huffpost--2020-06-02--Why Wearing Gloves To The Grocery Store Won't Protect You From COVID-19

As you walk around the supermarket , you may notice some of your fellow shoppers are wearing rubber gloves .
One woman picks up a box of cereal , puts it back , touches her face with her gloved hand and tucks her hair behind her ear .
She then pulls out her phone to consult her shopping list .
Given what we know about how COVID-19 spreads – predominantly through droplets expelled in the air , but also through touching infected surfaces – if someone with the virus on their hands had already touched that cereal box , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloves , her face and her phone .
It ’ s understandable that people are keen to protect themselves against coronavirus , but one expert in hygiene wants us to know that wearing gloves isn ’ t the best way to go about it – in fact , it might do more harm than good .
“ What good are gloves going to do ?
” asks Professor Sally Bloomfield , honorary professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine .
“ Whilst you ’ re walking around the supermarket , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mouth and eyes with gloved hands .
The only reason it might help is if you remember you have gloves on and think : ‘ Oh no , I shouldn ’ t touch my face ’ .
“ I don ’ t understand why we ’ re wearing gloves , ” she continues .
“ I think people think that masks and gloves go together , because that ’ s PPE [ personal protective equipment ] , and in hospitals people wear masks and gloves , so outside if you ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to wear gloves.
” The reality is that in hospitals , staff may be coming into close contact with patients who are very ill and they may also be taking care of bodily fluids , but are trained to use the gloves properly .
That includes taking them off safely – you have to reach inside each glove and peel it inside out without touching the outside – before disposing of them .
For the general public , this doesn ’ t make sense .
Gloves are just “ an extension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomfield – and wearing them could be lulling people into a false sense of security and making them think that they ’ re protected , when they aren ’ t necessarily .
The public seems to have grasped the idea of social distancing better than it has an understanding of transmission via hands and surfaces , she adds .
Touch a surface contaminated with the virus , then touch your face with a gloved hand and it ’ s akin to touching your face with your actual hand – we know from some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surfaces for up to 72 hours .
Also of issue is that gloves are frequently discarded on the ground rather than in bins , which is not only a problem for the environment and wildlife , but also pretty grim if they do have the virus on it and , for example , a child picks one up .
While disposable gloves are not a replacement for hand washing , Dr. Ed Wright , senior lecturer in microbiology at the University of Sussex , says they can act as a form of protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand sanitizer isn ’ t available and you are unsure whether or not a surface is contaminated – but only if used and disposed of safely “ Safe removal and disposal of the gloves would mean that if there was virus on the surface none of it would remain on your hands , ” he says .
“ Using gloves correctly is crucial though because , as with face masks , if they are used incorrectly or cause people to stray from the other public health measures , any benefit is far outweighed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change in behavior.
” While the public may worry the virus can transmit through the skin , both experts we spoke to stress that it can not .
The key routes of transmission are respiratory : so , breathing in someone else ’ s infected droplets that they expel when breathing , talking or coughing , or through touching infected surfaces .
“ It is not possible for the virus to infect us through the skin so washing our hands with soap , or using alcohol hand gel , is a highly effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Dr. Wright , “ and minimizes the chance of introducing it into our respiratory tract by touching your face , the major route of infection for SARS-CoV-2.
” Prof Bloomfield ’ s approach is to sanitize her hands both before going into a supermarket and when she leaves , to kill any virus on her hands .
The same is advisable in any public space .
And once you get home , give your hands a proper wash with soap – remembering the 20-second rule .
Experts are still learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

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As you walk around the supermarket, you may notice some of your fellow shoppers are wearing rubber gloves. One woman picks up a box of cereal, puts it back, touches her face with her gloved hand and tucks her hair behind her ear. She then pulls out her phone to consult her shopping list.
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Given what we know about how Covid-19 spreads – predominantly through droplets expelled in the air, but also through touching infected surfaces – if someone with the virus on their hands had already touched that cereal box, the woman may have transferred it to her gloves, her face and her phone.
It’s understandable that people are keen to protect themselves against coronavirus, but one expert in hygiene wants us to know that wearing gloves isn’t the best way to go about it – in fact, it might do more harm than good.
“What good are gloves going to do?” asks Professor Sally Bloomfield, honorary professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “Whilst you’re walking around the supermarket, you could easily touch your nose, mouth and eyes with gloved hands. The only reason it might help is if you remember you have gloves on and think: ‘Oh no, I shouldn’t touch my face’.
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“I don’t understand why we’re wearing gloves,” she continues. “I think people think that masks and gloves go together, because that’s PPE [personal protective equipment], and in hospitals people wear masks and gloves, so outside if you’re going to wear a mask, you’re going to wear gloves.”
The reality is that in hospitals, staff may be coming into close contact with patients who are very ill and they may also be taking care of bodily fluids, but are trained to use the gloves properly. That includes taking them off safely – grab the outside of one glove at the wrist and peel it away from the hand, pulling it inside out, then peel off the second glove by putting your fingers inside the glove at the top of your wrist and pull it inside out without touching the outside – before disposing of them.
For the general public, this doesn’t make sense. Gloves are just “an extension of our hands”, says Prof Bloomfield – and wearing them could be lulling people into a false sense of security and making them think that they’re protected, when they aren’t necessarily.
The public seems to have grasped the idea of social distancing better than it has an understanding of transmission via hands and surfaces, she adds. Touch a surface contaminated with the virus, then touch your face with a gloved hand and it’s akin to touching your face with your actual hand – we know from some studies that the virus can live on surfaces for up to 72 hours.
Vesnaandjic via Getty Images
The World Health Organisation (WHO) doesn’t recommend that members of the public wear rubber gloves. “Regularly washing your bare hands offers more protection against catching Covid-19 than wearing rubber gloves,” says the WHO guidance. “You can still pick up Covid-19 contamination on rubber gloves.”
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Also of issue is that gloves are frequently discarded on the ground rather than in bins, which is not only a problem for the environment and wildlife, but also pretty grim if they do have the virus on it and, for example, a child picks one up.
While disposable gloves are not a replacement for hand washing, Dr Ed Wright, senior lecturer in microbiology at the University of Sussex, says they can act as a form of protection when hand-washing isn’t possible, hand sanitiser isn’t available and you are unsure whether or not a surface is contaminated – but only if used and disposed of safely
“Safe removal and disposal of the gloves would mean that if there was virus on the surface none of it would remain on your hands,” he says. “Using gloves correctly is crucial though because, as with face masks, if they are used incorrectly or cause people to stray from the other public health measures, any benefit is far outweighed by the increase in risk from this change in behaviour.”
While the public may worry the virus can transmit through the skin, both experts we spoke to stress that it cannot. The key routes of transmission are respiratory: so, breathing in someone else’s infected droplets that they expel when breathing, talking or coughing, or through touching infected surfaces.
“It is not possible for the virus to infect us through the skin so washing our hands with soap, or using alcohol hand gel, is a highly effective way to inactivate and remove the virus,” says Dr Wright, “and minimises the chance of introducing it into our respiratory tract by touching your face, the major route of infection for SARS-CoV-2.”
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Prof Bloomfield’s approach is to sanitise her hands both before going into a supermarket and when she leaves, to kill any virus on her hands. The same is advisable in any public space. And once you get home, give your hands a proper wash with soap – remembering the 20-second rule.


huffpost--2020-06-02--Belgian Prince Tests Positive For Coronavirus After Attending Party In Spain

BARCELONA ( Reuters ) - A nephew of Belgium ’ s King Philippe , Prince Joachim , has tested positive for coronavirus after attending a party in Spain , which Spanish media said broke lockdown rules because of the number of people there .
The prince , 28 , tested positive after attending the gathering in the southern city of Cordoba on May 26 , a spokesperson for the Belgian Royal Palace said on Saturday .
The spokesperson said the palace could not confirm the number of people in attendance at the party .
The palace said Joachim traveled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an internship and was still there .
El Pais newspaper said the prince , who is tenth in line to the Belgian throne , attended the party along with 26 other people .
This would be a breach of lockdown rules in the province of Cordoba , where the maximum number of people permitted to meet is currently 15 .
Spanish police said they had launched an investigation into the incident and those who breached restrictions could face fines of between 600 and 10,000 euros .
Prince Lorenz with two of his children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Belgium -- attend the 80th birthday celebrations of Belgian Queen Paola on June 29 , 2017 in Waterloo , Belgium .
All 27 people who attended the party are now in quarantine , Rafaela Valenzuela , the Spanish government ’ s regional envoy in Cordoba , told a press conference on Saturday .
Valenzuela called the gathering “ completely irresponsible ” and said it could have caused an outbreak of infections , triggering a return to a stricter lockdown .
“ I feel surprised and angry .
An incident of this type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mourning for so many dead , ” she said .
As the government eases Spain ’ s lockdown regulations , at one point some of the strictest in Europe , police have intervened in a series of cases of people flouting social distancing restrictions .

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BARCELONA (Reuters) - A nephew of Belgium’s King Philippe, Prince Joachim, has tested positive for coronavirus after attending a party in Spain, which Spanish media said broke lockdown rules because of the number of people there.
The prince, 28, tested positive after attending the gathering in the southern city of Cordoba on May 26, a spokesperson for the Belgian Royal Palace said on Saturday.
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The spokesperson said the palace could not confirm the number of people in attendance at the party. The palace said Joachim traveled to Spain from Belgium on May 24 for an internship and was still there.
El Pais newspaper said the prince, who is tenth in line to the Belgian throne, attended the party along with 26 other people.
This would be a breach of lockdown rules in the province of Cordoba, where the maximum number of people permitted to meet is currently 15.
Spanish police said they had launched an investigation into the incident and those who breached restrictions could face fines of between 600 and 10,000 euros.
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Prince Lorenz with two of his children -- Prince Joachim and Princess Luise Maria of Belgium -- attend the 80th birthday celebrations of Belgian Queen Paola on June 29, 2017 in Waterloo, Belgium. Patrick van Katwijk via Getty Images
All 27 people who attended the party are now in quarantine, Rafaela Valenzuela, the Spanish government’s regional envoy in Cordoba, told a press conference on Saturday.
Valenzuela called the gathering “completely irresponsible” and said it could have caused an outbreak of infections, triggering a return to a stricter lockdown.
“I feel surprised and angry. An incident of this type stands out at a moment of national mourning for so many dead,” she said.
As the government eases Spain’s lockdown regulations, at one point some of the strictest in Europe, police have intervened in a series of cases of people flouting social distancing restrictions.
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huffpost--2020-06-02--Colbert Schools Trump With A Scathing Reminder Of How Strongman Rulers End

“ Late Show ” host Stephen Colbert returned to the air after more than a week off and was stunned to find that the coronavirus pandemic was no longer the top story .
“ Remember when we were all afraid of our groceries ?
” he asked .
“ I miss those days.
” The nationwide protests and civic unrest were sparked by a white police officer in Minneapolis killing George Floyd , a Black man in Minneapolis .
“ In times like these , we need empathetic and moral leadership , ” Colbert said .
“ Unfortunately , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to address the nation ’ s pain , Colbert said , pointing out that even President Richard M. Nixon once made a surprise trip to speak with student protesters at the Lincoln Memorial .
Instead , Trump was caught on audio telling governors they have to “ dominate ” the protesters .
Trump himself didn ’ t dominate them .
He was whisked to an underground bunker by the Secret Service over the weekend as demonstrations broke out near the White House .
“ If history has taught us anything , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well for strongmen who retreat to underground bunkers , ” Colbert said .
The “ Late Show ” host was alluding to the long line of strongmen and dictators from Nazi Germany ’ s Adolf Hitler to Iraq ’ s Saddam Hussein and others who had or hid in bunkers as their regimes collapsed around them .
“ You ’ re always calling to beat up protesters at your rallies , ” he said .
“ You could shut this whole thing down , just pop a couple of hydroxys and come out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a Confederate flag taped to it.
” Colbert later dropped the quips and urged Americans to do the right thing in spite of the president .
He called for addressing systemic racism and ensuring human rights and dignity for all .

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“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert returned to the air after more than a week off and was stunned to find that the coronavirus pandemic was no longer the top story.
“Remember when we were all afraid of our groceries?” he asked. “I miss those days.”
Colbert diagnosed the crisis now dominating the news over COVID-19 as “America’s pre-existing condition: racism.”
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The nationwide protests and civic unrest were sparked by a white police officer in Minneapolis killing George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis.
“In times like these, we need empathetic and moral leadership,” Colbert said. “Unfortunately, we have Donald Trump.”
Presidents usually step up to address the nation’s pain, Colbert said, pointing out that even President Richard M. Nixon once made a surprise trip to speak with student protesters at the Lincoln Memorial. Instead, Trump was caught on audio telling governors they have to “dominate” the protesters.
Trump himself didn’t dominate them. He was whisked to an underground bunker by the Secret Service over the weekend as demonstrations broke out near the White House.
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“If history has taught us anything, it’s that things always work out well for strongmen who retreat to underground bunkers,” Colbert said.
The “Late Show” host was alluding to the long line of strongmen and dictators from Nazi Germany’s Adolf Hitler to Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and others who had or hid in bunkers as their regimes collapsed around them.
Colbert said Trump missed his moment by hiding.
“You’re always calling to beat up protesters at your rallies,” he said. “You could shut this whole thing down, just pop a couple of hydroxys and come out of the White House swinging a five-iron with a Confederate flag taped to it.”
Colbert later dropped the quips and urged Americans to do the right thing in spite of the president. He called for addressing systemic racism and ensuring human rights and dignity for all.
See more of his monologue below:


huffpost--2020-04-23--4 Unexpected Life Skills Kids Could Learn From The Coronavirus Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis .
Hundreds of thousands of people have died , millions have lost their jobs and millions of children are out of school .
Parents , teachers and therapists have deep concerns about the toll this could have on children of all ages now and down the road .
It ’ s hard to see any bright spots .
But here ’ s one : Mental health experts say our kids could come out of this crisis with some pretty powerful life skills and tools for getting through hard stuff .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been and will be for many families .
But it is a reminder of the kind of learning that can come through pain and adversity .
Lesson # 1 : How to live with uncertainty .
In a matter of months , kids ’ worlds have been totally upended by COVID-19 .
They don ’ t go to school or daycare , they don ’ t see friends , and in many cases , they can ’ t even really go outside .
None of the grown-ups in their lives can give them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will all end , because everything is uncertain .
How you can help : Rather than trying to give your kiddo a clear answer about what comes next , be honest about the fact that there is a lot we do not know .
If you have a toddler or preschool-age kid at home , explain that doctors are working to find medicine that will help us all be healthy and could allow life to go back to normal , Stolberg said .
With older kids , you can be more candid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening in the world right now , then tell them what you know — and what you don ’ t .
Promise you will continue talking about what comes next as things continue to change and progress .
Lesson # 2 : How to be resilient .
While there ’ s plenty of anecdotal evidence that some kids are struggling right now — and that absolutely should not be dismissed — experts say that children are remarkably resilient .
This is a great time for parents to help kids tap into that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bounce back .
How you can help : “ Allow room for their discomfort , ” Westers urged .
One way of doing that is simply to acknowledge ( in an age-appropriate way , of course ) that you are also feeling stress or fear .
Then “ model coping , ” he said .
Do you walk ?
Practice deep breathing ?
Talk to friends ?
Invite them to join you .
Bonus : You ’ ll force yourself to actually do a bit of self-care .
“ When there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answering it , it ’ s a great time to ask our kids to tell us what they ’ re thinking , ” Stolberg said .
“ It may be the first time in a long time that we ’ ve had the time to sit down and really observe our children ’ s thinking processes and problem-solving skills.
” Lesson # 3 : That they are so much more than school and extracurriculars .
“ One of the really fun things I ’ m seeing with older kids is that many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to learn or do that they ’ ve never really had the time for , ” Stolberg said .
“ Our teenagers are over-scheduled .
They don ’ t have downtime or playtime anymore .
Now they have plenty of it.
” In the past few weeks , he has heard stories of tweens and teens who have taken up the guitar , or who have tried cooking for the first time .
How you can help : Talk with your kid about what they ’ d like to be doing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into their chosen hobbies with them — even if that means playing Fortnite , Westers said .
If they don ’ t necessarily have a ton of ideas about what they ’ d like to do , think about some simple things you can do together , like playing a board game or making a meal together .
Lesson # 4 : How important their role is in your family .
When everyone is busy rushing out the door to work or school , your kid may lose sight of their own role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good time to make it clear that your family — whatever shape it might take — is a team , and they are an essential part of it .

ChristinaFelsing via Getty Images
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people have died, millions have lost their jobs and millions of children are out of school. Parents, teachers and therapists have deep concerns about the toll this could have on children of all ages now and down the road. It’s hard to see any bright spots.
But here’s one: Mental health experts say our kids could come out of this crisis with some pretty powerful life skills and tools for getting through hard stuff. That’s not to sugarcoat how tragic this has been and will be for many families. But it is a reminder of the kind of learning that can come through pain and adversity.
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“It’s a terrible time that we are in,” psychologist Ron Stolberg, a professor at Alliant International University and author of “Teaching Kids to Think,” told HuffPost. “But it’s also an opportunity for kids to learn they have tremendous capacity to overcome adversity.”
Here are four powerful life skills kids could take away from the coronavirus pandemic, and some pretty quick and simple strategies to help them get there.
Lesson #1: How to live with uncertainty.
In a matter of months, kids’ worlds have been totally upended by COVID-19. They don’t go to school or daycare, they don’t see friends, and in many cases, they can’t even really go outside. None of the grown-ups in their lives can give them any answers about how or when this will all end, because everything is uncertain.
But learning to live with discomfort and uncertainty is part of becoming a “developmentally healthy” adult, said Nicholas Westers, a pediatric psychologist with Children’s Health and an associate professor at UT Southwestern, told HuffPost.
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How you can help: Rather than trying to give your kiddo a clear answer about what comes next, be honest about the fact that there is a lot we do not know. If you have a toddler or preschool-age kid at home, explain that doctors are working to find medicine that will help us all be healthy and could allow life to go back to normal, Stolberg said.
With older kids, you can be more candid. Ask them about what they think is happening in the world right now, then tell them what you know — and what you don’t. Promise you will continue talking about what comes next as things continue to change and progress.
Lesson #2: How to be resilient.
While there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that some kids are struggling right now — and that absolutely should not be dismissed — experts say that children are remarkably resilient. This is a great time for parents to help kids tap into that, and to appreciate their own abilities to bounce back.
“I think it’s important to say that most children are going to be OK,” said Westers. “Children and teenagers are resilient.”
How you can help: “Allow room for their discomfort,” Westers urged. One way of doing that is simply to acknowledge (in an age-appropriate way, of course) that you are also feeling stress or fear. Then “model coping,” he said. Do you walk? Practice deep breathing? Talk to friends? Invite them to join you. Bonus: You’ll force yourself to actually do a bit of self-care.
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Reinforcing your kiddos’ problem-solving skills can also help foster resiliency.
“When there is a dilemma or a question, instead of answering it, it’s a great time to ask our kids to tell us what they’re thinking,” Stolberg said. “It may be the first time in a long time that we’ve had the time to sit down and really observe our children’s thinking processes and problem-solving skills.”
If your kid tells you they’re sad or lonely, perhaps ask what they think a good coping strategy is, rather than immediately jumping in with a suggestion. Give them a chance to think on their own, Stolberg said, and to use you as a sounding board.
Lesson #3: That they are so much more than school and extracurriculars.
“One of the really fun things I’m seeing with older kids is that many of them have had ideas of things they wanted to learn or do that they’ve never really had the time for,” Stolberg said. “Our teenagers are over-scheduled. They don’t have downtime or playtime anymore. Now they have plenty of it.” In the past few weeks, he has heard stories of tweens and teens who have taken up the guitar, or who have tried cooking for the first time.
It’s not about self-improvement. It’s about making sure your kid recognizes they have time and space to reconnect with who they are outside of school and their usual routines.
How you can help: Talk with your kid about what they’d like to be doing more of, then be prepared to get into their chosen hobbies with them — even if that means playing Fortnite, Westers said. If they don’t necessarily have a ton of ideas about what they’d like to do, think about some simple things you can do together, like playing a board game or making a meal together.
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Then tell them how happy you are to have that time together, and how much you value your connection with them.
Lesson #4: How important their role is in your family.
When everyone is busy rushing out the door to work or school, your kid may lose sight of their own role in the household. Now is a good time to make it clear that your family — whatever shape it might take — is a team, and they are an essential part of it.
“You’re teaching them that they’re partly responsible for the family getting through this,” Stolberg said.
How you can help: If you’ve got little ones at home, ask them to help you sweeping, or cleaning up toys, or other simple chores. You might have to redo it, but you’re setting a precedent. They are a part of the team.
If you’ve got older kids, now is a good time to give them more responsibility around the house than you might otherwise. Let them set their own alarm clocks. Give them chances to make their own meals. Make sure they’re taking out the trash or cleaning up around the house. Give them important roles at home.
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“Reinforce how helpful they are and important they are to the family,” Stolberg 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--2020-04-24--New York Retailer Accused Of Price Gouging Sanitizer, Masks And Gowns

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Federal prosecutors charged a New York retailer Friday with hoarding tons of disposable masks , surgical gowns and hand sanitizer in a Long Island warehouse and selling the items at huge markups .
Amardeep “ Bobby ” Singh , 45 , was charged with violating the Defense Production Act of 1950 in what authorities described as the first such prosecution during the coronavirus pandemic .
Singh is expected to surrender to authorities next week in the case around what is known as personal protective equipment , which has become a hot commodity during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is improper or criminal , then a lot of people need to go to jail , ” Gerstman said in a telephone interview .
“ The Defense Production Act is wildly vague , and I don ’ t think this would pass muster on any appellate level .
I think this statute would be struck down as null and void.
” The charges come more than a month after President Donald Trump issued an executive order making it illegal to hoard scarce medical supplies or sell personal protective equipment at inflated prices .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal protective equipment during a public health crisis and reselling at huge markups places him squarely in the cross-hairs of law enforcement armed with the Defense Production Act , ” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said in a written statement .
Singh sells sneakers and apparel at his Plainview store , prosecutors said , but dedicated a new section last month to “ COVID-19 Essentials , ” including N95 masks , face shields , gloves and disinfecting products .
In late March and early April , authorities said , Singh stockpiled more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tons of surgical gowns ; 1.8 tons of hand sanitizer and seven shipments of digital thermometers .
Records from the store showed he bought the face masks for 7 cents apiece and then resold them for $ 1 each , prosecutors said .
A search of his business and warehouse turned up more than 5,000 face shields , 2,471 full-body isolation suits and 711,400 disposable vinyl gloves , according to court records .
Authorities said Singh marketed the products on social media and continued selling them even after he received a cease-and-desist letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Office , which called his pricing “ unconscionably excessive.
” Singh ’ s stockpiles for now are being held as evidence , but the Federal Emergency Management Agency is “ working through the details ” of how to reallocate the materials to institutions in need of such equipment , said a law enforcement official familiar with the matter .
The person wasn ’ t authorized to speak publicly about the materials and spoke on the condition of anonymity .

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NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors charged a New York retailer Friday with hoarding tons of disposable masks, surgical gowns and hand sanitizer in a Long Island warehouse and selling the items at huge markups.
Amardeep “Bobby” Singh, 45, was charged with violating the Defense Production Act of 1950 in what authorities described as the first such prosecution during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Singh is expected to surrender to authorities next week in the case around what is known as personal protective equipment, which has become a hot commodity during the outbreak.
Singh’s attorney, Bradley Gerstman, called the charges “mostly fiction” and said the complaint misstated his client’s costs.
“If selling PPE goods is improper or criminal, then a lot of people need to go to jail,” Gerstman said in a telephone interview. “The Defense Production Act is wildly vague, and I don’t think this would pass muster on any appellate level. I think this statute would be struck down as null and void.”
The charges come more than a month after President Donald Trump issued an executive order making it illegal to hoard scarce medical supplies or sell personal protective equipment at inflated prices.
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“Singh’s amassing of critical personal protective equipment during a public health crisis and reselling at huge markups places him squarely in the cross-hairs of law enforcement armed with the Defense Production Act,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said in a written statement.
Singh sells sneakers and apparel at his Plainview store, prosecutors said, but dedicated a new section last month to “COVID-19 Essentials,” including N95 masks, face shields, gloves and disinfecting products.
In late March and early April, authorities said, Singh stockpiled more than 1.6 tons of disposable masks; 2.2 tons of surgical gowns; 1.8 tons of hand sanitizer and seven shipments of digital thermometers.
Records from the store showed he bought the face masks for 7 cents apiece and then resold them for $1 each, prosecutors said.
A search of his business and warehouse turned up more than 5,000 face shields, 2,471 full-body isolation suits and 711,400 disposable vinyl gloves, according to court records.
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Authorities said Singh marketed the products on social media and continued selling them even after he received a cease-and-desist letter from the New York Attorney General’s Office, which called his pricing “unconscionably excessive.”


huffpost--2020-04-24--Trump Ponders Whether Light Or Disinfectant Injections Can 'Cure' Coronavirus

On Friday , the manufacturer of Lysol and other cleaning products issued a statement urging people not to consume the products in any form .
“ We must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body through injection , ingestion or any other route , ” the company , RB , said .
Bryan , who is the senior official performing the duties of the undersecretary for science and technology for DHS , gave a presentation during the press conference on experiments testing how solar light affects the coronavirus on surfaces and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humidity may kill the virus more quickly , Bryan claimed .
He warned , however , that “ it would be irresponsible for us to say that we feel that the summer is going to totally kill the virus .
... That ’ s not the case.
” Bryan added that these new observations about the virus ’ interactions with light should not take away from the coronavirus guidance set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Other health officials on the coronavirus task force were wary of Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
When Trump asked whether sunlight and heat could “ cure ” the virus , task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said no .
“ Not as a treatment , ” Birx told Trump .
“ Certainly , fever is a good thing .
When you have a fever , it helps your body respond .
But not as … I ’ m not seeing heat or light as… ” Trump interjected , saying it would be “ a great thing to look at.
” Earlier this month , Dr. Anthony Fauci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , acknowledged that warmer weather does affect other viruses , but he warned that it wasn ’ t the solution to the pandemic .
“ One should not assume that we are going to be rescued by a change in the weather .
You must assume that the virus will continue to do its thing , ” he told ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America ” on April 9 .
“ If we get some help from the weather , so be it , fine .
But I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter to White House science and technology officials this month , the National Academies of Sciences , Engineering , and Medicine said warmer weather wouldn ’ t lead to a significant reduction in the spread of the virus without “ major public health interventions .
”

On Friday, the manufacturer of Lysol and other cleaning products issued a statement urging people not to consume the products in any form.
“We must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body through injection, ingestion or any other route,” the company, RB, said.
Bryan, who is the senior official performing the duties of the undersecretary for science and technology for DHS, gave a presentation during the press conference on experiments testing how solar light affects the coronavirus on surfaces and in the air. Higher temperatures and humidity may kill the virus more quickly, Bryan claimed.
He warned, however, that “it would be irresponsible for us to say that we feel that the summer is going to totally kill the virus. ... That’s not the case.”
Bryan added that these new observations about the virus’ interactions with light should not take away from the coronavirus guidance set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other health officials on the coronavirus task force were wary of Trump’s suggestions about using light to kill the virus.
When Trump asked whether sunlight and heat could “cure” the virus, task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said no.
“Not as a treatment,” Birx told Trump. “Certainly, fever is a good thing. When you have a fever, it helps your body respond. But not as … I’m not seeing heat or light as…”
Trump interjected, saying it would be “a great thing to look at.”
Earlier this month, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, acknowledged that warmer weather does affect other viruses, but he warned that it wasn’t the solution to the pandemic.
“One should not assume that we are going to be rescued by a change in the weather. You must assume that the virus will continue to do its thing,” he told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on April 9. “If we get some help from the weather, so be it, fine. But I don’t think we need to assume that.”
Other leading infectious disease experts gave a similar warning.
In a letter to White House science and technology officials this month, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine said warmer weather wouldn’t lead to a significant reduction in the spread of the virus without “major public health interventions.”


huffpost--2020-05-05--Venezuela Arrests 2 U.S. Citizens Among Group Of 'Mercenaries' In Beach Raid

Maduro held up a pair of blue U.S. passports , reading off the names and birth dates on them in a nationwide broadcast on state television .
He showed images of the fishing boats the alleged attackers rode in on and equipment like walkie-talkies and night-vision glasses collected in what Maduro called an “ intense ” couple of days .
He blamed the attacks on the Trump administration and neighboring Colombia , both of which have denied involvement .
Before dawn on Sunday , officials say the first attack started on a beach near Venezuela ’ s port city of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first two arrests and killed eight others attempting to make a landing by speedboats .
The two served in Iraq and Afghanistan with him in the U.S. military , Goudreau said , adding that they were part of this alleged mission in Venezuela called “ Operation Gideon.
” The aim was to capture Maduro .
Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis under Maduro ’ s rule .
Crumbling public services such as running water , electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite a U.S.-led campaign to oust him .
It recently indicted Maduro as a drug trafficker and offered a $ 15 million reward for his arrest .
Venezuela and the United States broke diplomatic ties last year amid heightened tensions , so there is no U.S. embassy in Caracas .
Officials from the U.S. State Department did not respond Monday to a request by The Associated Press for comment .
Goudreau ’ s account of the confusing raid has at times seemed contradictory — for example , he says he was plotting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have received a single penny .
Meanwhile , a self-aggrandizing Maduro has thrived broadcasting videos on state TV of what he says was a flawless defense of the nation ’ s sovereignty .
Kay Denman , the mother of one of the Americans , said the last time she heard from her son was a few weeks when he texted her from an undisclosed location to ask how she was coping with the coronavirus pandemic .
She said she never heard her son discuss Venezuela and only learned of his possible capture there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reports on social media .
Goudreau has said he reached an agreement with the U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó to overthrow Maduro , which Guaidó has denied .
The opposition leader said he had nothing to do with Sunday ’ s raid .
He said he last communicated with Denman and Berry when they were adrift in a boat “ hugging ” the Caribbean coast of Venezuela .
They were still in their boat following an initial confrontation with the Venezuelan Navy early Sunday , he said .

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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said authorities arrested two U.S. citizens among a group of “mercenaries” on Monday, a day after a beach raid purportedly aimed at capturing the socialist leader that authorities say they foiled.
Maduro held up a pair of blue U.S. passports, reading off the names and birth dates on them in a nationwide broadcast on state television. He showed images of the fishing boats the alleged attackers rode in on and equipment like walkie-talkies and night-vision glasses collected in what Maduro called an “intense” couple of days. He blamed the attacks on the Trump administration and neighboring Colombia, both of which have denied involvement.
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“The United States government is fully and completely involved in this defeated raid,” Maduro said, praising members of a fishing village for cornering one group in the sweep netting the “professional American mercenaries.”
Before dawn on Sunday, officials say the first attack started on a beach near Venezuela’s port city of La Guaira, when security forces made the first two arrests and killed eight others attempting to make a landing by speedboats.
Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab holds up Twitter posts during a press conference regarding what the government calls a failed attack over the weekend aimed at overthrowing President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 4, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The two U.S. citizens arrested Monday were identified as Luke Denman and Airan Berry, both former U.S. special forces soldiers.
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Florida-based ex-Green Beret Jordan Goudreau said earlier Monday that he was working with the two men in a mission intending to detain Maduro and “liberate” Venezuela. Goudreau has claimed responsibility for the operation.
The two served in Iraq and Afghanistan with him in the U.S. military, Goudreau said, adding that they were part of this alleged mission in Venezuela called “Operation Gideon.” The aim was to capture Maduro.
Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis under Maduro’s rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate. But Maduro still controls all levers of power despite a U.S.-led campaign to oust him. It recently indicted Maduro as a drug trafficker and offered a $15 million reward for his arrest.
Venezuela and the United States broke diplomatic ties last year amid heightened tensions, so there is no U.S. embassy in Caracas. Officials from the U.S. State Department did not respond Monday to a request by The Associated Press for comment.
“I’ve tried to engage everybody I know at every level,” Goudreau said of the attempt to help his detained colleagues. “Nobody’s returning my calls. It’s a nightmare.”
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Goudreau’s account of the confusing raid has at times seemed contradictory — for example, he says he was plotting a rebellion for months while claiming not to have received a single penny. Meanwhile, a self-aggrandizing Maduro has thrived broadcasting videos on state TV of what he says was a flawless defense of the nation’s sovereignty.
Kay Denman, the mother of one of the Americans, said the last time she heard from her son was a few weeks when he texted her from an undisclosed location to ask how she was coping with the coronavirus pandemic. She said she never heard her son discuss Venezuela and only learned of his possible capture there after his friends called when they saw the reports on social media.
“The first time I heard Jordan Goudreau’s name was today,” she said when reached at her home in Austin, Texas.
Goudreau has said he reached an agreement with the U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó to overthrow Maduro, which Guaidó has denied. The opposition leader said he had nothing to do with Sunday’s raid.
Goudreau says Guaidó never fulfilled the agreement, but the former Green Beret pushed ahead with an underfunded operation with just 60 fighters, including the two U.S. veterans.
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He said he last communicated with Denman and Berry when they were adrift in a boat “hugging” the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. They were still in their boat following an initial confrontation with the Venezuelan Navy early Sunday, he said.
“They were running dangerously low on fuel,” Goudreau said. “If they had gone onto landfall, they would have gone to a safe house.”
Goudreau said the two were waiting for a boat on the Caribbean island of Aruba with emergency fuel to help extract them.
Venezuelan state TV showed images on state TV of several unidentified men handcuffed and lying prone in a street. One video clip showed authorities handling a shirtless man in handcuffs.
He was identified as a National Guardsman Capt. Antonio Sequea, who participated in a barracks revolt against Maduro a year ago. Goudreau said Sequea was a commander working with him in recent days on the ground in Venezuela.
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Maduro ally and Attorney General Tarek William Saab said that in total they’ve arrested 114 people suspected in the attempted attack and they are on the hunt of 92 others.
Goudreau, a three-time Bronze Star U.S. combat veteran, claims to have helped organize the deadly seaborne raid from Colombia. Goudreau said the operation had received no aid from Guaidó or the U.S. or Colombian governments.
Opposition politicians and U.S. authorities issued statements suggesting Maduro’s allies had fabricated the assault to draw attention away from the country’s problems.
Goudreau said by telephone earlier Monday that 52 other fighters had infiltrated Venezuelan territory and were in the first stage of a mission to recruit members of the security forces to join their cause.
An AP investigation published Friday found that Goudreau had been working with a retired Venezuelan army general — who now faces U.S. narcotics charges — to train dozens of deserters from Venezuela’s security forces at secret camps inside neighboring Colombia. The goal was to mount a cross-border raid that would end in Maduro’s arrest.
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huffpost--2020-05-05--Hilarious Video Captures Parents' New Appreciation For Teachers

This year , Teacher Appreciation Week ( and Day ) looks a bit different this year , thanks to the @ @ @ @ @ been “ homeschooling ” their kids for many weeks , and we ’ re ... @ @ @ @ @ at our wit ’ s end .
Thankfully , the hilarious moms behind the YouTube @ @ @ @ @ timely video called “ I Appreciate Teachers So Hard.
” So if you find yourself @ @ @ @ @ ’ teachers a huge raise or just a humongous hug , check out the clip @ @

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huffpost--2020-05-05--Katy Perry Unveils Madonna-Inspired Maternity Look She Would Have Rocked At 2020 Met Gala

Katy Perry had a custom corset to wear to the Met Gala , and she liked it ... so she posted about it on Instagram .
The “ Never Worn White ” singer shared an image of the custom bodice with a cone bra that she was slated to wear to this year ’ s Met Gala .
The annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art ’ s Costume Institute in New York City was postponed indefinitely this year to stop the spread of the coronavirus , leading stars like Perry to share the looks they would ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her first child with fiancé Orlando Bloom , so the bodice features a rounded part over the stomach to suit her changing body .
French designer Jean Paul Gaultier created Perry ’ s look , paying homage to another one of his classic designs .
Gaultier created the now-infamous pink conical bra that Madonna wore on her Blond Ambition tour and debuted in Chiba , Japan , in 1990 .
An iteration of the look debuted on the runway in 1987 and , after Madonna asked for Gaultier to design her tour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create the silhouette that would become “ so embedded within the canon of both pop music and fashion that it now requires little introduction , ” according to Vogue .
Madonna performs with her dancers during her Blond Ambition tour on June 4 , 1990 .
Perry ’ s Madonna-inspired look would have been apropos for the fête ’ s proposed 2020 theme : “ About Time : Fashion and Duration.
” Of the theme , Andrew Bolton , the Costume Institute ’ s curator , told The New York Times that fashion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It not only reflects and represents the spirit of the times , but it also changes and develops with the times , ” he said .

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Katy Perry had a custom corset to wear to the Met Gala, and she liked it ... so she posted about it on Instagram.
The “Never Worn White” singer shared an image of the custom bodice with a cone bra that she was slated to wear to this year’s Met Gala. The annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City was postponed indefinitely this year to stop the spread of the coronavirus, leading stars like Perry to share the looks they would’ve worn.
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Perry is currently pregnant with her first child with fiancé Orlando Bloom, so the bodice features a rounded part over the stomach to suit her changing body.
The 35-year-old captioned the post: “what would have been...”
French designer Jean Paul Gaultier created Perry’s look, paying homage to another one of his classic designs.
Gaultier created the now-infamous pink conical bra that Madonna wore on her Blond Ambition tour and debuted in Chiba, Japan, in 1990. An iteration of the look debuted on the runway in 1987 and, after Madonna asked for Gaultier to design her tour looks, the pair later collaborated to create the silhouette that would become “so embedded within the canon of both pop music and fashion that it now requires little introduction,” according to Vogue.
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Madonna performs with her dancers during her Blond Ambition tour on June 4, 1990. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Perry’s Madonna-inspired look would have been apropos for the fête’s proposed 2020 theme: “About Time: Fashion and Duration.”
Of the theme, Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s curator, told The New York Times that fashion “is indelibly connected to time.”
“It not only reflects and represents the spirit of the times, but it also changes and develops with the times,” he said.


huffpost--2020-05-05--Muslim Doctors Fight COVID-19 — And Islamophobia — On The Front Lines

Hilary Swift for HuffPost Physician Syed Raheel Hassan — in the backyard of his home in New Jersey on Thursday — knows the challenges of the coronavirus firsthand .
The following weeks were harrowing .
He needed his wife to help feed him because he was too weak to eat or drink .
When his illness worsened , he was put in the emergency room and could no longer see his wife or his children , who are 10 and 6 .
Being alone felt worse than the symptoms , and he worried he might not see his family again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his Muslim faith to stay positive .
Uzma Syed , Infectious Disease Specialist And Chair Of The COVID-19 Task Force , New York Amar Bukhari , Director Of The Intensive Care Unit And Associate Chairman Of Medicine At Saint Peter ’ s University Hospital , New Jersey “ As a Muslim , I feel a sense of responsibility , as I am privileged to have become a physician , and my job is to take care of people , ” Bukhari said .
“ It is stated that if someone saves a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mankind .
It is in line with Islam and Ramadan in that it is better to give of myself , especially during a special month .
”

Syed Raheel Hassan, a doctor in New Jersey, sees nearly twice the number of patients he did before the coronavirus pandemic hit the state.
Hassan’s days are packed as he moves from room to room at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, treating COVID-19 patients.
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But he takes the time to talk with patients so that they don’t feel alone, sometimes helping place calls to their families, knowing that the conversation could be their last.
Hassan knows how important this is because he’s been there himself.
Hassan contracted the coronavirus in March. It felt inevitable: He — like many other medical workers — didn’t have enough personal protective equipment, yet was seeing many patients.
The following weeks were harrowing. He needed his wife to help feed him because he was too weak to eat or drink. When his illness worsened, he was put in the emergency room and could no longer see his wife or his children, who are 10 and 6. Being alone felt worse than the symptoms, and he worried he might not see his family again. All the while, he relied on his Muslim faith to stay positive.
Hassan’s health improved, and he eventually returned home. But the virus spread within his family. His wife contracted COVID-19, as did her parents and four other members of Hassan’s family. Hassan’s in-laws were hospitalized. His mother-in-law recovered, but his father-in-law did not. Last month, after weeks of being on a ventilator, Hassan’s father-in-law died of the disease.
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Now, Hassan thinks of these experiences when he sees patients. And his patients appreciate it: They know him as the Muslim doctor with the beard who helps families call their loved ones when things turn dire. One woman who lost her uncle recently called the hospital to thank Hassan for his work.
“I felt really proud that she remembered my name, and she remembered how I look like and knew most likely that I was Muslim,” Hassan said. “Even if there is one thing that I can even play a small role in to change someone’s perception about who we are and what sort of experience that we bring.”
“I felt really proud that [the patient] remembered my name, and she remembered how I look like and knew most likely that I was Muslim.” - Syed Raheel Hassan
Hassan is one of many Muslim doctors on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19. They work despite the risk to themselves and their families. Many do so even while fasting during the day in observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Muslim medical workers have been fighting COVID-19 all over the world. In the United Kingdom, the first four doctors to die from the virus were Muslim immigrants.
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While there are no nationwide figures for Muslims working in health care in the U.S., Muslims make up a sizable proportion of medical workers in both New York and Michigan.
In New York City, nearly 10% of doctors are Muslim, according to data from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. Muslim physicians in New York City see more than 5 million patients a year and pay more than $4 billion in local wages annually.
In Michigan, more than 15% of the state’s physicians are Muslim, the institute reported.
Despite this, Muslims continue to be vilified in conspiracy theories and disinformation pushed by far-right groups and websites. Last month, President Donald Trump claimed without evidence that mosques could avoid social distancing orders during the coronavirus lockdown and that there was a “great disparity” in the treatment of mosques and churches.
Nevertheless, Muslim medical workers continue to provide essential services as proud Muslims and proud Americans, said Marium Husain, a hematology and oncology hospitalist and the vice president of the Islamic Medical Association of North America, the largest network of American Muslim health care workers, with more than 4,500 members across the country.
“This crisis is just showing who essential workers are,” Husain said. “They are not the movie stars, they’re not celebrities or sportspeople. They are the people on the ground every day that are doing what they can to keep this country running, and Muslims are a part of that.”
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HuffPost talked to several Muslim doctors about their work battling the coronavirus, Ramadan and their Muslim identity.
Uzma Syed — at her home on Long Island Thursday — works 16-hour shifts divided among three hospitals in the fight against COVID-19. Hilary Swift for HuffPost
Uzma Syed, Infectious Disease Specialist And Chair Of The COVID-19 Task Force, New York
Syed is a wife and the mother of two children, 15 and 7, and she is grateful that her family understands why she’s barely home, she said.
Syed works 16-hour shifts, divided among three hospitals on Long Island. She also runs two clinical trials in the fight against COVID-19.
When Syed’s is not at a hospital, she reads the latest medical research from across the world to strategize a cure for the pandemic. She said she’s exhausted but is nevertheless proud of the work she does as a physician and a researcher ― as well as a Muslim woman and an American.
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Both Syed’s faith as a Muslim and a doctor motivates her to do her work, and the two parts of her identity go hand in hand, especially when it comes to the preservation of human life, she said.
“We are on the front lines and putting ourselves out there because we took an oath, and this is what we believe in,” Syed said.
Syed is proud of her contributions and particularly proud to practice among the hundreds of other Muslim-American physicians in the state, she said. Syed worked alongside several national Muslim organizations to deliver crucial information and medical advice to mosques and Muslim leaders in the runup to the decision to shut down mosques ahead of Ramadan.
“Muslim physicians in America are constantly there to provide care for our patients, especially in this kind of situation,” Syed said. “We’re [the] fabric of this country.”
Ammar Bazerbashi, Owner Of Medical Art Center, New Jersey
Bazerbashi was extremely frustrated by the lack of availability of COVID-19 tests in the U.S., so he decided to take matters into his own hands.
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Bazerbashi is a doctor and the founder of the Medical Art Center, a health and wellness center in Middletown, New Jersey. Since the pandemic began, he has used his labs and resources to provide tests to community members who can’t access them at overwhelmed hospitals. His goal is to contribute both to immediate health care needs and to national research for a cure.
Bazerbashi’s center provides free COVID-19 tests on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as free COVID antibodies blood testing for research and free telehealth visits for those who don’t have health insurance.
“I refuse to take a single penny out of this. I’m doing this for the community at large,” said Bazerbashi, adding that his center can relieve pressure on other facilities by taking on some of these tasks.
Bazerbashi said he has barely slept while working long hours and fasting for the month of Ramadan. But he doesn’t plan to stop.
“You can tell who people are during crises like this,” Bazerbashi said, adding that both his faith and the honor code he took at medical school is what keeps him going.
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Bulland Zaman, Family Medicine, New York
Before the outbreak, Bulland Zaman worked primarily out of his New Jersey office. But Zaman has now been deployed to a New York hospital, where he focuses on inpatient and outpatient care and primarily treats immigrants and patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Zaman’s biggest challenge is finding solutions for those patients who need to continue treatment at home but lack the resources.
When he’s not working, Zaman stays at a hotel to avoid exposing his family, including his elderly parents, who reside with him. He has also resorted to wearing disposable clothing to limit exposure and protect himself and those around him. It’s been difficult, but he said he knows it’s part of his job.
“Standing on the sidelines really did not sit well with me personally,” Zaman said. “I wanted to get myself back out there. As a physician — and as a Muslim person on top of that — I felt like it was also my duty and responsibility.”
Tarnima Ahamed, OB-GYN, New York
Tarnima Ahamed, 34, cares for a particularly vulnerable population. An obstetrics and gynecology physician, Ahamed is swamped at work ensuring that pregnant women and their newborn babies are safe from COVID-19.
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Ahamed and her team assist with deliveries at her local hospital, whether the women are her patients or not.
Ahamed’s role differs from that of most emergency room or other front line physicians. But she is grateful to do her part.
“Just being a Muslim woman and South Asian Muslim woman doing OB-GYN, it makes me proud,” Ahamed said. “On top of that, to be part of this huge worldwide crisis, and to be able to contribute in some way and represent myself as a Muslim, is also really inspiring. I’m glad to be able to do that.”
Shoaib Malik, Internal Medicine, New Jersey
Shoaib Malik, 36, is grateful to be working nights this Ramadan, he said.
Malik is sad that he won’t be able to congregate for nightly prayers and meals to break his daily fast. But he is grateful for the opportunity to give back in the way he knows best. Malik works with inpatient admissions and sees COVID-19 patients almost exclusively. Malik expects to handle even more cases at his hospital as time goes on.
Giving back is a critical part of Ramadan and Islam as a whole, and working as a physician is his way of adhering to that, he said.
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“Everybody has a role to play, and I feel like that’s in line with Islam and in line with just being a decent human being,” Malik said. “Do your part in whatever your circle is –– whether it’s your family, friends, coworkers, strangers or neighbors. That’s the way to be a Muslim.”
“We just need to get the job done that should bring about unity,” Malik added.
Amar Bukhari, Director Of The Intensive Care Unit And Associate Chairman Of Medicine At Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Jersey
Amar Bukhari juggles several roles. He is a pulmonologist and critical care specialist and works with the gravest cases every day. He also chairs the hospital’s ethics committee and oversees its triage protocols: the process of determining the priority of treating patients based on the severity of their illnesses.
When he is not seeing patients, Bukhari ensures that the hospital runs smoothly. Even with a busy schedule, he worries he is not doing enough.
“As a Muslim, I feel a sense of responsibility, as I am privileged to have become a physician, and my job is to take care of people,” Bukhari said. “It is stated that if someone saves a life, that person has saved all of mankind. It is in line with Islam and Ramadan in that it is better to give of myself, especially during a special month.”


huffpost--2020-05-05--Virgin Atlantic To Lay Off Over 3,000 As United Airlines Seeks Voluntary Cuts

United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic are preparing to lay off more than 6,000 workers combined , according to memos and announcements by both companies this week , as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a debilitating toll on the airline industry .
British airliner Virgin Atlantic announced in a statement Tuesday that it plans to cut nearly a third of its 10,000-person workforce to ensure profitability by 2021 .
“ We have weathered many storms since our first flight 36 years ago , but none has been as devastating as Covid-19 and the associated loss of life and livelihood for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
A United Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for takeoff from Denver International Airport .
The airliner has asked employees to consider leaving the company ahead of its downsizing of staff due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The company said it expects to see a recovery to pre-crisis levels within three years , based on previous crises including 9/11 and the Great Recession .
That estimated timeline is far shorter than the time it took for the industry as a whole to recover after the global financial crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airlines for America .
In that case , passenger volumes took more than seven years to recover .
Fellow U.K. airliner British Airways said last week that it could cut up to 12,000 jobs — more than a quarter of its workforce .
Virgin Atlantic ’ s announcement came one day after United Airlines , the world ’ s fourth-largest airliner by fleet and passenger size , asked its employees to consider voluntarily separating from the company .
This request comes ahead of job cuts planned for at least 30 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Oct. 1 .
“ We have to acknowledge that there will be serious consequences to our company if we don ’ t continue to take strong and decisive action , which includes making decisions that none of us ever wanted or expected to make , ” wrote Kate Gebo , United ’ s executive vice president of human resources and labor relations , in one of the memos obtained by Reuters .
Domestic U.S. flights are currently carrying an average of 15 to 20 passengers , compared with 85 to 100 during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Airlines for America .
The airline cargo industry is currently the only area that is operating and earning revenue at any scale , according to the International Air Transport Association , which represents air carriers around the world .
The IATA said its heads of cargo don ’ t expect the downturn to be as brutal for them as the global financial crisis was .
Airlines are also attempting to recoup some losses by adapting passenger planes to all-cargo operations .

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United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic are preparing to lay off more than 6,000 workers combined, according to memos and announcements by both companies this week, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a debilitating toll on the airline industry.
British airliner Virgin Atlantic announced in a statement Tuesday that it plans to cut nearly a third of its 10,000-person workforce to ensure profitability by 2021.
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“We have weathered many storms since our first flight 36 years ago, but none has been as devastating as Covid-19 and the associated loss of life and livelihood for so many,” CEO Shai Weiss said in a statement.
A United Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for takeoff from Denver International Airport. The airliner has asked employees to consider leaving the company ahead of its downsizing of staff due to the coronavirus pandemic. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The company said it expects to see a recovery to pre-crisis levels within three years, based on previous crises including 9/11 and the Great Recession.
That estimated timeline is far shorter than the time it took for the industry as a whole to recover after the global financial crisis, according to the U.S. trade association Airlines for America. In that case, passenger volumes took more than seven years to recover.
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Fellow U.K. airliner British Airways said last week that it could cut up to 12,000 jobs — more than a quarter of its workforce.
Virgin Atlantic’s announcement came one day after United Airlines, the world’s fourth-largest airliner by fleet and passenger size, asked its employees to consider voluntarily separating from the company. This request comes ahead of job cuts planned for at least 30% of the company’s management and administrative positions on Oct. 1.
London's Heathrow Airport is seen deserted amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic Ilya Dmitryachev via Getty Images
United last month reported a first-quarter net loss of $1.7 billion due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“We have to acknowledge that there will be serious consequences to our company if we don’t continue to take strong and decisive action, which includes making decisions that none of us ever wanted or expected to make,” wrote Kate Gebo, United’s executive vice president of human resources and labor relations, in one of the memos obtained by Reuters.
A separate memo obtained by Reuters told United pilots to prepare for a “displacement” that will affect 30% of their workforce.
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The airline industry has come to a near ground stop amid the pandemic.
Domestic U.S. flights are currently carrying an average of 15 to 20 passengers, compared with 85 to 100 during the first two months of this year, according to Airlines for America.
The airline cargo industry is currently the only area that is operating and earning revenue at any scale, according to the International Air Transport Association, which represents air carriers around the world.


huffpost--2020-05-05--Chance The Rapper Talks Parenting And Appreciating Teachers Even More

Chance the Rapper has long believed teachers have the most important job in the world .
But like many parents , he ’ s felt his appreciation for educators deepen during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ These teachers are really helping us raise our kids , ” he told HuffPost while promoting “ The Twilight Awards ” ― a special award show to honor teachers for the work they do .
“ And they ’ re doing it times 30 ― a bunch of people ’ s kids at once .
That ’ s something you understand but don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with your kids 24/7.
” The Chicago rapper has two daughters ― 4-year-old Kensli and 8-month-old Marli ― with his wife , Kirsten Corley Bennett .
He said the new lockdown reality has been a bit chaotic at times ( our phone interview included a few adorable interruptions from Kensli ) , but given his privileged position , he sees it as “ a blessing ” to be able to spend more time with his children and doesn ’ t complain .
“ This uninterrupted daily in-and-out time with your family is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside this phenomenon , ” he said .
“ I ’ ve been trying to figure out ways to get more time with my family , focus on finally getting a house , getting things out of storage , working out , all kinds of stuff that ’ s just been a goal or something you talk about .
But now we ’ re just in it.
” The three-time Grammy winner said he ’ s enjoyed seeing his daughters grow every day .
At 8 months , Marli has developed a strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the carpet and eat it , ” he said , laughing .
Kensli ’ s hobbies are a little more advanced .
“ My oldest daughter is a super genius , and she also has an amazing singing voice .
She ’ s very into science projects , ” he added , noting that they have sea monkeys and recently invested in a butterfly-growing kit with live caterpillars .
Keeping in theme , the dad said he ’ s had fun reading Eric Carle ’ s “ The Very Hungry Caterpillar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
Chance has also come to appreciate the role that schools and teachers play in keeping kids safe and giving parents the opportunity to focus on other parts of their lives during the work day .
“ If I ’ m awake and working at home or enjoying myself at all for a minute , I have to stop and think , ‘ Wait , my kids could be in danger ... or endangering us , ’ ” he joked .
“ It ’ s like , ‘ Yo , when does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Twilight Awards ” is a way for people to recognize and thank teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week .
The rapper and his nonprofit SocialWorks first conceived of the idea in 2017 while working to raise funds for Chicago public schools , and earlier this year , they partnered with General Mills and Box Tops for Education to bring the idea to life .
Although the pandemic halted that planning process , it also presented an opportunity for a “ soft launch ” of sorts with an Instagram version .
There will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. Central ) , during which Chance will surprise teachers across the country with supplies , donations and accolades .
“ These teachers have had to adapt so fast in terms of remote learning and providing parents with activities and lesson plans for their kids , ” he said .
“ And being one of the most criminally underpaid jobs in America , I feel like they ’ re going to be some of the people that are hit the hardest by this global crisis .
This pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now we just need to show appreciation for people and give them financial help .
”

Daniel Boczarski via Getty Images Chance the Rapper attends the Great Wolf Lodge Illinois grand opening celebration on June 21, 2018 in Gurnee, Illinois.
Chance the Rapper has long believed teachers have the most important job in the world. But like many parents, he’s felt his appreciation for educators deepen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These teachers are really helping us raise our kids,” he told HuffPost while promoting “The Twilight Awards” ― a special award show to honor teachers for the work they do. “And they’re doing it times 30 ― a bunch of people’s kids at once. That’s something you understand but don’t fully appreciate until you’re with your kids 24/7.”
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The Chicago rapper has two daughters ― 4-year-old Kensli and 8-month-old Marli ― with his wife, Kirsten Corley Bennett. He said the new lockdown reality has been a bit chaotic at times (our phone interview included a few adorable interruptions from Kensli), but given his privileged position, he sees it as “a blessing” to be able to spend more time with his children and doesn’t complain.
“This uninterrupted daily in-and-out time with your family is just something that would’ve never existed outside this phenomenon,” he said. “I’ve been trying to figure out ways to get more time with my family, focus on finally getting a house, getting things out of storage, working out, all kinds of stuff that’s just been a goal or something you talk about. But now we’re just in it.”
The three-time Grammy winner said he’s enjoyed seeing his daughters grow every day. At 8 months, Marli has developed a strong interest in “trying to pick stuff out of the carpet and eat it,” he said, laughing. Kensli’s hobbies are a little more advanced.
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“My oldest daughter is a super genius, and she also has an amazing singing voice. She’s very into science projects,” he added, noting that they have sea monkeys and recently invested in a butterfly-growing kit with live caterpillars. Keeping in theme, the dad said he’s had fun reading Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” to her during this time as well.
Chance has also come to appreciate the role that schools and teachers play in keeping kids safe and giving parents the opportunity to focus on other parts of their lives during the work day.
“If I’m awake and working at home or enjoying myself at all for a minute, I have to stop and think, ‘Wait, my kids could be in danger ... or endangering us,’” he joked. “It’s like, ‘Yo, when does school start back?’”
“The Twilight Awards” is a way for people to recognize and thank teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. The rapper and his nonprofit SocialWorks first conceived of the idea in 2017 while working to raise funds for Chicago public schools, and earlier this year, they partnered with General Mills and Box Tops for Education to bring the idea to life.
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Although the pandemic halted that planning process, it also presented an opportunity for a “soft launch” of sorts with an Instagram version. There will be three live broadcasts (May 6, 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. Central), during which Chance will surprise teachers across the country with supplies, donations and accolades.


huffpost--2020-05-05--Democratic Voters Lag In Enthusiasm About The 2020 Election

ASSOCIATED PRESS A voter in Milwaukee arrives at a polling place for Wisconsin 's controversial April 7 primary election , held despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic .
The Democratic Party ’ s electorate is less enthusiastic about the 2020 election than their Republican counterparts , according to a HuffPost/YouGov survey , a split in attitudes that existed before the coronavirus pandemic caused voters of all ideological and partisan stripes to become less gung-ho about casting ballots in November .
A relative lack of enthusiasm has been a persistent problem for the presumed Democratic presidential nominee , former Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lead President Donald Trump in the vast majority of national public polling .
Biden triumphed in his party ’ s primary even though polling indicated the supporters of his main rival for the nomination , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , were far more fired up about voting than Biden ’ s backers .
Democratic officials disagree on the severity of the enthusiasm gap between their party ’ s electorate and the GOP ’ s , with many arguing voters ’ intense dislike of Trump should be enough to drive the turnout necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantage most polls show Biden enjoys among swing voters .
But some Democrats are more worried , noting enthusiasm levels could be even more important than usual when vast numbers of voters around the country may be casting ballots by mail for the first time due to the pandemic .
In a newly released HuffPost/YouGov poll , Republican and Republican-leaning voters are 14 percentage points likelier than Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters to say they ’ re very enthusiastic about voting .
Republicans have a smaller edge on two other metrics : they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re very motivated to vote , and 8 points likelier to say they definitely plan on voting .
There ’ s relatively little difference in the attention each group is paying to the campaign .
Several other surveys also have shown Democrats lagging on enthusiasm , although the findings have not been entirely consistent .
CNN ’ s polling last month found Democrats ’ enthusiasm decreasing , while among Republicans it remained stable , giving Trump supporters a sizable advantage on the metric .
Biden also saw lagging numbers in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found strong enthusiasm among Democrats for their party ’ s presidential pick at a 20-year low .
Addisu Demissie , who managed New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker ’ s White House bid , noted that the percentage of ballots cast by mail was expected to skyrocket in the key swing states of Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania ― and it could take a higher level of enthusiasm to convince voters to go through an unfamiliar process .
Polls taken throughout last year suggested an unprecedented wave of voter enthusiasm building around the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November , according to Gallup , voters ’ enthusiasm for an election still roughly a year away was on par with the levels seen just days before the public voted in 2008 and 2012 ― and significantly higher than at any point in the 2016 cycle .
That momentum , however , appears to have been abruptly halted by the coronavirus pandemic , which rapidly overwhelmed news cycles .
Between February and March , according to HuffPost/YouGov ’ s polling , the share of registered voters who reported that they were following election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the share who said they were very enthusiastic about the election fell by 11 points .
Two other self-reported metrics ― the share of voters who described themselves as very motivated and the percentage saying they were very likely to vote ― also saw downticks .
Several of those numbers have rebounded over the course of April .
But voters ’ self-reported attention , enthusiasm and motivation are still lower than they were near the end of last year .
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups : Most surveys report a margin of error that represents some but not all potential survey errors .
YouGov ’ s reports include a model-based margin of error , which rests on a specific set of statistical assumptions about the selected sample rather than the standard methodology for random probability sampling .
If these assumptions are wrong , the model-based margin of error may also be inaccurate .

A voter in Milwaukee arrives at a polling place for Wisconsin's controversial April 7 primary election, held despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Democratic Party’s electorate is less enthusiastic about the 2020 election than their Republican counterparts, according to a HuffPost/YouGov survey, a split in attitudes that existed before the coronavirus pandemic caused voters of all ideological and partisan stripes to become less gung-ho about casting ballots in November.
A relative lack of enthusiasm has been a persistent problem for the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, even as he continues to lead President Donald Trump in the vast majority of national public polling. Biden triumphed in his party’s primary even though polling indicated the supporters of his main rival for the nomination, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, were far more fired up about voting than Biden’s backers.
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Democratic officials disagree on the severity of the enthusiasm gap between their party’s electorate and the GOP’s, with many arguing voters’ intense dislike of Trump should be enough to drive the turnout necessary to defeat him, especially considering the advantage most polls show Biden enjoys among swing voters. But some Democrats are more worried, noting enthusiasm levels could be even more important than usual when vast numbers of voters around the country may be casting ballots by mail for the first time due to the pandemic.
In a newly released HuffPost/YouGov poll, Republican and Republican-leaning voters are 14 percentage points likelier than Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters to say they’re very enthusiastic about voting. Republicans have a smaller edge on two other metrics: they’re currently 10 points likelier to say they’re very motivated to vote, and 8 points likelier to say they definitely plan on voting. There’s relatively little difference in the attention each group is paying to the campaign.
Results of a new HuffPost/YouGov survey on voter enthusiasm. Ariel Edwards-Levy/HuffPost
GOP and GOP-leaning voters have consistently maintained an enthusiasm advantage in HuffPost/YouGov polling since last fall, although the size of that advantage has fluctuated significantly.
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Several other surveys also have shown Democrats lagging on enthusiasm, although the findings have not been entirely consistent. CNN’s polling last month found Democrats’ enthusiasm decreasing, while among Republicans it remained stable, giving Trump supporters a sizable advantage on the metric. Biden also saw lagging numbers in a late March Washington Post/ABC survey, which found strong enthusiasm among Democrats for their party’s presidential pick at a 20-year low.
But in an April Monmouth University survey, which asked voters to rate their enthusiasm in comparison with past elections, the ardor level dropped mostly among Republicans, leaving the two parties roughly on par.
Addisu Demissie, who managed New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker’s White House bid, noted that the percentage of ballots cast by mail was expected to skyrocket in the key swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania ― and it could take a higher level of enthusiasm to convince voters to go through an unfamiliar process.
“Folks who are not typically mail voters, and folks who are not typically good voters, we’ve got to give them a reason to vote,” he said.
Polls taken throughout last year suggested an unprecedented wave of voter enthusiasm building around the 2020 election. By the end of last November, according to Gallup, voters’ enthusiasm for an election still roughly a year away was on par with the levels seen just days before the public voted in 2008 and 2012 ― and significantly higher than at any point in the 2016 cycle.
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That momentum, however, appears to have been abruptly halted by the coronavirus pandemic, which rapidly overwhelmed news cycles. Between February and March, according to HuffPost/YouGov’s polling, the share of registered voters who reported that they were following election news very closely dropped by 12 points, and the share who said they were very enthusiastic about the election fell by 11 points. Two other self-reported metrics ― the share of voters who described themselves as very motivated and the percentage saying they were very likely to vote ― also saw downticks.
Several of those numbers have rebounded over the course of April. But voters’ self-reported attention, enthusiasm and motivation are still lower than they were near the end of last year.
Results of HuffPost/YouGov polling on voter enthusiasm and other metrics. Ariel Edwards-Levy/HuffPost
There is an obvious precedent for a pandemic dampening voter turnout: In the 1918 midterm elections, held during the Spanish Flu pandemic, turnout fell to 40% ― a remarkably low total for the era. (Turnout during the prior two midterm elections topped 50%.)
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov survey, using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups:
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The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted April 21-23 among U.S. adults, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.
HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.
Most surveys report a margin of error that represents some but not all potential survey errors. YouGov’s reports include a model-based margin of error, which rests on a specific set of statistical assumptions about the selected sample rather than the standard methodology for random probability sampling. If these assumptions are wrong, the model-based margin of error may also be inaccurate.


huffpost--2020-05-11--Twitter Will Now Alert People When COVID-19 Tweets Are Misleading

The new rule is the latest in a wave of stricter policies that tech companies are rolling out to confront an outbreak of virus-related misinformation on their sites .
Facebook and Google , which owns YouTube , have already put similar systems in place .
The announcement signals that Twitter is taking its role in amplifying misinformation more seriously .
But how the platform enforces its new policy will be the real test , with company leaders already tamping down expectations .
Yoel Roth , Twitter ’ s head of site integrity , acknowledged as much : “ We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on every tweet with incomplete or disputed information about COVID-19.
” Roth said Monday the platform has historically applied a “ lighter touch ” when enforcing similar policies on misleading tweets but said the company is working to improve the technology around the labels .
In February , Twitter said it would add warning labels to doctored or manipulated photos and videos after a recording of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was slowed down to make it appear as though she slurred her words .
But even with obviously fake videos , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tongue and grinning that was shared by President Donald Trump , the company has since used the label only twice , in part because of technical glitches .
And Twitter has not added any warning labels to politicians ’ tweets that violate its policies but are deemed in the “ public interest ” under a policy the company announced in June 2019 .
Some of the questionable tweets will run with a label underneath that directs users to a link with additional information about COVID-19 .
Other tweets might be covered entirely by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some or all of the content shared in this tweet conflict with guidance from public health experts regarding COVID-19.
” “ People don ’ t want us to play the role of deciding for them what ’ s true and what ’ s not true but they do want people to play a much stronger role providing context , ” Pickles said .
The fine line is similar to one taken by tech rival Facebook , which has said it doesn ’ t want to be an “ arbiter of the truth ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to review falsehoods on its site .
The Associated Press is part of Facebook ’ s fact-checking program .
One example of a disputed tweet that might be labeled on its site includes claims about the origin of COVID-19 , which remains unknown .
Conspiracy theories about how the virus started and if it is man-made have swirled around social media for months .
Twitter will continue to take down COVID-19 tweets that pose a threat to the safety of a person or group , along with attempts to incite mass violence or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been removing bogus coronavirus cures and claims that social distancing or face masks do not curb the virus ’ spread for several weeks .

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CHICAGO (AP) — Twitter announced Monday it will start alerting users when a tweet makes disputed or misleading claims about the coronavirus.
The new rule is the latest in a wave of stricter policies that tech companies are rolling out to confront an outbreak of virus-related misinformation on their sites. Facebook and Google, which owns YouTube, have already put similar systems in place.
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The announcement signals that Twitter is taking its role in amplifying misinformation more seriously. But how the platform enforces its new policy will be the real test, with company leaders already tamping down expectations.
Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of site integrity, acknowledged as much: “We will not be able to take enforcement action on every tweet with incomplete or disputed information about COVID-19.”
Roth said Monday the platform has historically applied a “lighter touch” when enforcing similar policies on misleading tweets but said the company is working to improve the technology around the labels.
In February, Twitter said it would add warning labels to doctored or manipulated photos and videos after a recording of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was slowed down to make it appear as though she slurred her words. But even with obviously fake videos, such as one showing Joe Biden lolling his tongue and grinning that was shared by President Donald Trump, the company has since used the label only twice, in part because of technical glitches.
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And Twitter has not added any warning labels to politicians’ tweets that violate its policies but are deemed in the “public interest” under a policy the company announced in June 2019.
Under the newest COVID-19 rules, Twitter will decide which tweets are labeled — only taking down posts if they are harmful.
Politicians’ tweets will be subject to the notices, which will be available in roughly 40 languages.
Some of the questionable tweets will run with a label underneath that directs users to a link with additional information about COVID-19. Other tweets might be covered entirely by a warning label alerting users that “some or all of the content shared in this tweet conflict with guidance from public health experts regarding COVID-19.”
Twitter won’t directly fact check or call tweets false on the site, said Nick Pickles, the company’s global senior strategist for public policy. The warning labels might send users to curated tweets, public health websites or news articles.
“People don’t want us to play the role of deciding for them what’s true and what’s not true but they do want people to play a much stronger role providing context,” Pickles said.
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The notices, which could start appearing as soon as today, could also apply retroactively to past tweets.
The fine line is similar to one taken by tech rival Facebook, which has said it doesn’t want to be an “arbiter of the truth” but has arranged for third-party fact checkers to review falsehoods on its site. The Associated Press is part of Facebook’s fact-checking program.
One example of a disputed tweet that might be labeled on its site includes claims about the origin of COVID-19, which remains unknown. Conspiracy theories about how the virus started and if it is man-made have swirled around social media for months.
Twitter will continue to take down COVID-19 tweets that pose a threat to the safety of a person or group, along with attempts to incite mass violence or widespread civil unrest. The company has been removing bogus coronavirus cures and claims that social distancing or face masks do not curb the virus’ spread for several weeks.
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