huffpost--2020-02-25--Iran's Deputy Health Minister Tests Positive For Coronavirus

The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday meanwhile banned all flights to and from Iran over the outbreak of the new coronavirus , just a day after its spread from the Islamic Republic was announced across multiple Mideast nations .
Iran earlier raised the official death toll from the virus to 15 killed amid 95 confirmed infections .
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Harirchi had the virus .
Harirchi himself posted an online video saying he had the virus and that he had quarantined himself at his home .
He promised that authorities would bring the virus under control .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emirates and Etihad , remains a key international transit route for Iran ’ s 80 million people .
The flight ban , which will last at least a week , shows the growing concern over the spread of the virus in Iran amid worries the outbreak may be larger than what authorities there now acknowledge .
“ All passenger and cargo aircraft traveling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week , and could be up for extension , ” the authority said .
“ The decision is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus.
” Bahrain ’ s Health Ministry on Tuesday raised the number of infected cases from the new virus to eight , saying that all had traveled from Iran via Dubai .
Four of them have been identified as Saudi nationals .
The cases were confirmed upon arrival to Bahrain during screenings at the airport , and prior to the suspension on flights to Dubai and Sharjah , according to Bahrain ’ s official news agency .
Dubai has been screening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the outbreak began in December .
Long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad are among the few international airlines still flying to Beijing .
However , the outbreak in Iran only became public in recent days .
Iran ’ s government said Tuesday that 15 people had died nationwide from the new coronavirus , rejecting claims of a much higher death toll of 50 by a lawmaker from the city of Qom that has been at the epicenter of the virus in the country .
The conflicting reports raised questions about the Iranian government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak .
The new death toll came from Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour during an interview with Iranian state television .
He said there were 95 confirmed cases of the virus in Iran , with many linked to Qom , a major Shiite religious center where other cases have emerged .
Also Tuesday , Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases to eight , according to the state-run KUNA news agency , after earlier raising the number to five .
It said the three latest cases involved Kuwaiti citizens just back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The five previously reported cases were passengers returning on a flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad , where Iran ’ s government has not yet announced a single case of the virus .
Meanwhile , Iraq ’ s Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk .
It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned from a recent trip to Iran .
Iraq announced the discovery of the first coronavirus case in the country on Monday in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Also Tuesday , a Turkish Airlines flight from Tehran to Istanbul landed in Ankara with 17 passengers suspected of having coronavirus , including some who had been to the Iranian city of Qom , Turkey ’ s CNN-Turk broadcaster reported .
The passengers were to be quarantined at an Ankara hospital that had previously quarantined Turks returning from China ’ s Hubei province .
Turkish Airlines has temporarily suspended most flights with Iran , apart from those with Tehran .
Turkey ’ s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the Turks on board were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran .
All 132 passengers and crew on board would be quarantined for 14 days at the same hospital where Turkish citizens returning from China had been quarantined .
“ We are engaged in the maximum effort possible to protect our country from this ilness , ” Koca said .

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The head of Iran’s counter-coronavirus task force has tested positive for the virus himself, authorities announced Tuesday, showing the challenges facing the Islamic Republic amid concerns the outbreak may be far wider than officially acknowledged.
The announcement regarding Iraj Harirchi came after he gave a news conference with journalists in Tehran about the virus just one day prior, seeking to minimize the danger posed by the outbreak.
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The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday meanwhile banned all flights to and from Iran over the outbreak of the new coronavirus, just a day after its spread from the Islamic Republic was announced across multiple Mideast nations. Iran earlier raised the official death toll from the virus to 15 killed amid 95 confirmed infections.
Iraj Harirchi, Iran's deputy health minister, went on TV yesterday (left) to insist the Iranian government was getting the #coronavirus outbreak under control.
Today it was announced Harirchi himself has the virus. pic.twitter.com/dO0RgLyydk — Raf Sanchez (@rafsanchez) February 25, 2020
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Harirchi had the virus. Harirchi himself posted an online video saying he had the virus and that he had quarantined himself at his home. He promised that authorities would bring the virus under control.
However, having the top official in charge of stopping the virus become sick with it is just the latest woe to befall Iran as the UAE cut off Iranian flights from the country.
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The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Iran’s 80 million people. The flight ban, which will last at least a week, shows the growing concern over the spread of the virus in Iran amid worries the outbreak may be larger than what authorities there now acknowledge.
The Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority made the announcement via the country’s state-run WAM news agency, just hours after Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, said there would be restrictions on flights there.
“All passenger and cargo aircraft traveling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week, and could be up for extension,” the authority said. “The decision is a precautionary measure undertaken by the UAE to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus.”
Emirates, the government-owned carrier based in Dubai, flies daily to Tehran. Its low-cost sister airline, FlyDubai, flies to multiple Iranian cities, as does the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia.
The announcement came after Bahrain said it would suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah, a neighboring UAE emirate that is home to Air Arabia, for 48 hours.
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A worker disinfects a public bus against coronavirus in the city of Ahvaz in southwestern, Iran, in early morning of Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bahrain’s Health Ministry on Tuesday raised the number of infected cases from the new virus to eight, saying that all had traveled from Iran via Dubai. Four of them have been identified as Saudi nationals. The cases were confirmed upon arrival to Bahrain during screenings at the airport, and prior to the suspension on flights to Dubai and Sharjah, according to Bahrain’s official news agency.
Dubai has been screening passengers on incoming flights from China, where the outbreak began in December. Long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad are among the few international airlines still flying to Beijing. However, the outbreak in Iran only became public in recent days.
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people globally, causing around 2,700 deaths, mainly in China. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it.
Iran’s government said Tuesday that 15 people had died nationwide from the new coronavirus, rejecting claims of a much higher death toll of 50 by a lawmaker from the city of Qom that has been at the epicenter of the virus in the country. The conflicting reports raised questions about the Iranian government’s transparency concerning the scale of the outbreak.
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The new death toll came from Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour during an interview with Iranian state television. He said there were 95 confirmed cases of the virus in Iran, with many linked to Qom, a major Shiite religious center where other cases have emerged.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sought to reassure the nation in a speech on Tuesday, calling the new coronavirus an “uninvited and inauspicious passenger.”
“We will get through corona,” Rouhani said. “We will get through the virus.”
Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman also announced their first cases of the virus on Monday and connected them to travel with Iran.
The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has reported 13 cases of the new virus. Most of those were connected to Chinese travel.
Pilgrims wearing masks walk through the courtyard of the shrine of Imam Ali on February 25, 2020 in the holy Iraqi central city of Najaf, where the first case of coronavirus COVID-19 has been documented in Iraq. HAIDAR HAMDANI via Getty Images
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Also Tuesday, Kuwait raised the number of its infected cases to eight, according to the state-run KUNA news agency, after earlier raising the number to five. It said the three latest cases involved Kuwaiti citizens just back from Iran, without giving more details. The five previously reported cases were passengers returning on a flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad, where Iran’s government has not yet announced a single case of the virus.
Kuwait had halted transport links with Iran over the weekend and said it was evacuating its citizens from Iran.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s Health Ministry said four new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in the northern province of Kirkuk. It said the afflicted were members of an Iraqi family who had returned from a recent trip to Iran. Iraq announced the discovery of the first coronavirus case in the country on Monday in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf.
Iraq had earlier closed its border with Iran to Iranian nationals but apparently Iraqis can still cross the boundary.
Also Tuesday, a Turkish Airlines flight from Tehran to Istanbul landed in Ankara with 17 passengers suspected of having coronavirus, including some who had been to the Iranian city of Qom, Turkey’s CNN-Turk broadcaster reported. The passengers were to be quarantined at an Ankara hospital that had previously quarantined Turks returning from China’s Hubei province. Turkish Airlines has temporarily suspended most flights with Iran, apart from those with Tehran.
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Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the Turks on board were being repatriated due to the outbreak in Iran. All 132 passengers and crew on board would be quarantined for 14 days at the same hospital where Turkish citizens returning from China had been quarantined. “We are engaged in the maximum effort possible to protect our country from this ilness,” Koca said.
In Pakistan, about 100 pilgrims, mostly minority Pakistani Shiites, have been quarantined at a government building after returning from Iran, officials said Tuesday. The pilgrims had returned before Pakistan on Saturday closed its border with Iran at the crossing in the town of Taftan in southwestern Baluchistan province.
More than 7,000 Pakistani pilgrims remain still in Iran where health authorities will have to declare them free of the coronavirus before they can go home. Pakistan last week suspended flight operations with China, where thousands of Pakistanis have been stranded since the infectious spread there. Islamabad has no immediate plans to evacuate Pakistani citizens from China.
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Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Samya Kullab in Baghdad contributed to this report.


huffpost--2020-02-25--Coronavirus Spread Would More Likely Cancel Than Postpone Tokyo Olympics: IOC

TOKYO ( AP ) — A senior member of the International Olympic Committee said Tuesday that if it proves too dangerous to hold the Olympics in Tokyo this summer because of the coronavirus outbreak , organizers are more likely to cancel it altogether than to postpone or move it .
Dick Pound , a former Canadian swimming champion who has been on the IOC since 1978 , making him its longest-serving member , estimated there is a three-month window — perhaps a two-month one — to decide the fate of the Tokyo Olympics , meaning a decision could be put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and around that time , I ’ d say folks are going to have to ask : ‘ Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not ?
’ ” he said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press .
As the games draw near , he said , “ a lot of things have to start happening .
You ’ ve got to start ramping up your security , your food , the Olympic Village , the hotels .
The media folks will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viral outbreak that began in China two months ago has infected more than 80,000 people globally and killed over 2,700 , the vast majority of them in China .
But the virus has gained a foothold in South Korea , the Middle East and Europe , raising fears of a pandemic .
Japan itself has reported four deaths .
“ As far as we all know , you ’ re going to be in Tokyo , ” Pound said .
“ All indications are at this stage that it will be business as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sport and be sure that the IOC is not going to send you into a pandemic situation.
” The modern Olympics , which date to 1896 , have been canceled only during wartime .
The Olympics in 1940 were supposed to be in Tokyo but were called off because of Japan ’ s war with China and World War II .
The Rio Games in Brazil went on as scheduled in 2016 despite the outbreak of the Zika virus .
As for the possibility of postponement , he said : “ You just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size and scale of the Olympics .
There ’ s so many moving parts , so many countries and different seasons , and competitive seasons , and television seasons .
You can ’ t just say , ` We ’ ll do it in October.
’ ” Pound said moving to another city also seems unlikely “ because there are few places in the world that could think of gearing up facilities in that short time to put something on.
” Pound said he would not favor a scattering of Olympic events to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t “ constitute an Olympic Games .
You ’ d end up with a series of world championships.
” He also said it would be extremely difficult to spread around the various sports over a 17-day period with only a few months ’ notice .
Holding the Olympics in Tokyo but postponing them by a few months would be unlikely to satisfy North American broadcasters , whose schedules are full in the fall with American pro football , college football , European soccer , basketball , baseball and ice hockey .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You have to ask if you can hold the bubble together for an extra year , ” Pound said .
“ Then , of course , you have to fit all of this into the entire international sports schedule.
” Pound said the IOC has been building up an emergency fund , reported to be about $ 1 billion , for unforeseen circumstances to help the IOC and the international sports federations that depend on income from the IOC .
About 73 % of the IOC ’ s $ 5.7 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from broadcast rights .
“ It ’ s not an insurable risk , and it ’ s not one that can be attributed to one or the other of the parties , ” he said .
“ So everybody takes their lumps .
There would be a lack of revenue on the Olympic movement side .
”

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TOKYO (AP) — A senior member of the International Olympic Committee said Tuesday that if it proves too dangerous to hold the Olympics in Tokyo this summer because of the coronavirus outbreak, organizers are more likely to cancel it altogether than to postpone or move it.
Dick Pound, a former Canadian swimming champion who has been on the IOC since 1978, making him its longest-serving member, estimated there is a three-month window — perhaps a two-month one — to decide the fate of the Tokyo Olympics, meaning a decision could be put off until late May.
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“In and around that time, I’d say folks are going to have to ask: ‘Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?’” he said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press.
As the games draw near, he said, “a lot of things have to start happening. You’ve got to start ramping up your security, your food, the Olympic Village, the hotels. The media folks will be in there building their studios.”
If the IOC decides the games cannot go forward as scheduled in Tokyo, “you’re probably looking at a cancellation,” he said.
The viral outbreak that began in China two months ago has infected more than 80,000 people globally and killed over 2,700, the vast majority of them in China. But the virus has gained a foothold in South Korea, the Middle East and Europe, raising fears of a pandemic. Japan itself has reported four deaths.
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Pound encouraged athletes to keep training. About 11,000 are expected for the Olympics, which open July 24, and 4,400 are bound for the Paralympics, which open Aug. 25.
“As far as we all know, you’re going to be in Tokyo,” Pound said. “All indications are at this stage that it will be business as usual. So keep focused on your sport and be sure that the IOC is not going to send you into a pandemic situation.”
The modern Olympics, which date to 1896, have been canceled only during wartime. The Olympics in 1940 were supposed to be in Tokyo but were called off because of Japan’s war with China and World War II. The Rio Games in Brazil went on as scheduled in 2016 despite the outbreak of the Zika virus.
Pound repeated the IOC’s stance — that it is relying on consultations with the World Health Organization, a United Nations body, to make any move.
As for the possibility of postponement, he said: “You just don’t postpone something on the size and scale of the Olympics. There’s so many moving parts, so many countries and different seasons, and competitive seasons, and television seasons. You can’t just say, `We’ll do it in October.’”
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Pound said moving to another city also seems unlikely “because there are few places in the world that could think of gearing up facilities in that short time to put something on.”
London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has suggested the British capital as an alternative. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike suggested the offer was an attempt to use the virus for political purposes.
Pound said he would not favor a scattering of Olympic events to other places around the world because that wouldn’t “constitute an Olympic Games. You’d end up with a series of world championships.” He also said it would be extremely difficult to spread around the various sports over a 17-day period with only a few months’ notice.
Holding the Olympics in Tokyo but postponing them by a few months would be unlikely to satisfy North American broadcasters, whose schedules are full in the fall with American pro football, college football, European soccer, basketball, baseball and ice hockey. Other world broadcasters also have jammed schedules.
“It would be tough to get the kind of blanket coverage that people expect around the Olympic Games,” Pound said.
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He also cast doubt on the possibility of a one-year delay. Japan is officially spending $12.6 billion to organize the Olympics, although a national audit board says the country is spending twice that much.
“You have to ask if you can hold the bubble together for an extra year,” Pound said. “Then, of course, you have to fit all of this into the entire international sports schedule.”
Pound said the IOC has been building up an emergency fund, reported to be about $1 billion, for unforeseen circumstances to help the IOC and the international sports federations that depend on income from the IOC. About 73% of the IOC’s $5.7 billion income in a four-year Olympic cycle comes from broadcast rights.
“It’s not an insurable risk, and it’s not one that can be attributed to one or the other of the parties,” he said. “So everybody takes their lumps. There would be a lack of revenue on the Olympic movement side.”
Pound said the future of the Tokyo Games is largely out of the IOC’s hands and depends on the course the virus takes.
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huffpost--2020-04-24--Man Breaks Coronavirus Lockdown Rules In The Fishiest Way

One man ’ s fishy attempt to circumvent Spain ’ s strict coronavirus lockdown laws did not fool the police .
The unnamed man took his pet fish out for a walk ― inside its bowl ― on the streets of Logroño earlier this week , in an apparent bid to make the most of a rule that allows one person to leave home with their pet so it can relieve itself .
The person was sanctioned for “ going out to ‘ walk ’ their fish on the street , ” the National Police wrote in a tweet on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the southeast city of Murcia stopped another man who was walking the streets in a Tyrannosaurus rex costume .
“ We want to emphasize that we are on alert and that it is not a joke , ” a spokesperson for the Murcia police department told HuffPost at the time .
Spain has the second-highest number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the world , after the United States , with upwards of 22,500 deaths .
After placing Spain under a strict lockdown in mid-March , authorities this week began easing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Starting on Monday , children will be allowed outside of their homes — though only for short periods — for the first time in more than five weeks .

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One man’s fishy attempt to circumvent Spain’s strict coronavirus lockdown laws did not fool the police.
The unnamed man took his pet fish out for a walk ― inside its bowl ― on the streets of Logroño earlier this week, in an apparent bid to make the most of a rule that allows one person to leave home with their pet so it can relieve itself.
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Officers weren’t buying it, though.
The person was sanctioned for “going out to ‘walk’ their fish on the street,” the National Police wrote in a tweet on Friday morning.
Agentes de la @policia han sancionado a una persona por salir a "pasear" a sus peces por la calle. Los agentes le avistaron en #Logroño portando una pecera en contra de lo estipulado en el RD del Estado de Alarma.
#EsteVirusLoParamosUnidos pic.twitter.com/lOFVnDX6Fi — Policía Nacional (@policia) April 24, 2020
Last month, officers in the southeast city of Murcia stopped another man who was walking the streets in a Tyrannosaurus rex costume.
“We want to emphasize that we are on alert and that it is not a joke,” a spokesperson for the Murcia police department told HuffPost at the time.
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Check out the video here:
En estado de alarma se permite el paseo de mascotas acompañadas de una persona, siempre con paseos cortos para hacer sus necesidades.
El que tengas complejo de Tyrannosaurus rex no está contemplado.#quédateencasa pic.twitter.com/C8dWkrvAdm — Policía Local Murcia (@MurciaPolicia) March 16, 2020
Spain has the second-highest number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the world, after the United States, with upwards of 22,500 deaths.
After placing Spain under a strict lockdown in mid-March, authorities this week began easing restrictions to let some businesses reopen. Starting on Monday, children will be allowed outside of their homes — though only for short periods — for the first time in more than five weeks.


huffpost--2020-05-14--The Most Important Skill Kids Can Develop Right Now

“ While we certainly don ’ t want our children to experience a pandemic crisis , it is important to view this time as an opportunity for growth .
This is the strange but positive side to adapting to the current times , ” said Neha Navsaria , a psychiatry professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a consultant at the parenting skills site Parent Lab .
“ Sitting with uncertainty is one of the most difficult tasks for any human being to do .
Learning how to manage it is one of the best skills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wellness.
” Resist The Urge To ‘ Save ’ Them “ There is a core of resilience in every young person , and they are more adaptable than we think , ” said Genevieve von Lob , a psychologist and author of “ Happy Parent , Happy Child.
” “ However , they can only unearth it if they are sometimes allowed to face their vulnerable feelings and we can keep trusting that they will get through .
The more that we can support our children to move through their feelings and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotionally resilient , confident and adaptable they will grow up to be.
” “ Allow space for all the feelings you and your littles are experiencing , ” said Kelly Oriard , a family therapist and co-founder of Slumberkins , an education brand focused on emotional learning .
“ Resilience does not mean ‘ everything is great right now !
’ ( cue fake smile ) .
It means noticing the feelings bubbling up and being honest about it .
Those feelings we push down and hide will come out in one way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face them head-on.
” “ Parents can use the term ‘ bounce back ’ to make the process more accessible to children , but it is equally important for parents to walk children through the details of the process.
” - Neha Navsaria , a professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis The ability to talk about difficult feelings is a powerful coping mechanism , but it can take practice to get comfortable with these conversations .
Knippenberg suggested that parents sit with their kids and write down all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are upset about during the pandemic , and then put those pieces of paper in a jar and share .
In addition to practical steps to prevent illness ( like washing hands and keeping a safe distance from others in the grocery store ) , there are many other areas of pandemic life that kids can control : how they spend their time at home , what they do to manage tough emotions , which self-care tools they utilize to reduce stress , etc .
Parents and kids can discuss these coping methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together .
“ Parents can use the term ‘ bounce back ’ to make the process more accessible to children , but it is equally important for parents to walk children through the details of the process , ” said Navsaria .
“ It is easy to forget that children need these complex processes to be broken down into small , digestible and meaningful parts .
Having discussions with children on how they have displayed resilience by identifying coping skills in response to less complex situations in the past is a good place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child about how having empathy ― true caring and love for others ― means that we will also suffer when we feel a loss , ” Knippenberg said .
“ Remind them how their worries about others and their feelings of loss come from a place of caring about life .
Then remind them that living in a world of love and connectedness is worth the price of suffering.
” These new skills will help them when lockdown measures get lifted and new challenges present themselves in the transition to our new normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this change if they know they have the love and support of their families and communities .
“ Every family is different , and so is every child , ” Carrion said .
“ One needs to identify those strengths within ourselves that will help us battle negative thoughts and attitudes .
Each family structure is unique , and depending on your family composition and the age of your children , your approach may vary .
You do not need to be perfect , and you do not need to do it alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Onfokus via Getty Images Resilience is something parents can cultivate in their children.
On the morning after 9/11, Denver-based therapist Craig Knippenberg stood in front of 450 students and many of their parents at a K-8 school assembly. He held a china teacup in one hand and a rubber ball in the other.
First, he asked what would happen if he dropped the teacup. They said it would break. Then, he held up the ball and asked the same question.
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“‘It would bounce back,’ they replied. This, I explained, is being resilient and that we as a nation and as a school community, with the help of each other, would bounce back,” he recalled in an interview with HuffPost.
Today in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Knippenberg believes that the value of resilience cannot be overstated.
“While many modern parents are obsessed with providing the perfect stress- and worry-free life for their children, they miss one of the most important lessons they can teach their children,” he said. “Without [resilience], children are artificially propped up in a world of rainbows and unicorns. When failures or crises occur, they are like a teacup that shatters.”
Children need to develop resilience to cope with the setbacks and roadblocks that the world inevitably throws at all of us. They’ll be better prepared for life if they learn how to work through difficult circumstances, explore painful emotions, manage stress, accept what is out of our control, fail, and try again.
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“While we certainly don’t want our children to experience a pandemic crisis, it is important to view this time as an opportunity for growth. This is the strange but positive side to adapting to the current times,” said Neha Navsaria, a psychiatry professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a consultant at the parenting skills site Parent Lab. “Sitting with uncertainty is one of the most difficult tasks for any human being to do. Learning how to manage it is one of the best skills one can develop to contribute to mental wellness.”
HuffPost spoke to Knippenberg, Navsaria and other experts about the ways parents can help foster resilience in their kids during these uncertain times. Read on for their advice.
Resist The Urge To ‘Save’ Them
“Parents can help their children tremendously by not ‘saving’ them,” said clinical psychologist John Mayer. Although it’s hard to watch your children struggle or fail, they gain self-confidence by learning to pick themselves up after making mistakes. Don’t shield them from difficult feelings or challenges.
During the pandemic, parents should offer a sense of safety and security, of course. But they should also encourage their children to practice problem-solving by letting them find their own ways to cope with their new reality.
“Let your child discover their own ways to cope. This is phenomenal emotional growth and skill-building for the future.” - John Mayer, a clinical psychologist
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Kids are experiencing loss without their traditional school, extracurricular activities and social lives. Mayer sees this as an opportunity for children to learn to thrive by themselves, as there will inevitably be times in the future when they experience loss again.
“Well-meaning parents are going out of their way to provide a banquet table of activities to keep their children entertained or diverted,” he said. “Stop! Let your child discover their own ways to cope. This is phenomenal emotional growth and skill-building for the future.”
While parents can certainly help organize projects and offer guidance, he advised empowering kids to take more of a lead in setting their day-to-day schedules and in directing family activities as well.
Focus On Support Instead
Rather than jumping in to fix the problem when kids are bored with their toys or unmotivated to do school work, parents should let them feel their feelings as they face these challenges. The key is to listen to and encourage them so that they feel comfortable taking control.
“There is a core of resilience in every young person, and they are more adaptable than we think,” said Genevieve von Lob, a psychologist and author of “Happy Parent, Happy Child.” “However, they can only unearth it if they are sometimes allowed to face their vulnerable feelings and we can keep trusting that they will get through. The more that we can support our children to move through their feelings and not run away from them, the more emotionally resilient, confident and adaptable they will grow up to be.”
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Parents can remind their kids of challenges they’ve overcome in the past, even just earlier during the lockdown. They can repeatedly tell them that they are safe and have a loving family to care for them. They can arrange virtual playdates or phone calls to help them get support from others.
They can also encourage a positive mindset by focusing on the progress that people have made during this time, applauding community leaders, creating a calm environment at home, and using nonverbal cues like loving smiles and hugs.
skynesher via Getty Images Parents should encourage their kids to talk about their feelings.
Talk About Emotions
“Allow space for all the feelings you and your littles are experiencing,” said Kelly Oriard, a family therapist and co-founder of Slumberkins, an education brand focused on emotional learning. “Resilience does not mean ‘everything is great right now!’ (cue fake smile). It means noticing the feelings bubbling up and being honest about it. Those feelings we push down and hide will come out in one way or another so we might as well face them head-on.”
Parents can promote emotional growth by encouraging their children to talk about their feelings, helping them identify those feelings and validating them. This kind of communication may also foster a stronger family connection.
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“Parents can use the term ‘bounce back’ to make the process more accessible to children, but it is equally important for parents to walk children through the details of the process.” - Neha Navsaria, a professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
“Being able to recognize, understand and manage one’s emotions is key to resilience,” said Denise Daniels, a child development expert and creator of The Moodsters, a brand focused on fostering emotional intelligence in kids. “Nearly every moment of a child’s life provides opportunities to teach important emotional skills such as caring, listening, empathy, problem-solving, self-regulation and resilience. That holds particularly true in challenging times such as these.”
The ability to talk about difficult feelings is a powerful coping mechanism, but it can take practice to get comfortable with these conversations. Knippenberg suggested that parents sit with their kids and write down all the things they feel they have lost or are upset about during the pandemic, and then put those pieces of paper in a jar and share.
Highlight What’s In Their Control
“To offset a sense of helplessness, parents should talk to children about what they are all doing to play a part in helping, such as social distancing and wearing masks,” Navsaria advised. “This teaches children problem-solving skills. When children develop a roadmap to solve problems, they feel a better sense of agency and control — all contributors to resilience.”
In addition to practical steps to prevent illness (like washing hands and keeping a safe distance from others in the grocery store), there are many other areas of pandemic life that kids can control: how they spend their time at home, what they do to manage tough emotions, which self-care tools they utilize to reduce stress, etc. Parents and kids can discuss these coping methods and even make a list of them together.
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“Parents can use the term ‘bounce back’ to make the process more accessible to children, but it is equally important for parents to walk children through the details of the process,” said Navsaria. “It is easy to forget that children need these complex processes to be broken down into small, digestible and meaningful parts. Having discussions with children on how they have displayed resilience by identifying coping skills in response to less complex situations in the past is a good place to start.”
Helping their community by donating groceries or raising money for front-line workers is another way that kids can feel empowered rather than helpless.
“Talk with your child about how having empathy ― true caring and love for others ― means that we will also suffer when we feel a loss,” Knippenberg said. “Remind them how their worries about others and their feelings of loss come from a place of caring about life. Then remind them that living in a world of love and connectedness is worth the price of suffering.”
Model Resilience Yourself
“Mostly you teach your kids this stuff by doing it in front of them,” said psychotherapist Noel McDermott. “So if a parent learns resilience techniques and does them, their kids will do it as well.”
Parents can demonstrate how they face challenges and frustration head-on and use different coping tactics like meditation, talking to loved ones, making art or playing music.
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“Talking about resilience and the positive things that can come out of a crisis is not an attempt to paint a happy picture of these times, but to create real, measurable factors that can be gained by coming through a difficult time.” - Kelly Oriard, a family therapist and co-founder of Slumberkins
“We also should model self-care through healthy behaviors,” said Victor Carrion, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and director of Stanford University’s Early Life Stress and Resilience Program. “For example, by having a healthy diet, good sleep hygiene, not abusing alcohol, tobacco or other drugs, and exercising physically and mentally.”
In addition, parents can share family stories about adversity and strength or read books with messages of resilience with their children.
Know It’s A Long Road
The past months have been about transition, survival and worry, but much of the mourning over the losses of the pandemic may come later, as we gradually get back to some sense of normalcy.
Knippenberg advised parents to keep these resilience lessons ongoing, pay attention to behavioral changes over time, and consider reaching out to a child mental health professional if needed. Children facing food insecurity, the deaths of loved ones or the loss of a home are extra vulnerable and may require a longer recovery process.
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Oriard noted, however, that the long-term effects may not be all negative.
“Talking about resilience and the positive things that can come out of a crisis is not an attempt to paint a happy picture of these times, but to create real, measurable factors that can be gained by coming through a difficult time,” she explained. “There is a term emerging in psychology research called ‘post-traumatic growth.’ It refers to the positive growth that comes after a period of psychological struggle and adversity.”
Parents can help their children grow as they move through difficult, unpredictable situations like the current crisis. They may notice their kids become better at coping with boredom, playing independently and adapting to change.
These new skills will help them when lockdown measures get lifted and new challenges present themselves in the transition to our new normal. Children can ultimately thrive while navigating this change if they know they have the love and support of their families and communities.
“Every family is different, and so is every child,” Carrion said. “One needs to identify those strengths within ourselves that will help us battle negative thoughts and attitudes. Each family structure is unique, and depending on your family composition and the age of your children, your approach may vary. You do not need to be perfect, and you do not need to do it alone. Remember, it takes a village.”


huffpost--2020-05-14--How To Uninvite Wedding Guests If Your Plans Changed Due To Coronavirus

“ I couldn ’ t have ever imagined myself giving a blessing for a couple to uninvite already invited wedding guests , and yet here we are in uncharted territory , ” etiquette columnist Thomas P. Farley , also known as Mister Manners , told HuffPost .
“ Etiquette is adapting to meet many scenarios we could not have envisioned at the beginning of the year , and this is surely one of them.
” Think you may need to downsize your guest list in light of the pandemic ?
Communicating this information to invited guests in a thoughtful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here ’ s how to do just that , according to etiquette experts .
Be honest but compassionate in your delivery .
“ All uninvited guests should be reassured that the decision to pare down the guest list was made after great deliberation and surely many sleepless nights , ” Farley said .
“ But the choice was made to ensure the couple ’ s big day was not a factor in anyone ’ s becoming sick.
” “ For example , the couple ’ s suddenly altered finances are no longer able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Farley said .
“ I would focus on the health of the guests as the primary reason for the change , which most everyone will understand and appreciate without further elaboration.
” In fact , you might be surprised by how many people will not only understand , but may actually be relieved , said etiquette expert Diane Gottsman , author of “ Modern Etiquette for a Better Life ” and founder of The Protocol School of Texas .
“ It ’ s essential that no couple use the pandemic as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ select names from a list , ” Farley said .
“ There must be a rhyme and reason to the paring down , applied universally , so there are no hurt feelings.
” Let guests know as soon as you ’ re able .
If you have a destination wedding planned for the summer , alert guests of any changes to your original plans ASAP , if you haven ’ t already .
For weddings later this year , Farley suggested sending an email to all guests ( bcc ’ d , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll be updating your wedding website with any new information as it comes .
You may also want to suggest that guests hold off on booking any nonrefundable travel reservations for the time being .
Farley offered another idea : Make a video explaining your need to hold a much smaller celebration than you had initially planned .
Then post it to your wedding website and email the link to all of your guests ( again , bcc ’ d ) with a thoughtful message .
Over the following weeks , make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uninvited guest , couple or family individually , if possible .
“ Contact them by phone or video to say hello , affirm how much they mean to you and to see how they are themselves doing during this period of pandemic , ” Farley said .
” Let them know if you ’ ll be livestreaming the wedding and express your hope that they ’ ll tune in at that time .
”

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Weddings as we know them are up in the air for the foreseeable future.
Between stay-at-home orders, social distancing guidelines, financial hardships, fears about traveling and venue closures, many engaged couples will have to adjust their original wedding plans — and that may include cutting down their guest lists.
Under normal circumstances, it would be in very poor taste to uninvite a wedding guest after they’ve already received a save-the-date or invitation. But we’re not dealing with normal circumstances.
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“I couldn’t have ever imagined myself giving a blessing for a couple to uninvite already invited wedding guests, and yet here we are in uncharted territory,” etiquette columnist Thomas P. Farley, also known as Mister Manners, told HuffPost. “Etiquette is adapting to meet many scenarios we could not have envisioned at the beginning of the year, and this is surely one of them.”
Think you may need to downsize your guest list in light of the pandemic? Communicating this information to invited guests in a thoughtful, tactful manner should cushion the blow. Here’s how to do just that, according to etiquette experts.
Be honest but compassionate in your delivery.
Let them know it was a difficult decision to make. After careful consideration of all your options, this seemed like the best way to protect your loved ones’ health and safety.
“All uninvited guests should be reassured that the decision to pare down the guest list was made after great deliberation and surely many sleepless nights,” Farley said. “But the choice was made to ensure the couple’s big day was not a factor in anyone’s becoming sick.”
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Keep your explanation brief. Sure, there may be additional reasons that factored into your decision, but you don’t need to list them all.
“For example, the couple’s suddenly altered finances are no longer able to sustain the big wedding they imagined,” Farley said. “I would focus on the health of the guests as the primary reason for the change, which most everyone will understand and appreciate without further elaboration.”
In fact, you might be surprised by how many people will not only understand, but may actually be relieved, said etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, author of “Modern Etiquette for a Better Life” and founder of The Protocol School of Texas.
“They might have had difficulty traveling to your wedding from out of state,” she said. “Or they could be going through similar situations of their own financially.”
Keep it fair.
Create an across-the-board rule for how you’re reducing the guest list — like keeping it to just immediate family and the bridal party, for example. That way uninvited guests won’t take your decision personally.
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“It’s essential that no couple use the pandemic as a rationale for knocking merely a few select names from a list,” Farley said. “There must be a rhyme and reason to the paring down, applied universally, so there are no hurt feelings.”
Let guests know as soon as you’re able.
LaylaBird via Getty Images “Etiquette is adapting to meet many scenarios we could not have envisioned at the beginning of the year, and this is surely one of them," said Thomas P. Farley.
It’s the courteous thing to do. This is especially important for summer weddings that are right around the corner and upcoming destination weddings where guests will need more advanced notice to cancel flights and accommodations.
“With so many unknowns right now and with opening dates different from state to state and municipality to municipality, no one has a cryrstal ball,” Farley said. “But obviously this cannot be a game-day decision.”
If you have a destination wedding planned for the summer, alert guests of any changes to your original plans ASAP, if you haven’t already. For weddings later this year, Farley suggested sending an email to all guests (bcc’d, of course) to tell them you’ll be updating your wedding website with any new information as it comes. You may also want to suggest that guests hold off on booking any nonrefundable travel reservations for the time being.
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“The couple should also agree upon a deadline by which they will be making their final decision,” Farley said. “Let guests know what that deadline is, so they can anticipate and plan accordingly.”
Share the news in a phone call.
Gottsman recommends picking up the phone to reach out to those guests you will unfortunately no longer be able to accommodate.
“A personal touch is uncomfortable yet most appropriate,” she said. “Sending an email is another option, but should be followed up with a call.”
Farley offered another idea: Make a video explaining your need to hold a much smaller celebration than you had initially planned. Then post it to your wedding website and email the link to all of your guests (again, bcc’d) with a thoughtful message. Over the following weeks, make it a point to reach out to each uninvited guest, couple or family individually, if possible.
“I couldn’t have ever imagined myself giving a blessing for a couple to uninvite already invited wedding guests, and yet here we are in uncharted territory.” - Thomas P. Farley, etiquette columnist
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“Contact them by phone or video to say hello, affirm how much they mean to you and to see how they are themselves doing during this period of pandemic,” Farley said. ”Let them know if you’ll be livestreaming the wedding and express your hope that they’ll tune in at that time.”
Watching you say “I do” on a computer screen won’t be the same as having these loved ones attend in person. But at least they’ll feel like they were part of the day in some way.
And if you intend to throw a larger celebration down the road, let these guests know you’d love for them to be there.
“If you plan any sort of party when it is safe to do so, be certain to mention that also and that they will most certainly be on that list,” Farley said.
Experts are still learning about the novel coronavirus. The information in this story is what was known or available as of press time, but it’s possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.


huffpost--2020-05-14--Yellowstone, Grand Canyon National Parks To Welcome Back Visitors On Limited Basis

Two of the most popular national parks in the American West ― Yellowstone and Grand Canyon ― will welcome back visitors on a limited basis over the next several days after lengthy closures due to the coronavirus , the government announced on Wednesday .
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona , closed to the public since April 1 , will initially reopen just for four days ― Friday through Monday ― with public access restricted to a half dozen viewpoints along the South Rim of the canyon , the National Park Service said .
Visitors will only be allowed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until 10 a.m. but will be permitted to remain until dark .
A handful of picnic areas and restrooms will be open .
The South Rim ’ s eastern entrance and desert view area will remain closed , along with the inner canyon , all hiking trails , the Colorado River and the entire North Rim of the canyon .
All commercial services within the park will also stay shut .
“ Visitors exporting the South Rim should plan to be self-sufficient , bringing enough food and water during their trip as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service said in a notice posted on the park ’ s website .
The park , which normally draws more than 6 million visitors a year , is planning for a similar limited reopening for the Memorial Day holiday weekend at the end of the month , park spokeswoman Lily Daniels told Reuters .
A more expansive reopening is scheduled to begin next Monday for the southern portion of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming , known for its spectacular geothermal features and abundant wildlife .
Closed to visitors since March 24 , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entrances , along with the entire “ lower loop ” road providing access to Yellowstone Lake , Old Faithful and several other geyser basins , according to the National Park Service .
Visitors will have access to restrooms , service stations , trails and boardwalks in those areas .
Portions of the park that lie in Montana and Idaho , which have yet to lift out-of-state restrictions , will remain closed for the time being .
As will be the case initially at the Grand Canyon , overnight lodging and campgrounds will remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 4 million visitors a year , and no tour buses will be allowed , the park service said .
Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon are the latest of several major Park Service units that have begun to welcome back visitors or will be partially reopened in the coming weeks , including Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming , Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado , Zion National Park in Utah and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina .

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Two of the most popular national parks in the American West ― Yellowstone and Grand Canyon ― will welcome back visitors on a limited basis over the next several days after lengthy closures due to the coronavirus, the government announced on Wednesday.
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, closed to the public since April 1, will initially reopen just for four days ― Friday through Monday ― with public access restricted to a half dozen viewpoints along the South Rim of the canyon, the National Park Service said.
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Visitors will only be allowed in through the southern entrance from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. but will be permitted to remain until dark. A handful of picnic areas and restrooms will be open.
The South Rim’s eastern entrance and desert view area will remain closed, along with the inner canyon, all hiking trails, the Colorado River and the entire North Rim of the canyon. All commercial services within the park will also stay shut.
“Visitors exporting the South Rim should plan to be self-sufficient, bringing enough food and water during their trip as well as hand sanitizer,” the Park Service said in a notice posted on the park’s website.
The park, which normally draws more than 6 million visitors a year, is planning for a similar limited reopening for the Memorial Day holiday weekend at the end of the month, park spokeswoman Lily Daniels told Reuters.
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Tourists gather at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon near Tusayan, Arizona, in August 2012. Charles Platiau/Reuters
A more expansive reopening is scheduled to begin next Monday for the southern portion of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, known for its spectacular geothermal features and abundant wildlife.
Closed to visitors since March 24, it will reopen at its southern and eastern entrances, along with the entire “lower loop” road providing access to Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful and several other geyser basins, according to the National Park Service. Visitors will have access to restrooms, service stations, trails and boardwalks in those areas.
Portions of the park that lie in Montana and Idaho, which have yet to lift out-of-state restrictions, will remain closed for the time being.
As will be the case initially at the Grand Canyon, overnight lodging and campgrounds will remain closed in Yellowstone, which typically attracts some 4 million visitors a year, and no tour buses will be allowed, the park service said.
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Visitors to both parks are encouraged to wear face coverings in high-density areas.


huffpost--2020-06-18--The Tentative Return of Summer Fun Has Begun In Europe

Across the continent , border restrictions have begun to tumble as coronavirus infection rates have fallen , but limits on travel between certain countries remain in place .
To help travelers navigate the patchwork of regulations , the European Commission has launched a website , “ Re-open EU , ” which offers details on travel restrictions and quarantine measures .
( Visitors from the United States will likely need to wait a bit longer before travel to Europe is allowed again . )
Last week , the United Kingdom implemented a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers entering the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the airline industry and tourist groups .
The government has been exploring the idea of travel corridors with certain countries , including France and Spain .
“ Because we were the first to close and have been very responsible , we can now be the first to open , ” Francina Armengol , the president of the Balearic Islands , said at a press conference .
Salvaging the tourist season is vital to reducing the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the islands ’ economy .
But even as Spain opens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fun in the sun will still come with some caveats .
Tourists are required to fill out a health questionnaire , undergo a temperature check upon arrival and provide authorities with their telephone number and the address where they are staying , so that public health services can track their health status .
Anyone who experiences possible symptoms of the coronavirus will be tested , and the government has secured apartments where patients can be quarantined if necessary .
According to a group of Spanish researchers , it is “ very unlikely ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swimming pools will contribute to the spread of the coronavirus .
The level of chlorine typically found in pools kills the virus , and salt water in the ocean has also been found to decrease the viral load .
To reduce the possibility of spreading the coronavirus at pools , the Spanish government is requiring a number of safety measures .
Capacity at pools is being capped at a maximum of 30 % , in order to maintain social distancing .
Visitors will need to make an appointment to use the pool , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed .
The requirements are more relaxed for beaches , where the only official rule is that visitors must remain at least 2 meters apart from each other .
Each municipality is allowed to make its own determination about capacity , opening hours and the use of showers and changing rooms .
Some municipalities are using technology to maintain safety .
The city of Fuengirola , near Malaga , on Spain ’ s southern coast , is using artificial intelligence to control capacity at the beaches , for example , while Valencia is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ busy the beaches are .
There , visitors must reserve a spot on the Poniente and Levante beaches via an app , portions of sand are cordoned off into sections measuring 16 square meters ( approximately 13-by-13-foot squares ) , and ushers show tourists to their allotted parcels of sand .
Each section of beach can accommodate up to four people , and reservations require the names of each visitor .
Larger groups can reserve several sections together , and there is a special zone reserved for people over 70 .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sand 8 meters wide ( approximately 26 feet ) is roped off so that people can walk around with enough space to maintain social distancing .
Anyone who simply wants to swim or stroll on the beach still needs to make a reservation .
Additional police officers have been hired to make sure that people on the beach maintain social distancing .
But in the water , there ’ s no way to control if a kid hits someone with a beach ball , or if a tourist , asleep on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The goal is for everyone to be guaranteed a chance to enjoy the beach .
The beaches have been closed in other parts of Spain , but that ’ s something Benidorm can ’ t allow to happen .
We can ’ t tell a tourist , ‘ Come back tomorrow , the beach is closed , ’ ” Leire Bilbao , director of the local tourism board Visit Benidorm , told HuffPost Spain .

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This week, the first hopeful glimmers of a typical European summer emerged, as a group of German tourists flew on Monday from Düsseldorf to the Spanish hot spot of Palma, on the island of Mallorca.
“Everyone was happy on the plane,” one passenger, Kersten, told HuffPost Spain upon landing at the Palma airport.
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The flight was part of a pilot program to test the idea of safe travel corridors between European countries.
Across the continent, border restrictions have begun to tumble as coronavirus infection rates have fallen, but limits on travel between certain countries remain in place. To help travelers navigate the patchwork of regulations, the European Commission has launched a website, “Re-open EU,” which offers details on travel restrictions and quarantine measures. (Visitors from the United States will likely need to wait a bit longer before travel to Europe is allowed again.)
Last week, the United Kingdom implemented a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers entering the country, a policy that has been hotly contested by the airline industry and tourist groups. The government has been exploring the idea of travel corridors with certain countries, including France and Spain.
In Palma, the passengers were greeted like celebrities, with throngs of camera crews documenting their arrival. At newly reopened hotels, employees applauded their first guests in months.
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“Because we were the first to close and have been very responsible, we can now be the first to open,” Francina Armengol, the president of the Balearic Islands, said at a press conference.
Travelers from Germany speak to the press upon arrival at Palma de Mallorca Airport on June 15, the day the pilot plan for the reopening of tourism begins in the Balearic Islands. Europa Press News via Getty Images
Salvaging the tourist season is vital to reducing the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the islands’ economy. But even as Spain opens its arms to foreign tourists, the fun in the sun will still come with some caveats.
Tourists are required to fill out a health questionnaire, undergo a temperature check upon arrival and provide authorities with their telephone number and the address where they are staying, so that public health services can track their health status.
Anyone who experiences possible symptoms of the coronavirus will be tested, and the government has secured apartments where patients can be quarantined if necessary.
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“The operation is being very cautious, we must be clear,” María Durán, from the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation, told HuffPost Spain. “People travel in a controlled system. Officials are in permanent contact with them.”
At the press conference this week, Armengol appealed to tourists to comply with the new safety measures.
According to a group of Spanish researchers, it is “very unlikely” that bathing at the beach or in swimming pools will contribute to the spread of the coronavirus. The level of chlorine typically found in pools kills the virus, and salt water in the ocean has also been found to decrease the viral load.
But even if the water itself is safe to enjoy, the crowds of people typically found at beaches and swimming pools create a threat of transmission from person to person.
“These activities generally involve a loss of the recommended measures of social distancing,” scientists from Spain’s Higher Council of Scientific Research warned last month.
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To reduce the possibility of spreading the coronavirus at pools, the Spanish government is requiring a number of safety measures. Capacity at pools is being capped at a maximum of 30%, in order to maintain social distancing. Visitors will need to make an appointment to use the pool, and showers and changing rooms must remain closed.
The requirements are more relaxed for beaches, where the only official rule is that visitors must remain at least 2 meters apart from each other. Each municipality is allowed to make its own determination about capacity, opening hours and the use of showers and changing rooms.
Two men sunbathe in their designated roped-off area on Poniente Beach in Benidorm, Spain, on June 16. Denis Doyle via Getty Images
Some municipalities are using technology to maintain safety. The city of Fuengirola, near Malaga, on Spain’s southern coast, is using artificial intelligence to control capacity at the beaches, for example, while Valencia is developing a smartphone app that tracks how busy the beaches are.
On the Costa Blanca, the resort town of Benidorm provides perhaps the most complete picture of what future beach vacations will look like.
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There, visitors must reserve a spot on the Poniente and Levante beaches via an app, portions of sand are cordoned off into sections measuring 16 square meters (approximately 13-by-13-foot squares), and ushers show tourists to their allotted parcels of sand.
Each section of beach can accommodate up to four people, and reservations require the names of each visitor. Larger groups can reserve several sections together, and there is a special zone reserved for people over 70.
At the water’s edge, a strip of sand 8 meters wide (approximately 26 feet) is roped off so that people can walk around with enough space to maintain social distancing. Anyone who simply wants to swim or stroll on the beach still needs to make a reservation.
Additional police officers have been hired to make sure that people on the beach maintain social distancing. But in the water, there’s no way to control if a kid hits someone with a beach ball, or if a tourist, asleep on an inflatable raft, runs into another person.
Local officials hope the system will be able to meet demand.
“The goal is for everyone to be guaranteed a chance to enjoy the beach. The beaches have been closed in other parts of Spain, but that’s something Benidorm can’t allow to happen. We can’t tell a tourist, ‘Come back tomorrow, the beach is closed,’” Leire Bilbao, director of the local tourism board Visit Benidorm, told HuffPost Spain.
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“If necessary, we’ll start a morning and an afternoon shift to increase the number of people who can access the beach.”
The two beaches can normally host around 40,000 people, but social distancing requirements have reduced that capacity to 26,000.
With a reduction in the number of visitors, local officials predict that this summer will be challenging.
“It will be a summer to muddle through,” Bilbao said. “For the system to be profitable, it needs a lot of people, and for the moment there aren’t many. We won’t see the kind of numbers we do in other years.”


huffpost--2020-06-18--Lester Holt On Talking About Race With Kids, Including His Own

“ I was anchoring the newscast every night , and it was grim .
I mean , it was really , really grim , ” he recalled .
“ I worried because I knew that families watch it together sometimes , and I was wondering how kids were absorbing all this , these things that were not only rattling them but also their parents.
” The kid-friendly program features conversations with experts , interviews with children and parents who are making waves , roundtable discussions and question-and-answer segments .
Each episode runs around six to 10 minutes and hits at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday on NBCNews.com , as well as the NBC News apps , YouTube channel and Peacock .
Holt said he ’ s been glad to receive positive feedback from parents and kids .
“ The world is very scary for all of us right now , ” he said .
“ We ’ re concerned because we ’ re riding through the COVID crisis , the economic crisis , we ’ re at this crossroads of a reckoning over race in America .
These are very heavy topics for grown-ups , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids watching or being exposed to this in other ways that we don ’ t always have as much control over .
So it ’ s important for parents to engage with their kids.
” “ Nightly News : Kids Edition ” sometimes begins with a disclaimer telling kids to let their parents know when a topic of discussion is particularly serious in case they ’ d want to watch the program with their children .
This was the case when they covered the death of George Floyd and the protests that followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it , we brought on a child psychologist and talked about ways to help kids through this , things they should know , what they should take away from it , ” he explained .
“ We had one of our correspondents do a roundtable of sorts with a bunch of kids who expressed their fears and their questions .
So we created that dialogue but continued to remind families that this is a conversation that has to continue once you put the computer away.
” Holt said they chose not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of Floyd ’ s life and chose to put the story in simple terms as a starting point to help kids understand why there was unrest and the history of it .
“ We talk about a man named George Floyd and that he had this confrontation with police , ” he said .
“ We assume that there ’ s some awareness of what ’ s going on in this day and age .
So we started from that point that there ’ s a lot of people who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named George Floyd , people are protesting due to their anger and disappointment over relations with police and Black people.
” “ The more you know , for example about coronavirus and COVID-19 , the less scary it becomes and the more you know about what it can do and what it can ’ t do , ” he explained .
“ Knowledge helps reduce your anxiety , so you know exactly what you ’ re looking at.
” “ That ’ s why it was so great to have the panel discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have some of them acknowledge that they ’ re fearful , ” he said .
“ On the program talking about COVID , I mentioned , ‘ This is really scary for grown-ups , too.
’ I think it ’ s good to remind people that this is a journey we ’ re all on together , and we ’ re learning as we go.
” Talking About The News With His Own Kids “ The TV would be on in the house , and they would see what Dad was talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ So when there were those big difficult stories , we would talk about it at the dinner table , even as they got older .
It became part of our family tradition to sit down at dinner and talk about current events.
” “ I come from a place that kids are smart , they recognize the signs of anxiety and worry around them , and they know when people are trying to keep things from them , ” Holt said .
“ The key is trying to find the language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we don ’ t get a manual , so we have to feel our way through these things and understand what our kids can handle .
I always defaulted with the idea of giving them as much information as I thought they could handle and to really respect their intelligence.
” “ I never had the so-called ‘ talk ’ that a lot of people refer to , but we had lots of conversations , ” he said .
“ It was part of organic conversation around what was happening in the news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids a sense of right and wrong , and to know that just because some things come from a source of authority doesn ’ t necessarily mean they ’ re right.
” Making Sense Of His Own Experience

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Lester Holt has been reporting the news to the American public for more than four decades. His latest media venture focuses on a more specific audience: children.
“Nightly News: Kids Edition” is a twice-weekly online program that breaks down major news stories to help children understand what’s happening in the world.
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Holt, who anchors the program, spoke to HuffPost about the decision to create a kid-centric newscast and how it’s reminiscent of his experience explaining current events to his own children when they were young. (He has two adult sons, Stefan and Cameron.)
Creating A News Program For Children
Holt said that “Nightly News: Kids Edition” was “born out of some of the worst days of the COVID crisis” in New York, as the numbers of cases and deaths were mounting every day.
“I was anchoring the newscast every night, and it was grim. I mean, it was really, really grim,” he recalled. “I worried because I knew that families watch it together sometimes, and I was wondering how kids were absorbing all this, these things that were not only rattling them but also their parents.”
The kid-friendly program features conversations with experts, interviews with children and parents who are making waves, roundtable discussions and question-and-answer segments. Each episode runs around six to 10 minutes and hits at 4 p.m. ET every Tuesday and Thursday on NBCNews.com, as well as the NBC News apps, YouTube channel and Peacock. Holt said he’s been glad to receive positive feedback from parents and kids.
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“The world is very scary for all of us right now,” he said. “We’re concerned because we’re riding through the COVID crisis, the economic crisis, we’re at this crossroads of a reckoning over race in America. These are very heavy topics for grown-ups, and I think sometimes we forget that there are kids watching or being exposed to this in other ways that we don’t always have as much control over. So it’s important for parents to engage with their kids.”
Explaining George Floyd And Protests To Kids
“Nightly News: Kids Edition” sometimes begins with a disclaimer telling kids to let their parents know when a topic of discussion is particularly serious in case they’d want to watch the program with their children. This was the case when they covered the death of George Floyd and the protests that followed.
“When George Floyd was murdered, the impact of that story was huge,” Holt explained, noting that they worked hard to present the issues in an age-appropriate way, while encouraging parents to continue the discussion after the newscast.
“The first time we dealt with it, we brought on a child psychologist and talked about ways to help kids through this, things they should know, what they should take away from it,” he explained. “We had one of our correspondents do a roundtable of sorts with a bunch of kids who expressed their fears and their questions. So we created that dialogue but continued to remind families that this is a conversation that has to continue once you put the computer away.”
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Holt said they chose not to share any of the video footage of the end of Floyd’s life and chose to put the story in simple terms as a starting point to help kids understand why there was unrest and the history of it.
“We talk about a man named George Floyd and that he had this confrontation with police,” he said. “We assume that there’s some awareness of what’s going on in this day and age. So we started from that point that there’s a lot of people who are upset about what happened to a man named George Floyd, people are protesting due to their anger and disappointment over relations with police and Black people.”
Empowering Young People With Knowledge
Holt said that the guiding philosophy behind “Nightly News: Kids Edition” is that knowledge is power.
“The more you know, for example about coronavirus and COVID-19, the less scary it becomes and the more you know about what it can do and what it can’t do,” he explained. “Knowledge helps reduce your anxiety, so you know exactly what you’re looking at.”
He also hopes the program helps kids process their emotions amid these heavy times and know that they aren’t alone in feeling unsettled.
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“That’s why it was so great to have the panel discussion with kids to talk about race and to have some of them acknowledge that they’re fearful,” he said. “On the program talking about COVID, I mentioned, ‘This is really scary for grown-ups, too.’ I think it’s good to remind people that this is a journey we’re all on together, and we’re learning as we go.”
Talking About The News With His Own Kids
Holt thinks of “Nightly News: Kids Edition” as an extension of conversations about world events that he had with his own children in his early days as a father and journalist.
“The TV would be on in the house, and they would see what Dad was talking about that evening,” he said. “So when there were those big difficult stories, we would talk about it at the dinner table, even as they got older. It became part of our family tradition to sit down at dinner and talk about current events.”
NBC News NBC host Lester Holt wears more casual attire for "Nightly News: Kids Edition."
He often asked his children what they thought of different events and encouraged them to think through the issues from all angles, “whether it was raising taxes or invading another country,” he recalled.
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“I come from a place that kids are smart, they recognize the signs of anxiety and worry around them, and they know when people are trying to keep things from them,” Holt said. “The key is trying to find the language. Unfortunately, as a parent, we don’t get a manual, so we have to feel our way through these things and understand what our kids can handle. I always defaulted with the idea of giving them as much information as I thought they could handle and to really respect their intelligence.”
Holt said the Operation Desert Storm military attack on Iraq and the beating of Black motorist Rodney King in Los Angeles are two notable 1991 events he remembers discussing with his sons. The King beating feels relevant today as it involves issues of race and police brutality.
“I never had the so-called ‘talk’ that a lot of people refer to, but we had lots of conversations,” he said. “It was part of organic conversation around what was happening in the news. I try to instill in my kids a sense of right and wrong, and to know that just because some things come from a source of authority doesn’t necessarily mean they’re right.”
Making Sense Of His Own Experience
Although “Nightly News: Kids Edition” is reminiscent of his parenting experience, Holt also draws inspiration for his coverage from his own childhood.
He was 6 years old and living in Los Angeles with his mother in 1965 when the Watts riots broke out, and he has vivid memories of smoke, firetrucks and National Guard troops on the street.
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huffpost--2020-06-18--1.5 Million More Americans Sought Unemployment Claims Last Week

The latest figure from the Labor Department marked the 11th straight weekly decline in applications since they peaked at nearly 7 million in March as the coronavirus shut down much of the economy and caused tens of millions of layoffs .
The decline was much smaller , though , than in recent weeks , falling just 58,000 .
Even with the May hiring gain , nearly 21 million people are officially classified as unemployed .
And including people the government said had been erroneously categorized as employed in May and those who lost jobs but didn ’ t look for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of work , economists estimate .
Thursday ’ s report also showed that an additional 760,000 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 .
The steady decline in jobless claims follows some other encouraging reports that suggest that the lifting of shutdown orders has sparked some pent-up demand from consumers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most economic gauges remain far below their pre-pandemic levels , though , and some analysts question whether the recent gains can be sustained , especially if the virus were to surge back .
Last month , retail and restaurant sales jumped nearly 18 % , the government said Tuesday , retracing some of the record plunges of the previous two months .
Even so , retail purchases remain a sizable 6 % below their year-ago levels .
With nearly record-low mortgage rates , applications for home loans reached an 11-year high last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of homes under construction rose in May , they remain substantially below last year ’ s pace .
The economy and the job market face a raft of uncertainties that could slow or even derail a recovery .
Business re-openings have caused spikes of viral infections in nearly half of states , a trend that could lead consumers to pull back again on shopping and dining out and reverse any economic gains .
Restaurants , bars , gyms and movie theaters will likely rehire only a portion of their workforces .
Many consumers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habits of shopping , traveling and going out until a vaccine is available .
One key reason why consumer spending has rebounded is that government aid programs , from one-time $ 1,200 stimulus checks to $ 600-a-week in supplemental federal unemployment aid , have helped offset the loss of income for laid-off Americans .
Yet nearly all the stimulus checks have been issued .
And the supplemental federal jobless aid is set to expire July 31 .
“ Recently , some indicators have pointed to a stabilization , and in some areas a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday in testimony to a Senate committee .
Yet “ until the public is confident that the disease is contained , a full recovery is unlikely.
” Cook , 28 , had moved to the area in September for an 18-month contract position as a 3-D modeler for Walt Disney , a job involving sculpting character prototypes that were printed on 3-D printers .
But she was laid off in mid-April after the parks closed down .
She is receiving the minimum state unemployment benefit from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the state has no record of her prior earnings in New Jersey , even though she said she has uploaded , mailed and faxed her documents from her job there .
If her previous earnings were properly credited , her state benefits would more than double .
She is grateful , though , for the extra $ 600 in federal unemployment benefits , which have allowed her to pay off some bills .
Other data paints a picture of an economy slowly on the mend .
A weekly survey of small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the week that ended June 6 , nearly 10 % of small firms said they were hiring .
That ’ s double what it was five weeks ago .
About 13 % said they were still cutting jobs , less than half of what the figure was in late April .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, a historically high number, even as the economy increasingly reopens and employers bring some people back to work.
The latest figure from the Labor Department marked the 11th straight weekly decline in applications since they peaked at nearly 7 million in March as the coronavirus shut down much of the economy and caused tens of millions of layoffs. The decline was much smaller, though, than in recent weeks, falling just 58,000.
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The total number of people receiving unemployment aid also fell slightly, reflecting the return of many to their old jobs.
The job market appears to have begun a slow recovery. In May, employers added 2.5 million jobs, an increase that suggested that the job market has bottomed out. The unemployment rate declined from 14.7% to a still-high 13.3%.
Even with the May hiring gain, nearly 21 million people are officially classified as unemployed. And including people the government said had been erroneously categorized as employed in May and those who lost jobs but didn’t look for new ones, 32.5 million people are out of work, economists estimate.
Thursday’s report also showed that an additional 760,000 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.
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The steady decline in jobless claims follows some other encouraging reports that suggest that the lifting of shutdown orders has sparked some pent-up demand from consumers, whose spending largely drives the economy. Most economic gauges remain far below their pre-pandemic levels, though, and some analysts question whether the recent gains can be sustained, especially if the virus were to surge back.
Last month, retail and restaurant sales jumped nearly 18%, the government said Tuesday, retracing some of the record plunges of the previous two months. Even so, retail purchases remain a sizable 6% below their year-ago levels.
Furniture store sales nearly doubled, and clothing sales nearly tripled, though both remain far below their levels before the coronavirus struck. Clothing store sales are still down 60% compared with a year earlier.
With nearly record-low mortgage rates, applications for home loans reached an 11-year high last week. But even though the number of homes under construction rose in May, they remain substantially below last year’s pace.
The economy and the job market face a raft of uncertainties that could slow or even derail a recovery. Business re-openings have caused spikes of viral infections in nearly half of states, a trend that could lead consumers to pull back again on shopping and dining out and reverse any economic gains.
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Restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters will likely rehire only a portion of their workforces. Many consumers won’t fully resume their previous habits of shopping, traveling and going out until a vaccine is available.
One key reason why consumer spending has rebounded is that government aid programs, from one-time $1,200 stimulus checks to $600-a-week in supplemental federal unemployment aid, have helped offset the loss of income for laid-off Americans. Yet nearly all the stimulus checks have been issued. And the supplemental federal jobless aid is set to expire July 31.
“Recently, some indicators have pointed to a stabilization, and in some areas a modest rebound, in economic activity,” Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday in testimony to a Senate committee. Yet “until the public is confident that the disease is contained, a full recovery is unlikely.”
Corinne Cook, who lives in Kissimmee, near Orlando, felt a huge relief to finally receive her unemployment benefits last week after a month and a half of battling Florida’s bureaucracy.
Cook, 28, had moved to the area in September for an 18-month contract position as a 3-D modeler for Walt Disney, a job involving sculpting character prototypes that were printed on 3-D printers. But she was laid off in mid-April after the parks closed down.
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She is receiving the minimum state unemployment benefit from Florida, $125 a week, because the state has no record of her prior earnings in New Jersey, even though she said she has uploaded, mailed and faxed her documents from her job there. If her previous earnings were properly credited, her state benefits would more than double. She is grateful, though, for the extra $600 in federal unemployment benefits, which have allowed her to pay off some bills.
“It was very stressful,” she said. “I definitely lost it a few times.”
She is applying for a new job and hopes to stay in the area. But there aren’t a lot of open positions in her field.
“The future is very unknown at this point,” Cook said.


huffpost--2020-06-18--Singer Pablo Alborán Comes Out As Gay, Vows To Be '100% True To Myself'

Singer-songwriter Pablo Alborán opened up about his sexuality for the first time this week , telling fans that he is gay .
The 31-year-old Spaniard on Wednesday posted a subtitled video in which he vowed to be “ 100 % true to myself ” moving forward .
“ Today I want my voice to be louder and for it have more value and weight , ” Alborán said .
“ I am here to tell you I am homosexual , and it is OK. Life goes on , everything will remain the same , but I am going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He continued , “ Since I have been lucky enough to [ have ] been raised at a home where I had the freedom to be who I wanted to be , to do what I wanted to do , I have felt supported to fight for my dreams .
Unfortunately , there are so many people that did not have the same experience I did .
That is precisely why today , with no fear , I hope I can make somebody ’ s journey easier with this message.
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racked up more than seven million views and received praises from fellow singer Ricky Martin , actor Christian Chávez and GLAAD ’ s head of talent Anthony Ramos , among others .
One of Spain ’ s most successful pop acts , Alborán is known to audiences for his soaring ballads .
In April , he released “ Cuando Estés Aquí , ” a track he wrote and recorded in self-isolation , as a benefit for coronavirus relief .
Two of his albums , 2014 ’ s “ Terral ” and 2017 ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grammy nominations for Best Latin Pop Album .
“ Many will say that I am a romantic singer , and others will like what I sing without thinking about whether I choose romantic , pop , fast or slow music , ” he told Billboard last year .
“ But I do what I was born to do , and I will always try to generate emotions .
Hopefully that will be what typecasts me : the emotion .
I don ’ t care about the rest.
” Alborán didn ’ t specify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to coincide with Pride Month in June .
Still , the past few weeks have seen a number of stars , including Justice Smith and Lili Reinhart , publicly identify as LGBTQ in interviews or on social media .

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Singer-songwriter Pablo Alborán opened up about his sexuality for the first time this week, telling fans that he is gay.
The 31-year-old Spaniard on Wednesday posted a subtitled video in which he vowed to be “100% true to myself” moving forward.
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“Today I want my voice to be louder and for it have more value and weight,” Alborán said. “I am here to tell you I am homosexual, and it is OK. Life goes on, everything will remain the same, but I am going to be a little happier than I already am.”
He continued, “Since I have been lucky enough to [have] been raised at a home where I had the freedom to be who I wanted to be, to do what I wanted to do, I have felt supported to fight for my dreams. Unfortunately, there are so many people that did not have the same experience I did. That is precisely why today, with no fear, I hope I can make somebody’s journey easier with this message.”
“But above all that, I do this for me,” he added.
As of Thursday afternoon, the video had racked up more than seven million views and received praises from fellow singer Ricky Martin, actor Christian Chávez and GLAAD’s head of talent Anthony Ramos, among others.
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One of Spain’s most successful pop acts, Alborán is known to audiences for his soaring ballads. In April, he released “Cuando Estés Aquí,” a track he wrote and recorded in self-isolation, as a benefit for coronavirus relief. Two of his albums, 2014’s “Terral” and 2017’s “Prometo,” have received Grammy nominations for Best Latin Pop Album.
“Many will say that I am a romantic singer, and others will like what I sing without thinking about whether I choose romantic, pop, fast or slow music,” he told Billboard last year. “But I do what I was born to do, and I will always try to generate emotions. Hopefully that will be what typecasts me: the emotion. I don’t care about the rest.”


huffpost--2020-06-18--Kimmel's Drive-By Interview Of Jeff Ross In His Garage Is The Future

Jimmy Kimmel may be on to something .
The “ Jimmy Kimmel Live ” host was looking for an alternative to a Zoom interview , so he set out Wednesday for a rare in-person chat ― from his car .
( See the video below . )
His drive-by subject was old friend Jeff Ross , the stand-up comic known as the “ Roastmaster General ” for his appearances on Comedy Central roasts .
From his garage , Ross introduced his German shepherd rescue , Rona ( named for Corona ) ; showed off his yoga moves ( “ nama-stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the outbreak .
“ I am fighting the war against COVID-19 the same way our president fought the war in Vietnam ― sheltered safely at home , ” the “ Bumping Mics ” star cracked .
As another alternative to virtual talks , Kimmel recently interviewed neighbor Dakota Johnson over the fence .
But that has its limitations because the host has only so many neighbors .
Driving to a celebrity ’ s house for curbside conversation , however , has possibilities .
He also tried it in the early stages of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Maybe Kimmel ’ s “ Carantine ” is worth another look when the show actually returns to the studio .

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Jimmy Kimmel may be on to something.
The “Jimmy Kimmel Live” host was looking for an alternative to a Zoom interview, so he set out Wednesday for a rare in-person chat ― from his car. (See the video below.)
His drive-by subject was old friend Jeff Ross, the stand-up comic known as the “Roastmaster General” for his appearances on Comedy Central roasts.
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From his garage, Ross introduced his German shepherd rescue, Rona (named for Corona); showed off his yoga moves (“nama-stay-at-home”); and riffed a little on the outbreak.
“I am fighting the war against COVID-19 the same way our president fought the war in Vietnam ― sheltered safely at home,” the “Bumping Mics” star cracked.
As another alternative to virtual talks, Kimmel recently interviewed neighbor Dakota Johnson over the fence. But that has its limitations because the host has only so many neighbors.
Driving to a celebrity’s house for curbside conversation, however, has possibilities. He also tried it in the early stages of lockdown with another comedian, Bill Burr.
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huffpost--2020-02-24--Global Markets Fall Sharply As Coronavirus Spreads Past Asia

NEW YORK ( AP ) — U.S. stocks fell sharply in early trading Monday , following a broad sell-off in overseas markets , as a surge in virus cases and a worrisome spread of the disease outside the epicenter in China sent investors running for safety .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 840 points , or 2.9 % , to 28,146 and gave up all of its gains for the year .
The S & P 500 index skidded 2.7 % and gave up most of its gains for 2020 .
The Nasdaq fell 3.2 % .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus .
China , where the virus originated , still has the majority of cases and deaths .
But , the rapid spread to other countries is raising anxiety about the threat the outbreak poses to the global economy .
South Korea is now on its highest alert for infectious diseases after cases there spiked .
Italy reported a sharp rise in cases and a dozen towns in the northern part of that country are under quarantine .
The nation now has the biggest outbreak in Europe , prompting officials to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with soccer matches and other public gatherings .
Investors looking for safe harbors bid up prices for U.S. government bonds and gold .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell sharply , to 1.38 % from 1.47 % late Friday .
Gold prices jumped 1.8 % .
“ Stock markets around the world are beginning to price in what bond markets have been telling us for weeks – that global growth is likely to be impacted in a meaningful way due to fears of the coronavirus , ” said Chris Zaccarelli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alliance .
The viral outbreak threatens to crimp global economic growth and hurt profits and revenue for a wide range of businesses .
Companies from technology giant Apple to athletic gear maker Nike have already warned about a hit to their bottom lines .
Airlines and other companies that depend on travelers are facing pain from cancelled plans and shuttered locations .
Technology companies were among the worst hit by the sell-off .
Apple , which depends on China for a lot of business , slid 3.6 % .
Microsoft slumped 3.2 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up better than most sectors .
Investors tend to favor those industries , which carry high dividends and hold up relatively well during period of turmoil , when they ’ re feeling fearful .
Gilead Sciences rose 3.7 % and was among the few bright spots in the markets .
The biotechnology company is testing a potential drug to treat the new coronavirus .
Bleach-maker Clorox was also a standout , rising 1.6 % .

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NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks fell sharply in early trading Monday, following a broad sell-off in overseas markets, as a surge in virus cases and a worrisome spread of the disease outside the epicenter in China sent investors running for safety.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 840 points, or 2.9%, to 28,146 and gave up all of its gains for the year. The S&P 500 index skidded 2.7% and gave up most of its gains for 2020. The Nasdaq fell 3.2%.
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More than 79,000 people worldwide have been infected by the new coronavirus. China, where the virus originated, still has the majority of cases and deaths. But, the rapid spread to other countries is raising anxiety about the threat the outbreak poses to the global economy.
South Korea is now on its highest alert for infectious diseases after cases there spiked. Italy reported a sharp rise in cases and a dozen towns in the northern part of that country are under quarantine. The nation now has the biggest outbreak in Europe, prompting officials to cancel Venice’s famed Carnival, along with soccer matches and other public gatherings.
Germany’s DAX slid 4% and Italy’s benchmark index dropped 5.6%. South Korea’s Kospi shed 3.8% and markets in Asia fell broadly.
Investors looking for safe harbors bid up prices for U.S. government bonds and gold. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell sharply, to 1.38% from 1.47% late Friday. Gold prices jumped 1.8%.
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“Stock markets around the world are beginning to price in what bond markets have been telling us for weeks – that global growth is likely to be impacted in a meaningful way due to fears of the coronavirus,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance.
The viral outbreak threatens to crimp global economic growth and hurt profits and revenue for a wide range of businesses. Companies from technology giant Apple to athletic gear maker Nike have already warned about a hit to their bottom lines. Airlines and other companies that depend on travelers are facing pain from cancelled plans and shuttered locations.
Crude oil prices plunged 4.6%. Aside from air travel, the virus poses an economic threat to global shipping.
Technology companies were among the worst hit by the sell-off. Apple, which depends on China for a lot of business, slid 3.6%. Microsoft slumped 3.2%.
Banks were also big losers. JPMorgan Chase fell 2.7% and Bank of America fell 3.9%.
Utilities and real estate companies held up better than most sectors. Investors tend to favor those industries, which carry high dividends and hold up relatively well during period of turmoil, when they’re feeling fearful.
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