 5 .
For older children and teens , the rates of serious illness were lower .
O ’ Leary said it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist , though the pattern is in line with what happens with many other respiratory viruses .
It could be related to differences in the developing immune system , various exposure patterns or behaviors .
Yet some media coverage may be giving parents the sense that otherwise-healthy children are likely to be nothing more than asymptomatic carriers of the virus , suggesting they might be “ immune ” to COVID-19 .
“ Although the evidence we have suggests that those over 60 are at highest risk , young people , including children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new study does have some notable limitations .
Not all cases were confirmed through lab testing , and severe outcomes were more common in kids who were not specifically tested for COVID-19 , which could be because their symptoms were caused by other pathogens .
The study may also underestimate the number of children who are asymptomatic carriers , as it focused primarily on those who presented with symptoms , O ’ Leary said .
In a commentary published alongside the new study , two associate editors for Pediatrics point out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extent to which children “ shed ” the virus through nasal secretions and through their feces , which could make day cares and preschools particular sources of community spread .
But for the millions of parents whose children are home with them after sweeping school closures , the findings will likely be a source of some comfort .
And , as researchers continue to try to better understand the new coronavirus , health experts continue to emphasize steps parents can take to keep their children healthy : practice social distancing , teach them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible , and wash those little hands .

John Fedele via Getty Images
As the new coronavirus has continued to spread, parents around the globe have let out a collective sigh of relief that — based on what is known about the virus so far — it appears to be less serious in children.
And new findings released early in the journal Pediatrics this week strengthen that belief, suggesting children do, in fact, experience milder symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
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It relied on data from more than 2,000 children in China, about one-third of whom had lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two-thirds of whom had suspected cases.
“This study does show that this virus appears to be less severe in children than adults, but it also shows that some children do require hospitalization,” Dr. Sean O’Leary, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with the University of Colorado Denver, told HuffPost.
Roughly 4% of the children had no symptoms at all and 51% had mild illness — meaning symptoms like fever, sore throat, coughing, sneezing or digestive issues.
Another 39% had what researchers considered moderate illness, including pneumonia, more frequent fever and cough, or wheezing.
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And 6% of the children had severe or critical illness, meaning they experienced very serious complications, including respiratory failure. One teenage boy died.
The researchers found that younger children, particularly babies, are at greater risk for developing more serious symptoms and complications.
About 11% of infants had severe or critical illness, followed by 7% of kids age 1 to 5. For older children and teens, the rates of serious illness were lower.
O’Leary said it’s not fully clear why those differences exist, though the pattern is in line with what happens with many other respiratory viruses. It could be related to differences in the developing immune system, various exposure patterns or behaviors.
Overall, O’Leary said the findings generally track with what is known about most respiratory viruses, including the common cold.
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“Most children do fine when they catch one ... but some require a higher level of care,” he said.
Yet some media coverage may be giving parents the sense that otherwise-healthy children are likely to be nothing more than asymptomatic carriers of the virus, suggesting they might be “immune” to COVID-19.
In a press call this week, the World Health Organization’s director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reminded journalists that is not the case.
“Although the evidence we have suggests that those over 60 are at highest risk, young people, including children, have died,” he said.
The new study does have some notable limitations. Not all cases were confirmed through lab testing, and severe outcomes were more common in kids who were not specifically tested for COVID-19, which could be because their symptoms were caused by other pathogens.
The study may also underestimate the number of children who are asymptomatic carriers, as it focused primarily on those who presented with symptoms, O’Leary said.
Advertisement
In a commentary published alongside the new study, two associate editors for Pediatrics point out that researchers are still trying to understand the extent to which children “shed” the virus through nasal secretions and through their feces, which could make day cares and preschools particular sources of community spread.
But for the millions of parents whose children are home with them after sweeping school closures, the findings will likely be a source of some comfort.
And, as researchers continue to try to better understand the new coronavirus, health experts continue to emphasize steps parents can take to keep their children healthy: practice social distancing, teach them to avoid touching their face as much as possible, and wash those little hands.


huffpost--2020-06-11--Wall Street Slumps As U.S. Sees Uptick In Coronavirus Cases

Anadolu Agency via Getty Images NEW YORK , USA - MAY 26 : New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE ) building is seen with the Fearless Girl Statue during Covid-19 pandemic in Lower Manhattan , New York City , United States on May 26 , 2020 .
Wall Street trading floor partially reopening after coronavirus pandemic shutdown .
( Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images ) NEW YORK , June 11 ( Reuters ) - Wall Street plummeted on Thursday as investors reacted to renewed fears of a pandemic resurgence and digested dour economic forecasts from the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock indexes were down about 5 % , posting their worst day since mid-March , when markets were sent into freefall by the abrupt economic lockdowns put in place to contain the pandemic .
The Nasdaq snapped a three-day streak of record closing highs .
The sell-off was broad , with all 11 major sectors of the S & P 500 falling 3 % or more .
“ There ’ s really no buy point , ” said Paul Nolte , portfolio manager at Kingsview Asset Management in Chicago .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through.
” Deaths of Americans from COVID-19 could reach 200,000 in September , a grim result of the United States ’ economic re-opening before getting growth of new cases down to a controllable level , according to a leading health expert .
At the conclusion of its two-day monetary policy meeting on Wednesday , the U.S. Federal Reserve released its first pandemic-era economic outlook , after which Chair Jerome Powell warned of a “ long road ” to recovery .
“ The Fed keeping rates steady through 2022 could give investors the impression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the pace of economic recovery than originally anticipated , ” said Joseph Sroka , chief investment officer at NovaPoint in Atlanta .
Economic data appeared to back up the Fed ’ s gloomy economic projections , with jobless claims still more than double their peak during the Great Recession and continuing claims at an astoundingly high 20.9 million .
Unofficially , the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 6.88 % to end at 25,132.25 points , while the S & P 500 lost 5.87 % to 3,002.97 .
Interest rate-sensitive banks dropped after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain near zero through at least 2022 .
Boeing Co weighed heaviest on the Dow after its top supplier Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc announced a 21-day layoff for staff doing production and support work for Boeing ’ s 737 program .

NEW YORK, USA - MAY 26: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) building is seen with the Fearless Girl Statue during Covid-19 pandemic in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States on May 26, 2020. Wall Street trading floor partially reopening after coronavirus pandemic shutdown. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
NEW YORK, June 11 (Reuters) - Wall Street plummeted on Thursday as investors reacted to renewed fears of a pandemic resurgence and digested dour economic forecasts from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
All three major U.S. stock indexes were down about 5%, posting their worst day since mid-March, when markets were sent into freefall by the abrupt economic lockdowns put in place to contain the pandemic. The Nasdaq snapped a three-day streak of record closing highs.
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The sell-off was broad, with all 11 major sectors of the S&P 500 falling 3% or more.
“There’s really no buy point,” said Paul Nolte, portfolio manager at Kingsview Asset Management in Chicago. “It’s pretty much selling all the way through.”
Tim Ghriskey, chief investment strategist at Inverness Counsel in New York, agreed.
“Everything’s for sale,” Ghriskey added. “There’s fear we’re near a top.”
Deaths of Americans from COVID-19 could reach 200,000 in September, a grim result of the United States’ economic re-opening before getting growth of new cases down to a controllable level, according to a leading health expert.
At the conclusion of its two-day monetary policy meeting on Wednesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve released its first pandemic-era economic outlook, after which Chair Jerome Powell warned of a “long road” to recovery.
“The Fed keeping rates steady through 2022 could give investors the impression that the Fed may be more concerned about the pace of economic recovery than originally anticipated,” said Joseph Sroka, chief investment officer at NovaPoint in Atlanta.
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Economic data appeared to back up the Fed’s gloomy economic projections, with jobless claims still more than double their peak during the Great Recession and continuing claims at an astoundingly high 20.9 million.
A year-on-year drop in core producer prices also reflected the central bank’s disinflationary concerns.
Unofficially, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 6.88% to end at 25,132.25 points, while the S&P 500 lost 5.87% to 3,002.97.
The Nasdaq Composite dropped 5.19%, to 9,500.39.
Interest rate-sensitive banks dropped after the Fed indicated key interest rates would remain near zero through at least 2022.
Travel-related companies, among the hardest hit by mandated lockdowns, were sharply lower.
Boeing Co weighed heaviest on the Dow after its top supplier Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc announced a 21-day layoff for staff doing production and support work for Boeing’s 737 program.
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huffpost--2020-06-11--How Common Is The Asymptomatic Spread Of Coronavirus Among Kids?

These are big , thorny questions , with profound public health effects .
( Some people immediately used the World Health Organization claim to justify not wearing a mask or staying socially distant . )
How often do people spread the virus when they don ’ t have any symptoms ?
And how many of us may be walking around with the new coronavirus and never really know ?
We really don ’ t have good numbers on how common it is .
Several months into the pandemic , researchers still do not know with any kind of certainty how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently estimated it was around 35 % .
Oh , but there was also the widely covered study that found that more than 80 % of people infected with COVID-19 on a cruise ship showed no symptoms .
“ The vast majority of children who have asymptomatic detection , and never go on to get sick , have exceptionally low concentrations of the virus in their respiratory secretions , ” said Dr. Susan Coffin , clinical director of the infectious diseases division with Children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
“ We can use information from very large studies done in all ages of people to demonstrate that the vast majority of people who have such low concentrations of the virus are not capable of transmitting it.
” The terms “ asymptomatic ” and “ pre-symptomatic ” are ... blurry .
But there are also people who are infected and have no symptoms for a few days — during which time they might be out , unwittingly infecting others — before they come down with more obvious signs of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Pre-symptomatic ?
People aren ’ t always using the same language , which can lead to even greater confusion .
Are kids are actually “ silent spreaders ” ?
When the earliest studies on kids and coronavirus emerged , many media outlets and parents heard the message that kids generally experience much milder symptoms , if any , and kind of ran with it .
Soon , we were hearing that coronavirus “ spares most kids.
” Or that children are “ covert spreaders ” who never notice they ’ re actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have enough data to say definitively whether kids are more likely to be asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 .
Or whether asymptomatic kids are likely to infect others .
Or how this compares to what ’ s happening among adults .
“ I do really sympathize with groups like the WHO who are trying to answer questions that are being asked in good faith , like , ‘ What is the number ?
’ Because it ’ s so based upon the place where the information is coming from , and what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Coffin .
The type of test being used and the patient population being tested can lead to very different findings .
There were several studies early on that found “ the rate of spread and the rate of positivity for kids was far lower than for adults , ” said Dr. Sandra Kesh , an infectious disease specialist with Westmed Medical Group .
“ Some places like Switzerland , for example , latched onto that concept of ‘ Maybe this is something we don ’ t have to worry about in kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means it is so important to stick to the basics we know work .
In the meantime , both experts emphasized that it is essential to adhere to the basic prevention measures researchers know are effective in limiting spread , whether a person has symptoms or not : Wear a mask .
Wash hands .
Keep social distance .
When parents make decisions about what level of exposure they ’ re comfortable with for their children over the summer and into the fall , they should be really deliberate about those choices .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a small subset of children who get COVID-19 are subsequently affected by pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome , which can be serious and often arises in children who ’ ve had limited or no symptoms of COVID-19 itself . )

lakshmiprasad S via Getty Images Asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 is an area of major interest — and confusion.
Asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 has been one of the greatest unknowns of the pandemic. It’s also been a source of some pretty major controversy this week after an official with the World Health Organization said asymptomatic people “rarely” spread the virus — then immediately walked it back.
These are big, thorny questions, with profound public health effects. (Some people immediately used the World Health Organization claim to justify not wearing a mask or staying socially distant.) How often do people spread the virus when they don’t have any symptoms? And how many of us may be walking around with the new coronavirus and never really know?
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Also, how do kids — sometimes called the “silent spreaders” of COVID-19 — fit into all of this?
Here’s what scientists know (and don’t!) about kids and asymptomatic spread of COVID-19:
We really don’t have good numbers on how common it is.
Several months into the pandemic, researchers still do not know with any kind of certainty how many people are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently estimated it was around 35%. Oh, but there was also the widely covered study that found that more than 80% of people infected with COVID-19 on a cruise ship showed no symptoms.
The numbers, in other words, are all over the place.
Similarly, it’s not clear at this point how much asymptomatic carriers drive new cases. Experts say it is possible — possible! — that people who have COVID-19 and never really develop any symptoms are not big spreaders of the virus.
“The vast majority of children who have asymptomatic detection, and never go on to get sick, have exceptionally low concentrations of the virus in their respiratory secretions,” said Dr. Susan Coffin, clinical director of the infectious diseases division with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). “We can use information from very large studies done in all ages of people to demonstrate that the vast majority of people who have such low concentrations of the virus are not capable of transmitting it.”
The terms “asymptomatic” and “pre-symptomatic” are ... blurry.
One contributing factor to the debate around how many people are “asymptomatic” — and how much they’re contributing to the virus’ spread — is confusion around what the term means exactly. Typically, experts use it to describe someone who has COVID-19, but never displays symptoms.
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But there are also people who are infected and have no symptoms for a few days — during which time they might be out, unwittingly infecting others — before they come down with more obvious signs of the virus themselves. Are those people asymptomatic spreaders? Pre-symptomatic? People aren’t always using the same language, which can lead to even greater confusion.
Are kids are actually “silent spreaders”?
When the earliest studies on kids and coronavirus emerged, many media outlets and parents heard the message that kids generally experience much milder symptoms, if any, and kind of ran with it. Soon, we were hearing that coronavirus “spares most kids.” Or that children are “covert spreaders” who never notice they’re actually infected.
But we still just do not have enough data to say definitively whether kids are more likely to be asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19. Or whether asymptomatic kids are likely to infect others. Or how this compares to what’s happening among adults.
At CHOP, for example, all children who have a scheduled medical procedure are now routinely tested for COVID-19, Coffin said.
“What we now know is somewhere around 1 to 2%, at this moment, in Philadelphia, have what looks like an asymptomatic infection with coronavirus,” she said.
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But roughly 10% of women delivering babies in Philadelphia have asymptomatic coronavirus, Coffin said. And researchers have no idea why the numbers appear higher in women than kids at this point.
“I do really sympathize with groups like the WHO who are trying to answer questions that are being asked in good faith, like, ‘What is the number?’ Because it’s so based upon the place where the information is coming from, and what the level of viral activity is,” said Coffin. The type of test being used and the patient population being tested can lead to very different findings.
There were several studies early on that found “the rate of spread and the rate of positivity for kids was far lower than for adults,” said Dr. Sandra Kesh, an infectious disease specialist with Westmed Medical Group. “Some places like Switzerland, for example, latched onto that concept of ‘Maybe this is something we don’t have to worry about in kids as much.’”
“But it’s very hard to draw any conclusions from these retrospective studies,” she added.
All of which means it is so important to stick to the basics we know work.
Coffin said that researchers are actively setting up broader studies that hope to measure how common asymptomatic detection and asymptomatic spread are, and told HuffPost she expects some of the very preliminary data to emerge in the next few months.
In the meantime, both experts emphasized that it is essential to adhere to the basic prevention measures researchers know are effective in limiting spread, whether a person has symptoms or not: Wear a mask. Wash hands. Keep social distance. When parents make decisions about what level of exposure they’re comfortable with for their children over the summer and into the fall, they should be really deliberate about those choices. (Keep in mind, too, that a small subset of children who get COVID-19 are subsequently affected by pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which can be serious and often arises in children who’ve had limited or no symptoms of COVID-19 itself.)
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huffpost--2020-06-11--1.5 Million More Americans Seek Unemployment Benefits

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week , evidence that many Americans are still losing their jobs even as the economy appears to be slowly recovering with more businesses partially reopening .
The latest figure from the Labor Department marked the 10th straight weekly decline in applications for jobless aid since they peaked in mid-March when the coronavirus hit hard .
Still , the pace of layoffs remains historically high .
The total number of people who are receiving unemployment aid fell slightly , a sign that some people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chains and small businesses suddenly shut down have been recalled to work .
But the recovery has begun slowly .
Though the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined from 14.7 % , it is still a high 13.3 % .
And even with the May hiring gain , just one in nine jobs that were lost in March and April have returned .
Nearly 21 million people are officially classified as unemployed .
But that doesn ’ t capture the full scope of the damage to the job market .
Including those the government said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May jobs report and those who lost jobs but didn ’ t search for new ones , 32.5 million people are out of work , economists estimate .
Thursday ’ s report also shows that an additional 706,000 people applied for jobless benefits last week under a new program for self-employed and gig workers that made them eligible for aid for the first time .
These figures aren ’ t adjusted for seasonal variations , so the government doesn ’ t include them in the official count .
In February , the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the National Bureau of Economic Research , the association of economists that is the official arbiter of recessions .
The Federal Reserve estimated Wednesday that the economy will shrink 6.5 % this year .
That would be , by far , the deepest annual contraction on records dating to World War II .
Even as restaurants , bars and gyms reopen , they are doing so at lower capacity .
And consumer spending on such services remains far below what it was before the viral outbreak .
Unemployment benefits are providing significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments having reached $ 94 billion in May — six times the previous record set in 2010 just after the previous recession .
This time , the benefits include an additional $ 600 a week from the federal government .
But that extra benefit is set to end July 31 , and the Trump administration opposes extending it .
Its opposition has set up a possible clash with House Democrats , who have approved legislation to extend the $ 600-a-week in federal benefits for an additional six months .
Republicans in Congress argue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes on top of state benefits that average about $ 375 nationwide , means many of the unemployed are receiving more money from jobless benefits than they earned at their old jobs .
Republicans argue that this discourages people from returning to work .
Studies suggest that roughly two-thirds of the recipients are receiving total unemployment aid that exceeds their previous paychecks .
But many workers are also wary about returning to their old jobs for fear of contracting the virus .
And recipients who receive aid can lose their benefits if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Concord , California , has been out of work since being laid off from a managerial position with Men ’ s Wearhouse in late March .
Jensen , 27 , says she plans to return to her job whenever she is called back and is grateful that her company is continuing employee health care in the meantime .
Jensen acknowledged that receiving the extra $ 600 has made her less eager to return to work because she is among recipients whose total benefits exceed their former income .
But she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ d be in close contact with people , ” Jensen said .
“ We have to measure customers , actually touch them .
There ’ s no way we could do any minimum social distancing if we were to return to business as usual .
I ’ m more than a little uneasy about it .
”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many Americans are still losing their jobs even as the economy appears to be slowly recovering with more businesses partially reopening.
The latest figure from the Labor Department marked the 10th straight weekly decline in applications for jobless aid since they peaked in mid-March when the coronavirus hit hard. Still, the pace of layoffs remains historically high.
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The total number of people who are receiving unemployment aid fell slightly, a sign that some people who were laid off when restaurants, retail chains and small businesses suddenly shut down have been recalled to work.
Last week’s jobs report showed that employers added 2.5 million jobs in May, an unexpected increase that suggested that the job market has bottomed out.
But the recovery has begun slowly. Though the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined from 14.7%, it is still a high 13.3%. And even with the May hiring gain, just one in nine jobs that were lost in March and April have returned. Nearly 21 million people are officially classified as unemployed.
But that doesn’t capture the full scope of the damage to the job market. Including those the government said were erroneously categorized as employed in the May jobs report and those who lost jobs but didn’t search for new ones, 32.5 million people are out of work, economists estimate.
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Thursday’s report also shows that an additional 706,000 people applied for jobless benefits last week under a new program for self-employed and gig workers that made them eligible for aid for the first time. These figures aren’t adjusted for seasonal variations, so the government doesn’t include them in the official count.
In February, the economy fell into a deep recession, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the association of economists that is the official arbiter of recessions. The Federal Reserve estimated Wednesday that the economy will shrink 6.5% this year. That would be, by far, the deepest annual contraction on records dating to World War II.
Even as restaurants, bars and gyms reopen, they are doing so at lower capacity. And consumer spending on such services remains far below what it was before the viral outbreak.
Unemployment benefits are providing significant support for jobless Americans, with total payments having reached $94 billion in May — six times the previous record set in 2010 just after the previous recession. This time, the benefits include an additional $600 a week from the federal government.
But that extra benefit is set to end July 31, and the Trump administration opposes extending it. Its opposition has set up a possible clash with House Democrats, who have approved legislation to extend the $600-a-week in federal benefits for an additional six months.
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Republicans in Congress argue that the extra $600, which comes on top of state benefits that average about $375 nationwide, means many of the unemployed are receiving more money from jobless benefits than they earned at their old jobs. Republicans argue that this discourages people from returning to work.
Studies suggest that roughly two-thirds of the recipients are receiving total unemployment aid that exceeds their previous paychecks. But many workers are also wary about returning to their old jobs for fear of contracting the virus. And recipients who receive aid can lose their benefits if they turn down job offers.
Karin Jensen of Concord, California, has been out of work since being laid off from a managerial position with Men’s Wearhouse in late March. Jensen, 27, says she plans to return to her job whenever she is called back and is grateful that her company is continuing employee health care in the meantime.
Jensen acknowledged that receiving the extra $600 has made her less eager to return to work because she is among recipients whose total benefits exceed their former income. But she’s also worried about returning to retail work.
“I’d be in close contact with people,” Jensen said. “We have to measure customers, actually touch them. There’s no way we could do any minimum social distancing if we were to return to business as usual. I’m more than a little uneasy about it.”


huffpost--2020-06-10--Disneyland Plans To Reopen July 17 Following Coronavirus Closure

ANAHEIM , Calif. ( AP ) — Disney is proposing to reopen its Southern California theme parks in mid-July after what will be a four-month closure due to the coronavirus , the company said on Wednesday .
Disney Parks , Experiences and Products said in a statement that the goal is to reopen Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on July 17 .
A nearby Disney-themed shopping area would reopen on July 9 .
Advance reservations will be required for theme park visitors and capacity will be limited , the statement said .
Events that draw large crowds , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t return immediately and Disney characters will be in the parks but not available to meet with visitors , the statement said .
The plan to reopen the parks , which have been closed since March 14 , is still pending government approval .
Disneyland fans normally can bank on the park being open regardless of what ’ s going on in the world around it .
The park closed only a handful of times in 65 years and never for more than a day , according to Jason Schultz , supervisory archivist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Museum and unofficial Disneyland historian who wrote “ Jason ’ s Disneyland Almanac.
” The last closure was after the terror attacks on Sept. 11 , 2001 .
California — which recently announced plans to let many of its counties reopen gyms , bars and museums — hasn ’ t yet set a timeline for amusement parks to reopen .
More than 4,700 people have died in the state from the virus , which causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people but for some , especially older adults and people with existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death .
Mike Lyster , a spokesman for the city of Anaheim , welcomed news of the reopening after such a long closure , and said local officials are confident Disney can manage attendance and keep the surrounding community safe .
“ Next to saving lives , recovery is the most important part of any incident , ” he said .
“ It will be a major morale boost as we all look to go into a period of recovery .
”

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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Disney is proposing to reopen its Southern California theme parks in mid-July after what will be a four-month closure due to the coronavirus, the company said on Wednesday.
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products said in a statement that the goal is to reopen Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on July 17. A nearby Disney-themed shopping area would reopen on July 9.
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Advance reservations will be required for theme park visitors and capacity will be limited, the statement said. Events that draw large crowds, such as parades and nighttime spectaculars, won’t return immediately and Disney characters will be in the parks but not available to meet with visitors, the statement said.
The plan to reopen the parks, which have been closed since March 14, is still pending government approval.
Disneyland fans normally can bank on the park being open regardless of what’s going on in the world around it. The park closed only a handful of times in 65 years and never for more than a day, according to Jason Schultz, supervisory archivist at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum and unofficial Disneyland historian who wrote “Jason’s Disneyland Almanac.” The last closure was after the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
The proposed reopening date is 65 years after Disneyland first opened its gates in 1955.
California — which recently announced plans to let many of its counties reopen gyms, bars and museums — hasn’t yet set a timeline for amusement parks to reopen. More than 4,700 people have died in the state from the virus, which causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, can cause pneumonia and death.
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Mike Lyster, a spokesman for the city of Anaheim, welcomed news of the reopening after such a long closure, and said local officials are confident Disney can manage attendance and keep the surrounding community safe.


huffpost--2020-04-23--Nancy Pelosi Postpones Vote On Lawmaking From Afar

House members will not be voting on whether to adopt a proxy voting system this week when the chamber convenes to vote on the COVID-19 relief bill that the Senate passed , the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) announced on Wednesday .
Pelosi signed off on a plan last Thursday developed by House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern ( D-Mass . )
that would have temporarily enabled members reluctant to travel to Washington , D.C. , during the pandemic to empower another member capable of appearing in person to vote on legislation on their behalf .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steny Hoyer ( D-Md . )
, told House Democrats on Monday that they could expect to vote on a rule change enabling proxy voting when they assemble in person to vote on the new relief bill .
He advised members to plan to be present for those votes on Thursday .
Pelosi ’ s decision not to hold a vote on proxy voting this week indefinitely postpones the adoption of a system that would permit Congress to function even somewhat normally during the coronavirus crisis .
Until then , the House ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington ― is severely limited in its ability to shape the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic havoc it has wrought .
The House has not assembled in person since late March , when Rep. Thomas Massie , a libertarian-minded Republican from Kentucky , forced an in-person voice vote on an economic stimulus and corporate bailout bill that Pelosi was otherwise prepared to pass unanimously .
The House ’ s inactivity prior to the vote ― coupled with the absence of a system to pass its own bill from afar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican-controlled Senate to dictate terms of that bill .
“ Speaker Pelosi should have figured this out months ago , ” said Daniel Schuman , policy director of Demand Progress , a leading proponent of remote voting .
“ Pushing forward on a select committee that can not meet and a task force that will require the House to reconvene to implement its recommendations is a recipe for continued delays in getting the House , and its committees , back to work.
” The postponed vote is the latest in a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompted public criticism from a host of progressive activists and groups that would normally be reluctant to speak up against her .
After the March relief bill , which created a $ 500-billion corporate bailout fund under the purview of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin , a former hedge fund manager , Democratic leaders assured activists that the next bill would be far better for ordinary workers and their families .
Now the House is poised to vote on legislation the Senate passed that expands small business aid and allots money for testing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and state governments , more food aid for struggling households , the passage of universal voting by mail , rules barring creditors from confiscating relief checks , or a bailout for the Postal Service .
Ocasio-Cortez , who represents neighborhoods in the New York City borough of Queens with some of the highest COVID-19 fatality rates in the country , said Monday that she planned to vote against the bill pending major changes .
“ It is insulting to think that we can pass such a small amount of money in the context @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to reconvene ― and pass such a small amount of money , pat ourselves on the back , and then leave town again , ” she declared .
Pelosi picked Shalala , an Education and Labor Committee member with little financial policymaking experience , over Rep. Katie Porter ( D-Calif. ) , a consumer rights attorney and disciple of Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
who actively sought a post on the panel .
Porter , a freshman member on the Financial Services Committee , has made a name for herself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration officials .

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House members will not be voting on whether to adopt a proxy voting system this week when the chamber convenes to vote on the COVID-19 relief bill that the Senate passed, the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced on Wednesday.
Pelosi signed off on a plan last Thursday developed by House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) that would have temporarily enabled members reluctant to travel to Washington, D.C., during the pandemic to empower another member capable of appearing in person to vote on legislation on their behalf.
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And Pelosi’s second-in-command, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), told House Democrats on Monday that they could expect to vote on a rule change enabling proxy voting when they assemble in person to vote on the new relief bill. He advised members to plan to be present for those votes on Thursday.
But Pelosi revealed Wednesday that in lieu of a vote this week, she would convene a bipartisan task force to review the proxy voting system.
A senior aide to House Democratic leadership told HuffPost that Pelosi made the decision after consulting with Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
“Bottom line here is that the speaker wants a bipartisan solution,” the senior aide said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has also drawn scrutiny for naming scandal-clouded Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) to a board overseeing corporate bailout money. SAUL LOEB/Getty Images
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Pelosi’s decision not to hold a vote on proxy voting this week indefinitely postpones the adoption of a system that would permit Congress to function even somewhat normally during the coronavirus crisis. Until then, the House ― Democrats’ sole bastion of power in Washington ― is severely limited in its ability to shape the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic havoc it has wrought.
The House has not assembled in person since late March, when Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian-minded Republican from Kentucky, forced an in-person voice vote on an economic stimulus and corporate bailout bill that Pelosi was otherwise prepared to pass unanimously. The House’s inactivity prior to the vote ― coupled with the absence of a system to pass its own bill from afar ― effectively allowed the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Senate to dictate terms of that bill.
The additional delay in proxy voting sparked criticism from proponents of congressional reform who already considered proxy voting inferior to direct remote voting through electronic means, as well as the creation of a digital framework for debate and committee deliberation.
What’s more, McGovern’s staff already published a lengthy examination of proxy voting in a late March report, making additional study unnecessary, those critics argue.
“Speaker Pelosi should have figured this out months ago.” - Daniel Schuman, Demand Progress
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“Speaker Pelosi should have figured this out months ago,” said Daniel Schuman, policy director of Demand Progress, a leading proponent of remote voting. “Pushing forward on a select committee that cannot meet and a task force that will require the House to reconvene to implement its recommendations is a recipe for continued delays in getting the House, and its committees, back to work.”
A spokesperson for the Congressional Progressive Caucus did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Pelosi’s decision to delay consideration of proxy voting. A spokesperson for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a CPC member who frequently bucks party leadership, declined to comment.
The postponed vote is the latest in a series of decisions Pelosi has made that have prompted public criticism from a host of progressive activists and groups that would normally be reluctant to speak up against her.
After the March relief bill, which created a $500-billion corporate bailout fund under the purview of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, a former hedge fund manager, Democratic leaders assured activists that the next bill would be far better for ordinary workers and their families.
Now the House is poised to vote on legislation the Senate passed that expands small business aid and allots money for testing, but excludes new aid for distressed city and state governments, more food aid for struggling households, the passage of universal voting by mail, rules barring creditors from confiscating relief checks, or a bailout for the Postal Service. Ocasio-Cortez, who represents neighborhoods in the New York City borough of Queens with some of the highest COVID-19 fatality rates in the country, said Monday that she planned to vote against the bill pending major changes.
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“It is insulting to think that we can pass such a small amount of money in the context of not knowing when Congress is even going to reconvene ― and pass such a small amount of money, pat ourselves on the back, and then leave town again,” she declared.
A coalition of heads of major progressive organizations and thinks tanks, including the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the National Women’s Law Center and the Center for Popular Democracy, released a joint statement on Wednesday condemning the Senate bill.
“The legislation that just passed the Senate is a small, but wholly insufficient, step in the right direction,” they said. “As a result, many people, families, and communities will remain in dire straits.”
Even Bob Greenstein, the president of the center-left Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which rarely breaks with Democratic leadership, said the bill “falls short even as an interim measure.”
Pelosi also rankled some progressives with her announcement Wednesday that she would stick with her selection of Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) to serve on an oversight panel of the corporate bailout money.
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Pelosi picked Shalala, an Education and Labor Committee member with little financial policymaking experience, over Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), a consumer rights attorney and disciple of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) who actively sought a post on the panel. Porter, a freshman member on the Financial Services Committee, has made a name for herself with her interrogation of financial executives and Trump administration officials.
Days later, it emerged that Shalala, who owns millions of dollars in corporate stocks, violated the law when she failed to disclose her sale of some stocks after assuming office in 2018.
Drew Hammill, a Pelosi spokesman, said Shalala’s apology for her actions had sufficed.
“Congresswoman Shalala has the speaker’s complete confidence,” he said.
Jeff Hauser, executive director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research’s Revolving Door Project, which monitors executive branch corruption, believes the week’s events have done irrevocable damage to Pelosi’s reputation as a shrewd tactician. (The Revolving Door Project and Demand Progress had called on Pelosi to encourage Shalala to withdraw.)
“For a long time, Pelosi has received the benefit of the doubt from rank-and-file progressives who don’t follow the ins and outs of D.C. and believe that she is genuinely as calculating and knife fighting as portrayed by Kate McKinnon on ‘Saturday Night Live,’” he said. “I think that myth ends this week with a set of defeats too big to overcome by tearing up paper.”


huffpost--2020-04-23--U.S. To Deport 129 Haitians, Despite Coronavirus Risk

The Trump administration is scheduled to deport 129 Haitian migrants on Thursday , despite the fact that many of them have likely been exposed to the coronavirus in detention centers in the United States .
In the weeks leading up to the deportation flight , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained at least 13 of those likely to be deported at Louisiana ’ s Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center , where at least two detainees have tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Several of the likely deportees shared a bunk at Pine Prairie with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some are now feeling unwell .
One of the bunkmates , Fredly Charles , is now showing symptoms himself .
He has “ lost his sense of smell , and has a fever , fatigue and is sweating , ” his attorney , Ira Alkalay , told HuffPost .
Charles was told he might be deported this week , and he ’ s been given no indication that his symptoms have changed the plan , Alkalay said , who explained that migrants deported by ICE often don ’ t receive confirmation until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be deported .
President Donald Trump has responded to the coronavirus pandemic by clamping down even further on immigration , including shutting down the border to asylum-seekers and barring certain legal immigrants .
His administration has also continued to carry out deportations , even though experts have warned that it increases the risk of spreading the virus , both among the people being deported and those they interact with in their native countries .
The removal flight to Haiti is a prime example ― in its effort to expel immigrants from the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elsewhere .
“ The U.S. shouldn ’ t be doing this , ” a Haitian civil servant who works with deportees told HuffPost .
By taking people from different detention centers and putting them together on a plane , particularly without testing them , “ you put everybody at risk , including little children , ” said the official , who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he fears for his job if he speaks out publicly .
Haiti is already struggling to respond to a growing number of coronavirus cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who tested positive for the virus after taking tests administered by the Haitian Ministry of Public Health .
Those deportees were on the same flight from the United States to Haiti as several children , including a 3-year-old girl , according to the Haitian civil servant .
Further U.S. deportations could worsen the COVID-19 outbreak in Haiti , given that U.S. immigration authorities do not systematically test migrant detainees for the virus prior to deporting them .
Public health experts warned that this outbreak could be particularly deadly due to the weaknesses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many Haitians ’ lack of access to basic necessities .
Since April 7 , when ICE deported 61 Haitians , including the three who tested positive for COVID-19 , the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Haiti has climbed from 24 to 47 , according to data from the Haitian Ministry of Public Health , which also reported that the disease has caused three deaths so far .
However , given that relatively little testing has been done in the country , the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths could , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official statistics suggest , said the official working on Haiti ’ s pandemic response , who wished to remain anonymous because he fears reprisal .
The official confirmed that the three COVID-positive Haitians deported by the U.S. this month have been placed in isolation in a local hospital .
Given that Haiti has very limited hospital resources , as well as a limited capacity to carry out COVID-19 testing , he warned that “ this is putting an additional burden on all of our fragile systems.
” “ He has been asking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he has not been given a test , ” he said , adding that some of the other detainees who believe they have been exposed to the virus have also tried unsuccessfully to get tested .
“ There ’ s a strong likelihood that a lot of these people have been exposed to the coronavirus and would test positive , ” said Phillips of Haiti Bridge Alliance , who , like Alkalay , has begun to suspect that this may be exactly why the U.S. government is not testing deportees for the @ @

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The Trump administration is scheduled to deport 129 Haitian migrants on Thursday, despite the fact that many of them have likely been exposed to the coronavirus in detention centers in the United States.
In the weeks leading up to the deportation flight, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained at least 13 of those likely to be deported at Louisiana’s Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center, where at least two detainees have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Several of the likely deportees shared a bunk at Pine Prairie with one of these coronavirus-infected detainees, and some are now feeling unwell.
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One of the bunkmates, Fredly Charles, is now showing symptoms himself. He has “lost his sense of smell, and has a fever, fatigue and is sweating,” his attorney, Ira Alkalay, told HuffPost. Charles was told he might be deported this week, and he’s been given no indication that his symptoms have changed the plan, Alkalay said, who explained that migrants deported by ICE often don’t receive confirmation until the last minute about when exactly they will be deported.
Children may also be present on Thursday’s deportation flight, according to Nicole Phillips of Haitian Bridge Alliance, who told HuffPost that she has received information that 49 minors will be on the flight.
ICE did not respond to a request for comment on the planned removals.
President Donald Trump has responded to the coronavirus pandemic by clamping down even further on immigration, including shutting down the border to asylum-seekers and barring certain legal immigrants. His administration has also continued to carry out deportations, even though experts have warned that it increases the risk of spreading the virus, both among the people being deported and those they interact with in their native countries. The removal flight to Haiti is a prime example ― in its effort to expel immigrants from the U.S., the nation is endangering public health elsewhere.
“The U.S. shouldn’t be doing this,” a Haitian civil servant who works with deportees told HuffPost. By taking people from different detention centers and putting them together on a plane, particularly without testing them, “you put everybody at risk, including little children,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he fears for his job if he speaks out publicly.
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An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer watches as immigrants are deported by plane in 2018. David J. Phillip/Associated Press
Haiti is already struggling to respond to a growing number of coronavirus cases, including three Haitian deportees from the U.S. who tested positive for the virus after taking tests administered by the Haitian Ministry of Public Health. Those deportees were on the same flight from the United States to Haiti as several children, including a 3-year-old girl, according to the Haitian civil servant.
Further U.S. deportations could worsen the COVID-19 outbreak in Haiti, given that U.S. immigration authorities do not systematically test migrant detainees for the virus prior to deporting them. Public health experts warned that this outbreak could be particularly deadly due to the weaknesses of Haiti’s health and sanitation infrastructure and many Haitians’ lack of access to basic necessities.
A Haitian official who is involved in the country’s pandemic response said it would be dangerous to have more deportations “at a time when the domestic rate is rising and may increase exponentially.”
Since April 7, when ICE deported 61 Haitians, including the three who tested positive for COVID-19, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Haiti has climbed from 24 to 47, according to data from the Haitian Ministry of Public Health, which also reported that the disease has caused three deaths so far.
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However, given that relatively little testing has been done in the country, the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths could, in reality, be much higher than these official statistics suggest, said the official working on Haiti’s pandemic response, who wished to remain anonymous because he fears reprisal.
“We’re potentially sitting on a ticking time bomb,” he told HuffPost.
The official confirmed that the three COVID-positive Haitians deported by the U.S. this month have been placed in isolation in a local hospital. Given that Haiti has very limited hospital resources, as well as a limited capacity to carry out COVID-19 testing, he warned that “this is putting an additional burden on all of our fragile systems.”
A factory worker counts face masks at the Sonapi Industrial Park in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Dieu Nalio Chery/Associated Press
Alkalay, the attorney, said his client has repeatedly asked the authorities at Pine Prairie to test him for the coronavirus.
“He has been asking for a test quite insistently for days, and he has not been given a test,” he said, adding that some of the other detainees who believe they have been exposed to the virus have also tried unsuccessfully to get tested.
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“There’s a strong likelihood that a lot of these people have been exposed to the coronavirus and would test positive,” said Phillips of Haiti Bridge Alliance, who, like Alkalay, has begun to suspect that this may be exactly why the U.S. government is not testing deportees for the virus.


huffpost--2020-04-23--VA Medical Facilities Struggle To Cope With Coronavirus

So many nurses had called in sick , she said , that the Bronx facility was woefully understaffed .
It lacked specially equipped rooms for infected patients , she said , and didn ’ t have enough masks , gloves and other protective gear to guard against the spread of the highly contagious disease .
Espinal , 34 , says she and her colleagues were told to do the best they could , using a single N95 face mask for an entire shift rather than getting a new one for each patient .
In early April , she tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,900 VA health care workers who have become sick with the coronavirus , according to agency documents obtained by The Associated Press .
Twenty have died .
Another 3,600 of the 300,000-plus VA health care employees are quarantined and unable to work because they have been exposed to the virus , according to VA figures .
The facilities were short of staff and equipment like masks , eye shields , hand sanitizer and gowns .
Some workers were forced to reuse masks for days or weeks , according to interviews with VA nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a crush of coronavirus patients led to a shortage of negative pressure rooms to limit the spread of the virus , several VA nurses told the AP .
The VA inspector general ’ s staff visited more than 230 facilities in March .
It found that nearly a third of the medical centers could improve their processing for screening visitors .
More than half of the medical centers reported shortages of supplies and equipment including respirator masks , and 10 reported shortages of staffing mostly for nurses in intensive care units .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines asking workers to ration masks in response to what the department described as “ shortages ” and challenges in getting “ adequate supplies ” to protect VA staff , according to an internal memo .
Citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines , the VA said employees in direct contact with COVID-19 patients should use N95 masks as protection but may need to reuse them .
VA staff working with high-risk elderly or vulnerable patients , such as those in nursing homes or spinal cord facilities , would only get one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint filed by the American Federation of Government Employees alleges that VA workers who came in contact with someone suspected of contracting the virus were told on orders of VA Secretary Robert Wilkie that they still had to report to work — ignoring a 14-day quarantine period .
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating .
“ Those who care for veterans should not be afraid to wake up every morning , go to work and help save veterans ’ lives , ” says a letter being sent to the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montana , the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee .
More than a dozen senators joined him , including Sens .
Bernie Sanders of Vermont , Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California , all former 2020 presidential contenders .

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BOSTON (AP) — As she treated patient after patient infected with the coronavirus at a Veterans Affairs medical center in New York City, Heather Espinal saw stark warning signs.
So many nurses had called in sick, she said, that the Bronx facility was woefully understaffed. It lacked specially equipped rooms for infected patients, she said, and didn’t have enough masks, gloves and other protective gear to guard against the spread of the highly contagious disease.
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Espinal, 34, says she and her colleagues were told to do the best they could, using a single N95 face mask for an entire shift rather than getting a new one for each patient. In early April, she tested positive for COVID-19.
“I definitely believe it was related to me being at work,” said Espinal, who was out sick for two weeks.
Espinal is one of 1,900 VA health care workers who have become sick with the coronavirus, according to agency documents obtained by The Associated Press. Twenty have died. Another 3,600 of the 300,000-plus VA health care employees are quarantined and unable to work because they have been exposed to the virus, according to VA figures.
As the coronavirus spreads across the U.S., VA health care facilities are struggling with shortages of workers and the equipment necessary to protect employees from contracting the virus, according to VA staff and internal documents obtained by the AP.
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“We thought we were doing everything right, even with reusing these N95 respirators. But we still ended up getting sick,” Espinal said.
More than 5,700 veterans treated by the VA have been infected by the coronavirus, and nearly 380 have died.
The Labor Department is now investigating, and several Democrats in Congress plan to send a letter Thursday calling on President Donald Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act to get more supplies for VA health facilities.
Clarence Shields, center, an Army veteran, pickets with a small group of activists from the American Federation of Government Employees local 424 and the National Association of Government Employees local R3-19 outside the Baltimore VA Medical Center on April 22, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The VA, responsible for the health care of 9 million military veterans, denied it was short of supplies and stressed that it follows federal health guidelines when rationing personal protective equipment like masks and gloves.
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“VA’s PPE conservation posture is precisely why the department has not encountered any PPE shortages that have negatively impacted patient care or employee safety,” said spokeswoman Christina Mandreucci. She said the VA has moved aggressively in recent weeks to add staff, hiring 3,183 people, including 981 nurses, from March 29 to April 11.
But interviews with nurses and other employees at facilities around the country, internal VA documents, and a March report by the agency’s inspector general tell another story.
The facilities were short of staff and equipment like masks, eye shields, hand sanitizer and gowns. Some workers were forced to reuse masks for days or weeks, according to interviews with VA nurses. In hard-hit states like New York, a crush of coronavirus patients led to a shortage of negative pressure rooms to limit the spread of the virus, several VA nurses told the AP.
The VA inspector general’s staff visited more than 230 facilities in March. It found that nearly a third of the medical centers could improve their processing for screening visitors. More than half of the medical centers reported shortages of supplies and equipment including respirator masks, and 10 reported shortages of staffing mostly for nurses in intensive care units.
“There has been a failure of leadership at VA, and veterans, VA employees and the public are suffering as a result,” said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and former head of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and now host of the podcast “Angry Americans.”
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Susan Gordon, a senior policy analyst at the nonpartisan Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute, said VA preparations were hampered by inadequate funding and staff, leaving it with nearly 50,000 job openings.
“In VA facilities all over the country, they are doing a really incredible job trying to respond to the crisis in a situation where they have been deliberately crippled by the Trump administration,” Gordon said.
As the nation’s largest health care system, the VA typically enjoyed preferred status in orders for medical supplies from prime vendors.
But as the outbreak escalated in the U.S., surging demand for crucial medical equipment spurred frantic competition for supplies, including from state governments and the National Stockpile. The Federal Emergency Management Agency began buying supplies directly from manufacturers, and VA began submitting its orders to FEMA alongside others.
Not long after, according to people familiar with VA’s weekly briefings to Congress, the supply shortages got worse as medical workers burned through 250,000 masks a day.
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On April 7, the VA issued guidelines asking workers to ration masks in response to what the department described as “shortages” and challenges in getting “adequate supplies” to protect VA staff, according to an internal memo. Citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the VA said employees in direct contact with COVID-19 patients should use N95 masks as protection but may need to reuse them. VA staff working with high-risk elderly or vulnerable patients, such as those in nursing homes or spinal cord facilities, would only get one face mask per work week.
After criticism from staff, and a small increase in supplies, the VA on April 16 said those employees working with high-risk elderly or vulnerable veterans could now have one face mask per day.
Individual medical centers have wide discretion if they face shortages, including allowing employees in direct contact with COVID patients to use surgical masks instead of N95 respirators and permitting staff to bring their own.
All other VA staff would be encouraged to bring in handmade masks, even if they work in a building where the disease is present.
A complaint filed by the American Federation of Government Employees alleges that VA workers who came in contact with someone suspected of contracting the virus were told on orders of VA Secretary Robert Wilkie that they still had to report to work — ignoring a 14-day quarantine period. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.
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The staff and equipment shortages are creating chaos at the VA medical center in Brooklyn, New York, according to Maria Lobifaro, an intensive care nurse.
“Usually the ratio is one nurse to two critical patients. I’m having five critical ICU patients on ventilators,” said Lobifaro, who also is a member of the union National Nurses United, which has organized protests as VA facilities in Brooklyn and Baltimore.
“This has happened four times in the last week and a half. It’s to the point where ... my hands are trembling because of what I’m going to walk into,” she continued. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
A group of Senate Democrats blames Trump for a “broken procurement and distribution system developed by this administration.”
“Those who care for veterans should not be afraid to wake up every morning, go to work and help save veterans’ lives,” says a letter being sent to the White House on Thursday by Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. More than a dozen senators joined him, including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California, all former 2020 presidential contenders.
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Wilkie defended his agency’s response.
“We have the lowest employee infection rate in the world. It is less than half of 1 percent,” he said Wednesday on MSNBC, citing higher rates in Italy and elsewhere in the U.S.
Irma Westmoreland, a nurse at the Charlie Norwood VA in Augusta, Georgia, said it’s hard for nurses to be tested, so no one really knows how bad the situation is.
“We are told if you have symptoms or feel like you have been exposed and you want to be tested unless you are veteran, you can’t be tested,” Westmoreland said, adding that employees are told go to their own doctors if they want to be tested.