huffpost--2020-04-25--LGBTQ People Facing More Economic Hardship In Coronavirus Fallout, Survey Finds

MEXICO CITY , April 23 ( Thomson Reuters Foundation ) - Gay and trans people in the United States are twice as likely to say their finances are worse off than their straight peers and have seen more cuts in work hours in the coronavirus outbreak , research published on Thursday showed .
LGBT+ Americans are also more pessimistic about their economic future , with gays and lesbians twice as likely to think their finances will be worse off in a year , according to the research from the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) advocacy group .
Cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approaching 850,000 this week , doubling in about two weeks , according to a Reuters tally , with the country now seeing the world ’ s largest number of confirmed infections .
An unprecedented 26.5 million Americans have sought unemployment benefits since mid-March as the novel coronavirus and the lockdown measures to curtail the outbreak savage the economy .
“ It is unfortunately not surprising to see that the LGBTQ community is facing adverse economic impacts due to the COVID-19pandemic , ” said HRC President Alphonso David in a statement .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that LGBTQ people were likely to face greater economic hardship , and is more proof that the most marginalized communities are the most at risk , ” David said .
The research showed while about a fifth of LGBT+ people in the United States said their personal finances were “ much worse off ” than a year ago , among the general population only 11 % had seen their finances worsen .
And while almost a third of gay and trans people had seen their work hours reduced , only 22 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work hours .
“ The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on many unfortunate realities we face in our society , ” said Peter Horst , chief executive of PSB Research , a global analytics firm that conducted the survey in partnership with HRC .
The survey also found LGBT+ people were more likely than their straight counterparts to trust international sources for coronavirus information .
More than half of gay and trans people said they trusted the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , compared with 35 % of the general U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and trans people said they trusted U.S. President Donald Trump as a source of information .

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MEXICO CITY, April 23 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Gay and trans people in the United States are twice as likely to say their finances are worse off than their straight peers and have seen more cuts in work hours in the coronavirus outbreak, research published on Thursday showed.
LGBT+ Americans are also more pessimistic about their economic future, with gays and lesbians twice as likely to think their finances will be worse off in a year, according to the research from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) advocacy group.
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Cases of the coronavirus in the United States were approaching 850,000 this week, doubling in about two weeks, according to a Reuters tally, with the country now seeing the world’s largest number of confirmed infections.
An unprecedented 26.5 million Americans have sought unemployment benefits since mid-March as the novel coronavirus and the lockdown measures to curtail the outbreak savage the economy.
“It is unfortunately not surprising to see that the LGBTQ community is facing adverse economic impacts due to the COVID-19pandemic,” said HRC President Alphonso David in a statement.
“This new data bears out our initial predictions that LGBTQ people were likely to face greater economic hardship, and is more proof that the most marginalized communities are the most at risk,” David said.
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The research showed while about a fifth of LGBT+ people in the United States said their personal finances were “much worse off” than a year ago, among the general population only 11% had seen their finances worsen.
And while almost a third of gay and trans people had seen their work hours reduced, only 22% of the general population reported a reduction in work hours.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on many unfortunate realities we face in our society,” said Peter Horst, chief executive of PSB Research, a global analytics firm that conducted the survey in partnership with HRC.
“The virus has delivered disproportionate impact across various communities, including LGBTQ people,” he said in a statement.
The survey also found LGBT+ people were more likely than their straight counterparts to trust international sources for coronavirus information.
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More than half of gay and trans people said they trusted the World Health Organization (WHO), compared with 35% of the general U.S. population. Only 14% of gay and trans people said they trusted U.S. President Donald Trump as a source of information.
The survey of 1,000 U.S. adults was conducted online April15 and 16.


huffpost--2020-04-24--How To Support A Friend Who Has A Baby During Coronavirus

“ COVID-19 has changed the way we live literally overnight , ” Dr. Tanya Altmann , a California-based pediatrician , told HuffPost .
“ It varies hospital to hospital , but some moms have to limit partners or support they were planning on having in the delivery room , [ and ] some babies are being discharged home earlier than usual , leaving new moms with questions and concerns.
” Because the situation is so challenging and unprecedented , it can be tricky to know what to do and say ( or not ) to support a friend or loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Validate how hard this all is One of the kindest things you can do to support a friend who is expecting or just had a baby is to simply acknowledge how anxious or frightened or disappointed they might be feeling right now .
“ While some amount of anxiety has always been common with new parents ... the sense that there is mortal danger just outside the door is new and unprecedented , ” said Olivia Bergeron , a Brooklyn-based clinical social worker who specializes in working with parents during moments of big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and expectant parents are stuck in an “ anxiety loop , ” Bergeron said .
They ’ re desperate to keep their babies safe , and have relatively few concrete ways they can do that available to them .
Start by simply acknowledging how incredibly difficult that might feel .
Not being able to see your friend face-to-face doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t connect .
Reach out via your friend ’ s preferred method ( whether that ’ s a phone call , a text , email or video chat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t care if they pick up or get back to you , Bergeron said .
“ Make it clear new parents can get in touch whenever it is convenient , ” she said .
“ Just knowing that someone is thinking of you and your new baby can help tame the sense of isolation.
” ( Of course , that ’ s true during non-COVID 19 times as well . )
“ Many parents report that people reach out within the first six weeks when they themselves are running on adrenaline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bergeron said .
“ There is often a precipitous drop-off afterwards.
” Such a drop-off can lead to a real sense of isolation and abandonment , particularly for parents who are stuck at home .
3 .
Offer to help with research “ If your friend shares that they are overwhelmed with something , offering to look into it and find resources for them could also be a huge help , ” said Rachel Goldstein , owner of the New York-based Astoria Doula Collective .
That is particularly true at this moment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is changing by the minute — and many of the plans your friend may have put in place have been upended .
What are the most recent COVID-19 policies where your friend lives ?
What ’ s the number for a virtual lactation consultant ?
Do they have to wipe down diaper deliveries ?
The questions go on and on .
Offer to do that kind of research for your friend when possible .
A huge challenge for new parents right now is that they ’ re having to get through the postpartum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friends and family can ’ t come over to visit their new little human , cook a meal , or hold the baby so they can sneak in a shower .
Another way to help is to make sure they ’ ve got plenty of handy postpartum items , like comfortable pajamas , and baby supplies , Goldstein said .
New parents can ’ t necessarily pop out in the middle of the night to get key items right now , so see if there are any basics you can help cover .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cajole someone to feel less negative or to cheerlead by shutting down conversations that turn to the less savory side of new parenthood , ” Bergeron said .
“ Unpacking the range of feelings without having to put on a brave front can be very liberating for parents .
”

jacoblund via Getty Images It can be difficult to know how to support a friend or loved one who has a baby right now.
Pregnancy and the postpartum period are wild and challenging for any parent. Having a baby during the COVID-19 pandemic is a different beast altogether.
“COVID-19 has changed the way we live literally overnight,” Dr. Tanya Altmann, a California-based pediatrician, told HuffPost. “It varies hospital to hospital, but some moms have to limit partners or support they were planning on having in the delivery room, [and] some babies are being discharged home earlier than usual, leaving new moms with questions and concerns.”
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Because the situation is so challenging and unprecedented, it can be tricky to know what to do and say (or not) to support a friend or loved one who gives birth.
Here are a few ways to help.
1. Validate how hard this all is
One of the kindest things you can do to support a friend who is expecting or just had a baby is to simply acknowledge how anxious or frightened or disappointed they might be feeling right now.
“While some amount of anxiety has always been common with new parents ... the sense that there is mortal danger just outside the door is new and unprecedented,” said Olivia Bergeron, a Brooklyn-based clinical social worker who specializes in working with parents during moments of big transition in their lives.
Many new and expectant parents are stuck in an “anxiety loop,” Bergeron said. They’re desperate to keep their babies safe, and have relatively few concrete ways they can do that available to them. Start by simply acknowledging how incredibly difficult that might feel.
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2. Reach out regularly — without expecting a response
Not being able to see your friend face-to-face doesn’t mean you can’t connect. Reach out via your friend’s preferred method (whether that’s a phone call, a text, email or video chat) and make sure they know you don’t care if they pick up or get back to you, Bergeron said.
“Make it clear new parents can get in touch whenever it is convenient,” she said. “Just knowing that someone is thinking of you and your new baby can help tame the sense of isolation.” (Of course, that’s true during non-COVID 19 times as well.)
And keep it up after the immediate postpartum period is over.
“Many parents report that people reach out within the first six weeks when they themselves are running on adrenaline and the thrill of novelty,” Bergeron said. “There is often a precipitous drop-off afterwards.” Such a drop-off can lead to a real sense of isolation and abandonment, particularly for parents who are stuck at home.
“Now isn’t necessarily the time to regale your friend or with anecdotes from your own pregnancy or postpartum experience. What they’re going through is unprecedented.”
3. Offer to help with research
“If your friend shares that they are overwhelmed with something, offering to look into it and find resources for them could also be a huge help,” said Rachel Goldstein, owner of the New York-based Astoria Doula Collective.
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That is particularly true at this moment in time, when everything feels like it is changing by the minute — and many of the plans your friend may have put in place have been upended. What are the most recent COVID-19 policies where your friend lives? What’s the number for a virtual lactation consultant? Do they have to wipe down diaper deliveries? The questions go on and on. Offer to do that kind of research for your friend when possible.
4. Send care packages and food
A huge challenge for new parents right now is that they’re having to get through the postpartum period almost entirely on their own. Friends and family can’t come over to visit their new little human, cook a meal, or hold the baby so they can sneak in a shower.
But you can lend a hand from a safe distance. Can you drop off a home-cooked meal without making any kind of contact? Can you send an online gift card to a grocery-delivery service?
“Nourishing the parents is a huge help,” Goldstein said. “Try to find out ahead of time what they are comfortable with and what options are near them.”
Another way to help is to make sure they’ve got plenty of handy postpartum items, like comfortable pajamas, and baby supplies, Goldstein said. New parents can’t necessarily pop out in the middle of the night to get key items right now, so see if there are any basics you can help cover.
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5. Ask open-ended questions
Helping a friend doesn’t need to be complicated. Simply ask how they’re doing, then make it clear you’re really, truly listening to what they have to say.
“Don’t feel the need to cajole someone to feel less negative or to cheerlead by shutting down conversations that turn to the less savory side of new parenthood,” Bergeron said. “Unpacking the range of feelings without having to put on a brave front can be very liberating for parents.”
Now isn’t necessarily the time to regale your friend or with anecdotes from your own pregnancy or postpartum experience. What they’re going through is unprecedented, so simply make space for your friend to share what the experience is like for them.
Experts are still learning about the novel coronavirus. The information in this story is what was known or available as of press time, but it’s possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.


huffpost--2020-04-24--You Are Not Alone If You Don't Care About Work Right Now

Disengaging from work is an appropriate way to manage your energy .
Emily , a New York City-based digital marketer for an airline , transitioned to working from home in March .
She has noticed that her job , which used to bring her satisfaction , now feels “ a little bit pointless.
” Emily said she still feels some satisfaction from helping to answer travel questions , but said the worst feeling is when she doesn ’ t have answers to give customers about when they are going to be able to travel again .
“ I go right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not doing anything for society , ” she said .
On top of working from home or dealing with stress from unemployment , many parents are also dealing with teaching and child care responsibilities .
According to a March survey of 15,000 U.S. adults by Pew Research Center , about one-third of those living with children under 12 years old reported that handling child care responsibilities during the coronavirus outbreak has been very or somewhat difficult for them .
If you don ’ t have enough emotional resources to invest in your job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from work and just fulfilling what you need to do to stay employed is a reasonable energy management technique , because you may be at a surviving level , not a thriving level .
“ As your energy comes back , you can do more , but part of managing this energy is to try to not get compromised , ” he said .
“ I think it ’ s very reasonable to say , ‘ I ’ m going to be real clear about what I can do and be intentional about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the level I functioned before , but I will fulfill what I have to get done.
’ ” Here ’ s how to maintain your job and mental health if you don ’ t care about work right now .
Instead , reframe your self-critical thoughts into more compassionate language like , ” ‘ I am having to adapt to circumstances that are so unique and unusual , and it ’ s not a character issue .
I don ’ t have bad character because I ’ ve got low energy , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all these things I am thinking about , worried about , trying to take care of , and I don ’ t have my usual resources to gain energy , ’ ” he said .
If you are feeling depleted , “ I would strongly suggest you take charge of your self-care .
You have to think about how do you fill your tank proactively , ” said Lisa Orbé-Austin , a licensed psychologist and executive coach in New York City .
She suggested structuring activities you can do alone that replenish you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s OK not to be OK. Don ’ t fight the bad moods , and know that you ’ re not alone in feeling this way , Emily recommended .
“ Sometimes the advice I get is to stay optimistic , and honestly , trying to stay optimistic can be exhausting , ” she said , adding that she ’ d rather know her feelings are normal and “ have some comfort in that while I work on my own long-term strategy.
“ “ My first and biggest piece of advice is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s important to accept ‘ good enough ’ as the standard for job performance .
No matter what we do for a living , our cognitive and emotional resources are going to be heavily depleted right now , ” Bianchi said .
“ We are all , to some degree , working with at least one hand tied behind our backs .
We can ’ t judge ourselves based on what we were able to do ‘ pre-pandemic ’ before physical distancing restrictions were put into place.
” Orbé-Austin also recommended task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break up big deadlines into manageable tasks you can take on in small blocks of time .
“ The more structure you create to your workday , the more effective you can be at getting things done that you don ’ t want to get done , the things you don ’ t care about , ” she said .

nadia_bormotova via Getty Images Disengagement from work is a common feeling during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
If you still have a job while tens of millions of Americans file for unemployment benefits, you are in a privileged position right now. But that doesn’t mean your performance is not being affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Even if your job is meaningful to you, it can be understandably hard to stay motivated or even care much about it during a global pandemic that is infecting millions and has killed over 187,000 people worldwide.
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“The sudden reminders of our mortality, and the suddenness with which people are dying can conjure existential crises, can inevitably make us wonder what our legacies are as we are seeing so many people’s lives cut short,” said Kristin Bianchi, a Maryland-based licensed psychologist at the Center for Anxiety and Behavior Change.
Bianchi said her therapist colleagues have reported that their patients feel apathy, restlessness and futility around their jobs right now.
Disengaging from work is an appropriate way to manage your energy.
Emily, a New York City-based digital marketer for an airline, transitioned to working from home in March. She has noticed that her job, which used to bring her satisfaction, now feels “a little bit pointless.”
Emily said she still feels some satisfaction from helping to answer travel questions, but said the worst feeling is when she doesn’t have answers to give customers about when they are going to be able to travel again. “I go right back to feeling like I’m not doing anything for society,” she said.
She is not alone in feeling this way. And if you are taking care of a sick loved one or handling new responsibilities during quarantine, managing your career may be the last agenda item on your to-do list ― or the last thing you have energy for.
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“We can't judge ourselves based on what we were able to do 'pre-pandemic' before physical distancing restrictions were put into place.” - Psychologist Kristin Bianchi
On top of working from home or dealing with stress from unemployment, many parents are also dealing with teaching and child care responsibilities. According to a March survey of 15,000 U.S. adults by Pew Research Center, about one-third of those living with children under 12 years old reported that handling child care responsibilities during the coronavirus outbreak has been very or somewhat difficult for them.
Disengaging from work is a completely reasonable and normal response to the stress and exhaustion of enduring a pandemic lockdown. It’s also an appropriate way to manage your energy when you are emotionally drained.
Patrick O’Malley, a grief and trauma psychotherapist based in Texas, noted that a lot of people are missing out on the things that usually energize their lives, like “exercise, family, church, fill-in-the-blank,” and may be experiencing an energy imbalance that is impacting their work.
If you don’t have enough emotional resources to invest in your job, O’Malley said that disengaging from work and just fulfilling what you need to do to stay employed is a reasonable energy management technique, because you may be at a surviving level, not a thriving level.
“As your energy comes back, you can do more, but part of managing this energy is to try to not get compromised,” he said. “I think it’s very reasonable to say, ‘I’m going to be real clear about what I can do and be intentional about it. It may not be at the level I functioned before, but I will fulfill what I have to get done.’”
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“Sometimes the advice I get is to stay optimistic, and honestly, trying to stay optimistic can be exhausting.” - Emily, a digital marketing professional
Here’s how to maintain your job and mental health if you don’t care about work right now.
Recognize these feelings are not necessarily forever. If you are feeling disengaged now, O’Malley advises against thinking you will feel that way for the long term.
Instead, reframe your self-critical thoughts into more compassionate language like, ”‘I am having to adapt to circumstances that are so unique and unusual, and it’s not a character issue. I don’t have bad character because I’ve got low energy, I’ve got low energy because of all these things I am thinking about, worried about, trying to take care of, and I don’t have my usual resources to gain energy,’” he said.
If you are feeling depleted, “I would strongly suggest you take charge of your self-care. You have to think about how do you fill your tank proactively,” said Lisa Orbé-Austin, a licensed psychologist and executive coach in New York City. She suggested structuring activities you can do alone that replenish you, like meditation and exercise.
It’s OK not to be OK. Don’t fight the bad moods, and know that you’re not alone in feeling this way, Emily recommended. “Sometimes the advice I get is to stay optimistic, and honestly, trying to stay optimistic can be exhausting,” she said, adding that she’d rather know her feelings are normal and “have some comfort in that while I work on my own long-term strategy.“
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If it’s hard for you to take care of yourself right now, know that that’s normal, too. “Be very self-compassionate and know that this is not an easy time to feel self-actualized and growing,” O’Malley said.
Accept “good enough” as your new standard. Reframe what exceeding expectations can mean for you right now.
“My first and biggest piece of advice is that, for right now, it’s important to accept ‘good enough’ as the standard for job performance. No matter what we do for a living, our cognitive and emotional resources are going to be heavily depleted right now,” Bianchi said. “We are all, to some degree, working with at least one hand tied behind our backs. We can’t judge ourselves based on what we were able to do ‘pre-pandemic’ before physical distancing restrictions were put into place.”
To get work you don’t care about done, try task management. “When do you feel most productive?” is a question Orbé-Austin said you can ask yourself, then use the answer to execute tasks with the limited time you have in a day.
Orbé-Austin also recommended task management tools like the Pomodoro method to break up big deadlines into manageable tasks you can take on in small blocks of time. “The more structure you create to your workday, the more effective you can be at getting things done that you don’t want to get done, the things you don’t care about,” she said.
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Push back against your negative thoughts by grounding yourself in the present moment. If you find yourself going down a negative spiral of thoughts like “Nothing I do matters,” Bianchi said it can be difficult to access our rational thought processes. In these intense negative mood states, one of the healthiest things we can do to break that pattern is “to redirect our attention on something in the present,” Bianchi said.
These present-focused activities can be basic tasks you do every day. “It could be a household chore like loading the dishwasher or folding laundry, it could be an art or craft, it could be journaling,” Bianchi said.


huffpost--2020-04-25--N.J. Schools Have Been Forcing Students With Disabilities To Promise Not To Sue Before Providing Ser

N.J. Schools Have Been Forcing Students With Disabilities To Promise Not To Sue Before Providing Services

A form distributed by districts asks families to “ waive and relinquish ; fully release and discharge ; and indemnify and hold harmless ” the school district and all of its employees “ from all claims , liabilities , causes of action , costs , expenses , attorneys ’ fees , damages , indemnities , and obligations of every kind and nature , in law , equity , or otherwise , ” before providing students with the counseling and speech services outlined in their individualized education program , or IEP .
( An IEP is the legal document that details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide to a given student with disabilities . )
The form , devised with help from an education law firm , has raised alarms for disability advocates and lawyers , who have taken up the matter with the New Jersey Department of Education .
Rebecca Schore , the legal advocacy director at Disability Rights New Jersey , said her organization already has two clients who have been asked to sign the waiver in order to receive counseling and speech support .
Legal liability has become a significant concern of school districts as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closures due to the coronavirus epidemic .
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ― the sprawling federal law that governs special education ― schools are required to provide disabled students with an education analogous to that of their peers .
But many of the services these students receive , whether that ’ s modified instruction or a full-time one-on-one aid , have proved challenging to provide virtually .
School administration groups have been pushing for Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to recommend waivers for IDEA provisions .
In late March , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to present Congress with a report about whether she thinks districts should be given flexibility in certain areas .
The report could come at any minute .
The form asks parents to sign off on a number of issues .
It asks parents to agree not to be present for , or listen in on , or record virtual educational sessions .
A recording could be a violation of the New Jersey wiretapping law , says the form ― a claim lawyers take issue with .
It also asks parents to give up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negligence or negligent acts , for injuries , damage or loss which may occur , including , but not limited to , loss or damage to property , an injury invasion of privacy , disability or death to persons , arising out of , resulting from or in connection with the Services provided above.
” The agreement provides indemnity to the district even after the student has become an adult .
An Machado Law Group attorney defended the forms in a letter to the New Jersey Department of Education and the governor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disability rights groups raised the issue .
The letter notes that the firm represents approximately 30 districts across the state of New Jersey and that they have already negotiated several waivers with families .
“ This is an unprecedented time , as is the number of online interactions between teachers and students from their respective homes , ” says the letter .
“ These new interactions create novel privacy and functionality questions and concerns for both school districts and parents that require careful consideration of both short-term benefits and long-term consequences.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect our state ’ s school districts , who are funded entirely by taxpayer money .
Waivers will appropriately notify parents to the risks associated with virtual instruction , and allow them to discuss alternate instruction , if not wanting to expose their children to the potential risks.
” Disability rights groups take specific issue with what the waiver means for a student ’ s ability to receive compensatory services .
Under IDEA , if a student has not been afforded their IEP-mandated services through a denial of a free appropriate public education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The form says that when schools reopen , districts will evaluate individual students to determine their entitlement to compensatory services .
The letter from the Machado Law Firm seemed to downplay this risk , saying that “ the waivers being sought reflect the need to inform parents of the inherent risks associated with these online services and do not broadly waive their rights to compensatory education and other entitlements.
” The form represents one way districts have reckoned with the newfound challenges of educating students with disabilities outside of school buildings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ opted not to provide instruction to any students , for fear they would run afoul of IDEA if they could not provide disabled students with same rigor as their peers .
Subsequent guidance from the Department of Education said that districts should not decline to provide instruction or close as a means of addressing equity concerns .
However , parents and disability civil rights groups have said this fear is misguided ― that parents understand that virtual services will likely not live up to what ’ s required in their IEP , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give districts an excuse to not provide basic services to an especially vulnerable group of students .

Some New Jersey schools have been forcing students with disabilities to sign waivers promising not to sue the district before giving them access to special education services, HuffPost has learned.
A form distributed by districts asks families to “waive and relinquish; fully release and discharge; and indemnify and hold harmless” the school district and all of its employees “from all claims, liabilities, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, damages, indemnities, and obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise,” before providing students with the counseling and speech services outlined in their individualized education program, or IEP. (An IEP is the legal document that details the educational services districts are required to provide to a given student with disabilities.)
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The form, devised with help from an education law firm, has raised alarms for disability advocates and lawyers, who have taken up the matter with the New Jersey Department of Education. Rebecca Schore, the legal advocacy director at Disability Rights New Jersey, said her organization already has two clients who have been asked to sign the waiver in order to receive counseling and speech support.
“If the parent refuses to sign it, they will absolutely withhold services,” Schore said.
Lawyers say they have not heard of students who do not require special education services being made to sign any such waivers.
Legal liability has become a significant concern of school districts as they transition to distance learning amid widespread school closures due to the coronavirus epidemic. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ― the sprawling federal law that governs special education ― schools are required to provide disabled students with an education analogous to that of their peers. But many of the services these students receive, whether that’s modified instruction or a full-time one-on-one aid, have proved challenging to provide virtually.
Districts and employees worry that they can be held legally accountable for failing to fulfill a student’s IEP, or if a child gets hurt performing physical or occupational therapy activities without employees’ in-person supervision.
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School administration groups have been pushing for Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to recommend waivers for IDEA provisions. In late March, the coronavirus relief package gave her 30 days to present Congress with a report about whether she thinks districts should be given flexibility in certain areas. The report could come at any minute.
“Federal laws were not written anticipating a global pandemic that has closed a large majority of schools across the country,” wrote the National Association of State Directors of Special Education and the Council of Administrators of Special Education in a March letter to the Department of Education, pushing for general waivers.
But presenting individual families with forms absolving districts and their employees of liability goes one step further on the issue.
“No parents should be asked to give up any rights or claims they may have in exchange for receiving constitutionally required educational services,” said Elizabeth Athos, senior attorney with the Education Law Center.
The form asks parents to sign off on a number of issues. It asks parents to agree not to be present for, or listen in on, or record virtual educational sessions. A recording could be a violation of the New Jersey wiretapping law, says the form ― a claim lawyers take issue with.
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It also asks parents to give up their right to press charges for “negligence or negligent acts, for injuries, damage or loss which may occur, including, but not limited to, loss or damage to property, an injury invasion of privacy, disability or death to persons, arising out of, resulting from or in connection with the Services provided above.” The agreement provides indemnity to the district even after the student has become an adult.
The form was devised with the help of Machado Law Group, an education law firm in New Jersey. An attorney at the firm did not respond to HuffPost’s requests for comment on the matter.
An Machado Law Group attorney defended the forms in a letter to the New Jersey Department of Education and the governor’s office in early April, after disability rights groups raised the issue. The letter notes that the firm represents approximately 30 districts across the state of New Jersey and that they have already negotiated several waivers with families.
“This is an unprecedented time, as is the number of online interactions between teachers and students from their respective homes,” says the letter. “These new interactions create novel privacy and functionality questions and concerns for both school districts and parents that require careful consideration of both short-term benefits and long-term consequences.”
It continues, “Waivers are needed to protect our state’s school districts, who are funded entirely by taxpayer money. Waivers will appropriately notify parents to the risks associated with virtual instruction, and allow them to discuss alternate instruction, if not wanting to expose their children to the potential risks.”
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Disability rights groups take specific issue with what the waiver means for a student’s ability to receive compensatory services. Under IDEA, if a student has not been afforded their IEP-mandated services through a denial of a free appropriate public education, they should be offered make-up supports. The form says that when schools reopen, districts will evaluate individual students to determine their entitlement to compensatory services.
However, attorneys worry that parents who eventually take issue with the level of compensatory services offered to their children after schools reopen may find themselves in a bind.
“The district will say you need this much and you may not have any recourse to challenge that decision,” said Athos.
The letter from the Machado Law Firm seemed to downplay this risk, saying that “the waivers being sought reflect the need to inform parents of the inherent risks associated with these online services and do not broadly waive their rights to compensatory education and other entitlements.”
In response to questions about the form, the New Jersey Department of Education told HuffPost it has been “actively monitoring this situation to ensure that all students receive the services they need in a safe and comprehensive manner.”
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“We reached out to SPAN, the statewide organization that represents families with special needs children, and asked them to direct parents who have complaints to the Department,” New Jersey Department of Education spokesman Michael Yaple told HuffPost in an e-mail.
The form represents one way districts have reckoned with the newfound challenges of educating students with disabilities outside of school buildings. Initially, some districts around the country opted not to provide instruction to any students, for fear they would run afoul of IDEA if they could not provide disabled students with same rigor as their peers. Subsequent guidance from the Department of Education said that districts should not decline to provide instruction or close as a means of addressing equity concerns.
Districts have said they’re especially fearful of facing legal repercussions during a time when their financial belt buckle is likely to tighten amid state budget shortfalls.
However, parents and disability civil rights groups have said this fear is misguided ― that parents understand that virtual services will likely not live up to what’s required in their IEP, and that they fear broad federal waivers could give districts an excuse to not provide basic services to an especially vulnerable group of students.
In New Jersey, attorneys worry that parents will sign the waiver without realizing what they’re giving up.
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“We’re talking about accessing essentially basic educational services,” said Athos. “It’s kind of beyond the pale.”


huffpost--2020-04-29--Female Inmate Dies Of Coronavirus After Giving Birth On Ventilator

Since then , the families of inmates have complained as the rules shifted several times over who could qualify to be released home .
In some cases , inmates were moved into a 14-day quarantine required prior to release , only to discover later they were no longer eligible and transferred back to their cells .
At least 30 federal inmates have died since March of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , and 1,313 inmates have tested positive , according to the BOP .
Circle Bear was transported from a jail in South Dakota on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fort Worth , Texas , and quarantined on arrival .
She was taken to a hospital on March 28 amid concerns about her pregnancy , and released back to prison the same day .
By March 31 , she had developed a fever and a cough and returned to the hospital for treatment .
She was placed on a ventilator , and gave birth to her son the next day by cesarean section .
She tested positive for COVID-19 on April 4 and died on Tuesday .
A BOP spokesman had no immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confinement or how many other inmates are pregnant .
A Justice Department representative told Reuters earlier this month that the BOP had discretion to let inmates serve their terms at home and was reviewing more eligible inmates each day .
More than 1,700 have been placed in home confinement to date .

Since then, the families of inmates have complained as the rules shifted several times over who could qualify to be released home. In some cases, inmates were moved into a 14-day quarantine required prior to release, only to discover later they were no longer eligible and transferred back to their cells.
At least 30 federal inmates have died since March of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and 1,313 inmates have tested positive, according to the BOP.
Circle Bear was transported from a jail in South Dakota on March 20 to Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, and quarantined on arrival. She was taken to a hospital on March 28 amid concerns about her pregnancy, and released back to prison the same day. By March 31, she had developed a fever and a cough and returned to the hospital for treatment.
She was placed on a ventilator, and gave birth to her son the next day by cesarean section. She tested positive for COVID-19 on April 4 and died on Tuesday.
A BOP spokesman had no immediate comment on whether she qualified for home confinement or how many other inmates are pregnant.


huffpost--2020-04-14--What It's Like To Have Cancer In The Middle Of A Pandemic

Desai , 37 , has inflammatory breast cancer , a rare , aggressive type that affects just 2 % of American women with breast cancer .
She started four months of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor last November and was scheduled for a double mastectomy on April 28 at Beaumont Hospital in Troy , Michigan .
Then , the coronavirus pandemic postponed virtually all non-urgent surgery .
Hers is now rescheduled for May 12 .
“ It may sound weird to say but for a person with one of the worst diagnoses you can get , I ’ m one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , because I have access to medical care by incredible professionals who are continuing to care for me in the midst of a pandemic , ” said Lindbloom , 62 , a horticulturist who tends flower beds at a Grosse Pointe Woods , Michigan , country club .
Patients Are Still Being Treated All over the U.S. , large cancer centers are postponing surgeries so their operating rooms can be converted to treat patients with COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus .
Leading cancer groups have issued guidelines on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgical needs and may require an immediate operation ― those with infections from earlier surgery , for example .
And most chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments have continued , but under strict rules to ensure patients are protected .
She is part of a clinical study for women with an aggressive type of tumor known as triple-negative breast cancer that often responds poorly to chemotherapy .
She gets an infusion twice a month at the Van Eslander Cancer Center , part of St. John Detroit Hospital and the Ascension Michigan health system .
Until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be one of the best ways for cancer patients to talk to their doctors .
It might even be welcomed by the germ-conscious who already didn ’ t like going to busy hospital complexes where just finding a parking spot and walking to the cancer facility can be an inconvenience .
Dr. Michael Lutz , a Beaumont Health urologist , said these virtual visits are reassuring to many patients .
He told one man whose prostate cancer surgery has been delayed that contracting COVID-19 “ would be more detrimental to his survival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prostate cancer , ’ ” Lutz said .
“ He was totally content with that .
He just needed to be reassured.
” But many factors go into this decision-making : the size and type of a tumor , whether it responds well to chemotherapy , if genetic markers predict poor outcomes , and more .
Fortunately , genetic advances have given doctors new tools to determine who is most at risk of having a more aggressive type of cancer .
Using telemedicine visits , Lutz walks his patients through these issues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ being in a room with a patient .
“ What I ’ ve found , there is no distraction and our complete focus is on actually looking at each other ’ s face , ” he said .
“ I ’ ve found it ’ s more intimate .
It ’ s just the two of us .
There are no phone calls .
No interruptions .
Nobody knocking on the door.
” “ They tell me this is something we ’ d like to continue on a long-term basis because they felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we were in the office together , ” he said .
“ I believe for certain patients it will be a wave of the future.
’ ’ Desai tries to stay balanced working at home , practicing all the methods she ’ s learned to calm her fears .
Before the pandemic , she also went to support groups at Gilda ’ s Club , a national support network named after “ Saturday Night Live ” comedian Gilda Radner , a Detroit native who died of ovarian cancer in 1989 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the men and women who come to its three clubhouses in the area .
Desai is looking forward to the online opportunity .
Her doctors have assured Desai that they expect to be able to perform at least a single mastectomy on May 12 .
But her surgeon may not be allowed to remove both breasts .
Cancer is only present in one , and the hospital may consider removing the other to be an elective procedure .
Her doctor told her the decision might be made as late as the night before @ @ @

DETROIT ― Sveta Desai does everything she can to reduce her anxiety as she awaits a double mastectomy.
Desai, 37, has inflammatory breast cancer, a rare, aggressive type that affects just 2% of American women with breast cancer. She started four months of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor last November and was scheduled for a double mastectomy on April 28 at Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan. Then, the coronavirus pandemic postponed virtually all non-urgent surgery. Hers is now rescheduled for May 12.
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When they met in early April, Desai said her surgeon “was adamant that I needed to do surgery” within four weeks of completing chemotherapy in order to maximize the impact while the drugs were still active.
Leslie Lindbloom has been able to continue her treatment for the same kind of inflammatory breast cancer, though her cancer has metastasized to the lungs, esophagus and collar bone.
“It may sound weird to say but for a person with one of the worst diagnoses you can get, I’m one of the luckiest people in the country right now, because I have access to medical care by incredible professionals who are continuing to care for me in the midst of a pandemic,” said Lindbloom, 62, a horticulturist who tends flower beds at a Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, country club.
Patients Are Still Being Treated
All over the U.S., large cancer centers are postponing surgeries so their operating rooms can be converted to treat patients with COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Leading cancer groups have issued guidelines on which cancer patients have the most urgent surgical needs and may require an immediate operation ― those with infections from earlier surgery, for example. And most chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments have continued, but under strict rules to ensure patients are protected.
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“At this time there is no direct evidence to support changing or withholding chemotherapy or immunotherapy in patients with cancer,” the American Society for Clinical Oncology wrote in a statement to its members. The American Cancer Society and others have issued similar statements.
Lindbloom has faced two different types of breast cancer since her initial diagnosis in 2008, pushing her into the most advanced stage.
Since March 2019, she has been taking Tecentriq, an immunotherapy drug that has shown some success in treating advanced bladder and non-small-cell lung cancer. Tests indicate it is holding her cancer at bay.
She is part of a clinical study for women with an aggressive type of tumor known as triple-negative breast cancer that often responds poorly to chemotherapy. She gets an infusion twice a month at the Van Eslander Cancer Center, part of St. John Detroit Hospital and the Ascension Michigan health system.
“My instructions are to come to the building wearing a mask,” Lindbloom said. “A masked staffer takes your temperature. Two weeks ago, I was the only person in the waiting room.’’
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Once inside, she heads to the center’s infusion room, where patients typically sit hooked to intravenous machines. For the last month, patients have been spread out and curtained off, she said.
With golf courses closed for the pandemic, Lindbloom was laid off, but her employer, Lochmoor Country Club, has continued her health insurance. “They’ve had my back all the way through this.”
Sveta Desai sits outside her home in Troy, Michigan. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, her breast cancer surgery has been postponed. Ali Lapetina for HuffPost
Watchful Waiting
Until Michigan lifts social distancing orders, telemedicine will be one of the best ways for cancer patients to talk to their doctors. It might even be welcomed by the germ-conscious who already didn’t like going to busy hospital complexes where just finding a parking spot and walking to the cancer facility can be an inconvenience.
Dr. Michael Lutz, a Beaumont Health urologist, said these virtual visits are reassuring to many patients. He told one man whose prostate cancer surgery has been delayed that contracting COVID-19 “would be more detrimental to his survival than a delay in treatment of his prostate cancer,’” Lutz said. “He was totally content with that. He just needed to be reassured.”
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Lutz tells his patients that prostate cancer is usually slow-growing. Some men with small tumors have held off on surgery for years, opting instead for tests every six months or so ― an approach called watchful waiting.
Some breast cancer surgeons use the same careful monitoring for women with very early breast cancer. Studies even show that women with slightly larger tumors don’t have to rush surgery.
But many factors go into this decision-making: the size and type of a tumor, whether it responds well to chemotherapy, if genetic markers predict poor outcomes, and more. Fortunately, genetic advances have given doctors new tools to determine who is most at risk of having a more aggressive type of cancer.
Using telemedicine visits, Lutz walks his patients through these issues. He finds the visits more engaging than being in a room with a patient. “What I’ve found, there is no distraction and our complete focus is on actually looking at each other’s face,” he said. “I’ve found it’s more intimate. It’s just the two of us. There are no phone calls. No interruptions. Nobody knocking on the door.”
“They tell me this is something we’d like to continue on a long-term basis because they felt it was a more valuable experience than if we were in the office together,” he said. “I believe for certain patients it will be a wave of the future.’’
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‘The Decisions Are Made For You’
Desai tries to stay balanced working at home, practicing all the methods she’s learned to calm her fears. Before the pandemic, she also went to support groups at Gilda’s Club, a national support network named after “Saturday Night Live” comedian Gilda Radner, a Detroit native who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. The nonprofit is moving to virtual programs for the men and women who come to its three clubhouses in the area. Desai is looking forward to the online opportunity.
Anything that puts her at ease helps while she waits. She addresses her stress through virtual sessions with a personal trainer and therapist, meditation, calming apps and essential oils. Realistically, she’s relieved not to be having surgery at the height of a pandemic.
Her doctors have assured Desai that they expect to be able to perform at least a single mastectomy on May 12. But her surgeon may not be allowed to remove both breasts. Cancer is only present in one, and the hospital may consider removing the other to be an elective procedure. Her doctor told her the decision might be made as late as the night before her surgery.
“That’s frustrating,’’ Desai said. “It’s like I finally had a choice and now it may be taken away from me. You finally get to make a decision for yourself and then this happens. The decisions are made for you.”
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story referred to the American Society for Clinical Oncology as the American Society for Radiation Oncology. The story has also been updated to clarify the percentage of American women who get inflammatory breast cancer.
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huffpost--2020-04-14--What Happens If We End Coronavirus Social Distancing Too Soon?

A city ’ s fate and the force of the infection in a given area will probably depend on its population density .
Like we ’ re seeing right now in New York City , “ the more dense the population , the more contacts any individual has , the more opportunity to transmit the virus , ” said LeVasseur , who noted that New York City has seen over 87,000 cases at press time and has a population density of 66,940 people per square mile .
What can help slow the spread so we ’ re back to ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be herd immunity , which is when enough of the population becomes infected and has “ natural protective immunity ” that the virus can no longer spread .
Some 50 % to 75 % of the population would need to be infected , said Russo , and we are nowhere close to that — nor do we want to be .
Going this route would result in a lot of deaths , which is why the lack of social distancing in Sweden is raising alarm .
Here ’ s what we need before @ @ @ @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Over time, coronavirus has turned our social calendars from normal to nonexistent. We’ve been cut off from friends and family, banned from gathering in public venues, and discouraged from going to the store more than absolutely necessary. “Social distancing” became a buzz term, and then a new way of life.
We are starting to flatten the curve. In some of the earliest and hardest-hit areas in the country ― Washington state, New York City, California ― the virus’ doubling time is increasing, meaning we are slowing the spread of the illness and tapering off exponential growth. This will allow medical personnel to better help the sick and avoid an overwhelming surge of hospital admissions.
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It’s promising; so much so that one question is starting to bubble into daily news headlines and public consciousness: When do we go back to normal? When can we leave our homes and see friends again?
Not too soon, according to experts. Here’s what might happen if we get too excited about flattening the curve and lift social distancing restrictions before the virus is truly contained.
Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images Even post-outbreak, we will probably still need to maintain distance and limit social contacts.
Claiming premature victory could be fatal.
COVID-19 spread like wildfire around the globe, and there are a couple of reasons why. The virus is “moderately infectious,” and for every person who catches the virus, they’ll likely pass it to several more people, said Thomas A. Russo, chief of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
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On top of that, there are a lot of silent carriers. While experts originally thought asymptomatic transmission was rare, some now estimate a quarter of people with COVID-19 have no idea they’re infected.
“This is the importance of social distancing,” said Michael LeVasseur, a visiting assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health. “Since individuals are likely capable of transmitting the virus when they are asymptomatic, limiting the number of contacts any individual has to the household, for example, will limit the spread of the virus.”
So, what happens if we loosen up social distancing measures? It depends on the point in the so-called “curve” that each state or municipality decides to lift its guidelines.
“If we have the public health infrastructure that individuals can report to a testing clinic to receive a test and then self-isolate while awaiting results, [maybe it would work],” LeVasseur said. “If we don’t, then they’ll likely continue infecting people and we will see a surge of cases.”
“Even if the surge of cases is not as large in more rural areas, it’s still a surge if it overwhelms the local hospital system.”
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A city’s fate and the force of the infection in a given area will probably depend on its population density. Like we’re seeing right now in New York City, “the more dense the population, the more contacts any individual has, the more opportunity to transmit the virus,” said LeVasseur, who noted that New York City has seen over 87,000 cases at press time and has a population density of 66,940 people per square mile.
Philadelphia has more than 5,200 cases and a population density of 11,234 per square mile. “My hometown of Wolcott, Connecticut, has 21 cases and a population density of 790 per square mile,” LeVasseur said. “The force of the infection ― meaning, the rate at which susceptible individuals become infected ― is dependent on population density.”
This reality is potentially deadly and devastating for metropolitan areas, and dicey for the rest of the country. Even if the surge of cases is not as large in more rural areas, it’s still a surge if it overwhelms the local hospital system, LeVasseur said.
What can help slow the spread so we’re back to ‘normal’?
Besides the social distancing measures in place now, Russo sees four other potential game-changers that could slow the spread of this epidemic so we can potentially revert back to “normal life.” (“Normal” isn’t going to be the normal we know for a while, but more on that in a moment.)
The first is a vaccine, which we don’t have and likely won’t have for at least a year, he said.
“Number two is a drug or drugs that could either prevent infection or very effectively treat someone who does become infected, so they don’t develop a serious infection,” Russo said. “We don’t have that, either.”
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The third factor is “hoping it’s seasonal, which is really just buying time,” Russo added. “The virus will go to the Southern Hemisphere and then come back, and that seems really unlikely in general. There are no signs of it slowing here.”
The fourth game-changer would be herd immunity, which is when enough of the population becomes infected and has “natural protective immunity” that the virus can no longer spread. Some 50% to 75% of the population would need to be infected, said Russo, and we are nowhere close to that — nor do we want to be. Going this route would result in a lot of deaths, which is why the lack of social distancing in Sweden is raising alarm.
So, when do we go back to normal? The answer is unclear.
“I don’t believe that we go back to normal at all,” LeVasseur said. “Not until there’s an effective treatment or vaccine, anyway. We can regain some semblance [of normalcy], but we will need to remain vigilant as citizens and scale up our public health efforts in order to prevent future surges.”
phaustov via Getty Images The reality is that if we relax restrictions now, we may undo all the progress we’ve made with social distancing.
Here’s what we need before transitioning back to public life.
What’s happening right now in Wuhan, China, is a critical test of what will occur when societies go from social distancing to what somewhat resembles regular life.
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“The cases went down to zero, or very low, and then they waited a couple extra weeks to account for the incubation time,” Russo said. “After that period, they relaxed social distancing ― but decided to do lots and lots of testing, monitor the population very carefully.”
The United States needs a similar approach after the outbreak dies down, the experts reiterated.
“When the number of infections in certain areas gets close to zero ― from a pure biology, medicine, infectious-disease and public-health point of view ― that is the metric that will enable us to relax those conditions,” Russo said.
“But it needs to be combined with very careful, expansive monitoring for clinical symptoms, resurgences and testing of individuals so that we can reinstitute social distancing if needed,” he continued.
Of course, we would need to ramp up testing capacity a lot in the meantime; there is still a backlog of tests for COVID-19, and not enough happening to move the needle.
Another potential way to “catch up” on monitoring the population is an antibody test, which can tell experts which segments of the population have already had COVID-19 or were asymptomatic when infected.
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“As far as we know from other similar viruses, this should incur at least short-term protection from the virus,” Russo said. “We can stratify individuals ― if you’ve been infected and we believe you have short-term immunity, those might have more relaxed standards to get back to work and do other essential activities.”
Perhaps a combination of those two methods could be applied to get people back into the world again, Russo added.
All that said, we need to have a certain health infrastructure in place to truly manage COVID-19 outbreaks that might arise in post-social distancing life. This includes ramping up testing, so we can isolate the sick faster, Russo stressed.
“We need to have a certain health infrastructure in place to truly manage COVID-19 outbreaks that might arise in post-social distancing life. This includes ramping up testing.”
Even post-outbreak, we will probably still need to maintain distance and limit social contacts, LeVasseur said.
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“That doesn’t mean don’t be social, but it will likely mean that restaurants should limit the number of tables they can seat, it means workplaces should continue to allow employees to work from home, and it means we need to limit our classroom sizes,” he said.
In other words, the “normal” that we had before all of this may not be feasible for quite some time.
LeVasseur said we should not be caught off-guard if we must have another lockdown, either.
“If we see an increase in cases in a given area, we will need to respond quickly so as to not overwhelm our health care system,” he said. “I think that there are ways to do this intelligently that will require a lot of coordination between communities, public health, health care and government, and I’m certain that these plans are being developed nationwide.”
The reality is that if we relax restrictions now, we may undo all the progress we’ve made with social distancing, Russo said, explaining that we’re “far from done” with this virus.
“Until we get a vaccine or a drug that can prevent severe illness by allowing us to aggressively treat the infected, even if it decreases a little in the summer, it’s going to come roaring back,” he said. “We are set up for a more long-term scenario.”
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huffpost--2020-04-14--Anthony Fauci: 'We're Not There Yet' On Key Steps To Reopen Economy

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government ’ s top infectious disease expert , said Tuesday the U.S. does not yet have the critical testing and tracing procedures needed to begin reopening the nation ’ s economy , adding a dose of caution to increasingly optimistic projections from the White House .
“ We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on , and we ’ re not there yet , ” Fauci said in an interview with The Associated Press .
Fauci ’ s comments come as President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weigh how quickly businesses can reopen and Americans can get back to work weeks after the fast-spreading coronavirus essentially halted the U.S. economy .
Trump has floated the possibility of reopening some areas by May 1 and said he could announce recommendations as soon as this week .
Fauci said a May 1 target is “ a bit overly optimistic ” for many areas of the country .
Any easing off the strict social-distancing rules in place in much of the country would have to occur on a “ rolling ” basis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reflecting the ways COVID-19 struck different parts of the country at different times .
Among Fauci ’ s top concerns : that there will be new outbreaks in locations where social distancing has eased , but public health officials don ’ t yet have the capabilities to rapidly test for the virus , isolate any new cases and track down everyone that an infected person came into contact with .
Fauci said his public role is important but conceded that the duration of those briefings — Monday ’ s ran for nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and that doesn ’ t even count preparation and waiting for it to start .
“ If I had been able to just make a few comments and then go to work , that would have really been much better , ” he said .
“ It isn ’ t the idea of being there and answering questions , which I really think is important for the American public .
It ’ s the amount of time.
” Much of Fauci ’ s time outside of the White House briefing room is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that aim to tell who was exposed to the coronavirus ― whether they knew they were sick or not ― by spotting antibodies their immune system formed to fight back .
Those tests will be crucial in determining when and how people can go back to work .
The problem : Most of the tests have not yet been proven to work well , Fauci cautioned .
He noted that some countries bought millions of antibody tests only to learn they didn ’ t work .
Fauci , infectious disease chief at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff is working with the Food and Drug Administration to validate those tests .
That means proving what level of antibodies it takes to really be immune ; if particular types of antibodies are key rather than an overall level ; and how long that protection lasts .
“ We ’ re going to have to find out the answer to all of those questions , ” Fauci stressed .
“ I know people are anxious to say , ‘ Well , we ’ ll give you a passport that says you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work and you ’ re protected.
’ The worst possibility that would happen is if we ’ re actually wrong about that ” and those people get infected .
Another complication is that scientists still don ’ t have a solid understanding of how often people who show either no obvious symptoms or very few symptoms are spreading the virus .
It ’ s “ purely a guesstimate ” but no less than 25 % and no more than half of overall cases may be from the relatively asymptomatic , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave of infection isn ’ t inevitable .
But he added : “ if you mean it goes way down and then come September , October , November , we have another peak , I have to say I would not be surprised .
I would hope that if and when that occurs , that we jump all over it in a much , much more effective way than we have in these past few months .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said Tuesday the U.S. does not yet have the critical testing and tracing procedures needed to begin reopening the nation’s economy, adding a dose of caution to increasingly optimistic projections from the White House.
“We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on, and we’re not there yet,” Fauci said in an interview with The Associated Press.
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Fauci’s comments come as President Donald Trump and others in the administration weigh how quickly businesses can reopen and Americans can get back to work weeks after the fast-spreading coronavirus essentially halted the U.S. economy. Trump has floated the possibility of reopening some areas by May 1 and said he could announce recommendations as soon as this week.
Fauci said a May 1 target is “a bit overly optimistic” for many areas of the country. Any easing off the strict social-distancing rules in place in much of the country would have to occur on a “rolling” basis, not all at once, he said, reflecting the ways COVID-19 struck different parts of the country at different times.
Among Fauci’s top concerns: that there will be new outbreaks in locations where social distancing has eased, but public health officials don’t yet have the capabilities to rapidly test for the virus, isolate any new cases and track down everyone that an infected person came into contact with.
“I’ll guarantee you, once you start pulling back there will be infections. It’s how you deal with the infections that’s going count,” Fauci told the AP.
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Key is “getting people out of circulation if they get infected, because once you start getting clusters, then you’re really in trouble,” he added.
At the same time Fauci is directing critical government research, he’s also one of the administration’s leading spokespeople on the virus, spending hours each week by Trump’s side during his lengthy, daily White House briefings.
Fauci said his public role is important but conceded that the duration of those briefings — Monday’s ran for nearly two-and-a-half hours — was “really draining” and that doesn’t even count preparation and waiting for it to start.
“If I had been able to just make a few comments and then go to work, that would have really been much better,” he said. “It isn’t the idea of being there and answering questions, which I really think is important for the American public. It’s the amount of time.”
Much of Fauci’s time outside of the White House briefing room is focused on analyzing progress on blood tests that aim to tell who was exposed to the coronavirus ― whether they knew they were sick or not ― by spotting antibodies their immune system formed to fight back. Those tests will be crucial in determining when and how people can go back to work.
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The problem: Most of the tests have not yet been proven to work well, Fauci cautioned. He noted that some countries bought millions of antibody tests only to learn they didn’t work.
Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health, said his staff is working with the Food and Drug Administration to validate those tests. That means proving what level of antibodies it takes to really be immune; if particular types of antibodies are key rather than an overall level; and how long that protection lasts.
“We’re going to have to find out the answer to all of those questions,” Fauci stressed. “I know people are anxious to say, ‘Well, we’ll give you a passport that says you’re antibody-positive, you can go to work and you’re protected.’ The worst possibility that would happen is if we’re actually wrong about that” and those people get infected.
Another complication is that scientists still don’t have a solid understanding of how often people who show either no obvious symptoms or very few symptoms are spreading the virus. It’s “purely a guesstimate” but no less than 25% and no more than half of overall cases may be from the relatively asymptomatic, he said.


huffpost--2020-04-14--NYC Sees Over 10,000 COVID-19 Deaths In A Month After Counting 'Probable' Fatalities

City officials reported 3,778 “ probable ” deaths , where doctors were certain enough of the cause of death to list it on the death certificate , and 6,589 confirmed by a lab test .
Combined , that would put the total fatalities in the city over 10,000 .
“ Behind every death is a friend , a family member , a loved one .
We are focused on ensuring that every New Yorker who died because of COVID-19 gets counted , ” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot .
“ While these data reflect the tragic impact that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will also help us to determine the scale and scope of the epidemic and guide us in our decisions.
” State officials earlier in the day said 778 deaths were recorded statewide Monday , bringing the statewide total to more than 10,800 .
That figure , though , did not factor in the probable deaths now being counted in New York City .
New York has become an epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic with more than 200,000 confirmed cases .
Cuomo said restarting the economy must be done in a smart , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past month could be quickly lost .
Cuomo said the president was “ clearly unhappy.
” But after taking aim at the president ’ s comments Tuesday in multiple TV appearances and during his state Capitol briefing , Cuomo said he would not engage in a fight with him .
“ Starting in a few weeks we will be producing here in New York City 50,000 test kits per week with components put together right here , with companies , universities , New York City workers right here building a brand new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will now develop in New York City , ” de Blasio said , adding , “ if we can go further , we ’ re going to build it up rapidly.
” State and city officials have stressed the need to greatly expand coronavirus testing before any relaxation of social distancing guidelines can be contemplated , and health care workers have complained throughout the virus pandemic of shortages of personal protective equipment like gowns and face shields .
“ It ’ s bad enough people are losing their jobs , and don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separated from their families and loved ones , ” Schumer said .
“ But to not be able to give a decent funeral and burial to someone who is near and dear to you is outrageous.
” The MTA , which runs the city ’ s subways and buses , said 59 employees have died of coronavirus and more than 2,200 workers have tested positive for the disease .
Former Democratic state Assemblyman Richard Brodsky died last week of a heart attack and not of complications from the coronavirus as originally suspected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the 73-year-old had shown symptoms consistent with COVID-19 , but also had a heart condition .
Test results returned after he died showed he did not have the disease .
The Democrat represented parts of Westchester County from 1983 to 2010 .

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NEW YORK (AP) — The official death toll from the coronavirus soared in New York City on Tuesday after officials began including people who probably had COVID-19, but died without ever being tested.
City officials reported 3,778 “probable” deaths, where doctors were certain enough of the cause of death to list it on the death certificate, and 6,589 confirmed by a lab test. Combined, that would put the total fatalities in the city over 10,000.
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The change in the city’s accounting of fatalities came after officials acknowledged that statistics based only on laboratory-confirmed tests were failing to account for many people dying at home before they ever reached a hospital.
“Behind every death is a friend, a family member, a loved one. We are focused on ensuring that every New Yorker who died because of COVID-19 gets counted,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “While these data reflect the tragic impact that the virus has had on our city, they will also help us to determine the scale and scope of the epidemic and guide us in our decisions.”
New Yorkers with COVID-19 continue to die at an unnerving pace even as the number of patients in hospitals level off.
State officials earlier in the day said 778 deaths were recorded statewide Monday, bringing the statewide total to more than 10,800. That figure, though, did not factor in the probable deaths now being counted in New York City.
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TRUMP, CUOMO CLASH
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo criticized President Donald Trump’s claim of “total” authority to reopen the nation’s virus-stalled economy, saying Tuesday he was talking more like a king than a president.
The Democratic governor criticized Trump’s assertion Monday that “when somebody is president of the United States, the authority is total.”
“His proclamation is that he would be king, that’s what a king is,” Cuomo said at his daily coronavirus briefing. “A king has total authority. That statement cannot stand.”
The Republican president made his comments after Cuomo and governors on both coasts announced multi-state compacts to coordinate reopening society amid the global pandemic.
New York has become an epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic with more than 200,000 confirmed cases. Cuomo said restarting the economy must be done in a smart, methodical manner or the hard-won gains of the past month could be quickly lost.
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In a tweet Tuesday, Trump appeared to liken the governors to mutinous crew members in the movie “Munity on the Bounty.”
Cuomo said the president was “clearly unhappy.” But after taking aim at the president’s comments Tuesday in multiple TV appearances and during his state Capitol briefing, Cuomo said he would not engage in a fight with him.
“The president is clearly spoiling for a fight on this issue,” Cuomo said. “This is too important for anyone to play politics.”
Here are other developments in the coronavirus outbreak:
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MEDICAL CRUSH EASING
The total number of people hospitalized Monday was down slightly to 18,697, the first decrease since mid-March. Total hospitalizations have been flat recently, and Cuomo believes the state could be at a peak, or a plateau.
Still, more than 1,600 new COVID-19 patients were hospitalized Monday.
Meanwhile, New York City’s once-overwhelmed 911 system is now seeing a more normal volume of medical calls, another sign the crisis could be ebbing and that people are heeding messages to call only in a life-threatening emergency.
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The fire department, which runs the city’s EMS system, said it received 3,932 calls requesting ambulances Sunday, down from a record high of 6,527 on March 30. The average volume last March and April was just over 4,000 calls.
Sunday was the sixth straight day that the city’s medical call volume was lower than the previous day.
The fire department said it’s too early to know exactly why volume has dropped.
At the peak, operators were answering four new calls a minute.
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MADE IN NEW YORK
New York City will move toward coronavirus self-sufficiency by starting production of virus test kits, face shields and surgical gowns, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday.
“Starting in a few weeks we will be producing here in New York City 50,000 test kits per week with components put together right here, with companies, universities, New York City workers right here building a brand new supply chain to feed this industry that will now develop in New York City,” de Blasio said, adding, “if we can go further, we’re going to build it up rapidly.”
State and city officials have stressed the need to greatly expand coronavirus testing before any relaxation of social distancing guidelines can be contemplated, and health care workers have complained throughout the virus pandemic of shortages of personal protective equipment like gowns and face shields.
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De Blasio said eight city companies are now making 240,000 face shields a week and will ramp up to 465,000 by April 24 and to 620,000 soon after.
He said five companies are making 30,000 surgical gowns a week and the goal is more than 250,000 weekly.
De Blasio said the city will purchase 50,000 test kits a week from Indiana-based Aria-Diagnostics and additionally will start producing its own test kits.
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FUNERAL COSTS
Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked the federal government to help pay for funerals as the state’s COVID-19 death toll climbs.
The two Democrats appeared together in the hard-hit neighborhood of Corona, Queens, part of Ocasio-Cortez’s district, to ask the Federal Emergency Management Administration to approve disaster funeral assistance across New York.
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“It’s bad enough people are losing their jobs, and don’t have food to eat, are separated from their families and loved ones,” Schumer said. “But to not be able to give a decent funeral and burial to someone who is near and dear to you is outrageous.”
Ocasio-Cortez said the coronavirus is “decimating an already vulnerable community” and funeral costs are one more burden.
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TRANSIT WORKER TRIBUTE
More than 4,000 trains, buses and ferry boats across the New York City plan to sound their horns in unison Thursday to honor transportation workers keeping the system running during the coronavirus crisis.
Each vehicle will give two one-second horn blasts at 3 p.m., the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said. The Port Authority, New Jersey Transit, Amtrak and the Staten Island Ferry are also participating.
The city’s commuter infrastructure has been operating at a reduced schedule, serving mainly to health care workers and other essential employees.
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The MTA, which runs the city’s subways and buses, said 59 employees have died of coronavirus and more than 2,200 workers have tested positive for the disease.
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FORMER LAWMAKER DIES
Former Democratic state Assemblyman Richard Brodsky died last week of a heart attack and not of complications from the coronavirus as originally suspected. His daughter told The New York Times that the 73-year-old had shown symptoms consistent with COVID-19, but also had a heart condition. Test results returned after he died showed he did not have the disease. The Democrat represented parts of Westchester County from 1983 to 2010.
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huffpost--2020-04-14--'We Don't Have Any Social Distance': Detained Immigrants Plead For Better Virus Protection

The asylum-seeker from El Salvador and others had resorted to tearing their T-shirts into face coverings after a woman in their unit tested positive for COVID-19 .
But the guards would not give out the masks until the detainees signed the forms , which said they could not hold the private prison company running the detention center in San Diego liable if they got the coronavirus , according to Elsy and two other detainees , including one who read the form to The Associated Press over the phone .
When they refused Friday , the guards took away the masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition that her last name be withheld for fear of retribution .
While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has started to lower the number of detainees to reduce the risk of people getting sick , those held in immigration jails and their advocates say there ’ s not enough protective gear , cleaning supplies or space to allow for social distancing .
They fear the number of coronavirus cases will sharply rise in the coming weeks as it has in jails and prisons nationwide .
Private prison company CoreCivic , which operates Otay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless detainees signed waivers .
Spokeswoman Amanda Gilchrist said Monday that detainees were given an “ acknowledgment form ” that a mask alone could not protect them from the virus .
“ It was not the intent of the previous form to require detainees to relinquish all rights related to COVID-19 , ” Gilchrist said , adding that the company has stopped using it .
“ Detainees are only required to initial documentation evidencing they were issued a mask.
” While jails and prisons are releasing some non-violent offenders , ICE says it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instructed field offices to review the cases of people over 60 or those with certain medical conditions .
The number of people in ICE detention now totals 33,800 , down from about 37,000 a few weeks ago .
Though the Trump administration has effectively shut down new asylum claims during the pandemic , it ’ s still holding people who were apprehended months or years earlier for civil violations , including over 5,800 people who passed government asylum screenings .
“ Immigrant detainees do not need to be in a detention center in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Margaret Cargioli , managing attorney at the Immigrant Defenders Law Center .
“ This pandemic can only be adequately managed if everyone is healthy and everyone is in a safe environment.
” Andrew Arthur of the Center for Immigration Studies , which favors restricting immigration , argued that detainees have constant access to medical care and that ICE and prison companies have an interest in limiting the spread of the virus because “ they want to continue that business of detention.
” “ The officers have masks and we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Montgomery Processing Center north of Houston said in a video posted by the advocacy group RAICES Action .
Another woman in the video holds a sign in Spanish saying she ’ s pregnant and fears for her baby ’ s life .
In Louisiana , which has become a hot spot for cases and where more than 6,000 immigration detainees are held mostly in rural jails , an asylum-seeker said he and others confined to their unit in the Pine Prairie jail pleaded for masks and more cleaning supplies .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We don ’ t have any social distance within us , ” said the detainee from Cameroon who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution .
“ We are just living by the grace of God.
” In Florida , some detainees said in a complaint filed by immigrant rights groups that they had been denied masks and gloves , even when they tried to buy them in the commissary .
“ I sleep on a bunk bed and am surrounded by multiple other bunk beds , all occupied by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay six feet away from cellmates , ” Juan Carlos Alfaro Garcia , 39 , said in the complaint .
At Otay Mesa in San Diego , a detainee from El Salvador who asked to be identified only by his first name , Jose , for fear of retribution , said jail guards had searched his cell and touched his belongings without wearing masks or gloves .

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HOUSTON (AP) — Elsy was on the phone in an immigration detention center when guards showed up with face masks and forms to sign.
The asylum-seeker from El Salvador and others had resorted to tearing their T-shirts into face coverings after a woman in their unit tested positive for COVID-19. But the guards would not give out the masks until the detainees signed the forms, which said they could not hold the private prison company running the detention center in San Diego liable if they got the coronavirus, according to Elsy and two other detainees, including one who read the form to The Associated Press over the phone.
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When they refused Friday, the guards took away the masks, said Elsy, who spoke on condition that her last name be withheld for fear of retribution.
While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has started to lower the number of detainees to reduce the risk of people getting sick, those held in immigration jails and their advocates say there’s not enough protective gear, cleaning supplies or space to allow for social distancing. They fear the number of coronavirus cases will sharply rise in the coming weeks as it has in jails and prisons nationwide.
The Otay Mesa Detention Center, where Elsy is held, jumped from one confirmed case last week to 12. There are 72 detainees in 12 states who tested positive and hundreds of others under quarantine.
Detainees in at least four states say they have been denied masks, even as the White House has urged face coverings in public.
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Private prison company CoreCivic, which operates Otay Mesa, denied that masks were withheld unless detainees signed waivers. Spokeswoman Amanda Gilchrist said Monday that detainees were given an “acknowledgment form” that a mask alone could not protect them from the virus.
“It was not the intent of the previous form to require detainees to relinquish all rights related to COVID-19,” Gilchrist said, adding that the company has stopped using it. “Detainees are only required to initial documentation evidencing they were issued a mask.”
While jails and prisons are releasing some non-violent offenders, ICE says it has freed 160 people so far and instructed field offices to review the cases of people over 60 or those with certain medical conditions.
The number of people in ICE detention now totals 33,800, down from about 37,000 a few weeks ago. Though the Trump administration has effectively shut down new asylum claims during the pandemic, it’s still holding people who were apprehended months or years earlier for civil violations, including over 5,800 people who passed government asylum screenings.
Opponents argue that ICE could release thousands of people who aren’t accused of a crime, have cleared asylum screenings or won their cases but are being detained while the government appeals.
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“Immigrant detainees do not need to be in a detention center in order to be monitored by ICE,” said Margaret Cargioli, managing attorney at the Immigrant Defenders Law Center. “This pandemic can only be adequately managed if everyone is healthy and everyone is in a safe environment.”
Andrew Arthur of the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors restricting immigration, argued that detainees have constant access to medical care and that ICE and prison companies have an interest in limiting the spread of the virus because “they want to continue that business of detention.”
A central problem is access to protective equipment, which even medical workers have struggled to get. ICE did not respond to questions about masks.
“The officers have masks and we don’t,” a woman detained at the Montgomery Processing Center north of Houston said in a video posted by the advocacy group RAICES Action. Another woman in the video holds a sign in Spanish saying she’s pregnant and fears for her baby’s life.
In Louisiana, which has become a hot spot for cases and where more than 6,000 immigration detainees are held mostly in rural jails, an asylum-seeker said he and others confined to their unit in the Pine Prairie jail pleaded for masks and more cleaning supplies. More than 50 men sleep on bunk beds.
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“We don’t have any social distance within us,” said the detainee from Cameroon who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. “We are just living by the grace of God.”
Four immigration jails in Louisiana, including Pine Prairie, have confirmed cases of COVID-19.
In Florida, some detainees said in a complaint filed by immigrant rights groups that they had been denied masks and gloves, even when they tried to buy them in the commissary.
“I sleep on a bunk bed and am surrounded by multiple other bunk beds, all occupied by inmates. It is not possible to stay six feet away from cellmates,” Juan Carlos Alfaro Garcia, 39, said in the complaint.
At Otay Mesa in San Diego, a detainee from El Salvador who asked to be identified only by his first name, Jose, for fear of retribution, said jail guards had searched his cell and touched his belongings without wearing masks or gloves.
“They put the virus in here,” Jose said. “The only way we can get the virus is because they brought the virus.”
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Elsy, who is seeking asylum because she said she was persecuted for her sexual orientation in El Salvador, still doesn’t have a jail-issued mask. Meanwhile, she says a guard threatened to write up her and others for tearing T-shirts to use as face coverings.


huffpost--2020-04-10--Can Someone Outside Of Your Household Quarantine With You Now?

Most people are being encouraged or mandated to stay at home and social distance through the end of this month , if not longer .
That ’ s obviously challenging : Many adults ― whether they ’ re working on the front lines or at home ― are balancing watching their kids while doing their job .
Some people are navigating co-parenting or caretaking during this time .
And on top of these challenges are the strains of staying separated from loved ones .
Given that many have been self-isolating for two weeks or more ― the standard recommendation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some wonder if they can start bringing others into their quarantines to alleviate some of these burdens .
So , what do experts think ?
“ I see the potential use for it , but I also see room for abuse , where groups of people might use it as a reason to get together , saying that they ’ re a ‘ support group , ’ ” said Justin Bahl , epidemiology and biostatistics professor at the University of Georgia ’ s School of Public Health .
“ You have to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can help .
If you have a friend who ’ s a single mom and a teacher , and the kids are the same age , they might want to move in together so the friend can watch the kids and you can go back to work , ” she said .
“ The household is increasing their risk , but maybe it ’ s a net benefit.
” While most situations right now are difficult and isolating , it remains best not to fold people into your quarantine to alleviate that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Bahl and Hills mentioned above , or some other extreme circumstances , read on for what you should do .
Think long and hard about who you could be potentially exposing in a new quarantine arrangement , especially since experts recommend that everyone should already behave like they ’ ve been exposed to the coronavirus .
If anyone is high-risk , including those with underlying health conditions like asthma or those over the age of 60 , you definitely should not quarantine with them , according to Hills .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person does for work and how that affects their exposure risk , she said .
“ The worry is always how the social network expands , ” Bahl added .
“ Say we wanted to join family units , and my social network is four people , and yours is 100 , maybe because you ’ re considered an essential worker and you ’ re still interacting with people .
By joining family units , the risk of our combined social network has increased.
” Take extra precautions or adjustments within your home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member with a high risk of exposure due to their line of work , they should absolutely separate from a family member who needs assistance — staying in separate rooms , avoiding shared spaces if possible , and regularly disinfecting and sanitizing to prevent contamination , per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
It ’ s a good idea to have a family member with a lower exposure step up to do the caretaking — and if there ’ s no one you live with who fits the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing in a friend or relative to help , Hills said .
If you absolutely insist on bringing in someone to your quarantine , you need to follow a safety protocol If any individuals are sick , either showing symptoms of COVID-19 or having tested positive for the virus , they should first isolate for at least 14 days and get health clearance from their doctor .
If anyone has been exposed to the virus , regardless of exhibiting symptoms , they should also quarantine for two weeks .

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Most people are being encouraged or mandated to stay at home and social distance through the end of this month, if not longer. That’s obviously challenging: Many adults ― whether they’re working on the front lines or at home ― are balancing watching their kids while doing their job. Some people are navigating co-parenting or caretaking during this time. And on top of these challenges are the strains of staying separated from loved ones.
Given that many have been self-isolating for two weeks or more ― the standard recommendation for monitoring the appearance of coronavirus symptoms ― some wonder if they can start bringing others into their quarantines to alleviate some of these burdens. So, what do experts think?
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Unfortunately, the answer is generally a no ― with the exception of a very few scenarios in which experts think merging households right now is a viable option.
“I see the potential use for it, but I also see room for abuse, where groups of people might use it as a reason to get together, saying that they’re a ‘support group,’” said Justin Bahl, epidemiology and biostatistics professor at the University of Georgia’s School of Public Health.
If it’s restricted to family units seeking a caretaking arrangement, “I would support [merged households], particularly if it’s groups that have maintained quarantine for a 14-day period,” he said.
Kelly Hills, a bioethicist and co-founder of Rogue Bioethics, agreed and pointed to a circumstance where such steps may be necessary.
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Consider, for instance, a single parent who is an essential worker and has two kids under age 15.
“You have to work and you don’t know who can help. If you have a friend who’s a single mom and a teacher, and the kids are the same age, they might want to move in together so the friend can watch the kids and you can go back to work,” she said. “The household is increasing their risk, but maybe it’s a net benefit.”
While most situations right now are difficult and isolating, it remains best not to fold people into your quarantine to alleviate that. If you are in a caretaking scenario like Bahl and Hills mentioned above, or some other extreme circumstances, read on for what you should do.
KT images via Getty Images
Consider exposure risks
Think long and hard about who you could be potentially exposing in a new quarantine arrangement, especially since experts recommend that everyone should already behave like they’ve been exposed to the coronavirus.
If anyone is high-risk, including those with underlying health conditions like asthma or those over the age of 60, you definitely should not quarantine with them, according to Hills. It’s also important to look at what each person does for work and how that affects their exposure risk, she said.
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“The worry is always how the social network expands,” Bahl added. “Say we wanted to join family units, and my social network is four people, and yours is 100, maybe because you’re considered an essential worker and you’re still interacting with people. By joining family units, the risk of our combined social network has increased.”
This spike in exposure already threatens healthy individuals. And if there are any high risk individuals in the home, it may become too dangerous.
“I worry that this risk is simply too high, because you’re bringing in vulnerable people, or people to protect those vulnerable individuals, and their risk goes up a lot,” Bahl said.
Take extra precautions or adjustments within your home first
Social distancing and isolating from people you live with can be challenging, but for families with a high-risk or sick member who requires caretaking, extra safety measures have to be taken within the home, Hill said.
If there’s a household member with a high risk of exposure due to their line of work, they should absolutely separate from a family member who needs assistance — staying in separate rooms, avoiding shared spaces if possible, and regularly disinfecting and sanitizing to prevent contamination, per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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It’s a good idea to have a family member with a lower exposure step up to do the caretaking — and if there’s no one you live with who fits the bill, that could be justification for considering bringing in a friend or relative to help, Hills said.
JohnnyGreig via Getty Images
If you absolutely insist on bringing in someone to your quarantine, you need to follow a safety protocol
Before attempting a merged living situation, evaluate the health of all members, Hills said.
If any individuals are sick, either showing symptoms of COVID-19 or having tested positive for the virus, they should first isolate for at least 14 days and get health clearance from their doctor. If anyone has been exposed to the virus, regardless of exhibiting symptoms, they should also quarantine for two weeks.
To be safe, otherwise healthy individuals following stay-at-home and safe distancing protocol would do best to undergo a 14-day quarantine period before making any decisions as well. It’s also best to directly consult a doctor for their advice.
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After joining homes, members should establish a safe protocol going forward —ideally, social distancing and limiting trips outside the home to necessities, like pharmacy and grocery runs. Granted, this can be complicated, depending on the immediate needs of each individual, but it’s important to set ground rules with members of your home.