huffpost--2020-05-27--The Coronavirus Is Creating A Mental Health Crisis In America's Workforce

Over a third of workers in the U.S. are currently struggling with mental health issues , ranging from moderate distress to serious mental illness .
That ’ s according to a study conducted in March , just as the coronavirus pandemic was beginning to hit the country .
Three months into the pandemic ― facing a tanking economy and a public health crisis in which nearly 100,000 people have died in the U.S. ― and workers ’ mental health is being tested like never before .
Essential workers are battling to keep going and people are being forced to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work without sufficient protection as states reopen .
Meanwhile those working from home continue to juggle their jobs with childcare or caring for older or sick relatives , and others remain isolated and anxious .
On top of all this , the death toll continues to tick upward and many are trying to come to terms with bereavement during a period of social distancing .
It all adds up to a perfect storm when it comes to mental health struggles .
Employers are starting to respond .
From small , temporary initiatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and digital fitness classes ― to longer-term solutions such as expanding telehealth and therapy options under employee health care insurance , many companies are trying to find a strategy that fits .
But there are calls to do much more .
An April 2020 survey done by Standard Insurance Company found that 91 % of people believe companies should be helping employees manage their mental health issues , but fewer than a third of respondents say employers are very good or excellent at supporting their mental health needs .
The needle is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mental health concerns , and the understanding that employers need to address this .
Denise Rousseau , professor of organizational behavior and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University ’ s Heinz College “ This whole situation is building trust and relationships in new ways , despite the stress that comes with adjustment , ” said Scott Beth , chief diversity and inclusion officer at tax software company Intuit .
In response to the pandemic , the company has introduced online tools for remote workers and access to mental health services .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave policy , providing four weeks of paid time off to provide care for children or elderly family members as well as an additional two weeks of paid sick time for all employees to adjust to closure of schools , worksites and daycares .
Seeing his co-workers tackle stress , anxiety , and frustration in different ways , while still staying productive , he now understands the benefits of remote working ― and knows that feeling connected is more important for collaboration and cohesion than being in the same physical space .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work from home in the near future helps them feel less anxious and stressed about the uncertainty prompted by the pandemic .
More flexible work-from-home policies , however , may only be possible for so-called knowledge workers who rely mostly on a laptop to do their work .
But for those who can ’ t work remotely — like those in health care , retail , hospitality , construction , agriculture , manufacturing , delivery services , and every other industry where being on the job means showing up to a worksite — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address the toll of work-related mental health issues , said Carmin .
Frontline essential workers are literally putting their lives on the line for a paycheck , and many are concerned about possibly bringing those health risks back home .
Companies also need to look at their bereavement policies , she added .
In 2017 , Facebook , Airbnb and General Mills all expanded bereavement from the typical one to four days allotted by most companies to up to 20 days of paid time off .
Although there haven ’ t been any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to COVID-19 , with the number of deaths continuing to increase , it ’ s likely that policies like these will need to be reviewed , Carmin said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Over a third of workers in the U.S. are currently struggling with mental health issues, ranging from moderate distress to serious mental illness. That’s according to a study conducted in March, just as the coronavirus pandemic was beginning to hit the country. Three months into the pandemic ― facing a tanking economy and a public health crisis in which nearly 100,000 people have died in the U.S. ― and workers’ mental health is being tested like never before.
Unlike a natural disaster that has an endpoint followed by cleanup, or a recession where experts can predict recovery based on past economic downturns (each of which can be very traumatic in its own right), we simply don’t know what’s ahead, explained Cheryl Carmin, psychologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. And that’s incredibly stressful for most people.
Advertisement
“A lack of control feeds into anxiety in a major way,” Carmin said. “There is also a sense of trauma here, because people are going through some very difficult times.”
Essential workers are battling to keep going and people are being forced to leave the safety of their homes to go to work without sufficient protection as states reopen. Meanwhile those working from home continue to juggle their jobs with childcare or caring for older or sick relatives, and others remain isolated and anxious. On top of all this, the death toll continues to tick upward and many are trying to come to terms with bereavement during a period of social distancing. It all adds up to a perfect storm when it comes to mental health struggles.
The pandemic can be incredibly stressful for parents who have to provide childcare and homeschooling while also being productive employees. Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Seven out of 10 people said this is the most stressful time in their entire career, according to a recent MarketWatch survey conducted at the beginning of the pandemic. And, as a Gallup poll done in late March showed, 60% of U.S. adults reported significant stress and worry on a daily basis.
Advertisement
“This pandemic is showing us that mental health issues are not confined to a small minority in the workplace,” said Johnny Taylor, CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management. “Research is showing us how extensive the problem is, and that’s changing the conversation.”
Employers are starting to respond. From small, temporary initiatives ― think Zoom “music listening parties” and digital fitness classes ― to longer-term solutions such as expanding telehealth and therapy options under employee health care insurance, many companies are trying to find a strategy that fits. But there are calls to do much more. An April 2020 survey done by Standard Insurance Company found that 91% of people believe companies should be helping employees manage their mental health issues, but fewer than a third of respondents say employers are very good or excellent at supporting their mental health needs.
In the U.S., the onus has long been on the individual to address mental health struggles, and their difficulties are often seen as weaknesses. It’s led many people to feel that admitting mental health challenges will push them back in their careers, and it prevents some from seeking help. The April study, for example, found that only 38% of respondents felt comfortable seeking help from employers due to perceived stigma.
The coronavirus ― with its dragging timeline and wide-ranging impact ― could change this.
“The needle is shifting in regard to recognition and normalization of mental health concerns, and the understanding that employers need to address this.” - Denise Rousseau, professor of organizational behavior and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College
Everyone is affected, including company managers and business leaders. Executives have now been put into a situation where they, too, have struggled with childcare, eldercare, and being productive, said William Kassler, deputy health officer at IBM Watson Health. They’ve faced their own emotional challenges, and he believes that will inevitably make them more responsive and sensitive to supporting and prioritizing mental health in the workplace.
Advertisement
“No one can predict what’s ahead, of course, but I think what we’ll see is a whole different kind of empathy, and this time it’s coming from the top down,” said Kassler. “Which is what you need for true cultural change in an organization.”
Even before the pandemic, some businesses had woken up to the need to prioritize well-being.
Over the last five years there has been increased awareness among employers of mental health in the workplace, said Laurie Chamberlin, president of U.S. professional recruitment and solutions at workforce solutions provider the Adecco Group. But despite some progress, she says impact overall on these types of programs has generally been slow.
Now, the pandemic has added new urgency.
“Everyone, at every level, has been thrown out of what was considered predictable and certain, and into this world with a ton of ambiguity,” said Carmin. “So, you’re seeing employers trying anything they think will work to help employees feel better right now.”
Professional services firm PWC, for instance, is providing “well-being coaching sessions” for employees to use whenever they feel like it. And content creation company Thunderbird Entertainment, with offices in Vancouver and Los Angeles, has introduced mental health benefits such as providing 24/7 virtual access to therapists under employee health insurance, plus free wellness sessions and no-meeting Fridays to avoid “Zoom fatigue.”
The mindfulness app Headspace said it has seen a more than 400% increase since mid-March in the number of requests from companies who want to provide their employees with access to it.
Advertisement
While these efforts to address immediate needs are important, tackling the core of employee well-being requires a more fundamental rethinking of how a company engages with its employees, say experts, pointing to the need for a more human, empathetic approach.
“This whole situation is building trust and relationships in new ways, despite the stress that comes with adjustment,” said Scott Beth, chief diversity and inclusion officer at tax software company Intuit. In response to the pandemic, the company has introduced online tools for remote workers and access to mental health services. It has also expanded its family support time leave policy, providing four weeks of paid time off to provide care for children or elderly family members as well as an additional two weeks of paid sick time for all employees to adjust to closure of schools, worksites and daycares.
“Not everyone will be coming back to an office or a campus, I think, but they’re feeling connected and supported anyway,” Beth said about the company’s employees. “Some of them, who’ve struggled with mental health, may feel like they’re being heard for the first time. To me, that’s a big step forward.”
A sticker reading "I can't wait to hug you" is pictured as a man waits at a bus stop in central London. TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images
Before the pandemic, Rob Farinella, CEO of Atlanta-based advertising agency Blue Sky, considered working from home to be a rare perk reserved only for the most tenured of his 28 employees. He was dubious that people could achieve a high level of productivity if they weren’t in the office.
Advertisement
But during one-on-one calls or group tele-meetings, Farinella talked with his employees about their emotional health and shared some of his own struggles with trying to stay positive in the midst of this much uncertainty. This has allowed him to foster a culture where people can now be much more open about the “tough stuff.”
Seeing his co-workers tackle stress, anxiety, and frustration in different ways, while still staying productive, he now understands the benefits of remote working ― and knows that feeling connected is more important for collaboration and cohesion than being in the same physical space. Many have told him that knowing they can work from home in the near future helps them feel less anxious and stressed about the uncertainty prompted by the pandemic.
“All of this has completely transformed my perspective,” he said. “I feel like I’m rethinking everything.” Working from the office will now be an option, not a mandate.
From workers to CEOs, everyone is dealing with the pressures of the pandemic like childcare, eldercare and financial worries. David Ramos via Getty Images
More flexible work-from-home policies, however, may only be possible for so-called knowledge workers who rely mostly on a laptop to do their work. But for those who can’t work remotely — like those in health care, retail, hospitality, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, delivery services, and every other industry where being on the job means showing up to a worksite — there’s even greater need to address the toll of work-related mental health issues, said Carmin. Frontline essential workers are literally putting their lives on the line for a paycheck, and many are concerned about possibly bringing those health risks back home.
Advertisement
Some companies are working to address these issues with announcements of more investment in mental health services specifically for these employees. Starbucks, for example, announced that employees and their family members will receive access to 20 mental health sessions with a therapist or coach each year. And CVS Health recently committed $1 million to mental health services for frontline workers after seeing a 200% increase in usage of virtual mental health visits compared to the same period last year.
Efforts like these by large companies tend to showcase the importance of services, said Carmin, and may inspire others with frontline workers to do the same.
Companies also need to look at their bereavement policies, she added. In 2017, Facebook, Airbnb and General Mills all expanded bereavement from the typical one to four days allotted by most companies to up to 20 days of paid time off. Although there haven’t been any similar announcements of changes to bereavement policies due to COVID-19, with the number of deaths continuing to increase, it’s likely that policies like these will need to be reviewed, Carmin said.
Starbucks has started providing employees and their family members with 20 mental health sessions with a therapist or coach each year. ASSOCIATED PRESS/Ted S. Warren
Ultimately, if we want this greater awareness and empathy spurred by the pandemic to stick, experts say it requires companies to embrace the idea of its workforce as a community, to be more flexible to mental health needs ― both in the way we work as well as the health care options provided ― and to actually listen to, and implement, employee feedback.
Advertisement
“The needle is shifting in regard to recognition and normalization of mental health concerns, and the understanding that employers need to address this,” said Denise Rousseau, professor of organizational behavior and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.
Having an environment of “we’re all in this together” can go a long way toward creating a sense of community when it comes to mental health, said Rousseau.
Greater flexibility and understanding is also needed when it comes to insurance coverage, said Rousseau. Employers need to focus on destigmatizing mental health issues and offering assistance. The point is to help employees see mental health checkups as a normal part of life, Rousseau added, similar to those for physical health.
A widespread mental health revamp will take time, and in many ways, we’re only at the beginning phase of understanding the breadth of the issue, believes Rousseau. But if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we can adjust and become more resilient much faster than we may have thought.
“What’s new is not that issues like anxiety and depression are becoming more prevalent, because that was happening before coronavirus,” said Chamberlin. “What we’re seeing now is that people are caring about it more, they’re willing to do something about it, the stigma is fading fast.”
Advertisement
“Now, we’re ready to turn that awareness into action,” she said, “and hopefully long-term action at that.”
For more content and to be part of the “This New World” community, follow our Facebook page.


huffpost--2020-05-27--Women Are Sharing Candid Photos To Send A Message To Pandemic Body-Shamers

The hashtag was started by photographer and advocate Anastasia Garcia on April 8 .
Tired of the jokes , memes and general attitude toward the potential for weight gain during shelter-in-place that have been necessary due to COVID-19 , Garcia snapped a mirror selfie in her underwear and shared it along with a candid statement about how she was feeling .
“ I am so thankful that I am healthy ... when so many are losing their lives , ” she wrote .
“ I ’ ve been really disappointed seeing blatant body shaming and weight gain stigma .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredibly privileged.
” “ It was just making me question all the years of self work I ’ ve done to love myself and accept my body at every stage , ” she told HuffPost .
And when articles started to come out about this very topic , she realized she was very much not alone .
So , she encouraged other Instagram users to follow her lead .
Many soon obliged , sharing their own # MyQuarantineBody selfies , celebrating how lucky they felt to be home and healthy .
The messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salve from some of the negative content many have been consuming during the pandemic .
“ Maybe a week and a half into [ the campaign ] ... you could only see the top posts but not recent [ posts ] , because ‘ some photos violated user guidelines , ’ ” Garcia said .
“ I can literally see nudes of thin women on Instagram .
What exactly about this movement violates user guidelines ?
” Beyond the disappointing disruption , the impact of Garcia ’ s movement remains intact .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and founder of New York City Plus Sarah Chiwaya , it opened up the space for conversation ― and kindness .
“ Whether in the form of bad memes , targeted weight loss ads or straight up body-shaming , it ’ s so common that it almost feels unremarkable , ” Chiwaya told HuffPost over email .
“ I ’ m so glad Anastasia started this movement to push back on this .
When I posted the tag , so many readers reached out to say how much they needed to hear something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a little kinder to themselves.
” “ To see the range of women of different shapes , sizes , ages , ethnicities ― I have felt pretty alone during quarantine in my Brooklyn apartment ― but seeing all these women come together for the sake of the greater good , who have also had these thoughts , was the most beautiful , humbling and inspiring thing , ” she said .
It felt even more relevant when Nancy Pelosi was criticized for bringing up Donald Trump ’ s weight .
Many , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s comments did less to impact Trump and instead furthered fat-phobic attitudes in general .
“ I will never defend [ Trump ] in any capacity , ” Garcia said .
“ But taking him out of the equation , a woman like Nancy Pelosi who I look up to and view as being one of the most competent leaders ... for her to also perpetuate this notion that somehow your weight is equated to some kind of moral failing or tying your weight to their competence ...
The conversation should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about his body.
” Ultimately , the conversation Garcia wants to continue having is about people regaining control of their own narratives and how fortunate individuals are if a bit of weight gain is their only concern right now .
“ My body is not reflective of anything about me ― certainly not my health , certainly not my work.
” Garcia said .
“ Having a thin body isn ’ t a personality trait .
Being beautiful is not an accomplishment .
The goal is to empower women .
Nobody can tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― only you can decide that .
Watching these women post images and make decisions about how they feel in their bodies at this moment ― that was the power , and it ’ s my goal to continue to do that .
”

If you need more proof that social media still lacks adequate body diversity representation, consider what happened with the #MyQuarantineBody movement’s tagged page on Instagram.
The hashtag was started by photographer and advocate Anastasia Garcia on April 8. Tired of the jokes, memes and general attitude toward the potential for weight gain during shelter-in-place that have been necessary due to COVID-19, Garcia snapped a mirror selfie in her underwear and shared it along with a candid statement about how she was feeling.
Photographer Anastasia Garcia started the #MyQuarantineBody movement as an antidote to the fat shaming jokes, memes and attitudes surrounding weight gain during the coronavirus pandemic. Anastasia Garcia
Advertisement
“I am so thankful that I am healthy ... when so many are losing their lives,” she wrote. “I’ve been really disappointed seeing blatant body shaming and weight gain stigma. It feels tone deaf, short sighted and incredibly privileged.”
Garcia, who has spent her career working to expose and dispel our culturally ingrained fat-phobia, wondered if she was the only one being triggered by such discourse.
“It was just making me question all the years of self work I’ve done to love myself and accept my body at every stage,” she told HuffPost. And when articles started to come out about this very topic, she realized she was very much not alone.
So, she encouraged other Instagram users to follow her lead. Many soon obliged, sharing their own #MyQuarantineBody selfies, celebrating how lucky they felt to be home and healthy. The messages were empowering, honest and provided a salve from some of the negative content many have been consuming during the pandemic.
Advertisement
But then most of the 264 photos tagged with Garcia’s hashtag went missing on Instagram.
“Maybe a week and a half into [the campaign] ... you could only see the top posts but not recent [posts], because ‘some photos violated user guidelines,’” Garcia said. “I can literally see nudes of thin women on Instagram. What exactly about this movement violates user guidelines?”
At the time of publication, many of the tagged photos have been restored to the #MyQuarantineBody page. Instagram declined to comment on the record for this piece.
Confidence coach and Instagram user @asboldasbritt joined the #MyQuarantineBody social media movement. Instagram / @asboldasbritt
Beyond the disappointing disruption, the impact of Garcia’s movement remains intact. And for participants, like body positive blogger and founder of New York City Plus Sarah Chiwaya, it opened up the space for conversation ― and kindness.
“Whether in the form of bad memes, targeted weight loss ads or straight up body-shaming, it’s so common that it almost feels unremarkable,” Chiwaya told HuffPost over email. “I’m so glad Anastasia started this movement to push back on this. When I posted the tag, so many readers reached out to say how much they needed to hear something positive like that, to help them be a little kinder to themselves.”
Advertisement
Body positive bloggerr Sarah Chiwaya told HuffPost that sharing her #MyQuarantineBody post led to an amazing response from her followers. Instagram/@curvily
For Garcia, simply seeing so many different women posing in their underwear was a transformative experience.
“To see the range of women of different shapes, sizes, ages, ethnicities ― I have felt pretty alone during quarantine in my Brooklyn apartment ― but seeing all these women come together for the sake of the greater good, who have also had these thoughts, was the most beautiful, humbling and inspiring thing,” she said.
Ashley McIntyre, who tagged her photo with #MyQuarantineBody. Instagram @ashleylucindastyle
For Garcia, who was named one of Glamour’s “Game Changers” earlier this month, the response to #MyQuarantineBody has reaffirmed the importance of her work.
Advertisement
It felt even more relevant when Nancy Pelosi was criticized for bringing up Donald Trump’s weight. Many, including Garcia, pointed out that Pelosi’s comments did less to impact Trump and instead furthered fat-phobic attitudes in general.
“I will never defend [Trump] in any capacity,” Garcia said. “But taking him out of the equation, a woman like Nancy Pelosi who I look up to and view as being one of the most competent leaders ... for her to also perpetuate this notion that somehow your weight is equated to some kind of moral failing or tying your weight to their competence ... The conversation should be about his incompetence and in no way about his body.”
Ultimately, the conversation Garcia wants to continue having is about people regaining control of their own narratives and how fortunate individuals are if a bit of weight gain is their only concern right now.
Photo from @thecurvytrini, storyteller, model and participant in the #MyQuarantineBody movement. https://www.instagram.com/thecurvytrini/
“My body is not reflective of anything about me ― certainly not my health, certainly not my work.” Garcia said. “Having a thin body isn’t a personality trait. Being beautiful is not an accomplishment. The goal is to empower women. Nobody can tell you how to feel about your body ― only you can decide that. Watching these women post images and make decisions about how they feel in their bodies at this moment ― that was the power, and it’s my goal to continue to do that.”
Advertisement


huffpost--2020-04-11--5 Common Mistakes We Make With Deviled Eggs

Egg sales are soaring , with shoppers including the versatile staple on their grocery lists as they shelter in place during the coronavirus pandemic .
So , once you ’ ve tried out all your usual omelet and quiche recipes , don ’ t forget to take a crack at deviled eggs ― which are also a great option for Easter .
But a lot can go wrong in a process with so many steps .
The eggs may be overcooked or undercooked .
Sometimes , hard-boiled eggs are impossible to peel , and fillings can turn out lumpy or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think they are challenging for people because you have to get the perfectly cooked egg , as well as needing to make sure that the filling is the right consistency , ” said Claudia Sidoti , principal chef at HelloFresh .
“ Although you don ’ t need a lot of ingredients in your deviled eggs , it ’ s all about ratios.
” For example , Proto puts the eggs in a pot , covers them with water , brings it to a boil , lets it boil for one to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heat and lets the eggs sit in the hot water for 10 to 12 minutes .
Then he drains the water and runs cold water over the eggs until they cool .
Bohm takes a different approach .
He brings water to a boil , salts it and carefully places the eggs in the boiling water , cooking them for eight minutes .
Then he places the eggs in an ice bath before peeling .
If you ’ ve ever hard-boiled eggs and found them near impossible to peel , with pieces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shell , you ’ re not alone .
Professional chefs have this problem , too .
“ The bane of my existence , ” Proto said .
“ Three Easters ago , I said I ’ d bring deviled eggs to a gathering , and even though I ’ ve been a professional chef for 24 years , I went through like four dozen , five dozen eggs , and they wouldn ’ t peel.
” “ I peel them underwater , ” he said .
“ Once water gets under the membrane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they ’ ll look really nice .
This is what I found works eight times out of 10.
” “ One thing I also like to do is cut a little foot on them , ” Proto said .
“ You can cut a little flat spot on either side , so they sit flat .
I think that that ’ s something that most people don ’ t do.
” Cutting the eggs through the middle is Bohm ’ s preference for the deviled eggs he serves at his restaurant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two halves so they don ’ t topple over .
“ One side is deeper ; one side is shallower , because the egg yolk never sits perfectly in the middle , ” he said .
“ But it doesn ’ t matter .
You can ’ t really tell when it ’ s filled and portioned.
” 4 .
The filling is bland and too lumpy “ Deviled eggs are a classic appetizer , but also a perfect base for other fun flavors , ” she said .
“ Try dressing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for something fancy , chives or other tender chopped herbs , hot sauce , Sriracha , crispy fried onions , chopped bacon and even caviar.
” Just make sure the filling is as smooth as possible .
Bohm recommends mixing everything in a food processor or blender , and adding some of the hard-boiled egg whites will help keep the mixture smooth .
5 .
The deviled eggs are dried out Plus , Proto said , “ They almost always get that weird crust on top , and I hate that crust .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as close to serving as possible .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Egg sales are soaring, with shoppers including the versatile staple on their grocery lists as they shelter in place during the coronavirus pandemic. So, once you’ve tried out all your usual omelet and quiche recipes, don’t forget to take a crack at deviled eggs ― which are also a great option for Easter.
Making deviled eggs involves hard-boiling and peeling eggs, slicing them and scooping out the yolks to mix with mayonnaise or other ingredients, and then refilling.
Advertisement
But a lot can go wrong in a process with so many steps. The eggs may be overcooked or undercooked. Sometimes, hard-boiled eggs are impossible to peel, and fillings can turn out lumpy or gloopy with too much mayonnaise.
“I think they are challenging for people because you have to get the perfectly cooked egg, as well as needing to make sure that the filling is the right consistency,” said Claudia Sidoti, principal chef at HelloFresh. “Although you don’t need a lot of ingredients in your deviled eggs, it’s all about ratios.”
Too many home cooks overthink it, said Tomas Bohm, chef and owner of The Pantry in Little Rock, Arkansas.
“It should be simple,” said Bohm, who serves truffled deviled eggs at his restaurant. “I think people try really hard, and the outcome is not always good.”
Advertisement
We asked chefs to weigh in on five of the most common problems with making deviled eggs and how you can avoid them.
1. The eggs are overcooked
Overcooking eggs is the biggest offense, Bohm said.
“The egg yolk is so done, and it has that grayish, greenish outer layer,” he said.
eag1e via Getty Images A hard-boiled egg with a dark ring around the yolk due to overcooking.
So, what’s the best way hard boil an egg? Frank Proto, director of culinary operations at the Institute of Culinary Education, has his own preferred method.
For example, Proto puts the eggs in a pot, covers them with water, brings it to a boil, lets it boil for one to two minutes, and then turns off the heat and lets the eggs sit in the hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Then he drains the water and runs cold water over the eggs until they cool.
“That usually does a pretty good hard-boiled egg for me,” he said.
Bohm takes a different approach. He brings water to a boil, salts it and carefully places the eggs in the boiling water, cooking them for eight minutes. Then he places the eggs in an ice bath before peeling.
Advertisement
“That way, the egg yolk is cooked, but it’s still a little bit creamy,” he said.
2. The hard-boiled eggs just won’t peel
If you’ve ever hard-boiled eggs and found them near impossible to peel, with pieces of egg white coming off with the shell, you’re not alone. Professional chefs have this problem, too.
“The bane of my existence,” Proto said. “Three Easters ago, I said I’d bring deviled eggs to a gathering, and even though I’ve been a professional chef for 24 years, I went through like four dozen, five dozen eggs, and they wouldn’t peel.”
Fresh eggs tend to be harder to peel, Sidoti said. “Try to plan ahead and buy your eggs a few days or up to a week in advance.”
Otherwise, Proto said there isn’t a foolproof trick to peeling hard-boiled eggs.
“I peel them underwater,” he said. “Once water gets under the membrane, the shells come off easily, and they’ll look really nice. This is what I found works eight times out of 10.”
Advertisement
Also, peel hard-boiled eggs before refrigerating, Bohm said, or they’ll be much harder to peel.
There’s no shame in serving misshapen deviled eggs, though. If aesthetics matter, you can use the hard-to-peel ones in other recipes, like egg salad or potato salad.
3. The deviled eggs won’t stand up straight
How you choose to slice deviled eggs is a personal preference, but there are a few tricks if you want them to stand upright.
Sidoti and Proto prefer cutting the eggs lengthwise, creating two equal sides.
“One thing I also like to do is cut a little foot on them,” Proto said. “You can cut a little flat spot on either side, so they sit flat. I think that that’s something that most people don’t do.”
Cutting the eggs through the middle is Bohm’s preference for the deviled eggs he serves at his restaurant. He also trims the tips of the two halves so they don’t topple over.
“One side is deeper; one side is shallower, because the egg yolk never sits perfectly in the middle,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter. You can’t really tell when it’s filled and portioned.”
Advertisement
4. The filling is bland and too lumpy
Underseasoning the yolk mixture is another common mistake, Proto said.
“Yolks and whites are pretty bland,” he said. “You should have a nice amount of seasoning in your yolk mixture.”
But keep it simple. Mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper and maybe a bit of lemon juice or vinegar is all you need, Sidoti said.
“Deviled eggs are a classic appetizer, but also a perfect base for other fun flavors,” she said. “Try dressing them up with other ingredients like truffle zest for something fancy, chives or other tender chopped herbs, hot sauce, Sriracha, crispy fried onions, chopped bacon and even caviar.”
Just make sure the filling is as smooth as possible. Bohm recommends mixing everything in a food processor or blender, and adding some of the hard-boiled egg whites will help keep the mixture smooth.
5. The deviled eggs are dried out
To keep deviled eggs flavorful and fresh, don’t assemble them until just before serving.
bhofack2 via Getty Images Don't let your deviled eggs sit out too long before you plan to serve them.
Advertisement
Store the yolk mixture in a zipper-seal bag and the hollowed-out whites on a tray in the refrigerator until the eggs are ready to fill.
Assemble by snipping off a corner of the baggie and piping the yolk mixture into the egg white halves. Or, just use a spoon.
“I would definitely wait until the last minute,” Bohm said. The longer the deviled eggs sit, the more likely they will lose flavor and dry out.


huffpost--2020-04-11--Bernie Sanders Proposes Emergency Version Of 'Medicare For All' For The Pandemic

Sanders and Rep. Pramila Jayapal ( D-Wash. ) proposed an emergency version of their signature “ Medicare for All ” legislation on Friday : the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act , which would have Medicare reimburse all out-of-pocket costs for both insured and uninsured Americans throughout the coronavirus pandemic .
Congress has already passed a bill to make testing for the coronavirus free , and Democrats have also been pushing for coronavirus treatment to be cost-free as well .
Even President Donald Trump said the federal government will pay providers for treating uninsured patients .
But this plan from Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two lawmakers want a federal backstop for the millions of Americans who have lost their health insurance due to unemployment in recent weeks , as well as some financial aid for the potentially high costs of hospitalization and treatment for COVID-19 patients .
“ What we are seeing today is the fundamental fallacies of the employer-based health care , and the reason for that is that it is likely , over the two-month period , tens of millions of Americans are going to lose their jobs and lose their health care as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone interview .
“ The idea that we look at health care in America as an employee benefit is totally absurd.
” For uninsured Americans , the bill would cover “ any health care items and services that are medically necessary or appropriate ” to maintain a person ’ s health , get a diagnosis , or go through rehabilitation , at Medicare rates , which are substantially lower than what private insurers pay providers .
In other words , this would not cover elective surgeries like a hip replacement during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an inhaler for asthma .
Many hospitals have stopped elective treatments during the pandemic as health care providers struggle to get the resources they need to address the surge in COVID-19 cases .
For those who are insured , the bill would cover deductibles , copayments and any cost-sharing burdens patients have .
The emergency coverage would last until the Food and Drug Administration approves and widely distributes a coronavirus vaccine .
Sanders ’ colleagues in the House and Senate , like Rep. Ruben Gallego ( D-Ariz. ) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out front calling for the government to help cover coronavirus treatments .
Gallego ’ s proposal in the House would have Medicaid , the federal health insurance program for low-income Americans , cover treatment .
But Sanders ’ and Jayapal ’ s teams were concerned that going through Medicaid , which is run on a state-by-state basis , would encounter issues in lower-income states and in states that have been less willing to expand the program .
And they saw the need for coverage beyond coronavirus treatment .
“ Assuming there were political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from health care costs during the crisis , Medicare is a natural vehicle since it already exists everywhere , ” said Larry Levitt , who oversees health policy work at the Kaiser Family Foundation .
“ While many insurers have voluntarily waived cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatment , this goes quite a bit further in covering out-of-pocket costs for all health care .
It ’ s sort of a temporary Medicare for All , grafted on top of our existing insurance system.
” Sanders ’ office noted that this emergency proposal is not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare for All ” plan , which would move all Americans onto a single supercharged Medicare program .
Jayapal authored the House version of the Medicare for All bill introduced in 2019 .
That said , there ’ s been little political consensus around expanding health coverage beyond COVID-19 testing , and so far changes have been on the margins .
Congress expanded Medicare ’ s coverage of telemedicine in the last relief bill but did not include subsidies for COBRA , the federal law that allows recently unemployed Americans to continue their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Affordable Care Act .
The Trump administration decided against reopening the Affordable Care Act ’ s marketplaces to the 28 million people who were uninsured before the pandemic .
Since then , Republican leaders have been singularly focused on giving aid to small businesses instead of working on a broader relief package .
Democrats ’ demands to pass widespread coverage for coronavirus treatment have gone nowhere so far .
More than 17 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past four weeks ; those who lost health benefits are eligible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy into the ACA , or in many cases apply for Medicaid .
Even for those with insurance , there have been reports of massive hospital bills for coronavirus treatment .
“ At a time so many people are losing their jobs , or seeing fewer hours they can work , a reduced income , what you want to do now is say , ‘ OK , we are going to take one burden off your shoulders : You ’ re not going to have to pay for the health care that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is a full-time senator again, and he wants Democrats to back legislation that would cover health care for all during the coronavirus pandemic.
Sanders and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) proposed an emergency version of their signature “Medicare for All” legislation on Friday: the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act, which would have Medicare reimburse all out-of-pocket costs for both insured and uninsured Americans throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Advertisement
Congress has already passed a bill to make testing for the coronavirus free, and Democrats have also been pushing for coronavirus treatment to be cost-free as well. Even President Donald Trump said the federal government will pay providers for treating uninsured patients. But this plan from Sanders and Jayapal goes significantly further.
The two lawmakers want a federal backstop for the millions of Americans who have lost their health insurance due to unemployment in recent weeks, as well as some financial aid for the potentially high costs of hospitalization and treatment for COVID-19 patients.
“What we are seeing today is the fundamental fallacies of the employer-based health care, and the reason for that is that it is likely, over the two-month period, tens of millions of Americans are going to lose their jobs and lose their health care as well,” Sanders told HuffPost in a phone interview. “The idea that we look at health care in America as an employee benefit is totally absurd.”
For uninsured Americans, the bill would cover “any health care items and services that are medically necessary or appropriate” to maintain a person’s health, get a diagnosis, or go through rehabilitation, at Medicare rates, which are substantially lower than what private insurers pay providers. In other words, this would not cover elective surgeries like a hip replacement during the pandemic, but would cover cancer treatment or an inhaler for asthma. Many hospitals have stopped elective treatments during the pandemic as health care providers struggle to get the resources they need to address the surge in COVID-19 cases.
Advertisement
For those who are insured, the bill would cover deductibles, copayments and any cost-sharing burdens patients have. The emergency coverage would last until the Food and Drug Administration approves and widely distributes a coronavirus vaccine.
Sanders’ colleagues in the House and Senate, like Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have also been out front calling for the government to help cover coronavirus treatments. Gallego’s proposal in the House would have Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for low-income Americans, cover treatment.
But Sanders’ and Jayapal’s teams were concerned that going through Medicaid, which is run on a state-by-state basis, would encounter issues in lower-income states and in states that have been less willing to expand the program. And they saw the need for coverage beyond coronavirus treatment.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) speaks at a presidential campaign stop for Sanders at the State Historical Museum of Iowa on Jan. 20, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Assuming there were political consensus that everyone should have this protection from health care costs during the crisis, Medicare is a natural vehicle since it already exists everywhere,” said Larry Levitt, who oversees health policy work at the Kaiser Family Foundation. “While many insurers have voluntarily waived cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatment, this goes quite a bit further in covering out-of-pocket costs for all health care. It’s sort of a temporary Medicare for All, grafted on top of our existing insurance system.”
Advertisement
Sanders’ office noted that this emergency proposal is not an expansion of Medicare, unlike his “Medicare for All” plan, which would move all Americans onto a single supercharged Medicare program. Jayapal authored the House version of the Medicare for All bill introduced in 2019.
That said, there’s been little political consensus around expanding health coverage beyond COVID-19 testing, and so far changes have been on the margins. Congress expanded Medicare’s coverage of telemedicine in the last relief bill but did not include subsidies for COBRA, the federal law that allows recently unemployed Americans to continue their health plans at personal cost, or for the Affordable Care Act. The Trump administration decided against reopening the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces to the 28 million people who were uninsured before the pandemic.
Since then, Republican leaders have been singularly focused on giving aid to small businesses instead of working on a broader relief package. Democrats’ demands to pass widespread coverage for coronavirus treatment have gone nowhere so far.
More than 17 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past four weeks; those who lost health benefits are eligible to extend their benefits through COBRA, buy into the ACA, or in many cases apply for Medicaid. Even for those with insurance, there have been reports of massive hospital bills for coronavirus treatment.
“At a time so many people are losing their jobs, or seeing fewer hours they can work, a reduced income, what you want to do now is say, ‘OK, we are going to take one burden off your shoulders: You’re not going to have to pay for the health care that you need,’” Sanders said.


huffpost--2020-04-11--Sailors Reportedly 'Struggling' And 'Upset' Over Capt. Crozier's Ouster, Official Reveals

Sailors from the coronavirus-stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt were “ upset ” and “ struggling ” after Capt .
Brett Crozier was relieved of duty when he tried to get them help , a Navy vice admiral told CNN on Friday .
The crew was “ struggling in the wake of losing their CO [ commanding officer ] and their perception of the lack of activity regarding fighting the virus , ” said Vice Adm. Bill Merz , the commander of 7th Fleet , who is overseeing the aircraft carrier .
“ There was lots of anxiety about the virus ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As you can imagine , the morale covers the spectrum , considering what they have been through.
” Merz emphasized that the crew is capable and performing well , but rattled .
Many crew members told Merz they were still worried about the fate of their former commanding officer .
Sailors applauded , cheered and chanted Crozier ’ s name when he left the ship last week .
“ I certainly don ’ t question his motives , ” Merz said of Crozier .
“ I think his motives were pure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew.
” Merz admitted the Navy could have done a better job informing the crew about the virus on the ship and the steps it was taking to protect the sailors ’ health .
“ We needed to give them more information about the true dangers of the virus , ” and how the Navy was handling it aboard the ship , he said .
Crozier was relieved of his command last week after sending a compelling letter on March 30 to Navy brass pleading for help dealing with an outbreak of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The message , sent via a nonsecure , unclassified email leaked to the media .
More than 100 of some 4,000 sailors on the ship had already tested positive for COVID-19 when Cozier sent the plea .
Modly then took a $ 243,000 flight to Guam Monday to tell Crozier ’ s crew that their captain had been “ too naive or stupid ” to lead the ship .
One sailor can be heard shouting “ what the fuck ” at Modly at that point in a recording of the speech that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sailors were “ visibly still upset ” about Modly ’ s visit .
“ I think they just needed to tell somebody about how much that hurt them and disappointed them , ” he said .
But after a continued outcry following Crozier ’ s dismissal , Trump said Monday that Crozier should not have lost his job for having a “ bad day.
“ The president said he heard “ very good things about the gentleman.
” Crozier has not been reinstated .
Merz is now in a precautionary 14-day isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Roosevelt earlier this week , CNN reported .
Currently , 447 of the Roosevelt ’ s roughly 4,000 crew members have tested positive for COVID-19 — including Crozier .
Almost everyone has been tested , but 800 are still awaiting results , according to CNN .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Sailors from the coronavirus-stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt were “upset” and “struggling” after Capt. Brett Crozier was relieved of duty when he tried to get them help, a Navy vice admiral told CNN on Friday.
The crew was “struggling in the wake of losing their CO [commanding officer] and their perception of the lack of activity regarding fighting the virus,” said Vice Adm. Bill Merz, the commander of 7th Fleet, who is overseeing the aircraft carrier.
Advertisement
“There was lots of anxiety about the virus” on the ship, Merz told CNN. “As you can imagine, the morale covers the spectrum, considering what they have been through.”
Merz emphasized that the crew is capable and performing well, but rattled. Many crew members told Merz they were still worried about the fate of their former commanding officer. Sailors applauded, cheered and chanted Crozier’s name when he left the ship last week.
“I certainly don’t question his motives,” Merz said of Crozier. “I think his motives were pure. He was looking out for his crew.”
Merz admitted the Navy could have done a better job informing the crew about the virus on the ship and the steps it was taking to protect the sailors’ health.
Advertisement
“We needed to give them more information about the true dangers of the virus,” and how the Navy was handling it aboard the ship, he said.
Crozier was relieved of his command last week after sending a compelling letter on March 30 to Navy brass pleading for help dealing with an outbreak of the coronavirus on his ship at sea. The message, sent via a nonsecure, unclassified email leaked to the media. More than 100 of some 4,000 sailors on the ship had already tested positive for COVID-19 when Cozier sent the plea.
Then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly quickly relieved Crozier of his command for exercising what he considered poor judgment.
Modly then took a $243,000 flight to Guam Monday to tell Crozier’s crew that their captain had been “too naive or stupid” to lead the ship. One sailor can be heard shouting “what the fuck” at Modly at that point in a recording of the speech that was leaked to the press.
Merz said the sailors were “visibly still upset” about Modly’s visit. “I think they just needed to tell somebody about how much that hurt them and disappointed them,” he said.
Advertisement
President Donald Trump said last week that “it was terrible” what Crozier did, “to write a letter. This isn’t a class on literature. ... He shouldn’t be talking that way in a letter,” the president added. Trump insisted that Crozier “raised alarm bells unnecessarily.”
But after a continued outcry following Crozier’s dismissal, Trump said Monday that Crozier should not have lost his job for having a “bad day.“ The president said he heard “very good things about the gentleman.” Crozier has not been reinstated.
Merz is now in a precautionary 14-day isolation period after spending more than six hours on the Roosevelt earlier this week, CNN reported.
Currently, 447 of the Roosevelt’s roughly 4,000 crew members have tested positive for COVID-19 — including Crozier. Almost everyone has been tested, but 800 are still awaiting results, according to CNN.


huffpost--2020-03-16--John Oliver Says Forget Trump: ‘We’re Going To Be A Little Bit On Our Own Here’

John Oliver blasted President Donald Trump for failing to give Americans accurate information about the rapid spread of the coronavirus across the nation .
“ Try your best to tune out and not pass on misinformation in the coming weeks from sources like , sadly , the president , ” Oliver said .
“ And instead pay attention to trustworthy information from the CDC , experts like Anthony Fauci , and of course TikTok hamsters .
Always , TikTok hamsters.
” Oliver was referring to this little hamster , which he said managed to convey better information in 12 seconds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent much of the show calling out Trump and his administration ’ s slow and confusing response to the outbreak .
But he also urged viewers to forget all about the president for just a moment because there was a bigger issue to focus on .
“ Don ’ t worry , ” Oliver said .
“ There is going to be ample time to be utterly furious with him later .
But the fact is , even though this should not be the case , it seems we ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here.
” Oliver then tore into some of Trump ’ s favorite news sources ― including Fox News and Rush Limbaugh ― for spreading misinformation and offered up some good advice of his own : Oliver described Sunday night ’ s episode as “ weird , ” as he taped it with no audience and in a makeshift studio because COVID-19 cases had been discovered in the building where he normally records his show .
He also said it would be the last episode for some time .
Like most other late shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain on hiatus until the outbreak is under control .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
John Oliver blasted President Donald Trump for failing to give Americans accurate information about the rapid spread of the coronavirus across the nation.
“Try your best to tune out and not pass on misinformation in the coming weeks from sources like, sadly, the president,” Oliver said. “And instead pay attention to trustworthy information from the CDC, experts like Anthony Fauci, and of course TikTok hamsters. Always, TikTok hamsters.”
Advertisement
Oliver was referring to this little hamster, which he said managed to convey better information in 12 seconds than Trump has in weeks:
Oliver spent much of the show calling out Trump and his administration’s slow and confusing response to the outbreak. But he also urged viewers to forget all about the president for just a moment because there was a bigger issue to focus on.
“Don’t worry,” Oliver said. “There is going to be ample time to be utterly furious with him later. But the fact is, even though this should not be the case, it seems we’re going to be a little bit on our own here.”
Advertisement
Oliver then tore into some of Trump’s favorite news sources ― including Fox News and Rush Limbaugh ― for spreading misinformation and offered up some good advice of his own:
Oliver described Sunday night’s episode as “weird,” as he taped it with no audience and in a makeshift studio because COVID-19 cases had been discovered in the building where he normally records his show.
He also said it would be the last episode for some time. Like most other late shows, “Last Week Tonight” will remain on hiatus until the outbreak is under control.


huffpost--2020-03-16--U.S. Coronavirus Testing Will Initially Focus On Health Care Workers, Elderly

The retooled plan came two days after President Donald Trump previewed a nationwide network of drive-thru testing sites at chains like WalMart and Target linked by a Google-designed website .
But Sunday ’ s announcement focused mainly on traditional government efforts to deploy medical and emergency staff in U.S. communities .
Brett Giroir , a senior health administration official , said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and members of the U.S. public health service would coordinate with states to setup community testing centers .
Each site would be capable to testing 2,000 to 4,000 people per day .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You will see these sites rolling out progressively over the week , ” Giroir said .
“ This is not make believe , this is not fantasy.
” Trump tapped Giroir , assistant secretary of Health and Human Services , to become testing ‘ czar ’ earlier this week , amid growing complaints about the slow U.S. response .
Broad-scale testing is a critical part of tracking and containing pandemics .
But the U.S. effort has been hobbled by a series of missteps , including flaws with the testing kits first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurdles that held up testing by private laboratories .
Although federal agencies are responsible for tracking pandemics , Trump suggested in a Tweet that the onus is now on those outside Washington , “ The individual Governors of States , and local officials , must step up their efforts on drive up testing and testing sights , ” in conjunction with the CDC , Trump tweeted Sunday night .
Because of the lack of nationwide testing , public health experts have warned that the coronavirus is likely spreading undetected in parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly overwhelm intensive care units at U.S. hospitals .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 156,000 people and left more than 5,800 dead .
The death toll in the United States is more than 50 , while infections neared 3,000 across 49 states and the District of Columbia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three weeks to six weeks to recover .
Countries in Europe and Asia have been using drive-thru testing sites to perform mass screening for weeks .
South Korea , for example , reports testing about 15,000 people per day .
Pence told reporters Sunday that 10 U.S. states now have drive-thru testing sites , including New York , Colorado , Texas and Delaware .
Pence said the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other tech companies ” to disseminate information about the coronavirus .
He said a website to help Americans screen themselves for symptoms and find testing locations would be available this week .
But it wasn ’ t clear if it would immediately have the features previously highlighted by Trump and his administration .
Verily , a health care subsidiary of Google , said earlier Sunday that its COVID-19 screening tool would launch online Monday in the San Francisco Bay area , allowing users to take an electronic survey to determine whether they should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company described the effort as in its “ early stages.
” Parent company Google said in an online post Sunday that it would launch a website dedicated to COVID-19 “ education , prevention , and local resources nationwide ” late Monday .
Trump seized on the statement to criticize media reports that he had overstated or exaggerated the company ’ s involvement .
“ I don ’ t know where the press got their fake news but they got it from some place , ” Trump said in the White House press room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweets .
He left the news conference before the task force discussed testing .
Since January , federal , state and local government labs have tested fewer than 20,000 U.S. patients , according to federal figures .
Currently , those labs are using a manual process to develop patient samples in small batches of less than 100 per day .
Those figures don ’ t reflect testing by private labs , which are beginning to ramp up their capacity .
Since Friday , two companies — Roche and Thermo Fisher— received emergency regulatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests for the virus .
The American Clinical Laboratory Association , which represents private labs , estimated the industry will be able to process 280,000 tests per week by April .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells people to seek testing if they have certain symptoms of the flu-like illness caused by the coronavirus – fever , cough and trouble breathing – and if they have traveled recently to a coronavirus outbreak area or have been in close contact with someone who ’ s been infected .
Public health officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hamper the health workforce ’ s response .
“ Increased testing of people with mild or no symptoms brings increased risk of infection while you wait to get tested , stresses health care that may be needed for people who are sicker , and is no guarantee that you won ’ t test positive tomorrow , ” said Dr. Tom Frieden , former director of the CDC , in an emailed statement .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for all content .

The retooled plan came two days after President Donald Trump previewed a nationwide network of drive-thru testing sites at chains like WalMart and Target linked by a Google-designed website.
But Sunday’s announcement focused mainly on traditional government efforts to deploy medical and emergency staff in U.S. communities.
Brett Giroir, a senior health administration official, said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and members of the U.S. public health service would coordinate with states to setup community testing centers. Each site would be capable to testing 2,000 to 4,000 people per day. He said the federal government would begin deploying Monday.
“You will see these sites rolling out progressively over the week,” Giroir said. “This is not make believe, this is not fantasy.” Trump tapped Giroir, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, to become testing ‘czar’ earlier this week, amid growing complaints about the slow U.S. response.
Broad-scale testing is a critical part of tracking and containing pandemics.
But the U.S. effort has been hobbled by a series of missteps, including flaws with the testing kits first distributed by the federal government and bureaucratic hurdles that held up testing by private laboratories.
Although federal agencies are responsible for tracking pandemics, Trump suggested in a Tweet that the onus is now on those outside Washington,
“The individual Governors of States, and local officials, must step up their efforts on drive up testing and testing sights,” in conjunction with the CDC, Trump tweeted Sunday night.
Because of the lack of nationwide testing, public health experts have warned that the coronavirus is likely spreading undetected in parts of the U.S. A surge in COVID-19 cases could quickly overwhelm intensive care units at U.S. hospitals.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 156,000 people and left more than 5,800 dead. The death toll in the United States is more than 50, while infections neared 3,000 across 49 states and the District of Columbia.
The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three weeks to six weeks to recover.
Countries in Europe and Asia have been using drive-thru testing sites to perform mass screening for weeks. South Korea, for example, reports testing about 15,000 people per day.
Pence told reporters Sunday that 10 U.S. states now have drive-thru testing sites, including New York, Colorado, Texas and Delaware.
Pence said the administration is working with Google and “many other tech companies” to disseminate information about the coronavirus. He said a website to help Americans screen themselves for symptoms and find testing locations would be available this week. But it wasn’t clear if it would immediately have the features previously highlighted by Trump and his administration.
Verily, a health care subsidiary of Google, said earlier Sunday that its COVID-19 screening tool would launch online Monday in the San Francisco Bay area, allowing users to take an electronic survey to determine whether they should be screened for the virus. The company described the effort as in its “early stages.”
Parent company Google said in an online post Sunday that it would launch a website dedicated to COVID-19 “education, prevention, and local resources nationwide” late Monday.
Trump seized on the statement to criticize media reports that he had overstated or exaggerated the company’s involvement.
“I don’t know where the press got their fake news but they got it from some place,” Trump said in the White House press room, holding a printout of the Google tweets. He left the news conference before the task force discussed testing.
Since January, federal, state and local government labs have tested fewer than 20,000 U.S. patients, according to federal figures. Currently, those labs are using a manual process to develop patient samples in small batches of less than 100 per day.
Those figures don’t reflect testing by private labs, which are beginning to ramp up their capacity.
Since Friday, two companies — Roche and Thermo Fisher— received emergency regulatory authorization for “high-volume,” automated tests for the virus.
The American Clinical Laboratory Association, which represents private labs, estimated the industry will be able to process 280,000 tests per week by April.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells people to seek testing if they have certain symptoms of the flu-like illness caused by the coronavirus – fever, cough and trouble breathing – and if they have traveled recently to a coronavirus outbreak area or have been in close contact with someone who’s been infected.
Public health officials have cautioned that unnecessary testing for coronavirus could hamper the health workforce’s response.
“Increased testing of people with mild or no symptoms brings increased risk of infection while you wait to get tested, stresses health care that may be needed for people who are sicker, and is no guarantee that you won’t test positive tomorrow,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the CDC, in an emailed statement.
___
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


huffpost--2020-03-15--Read Live Updates From The Democratic Debate

Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) will face off in a presidential debate Sunday evening @ @ @ @ @ field narrowed significantly following Super Tuesday .
The debate , initially set to be held @ @ @ @ @ to Washington , D.C. , due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic .
The Democratic @ @ @ @ @ forgo an audience and bar reporters from attending .
Both Biden and Sanders have largely @ @ @ @ @ the number of COVID-19 cases increases across the nation .
Sunday ’ s debate , @ @ @ @ @ , will begin at 8 p.m .
ET and be moderated by CNN ’ s @ @ @ @ @ , as well as Univision ’ s Ilia Calderón .
Read live updates from the @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will face off in a presidential debate Sunday evening, the first since the field narrowed significantly following Super Tuesday.
The debate, initially set to be held in Arizona, was relocated to Washington, D.C., due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic National Committee also decided to forgo an audience and bar reporters from attending.
Advertisement
Both Biden and Sanders have largely moved their campaigns online as the number of COVID-19 cases increases across the nation.
Sunday’s debate, airing on CNN and Univision, will begin at 8 p.m. ET and be moderated by CNN’s Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, as well as Univision’s Ilia Calderón.
Read live updates from the debate below:


huffpost--2020-03-16--Netanyahu Rival Benny Gantz Tapped To Form New Israeli Government

The decision by President Reuven Rivlin was announced by his office after he consulted with leaders of all of the parties elected to parliament .
He will formally designate Gantz with the task on Monday and give him a month to cobble together a governing coalition .
The political wrangling comes at a sensitive time .
Netanyahu has been leading the country as it confronts a growing coronavirus threat , with over 200 cases diagnosed and the number quickly rising .
Netanyahu also faces serious legal troubles as he prepares to go on trial to face corruption charges .
Netanyahu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party in the March 2 election , Israel ’ s third in under a year .
But with his smaller religious and nationalist allies , he received the support of only 58 lawmakers during Sunday ’ s consultations , leaving his right-wing bloc three seats short of the required majority in parliament .
Gantz ’ s Blue and White received the support of parties representing 61 seats , a slim majority .
However , those parties are also divided , and it is not clear whether Gantz will succeed in putting together a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either side .
Rivlin had earlier called for a power-sharing unity government to lead the country through its many crises .
Israel has gone through three inconclusive elections in the past year , leaving it with a caretaker government as it confronts a host of challenges , including the coronavirus battle .
If the two rivals can not reach a unity deal , the country could find itself in a fourth consecutive election campaign .
“ Anyone who has watched the news in recent days understands that this is a time of trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultations , ” Rivlin said earlier Sunday .
“ We must now deal with forming a government as soon as possible ... at this complex time.
” That usually goes to the leader of the largest party , in this case Netanyahu .
But after a slim majority endorsed Gantz on Sunday , Rivlin appeared to have little choice .
The parties that endorsed him have little in common beyond their shared antipathy toward Netanyahu , who has led the country for the past 11 years .
They include the predominantly Arab Joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yisrael Beitenu ’ s leader , Avigdor Lieberman , and two members of Gantz ’ s own Blue and White party have said they would oppose a government that relies on support from the Joint List .
Lieberman told the president that he supports Gantz , but also called for the formation of an “ emergency ” unity government to deal with the coronavirus threat .
Netanyahu , in his caretaker role , has invited Gantz to join him in an emergency government .
Gantz has left the door open to such an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as insincere .
During the transition period , Blue and White is expected to name one of its members as speaker of the parliament and to pass legislation that would prevent an indicted politician from forming a new government .
That legislation would impede Netanyahu ’ s chances of victory if the country is forced into a fourth election and push him toward compromise .
“ Both sides will say that they support unity .
You only have one minor question : Who goes first and for how long and so on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an offer Sunday to Gantz to join a government aimed at at halting the spread of the virus , suggesting two frameworks , including one that would see an alternating leadership between them over the course of four years .
He was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to face charges of fraud , breach of trust and accepting bribes in connection to a series of scandals .
But following the emergency health measures the government enacted restricting public gatherings , the court said it was pushing back the hearing until May 24 @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz will be given the first opportunity to form a new government after an inconclusive national election this month, the country’s president said Sunday, raising questions about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future.
The decision by President Reuven Rivlin was announced by his office after he consulted with leaders of all of the parties elected to parliament. He will formally designate Gantz with the task on Monday and give him a month to cobble together a governing coalition.
Advertisement
The political wrangling comes at a sensitive time. Netanyahu has been leading the country as it confronts a growing coronavirus threat, with over 200 cases diagnosed and the number quickly rising. Netanyahu also faces serious legal troubles as he prepares to go on trial to face corruption charges.
Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest party in the March 2 election, Israel’s third in under a year. But with his smaller religious and nationalist allies, he received the support of only 58 lawmakers during Sunday’s consultations, leaving his right-wing bloc three seats short of the required majority in parliament.
Gantz’s Blue and White received the support of parties representing 61 seats, a slim majority. However, those parties are also divided, and it is not clear whether Gantz will succeed in putting together a coalition. One lawmaker refused to endorse either side.
Given the likelihood of continued deadlock, Rivlin late Sunday summoned both Netanyahu and Gantz to an emergency meeting, where the men pledged to explore a unity government.
Advertisement
In a joint statement, both parties thanked Rivlin and said their leaders “agreed for the respective negotiation teams to meet soon.”
Rivlin had earlier called for a power-sharing unity government to lead the country through its many crises. Israel has gone through three inconclusive elections in the past year, leaving it with a caretaker government as it confronts a host of challenges, including the coronavirus battle. If the two rivals cannot reach a unity deal, the country could find itself in a fourth consecutive election campaign.
“Anyone who has watched the news in recent days understands that this is a time of trial, and that these are not regular consultations,” Rivlin said earlier Sunday. “We must now deal with forming a government as soon as possible ... at this complex time.”
Rivlin’s duties are largely ceremonial. But he is responsible for designating the candidate he thinks has the best chance of forming a government by securing a parliamentary majority.
That usually goes to the leader of the largest party, in this case Netanyahu. But after a slim majority endorsed Gantz on Sunday, Rivlin appeared to have little choice.
Advertisement
Gantz will face a difficult task securing a governing coalition.
The parties that endorsed him have little in common beyond their shared antipathy toward Netanyahu, who has led the country for the past 11 years. They include the predominantly Arab Joint List and the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu.
Yisrael Beitenu’s leader, Avigdor Lieberman, and two members of Gantz’s own Blue and White party have said they would oppose a government that relies on support from the Joint List. Lieberman told the president that he supports Gantz, but also called for the formation of an “emergency” unity government to deal with the coronavirus threat.
Netanyahu, in his caretaker role, has invited Gantz to join him in an emergency government. Gantz has left the door open to such an arrangement, but also dismissed the offers as insincere.
Although Gantz’s chances of forming a new government appear slim, receiving the “mandate” from Rivlin could strengthen his position in unity talks with Netanyahu, said Yochanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute.
During the transition period, Blue and White is expected to name one of its members as speaker of the parliament and to pass legislation that would prevent an indicted politician from forming a new government. That legislation would impede Netanyahu’s chances of victory if the country is forced into a fourth election and push him toward compromise.
Advertisement
“Both sides will say that they support unity. You only have one minor question: Who goes first and for how long and so on,” said Plesner.
Netanyahu formally extended an offer Sunday to Gantz to join a government aimed at at halting the spread of the virus, suggesting two frameworks, including one that would see an alternating leadership between them over the course of four years.
Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party seems to consider the outreach yet another ruse after what has been an extremely acrimonious campaign that included unfounded smears against Gantz.
Over the past week, the coronavirus scare has overshadowed Israel’s precarious political standoff, which comes as Netanyahu prepares to go on trial for corruption charges.
Netanyahu got an important reprieve Sunday when the Jerusalem court handling the case postponed his trial for two months because of restrictions connected to the coronavirus pandemic.
Advertisement
He was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to face charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in connection to a series of scandals. But following the emergency health measures the government enacted restricting public gatherings, the court said it was pushing back the hearing until May 24.
Netanyahu is accused of receiving expensive gifts from wealthy friends and offering to exchange favors with powerful media moguls. The long-ruling Israeli leader denies any wrongdoing.
Much of the country was at a standstill Sunday, with schools, malls and places of entertainment shut down. Employees were encouraged to work from home and strict restrictions have been placed on personal interactions.
The virus has spread to more than 100 countries, infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed more than 5,700. In Israel, over 200 people have been infected.


huffpost--2020-03-16--Many Workers Who Need The Most Help Right Now Won't Qualify For It

MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images Independent contractors and tipped workers will be some of the hardest hit by the coronavirus downturn .
The economic slowdown that the coronavirus pandemic has unleashed is likely to hurt millions of workers around the country as schools and restaurants close and businesses go dark .
Many of the first to suffer have been workers in unconventional arrangements : independent contractors , part-time workers and others whose income varies from one week to the next .
Those workers tend to be clustered in the service industries that will be particularly hard hit , like food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For many of them , their work status means it will be difficult to qualify for employer or government benefits intended to help weather the slump .
Some employers are ramping up their paid leave policies under public pressure , and the House of Representatives has put together an emergency plan to extend paid sick days and family leave to a larger share of the workforce .
But many employers only offer paid time off to full-time employees , and more than 10 million working Americans are classified as self-employed .
Mardella Sue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 67-year-old widow runs an exercise class at an assisted living home in Washington state , an epicenter of the outbreak .
The facility is now on lockdown and Rowland ’ s class has been canceled indefinitely .
She is technically an independent contractor and calls herself a “ 1099er , ” a reference to the tax form used to report contractor wages to the IRS .
“ Knowing how these places function , unless a state or federal program comes through to pay people like me , then we ’ re screwed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us 1099ers just don ’ t qualify for a lot of whatever [ safety net measures ] they ’ re trying to push through in their slow , bureaucratic way.
” Lots of people use the term “ gig workers ” as shorthand for Uber drivers and others who pick up work via online platforms , but there is a much larger universe of contractors like Rowland who don ’ t enjoy the benefits of a traditional employer-employee relationship .
A major 2017 study from Harvard and Princeton economists found that workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including independent contractors , freelancers and on-call workers ― rose from 10.7 % of the workforce to 15.8 % between 2005 and 2015 .
In most cases , these workers won ’ t qualify for unemployment benefits because there is no employer paying into the insurance system on their behalf .
They don ’ t have sick leave or paid vacation , and workers ’ compensation would not cover them if they got sick due to their work during the pandemic .
“ I feel like this coronavirus has really shown the heightened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our social safety net , ” said Laura Padin , a staff attorney at the National Employment Law Project , a worker advocacy group .
“ Gig workers really are excluded from nearly all workplace protections and the benefits of [ traditional ] employees.
” The coronavirus lockdown has been especially hard on the original gig workers : musicians .
Concerts and shows around the country have been called off to limit transmission of the virus , leaving artists , stagehands and other workers in the industry with empty calendars .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through benefit programs , but many will not .
Mark Holley , a Houston-based trombone player , said all of the work between him and his wife , a percussionist , disappeared in a matter of days as the outbreak worsened .
They are eligible for unemployment through the opera house and ballet they work for , but much of their income comes through private music lessons that are now being canceled .
“ We will get through this and figure it out , but we potentially lost nearly all of our income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holley said .
Many teachers and other educators will have much of their income covered as schools shutter , either because their districts will continue to pay them or because they ’ re eligible for unemployment benefits .
But the closings could seriously squeeze school workers who are employed via outside contractors .
Natalie Galiotto works for a private after-school program that services a public school district in Georgia .
She said she does not receive benefits because her position is part-time .
She also earns money teaching through a home-schooling cooperative , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least a month .
She plans to apply for unemployment benefits but isn ’ t sure what she might qualify to receive .
She would normally get by with the money she receives from renting out her house on Airbnb , but her bookings have already canceled through May .
Frantically applying to jobs in recent days has not been fruitful : One potential employer , the Children ’ s Museum of Atlanta , has been forced to close its doors .
Galiotto has already postponed a dental surgery she needs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10-year-old son and bills coming due , she feels she has very few places to turn .

Independent contractors and tipped workers will be some of the hardest hit by the coronavirus downturn. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
The economic slowdown that the coronavirus pandemic has unleashed is likely to hurt millions of workers around the country as schools and restaurants close and businesses go dark. Many of the first to suffer have been workers in unconventional arrangements: independent contractors, part-time workers and others whose income varies from one week to the next.
Those workers tend to be clustered in the service industries that will be particularly hard hit, like food, transportation, travel and leisure. For many of them, their work status means it will be difficult to qualify for employer or government benefits intended to help weather the slump.
Advertisement
Some employers are ramping up their paid leave policies under public pressure, and the House of Representatives has put together an emergency plan to extend paid sick days and family leave to a larger share of the workforce. But many employers only offer paid time off to full-time employees, and more than 10 million working Americans are classified as self-employed.
Mardella Sue Rowland is one of them. The 67-year-old widow runs an exercise class at an assisted living home in Washington state, an epicenter of the outbreak. The facility is now on lockdown and Rowland’s class has been canceled indefinitely. She is technically an independent contractor and calls herself a “1099er,” a reference to the tax form used to report contractor wages to the IRS.
Rowland survives on Social Security payments and the $250 to $300 she earns from teaching exercise classes each week. She now finds herself at the mercy of the company that holds her contract.
“Knowing how these places function, unless a state or federal program comes through to pay people like me, then we’re screwed,” Rowland said. “A lot of us 1099ers just don’t qualify for a lot of whatever [safety net measures] they’re trying to push through in their slow, bureaucratic way.”
Advertisement
“This is getting to be just bone-crushing and disheartening,” she said. “And it’s not just me.”
Lots of people use the term “gig workers” as shorthand for Uber drivers and others who pick up work via online platforms, but there is a much larger universe of contractors like Rowland who don’t enjoy the benefits of a traditional employer-employee relationship. A major 2017 study from Harvard and Princeton economists found that workers in “alternative work arrangements” ― including independent contractors, freelancers and on-call workers ― rose from 10.7% of the workforce to 15.8% between 2005 and 2015.
“This is getting to be just bone-crushing and disheartening. And it’s not just me.” - Mardella Sue Rowland, independent contractor
In most cases, these workers won’t qualify for unemployment benefits because there is no employer paying into the insurance system on their behalf. They don’t have sick leave or paid vacation, and workers’ compensation would not cover them if they got sick due to their work during the pandemic.
“I feel like this coronavirus has really shown the heightened risk for gig workers and the gaps in our social safety net,” said Laura Padin, a staff attorney at the National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group. “Gig workers really are excluded from nearly all workplace protections and the benefits of [traditional] employees.”
The coronavirus lockdown has been especially hard on the original gig workers: musicians. Concerts and shows around the country have been called off to limit transmission of the virus, leaving artists, stagehands and other workers in the industry with empty calendars. Some will be able to replace their wages through benefit programs, but many will not.
Advertisement
HuffPost readers: Has the coronavirus outbreak affected your paycheck or safety on the job? Tell us about it. Please provide a phone number if you’re willing to be interviewed.
Mark Holley, a Houston-based trombone player, said all of the work between him and his wife, a percussionist, disappeared in a matter of days as the outbreak worsened. They are eligible for unemployment through the opera house and ballet they work for, but much of their income comes through private music lessons that are now being canceled.
“We will get through this and figure it out, but we potentially lost nearly all of our income in the last three days,” Holley said.
Many teachers and other educators will have much of their income covered as schools shutter, either because their districts will continue to pay them or because they’re eligible for unemployment benefits. But the closings could seriously squeeze school workers who are employed via outside contractors.
Natalie Galiotto works for a private after-school program that services a public school district in Georgia. She said she does not receive benefits because her position is part-time. She also earns money teaching through a home-schooling cooperative, but those classes have been canceled for at least a month. She plans to apply for unemployment benefits but isn’t sure what she might qualify to receive.
Advertisement
She would normally get by with the money she receives from renting out her house on Airbnb, but her bookings have already canceled through May. Frantically applying to jobs in recent days has not been fruitful: One potential employer, the Children’s Museum of Atlanta, has been forced to close its doors. Galiotto has already postponed a dental surgery she needs. But as a single mother with a 10-year-old son and bills coming due, she feels she has very few places to turn.


huffpost--2020-03-16--Coronavirus Looms Large In Feisty Debate Between Joe Biden And Bernie Sanders

But the event felt more than a little surreal as the two candidates went through the motions in a race that is effectively over , sparring over bread-and-butter issues ― even as the national conversation has been consumed by talk of a global recession and rising mortality rates due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Apart from the first 30 minutes , during which both candidates spelled out what they would do to address the virus and took shots at how President Donald Trump is handling the crisis , the debate sounded a lot like those that preceded it .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , whether or not I ’ m president , is to shut this president up right now , ” Sanders said , accusing Trump of “ undermining the doctors and the scientists trying to help the American people.
” U.S. officials on Sunday announced the closures of many schools , bars and restaurants across the country , as well as severe limitations on public gatherings .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that no gatherings with 50 people or more take place for the next eight weeks .
The agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total coronavirus cases in the U.S. , with at least 65 deaths attributed to the illness .
The outbreak forced organizers to move Sunday ’ s debate from a university campus in Arizona to a CNN studio in Washington , where it was held without a live audience .
The Democratic presidential contenders emerged on stage and greeted each other by touching elbows ― one of the methods public health officials have advised to curb the spread of the virus .
“ I wash my hands God knows how many times a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden said when moderators asked how the candidates were managing their personal hygiene and routines in the wake of the outbreak .
Their answers about how the U.S. should proceed with dealing with the coronavirus outbreak also put on display how the two septuagenarians would govern .
Sanders , for example , argued the crisis revealed the deep systemic flaws that exist in American society , especially when it comes to the nation ’ s health care and financial systems .
He said his proposals like “ Medicare for All ” and free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address them .
“ In the midst of this crisis , if you ’ re a multimillionaire , you ’ re going to get through it .
You ’ re not worried about income or health care , ” Sanders said .
“ We ’ ve got to move aggressively right now to address economic crisis .
... What we have got to do also is understand the fragility of the economy and how unjust and unfair it is and so many have so little.
” “ People are looking for solution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ They want to deal with what we can do right now .
We can do that .
We can make them whole ― now .
That has nothing to do with a legitimate concern about income inequality in this country.
” But the debate quickly shifted to other topics as Sanders repeatedly pressed Biden on his past stances over Social Security funding , the Iraq War and bankruptcy laws , attempting to force the former vice president to adopt a more progressive agenda before he clinches the Democratic nomination .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the race will be unifying the party against Trump .
To that end , prior to the debate , his campaign announced that he was endorsing two ideas offered by Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , the other progressive in the race who dropped out earlier this month .
The proposals , which he previously opposed , would make it easier for some to afford college and would make key changes to the nation ’ s bankruptcy laws .
“ He ’ s making it hard for me right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when a moderator asked how he planned to appeal to Sanders ’ supporters .
“ I ’ ve been trying to give him credit for things and he won ’ t even take the credit !
” Nevertheless , the former vice president tried to bridge their divides later in the night .
“ We disagree on the detail of how we do it , but we don ’ t disagree on the principle , ” he said .
“ We fundamentally disagree with this president .
This is much bigger whether I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the nominee .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON ― Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) squared off in a one-on-one presidential primary debate in the nation’s capital Sunday night, trading jabs for two hours over their records on health care, the economy, immigration and climate change.
But the event felt more than a little surreal as the two candidates went through the motions in a race that is effectively over, sparring over bread-and-butter issues ― even as the national conversation has been consumed by talk of a global recession and rising mortality rates due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Advertisement
Apart from the first 30 minutes, during which both candidates spelled out what they would do to address the virus and took shots at how President Donald Trump is handling the crisis, the debate sounded a lot like those that preceded it.
“The first thing we have got to do, whether or not I’m president, is to shut this president up right now,” Sanders said, accusing Trump of “undermining the doctors and the scientists trying to help the American people.”
U.S. officials on Sunday announced the closures of many schools, bars and restaurants across the country, as well as severe limitations on public gatherings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that no gatherings with 50 people or more take place for the next eight weeks. The agency also announced there were at least 3,482 total coronavirus cases in the U.S., with at least 65 deaths attributed to the illness.
The outbreak forced organizers to move Sunday’s debate from a university campus in Arizona to a CNN studio in Washington, where it was held without a live audience. The Democratic presidential contenders emerged on stage and greeted each other by touching elbows ― one of the methods public health officials have advised to curb the spread of the virus.
Advertisement
“I wash my hands God knows how many times a day with hot water and soap,” Biden said when moderators asked how the candidates were managing their personal hygiene and routines in the wake of the outbreak.
“Joe and I did not shake hands,” Sanders noted. “I am very careful about the people I’m interacting with.”
Democratic presidential hopefuls former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) greet each other with an elbow bump as they arrive for the Democratic primary debate on Sunday. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
Their answers about how the U.S. should proceed with dealing with the coronavirus outbreak also put on display how the two septuagenarians would govern. Sanders, for example, argued the crisis revealed the deep systemic flaws that exist in American society, especially when it comes to the nation’s health care and financial systems. He said his proposals like “Medicare for All” and free college were needed now more than ever to address them.
“In the midst of this crisis, if you’re a multimillionaire, you’re going to get through it. You’re not worried about income or health care,” Sanders said. “We’ve got to move aggressively right now to address economic crisis. ... What we have got to do also is understand the fragility of the economy and how unjust and unfair it is and so many have so little.”
Advertisement
Biden, meanwhile, focused more on responding to this specific outbreak, calling for free testing and for using the military to expand availability of beds in the nation’s hospitals.
“People are looking for solution, not a revolution,” Biden said. “They want to deal with what we can do right now. We can do that. We can make them whole ― now. That has nothing to do with a legitimate concern about income inequality in this country.”
But the debate quickly shifted to other topics as Sanders repeatedly pressed Biden on his past stances over Social Security funding, the Iraq War and bankruptcy laws, attempting to force the former vice president to adopt a more progressive agenda before he clinches the Democratic nomination.
Biden’s biggest challenge going forward in the race will be unifying the party against Trump. To that end, prior to the debate, his campaign announced that he was endorsing two ideas offered by Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, the other progressive in the race who dropped out earlier this month. The proposals, which he previously opposed, would make it easier for some to afford college and would make key changes to the nation’s bankruptcy laws.
But it won’t be easy, as Biden acknowledged during a debate that featured several sharp exchanges that were likely welcomed by Trump’s campaign.
Advertisement
“He’s making it hard for me right now,” Biden said at one point when a moderator asked how he planned to appeal to Sanders’ supporters. “I’ve been trying to give him credit for things and he won’t even take the credit!”