huffpost--2020-05-23--How The Science Of Vaccination Is Taught (Or Not) In U.S. Schools

The issue , teachers said , feels not only especially urgent now but also comes with increasingly high stakes : In a recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll , nearly 20 % t of respondents said they wouldn ’ t get a coronavirus vaccine if and when it becomes available .
It ’ s an attitude that some teachers said is reflected in their classrooms , passed down to students from their parents at early ages .
Science teachers often receive little guidance on teaching the science of vaccines — the topic is not mentioned in the Next Generation Science Standards ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards that have been adopted in 20 states and influenced the standards in 24 others .
At the same time , in recent years confidence in the science of vaccinations has been trending downward — one recent survey shows that the percentage of American adults reporting it is “ very important ” to have their children vaccinated dropped 11 percentage points from 2008 to 2018 .
The NGSS was released in 2013 .
Prior to that , states followed their own unique standards , sometimes causing substantial differences between curricula across state lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and critical thinking over the recitation of facts .
While many educators say they prefer that approach to older methods of science instruction , use of the standards sometimes means that teachers cover fewer topics as they delve more deeply into those that are discussed .
Heidi Schweingruber , who co-directed the study that resulted in the framework on which NGSS was based , said it offers educators guidance on the big ideas in science .
Viruses and vaccines , “ in terms of grain size , ” did not necessarily rise as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But she said that the standards and framework are “ living documents ” and that viruses and vaccines might be part of discussions on revising the standards .
While viruses and vaccines aren ’ t mentioned explicitly in the NGSS , educators said the subjects are a natural fit for the overarching approach called for in the standards : investigating the world through scientific questions and evidence .
And topics that are listed in the standards , such as DNA , lend themselves to teaching about vaccines , said Mike Fumagalli , principal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a former high school biology teacher .
Kristin Rademaker , an instructional facilitator at the middle school and a science consultant , said that over the years she has heard kids speculate on the safety of vaccines and even debate each other on the topic .
In her district , she recommends that teachers focus on how vaccines work in the context of animals , instead of humans , pointing to such examples as how vaccinating cattle afflicted with a disease called rinderpest helped save not only the lives of the cattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buffalo of the Serengeti , who suffered the disease as a “ spillover species.
” Distancing the science of vaccination from its use in people helps even skeptical students understand the science .
Other teachers tackle the controversy head-on .
Lin Andrews , who taught biology for 18 years in Kansas public and private schools , said she would cite the ( now-retracted ) paper suggesting a link between autism and the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in order to show students how bias and poor data can creep into the scientific process .
“ By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I rarely encountered pushback from parents or students , ” said Andrews , who now serves as director of teacher support at the nonprofit National Center for Science Education .
She said timely and even controversial topics can help ignite students ’ interest , and she ’ s currently developing a lesson plan on the “ nature of science ” that will use the coronavirus as the main theme .
Some teachers rely on resources from the Vaccine Makers Project , a program out of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project provides materials for teachers to use free of charge .
Charlotte Moser , assistant director of the Vaccine Education Center , said staff at the center created the project about five years ago , after seeing a need in the classroom for additional tools .
Though vaccines are not covered in the NGSS , Moser said she sees a lot of educators — especially those involved in biology and Advanced Placement courses — teaching about them .
Kate Cilluffo teaches biology in Edison , New Jersey , and relies in part on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in addition to making her own and using resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Prior to joining the district , she pursued a doctorate in immunology .
She ’ s currently teaching students about the mutation of viruses and how that relates to vaccines .
She surveyed her students on whether they would want to learn right now about COVID-19 or the flu ; 75 % of students voted for COVID-19 .
Now she ’ s teaching most of her students about vaccines over video through the lens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken a graduate-level course on the science of virology , watched the movie .
She has sought to understand parents ’ fears and why they may be so quick to dismiss the science of vaccinations .
The research has helped her understand their decisions and also provided her with a framework of how she can work to change minds .
Wood teaches about vaccines , with an emphasis on community health , during units on the immune system and basic cell biology .
The Minnesota state science standards specifically call out “ vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity , she said .
In class , she conducts a simulation to show the impact of community spread — a topic that feels particularly relevant now .
She then pushes her students to go home and find out if they ’ ve been vaccinated — some students say they have no idea what their parents decided for them .

Illustration: Andrea D’Aquino for HuffPost
This story about climate change and education was produced as part of the nine-part series “Are We Ready? How Schools Are Preparing — and Not Preparing — Children for Climate Change,” reported by HuffPost and The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education.
When Rebecca Brewer started teaching high school biology 20 years ago, it seemed like everyone trusted science. Teaching topics like the science of vaccinations elicited little controversy. But in the past few years, she’s seen a shift. Now, every year, she reliably has a few students who push back against the topic.
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“Their parents’ opinions make their way into the classroom,” said Brewer, who teaches in Troy, Michigan. “Of course, some students will bring up the idea they’ve heard that there’s a connection between vaccinations and autism.”
The issue, teachers said, feels not only especially urgent now but also comes with increasingly high stakes: In a recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll, nearly 20%t of respondents said they wouldn’t get a coronavirus vaccine if and when it becomes available. It’s an attitude that some teachers said is reflected in their classrooms, passed down to students from their parents at early ages.
“A lot of time they haven’t thought in-depth, they’re teenagers, it’s more so their parents’ decisions … there’s still time we can intervene as science teachers and let them see the evidence and come to their own conclusion,” Brewer said.
Science teachers often receive little guidance on teaching the science of vaccines — the topic is not mentioned in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the national science teaching standards that have been adopted in 20 states and influenced the standards in 24 others. At the same time, in recent years confidence in the science of vaccinations has been trending downward — one recent survey shows that the percentage of American adults reporting it is “very important” to have their children vaccinated dropped 11 percentage points from 2008 to 2018.
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When discussing vaccines, some teachers report having to steer through murky waters. They report having to seek out their own teaching resources on the issue while navigating the uncomfortable space of presenting facts that their students’ families may deeply disagree with.
Brewer uses case studies to teach the science of vaccines; last year she used the example of a 2015 measles outbreak linked to Disneyland. While the NGSS doesn’t specifically say teachers should teach about vaccines, it’s an issue her district has decided to emphasize.
The NGSS was released in 2013. Prior to that, states followed their own unique standards, sometimes causing substantial differences between curricula across state lines. The new standards emphasize scientific inquiry and critical thinking over the recitation of facts. While many educators say they prefer that approach to older methods of science instruction, use of the standards sometimes means that teachers cover fewer topics as they delve more deeply into those that are discussed.
Heidi Schweingruber, who co-directed the study that resulted in the framework on which NGSS was based, said it offers educators guidance on the big ideas in science. Viruses and vaccines, “in terms of grain size,” did not necessarily rise as something to highlight at that level. But she said that the standards and framework are “living documents” and that viruses and vaccines might be part of discussions on revising the standards.
Brewer hopes that after the coronavirus pandemic subsides, there might be a shift in thinking on the topic. She wondered if, maybe then, the standards will be revised in a way that signal “of course this is something the general public needs to understand well.”
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Coronavirus As A Teachable Moment
While viruses and vaccines aren’t mentioned explicitly in the NGSS, educators said the subjects are a natural fit for the overarching approach called for in the standards: investigating the world through scientific questions and evidence. And topics that are listed in the standards, such as DNA, lend themselves to teaching about vaccines, said Mike Fumagalli, principal at Glenn Westlake Middle School in Illinois and a former high school biology teacher.
Kristin Rademaker, an instructional facilitator at the middle school and a science consultant, said that over the years she has heard kids speculate on the safety of vaccines and even debate each other on the topic. In her district, she recommends that teachers focus on how vaccines work in the context of animals, instead of humans, pointing to such examples as how vaccinating cattle afflicted with a disease called rinderpest helped save not only the lives of the cattle but also thousands of the wildebeest and buffalo of the Serengeti, who suffered the disease as a “spillover species.” Distancing the science of vaccination from its use in people helps even skeptical students understand the science.
Other teachers tackle the controversy head-on. Lin Andrews, who taught biology for 18 years in Kansas public and private schools, said she would cite the (now-retracted) paper suggesting a link between autism and the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in order to show students how bias and poor data can creep into the scientific process. “By putting the conversation in this context, I rarely encountered pushback from parents or students,” said Andrews, who now serves as director of teacher support at the nonprofit National Center for Science Education. She said timely and even controversial topics can help ignite students’ interest, and she’s currently developing a lesson plan on the “nature of science” that will use the coronavirus as the main theme.
Some teachers rely on resources from the Vaccine Makers Project, a program out of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The nonprofit project provides materials for teachers to use free of charge. Charlotte Moser, assistant director of the Vaccine Education Center, said staff at the center created the project about five years ago, after seeing a need in the classroom for additional tools. Though vaccines are not covered in the NGSS, Moser said she sees a lot of educators — especially those involved in biology and Advanced Placement courses — teaching about them.
The current pandemic provides a special teachable moment for students and educators.
Kate Cilluffo teaches biology in Edison, New Jersey, and relies in part on the Vaccine Makers Project for materials, in addition to making her own and using resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prior to joining the district, she pursued a doctorate in immunology. She’s currently teaching students about the mutation of viruses and how that relates to vaccines. She surveyed her students on whether they would want to learn right now about COVID-19 or the flu; 75% of students voted for COVID-19. Now she’s teaching most of her students about vaccines over video through the lens of the pandemic.
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The students are overflowing with questions about when society will reopen, what happens if the virus mutates and what’s going to happen next year. Cilluffo works to update her lessons in real time as new information comes out. She has brought in experts and epidemiologists to chat with her students over video conferences.
She knows some teachers are trying to stay away from COVID-19-related topics right now for fear they could overwhelm students. But she’s seen a real hunger for information in her classroom.
“I tell them that’s how real science works — so much is unknown. When you’re teaching something and you know the answer, it’s not as fun. When you’re teaching something and you don’t know the end result, it feels like real science,” said Cilluffo. “They get to act like scientists and ask the questions.”
The Perils Of Parental Pushback
All 50 states require that students receive vaccinations before starting school. However, 45 states and Washington, D.C., allow for exemptions based on religious beliefs. Fifteen states go a step further, allowing for philosophical exemptions, which means families can forgo immunizations based on moral or personal beliefs.
Minnesota, where 10th grade biology teacher Alison Wood works, is a philosophical exemption state. Some parents in her district have been open about their skepticism of her lessons. Some have explicitly told her about their decision not to vaccinate their children.
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During parent-teacher conferences, she recalled, one parent recommended that Wood watch the movie “Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe.” (In 2019, Amazon removed the film from its offerings following criticism from Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) that it pushes misleading science linking vaccines to autism.)
Wood, who has taken a graduate-level course on the science of virology, watched the movie. She has sought to understand parents’ fears and why they may be so quick to dismiss the science of vaccinations. The research has helped her understand their decisions and also provided her with a framework of how she can work to change minds.
“They really believe they’re in the right and they’re protecting their kid, and I have to believe they’re smart people, they’re not making this up to be a pain,” said Wood, who teaches in Duluth.
Wood teaches about vaccines, with an emphasis on community health, during units on the immune system and basic cell biology. The Minnesota state science standards specifically call out “vaccines” as one way to teach about immunity, she said. In class, she conducts a simulation to show the impact of community spread — a topic that feels particularly relevant now. She then pushes her students to go home and find out if they’ve been vaccinated — some students say they have no idea what their parents decided for them.
She also lets students know that they can get hepatitis B vaccines if they want, regardless of their parents’ beliefs. In Minnesota, minors can get the vaccination without parental consent.
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huffpost--2020-05-30--Why Protesters In Minneapolis Are Facing Militarized Law Enforcement

“ The team does not have a vehicle capable of providing any level of ballistic protection which greatly increases the risks during deployments , ” the agency wrote .
Asking for a “ Stryker , Cougar , Caiman , MaxxPro , MRAP , or any similar vehicle ” — all vehicles designed to withstand explosions from landmines or improvised bombs — the agency said its SWAT team could use such a vehicle for “ high-risk warrants , hostage rescue , barricaded suspects , counter-drug activities , counter terrorist incidents , VIP motorcades , and dedicated response to incidents at two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection of the state Capitol .
The 2012 request was part of a trend that nearly always becomes obvious when officers respond to large-scale protests of police violence .
Across the country , many law enforcement agencies have grown indistinguishable in their tactics or equipment from the military thanks to federal government programs that have flooded local police departments with military equipment .
As a result , critics say , police are more likely to use disproportionate force against ordinary people , and their response to protesters can become dangerous .
The Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responding to the Minneapolis protests over the police killing of a Black man .
And like law enforcement agencies before them — in Ferguson , Missouri , and Baton Rouge , Louisiana — some of the officers are outfitted for a battle .
“ We always do this , ” Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison said to MPR on Wednesday .
“ We create a barrier , put the police out there , put them in a line , put face masks , depersonalize them , make them look as scary as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result , and then we want to point the finger at community members.
” One night earlier , hundreds of citizens had gathered in Minneapolis near the spot where 46-year-old George Floyd died in police custody .
Floyd , a Black man , died shortly after a white officer , Derek Chauvin , knelt on his neck while Floyd complained he couldn ’ t breathe .
Bystanders captured the act on video .
The city fired Chauvin earlier this week but did not arrest him until Friday .
He ’ s been charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Video from a second protest on Thursday evening appeared to show police arbitrarily spraying mace from an SUV as it drove by protesters .
Early Friday morning , Minnesota State Patrol officers in body armor and riot gear swarmed the area around a burning police precinct and arrested members of a CNN camera crew without any obvious cause .
By Friday midday , officers of the Minnesota State Patrol were manning one checkpoint with the kind of heavily armored vehicle the agency once requested from the Pentagon , although the vehicle likely belonged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tough-on-crime policies and militarized police departments have paved the way for increased police contact and tragic violence , ” he wrote in The Washington Post .
“ Reducing the capacity for police to engage in routine and militaristic violence is the only way to break recurring cycles of police killings and the militarized response that protests of them are often met with.
” It ’ s true that the way police came prepared for these protests is part of a pattern .
Six years ago , demonstrations in Ferguson , Missouri , over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread criticism over the militarization of police .
Over several days of protests , officers wearing camouflage stood on top of mine-resistant vehicles and aimed military-style firearms at unarmed protesters .
The Senate held hearings on the militarization of police , where then-Sen. Claire McCaskill ( D-Mo . )
fumed that “ lawful , peaceful protesters did not deserve to be treated like enemy combatants.
” Hundreds of local law enforcement agencies across the country have access to the same kinds of military vehicles , tactical gear and firearms .
For decades , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for local police to obtain military gear to use in the “ war on drugs.
” The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan turbocharged the flow of military gear to small-town police forces as the Pentagon sought new homes for the tons of equipment coming off the battlefield .
Countless departments also spent their own funds to acquire militaristic equipment from private companies .
In the wake of the Ferguson protests , the Obama administration placed restrictions on the most notorious of the federal programs , which had distributed mine-resistant vehicles , bayonets and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Government Accountability Office investigation found that the restrictions were essentially a fiction ; investigators set up a fake police department and , with minimal vetting , were able to obtain a pipe bomb .
As more police agencies militarize , there is evidence that it warps police work itself .
Some research has found that police officers are more fatally violent in precincts that obtain military gear .
An ACLU analysis around the time of the Ferguson protests found that agencies were routinely using armored vehicles and flash-bang grenades to perform low-stakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The militarization of American policing is evident in the training that police officers receive , which encourages them to adopt a ‘ warrior ’ mentality and think of the people they are supposed to serve as enemies , as well as in the equipment they use , such as battering rams , flashbang grenades , and APCs , ” the report read .
In 2015 , I obtained the requests that hundreds of police and sheriff departments had made to the Pentagon program , known as the 1033 program , that redistributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they could use an armored vehicle for low-stakes drug enforcement operations or to police events like college football games and busy beach days .
When I spoke to some of these agencies , many said they liked the vehicles simply because they were free .
In addition to claiming it could use an armored vehicle in terrorist attacks and active shooter situations , the Minnesota State Patrol noted in its request that it was the primary agency charged with “ the protection of the State Capitol Complex.
” The state Capitol also happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent protest — in April , when hundreds of mostly white protesters , including a few who appeared heavily armed , gathered there and outside of Gov .
Tim Walz ’ s residence to protest public health shutdowns over the coronavirus pandemic .

A man rides a bicycle up to a law enforcement checkpoint Friday in Minneapolis. Scott Olson/Getty Images
Long before this week’s clashes between police and demonstrators protesting police brutality, the Minnesota State Patrol made a request that foreshadowed the shape of the chaos.
In a letter to a Pentagon program that repurposes weapons and armored vehicles from foreign wars for domestic police forces, the agency said its SWAT team could use a mine-resistant vehicle for what it referred to not as police work but as “deployments.”
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“The team does not have a vehicle capable of providing any level of ballistic protection which greatly increases the risks during deployments,” the agency wrote. Asking for a “Stryker, Cougar, Caiman, MaxxPro, MRAP, or any similar vehicle” — all vehicles designed to withstand explosions from landmines or improvised bombs — the agency said its SWAT team could use such a vehicle for “high-risk warrants, hostage rescue, barricaded suspects, counter-drug activities, counter terrorist incidents, VIP motorcades, and dedicated response to incidents at two nuclear power plants,” and the protection of the state Capitol.
The 2012 request was part of a trend that nearly always becomes obvious when officers respond to large-scale protests of police violence. Across the country, many law enforcement agencies have grown indistinguishable in their tactics or equipment from the military thanks to federal government programs that have flooded local police departments with military equipment. As a result, critics say, police are more likely to use disproportionate force against ordinary people, and their response to protesters can become dangerous.
The Minnesota State Patrol is one of several agencies responding to the Minneapolis protests over the police killing of a Black man. And like law enforcement agencies before them — in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana — some of the officers are outfitted for a battle.
“We always do this,” Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison said to MPR on Wednesday. “We create a barrier, put the police out there, put them in a line, put face masks, depersonalize them, make them look as scary as possible, and we always get this result, and then we want to point the finger at community members.”
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One night earlier, hundreds of citizens had gathered in Minneapolis near the spot where 46-year-old George Floyd died in police custody. Floyd, a Black man, died shortly after a white officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck while Floyd complained he couldn’t breathe. Bystanders captured the act on video. The city fired Chauvin earlier this week but did not arrest him until Friday. He’s been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Minneapolis police officers wore body armor and carried riot gear to face off with visibly unarmed protesters who were wearing T-shirts and carrying signs. After some in the crowd began to break windows and spray graffiti, officers fired tear gas and foam pellets. Nearby buildings and businesses were set on fire during the protests.
Video from a second protest on Thursday evening appeared to show police arbitrarily spraying mace from an SUV as it drove by protesters. Early Friday morning, Minnesota State Patrol officers in body armor and riot gear swarmed the area around a burning police precinct and arrested members of a CNN camera crew without any obvious cause. By Friday midday, officers of the Minnesota State Patrol were manning one checkpoint with the kind of heavily armored vehicle the agency once requested from the Pentagon, although the vehicle likely belonged to the Minnesota National Guard.
Under the headline “Why Does the Minneapolis Police Department Look Like a Military Unit?” civil rights activist and writer Philip V. McHarris directly linked the officers’ posture to the way they use deadly force against ordinary people.
“Tough-on-crime policies and militarized police departments have paved the way for increased police contact and tragic violence,” he wrote in The Washington Post. “Reducing the capacity for police to engage in routine and militaristic violence is the only way to break recurring cycles of police killings and the militarized response that protests of them are often met with.”
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Police at a demonstration Thursday in New York City wore typical uniforms and bike helmets. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
It’s true that the way police came prepared for these protests is part of a pattern. Six years ago, demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri, over the police killing of Michael Brown ignited widespread criticism over the militarization of police. Over several days of protests, officers wearing camouflage stood on top of mine-resistant vehicles and aimed military-style firearms at unarmed protesters. The Senate held hearings on the militarization of police, where then-Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) fumed that “lawful, peaceful protesters did not deserve to be treated like enemy combatants.”
Two years later, police in Baton Rouge came outfitted in riot gear to largely peaceful protests of Alton Sterling’s death in police custody.
Hundreds of local law enforcement agencies across the country have access to the same kinds of military vehicles, tactical gear and firearms. For decades, the federal government has made it possible for local police to obtain military gear to use in the “war on drugs.” The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan turbocharged the flow of military gear to small-town police forces as the Pentagon sought new homes for the tons of equipment coming off the battlefield. Countless departments also spent their own funds to acquire militaristic equipment from private companies.
In the wake of the Ferguson protests, the Obama administration placed restrictions on the most notorious of the federal programs, which had distributed mine-resistant vehicles, bayonets and tanks to small-town police departments. But a Government Accountability Office investigation found that the restrictions were essentially a fiction; investigators set up a fake police department and, with minimal vetting, were able to obtain a pipe bomb.
Advertisement
As more police agencies militarize, there is evidence that it warps police work itself. Some research has found that police officers are more fatally violent in precincts that obtain military gear. An ACLU analysis around the time of the Ferguson protests found that agencies were routinely using armored vehicles and flash-bang grenades to perform low-stakes tasks such as serving arrest warrants.
Lone activist Ieshia Evans stands her ground while offering her hands for arrest as she is charged by riot police during a July 2016 protest against police brutality in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Evans, a 28-year-old Pennsylvania nurse, traveled to Baton Rouge to protest the death of Alton Sterling, a Black father who was shot at close range by two white police officers. Jonathan Bachman / Reuters
“The militarization of American policing is evident in the training that police officers receive, which encourages them to adopt a ‘warrior’ mentality and think of the people they are supposed to serve as enemies, as well as in the equipment they use, such as battering rams, flashbang grenades, and APCs,” the report read.
In 2015, I obtained the requests that hundreds of police and sheriff departments had made to the Pentagon program, known as the 1033 program, that redistributed mine-resistant vehicles. Dozens of departments said they could use an armored vehicle for low-stakes drug enforcement operations or to police events like college football games and busy beach days. When I spoke to some of these agencies, many said they liked the vehicles simply because they were free.
Among those requests was the Minnesota State Patrol’s for an armored vehicle. It’s not clear if the Pentagon ever honored its request or if the agency obtained military-style gear another way. A spokesperson for the state patrol did not respond to HuffPost’s questions.
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In addition to claiming it could use an armored vehicle in terrorist attacks and active shooter situations, the Minnesota State Patrol noted in its request that it was the primary agency charged with “the protection of the State Capitol Complex.” The state Capitol also happens to have been the site of a recent protest — in April, when hundreds of mostly white protesters, including a few who appeared heavily armed, gathered there and outside of Gov. Tim Walz’s residence to protest public health shutdowns over the coronavirus pandemic.


huffpost--2020-05-30--Supreme Court Rejects Challenge To Limits On Church Services During Pandemic

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — A divided Supreme Court on Friday rejected an emergency appeal by a California church that challenged state limits on attendance at worship services that have been imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus .
Over the dissent of the four more conservative justices , Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court ’ s four liberals in turning away a request from the South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista , California , in the San Diego area .
The church argued that limits on how many people can attend their services violate constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking an order in time for services on Sunday .
The church said it has crowds of 200 to 300 people for its services .
Roberts wrote in brief opinion that the restriction allowing churches to reopen at 25 % of their capacity , with no more than 100 worshipers at a time , “ appear consistent ” with the First Amendment .
Roberts said similar or more severe limits apply to concerts , movies and sporting events “ where large groups of people gather in close proximity for extended periods of time.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the restriction “ discriminates against places of worship and in favor of comparable secular businesses .
Such discrimination violates the First Amendment.
” Kavanaugh pointed to supermarkets , restaurants , hair salons , cannabis dispensaries and other businesses that are not subject to the same restrictions .
The court also rejected an appeal from two churches in the Chicago area that objected to Gov .
Jay Pritzker ’ s limit of 10 worshipers at religious services .
Before the court acted , Pritzker modified the restrictions to allow for up to 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no recorded dissents .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court on Friday rejected an emergency appeal by a California church that challenged state limits on attendance at worship services that have been imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Over the dissent of the four more conservative justices, Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s four liberals in turning away a request from the South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista, California, in the San Diego area.
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The church argued that limits on how many people can attend their services violate constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and had been seeking an order in time for services on Sunday. The church said it has crowds of 200 to 300 people for its services.
Roberts wrote in brief opinion that the restriction allowing churches to reopen at 25% of their capacity, with no more than 100 worshipers at a time, “appear consistent” with the First Amendment. Roberts said similar or more severe limits apply to concerts, movies and sporting events “where large groups of people gather in close proximity for extended periods of time.”
Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in dissent that the restriction “discriminates against places of worship and in favor of comparable secular businesses. Such discrimination violates the First Amendment.” Kavanaugh pointed to supermarkets, restaurants, hair salons, cannabis dispensaries and other businesses that are not subject to the same restrictions.
Lower courts in California had previously turned down the churches’ requests.


huffpost--2020-05-29--Jay Ellis On Directing ‘Insecure’ And Whether Issa And Lawrence Should Be Together

One of the last scenes of Sunday ’ s episode of “ Insecure ” shows Molly walking alone as the sun sets on the resort where she ’ s bae-cationing in Puerto Vallarta , Mexico .
Molly , portrayed by Yvonne Orji , walks along the shore as she contemplates the latest hurdles she ’ s run up against in her life .
She ’ s fallen out with her best friend , Issa .
She feels like an outcast at the law firm where she practices .
And she just had a huge argument about race with her boyfriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ Newports ” plays as she takes a seat on the shore to make a call to the therapist she ghosted in Season 2 .
After a season of so many losses , it feels like Molly is on the verge of an awakening , or at least she ’ s finally taking steps to find out why things seem to always be fucked up for her .
The scene feels like a potential turning point .
It ’ s also a turning point for Jay Ellis as he makes his directorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Issa ’ s ex-boyfriend Lawrence on the show , told HuffPost in a phone interview that that scene was one of the most challenging to film .
With only three days to shoot and roughly 10 hours of sunlight to work with — they filmed in December — Ellis and team were racing against time .
“ I was shooting Monday through Friday .
Saturday , Sunday , I would be in Mexico , prepping and location scouting , ” he said .
“ And then I ’ d be back to LA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actor .
So , all of that was happening kind of at one time , it was a lot.
” During his final season on “ The Game , ” he experienced his own version of film school , he said .
He told show creator Mara Brock Akil that he was interested in getting behind the camera shortly after he joined the show in 2015 .
Ellis got his chance to be camera operator for a full episode for the scenes he didn ’ t appear in .
Reflecting back , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that taste made him hungry for more .
Fast forward to “ Insecure , ” Ellis told show creator Issa Rae that he was interested in directing .
He shadowed Melina Matsoukas for Season 2 ’ s finale .
He started taking classes at UCLA during his hiatus and took one weekly class while filming Season 3 .
Influenced by Matsoukas ’ keen attention to detail in every shot , he studied a lot .
He shadowed others including Alec Berg and Mike Judge on “ Silicon Valley , ” Nzingha Stewart on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on “ Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
” He also chatted with Jordan Peele , who emphasized to him the power of saying , “ I don ’ t know , what do you think ?
” as a director .
Ellis also offered his thoughts on some of the most polarizing storylines this season .
When it comes to whether he ’ s on Team Issa or Team Molly in terms of their friendship — or what ’ s left of it — he thinks they both have to take accountability for their missteps .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the criticism at Molly .
While Ellis admits that though he doesn ’ t know if that ’ s fair or not , he knows it ’ s easier to love Issa .
“ I do think that there ’ s probably a few Mollys out there who were seeing their own behavior , and it ’ s easier to point the finger at Molly and hate on Molly than it is to be like , ‘ I ’ ve done that before , that ’ s messed up , ’ ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also all want to be the hero of our own stories .
I think it ’ s easier to side with Issa in this situation because it seems like Molly ’ s intent is a little more she ’ s choosing and being more focused in not being a friend to Issa .
As opposed to Issa , I think she ’ s not even fully aware of it all .
So I don ’ t know that one is more to blame .
I think just because Molly ’ s is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He also chimed in on his opinions around whether he believes Lawrence and Issa should get back together , a question that comes up every season .
Ellis believes they are soulmates and will always be in each others ’ lives , but doesn ’ t know if he wants to see them together .
“ They clearly know each other better than they know anyone else in the world .
And I think that there ’ s something obviously super powerful to that and that ’ s special and that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I do also believe that they , whether they ’ re meant to be or not , I think they had to go through what they went through in order for them to both grow .
I don ’ t know that Issa would ’ ve had this professional challenge if she was still in a relationship , I think she needed to be free so she could focus on what it is she really wanted to do career-wise .
And I think the same thing with Lawrence ; I think they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the rest of the world , time has slowed down for Ellis during the pandemic .
After a marathon finishing “ Insecure , ” “ Mrs .
America ” and “ Top Gun : Maverick , ” he ’ s grateful to be slowing down a bit and spending more time with family .
But he can ’ t stop thinking about those most impacted by COVID-19 .
Production in Hollywood is halted , so he ’ s spending time reflecting on how he can help those in need , whether it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for students whose ceremonies were canceled .
“ I just think about , [ Hollywood ] will obviously come back and bounce back in some way , whenever that new normal is , ” he said .
“ What can we do with our reach ?
With our ability to tell stories and get people ’ s attention , what are we doing that helps people in need ?
And sometimes that ’ s just pure entertainment .
”

One of the last scenes of Sunday’s episode of “ Insecure” shows Molly walking alone as the sun sets on the resort where she’s bae-cationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Molly, portrayed by Yvonne Orji, walks along the shore as she contemplates the latest hurdles she’s run up against in her life. She’s fallen out with her best friend, Issa. She feels like an outcast at the law firm where she practices. And she just had a huge argument about race with her boyfriend’s brother. Brian Marc’s “Newports” plays as she takes a seat on the shore to make a call to the therapist she ghosted in Season 2.
After a season of so many losses, it feels like Molly is on the verge of an awakening, or at least she’s finally taking steps to find out why things seem to always be fucked up for her. The scene feels like a potential turning point. It’s also a turning point for Jay Ellis as he makes his directorial debut.
Ellis, who also plays Issa’s ex-boyfriend Lawrence on the show, told HuffPost in a phone interview that that scene was one of the most challenging to film. With only three days to shoot and roughly 10 hours of sunlight to work with — they filmed in December — Ellis and team were racing against time.
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“I had four or five page days where it was easily 12, 13 hours’ worth of work, but I only had 10 hours’ worth of daylight that I had to shoot in,” he said. On top of that, Orji ended up getting sick during filming.
Ellis is no stranger to going up against the clock. In preparation for his directorial debut, the Sumter, South Carolina, native went to Mexico three times, scouting locations and figuring out ways to shoot a show that’s so inherently Los Angeles in a foreign country.
“I was shooting Monday through Friday. Saturday, Sunday, I would be in Mexico, prepping and location scouting,” he said. “And then I’d be back to LA for Monday morning call time as an actor. So, all of that was happening kind of at one time, it was a lot.”
But his directorial dreams aren’t a new thing.
During his final season on “The Game,” he experienced his own version of film school, he said. He told show creator Mara Brock Akil that he was interested in getting behind the camera shortly after he joined the show in 2015. Ellis got his chance to be camera operator for a full episode for the scenes he didn’t appear in. Reflecting back, he called it “crazy,” but that taste made him hungry for more.
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Fast forward to “Insecure,” Ellis told show creator Issa Rae that he was interested in directing. He shadowed Melina Matsoukas for Season 2’s finale. He started taking classes at UCLA during his hiatus and took one weekly class while filming Season 3. Influenced by Matsoukas’ keen attention to detail in every shot, he studied a lot. He shadowed others including Alec Berg and Mike Judge on “Silicon Valley,” Nzingha Stewart on “Black Monday” and Michael McDonald on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” He also chatted with Jordan Peele, who emphasized to him the power of saying, “I don’t know, what do you think?” as a director.
“I had a lot of people who put their arms around me,” Ellis told HuffPost.
He received a lot of praise on social media for Sunday’s episode, including from his former boss Brock Akil, a full-circle moment for his new path forward.
Ellis also offered his thoughts on some of the most polarizing storylines this season. When it comes to whether he’s on Team Issa or Team Molly in terms of their friendship — or what’s left of it — he thinks they both have to take accountability for their missteps. Social media is aiming the bulk of the criticism at Molly. While Ellis admits that though he doesn’t know if that’s fair or not, he knows it’s easier to love Issa.
“I do think that there’s probably a few Mollys out there who were seeing their own behavior, and it’s easier to point the finger at Molly and hate on Molly than it is to be like, ‘I’ve done that before, that’s messed up,’” he said. “And I think we also all want to be the hero of our own stories. I think it’s easier to side with Issa in this situation because it seems like Molly’s intent is a little more she’s choosing and being more focused in not being a friend to Issa. As opposed to Issa, I think she’s not even fully aware of it all. So I don’t know that one is more to blame. I think just because Molly’s is a choice, it feels easier to attack.”
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He also chimed in on his opinions around whether he believes Lawrence and Issa should get back together, a question that comes up every season. Ellis believes they are soulmates and will always be in each others’ lives, but doesn’t know if he wants to see them together.
“They clearly know each other better than they know anyone else in the world. And I think that there’s something obviously super powerful to that and that’s special and that’s rare,” he said. “I do also believe that they, whether they’re meant to be or not, I think they had to go through what they went through in order for them to both grow. I don’t know that Issa would’ve had this professional challenge if she was still in a relationship, I think she needed to be free so she could focus on what it is she really wanted to do career-wise. And I think the same thing with Lawrence; I think they both kind of needed that.”
As with the rest of the world, time has slowed down for Ellis during the pandemic. After a marathon finishing “Insecure,” “Mrs. America” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” he’s grateful to be slowing down a bit and spending more time with family. But he can’t stop thinking about those most impacted by COVID-19. Production in Hollywood is halted, so he’s spending time reflecting on how he can help those in need, whether it be through donations or congratulatory graduation videos for students whose ceremonies were canceled.
“I just think about, [Hollywood] will obviously come back and bounce back in some way, whenever that new normal is,” he said. “What can we do with our reach? With our ability to tell stories and get people’s attention, what are we doing that helps people in need? And sometimes that’s just pure entertainment.”
“Hopefully what [Hollywood will] continue to always remember is, the people who watch the things that we do, they need us in a different way right now.”


huffpost--2020-05-20--Man Sentenced To Death In Singapore Via Zoom Call

SINGAPORE ( Reuters ) - A judge in Singapore has sentenced a man to death via a Zoom video-call for his role in a drug deal , one of just two known cases where a capital punishment verdict has been delivered remotely .
Punithan Genasan , a 37-year-old Malaysian , was told on Friday he would be hanged for masterminding a 2011 heroin transaction , court documents showed , as the country was under lockdown to try and curb its coronavirus outbreak .
“ For the safety of all involved in the proceedings , the hearing for Public Prosecutor v @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a spokesperson for Singapore ’ s Supreme Court said in response to Reuters ’ questions , citing restrictions imposed to minimize virus spread .
It was the first criminal case where a death sentence was pronounced by remote hearing in Singapore , the spokesperson added .
Rights groups have criticized the use of video-calls for capital punishment verdicts , including a case in Nigeria earlier this month which criminal justice watchdog Fair Trials said was the first death sentence to be delivered remotely .
Genasan ’ s lawyer , Peter Fernando @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday ’ s judgment being delivered on Zoom .
He said the judge could be heard clearly and as it was the verdict no other legal arguments were presented .
However , he said , his client is considering an appeal against the verdict .
A view of the Supreme Court building in the backdrop of the skyline of Singapore 's central business district .
California-based tech firm Zoom did not respond to a request for comment made via its representatives in Singapore .
The Attorney General ’ s Chambers , the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately have comment .
Many court hearings in Singapore have been adjourned during a lockdown period that started in early April and is due to run until June 1 , while cases deemed essential have been held remotely .
Singapore has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs and has hanged hundreds of people ― including dozens of foreigners ― for narcotics offenses over past decades , rights groups say .
“ Singapore ’ s use of the death penalty is inherently cruel and inhumane , and the use of remote technology like Zoom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it even more so , ” said Human Rights Watch ’ s deputy director for Asia , Phil Robertson .

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SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A judge in Singapore has sentenced a man to death via a Zoom video-call for his role in a drug deal, one of just two known cases where a capital punishment verdict has been delivered remotely.
Punithan Genasan, a 37-year-old Malaysian, was told on Friday he would be hanged for masterminding a 2011 heroin transaction, court documents showed, as the country was under lockdown to try and curb its coronavirus outbreak.
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“For the safety of all involved in the proceedings, the hearing for Public Prosecutor v Punithan A/L Genasan was conducted by video-conferencing,” a spokesperson for Singapore’s Supreme Court said in response to Reuters’ questions, citing restrictions imposed to minimize virus spread.
It was the first criminal case where a death sentence was pronounced by remote hearing in Singapore, the spokesperson added.
Rights groups have criticized the use of video-calls for capital punishment verdicts, including a case in Nigeria earlier this month which criminal justice watchdog Fair Trials said was the first death sentence to be delivered remotely.
Genasan’s lawyer, Peter Fernando, said he did not object to Friday’s judgment being delivered on Zoom.
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He said the judge could be heard clearly and as it was the verdict no other legal arguments were presented. However, he said, his client is considering an appeal against the verdict.
A view of the Supreme Court building in the backdrop of the skyline of Singapore's central business district. Edgar Su / Reuters
California-based tech firm Zoom did not respond to a request for comment made via its representatives in Singapore. The Attorney General’s Chambers, the public prosecutor in the case, did not immediately have comment.
Many court hearings in Singapore have been adjourned during a lockdown period that started in early April and is due to run until June 1, while cases deemed essential have been held remotely.
Singapore has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs and has hanged hundreds of people ― including dozens of foreigners ― for narcotics offenses over past decades, rights groups say.
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“Singapore’s use of the death penalty is inherently cruel and inhumane, and the use of remote technology like Zoom to sentence a man to death makes it even more so,” said Human Rights Watch’s deputy director for Asia, Phil Robertson.
Amnesty International’s death penalty advisor Chiara Sangiorgio said: “Whether via Zoom or in person, a death sentence is always cruel and inhumane.


huffpost--2020-05-20--Brazil Is The New Epicenter Of The Global Coronavirus Pandemic

Brazil passed Italy and Spain on the list of countries with the most coronavirus cases last weekend , then passed the United Kingdom on Monday afternoon .
Only Russia and the United States have more ― although researchers have said that a lack of testing means Brazil ’ s count is likely far higher than official figures suggest .
There are many factors that determine how bad a country ’ s outbreak becomes , but one unmistakable commonality between the three countries at the top is that their hard-right leaders have downplayed the severity of the crisis and embraced outlandish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be worse than they should have been .
Deep social inequality and large populations already vulnerable to infectious diseases meant that limiting the spread of the coronavirus in Brazil required an aggressive response .
Instead , Bolsonaro dismissed the pandemic as a media conspiracy and the disease as a “ tiny flu , ” fought with governors and state officials over social distancing measures , fired one health minister and drove another to quit , and largely left Brazilians ― especially the poorest and most vulnerable ― to fend for themselves .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming weeks as Bolsonaro continues to downplay the pandemic .
Brazil ’ s state public health systems are reaching their breaking points .
Its Indigenous populations have warned that a slow government response has put them further at risk as the virus spreads .
Outbreaks in some of Brazil ’ s poorest communities have been met by aggressive and deadly police crackdowns rather than a robust public health response .
And as Brazil reaches the heights of its pandemic , it has no health minister ― the oncologist who previously held the position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into his tenure , after refusing to endorse Bolsonaro ’ s efforts to expand the use of hydroxychloroquine , an anti-malarial drug that is not proven to work against the coronavirus , to treat infected patients .
At least 38 Indigenous tribes now have confirmed COVID-19 cases , according to the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil , the country ’ s largest tribal organization .
The virus has killed 89 Indigenous Brazilians in the Amazon region , the group said in a statement this week that argued the actual number of infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher than documented .
Indigenous leaders also worry that the pandemic could soon reach Brazil ’ s isolated groups ― those that have no known contact with outside communities ― after a member of the isolated Awá Guajá people attacked a hunter from another tribe last week , according to the Forest Guardians , a group of tribal leaders that protects the Amazon rainforest from illegal incursions .
The attack was likely the result of the Awá Guajá feeling increasingly threatened by outside invaders and accidentally targeting a member of a friendly tribe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement circulated by the nonprofit Survival International .
Brazil ’ s other potential hot spots were its dense pockets of poverty ― the informal favelas of cities like Rio de Janeiro and the suburban periphery neighborhoods of São Paulo and other metropolitan regions .
Long victims of government neglect and stigma , many of those communities lack access to basic sanitation and health care , which , along with their small and tightly packed houses , leave them vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks .
In Rio de Janeiro , where Gov .
Wilson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporter of hard-line public security tactics , police have continued to stage raids into favela neighborhoods to root out the drug gangs that operate within them .
Rio ’ s police , who are among the deadliest in the world and regularly wield extrajudicial force , killed at least 10 people in one such operation this week , according to community activists .
During a Tuesday operation , police shot and killed a 14-year-old boy .
“ The world needs to know what is happening in Rio de Janeiro .
The state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Witzel ] , is using pandemic isolation as a strategy for violent police actions , ” Raull Santiago , a community activist in Rio ’ s Complexo do Alemão favela , tweeted Tuesday .
“ The [ World Health Organization ] says that to beat the coronavirus , we need to do social isolation .
But police have been carrying out violent operations in the slums and putting us at risk of violent death .
”

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Brazil’s novel coronavirus outbreak surged to cataclysmic levels on Tuesday afternoon when the country recorded 1,179 deaths from COVID-19 ― a record daily high for a nation that now has more than 270,000 confirmed cases overall.
Brazil passed Italy and Spain on the list of countries with the most coronavirus cases last weekend, then passed the United Kingdom on Monday afternoon. Only Russia and the United States have more ― although researchers have said that a lack of testing means Brazil’s count is likely far higher than official figures suggest.
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There are many factors that determine how bad a country’s outbreak becomes, but one unmistakable commonality between the three countries at the top is that their hard-right leaders have downplayed the severity of the crisis and embraced outlandish conspiracy theories, ensuring the outbreaks would be worse than they should have been.
In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro’s lax response to the coronavirus made his country’s emergence as the world’s newest coronavirus hot spot tragically inevitable.
“Everyone who’s been watching Brazil, who’s been seeing the numbers increase day after day, week after week, knew that it was headed in this direction,” said Anya Prusa, a senior associate at the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Brazil Institute in Washington. “It’s not a surprise, but it is a real humanitarian tragedy.”
People mourn during a mass burial of coronavirus pandemic victims on May 19, 2020, in Manaus, Brazil. Brazil has over 270,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 17,000 deaths caused by the virus. Andre Coelho via Getty Images
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Deep social inequality and large populations already vulnerable to infectious diseases meant that limiting the spread of the coronavirus in Brazil required an aggressive response. Instead, Bolsonaro dismissed the pandemic as a media conspiracy and the disease as a “tiny flu,” fought with governors and state officials over social distancing measures, fired one health minister and drove another to quit, and largely left Brazilians ― especially the poorest and most vulnerable ― to fend for themselves.
“Brazil went into this with a number of challenges that have been exacerbated by the government response at the very top,” Prusa said. “It is a disaster. And it didn’t need to be a disaster of this size.”
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's lax response to the coronavirus outbreak ensured his country's crisis would be worse than it should have been. Andressa Anholete via Getty Images
The disaster will likely only worsen in the coming weeks as Bolsonaro continues to downplay the pandemic. Brazil’s state public health systems are reaching their breaking points. Its Indigenous populations have warned that a slow government response has put them further at risk as the virus spreads. Outbreaks in some of Brazil’s poorest communities have been met by aggressive and deadly police crackdowns rather than a robust public health response.
And as Brazil reaches the heights of its pandemic, it has no health minister ― the oncologist who previously held the position quit last Friday, just 28 days into his tenure, after refusing to endorse Bolsonaro’s efforts to expand the use of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that is not proven to work against the coronavirus, to treat infected patients.
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The most dire predictions from the outset of Brazil’s pandemic have come true, including one from the prior former health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who forecast that the virus could quickly inundate hospitals and state public health systems.
Photos of mass graves in the Amazon region have spread globally as the virus overwhelmed public health systems in poorer and financially strapped states. On Monday, São Paulo Mayor Bruno Covas warned that the public hospitals in his city ― the largest and wealthiest in Brazil ― could reach their capacity by the end of May.
For the 1st time, Brazil adds more than a thousand deaths to the daily balance and now has 17,971 victims of Covid-19. Aerial view of Vila Formosa Cemetery
By @reuters / @benassatto #videojournalism #brazil #covid19 #coronavirus #saopaulo pic.twitter.com/VnMaym70JE — Leonardo Benassatto (@leobenassatto) May 19, 2020
Joenia Wapichana, the first Indigenous woman elected to Brazil’s national Congress, told HuffPost in April that the virus would spread rapidly once it reached Indigenous lands. But despite those warnings, government agencies were slow to deliver aid to Indigenous groups or to protect their lands, The Associated Press reported this week.
Illegal raids from miners, loggers and agribusiness interests have increased, despite government guidance to avoid Indigenous lands, as the pandemic and Bolsonaro’s opposition to regulatory enforcement conspired to limit oversight from environmental agencies.
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At least 38 Indigenous tribes now have confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil, the country’s largest tribal organization. The virus has killed 89 Indigenous Brazilians in the Amazon region, the group said in a statement this week that argued the actual number of infections and deaths among tribes is likely far higher than documented.
Indigenous leaders also worry that the pandemic could soon reach Brazil’s isolated groups ― those that have no known contact with outside communities ― after a member of the isolated Awá Guajá people attacked a hunter from another tribe last week, according to the Forest Guardians, a group of tribal leaders that protects the Amazon rainforest from illegal incursions. The attack was likely the result of the Awá Guajá feeling increasingly threatened by outside invaders and accidentally targeting a member of a friendly tribe, the Forest Guardians said in a statement circulated by the nonprofit Survival International.
“If you don’t put an end to the invasions of our territory, the uncontacted Awá Guajá people will die,” the statement said. “Once again, we are warning the Brazilian government and the international community that the Awá Guajá people are currently suffering a genocide.”
People gather next to ambulances on March 29, 2020, after residents of São Paulo's biggest favela, Paraisópolis, hired an around-the-clock private medical service to fight COVID-19. Amanda Perobelli / Reuters
Brazil’s other potential hot spots were its dense pockets of poverty ― the informal favelas of cities like Rio de Janeiro and the suburban periphery neighborhoods of São Paulo and other metropolitan regions. Long victims of government neglect and stigma, many of those communities lack access to basic sanitation and health care, which, along with their small and tightly packed houses, leave them vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks.
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But favela residents have seen little help from the government as the pandemic worsens.
“The word ‘favela’ has not been heard from any government official,” Gilson Rodrigues, a favela leader in São Paulo, said in a Facebook Live broadcast in March, Americas Quarterly reported. “We need to organize and protect ourselves.”
Favela residents across Brazil have organized to manufacture their own hand sanitizer, monitor residents’ health, and create news apps to combat the spread of misinformation about the virus.
But the government’s response, at least in some parts of the country, has been to continue ramping up a deadly drug war.
In Rio de Janeiro, where Gov. Wilson Witzel, like Bolsonaro, is a supporter of hard-line public security tactics, police have continued to stage raids into favela neighborhoods to root out the drug gangs that operate within them. Rio’s police, who are among the deadliest in the world and regularly wield extrajudicial force, killed at least 10 people in one such operation this week, according to community activists. During a Tuesday operation, police shot and killed a 14-year-old boy.
“The world needs to know what is happening in Rio de Janeiro. The state of Rio de Janeiro, governed by [Witzel], is using pandemic isolation as a strategy for violent police actions,” Raull Santiago, a community activist in Rio’s Complexo do Alemão favela, tweeted Tuesday. “The [World Health Organization] says that to beat the coronavirus, we need to do social isolation. But police have been carrying out violent operations in the slums and putting us at risk of violent death.”
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The operations have also drawn out crowds of angry and scared residents who oppose the tactics of a police force that killed nearly five people per day a year ago.
“In Brazil, the pandemic brought deaths, thirst, hunger, extreme difficulties,” Santiago said in a follow-up tweet. “And our leaders still incite violent actions by the police. It is a lot of human rights violations.”
“Bolsonaro dismissed the pandemic as a media conspiracy and the disease as a “tiny flu,” fought with governors and state officials over social distancing measures, fired one health minister and drove another to quit, and largely left Brazilians ― especially the poorest and most vulnerable ― to fend for themselves.”
Bolsonaro has pushed states and cities to abandon social isolation measures and business closures in favor of kickstarting the economy, especially as the pandemic has left many Brazilians facing food shortages and little choice but to continue working, even as the pandemic worsens.
But if Brazil doesn’t curb its outbreak, that will do little to boost economic growth.
“If you don’t contain the spread of the virus, then it doesn’t matter what economic measures you use,” Prusa said.
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Leaders in neighboring countries like Argentina and Paraguay have openly worried about how Bolsonaro’s refusal to respond will affect their countries, where aggressive measures have limited outbreaks. Rates of deforestation, meanwhile, have continued to skyrocket in the Amazon during the pandemic, sparking fears that Brazil could experience an even worse fire season than it did in 2019 when record blazes and Bolsonaro’s environmentally destructive policies made him a pariah on the world stage.
Bolsonaro has continued to ignore the devastation. On Tuesday, he met with the heads of two major Rio de Janeiro soccer clubs about efforts to restart Brazil’s professional league.


huffpost--2020-05-20--How To Ask A Stranger For Help Getting A Job Without Making It Weird

The person who helps you land your next job is likely to be someone you don ’ t know personally : an older alumnus of your college , the person who attends the same yoga class , the professional you admire from afar on social media , the friend of a friend .
Sociologist Mark Granovetter , who has researched the power of these low-stakes relationships , found that people are more likely to get new jobs through “ weak ties ” with people they see rarely and don ’ t know well than through relationships with people they see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I had two job seeker clients this week in the midst of the pandemic tell me that they got offers because of targeted , cold outreach to people in their industry , ” said Sarah Johnston , a former corporate recruiter and founder of Briefcase Coach .
She has benefited from this type of outreach herself : “ It was the kindness of strangers who helped me land my last two professional jobs.
” But this doesn ’ t mean you should spam people with a demand for help ; that makes networking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a stranger , you have to be thoughtful about what you say in your initial message and find a shared point of connection .
1 .
Before reaching out , do your homework .
To find a shared point of connection , research what you may have in common that you can bring up as an icebreaker , Watkins said .
That may include Googling their career story , the schools they attended , the organizations they ’ ve joined , posts they have written or initiatives they are passionate about .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person or activity in common ; it can be a shared career experience .
“ What is it that you ’ ve experienced that they ’ ve gone through ?
Did they have an unusual shift in their career around the time that you did ?
” Watkins said you can ask .
“ Did they switch from accounting into marketing and you did the same ?
That ’ s a conversation opener.
” Keep in mind that people may do their homework on you while you are researching them .
Lisa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on helping professionals through career transitions , recommends polishing up your social media presence before you reach out so that there are no gaps or inappropriate Google search results when people look you up online .
2 .
Make it more about them initially .
Cynthia Pong , the founder of Embrace Change , a coaching business that focuses on helping women of color transition in their careers , said when people approach her in cold emails and messages , the most successful are those who focus on her career journey with requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear how you got started or grew your business.
” If you ’ ve been supportive of the person ’ s work in the past , say it , and ask how you can do so in the future .
Pong said messages like , “ I would love to hear how I can support your work ” are effective because they feel a lot less extractive .
Watkins said that it helps to make your job-related requests specific when you do finally ask .
If you were recently laid off and want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you could ask the person , “ Do you have any advice you could give me on x , y , z ?
” Or , if you really want to work at a company but you don ’ t see the right position yet , you can ask , “ Do you know of any openings in the pipeline ?
” she said .
3 .
Engage with them on social media .
See the potential connection as a relationship you want to build , instead of as a transaction in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a job referral .
Before you reach out directly , engage with them on social media by commenting and liking their posts , Pong recommended .
If you have a mutual friend or acquaintance , ask that person if they would be willing to give you an introduction .
Orbé-Austin said you may need to spend time warming up that mutual connection if it ’ s been a while since you talked before you spell out what you want them to do for you .
You don ’ t have to include your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that as you engage , you follow up with what you want , because you don ’ t want your first ask to come across like , “ ‘ Hey , nice seeing you again , this is what I want .
’ ”

Dimitri Otis via Getty Images Cultivate your work relationships with acquaintances and strangers before you make a big ask to make it less transactional.
The person who helps you land your next job is likely to be someone you don’t know personally: an older alumnus of your college, the person who attends the same yoga class, the professional you admire from afar on social media, the friend of a friend.
Sociologist Mark Granovetter, who has researched the power of these low-stakes relationships, found that people are more likely to get new jobs through “weak ties” with people they see rarely and don’t know well than through relationships with people they see often and do know well.
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These connections are powerful because they expand beyond those of your friends and family. “The more people that you are connected to, the more opportunities you are connected to,” said Ashley Watkins, a job search coach with corporate recruiting experience.
Career experts say they have seen the power of these weak ties firsthand during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I had two job seeker clients this week in the midst of the pandemic tell me that they got offers because of targeted, cold outreach to people in their industry,” said Sarah Johnston, a former corporate recruiter and founder of Briefcase Coach. She has benefited from this type of outreach herself: “It was the kindness of strangers who helped me land my last two professional jobs.”
But this doesn’t mean you should spam people with a demand for help; that makes networking transactional. To actually get a response from a stranger, you have to be thoughtful about what you say in your initial message and find a shared point of connection.
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You need to make yourself less of a stranger, in other words. Here’s how:
1. Before reaching out, do your homework.
A good networking connection is someone who has access to the kind of career you want. They can be a recruiter, someone who works in the department you’re eyeing, or the direct hiring manager of your target company, Watkins said.
To find a shared point of connection, research what you may have in common that you can bring up as an icebreaker, Watkins said. That may include Googling their career story, the schools they attended, the organizations they’ve joined, posts they have written or initiatives they are passionate about.
It doesn’t have to be a person or activity in common; it can be a shared career experience. “What is it that you’ve experienced that they’ve gone through? Did they have an unusual shift in their career around the time that you did?” Watkins said you can ask. “Did they switch from accounting into marketing and you did the same? That’s a conversation opener.”
Keep in mind that people may do their homework on you while you are researching them. Lisa Orbé-Austin, a licensed psychologist who focuses on helping professionals through career transitions, recommends polishing up your social media presence before you reach out so that there are no gaps or inappropriate Google search results when people look you up online.
That way, “People feel like, ‘Oh yeah, they did this, they did that, this is what they do currently, I see why they are reaching out to me,’” she said.
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2. Make it more about them initially.
When you first reach out, do ask a question to keep the conversation going, but don’t bombard someone with your life story. “It’s always about give to get,” Watkins said.
Cynthia Pong, the founder of Embrace Change, a coaching business that focuses on helping women of color transition in their careers, said when people approach her in cold emails and messages, the most successful are those who focus on her career journey with requests like, “I would love to hear how you got started or grew your business.”
These inquiries work because they don’t feel like the person is “going to leverage that into pitching me something,” she said.
If you’ve been supportive of the person’s work in the past, say it, and ask how you can do so in the future. Pong said messages like, “I would love to hear how I can support your work” are effective because they feel a lot less extractive.
Watkins said that it helps to make your job-related requests specific when you do finally ask. If you were recently laid off and want advice on how to pivot your career, you could ask the person, “Do you have any advice you could give me on x, y, z?” Or, if you really want to work at a company but you don’t see the right position yet, you can ask, “Do you know of any openings in the pipeline?” she said.
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“It was the kindness of strangers who helped me land my last two professional jobs.” - Sarah Johnston, former corporate recruiter
3. Engage with them on social media.
Once you identify the people you want to network with, another approach is to take it slow over social media.
See the potential connection as a relationship you want to build, instead of as a transaction in which you expect an immediate result like a job referral. Before you reach out directly, engage with them on social media by commenting and liking their posts, Pong recommended.
“People appreciate that as long as it’s not too much, too soon,” she said. “It feels more organic and natural, so by the time you actually message them individually, you have something to talk about.”
If your social media engagement is sharing your appreciation for their work, get specific. “Don’t just say, ‘Oh I loved your article.’ Be able to say what resonated with you,” Watkins said.
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4. Leverage shared connections to broker an introduction.
If you have a mutual friend or acquaintance, ask that person if they would be willing to give you an introduction. Orbé-Austin said you may need to spend time warming up that mutual connection if it’s been a while since you talked before you spell out what you want them to do for you.
That can sound like “‘Hey, James it’s been a while since we talked. How are you doing?... I’m in the middle of a job search and I’ve noticed you are connected to so-and-so. I was wondering if you could make a connection,’” Orbé-Austin said.
You don’t have to include your request in the initial message. Orbé-Austin said that as you engage, you follow up with what you want, because you don’t want your first ask to come across like, “‘Hey, nice seeing you again, this is what I want.’”
5. To summon your courage, remember it’s low-risk.
It can be nerve-wracking to send a message to someone you admire or don’t know, but if fear is preventing you from networking with a stranger, put that anxiety in perspective.
“The worst-case scenario is that they’re not going to respond,” Orbé-Austin said. “Remind yourself that there is low risk in this.“
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And if you do get silence or a rejection, don’t let that stop you from reaching out to someone else.


huffpost--2020-05-20--Coronavirus Live Updates: Read The Latest About The COVID-19 Outbreak

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and the measures being taken to flatten the curve of transmission .
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below .
( To see the latest updates , you may need to refresh the page .
All times are Eastern .
For earlier updates on the pandemic , go here . )
Yemen ’ s Health System ‘ Has In Effect ’ Collapsed , UN Says — 5/22/20 , 6:35 a.m. Yemen ’ s health-care system is collapsing under the strain of the spread of COVID-19 , the U.N. warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aid workers report turning people away because they don ’ t have the PPE or oxygen needed to treat them , said Jens Laerke , spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( OCHA ) , Reuters reported .
“ We hear from many of them that Yemen is really on the brink right now .
The situation is extremely alarming , they are talking about that the health system has in effect collapsed , ” he said .
Yemen has reported 197 cases of coronavirus and 33 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins dashboard .
But Laerke said the actual numbers are much higher .
The country has been ravaged by war and the malnourished population has among the world ’ s lowest immunity levels to disease .
Locking Down UK A Week Earlier Could Have Avoided Thousands Of Deaths — 5/22/20 , 6:20 a.m .
Putting the U.K. into lockdown just one week earlier would have had a “ dramatic ” impact on the number of deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , a leading mathematical modeler has declared .
Writing for HuffPost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bath University ’ s center for mathematical biology , said that speedier intervention could have saved thousands of lives , while making it easier to reopen the economy and protect the National Health Service ( NHS ) at the same time .
Yates underlined a new analysis by climatologist James Annan that estimated that three-quarters of Britain ’ s fatalities — at least 27,000 deaths — would have been avoided with a lockdown imposed seven days earlier than March 23 , when Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally opted to do so .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s epidemic , when the case numbers were growing exponentially , it would not have been difficult to predict that earlier suppression would have had dramatic and beneficial consequences for the number of cases and deaths a short time down the line , ” he said .
Latest government figures show 36,042 people with the virus have died in the U.K. One model devised by the Financial Times suggests at least 63,000 excess deaths are linked directly or indirectly to COVID-19 .
Read more Fauci : Go Out ( But Maintain Physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5/22/2020 , 6:00 a.m. Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the Trump White House ’ s coronavirus task force , said people should go out and enjoy the outdoors over Memorial Day weekend , but to practice physical distancing .
At a CNN global coronavirus town hall Thursday night , Fauci said he would be enjoying hikes over the long weekend , but he would be wearing a mask and avoiding crowds .
His comments were welcomed by epidemiologist Julia Marcus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach is now needed in giving guidance to Americans , instead of the “ all-or-nothing ” approach in telling Americans to stay at home , HuffPost ’ s Lee Moran reports .
“ I think that ’ s the approach we need moving forward , is to encourage people to be outdoors where we know the risk of transmission is much lower , ” said Marcus .
Brazil Death Toll Surpasses 20,000 After Another Deadly Day — 5/22/20 , 5 a.m .

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and the measures being taken to flatten the curve of transmission.
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below. (To see the latest updates, you may need to refresh the page. All times are Eastern. For earlier updates on the pandemic, go here.)
Yemen’s Health System ‘Has In Effect’ Collapsed, UN Says — 5/22/20, 6:35 a.m.
Yemen’s health-care system is collapsing under the strain of the spread of COVID-19, the U.N. warned Friday in an appeal for funding.
Aid workers report turning people away because they don’t have the PPE or oxygen needed to treat them, said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Reuters reported.
“We hear from many of them that Yemen is really on the brink right now. The situation is extremely alarming, they are talking about that the health system has in effect collapsed,” he said.
Yemen has reported 197 cases of coronavirus and 33 deaths from the disease, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard. But Laerke said the actual numbers are much higher. The country has been ravaged by war and the malnourished population has among the world’s lowest immunity levels to disease.
— Liza Hearon
Locking Down UK A Week Earlier Could Have Avoided Thousands Of Deaths — 5/22/20, 6:20 a.m.
Putting the U.K. into lockdown just one week earlier would have had a “dramatic” impact on the number of deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a leading mathematical modeler has declared.
Writing for HuffPost UK, Kit Yates, co-director of Bath University’s center for mathematical biology, said that speedier intervention could have saved thousands of lives, while making it easier to reopen the economy and protect the National Health Service (NHS) at the same time.
Yates underlined a new analysis by climatologist James Annan that estimated that three-quarters of Britain’s fatalities — at least 27,000 deaths — would have been avoided with a lockdown imposed seven days earlier than March 23, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally opted to do so.
“In the early stages of the U.K.’s epidemic, when the case numbers were growing exponentially, it would not have been difficult to predict that earlier suppression would have had dramatic and beneficial consequences for the number of cases and deaths a short time down the line,” he said.
Latest government figures show 36,042 people with the virus have died in the U.K. One model devised by the Financial Times suggests at least 63,000 excess deaths are linked directly or indirectly to COVID-19. Read more
— Paul Waugh
Fauci: Go Out (But Maintain Physical Distance) Over Memorial Day Weekend — 5/22/2020, 6:00 a.m.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the Trump White House’s coronavirus task force, said people should go out and enjoy the outdoors over Memorial Day weekend, but to practice physical distancing.
At a CNN global coronavirus town hall Thursday night, Fauci said he would be enjoying hikes over the long weekend, but he would be wearing a mask and avoiding crowds.
His comments were welcomed by epidemiologist Julia Marcus, who says that a sustainable, long-term approach is now needed in giving guidance to Americans, instead of the “all-or-nothing” approach in telling Americans to stay at home, HuffPost’s Lee Moran reports.
“I think that’s the approach we need moving forward, is to encourage people to be outdoors where we know the risk of transmission is much lower,” said Marcus.
— Liza Hearon
Brazil Death Toll Surpasses 20,000 After Another Deadly Day — 5/22/20, 5 a.m.


huffpost--2020-05-20--Virus Complicates Evacuation Of 2.6 Million People As Cyclone Slams India, Bangladesh

NEW DELHI ( AP ) — A powerful cyclone slammed ashore Wednesday along the coastline of India and Bangladesh where more than 2.6 million people fled to shelters in a frantic evacuation made all the more challenging by the coronavirus pandemic .
Cyclone Amphan , an equivalent of a category-3 hurricane , was packing winds of up to 170 kilometers ( 105 miles ) per hour and maximum gusts of 190 kph ( 118 mph ) .
Authorities warned it could wreck extensive damage to flimsy houses and a storm surge may push seawater 25 kilometers ( 15 miles ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The densely populated regions are home to some of the most vulnerable communities in South Asia : poor fishing communities in the Sunderbans and over a million Rohingya refugees living in the crowded camps in Cox ’ s Bazar in Bangladesh .
The cyclone began to make landfall Wednesday afternoon between Digha , a seaside resort in West Bengal , and Hatiya Islands in Bangladesh .
The eye of the storm is likely to pass through the Sunderbans , one of the largest mangrove forests in the world , India ’ s meteorological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a vital line of defense by dissipating some of the energy from the waves that would otherwise crash into the coastline , said K.J .
Ramesh , the department ’ s former chief .
Evacuated children wearing masks as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus stand at a relief camp at Paradeep , on the Bay of Bengal coast in Orissa , India , on May 19 , 2020 .
Areas at risk of landslides were stabilized with bamboo and concrete walls .
But the combination of the virus and cyclone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , ” said Manuel Pereira , deputy chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration in Bangladesh .
“ We know that if people are forced to seek communal shelter , they ’ ll be unable to maintain physical distancing and run the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus , ” said Pereira .
He said children were crying and women desperately tried to cover their faces with their saris while trying to maintain some distance from each other .
“ I have left all my belongings in my house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ washed away in the floods , ” he said .
Some cyclone shelters in West Bengal were being used for quarantining COVID-19 patients and migrant workers returning to their homes .
The state government asked for trains transporting migrants to be suspended , Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said .
Some schools were turned into shelters , news reports said .
In the seaside resort of Digha , many people feared going to the shelters , fisherman Debasis Shyamal said .
“ They have been home for weeks , and are afraid of going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected , ” he said .
People walk along a road near the Tajpur Beach to take shelter ahead of the expected landfall of cyclone Amphan in Midnapore , West Bengal , on May 20 , 2020 .
The densely populated city of Kolkata , which has nearly 1,500 coronavirus cases , is likely to see flooding , while some centuries-old buildings in the northern half of the city could collapse due to the strong winds , officials warned .
The cyclone is bearing down during the Islamic holy month Ramadan , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly waited until the early morning hours before heading for the shelters .
The region is no stranger to devastating cyclones .
Ramesh , the former chief of India ’ s weather agency , said it wasn ’ t the frequency of cyclones but their intensity that has increased due to climate change patterns .
This has to do with the temperature of the sea ’ s surface .
Warm water is the fuel for cyclones .
It is where storms get their energy and the amount of heat trapped in the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ocean has increased .
“ As a result , cyclones are intensifying faster than before , ” he said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
NEW DELHI (AP) — A powerful cyclone slammed ashore Wednesday along the coastline of India and Bangladesh where more than 2.6 million people fled to shelters in a frantic evacuation made all the more challenging by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cyclone Amphan, an equivalent of a category-3 hurricane, was packing winds of up to 170 kilometers (105 miles) per hour and maximum gusts of 190 kph (118 mph). Authorities warned it could wreck extensive damage to flimsy houses and a storm surge may push seawater 25 kilometers (15 miles) inland, flooding cities including Kolkata.
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The densely populated regions are home to some of the most vulnerable communities in South Asia: poor fishing communities in the Sunderbans and over a million Rohingya refugees living in the crowded camps in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.
The cyclone began to make landfall Wednesday afternoon between Digha, a seaside resort in West Bengal, and Hatiya Islands in Bangladesh. The eye of the storm is likely to pass through the Sunderbans, one of the largest mangrove forests in the world, India’s meteorological department said.
The forests could act as a vital line of defense by dissipating some of the energy from the waves that would otherwise crash into the coastline, said K.J. Ramesh, the department’s former chief.
Bangladesh is attempting to evacuate 2.2 million people to safety. India’s West Bengal state moved nearly 300,000 and Odisha state another 148,486 people, officials said.
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In Cox’s Bazar, where the first 10 coronavirus cases were confirmed last week, authorities and U.N. workers prepared 50 shelters and assigned 256 volunteer units.
Evacuated children wearing masks as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus stand at a relief camp at Paradeep, on the Bay of Bengal coast in Orissa, India, on May 19, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Areas at risk of landslides were stabilized with bamboo and concrete walls. But the combination of the virus and cyclone could lead to a “new humanitarian crisis,” said Manuel Pereira, deputy chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration in Bangladesh.
“We know that if people are forced to seek communal shelter, they’ll be unable to maintain physical distancing and run the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus,” said Pereira.
Masks and hand sanitizers were hastily added to emergency items in the shelters.
Sobrato Das, a fisherman in Mousuni Island in India, close to the Sunderbans, described the shelters as crowded and said “very few people are wearing masks.”
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He said children were crying and women desperately tried to cover their faces with their saris while trying to maintain some distance from each other.
“I have left all my belongings in my house and hope it doesn’t get washed away in the floods,” he said.
Some cyclone shelters in West Bengal were being used for quarantining COVID-19 patients and migrant workers returning to their homes. The state government asked for trains transporting migrants to be suspended, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. Some schools were turned into shelters, news reports said.
Some in the cyclone’s path saw a choice between the virus and the storm.
In the seaside resort of Digha, many people feared going to the shelters, fisherman Debasis Shyamal said. “They have been home for weeks, and are afraid of going into a crowd where they could get infected,” he said.
People walk along a road near the Tajpur Beach to take shelter ahead of the expected landfall of cyclone Amphan in Midnapore, West Bengal, on May 20, 2020. DIBYANGSHU SARKAR via Getty Images
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The densely populated city of Kolkata, which has nearly 1,500 coronavirus cases, is likely to see flooding, while some centuries-old buildings in the northern half of the city could collapse due to the strong winds, officials warned.
The cyclone is bearing down during the Islamic holy month Ramadan, and some Bangladeshis who fasted during the day reportedly waited until the early morning hours before heading for the shelters.
The region is no stranger to devastating cyclones. Ramesh, the former chief of India’s weather agency, said it wasn’t the frequency of cyclones but their intensity that has increased due to climate change patterns.
This has to do with the temperature of the sea’s surface. Warm water is the fuel for cyclones. It is where storms get their energy and the amount of heat trapped in the top 700 meters (2,300 feet) of the ocean has increased. “As a result, cyclones are intensifying faster than before,” he said.
___
Alam reported from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Associated Press writers Sheikh Saaliq and Chonchui Ngashangva in New Delhi contributed to this report.