huffpost--2020-06-24--I've Been Sick With COVID-19 For 3 Months. Here's What You Should Know.

Since I started speaking out publicly , many people have reached out to me with concerns about their own health .
Others , who are sick with COVID-19 themselves , wanted to relay their own experiences .
As the rates of infection begin to surge again around the country due to many states reopening businesses , as well as individuals and groups who refuse to wear masks and practice social distancing , I want to share four somewhat common and , honestly , remarkably upsetting sentiments that I ’ ve recently encountered .
We need to drop the stigma that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one , and , if you are sick , you may need a large network to support you .
I know this firsthand : For week upon week of my illness , I was not capable of preparing a meal or doing a load of laundry .
Even speaking was difficult because it required oxygen I did not have .
Three months in , simple tasks can still make my oxygen levels drop and leave me short of breath .
Now is not the time to choose privacy ; even though you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re sick , you may need them to provide you with food or medicine and run errands for you .
You never know whose life you might affect , or even save , by sharing your experience .
If you ’ re too embarrassed or ashamed to tell your story , you could be missing an opportunity to help others .
I have had many health problems throughout my life ― from fighting ovarian cancer in my 20s to being diagnosed with MS before I turned 40 to , now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my 50th birthday in the emergency room .
I study , teach and write about illness , and I live by the belief that our stories matter .
But , if your test comes back negative , do not assume the test is correct .
By the time my daughter was tested , she was on day 15 of her symptoms and her test results were negative .
By that point , she had already shed most , if not all , of the virus , even though she had another week of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ none of our doctors believed her test results , but we might have been tempted to believe it if my test ( given the same day as Molly ’ s , but on day five of my symptoms ) had not been positive .
Due to the lack of robust scientific information about COVID-19 or the difficulty of finding reputable sources for it , patients are sharing their experiences and compiling data through online support groups , such as the Body Politic COVID-19 Support Group and the Long Haul COVID Fighters on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those experiencing the long course of this disease , dubbed “ long-haul ” patients , tend to be younger and otherwise healthy .
Even though I have MS , my autoimmune disease does not limit my life .
Prior to contracting COVID-19 I was active and fully ambulatory , worked a demanding job , and was fortunate to have what I consider above-average stamina .
It ’ s time to dispel the myth that the coronavirus is just a bad flu that only kills older individuals who were near death anyway and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those claims is true .
Those who do not survive COVID-19 can not be easily lumped together or dismissed .
What ’ s more , there is a huge swath of people who fall in the middle of these extremes and who are sick from four weeks up to several months .
Most of us long-haul patients have been diagnosed with “ mild ” or “ moderate ” cases because we don ’ t need intubation or prolonged hospitalization , but don ’ t be misled by that .
Just two weeks ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fourth time with reoccurring flulike symptoms and an uncomfortable tingling in my arms and legs .
A few days later I had the energy to work in my garden for several hours , but two days after that I almost passed out before breakfast .
When I checked my blood oxygen using my fingertip oximeter , I saw my level had dropped to 88 .
I learned early in my illness that oxygen saturation is measured as a percentage ( 100 is perfect ) and that any reading below the low 90s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room for supplemental oxygen .
After weeks of dropping levels , I was able to get an oxygen concentrator at home , so I can now turn on the machine , insert the nasal cannula tubing , and rest on my couch until my level has rebounded .
For me , there is nothing “ mild ” or predictable about this disease , even three months in .
I can not tell you how many phone calls I have made in the past three months figuring out first how to get tested and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and services that I need .
The nurse case manager at my doctor ’ s office has helped with these calls as well .
Even with her help , it hasn ’ t been easy .
We have even been told conflicting information by different people at the same facility .
In fact , in April I lost valuable time when I followed a hospital ’ s very specific instructions and went to an ER for a preauthorized CT scan ordered by my doctor , only to have the ER doctor decide that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send me home .
Ann E. Wallace , PhD writes of her experiences with cancer and MS , motherhood , love , and the realities of living in contemporary America .
She has a new poetry collection , “ Counting by Sevens , ” available from Main Street Rag .
Her recently published pieces in journals such as Mom Egg Review , Wordgathering , Snapdragon , Riggwelter , and Rogue Agent , can be found on her website AnnWallacePhD.com .
She lives in Jersey City , New Jersey , where she is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can follow her on Twitter @ annwlace409 .

The author on her couch receiving oxygen in June 2020. Courtesy of Ann E. Wallace
Today marks my 100th day being sick with COVID-19. My symptoms began on March 17, two days after I published an essay on HuffPost Personal about facing difficulties getting my 16-year-old daughter Molly tested for the virus.
Despite the strict criteria for testing in my home state of New Jersey at that time, Molly and I were finally both tested on March 22 because we were deemed high-risk: me, because I have multiple sclerosis, and Molly, because she had been displaying symptoms for two weeks and was therefore a health risk to me.
Advertisement
Back then, two weeks sounded like a very long time to be sick with COVID-19.
We had no idea.
From the start of our journey, I’ve shared our experiences on social media and via various publications in the hopes of helping others navigate the uncharted waters of this virus. Reliable information about everything ranging from risk factors to testing facilities was difficult to find in March, so I knew that whatever I learned could be valuable to others.
Since I started speaking out publicly, many people have reached out to me with concerns about their own health. Others, who are sick with COVID-19 themselves, wanted to relay their own experiences. As the rates of infection begin to surge again around the country due to many states reopening businesses, as well as individuals and groups who refuse to wear masks and practice social distancing, I want to share four somewhat common and, honestly, remarkably upsetting sentiments that I’ve recently encountered.
1. “I’m afraid to tell people that I have COVID-19.”
We need to drop the stigma that comes with having COVID-19. Shame serves no one, and, if you are sick, you may need a large network to support you. I know this firsthand: For week upon week of my illness, I was not capable of preparing a meal or doing a load of laundry. Even speaking was difficult because it required oxygen I did not have. Three months in, simple tasks can still make my oxygen levels drop and leave me short of breath. Now is not the time to choose privacy; even though you should not be near other people while you’re sick, you may need them to provide you with food or medicine and run errands for you.
More important, because COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, we are all still actively learning about it, and any new information we receive can be hugely important ― that includes scientific studies, but also personal anecdotes too.
Advertisement
“If you’re too embarrassed or ashamed to tell your story, you could be missing an opportunity to help others.”
You never know whose life you might affect, or even save, by sharing your experience. If you’re too embarrassed or ashamed to tell your story, you could be missing an opportunity to help others. I have had many health problems throughout my life ― from fighting ovarian cancer in my 20s to being diagnosed with MS before I turned 40 to, now, COVID-19, which caused me to spend my 50th birthday in the emergency room. I study, teach and write about illness, and I live by the belief that our stories matter.
2. “My COVID test was negative. Now what? People don’t believe I’m sick.”
First, it’s important to understand that as many as 15-30% of COVID-19 tests performed may return a false negative. What’s more, many experts believe that tests are most reliable when done between three and six days after symptoms first appear. Many people, especially in areas where tests are not readily available, are unable to get tested that quickly.
If you suspect you were infected or have symptoms, do not delay in getting tested. A positive test result will make your life easier in a multitude of ways, from securing priority treatment, sick leave from work, inclusion in long-term medical studies that may help find a vaccine or better treatment for the disease, and, quite frankly, the right to be “counted.”
But, if your test comes back negative, do not assume the test is correct. By the time my daughter was tested, she was on day 15 of her symptoms and her test results were negative. By that point, she had already shed most, if not all, of the virus, even though she had another week of symptoms to fight through. Fortunately, none of our doctors believed her test results, but we might have been tempted to believe it if my test (given the same day as Molly’s, but on day five of my symptoms) had not been positive.
Advertisement
I know many people who have “presumed positive” cases, who had symptoms and were aware of having been exposed to COVID-19, yet who were not able to get tested or received negative test results. Absent a definitive test, other possibilities need to be ruled out, but do not hesitate to push your health care provider to do that work.
3. “It’s been two months. No one believes that I’m still sick.”
I’ve been fortunate that no one in my network has doubted that I’ve been sick for this long. For three months, I have been sharing my story online, and I suppose my friends don’t think of me as the type to orchestrate such a finely wrought long con.
The fact is that many COVID-19 patients are sick for months, and they are struggling to educate others about this reality even as they are navigating daily life with a terrifyingly relentless, debilitating and deadly disease. Believe them. Their stories are true and they are more common than you probably expect.
Due to the lack of robust scientific information about COVID-19 or the difficulty of finding reputable sources for it, patients are sharing their experiences and compiling data through online support groups, such as the Body Politic COVID-19 Support Group and the Long Haul COVID Fighters on Facebook. It is becoming increasingly clear that those experiencing the long course of this disease, dubbed “long-haul” patients, tend to be younger and otherwise healthy. Even though I have MS, my autoimmune disease does not limit my life. Prior to contracting COVID-19 I was active and fully ambulatory, worked a demanding job, and was fortunate to have what I consider above-average stamina.
The author, masked and with her oximeter around her neck, on a walk in her Jersey City neighborhood with the Freedom Tower in the background in June 2020. Courtesy of Ann E. Wallace
Advertisement
I recently joined the Long Haul COVID Fighters group, where there are over 4,000 members who have been sick for 80 days or longer. Others in the group are marathoners, dancers, fitness buffs and parents of young children. These are not the types of people we hear about as being especially susceptible to COVID-19.
It’s time to dispel the myth that the coronavirus is just a bad flu that only kills older individuals who were near death anyway and that everyone else recovers quickly. Neither of those claims is true. Those who do not survive COVID-19 cannot be easily lumped together or dismissed. What’s more, there is a huge swath of people who fall in the middle of these extremes and who are sick from four weeks up to several months.
Most of us long-haul patients have been diagnosed with “mild” or “moderate” cases because we don’t need intubation or prolonged hospitalization, but don’t be misled by that. Just two weeks ago, I was in the ER for the fourth time with reoccurring flulike symptoms and an uncomfortable tingling in my arms and legs. A few days later I had the energy to work in my garden for several hours, but two days after that I almost passed out before breakfast. When I checked my blood oxygen using my fingertip oximeter, I saw my level had dropped to 88.
I learned early in my illness that oxygen saturation is measured as a percentage (100 is perfect) and that any reading below the low 90s might warrant a trip to the emergency room for supplemental oxygen. After weeks of dropping levels, I was able to get an oxygen concentrator at home, so I can now turn on the machine, insert the nasal cannula tubing, and rest on my couch until my level has rebounded. For me, there is nothing “mild” or predictable about this disease, even three months in.
If you see your employer or friends doubting or denying the long-haul course of this disease or the long-term effects, please speak up. We need your voices and your advocacy.
Advertisement
No one who is sick should have to worry that their boss or spouse or doctor doesn’t believe them.
4. “My doctor said I have a mild case and to rest at home, but that was a month ago and I’m not getting better. I’m really worried.”
My final point ― and it’s an important one ― is that if you or anyone you know is sick with COVID-19, you must be vigilant about seeking out and demanding the best health care.
It may not be easy to make appointments or get medical tests where you live right now. In different regions, healthcare professionals may be still, again, or newly inundated with patients.
I cannot tell you how many phone calls I have made in the past three months figuring out first how to get tested and then how to get the other tests and services that I need. The nurse case manager at my doctor’s office has helped with these calls as well. Even with her help, it hasn’t been easy. We have even been told conflicting information by different people at the same facility. In fact, in April I lost valuable time when I followed a hospital’s very specific instructions and went to an ER for a preauthorized CT scan ordered by my doctor, only to have the ER doctor decide that I didn’t need it and send me home.
Two weeks later, I got the test at a different hospital as an outpatient. A nurse met me, with my oxygen tank in hand, at the curb, put me in a wheelchair, covered me a sheet from head to toe, and wheeled me directly into the CT room. I could not enter the building unescorted, I could not use the restroom, I could not see where I was going, but I got the test.
Advertisement
The point is you need to be vocal and persistent about what you need, even if you aren’t entirely sure what that is. COVID-19 can seem or start off mild but it can worsen quickly and become deadly in just a matter of days, so be proactive. Your primary care doctor should be helping you. If he or she is not, I cannot say this firmly enough, you need to find a new doctor.
COVID-19 is nowhere near done with us, and our leaders and neighbors are not necessarily making decisions with your health as their top priority. If they were, we would have widespread free testing, health care support, and contact tracing in every town in the nation. If they were, we would not have people coming to blows or worse over mask-wearing requirements or closed bars and restaurants.
Until that changes, be prepared to advocate for yourself and your loved ones. It could be a matter of life and death and your life is surely worth it.
Ann E. Wallace, PhD writes of her experiences with cancer and MS, motherhood, love, and the realities of living in contemporary America. She has a new poetry collection, “Counting by Sevens,” available from Main Street Rag. Her recently published pieces in journals such as Mom Egg Review, Wordgathering, Snapdragon, Riggwelter, and Rogue Agent, can be found on her website AnnWallacePhD.com. She lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, where she is an English professor at New Jersey City University. You can follow her on Twitter @annwlace409.
Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch!


huffpost--2020-06-24--NY, NJ And Connecticut Order Visitors From New COVID Hot Spots To Quarantine

New York , New Jersey and Connecticut will require people from other states with a high percentage of new COVID-19 cases to self-quarantine for two weeks upon entering the three states , their governors announced Wednesday .
The travel mandate goes into effect at midnight and affects travelers from states with a “ positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10 % or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average , ” said New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) at an afternoon press conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday were : Alabama , Arkansas , Arizona , Florida , North Carolina , South Carolina , Washington , Utah and Texas .
States can be added or removed from this list based on their infection rate , Cuomo said .
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee ( D ) said later on Wednesday that his state was “ erroneously included ” on the list and that “ we were told that we can expect that to be corrected shortly.
” The announcement comes as coronavirus cases in New York are steadily declining .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now has the country ’ s lowest infection rate .
“ We did a full 180-degrees , ” Cuomo said .
“ We worked really had to get the viral transmission rate down ; we don ’ t want to see it go up because a lot of people come into this region and they could literally bring the infection with them.
” Several states , including Florida , enforced a similar 14-day quarantine for people traveling from New York , New Jersey and Connecticut at the start of the pandemic .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen others that are now seeing a rise in new COVID-19 cases as the tri-state area ’ s new cases drop .
People traveling to New York , New Jersey and Connecticut from states with a high percentage of new COVID-19 cases will be required to self-quarantine upon their arrival , the states ’ governors announced .
Florida ’ s health department reported a record of 5,508 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday — 1,400 more than the previous daily record of new cases .
Also on Tuesday , Texas reported more than 5,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an all-time high for the state .
New York , New Jersey and Connecticut will have their own ways of enforcing the quarantine .
In New York , people found violating the quarantine risk fines ranging from $ 2,000 to $ 10,000 as well as a judicial order and a mandatory quarantine that the violator must cover the costs of , Cuomo said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will require people from other states with a high percentage of new COVID-19 cases to self-quarantine for two weeks upon entering the three states, their governors announced Wednesday.
The travel mandate goes into effect at midnight and affects travelers from states with a “positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average,” said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) at an afternoon press conference.
Advertisement
The states meeting that criteria on Wednesday were: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas. States can be added or removed from this list based on their infection rate, Cuomo said. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said later on Wednesday that his state was “erroneously included” on the list and that “we were told that we can expect that to be corrected shortly.”
I am announcing with @GovMurphy and @GovNedLamont a joint travel advisory. All individuals traveling from states with significant community spread of COVID into NY, NJ, or CT must quarantine for 14 days.
This travel advisory is effective midnight tonight. — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 24, 2020
The announcement comes as coronavirus cases in New York are steadily declining. According to the governor, the state now has the country’s lowest infection rate.
“We did a full 180-degrees,” Cuomo said. “We worked really had to get the viral transmission rate down; we don’t want to see it go up because a lot of people come into this region and they could literally bring the infection with them.”
Advertisement
Several states, including Florida, enforced a similar 14-day quarantine for people traveling from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut at the start of the pandemic. Those states are now among more than two dozen others that are now seeing a rise in new COVID-19 cases as the tri-state area’s new cases drop.
People traveling to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut from states with a high percentage of new COVID-19 cases will be required to self-quarantine upon their arrival, the states’ governors announced. Noam Galai via Getty Images
Florida’s health department reported a record of 5,508 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday — 1,400 more than the previous daily record of new cases. Also on Tuesday, Texas reported more than 5,000 new cases in a single day, an all-time high for the state.


huffpost--2020-06-24--Obama Explains Why Democrats Can’t Afford To Get Smug About Trump

Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday warned Democrats against thinking they ’ ve already won the 2020 election .
“ We can ’ t be complacent or smug or sense that somehow it ’ s so obvious that this president hasn ’ t done a good job because , look , he won once , ” Obama said of President Donald Trump during a virtual fundraiser for and with presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
“ This is serious business , ” Obama continued during the online event , which raised a reported $ 11 million for his former vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ve done so far is not enough , ” he said .
“ And I hold myself and Michelle and our kids to that same standard.
” Obama , who endorsed Biden via the video below in April , said there ’ s a “ great awakening ” among young people who are “ fed up with the shambolic , disorganized , mean-spirited approach ” to governance .
But he warned that “ just because this energy is out there , it does not mean that it assures our victory.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign looks different from a traditional campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic , which has now killed more than 120,000 people nationwide .
“ Unlike our current president , we recognize that we have a public health crisis going on , ” said Obama , an apparent reference to Trump ’ s decision to press on with hosting rallies against the advice of public health experts and as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases starts to rise again in multiple states .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday warned Democrats against thinking they’ve already won the 2020 election.
“We can’t be complacent or smug or sense that somehow it’s so obvious that this president hasn’t done a good job because, look, he won once,” Obama said of President Donald Trump during a virtual fundraiser for and with presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Advertisement
“This is serious business,” Obama continued during the online event, which raised a reported $11 million for his former vice president’s campaign.
“Whatever you’ve done so far is not enough,” he said. “And I hold myself and Michelle and our kids to that same standard.”
Obama, who endorsed Biden via the video below in April, said there’s a “great awakening” among young people who are “fed up with the shambolic, disorganized, mean-spirited approach” to governance. But he warned that “just because this energy is out there, it does not mean that it assures our victory.”
He also acknowledged that Biden’s campaign looks different from a traditional campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has now killed more than 120,000 people nationwide.
Advertisement


huffpost--2020-06-24--'Mass Murder': Trump's Coronavirus Confession Is Already Being Used In Attack Ads

President Donald Trump ’ s own words from this weekend ’ s rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma are being used against him in a series of new attack ads from his critics on both the left and the right .
On Saturday , Trump said he ordered his advisers to “ slow the testing down ” for coronavirus infections so the U.S. wouldn ’ t have so many cases ― an order that would fly in the face of medical advice .
MeidasTouch was founded by Ben Meiselas ― the lawyer who represented former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his two brothers .
On the right , conservative anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project also featured the president ’ s testing comments in its latest video .
“ The most deceptive , lying president in history finally told the truth , ” a voiceover in the spot said .
“ Somehow , it was more shocking than all his deceptions.
” Priorities USA , the preferred Super PAC for the campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden , used Trump ’ s own words in at least two new ads .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to protect the American people , but not to Donald Trump , ” the narrator said in one of the spots .
“ Instead of working to slow the spread , Donald Trump says he slowed down the testing .
Now , over 120,000 dead.
” Trump ’ s team has been struggling to explain his testing comments , with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh claiming they were “ tongue-in-cheek , ” “ made in jest ” and “ ironic humor.
” But on Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all .
“ I don ’ t kid , ” he said .
“ Let me just tell you .
Let me make it clear.
” Despite Trump ’ s comments , testing for COVID-19 is on the rise in the U.S .
So are the number of new cases and not just because of the increased testing .
The percentage of positive tests has also steadily increased over recent weeks .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump’s own words from this weekend’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma are being used against him in a series of new attack ads from his critics on both the left and the right.
On Saturday, Trump said he ordered his advisers to “slow the testing down” for coronavirus infections so the U.S. wouldn’t have so many cases ― an order that would fly in the face of medical advice.
Advertisement
Progressive PAC MeidasTouch called it “mass murder on a national scale”:
MeidasTouch was founded by Ben Meiselas ― the lawyer who represented former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in his settlement with the NFL ― and his two brothers.
On the right, conservative anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project also featured the president’s testing comments in its latest video.
“The most deceptive, lying president in history finally told the truth,” a voiceover in the spot said. “Somehow, it was more shocking than all his deceptions.”
Advertisement
Priorities USA, the preferred Super PAC for the campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden, used Trump’s own words in at least two new ads.
“The most important job of a president is to protect the American people, but not to Donald Trump,” the narrator said in one of the spots. “Instead of working to slow the spread, Donald Trump says he slowed down the testing. Now, over 120,000 dead.”
Trump’s team has been struggling to explain his testing comments, with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh claiming they were “tongue-in-cheek,” “made in jest” and “ironic humor.”
Advertisement
But on Tuesday, Trump said that was not the case at all.
“I don’t kid,” he said. “Let me just tell you. Let me make it clear.”


huffpost--2020-06-24--Madison Cawthorn, 24, Defeats Trump's Pick In North Carolina GOP Congressional Primary

Madison Cawthorn handily defeated Lynda Bennett to complete an upset for the GOP nomination in the 11th Congressional District .
Bennett had received the president ’ s backing on Twitter and the earlier endorsement of Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows , who until recently had held the seat .
Cawthorn , who also supports Trump , won by a roughly 2-to-1 margin while handing a setback for the president , who had recorded a phone message for Bennett ’ s campaign .
Meadows is a former House Freedom Caucus leader who represented the 11th District for more than seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bennett endorsements — Sen. Ted Cruz among them — and outside support from the political arms of the Freedom Caucus .
On Tuesday night , Cawthorn said he won because of a superior ground game with voters and a message about freedom “ that translated across generations and across ethnic groups.
” “ My opponent seemed like she was really focused on national politics , but I wanted to be a representative for the people of North Carolina , ” he told The Associated Press in a phone interview .
Cawthorn ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PAC that backs candidates allied with Sen. Rand Paul .
Cawthorn , who would reach the constitutionally-mandated age of 25 to serve in the House in August , was paralyzed from the abdomen down after a 2014 car accident .
He ’ ll face Democrat Moe Davis , a former military prosecutor , and other party nominees in November .
The district is still considered Republican-leaning despite recent boundary changes following litigation .
Chris Cooper , a political science professor at Western Carolina University , said Cawthorn had a compelling story and benefited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how Bennett entered the race .
Meadows announced the day before the December filing deadline that he wouldn ’ t seek reelection .
The surprise departure came so late that candidates who had already committed to run for other elected offices were barred from switching .
Some disgruntled GOP activists felt that Meadows concealed his decision from them , while Bennett , a friend of Meadows ’ wife , announced her candidacy within a few hours of his announcement .
“ The Trump endorsement obviously didn ’ t play well , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unpopular in the district , ” Cooper said .
Rather , he said , the endorsement looked like it was done as a favor to Meadows .
Cawthorn called for the runoff after he finished second to Bennett in a 12-candidate primary in early March .
Bennett had failed to get more than 30 % of the vote needed to win outright .
Cooper said the size of Cawthorn ’ s victory signals the local party isn ’ t fiercely divided , which should help Cawthorn in his general election race .
Davis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribunals at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , who later became a critic of how cases there were being handled .
With voters worried about the pandemic ’ s spread , mail-in absentee ballots were popular in the 17 mountain counties within the 11th District leading up to the runoff .
Poll workers at in-person voting sites wore face masks and provided voters single-use pens and cotton swabs to mark ballots .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A 24-year-old real estate investment CEO won Tuesday’s Republican primary runoff for a western North Carolina congressional seat over President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate for the nomination.
Madison Cawthorn handily defeated Lynda Bennett to complete an upset for the GOP nomination in the 11th Congressional District. Bennett had received the president’s backing on Twitter and the earlier endorsement of Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who until recently had held the seat.
Advertisement
Cawthorn, who also supports Trump, won by a roughly 2-to-1 margin while handing a setback for the president, who had recorded a phone message for Bennett’s campaign. Meadows is a former House Freedom Caucus leader who represented the 11th District for more than seven years.
Cawthorn won despite other notable Bennett endorsements — Sen. Ted Cruz among them — and outside support from the political arms of the Freedom Caucus.
Madison Cawthorn handily defeated Lynda Bennett to complete an upset for the GOP nomination in the 11th Congressional District. Patrick Sebastian via AP
On Tuesday night, Cawthorn said he won because of a superior ground game with voters and a message about freedom “that translated across generations and across ethnic groups.”
Advertisement
“My opponent seemed like she was really focused on national politics, but I wanted to be a representative for the people of North Carolina,” he told The Associated Press in a phone interview. Cawthorn’s campaign also got help from a super PAC that backs candidates allied with Sen. Rand Paul.
Cawthorn, who would reach the constitutionally-mandated age of 25 to serve in the House in August, was paralyzed from the abdomen down after a 2014 car accident. He’ll face Democrat Moe Davis, a former military prosecutor, and other party nominees in November. The district is still considered Republican-leaning despite recent boundary changes following litigation.
Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, said Cawthorn had a compelling story and benefited from local Republicans unhappy with details around how Bennett entered the race.
Meadows announced the day before the December filing deadline that he wouldn’t seek reelection. The surprise departure came so late that candidates who had already committed to run for other elected offices were barred from switching.
Some disgruntled GOP activists felt that Meadows concealed his decision from them, while Bennett, a friend of Meadows’ wife, announced her candidacy within a few hours of his announcement.
Advertisement
“The Trump endorsement obviously didn’t play well, and I don’t think that Trump is unpopular in the district,” Cooper said. Rather, he said, the endorsement looked like it was done as a favor to Meadows.
A House Freedom Caucus spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither did Bennett’s campaign.
Cawthorn called for the runoff after he finished second to Bennett in a 12-candidate primary in early March. Bennett had failed to get more than 30% of the vote needed to win outright.
Cooper said the size of Cawthorn’s victory signals the local party isn’t fiercely divided, which should help Cawthorn in his general election race. Davis is a former chief prosecutor for military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who later became a critic of how cases there were being handled.
The scheduled May runoff was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With voters worried about the pandemic’s spread, mail-in absentee ballots were popular in the 17 mountain counties within the 11th District leading up to the runoff. Poll workers at in-person voting sites wore face masks and provided voters single-use pens and cotton swabs to mark ballots.
Advertisement


huffpost--2020-06-24--Coronavirus Live Updates: Read The Latest About The COVID-19 Outbreak

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and its effects .
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below .
( To see the latest updates , you may need to refresh the page .
All times are Eastern .
For earlier updates on the pandemic , go here . )
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court To End Obamacare — 6/26/2020 , 5:40 a.m .
ET The Trump administration filed a brief Thursday night asking the Supreme Court to invalidate the Affordable Care Act , threatening health care coverage for 20 million Americans as the nation smashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single day .
The Supreme Court will hear arguments later this year but a decision might not come until 2021 .
Solicitor General Noel Francisco argued the “ entire ACA thus must fall ” because Congress invalidated the individual coverage mandate in 2017 .
“ There is no legal justification and no moral excuse for the Trump Administration ’ s disastrous efforts to take away Americans ’ health care , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement .
UNICEF : Millions Of Children Could Starve As Coronavirus Sweeps Yemen — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s poor health care infrastructure is unprepared to handle the coronavirus pandemic after five years of war between a Saudi-led military coalition and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels , and an already dire situation for children there could become worse , UNICEF warned Friday .
The number of malnourished children could rise by 20 % , to 2.4 million , by the end of the year .
The situation in Yemen is expected to get worse as donor countries cut aid .
Yemen has officially reported more than 1,000 cases of COVID-19 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to be much higher .
CDC Director Estimates 10 Undiagnosed Coronavirus Cases For Each Positive Test — 6/25/20 , 3:40 p.m .
ET The U.S. has seen more than 2.3 million reported coronavirus cases .
But CDC Director Robert Redfield said Thursday that the true number of Americans infected with COVID-19 could be 10 times higher — or more than 20 million .
“ Our best estimate right now is that for every case that ’ s reported , there actually are 10 other infections , ” Redfield told reporters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said younger people are currently driving the spike in cases across the Sun Belt , where states have been reopening large parts of their economies .
More than 90 % of the country remains susceptible to the virus , Redfield said .
The CDC ’ s alarming estimate bolsters public health experts ’ calls to increase U.S. testing capabilities to combat the virus .
However , President Donald Trump has argued for less testing over the last week , on the basis that accurate statistics paint his administration ’ s response in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted more than 30 million tests since the crisis began .
Oxford University rolled out a coronavirus vaccine trial in South Africa on Wednesday , marking the first such human study on the African continent .
The human trial , conducted in partnership with the Johannesburg ’ s University of the Witwatersrand , involves 2,000 volunteers from 18 to 65 years of age .
“ Once 60 % of the population , especially the adult population , becomes immune , we expect that effective reproductive rate to go under 1 , which basically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it will still circulate , but its chain of transmission has been interrupted , ” Shabir Madhi , a professor of vaccinology involved in the trial , told Reuters .
Texas Governor Hits Pause On Reopening , Suspends Elective Surgeries In Some Counties — 6/25/20 , 12:10 p.m .
ET Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott ( R ) pressed pause on his state ’ s phased plan to reopen the economy due to a surge in coronavirus cases that has put great strain on local hospital systems .
Abbott also ordered elective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dallas , Harris and Travis counties — which include the cities of San Antonio , Houston , Austin and Dallas — to help free up hospital beds .
The state added around 30,000 cases in the last week alone , for a total of more than 130,000 cases since early March .
“ These four counties have experienced significant increases in people being hospitalized due to COVID-19 and today ’ s action is a precautionary step to help ensure that the hospitals in these counties continue to have ample supply of available beds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor said Thursday in a statement .
“ As we work to contain this virus , I urge all Texans to do their part to help contain the spread by washing their hands regularly , wearing a mask , and practicing social distancing.
” Hospital systems across the Houston area warned officials earlier this week that they were nearing ICU bed capacity — considered to be a key metric in how well an area is handling the coronavirus outbreak .
Nearly all Texas businesses have been allowed to reopen at half or limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to reopen can continue to operate under current health protocols .
Eiffel Tower Welcomes Its First Visitors In Three Months — 6/24/20 , 11:35 a.m .
ET The Eiffel Tower has welcomed visitors after three months of closure , its longest period out of action since World War II .
HuffPost France reports ( in French ) that fanfare welcomed the first visitors since mid-March , who were few in number compared to the 20,000 per day who usually climb the 324 meters ( 1,062 feet ) of Paris ’ s most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controls , including mandatory masks , did not spoil the enthusiasm of the first climbers , who were directed past hand sanitizer dispensers before setting off up the 674 steps to the tower ’ s second floor .
Elevators will not resume service until July 1 and the summit will not reopen until July 15 .
There will be a one-way traffic system on the staircases in the meantime .
Virginia Set To Become First State With Coronavirus Workplace Safety Mandates — 6/25/2020 , 5:15 a.m .
ET Virginia ’ s health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety rules for coronavirus , The Washington Post reported .
It will become the first state in the country to do so amid the lack of guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration , the federal agency tasked with ensuring workplace safety .
A draft of the rules that Virginia ’ s board will work on includes mandating physical distancing and sanitation procedures , and requiring employers to inform employees within 24 hours of potential exposure to an infected coworker .
Some businesses have criticized the proposed rules as an unnecessary burden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the agency , saying that its existing protections are enough for the coronavirus era .
Virginia has seen at least 59,514 cases of coronavirus , and 1,661 deaths .
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim , California , will not open on July 17 as planned .
Disney , which announced its reopening plans earlier this month , said Wednesday it could not move forward with a mid-July opening because the state will not release its theme park guidelines until July 4 .
“ Given the time required for us to bring thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our business , we have no choice but to delay the reopening of our theme parks and resort hotels until we receive approval from government officials , ” the company said in a statement .
Unions representing Disneyland ’ s workers objected to the theme park ’ s reopening plans , citing concerns over employee safety as coronavirus cases continue to rise across California .
Orange County , where Anaheim is located , reported 354 new cases and 26 new COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday .
The theme park has been closed since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor announced that his state will not ease safety restrictions as planned on Friday and that going forward residents must wear masks in public due to a continual rise in COVID-19 cases .
“ It ’ s clear that our numbers will keep us from moving ahead into the next phase of easing restrictions , ” Gov .
Roy Cooper ( D ) said at a press conference .
“ This is not where we planned to be , or wanted to be .
But it is one of two important decisions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this disease.
” The state had planned to enter Phase 3 of its “ Safer At Home ” plan on Friday .
It will instead continue its current Phase 2 restrictions for another three weeks , Cooper said .
The state ’ s new mask policy will require facial coverings indoors and outdoors in situations where physical distancing of 6 feet or more from people in other households or residences is not possible .
People with medical conditions , who are under the age of 11 , and who are walking or exercising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are exempt from this rule .
Cooper ’ s announcements followed the state health department ’ s report on Wednesday of 1,721 additional COVID-19 cases , North Carolina ’ s second-highest single-day increase since the pandemic began .
Apple Shutters Houston Stores As COVID-19 Skyrockets In The City — 6/24/20 , 3:30 p.m .
ET Apple said Wednesday it will re-close seven Houston-area stores due to a surge in cases of the novel coronavirus there .
The closures will take effect Thursday , a list of store hours on Apple ’ s website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to re-close a total of 18 U.S. stores .
Last week it closed 11 in Florida , North Carolina , South Carolina and Arizona .
In a statement at the time , Apple told CNBC it was acting “ with an abundance of caution.
” Houston ICU At 97 % Capacity As Coronavirus Continues Sharp Spike In Texas ― 6/24/20 , 12:00 p.m .
ET Hospitals in Houston are running out of room for intensive care unit patients as the coronavirus continues its surge in Texas .
Houston ICU beds have reached 97 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those cases coronavirus-related , Mayor Sylvester Turner told city council members on Wednesday .
The city reported 944 new cases on Wednesday , according to the Houston Health Department .
Data collected by the Texas Medical Center shows the staggering growth of new infections across the state since it began its reopening process .
In total , more than 100,000 people in Texas have been infected with the virus and more than 2,000 people in the state have died .
Republican Gov .
Greg Abbot has said the virus is “ spreading at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that the state will stay “ open for business.
” New York City Marathon Canceled Over Virus Fears — 6/24/20 , 10:40 a.m .
ET The New York City Marathon , which is the world ’ s largest marathon , has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The 2020 event , originally scheduled Nov. 1 , would have marked the marathon ’ s 50th anniversary .
Registered runners were told they would be contacted about “ cancellation resolution options ” by July 15 , including guaranteed complimentary entry to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates in New York and New Jersey have been steadily falling , and public health experts believe the risk of contracting the virus outdoors is lower than it is in other settings .
However , athletes typically generate an above-average amount of respiratory droplets .
More than 50,000 people run the marathon each year , converging on New York City from across the world — a major risk factor for virus spread — and about 1 million onlookers and volunteers usually gather .
Michael Capiraso , CEO of New York Road Runners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times the group finally called off the race before having to spend more money to make it happen .
“ There was hope but that turned to uncertainty , and given what we have seen the past months this was really the only decision , ” he said .
Texas Reports More Than 5,000 New Coronavirus Cases In 24-Hour Period — 6/23/2020 , 8:30 p.m .
ET Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott urged residents to stay home and wear face masks outside after the state reported more than 5,000 new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an all-time high as officials work to contain an ongoing surge in infections .
“ Because the spread is so rapid right now , there ’ s never a reason for you to leave your home , unless you do need to go out , ” Abbott told KBTX News .
Texas is one of several states reporting record-high rates of infections and hospitalizations as regions across the country continue to allow businesses to reopen .
Earlier this week , Abbott said the virus was spreading at an “ unacceptable rate ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some reopening measures , although he said that was “ the last thing ” he wanted to do .
The governor also gave local officials more power to limit large gatherings , which have been linked to outbreak clusters around the nation .
“ I urge all Texans to do everything in their power to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus by wearing a face mask , washing their hands often and staying six feet apart from others , ” Abbott said in a statement Tuesday .
California Reaches Record High COVID-19 Hospitalizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6:55 p.m .
ET There were 3,868 people hospitalized with the coronavirus across California on Tuesday , according to state data analyzed by the San Francisco Chronicle .
The figure represents a record high for the state for the third day in a row .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has been steadily climbing in California in recent weeks , with an average of over 4,000 new cases per day in the past week , according to the Los Angeles Times .
About 42 % of new cases in the past two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — far higher than its share of the state population .
Though most regions in the state have been easing restrictions around activities and businesses in recent weeks , Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) implemented a statewide mandate to wear masks .
Newsom also said Monday that he ’ s prepared to shut down parts of the economy again if there ’ s a dangerous surge in cases .
Fauci Contradicts Trump , Says Testing Isn ’ t Slowing Down — 6/23/2020 , 1:45 p.m .
ET Dr. Anthony Fauci said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to increase coronavirus testing , contradicting President Donald Trump ’ s claims that he was scaling it back .
“ I know for sure that , to my knowledge , none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing , ” Fauci said during a House hearing .
His remarks follow Trump ’ s statements that he had instructed authorities to slow down COVID-19 testing programs .
At his rally last weekend , Trump said “ testing is a double-edged sword ” because it makes the outbreak seem worse than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my people , ” Trump said , “ slow the testing down please.
” Fauci Says Next 2 Weeks Are ‘ Critical ’ To Addressing Surges — 6/23/2020 , 1:25 p.m .
ET Dr. Anthony Fauci said during his testimony Tuesday that the coming weeks will be crucial for slowing COVID-19 surges around the country .
“ The next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges we are seeing in Florida , Texas , Arizona and other states , ” he said .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive reopening schedule .
Now , they ’ re backtracking or implementing new rules .
In the absence of a statewide mandate , several mayors in Miami-Dade County in Florida are implementing their own mask requirements .
In Texas , authorities have temporarily suspended the alcohol permits of 12 bars that violated safety protocols .
Fauci Says He ’ s ‘ Cautiously Optimistic ’ About Making A Vaccine Available By The End Of 2020 — 6/23/20 , 11:42 a.m .
ET Dr. Anthony Fauci , the infectious diseases expert leading the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders that he is “ cautiously optimistic ” about the prospects of making a vaccine available to the public “ by the end of this calendar year.
” Public health officials and industry leaders are working around the clock to develop the vaccine , Fauci said at a House hearing on Tuesday .
Various vaccine trials are underway , with one set to enter Phase 3 of development in July .
For more updates on the pandemic , go here .

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and its effects.
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below. (To see the latest updates, you may need to refresh the page. All times are Eastern. For earlier updates on the pandemic, go here.)
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court To End Obamacare — 6/26/2020, 5:40 a.m. ET
The Trump administration filed a brief Thursday night asking the Supreme Court to invalidate the Affordable Care Act, threatening health care coverage for 20 million Americans as the nation smashed a record for new COVID-19 cases in a single day.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments later this year but a decision might not come until 2021.
Solicitor General Noel Francisco argued the “entire ACA thus must fall” because Congress invalidated the individual coverage mandate in 2017.
Democrats slammed the move.
“There is no legal justification and no moral excuse for the Trump Administration’s disastrous efforts to take away Americans’ health care,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.
— Mary Papenfuss
UNICEF: Millions Of Children Could Starve As Coronavirus Sweeps Yemen — 6/26/2020, 5:30 a.m. ET
Yemen’s poor health care infrastructure is unprepared to handle the coronavirus pandemic after five years of war between a Saudi-led military coalition and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, and an already dire situation for children there could become worse, UNICEF warned Friday.
The number of malnourished children could rise by 20%, to 2.4 million, by the end of the year. The situation in Yemen is expected to get worse as donor countries cut aid.
Yemen has officially reported more than 1,000 cases of COVID-19 and 275 deaths, but the actual number is expected to be much higher.
— Liza Hearon
CDC Director Estimates 10 Undiagnosed Coronavirus Cases For Each Positive Test — 6/25/20, 3:40 p.m. ET
The U.S. has seen more than 2.3 million reported coronavirus cases. But CDC Director Robert Redfield said Thursday that the true number of Americans infected with COVID-19 could be 10 times higher — or more than 20 million.
“Our best estimate right now is that for every case that’s reported, there actually are 10 other infections,” Redfield told reporters, according to The Washington Post.
He said younger people are currently driving the spike in cases across the Sun Belt, where states have been reopening large parts of their economies. More than 90% of the country remains susceptible to the virus, Redfield said.
The CDC’s alarming estimate bolsters public health experts’ calls to increase U.S. testing capabilities to combat the virus. However, President Donald Trump has argued for less testing over the last week, on the basis that accurate statistics paint his administration’s response in a negative light. The U.S. reportedly has conducted more than 30 million tests since the crisis began.
— Sara Boboltz
Africa Begins Continent’s First COVID-19 Vaccine Trial ― 6/25/2020, 2:47 p.m. ET
Oxford University rolled out a coronavirus vaccine trial in South Africa on Wednesday, marking the first such human study on the African continent.
The human trial, conducted in partnership with the Johannesburg’s University of the Witwatersrand, involves 2,000 volunteers from 18 to 65 years of age.
“Once 60% of the population, especially the adult population, becomes immune, we expect that effective reproductive rate to go under 1, which basically means the virus will still be around, it will still circulate, but its chain of transmission has been interrupted,” Shabir Madhi, a professor of vaccinology involved in the trial, told Reuters.
― Lydia O’Connor
Texas Governor Hits Pause On Reopening, Suspends Elective Surgeries In Some Counties — 6/25/20, 12:10 p.m. ET
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) pressed pause on his state’s phased plan to reopen the economy due to a surge in coronavirus cases that has put great strain on local hospital systems.
Abbott also ordered elective surgeries to be suspended in Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Travis counties — which include the cities of San Antonio, Houston, Austin and Dallas — to help free up hospital beds.
The state added around 30,000 cases in the last week alone, for a total of more than 130,000 cases since early March.
“These four counties have experienced significant increases in people being hospitalized due to COVID-19 and today’s action is a precautionary step to help ensure that the hospitals in these counties continue to have ample supply of available beds to treat COVID-19 patients,” the governor said Thursday in a statement. “As we work to contain this virus, I urge all Texans to do their part to help contain the spread by washing their hands regularly, wearing a mask, and practicing social distancing.”
Hospital systems across the Houston area warned officials earlier this week that they were nearing ICU bed capacity — considered to be a key metric in how well an area is handling the coronavirus outbreak.
Nearly all Texas businesses have been allowed to reopen at half or limited capacity. Businesses that have already been allowed to reopen can continue to operate under current health protocols.
Read more here.
— Sara Boboltz
Eiffel Tower Welcomes Its First Visitors In Three Months — 6/24/20, 11:35 a.m. ET
The Eiffel Tower has welcomed visitors after three months of closure, its longest period out of action since World War II.
HuffPost France reports (in French) that fanfare welcomed the first visitors since mid-March, who were few in number compared to the 20,000 per day who usually climb the 324 meters (1,062 feet) of Paris’s most famous landmark.
Strict hygiene and safety controls, including mandatory masks, did not spoil the enthusiasm of the first climbers, who were directed past hand sanitizer dispensers before setting off up the 674 steps to the tower’s second floor.
Elevators will not resume service until July 1 and the summit will not reopen until July 15. There will be a one-way traffic system on the staircases in the meantime.
— Bénédicte Magnier
Virginia Set To Become First State With Coronavirus Workplace Safety Mandates — 6/25/2020, 5:15 a.m. ET
Virginia’s health and safety board voted Wednesday to create workplace safety rules for coronavirus, The Washington Post reported. It will become the first state in the country to do so amid the lack of guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency tasked with ensuring workplace safety.
A draft of the rules that Virginia’s board will work on includes mandating physical distancing and sanitation procedures, and requiring employers to inform employees within 24 hours of potential exposure to an infected coworker.
Some businesses have criticized the proposed rules as an unnecessary burden. OSHA has pushed back on criticism of the agency, saying that its existing protections are enough for the coronavirus era.
Virginia has seen at least 59,514 cases of coronavirus, and 1,661 deaths.
— Liza Hearon
Disneyland Delays Its Planned Reopening — 6/24/20 8:40 p.m. ET
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, will not open on July 17 as planned. Disney, which announced its reopening plans earlier this month, said Wednesday it could not move forward with a mid-July opening because the state will not release its theme park guidelines until July 4.
“Given the time required for us to bring thousands of cast members back to work and restart our business, we have no choice but to delay the reopening of our theme parks and resort hotels until we receive approval from government officials,” the company said in a statement.
Unions representing Disneyland’s workers objected to the theme park’s reopening plans, citing concerns over employee safety as coronavirus cases continue to rise across California. Orange County, where Anaheim is located, reported 354 new cases and 26 new COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday. The theme park has been closed since March 14.
— Mollie Reilly
North Carolina Governor Orders Residents To Wear Masks; Pauses Phase 2 Reopening — 6/24/20 3:50 p.m. ET
North Carolina’s governor announced that his state will not ease safety restrictions as planned on Friday and that going forward residents must wear masks in public due to a continual rise in COVID-19 cases.
“It’s clear that our numbers will keep us from moving ahead into the next phase of easing restrictions,” Gov. Roy Cooper (D) said at a press conference. “This is not where we planned to be, or wanted to be. But it is one of two important decisions that we need to make to effectively fight this disease.”
The state had planned to enter Phase 3 of its “Safer At Home” plan on Friday. It will instead continue its current Phase 2 restrictions for another three weeks, Cooper said.
The state’s new mask policy will require facial coverings indoors and outdoors in situations where physical distancing of 6 feet or more from people in other households or residences is not possible. People with medical conditions, who are under the age of 11, and who are walking or exercising outside at least 6 feet from others are exempt from this rule.
Cooper’s announcements followed the state health department’s report on Wednesday of 1,721 additional COVID-19 cases, North Carolina’s second-highest single-day increase since the pandemic began.
— Nina Golgowski
Apple Shutters Houston Stores As COVID-19 Skyrockets In The City — 6/24/20, 3:30 p.m. ET
Apple said Wednesday it will re-close seven Houston-area stores due to a surge in cases of the novel coronavirus there.
The closures will take effect Thursday, a list of store hours on Apple’s website shows.
The company has now had to re-close a total of 18 U.S. stores.
Last week it closed 11 in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Arizona. In a statement at the time, Apple told CNBC it was acting “with an abundance of caution.”
— Ryan Grenoble
Houston ICU At 97% Capacity As Coronavirus Continues Sharp Spike In Texas ― 6/24/20, 12:00 p.m. ET
Hospitals in Houston are running out of room for intensive care unit patients as the coronavirus continues its surge in Texas.
Houston ICU beds have reached 97% capacity, with 27% of those cases coronavirus-related, Mayor Sylvester Turner told city council members on Wednesday. The city reported 944 new cases on Wednesday, according to the Houston Health Department.
Data collected by the Texas Medical Center shows the staggering growth of new infections across the state since it began its reopening process. In total, more than 100,000 people in Texas have been infected with the virus and more than 2,000 people in the state have died.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbot has said the virus is “spreading at an unacceptable rate in Texas,” but that the state will stay “open for business.”
— Sebastian Murdock
New York City Marathon Canceled Over Virus Fears — 6/24/20, 10:40 a.m. ET
The New York City Marathon, which is the world’s largest marathon, has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 2020 event, originally scheduled Nov. 1, would have marked the marathon’s 50th anniversary.
Registered runners were told they would be contacted about “cancellation resolution options” by July 15, including guaranteed complimentary entry to the 2021 marathon or a refund.
Virus rates in New York and New Jersey have been steadily falling, and public health experts believe the risk of contracting the virus outdoors is lower than it is in other settings. However, athletes typically generate an above-average amount of respiratory droplets.
More than 50,000 people run the marathon each year, converging on New York City from across the world — a major risk factor for virus spread — and about 1 million onlookers and volunteers usually gather.
Michael Capiraso, CEO of New York Road Runners, which organizes the event, told The New York Times the group finally called off the race before having to spend more money to make it happen.
“There was hope but that turned to uncertainty, and given what we have seen the past months this was really the only decision,” he said.
— Sara Boboltz
Texas Reports More Than 5,000 New Coronavirus Cases In 24-Hour Period — 6/23/2020, 8:30 p.m. ET
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged residents to stay home and wear face masks outside after the state reported more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period on Tuesday, an all-time high as officials work to contain an ongoing surge in infections.
“Because the spread is so rapid right now, there’s never a reason for you to leave your home, unless you do need to go out,” Abbott told KBTX News.
Texas is one of several states reporting record-high rates of infections and hospitalizations as regions across the country continue to allow businesses to reopen.
Earlier this week, Abbott said the virus was spreading at an “unacceptable rate” and warned he was considering rolling back some reopening measures, although he said that was “the last thing” he wanted to do.
The governor also gave local officials more power to limit large gatherings, which have been linked to outbreak clusters around the nation.
“I urge all Texans to do everything in their power to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus by wearing a face mask, washing their hands often and staying six feet apart from others,” Abbott said in a statement Tuesday.
— Nick Visser
California Reaches Record High COVID-19 Hospitalizations For Third Consecutive Day — 6/23/2020, 6:55 p.m. ET
There were 3,868 people hospitalized with the coronavirus across California on Tuesday, according to state data analyzed by the San Francisco Chronicle. The figure represents a record high for the state for the third day in a row.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has been steadily climbing in California in recent weeks, with an average of over 4,000 new cases per day in the past week, according to the Los Angeles Times. About 42% of new cases in the past two weeks have been in Los Angeles County — far higher than its share of the state population.
Though most regions in the state have been easing restrictions around activities and businesses in recent weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) implemented a statewide mandate to wear masks. Newsom also said Monday that he’s prepared to shut down parts of the economy again if there’s a dangerous surge in cases.
— Sarah Ruiz-Grossman
Fauci Contradicts Trump, Says Testing Isn’t Slowing Down — 6/23/2020, 1:45 p.m. ET
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that the United States will continue to increase coronavirus testing, contradicting President Donald Trump’s claims that he was scaling it back.
“I know for sure that, to my knowledge, none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing,” Fauci said during a House hearing.
His remarks follow Trump’s statements that he had instructed authorities to slow down COVID-19 testing programs. At his rally last weekend, Trump said “testing is a double-edged sword” because it makes the outbreak seem worse than it is.
“So I said to my people,” Trump said, “slow the testing down please.”
— Lydia O’Connor
Fauci Says Next 2 Weeks Are ‘Critical’ To Addressing Surges — 6/23/2020, 1:25 p.m. ET
Dr. Anthony Fauci said during his testimony Tuesday that the coming weeks will be crucial for slowing COVID-19 surges around the country.
“The next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges we are seeing in Florida, Texas, Arizona and other states,” he said.
Those states, among others, followed an aggressive reopening schedule. Now, they’re backtracking or implementing new rules. In the absence of a statewide mandate, several mayors in Miami-Dade County in Florida are implementing their own mask requirements. In Texas, authorities have temporarily suspended the alcohol permits of 12 bars that violated safety protocols.
— Lydia O’Connor
Fauci Says He’s ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ About Making A Vaccine Available By The End Of 2020 — 6/23/20, 11:42 a.m. ET
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious diseases expert leading the United States’ response to COVID-19, told congressional leaders that he is “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects of making a vaccine available to the public “by the end of this calendar year.”
Public health officials and industry leaders are working around the clock to develop the vaccine, Fauci said at a House hearing on Tuesday. Various vaccine trials are underway, with one set to enter Phase 3 of development in July.
— Marina Fang
For more updates on the pandemic, go here.


huffpost--2020-06-23--Hospital Chaplains Grapple With COVID-19's 'Tsunami' Of Grief

A typical day before COVID-19 consisted of meeting new patients — post-surgical , new diagnosis , end of life , anxious , sad or fearful — supporting family members , holding support groups for staff and the community .
What I have learned is that it is very difficult to show care and deep empathy behind a mask and gown and without touch .
Our time with a patient and/or family is so rooted in a bedside presence , holding a hand , offering solace .
When the virus first turned life in our community and at our hospital upside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sadness for all who lost so much : their health , their finances , their jobs , their hope .
It was oppressive .
But I ’ ve sensed something else take root in our community and among my colleagues , and that is the sense of solidarity .
Like so many , I miss the sense of community we have in our jobs , at our schools , with our places of worship .
I don ’ t think there will be a set time when “ this is over.
” I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfolding , a slow realization that we are being healed .

A typical day before COVID-19 consisted of meeting new patients — post-surgical, new diagnosis, end of life, anxious, sad or fearful — supporting family members, holding support groups for staff and the community.
What I have learned is that it is very difficult to show care and deep empathy behind a mask and gown and without touch. Our time with a patient and/or family is so rooted in a bedside presence, holding a hand, offering solace.
When the virus first turned life in our community and at our hospital upside down, I felt a weight of sadness for all who lost so much: their health, their finances, their jobs, their hope. It was oppressive. But I’ve sensed something else take root in our community and among my colleagues, and that is the sense of solidarity.
Like so many, I miss the sense of community we have in our jobs, at our schools, with our places of worship. I don’t think there will be a set time when “this is over.” I think it will be more like an unfolding, a slow realization that we are being healed.


huffpost--2020-06-24--Can You Get A Yeast Infection On Your Face From Your Coronavirus Mask?

Dermatologist Dr. Susan Massick explained : “ We already have yeast on our skin .
A yeast infection could occur in the right setting , such as a warm , moist environment , but is often related to another factor ( diabetes , compromised immune system , recent course of antibiotics , poor hygiene ) that allows the yeast to grow unchecked.
” To help you practice better hygiene habits this summer , we tapped Massick and other board-certified dermatologists to break down all the ways you can keep facial irritations and infections to a minimum this summer .
Types @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Face For starters , Massick explained that tinea faciei ( ringworm of the face ) will appear on the skin as a red ring with a sharp border and central clearing , while perleche ( usually from candida yeast ) will typically crack the corners of the lips , potentially growing into red papules and larger red patches .
The most common form of fungal infection on the face is seborrheic dermatitis , a chronic condition exacerbated by yeast on the skin .
It can be found where you have higher numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face , it particularly affects the creases of the nose , the eyebrows and in and around the ears , ” Massick explained .
“ The rash is usually a red rash with a yellowish , greasy scale.
” Finally , there is pityrosporum folliculitis ( also known as Malassezia ) , which according to Massick , is more commonly seen on the trunk .
However , it can also be seen on the face , where it causes an inflammation of the hair follicles and looks like small , red , acne-like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clean Your Masks Properly “ Occlusive materials are going to create a more hospitable environment for Candida and Malassezia , so masks made with 100 % cotton material may be a more comfortable fabric choice to consider going forward , ” she explained .
“ Cotton masks are also soft to the skin , are not rough or itchy , and are usually comfortable when breathing.
” And when it comes time to actually clean your mask , Fisher advised washing your masks with gentle detergent , as you won ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially damage your mask .
“ Avoiding harsh , fragranced detergents and fabric softeners will help to extend the life of the mask , and is less likely to cause irritation to the skin , ” she said .
“ Detergents like All Free and Clear , or Tide Free and Gentle are some great product choices to look into , as they are safe for sensitive skin types to use.
” Additionally , Massick said that anti-inflammatory washes that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide are another great product to add to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decrease oil production with each wash .
This , in turn , keeps the skin clean , preventing any unwanted skin mishaps going forward .
And yes , it ’ s important to note there are some over-the-counter topical antifungals that can be used to treat rashes .
However , Massic warned against using topical steroids , unless used at the direction of your doctor , as they can worsen existing fungal and yeast infections if used incorrectly .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
A friend of a friend recently visited the dermatologist to treat some unusually irritated skin near her chin and jawline. The diagnosis: A yeast infection ― yes, on her face ― potentially caused by the face mask she’d been wearing during the coronavirus pandemic.
But is this diagnosis correct? Could this possibly be something we have to worry about?
Yes and no.
While a face mask can’t be the sole cause of a skin infection, the combination of summer heat, humidity and tight-fitting mask fabric could exacerbate underlying conditions that could worsen a fungal or bacterial infection.
Advertisement
A yeast infection, for example, is a fungal infection resulting from a yeast called candida.
Dermatologist Dr. Susan Massick explained: “We already have yeast on our skin. A yeast infection could occur in the right setting, such as a warm, moist environment, but is often related to another factor (diabetes, compromised immune system, recent course of antibiotics, poor hygiene) that allows the yeast to grow unchecked.”
To help you practice better hygiene habits this summer, we tapped Massick and other board-certified dermatologists to break down all the ways you can keep facial irritations and infections to a minimum this summer.
Types Of Fungal Infections That Can Occur On The Face
Fungi that appear on the face can tend to vary in appearance, and can also be found on different areas of the face.
For starters, Massick explained that tinea faciei (ringworm of the face) will appear on the skin as a red ring with a sharp border and central clearing, while perleche (usually from candida yeast) will typically crack the corners of the lips, potentially growing into red papules and larger red patches.
Advertisement
KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images Candida is a yeast (which is a type of fungus) that occurs naturally on human skin.
The most common form of fungal infection on the face is seborrheic dermatitis, a chronic condition exacerbated by yeast on the skin. It can be found where you have higher numbers of sebaceous glands. “On the face, it particularly affects the creases of the nose, the eyebrows and in and around the ears,” Massick explained. “The rash is usually a red rash with a yellowish, greasy scale.”
Finally, there is pityrosporum folliculitis (also known as Malassezia), which according to Massick, is more commonly seen on the trunk. However, it can also be seen on the face, where it causes an inflammation of the hair follicles and looks like small, red, acne-like breakouts.
How A Mask Can Make Things Worse
Wearing a mask for many hours can increase your chances for infection and irritation, creating a favorable environment for yeast.
To avoid any facial irritation, dermatologist Dr. Peterson Pierre said it’s helpful to take breaks whenever you wear a mask.
Advertisement
“The more breaks you can give yourself from wearing a mask, the better,” he told HuffPost. “You will decrease heat, sweating, humidity, irritation, while also improving airflow, all of which should decrease your infection risk.”
People with underlying skin conditions (such as eczema) are more likely to develop irritation from their masks, according to Fisher. This in turn, predisposes them to skin infections, including bacteria and fungi.
“Although yeast infections favor areas of skin folds, yeast infections can occur on any part of the skin,” she said. “In fact, patients with certain immune conditions have been reported to develop generalized areas of infection.”
Among these medical conditions include diabetes and other skin conditions that are related to fungi that can be exacerbated by masks. These include seborrheic dermatitis and tinea versicolor, according to Massick.
Switch To Cotton Masks And Clean Your Masks Properly
Massick said swapping your mask for one made with cotton will decrease your chances of infection going forward.
Advertisement
“Occlusive materials are going to create a more hospitable environment for Candida and Malassezia, so masks made with 100% cotton material may be a more comfortable fabric choice to consider going forward,” she explained. “Cotton masks are also soft to the skin, are not rough or itchy, and are usually comfortable when breathing.”
Massick recommends keeping several different masks on hand to ensure you are wearing a clean one each time you leave the house.
“You can change out your masks more frequently in case the masks are getting damp,” she said.
And when it comes time to actually clean your mask, Fisher advised washing your masks with gentle detergent, as you won’t want to use heavily scented products that could potentially damage your mask.
“Avoiding harsh, fragranced detergents and fabric softeners will help to extend the life of the mask, and is less likely to cause irritation to the skin,” she said. “Detergents like All Free and Clear, or Tide Free and Gentle are some great product choices to look into, as they are safe for sensitive skin types to use.”
Over-The-Counter Treatments
Fisher explained that products like Lotrimin cream can effectively treat yeast and fungal infections (yes, even on your face) and are relatively inexpensive.
Advertisement
Additionally, Massick said that anti-inflammatory washes that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide are another great product to add to your routine, as they can help decrease oil production with each wash. This, in turn, keeps the skin clean, preventing any unwanted skin mishaps going forward.
And yes, it’s important to note there are some over-the-counter topical antifungals that can be used to treat rashes. However, Massic warned against using topical steroids, unless used at the direction of your doctor, as they can worsen existing fungal and yeast infections if used incorrectly.
Book a dermatologist appointment if your condition doesn’t improve.
If your rashes are not responding to any over-the-counter treatments, Fisher said it’s a good idea to book an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist, as you’ll need to rule out other potential causes behind your condition first.
“You should always seek a dermatologist’s evaluation, as it is common for rashes like eczema and seborrheic dermatitis to be mistaken as fungal infections,” she explained.
Similarly, if your rash gets worse, or becomes more red or irritable as time goes on, Massick advised going to your dermatologist’s office as soon as possible, especially if it has not improved in a few weeks’ time.
Advertisement


huffpost--2020-03-31--The Abortion Ban In Texas Is Back On

The Abortion Ban In Texas Is Back On

Patients may not receive an abortion in the state unless it is medically necessary to preserve their life or health .
Providers who violate the executive order could face a fine of up to $ 1,000 or 180 days of jail time .
Last week , Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott ( R ) issued an executive order postponing all “ unnecessary medical procedures ” to save medical supplies for the health professionals combating the coronavirus .
Ken Paxton , the attorney general , clarified that abortions were considered unnecessary under the executive order .
On Monday , a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion restriction .
“ The attorney general ’ s interpretation of the Executive Order prevents Texas women from exercising what the Supreme Court has declared is their fundamental constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is viable , ” U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel wrote in his decision .
Less than 24 hours later , the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit reversed the ruling .
In a 2-1 opinion , the appeals court ruled that the order from the lower court be stayed until an appeal from Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nancy Northup , president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights , said that the 5th Circuit was escalating the fear and confusion women seeking abortion in Texas are already experiencing .
“ The trial court found just yesterday that women will suffer irreparable harm if clinics are closed , ” she said .
“ We will continue fighting this legal battle against Texas ’ abuse of emergency powers.
” Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott gives an update on the coronavirus on March 13 , 2020 , in Austin , Texas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the coronavirus pandemic spread to all of the state 's biggest cities .
“ Abortion providers who refuse to follow state law are demonstrating a clear disregard for Texans suffering from this medical crisis .
For years , abortion has been touted as a ‘ choice ’ by the same groups now attempting to claim that it is an essential procedure , ” said attorney general Paxton in a statement .
“ My office will continue to defend Governor Abbott ’ s Order to ensure that supplies and personal protective gear reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most during this health crisis.
” But reproductive rights groups say Texas is among a growing number of states that are taking advantage of the pandemic to stealthily erode abortion access .
Ohio , Iowa , Alabama , Mississippi and Kentucky have all taken steps to halt abortion , claiming that the procedure is elective and can simply be postponed .
“ Texans are losing their jobs , they are struggling to put food on the table , they can ’ t get COVID-19 testing – meanwhile indicted Texas Attorney General Ken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Aimee Arrambide , executive director , NARAL Pro-Choice Texas , in a statement .
“ Texans know abortion is a time-sensitive procedure that can not be delayed without profound consequences and Texans will remember that when they needed help during a pandemic , their state leaders were too busy politicizing and banning abortion care.
” The impact of Texas ’ abortion ban has already been felt by many women in the state .
One college student told HuffPost that she had to drive 24 hours and stay in an Airbnb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pill .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
An abortion ban in Texas during the coronavirus outbreak can temporarily continue, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.
Patients may not receive an abortion in the state unless it is medically necessary to preserve their life or health. Providers who violate the executive order could face a fine of up to $1,000 or 180 days of jail time.
Advertisement
Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued an executive order postponing all “unnecessary medical procedures” to save medical supplies for the health professionals combating the coronavirus. Ken Paxton, the attorney general, clarified that abortions were considered unnecessary under the executive order.
As a result, abortion clinics in the state were forced to cancel hundreds of appointments. A coalition of reproductive rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging the ban on Wednesday.
On Monday, a federal judge temporarily blocked Texas from enforcing the abortion restriction. “The attorney general’s interpretation of the Executive Order prevents Texas women from exercising what the Supreme Court has declared is their fundamental constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is viable,” U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel wrote in his decision.
Less than 24 hours later, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit reversed the ruling. In a 2-1 opinion, the appeals court ruled that the order from the lower court be stayed until an appeal from Texas is considered.
Advertisement
In a statement, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said that the 5th Circuit was escalating the fear and confusion women seeking abortion in Texas are already experiencing.
“The trial court found just yesterday that women will suffer irreparable harm if clinics are closed,” she said. “We will continue fighting this legal battle against Texas’ abuse of emergency powers.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gives an update on the coronavirus on March 13, 2020, in Austin, Texas. Abbott declared a state of disaster Friday as the coronavirus pandemic spread to all of the state's biggest cities. AP Photo/Eric Gay
State officials in Texas have defended the ban as an important public health measure.
“Abortion providers who refuse to follow state law are demonstrating a clear disregard for Texans suffering from this medical crisis. For years, abortion has been touted as a ‘choice’ by the same groups now attempting to claim that it is an essential procedure,” said attorney general Paxton in a statement. “My office will continue to defend Governor Abbott’s Order to ensure that supplies and personal protective gear reach the hardworking medical professionals who need it the most during this health crisis.”
But reproductive rights groups say Texas is among a growing number of states that are taking advantage of the pandemic to stealthily erode abortion access. Ohio, Iowa, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky have all taken steps to halt abortion, claiming that the procedure is elective and can simply be postponed.
Advertisement
“Texans are losing their jobs, they are struggling to put food on the table, they can’t get COVID-19 testing – meanwhile indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is doubling down on banning abortion,” said Aimee Arrambide, executive director, NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, in a statement. “Texans know abortion is a time-sensitive procedure that can not be delayed without profound consequences and Texans will remember that when they needed help during a pandemic, their state leaders were too busy politicizing and banning abortion care.”
The impact of Texas’ abortion ban has already been felt by many women in the state. One college student told HuffPost that she had to drive 24 hours and stay in an Airbnb in another state to access the abortion pill.


huffpost--2020-03-31--CNN's Chris Cuomo Diagnosed With Coronavirus

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo has been diagnosed with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
On Tuesday , the network sent out a memo to employees indicating that Cuomo is “ feeling well ” and will still anchor his nightly show , “ Cuomo Prime Time , ” from home .
Cuomo opened his show Monday night to talk about the thousands of coronavirus-related deaths and the “ very confusing times ” we ’ re currently living through .
He also implored people to “ stay home.
” “ We ’ ve got a long way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take this seriously , please , ” he said .
“ Remember , if you want to honor doctors , they are only asking us to do one thing , ” says @ chriscuomo .
“ It ’ s even a hashtag now .
# StayHome .
And not enough of us are doing it.
” pic.twitter.com/frlRbr5CAW — Cuomo Prime Time ( @ CuomoPrimeTime ) March 31 , 2020 Just last week , Cuomo was seen at CNN ’ s offices in New York City .
He is the third reported case at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN has implemented sweeping changes in response to the pandemic .
The vast majority of CNN employees have been working from home for several weeks .
Anchors have been broadcasting from small studios and home offices .
And office spaces are being regularly cleaned , ” CNN reported of the network ’ s handling of the pandemic .
Cuomo has been making headlines during the pandemic for his occasional and lively interviews with his older brother , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ( D ) .
Just one day before his diagnosis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viral : If you ever wondered how the holidays went at the Cuomo household .
pic.twitter.com/8XfLhQBsms — Tilly In Bloomington ( @ BigLiciousT ) March 31 , 2020 Gov .
Andrew Cuomo talked about his brother testing positive during a Tuesday press conference , calling Chris Cuomo his best friend and a beautiful person .
“ I don ’ t care how smart , how rich , how powerful you think you are ...
This virus is the great equalizer .
My brother Chris is positive for coronavirus .
Found out this morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s young , in good shape , strong ― not as strong as he thinks ― but he will be fine , ” said the governor .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
On Tuesday, the network sent out a memo to employees indicating that Cuomo is “feeling well” and will still anchor his nightly show, “Cuomo Prime Time,” from home.
Advertisement
Cuomo confirmed the diagnosis with a note on Twitter.
Cuomo opened his show Monday night to talk about the thousands of coronavirus-related deaths and the “very confusing times” we’re currently living through. He also implored people to “stay home.”
“We’ve got a long way to go. You’ve got to take this seriously, please,” he said.
“Remember, if you want to honor doctors, they are only asking us to do one thing,” says @chriscuomo. “It’s even a hashtag now. #StayHome. And not enough of us are doing it.” pic.twitter.com/frlRbr5CAW — Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) March 31, 2020
Just last week, Cuomo was seen at CNN’s offices in New York City. He is the third reported case at the network’s workspace.
Advertisement
“CNN has implemented sweeping changes in response to the pandemic. The vast majority of CNN employees have been working from home for several weeks. Anchors have been broadcasting from small studios and home offices. And office spaces are being regularly cleaned,” CNN reported of the network’s handling of the pandemic.
Cuomo has been making headlines during the pandemic for his occasional and lively interviews with his older brother, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D). Just one day before his diagnosis, the pair had a discussion that went viral:
If you ever wondered how the holidays went at the Cuomo household. pic.twitter.com/8XfLhQBsms — Tilly In Bloomington (@BigLiciousT) March 31, 2020
Gov. Andrew Cuomo talked about his brother testing positive during a Tuesday press conference, calling Chris Cuomo his best friend and a beautiful person. “I don’t care how smart, how rich, how powerful you think you are ... This virus is the great equalizer. My brother Chris is positive for coronavirus. Found out this morning. He is gonna be fine. He’s young, in good shape, strong ― not as strong as he thinks ― but he will be fine,” said the governor.


huffpost--2020-03-31--Stranded Cruise Ship Hit By Virus Begs Florida To Dock

MIAMI ( AP ) — As a cruise ship stranded at sea with dozens sick and four dead makes for Florida , passengers who have been confined to their rooms for more than a week are anxious for relief , hoping Gov .
Ron DeSantis will change his mind and allow them to disembark despite confirmed coronavirus cases aboard .
Orlando technical writer Laura Gabaroni and her husband , Juan Huergo , have wanted to explore the southernmost tip of South America for years — to see the penguins on the Falkland Islands and the glacial landscapes of the Strait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harrowing as countries shunned them and people fell ill. “ It ’ s been a trying time , especially because of the many ups and downs we ’ ve seen along the way , ” Gabaroni said .
“ We are unable to leave our rooms , haven ’ t had fresh air in days.
” Hundreds of passengers and crew members from the Zaandam have not stepped on dry land for 15 days as the novel coronavirus prompted authorities around the world to seal borders , implement checkpoints and force people into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their rooms dark and leave their drapes closed when they passed through the Panama Canal on Sunday night after days of wrangling with local authorities .
The Zaandam ’ s plans to dock as early as Wednesday in Florida are still up in the air but have already been rebuked by local officials and DeSantis , who says health care resources are stretched too thin .
The governor said he has been in contact with the Coast Guard and the White House about diverting the ship .
Broward County officials will meet Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dock at its Port Everglades cruise ship terminal , where workers who greet passengers were among Florida ’ s first confirmed coronavirus cases .
Dozens on board the Holland America Line ship have reported flu-like symptoms and four people have died , with at least two of the deaths blamed on the coronavirus by Panamanian authorities .
The company said eight others have tested positive for COVID-19 but 2,300 passengers and crew members are in good health .
Gabaroni and hundreds of others who were fever free and not showing any symptoms were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rotterdam , sent last week with supplies and staff to replenish the stranded boat .
The Zaandam was originally scheduled to travel on March 7 from Buenos Aires to San Antonio , Chile , and then depart on March 21 for a 20-day cruise to arrive in Fort Lauderdale in early April .
But beginning March 15 , the Zandaam was denied entry by South American ports , even before passengers reported their first flu-like symptoms on March 22 .
The ship approached the coast of Panama last week and negotiated permission to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ocean on its way to Florida .
Passenger Emily Spindler Brazell , of Tappahannock , Virginia , said the company has been accommodating , offering passengers extravagant meals , wine and unlimited phone calls .
At the same time , it has been clear they have to stay in their rooms and not have any contact with crew members .
“ The captain said something like , ‘ This is not a trip anymore .
This is not a cruise .
This is a humanitarian mission , ’ ” said Brazell , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Rotterdam now has nearly 800 guests and more than 600 crew members .
Holland America said 450 guests and 602 crew members are left on the Zaandam , with more than 190 reported influenza-like illness symptoms .
More than 300 U.S. citizens are on both ships combined .
“ Already four guests have passed away and I fear other lives are at risk , ” Ashford wrote .
“ The COVID-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our common humanity .
To slam the door in the face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
MIAMI (AP) — As a cruise ship stranded at sea with dozens sick and four dead makes for Florida, passengers who have been confined to their rooms for more than a week are anxious for relief, hoping Gov. Ron DeSantis will change his mind and allow them to disembark despite confirmed coronavirus cases aboard.
Orlando technical writer Laura Gabaroni and her husband, Juan Huergo, have wanted to explore the southernmost tip of South America for years — to see the penguins on the Falkland Islands and the glacial landscapes of the Strait of Magellan. But their vacation turned harrowing as countries shunned them and people fell ill.
Advertisement
“It’s been a trying time, especially because of the many ups and downs we’ve seen along the way,” Gabaroni said. “We are unable to leave our rooms, haven’t had fresh air in days.”
Hundreds of passengers and crew members from the Zaandam have not stepped on dry land for 15 days as the novel coronavirus prompted authorities around the world to seal borders, implement checkpoints and force people into quarantines. Passengers were asked to keep their rooms dark and leave their drapes closed when they passed through the Panama Canal on Sunday night after days of wrangling with local authorities.
The Zaandam’s plans to dock as early as Wednesday in Florida are still up in the air but have already been rebuked by local officials and DeSantis, who says health care resources are stretched too thin. The governor said he has been in contact with the Coast Guard and the White House about diverting the ship.
Broward County officials will meet Tuesday to decide whether to let the ship dock at its Port Everglades cruise ship terminal, where workers who greet passengers were among Florida’s first confirmed coronavirus cases.
Advertisement
Dozens on board the Holland America Line ship have reported flu-like symptoms and four people have died, with at least two of the deaths blamed on the coronavirus by Panamanian authorities. The company said eight others have tested positive for COVID-19 but 2,300 passengers and crew members are in good health.
Gabaroni and hundreds of others who were fever free and not showing any symptoms were transferred to a sister ship, the Rotterdam, sent last week with supplies and staff to replenish the stranded boat.
The Zaandam was originally scheduled to travel on March 7 from Buenos Aires to San Antonio, Chile, and then depart on March 21 for a 20-day cruise to arrive in Fort Lauderdale in early April. But beginning March 15, the Zandaam was denied entry by South American ports, even before passengers reported their first flu-like symptoms on March 22. The ship approached the coast of Panama last week and negotiated permission to cross the famous canal to the Atlantic Ocean on its way to Florida.
Canal administrator Ricaurte Vásquez said the country is not allowing any vessels with positive coronavirus cases through but made an exception for the ships.
“That case (the Zaandam) was simply for humanitarian reasons,” Vásquez said.
Passenger Emily Spindler Brazell, of Tappahannock, Virginia, said the company has been accommodating, offering passengers extravagant meals, wine and unlimited phone calls. At the same time, it has been clear they have to stay in their rooms and not have any contact with crew members.
Advertisement
“The captain said something like, ‘This is not a trip anymore. This is not a cruise. This is a humanitarian mission,’” said Brazell, who was transferred to the Rotterdam on Saturday.
The Rotterdam now has nearly 800 guests and more than 600 crew members. Holland America said 450 guests and 602 crew members are left on the Zaandam, with more than 190 reported influenza-like illness symptoms. More than 300 U.S. citizens are on both ships combined.
Holland America President Orlando Ashford penned an opinion column in the South Florida Sun Sentinel to plead with officials and residents to let the passengers disembark.
“Already four guests have passed away and I fear other lives are at risk,” Ashford wrote. “The COVID-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our common humanity. To slam the door in the face of these people betrays our deepest human values.”
Passenger Gabaroni, 48, says she hopes her elected officials do the right thing. Gabaroni wrote a letter to DeSantis imploring him to let the two ships dock in Florida.
Advertisement
“Florida continues to receive flights from New York, and it allowed spring break gatherings to go on as planned. Why turn their backs on us?” Gabaroni said.
___