huffpost--2020-03-26--NYC Won't Allow Partners In The Delivery Room, So This Couple Is Leaving The City

When did you find out about the new policy ?
Mom-to-be : We had a sense that something was brewing .
We have a friend who ’ s also expecting and is planning to deliver at a different Manhattan hospital .
She knows someone pretty high up there and mentioned that there was talk , weeks ago , about it coming down to no one being allowed in the delivery room .
We were also constantly checking our hospital ’ s website for their policies , which were changing by the minute .
We saw that we couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we had hired a doula , who is amazing .
So we knew about that change , and we were sad about it .
But we were OK. What was that like for you guys ?
Then we kind of went into panic mode , but not really .
We ’ re pretty methodical .
But we did have a moment of thinking that we should just deliver the baby at home .
That is not something that we had ever wanted to do .
We know that doing a last-minute change to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea .
But it still came up .
What did your OB-GYN have to say about everything ?
So you ’ re 37 weeks pregnant , and you ’ re leaving to deliver elsewhere .
Mom-to-be : After we initially heard the news , we were definitely thinking about all of our options .
But the moment the OB-GYN said that , we were just kind of like , OK , it ’ s happening .
We have family in upstate New York , and we have some connections to medical providers up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They immediately sprang into action to see what we could do .
Dad-to-be : Of course she could go into labor at any time .
But the midwife also reminded us to try and take a breath and relax .
These last few weeks before the baby are supposed to be yours .
And you want to be able to enjoy them a little without dealing with a pandemic , and moving out of your own home and figuring out logistics .
She reminded us that this isn ’ t just a transactional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll wonder : What ’ s the big deal ?
Lots of women have labored alone .
Why is this so important ?
Mom-to-be : Now that we ’ re going , I have this mixture of relief , feeling like I have something to do — just to pack .
I ’ m so grateful to have people we can go to , and family who mobilized so quickly to make this happen .
And then mixed with that is a lot of guilt , knowing how lucky we are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no choice but to do this alone .
We ’ re very fucking privileged .
So that ’ s been on my mind .
Have you thought about what the postpartum period might be like ?

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This week, several hospital networks in New York City announced they were banning partners from all of labor and delivery rooms, leaving potentially thousands of pregnant women to deliver their babies alone.
The city has emerged as an epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S., and its mayor has warned that half of all residents there could come down with COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus.
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“We understand that this will be difficult for our patients and their loved ones,” says the website of NewYork-Presbyterian, the first hospital network in New York City to adopt the policy. “But we believe that this is a necessary step to promote the safety of our new mothers and children.”
HuffPost Parents spoke with a Brooklyn-based couple — who requested anonymity because speaking to the media could put the dad-to-be’s job at risk — who were set to deliver at a NewYork-Presbyterian hospital in Manhattan, about what the no-visitors policy means to them. They are three weeks away from the due date of their first baby.
When did you find out about the new policy?
Mom-to-be: We had a sense that something was brewing. We have a friend who’s also expecting and is planning to deliver at a different Manhattan hospital. She knows someone pretty high up there and mentioned that there was talk, weeks ago, about it coming down to no one being allowed in the delivery room. We were also constantly checking our hospital’s website for their policies, which were changing by the minute. We saw that we couldn’t have an additional support person, and we had hired a doula, who is amazing. So we knew about that change, and we were sad about it. But we were OK.
The way I was self-soothing was by telling myself, “There is just no possible way that it’ll come to an outright ban.” It’s so clear how much having a support person there helps birth outcomes and women’s experiences. I know that keeping this virus contained — and keeping people safe — is important. But I thought this was one of the few things that couldn’t possibly change, because it’s also just too important.
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Dad-to-be: We first found out online, through a parenting group. Then in the news. That was all last Sunday night.
What was that like for you guys?
Dad-to-be: It was a very dark moment.
Mom-to-be: Yeah, it was probably one of the darker moments of my life — and my mother passed away six years ago. We just kind of sat there for a long time.
“We did have a moment of thinking that we should just deliver the baby at home.”
Dad-to-be: I was trying to reassure her and say no matter what happens, you’re going to be healthy. The baby is going to be healthy. If I’m not there, no matter what, you can do this.
Then we kind of went into panic mode, but not really. We’re pretty methodical. But we did have a moment of thinking that we should just deliver the baby at home. That is not something that we had ever wanted to do. We know that doing a last-minute change to a home birth is not a good idea. But it still came up.
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What did your OB-GYN have to say about everything?
Dad-to-be: We happened to have an appointment scheduled the next morning, so we were in there when the OB office was basically doing damage control. That was ... surreal.
Mom-to-be: Everyone was trying to put on a happy face, but we asked our doctor, “How are you?” She was like, “Well, you know, everyone who has come in today has been crying. And I get it.”
Dad-to-be: She straight-up asked: “Are you fleeing town?” We were like, yup, we’re thinking about it.
She basically told us, good. I love my patients, but I do not give a fuck. No one wants to do this alone. She told us that if we could find a doctor and a hospital elsewhere, great.
So you’re 37 weeks pregnant, and you’re leaving to deliver elsewhere.
Mom-to-be: After we initially heard the news, we were definitely thinking about all of our options. But the moment the OB-GYN said that, we were just kind of like, OK, it’s happening. We have family in upstate New York, and we have some connections to medical providers up there. Our family was great. They immediately sprang into action to see what we could do.
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Dad-to-be: We have connected with a nurse-midwife who is a family friend who delivers at a hospital there. She has also helped connect us with an OB. We’re hopeful we’ll get in at least one phone call meeting in before the delivery, but at least we’ve connected with some providers. And we know which hospital we’re going to.
What about the fact that everyone who has been in New York City is now being called to self-quarantine?
Dad-to-be: That was already our plan. We’re renting an apartment through a family friend, and we were planning to leave early partly so that we could have some time to be there and try and be a little bit relaxed. But we also knew we wanted to quarantine.
We think that we are virus-free. We have been home for the past three weeks. Other than walking our dog, we have not left our apartment — except to drive to our OB appointments. And then we just go in and we go out.
We did a heavy amount of shopping before the panic shopping, and I asked to work remotely before everybody was doing it because it was mandated. We have been taking this very seriously. We are concerned about showing up and being the case that might expose others, especially during an OB visit or at the hospital.
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Mom-to-be: We talked to the nurse-midwife about our plans, and she was so comforting on the phone that she brought us to tears.
Dad-to-be: Of course she could go into labor at any time. But the midwife also reminded us to try and take a breath and relax. These last few weeks before the baby are supposed to be yours. And you want to be able to enjoy them a little without dealing with a pandemic, and moving out of your own home and figuring out logistics. She reminded us that this isn’t just a transactional experience.
There are definitely people who’ll wonder: What’s the big deal? Lots of women have labored alone. Why is this so important?
Mom-to-be: I mean, that’s true? But this is such an emotional experience. Doing it by yourself, in a hospital that’s inundated with cases and stretched thin and where, as much as the nurses might want to be there for you, they’ve got so much stuff to do ...
There are going to be times that women are utterly alone in their rooms. And that’s just devastating. I know these hospitals have not made this decision lightly. But the World Health Organization, still, stands behind this as a right. This is important.
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Dad-to-be: I think we could really sense it from our OB. Like, these doctors are preparing to deal with potentially complicated births, with women who are completely on their own, and it makes everything more complicated. A partner on the iPad in a lobby is not really any consolation. To anyone.
Mom-to-be: Now that we’re going, I have this mixture of relief, feeling like I have something to do — just to pack. I’m so grateful to have people we can go to, and family who mobilized so quickly to make this happen. And then mixed with that is a lot of guilt, knowing how lucky we are, and how many women in this city have no choice but to do this alone. We’re very fucking privileged. So that’s been on my mind.
Have you thought about what the postpartum period might be like?
Mom-to-be: We’ve had to make our peace with the idea that maybe our parents are not going to meet the baby in person right away — or that maybe no one is going to see this baby up close until the summer. I think the plan, for now, is that we’re just not letting anyone get near us.
In our heads, we think we’re coming back here and then self-isolating in our apartment, just because it’s our home and we feel comfortable here. But we don’t know what it’s going to be like afterwards. So for now, we’re just taking it like let’s just get this baby out first, and then just go from there. We have really no idea.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
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huffpost--2020-04-15--SSI Recipients Will Now Get Coronavirus Payments Automatically

Instead of having to file a tax return or give the government their bank account number , the government will use the information it already has to deliver the $ 1,200 payments to SSI recipients .
The new policy should make life easier for the 5 million Americans who get by solely on SSI , which provides a meager monthly benefit to people with disabilities and limited work histories .
Congress created the coronavirus payments to help people survive the social distancing measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus , which has killed more than 24,000 Americans as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than $ 75,000 is eligible for $ 1,200 , plus $ 500 per child under 17 .
The Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security Act said that Treasury should use Social Security information to pay people who hadn ’ t filed a tax return for 2019 or 2018 , but the Trump administration initially said everyone had to file one anyway .
Wednesday ’ s announcement is the second time the administration has relaxed the tax return requirement for Social Security beneficiaries , which Democrats have fiercely criticized .
The Treasury Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retirement benefits or Social Security Disability Insurance would get their coronavirus payments automatically .
But that announcement left out SSI recipients , even though their benefits are also paid by the Social Security Administration .
“ SSI recipients with no qualifying children do not need to take any action in order to receive their $ 1,200 economic impact payment .
The payments will be automatic , ” Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said .
Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D-Ohio ) said he was glad the IRS listened to Democratic demands that SSI beneficiaries receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to get their stimulus checks , ” Brown tweeted .
“ This is a huge win for SSI beneficiaries.
” If SSI recipients have children under 17 , however , they still need to enter basic information on a new IRS web page in order to get an extra $ 500 per child .
And that could prove difficult for some .
Tira Williams , a 43-year-old SSI beneficiary in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , said she couldn ’ t figure out how to create an account to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The agency created the site with the help of tax preparation companies like Intuit , the maker of TurboTax .
Since she has a 12-year-old son at home , Williams ’ inability to figure out the site could stop her from receiving an extra $ 500 ― and volunteer tax clinics are all closed due to the pandemic .
Williams had a double lung transplant in 2014 and can ’ t work .
She said the extra income would help with bills and books for her son , whose school is closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Community Legal Services of Philadelphia , recently helped Williams prove to the Social Security Administration , during a periodic review of her disability , that she is still unable to work .
But Burdick ’ s organization is still evaluating whether it has the resources and expertise to help with what is essentially a tax filing issue .
Burdick commended the IRS and Social Security Administration for speeding the coronavirus payments to SSI recipients , but said every level of government should make sure non-tax filers “ get the information and help they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which they ’ re eligible .
”

People who receive Supplemental Security Income benefits will automatically receive coronavirus stimulus payments, the Trump administration announced Wednesday.
Instead of having to file a tax return or give the government their bank account number, the government will use the information it already has to deliver the $1,200 payments to SSI recipients.
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The new policy should make life easier for the 5 million Americans who get by solely on SSI, which provides a meager monthly benefit to people with disabilities and limited work histories.
Congress created the coronavirus payments to help people survive the social distancing measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 24,000 Americans as of Wednesday afternoon. Everyone earning less than $75,000 is eligible for $1,200, plus $500 per child under 17.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act said that Treasury should use Social Security information to pay people who hadn’t filed a tax return for 2019 or 2018, but the Trump administration initially said everyone had to file one anyway.
People with low incomes generally aren’t required to file federal tax returns. Non-tax filers who aren’t Social Security beneficiaries still have to do so to get a coronavirus rebate.
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Wednesday’s announcement is the second time the administration has relaxed the tax return requirement for Social Security beneficiaries, which Democrats have fiercely criticized. The Treasury Department previously said that people receiving Social Security retirement benefits or Social Security Disability Insurance would get their coronavirus payments automatically. But that announcement left out SSI recipients, even though their benefits are also paid by the Social Security Administration.
“SSI recipients with no qualifying children do not need to take any action in order to receive their $1,200 economic impact payment. The payments will be automatic,” Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said he was glad the IRS listened to Democratic demands that SSI beneficiaries receive automatic payments. “People should not have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to get their stimulus checks,” Brown tweeted. “This is a huge win for SSI beneficiaries.”
If SSI recipients have children under 17, however, they still need to enter basic information on a new IRS web page in order to get an extra $500 per child. And that could prove difficult for some.
Tira Williams, a 43-year-old SSI beneficiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said she couldn’t figure out how to create an account to get the new IRS site to work. The agency created the site with the help of tax preparation companies like Intuit, the maker of TurboTax.
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“After I realized I couldn’t make an account, I just left it alone,” Williams said. “It’s kind of complicated.”
Since she has a 12-year-old son at home, Williams’ inability to figure out the site could stop her from receiving an extra $500 ― and volunteer tax clinics are all closed due to the pandemic.
Williams had a double lung transplant in 2014 and can’t work. She said the extra income would help with bills and books for her son, whose school is closed.
Jennifer Burdick, an attorney with Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, recently helped Williams prove to the Social Security Administration, during a periodic review of her disability, that she is still unable to work. But Burdick’s organization is still evaluating whether it has the resources and expertise to help with what is essentially a tax filing issue.
Burdick commended the IRS and Social Security Administration for speeding the coronavirus payments to SSI recipients, but said every level of government should make sure non-tax filers “get the information and help they need to get the full payments for which they’re eligible.”
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Williams, for her part, doesn’t want to leave her apartment with a dangerous respiratory illness lurking outside.
“It’s really scary because I already have a weakened immune system, so with the coronavirus attacking the lungs, I don’t come outside at all.”
A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus


huffpost--2020-04-15--Providing Care For Detroit's Most Vulnerable In The Middle Of A Pandemic

Outside the door , dozens of Detroit residents currently experiencing homelessness were the only sign of life during what should ’ ve been a busy morning rush hour in the city ’ s core .
The patients trickling in said they didn ’ t think they had contracted the coronavirus , but wanted to see the doctor for some peace of mind .
Shajahan put a stethoscope to each person ’ s back to listen to their lungs and took their temperature .
She asked them about any symptoms that might suggest a coronavirus infection .
By the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 patients and was relieved to find that no one required a test .
Shajahan ’ s three-day-a-week clinic at the Pope Francis Center is one of the few chances for those who are homeless in Detroit to be screened or receive medical care , as the city ’ s hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients .
Some advocates estimate about 14,000 people in Detroit are experiencing homelessness .
By comparison , New York City leads the country with about 76,000 homeless people , and Seattle has about 12,000 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access and the option to intervene if they ’ re having a cough or before they get so sick that they require hospitalization , ” Shajahan said .
“ Getting out there on the street is like bringing medicine to them because they ’ re not able to access it on their own.
” In Detroit , 42 homeless residents who have exhibited symptoms are in quarantine in a city-owned facility as of Wednesday .
So far , 21 have tested positive for the virus .
At an April 9 press briefing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the head of the city ’ s Housing and Revitalization Department , announced that nurses are now visiting shelters throughout Detroit , and the city is providing 15-minute rapid tests for homeless individuals .
Across the U.S. , cities are taking drastic measures to address the pandemic ’ s spread among the unhoused .
In Los Angeles , 18 homeless residents tested positive for the virus as of April 9 , and the state is quickly pushing forward with plans to house some of its homeless population in 15,000 hotel rooms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have contracted COVID-19 and 14 have died .
Still , the city ’ s shelters remain packed .
The Pope Francis Center health clinic wants to avert such a crisis by providing care as soon as people feel sick .
The center also offers hot meals , a warming station , bathrooms and a hand-washing station .
In normal times , it provides other services like laundry and showers , but it has scaled back during the outbreak and adjusted to conform to social distancing rules .
Shajahan launched the COVID-19 screening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s run the clinic at the Pope Francis Center for several years .
Between her shifts at Beaumont East Area Family Practice working inpatient several days a week , teaching and hosting a podcast , she holds the medical clinic three days a week for about three hours each day .
A homeless services agency , Coordinated Assessment Model , then picks up anyone who has signs of an infection and takes them to a city-owned building for testing and isolation .
If they test positive for the virus , they stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department approves their discharge .
The Pope Francis clinic also offers a rare opportunity for homeless people to receive treatment for other ailments during the outbreak .
Though many access health care using Medicare and Medicaid , they face challenges in getting to a doctor right now as most of the city ’ s clinics are closed and emergency rooms are filled with COVID-19 patients .
Some of their primary care physicians are in the suburbs or parts of the city that are difficult to reach using Detroit ’ s inadequate public transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shajahan gave antibiotics to several patients .
A man who ’ d had toes on both feet amputated needed his dry and cracking nubs treated to prevent infections .
Shajahan spent about 20 minutes filing the calluses and dry skin , disinfecting his feet with an iodine wash and applying an antifungal cream and moisturizer .
Another patient came for a follow-up visit .
Two days prior , he was wheezing and didn ’ t feel or look well so Shajahan gave him antibiotics and an inhaler .
On the follow-up visit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he felt much better as she pressed a stethoscope to his back .
Beyond screening and treatment , the clinic is a chance for homeless residents to ask questions and learn about the virus .
Many only know what they hear on the street , Shajahan said , and that ’ s often misinformation that can be dangerous and anxiety-inducing .
Throughout this morning , residents asked the doctor how the virus is contracted , how to guard against infection , how to wash their hands properly and how to identify symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s homeless residents are “ 100 % taking the virus seriously ” and that having access to a medical professional goes a long way to putting their minds at ease while helping to prevent an outbreak among the community .
“ People ’ s lives have changed , and it ’ s the same if you ’ re homeless , ” Shajahan said .
“ The things that you rely on in the past have closed , and you don ’ t have television , radio or newspapers for information — just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be scary .
”

Asha Shajahan screens a homeless person in Detroit, Michigan. Tom Perkins
DETROIT ― On a cool late March morning, family physician Asha Shajahan screened patients for COVID-19 from her makeshift downtown Detroit office: a tight stairwell in a big old Catholic church.
Outside the door, dozens of Detroit residents currently experiencing homelessness were the only sign of life during what should’ve been a busy morning rush hour in the city’s core. The patients trickling in said they didn’t think they had contracted the coronavirus, but wanted to see the doctor for some peace of mind.
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Shajahan put a stethoscope to each person’s back to listen to their lungs and took their temperature. She asked them about any symptoms that might suggest a coronavirus infection. By the end of the morning, she had screened about 15 patients and was relieved to find that no one required a test.
Shajahan’s three-day-a-week clinic at the Pope Francis Center is one of the few chances for those who are homeless in Detroit to be screened or receive medical care, as the city’s hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. Some advocates estimate about 14,000 people in Detroit are experiencing homelessness. By comparison, New York City leads the country with about 76,000 homeless people, and Seattle has about 12,000.
“It’s important to give people access and the option to intervene if they’re having a cough or before they get so sick that they require hospitalization,” Shajahan said. “Getting out there on the street is like bringing medicine to them because they’re not able to access it on their own.”
In Detroit, 42 homeless residents who have exhibited symptoms are in quarantine in a city-owned facility as of Wednesday. So far, 21 have tested positive for the virus. At an April 9 press briefing, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Arthur Jemison, the head of the city’s Housing and Revitalization Department, announced that nurses are now visiting shelters throughout Detroit, and the city is providing 15-minute rapid tests for homeless individuals.
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“Homeless individuals are medically vulnerable and they’re around other medically vulnerable people,” Jemison said. “If we can protect them and keep them healthy, then we can reduce the spread.”
Providing Care Before Cases Are Critical
Across the U.S., cities are taking drastic measures to address the pandemic’s spread among the unhoused. In Los Angeles, 18 homeless residents tested positive for the virus as of April 9, and the state is quickly pushing forward with plans to house some of its homeless population in 15,000 hotel rooms. In New York City, 274 homeless people have contracted COVID-19 and 14 have died. Still, the city’s shelters remain packed.
The Pope Francis Center health clinic wants to avert such a crisis by providing care as soon as people feel sick. The center also offers hot meals, a warming station, bathrooms and a hand-washing station. In normal times, it provides other services like laundry and showers, but it has scaled back during the outbreak and adjusted to conform to social distancing rules.
Shajahan launched the COVID-19 screening program in late March, though she’s run the clinic at the Pope Francis Center for several years. Between her shifts at Beaumont East Area Family Practice working inpatient several days a week, teaching and hosting a podcast, she holds the medical clinic three days a week for about three hours each day.
A homeless services agency, Coordinated Assessment Model, then picks up anyone who has signs of an infection and takes them to a city-owned building for testing and isolation. If they test positive for the virus, they stay there for treatment until the Detroit Health Department approves their discharge.
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The Pope Francis clinic also offers a rare opportunity for homeless people to receive treatment for other ailments during the outbreak. Though many access health care using Medicare and Medicaid, they face challenges in getting to a doctor right now as most of the city’s clinics are closed and emergency rooms are filled with COVID-19 patients. Some of their primary care physicians are in the suburbs or parts of the city that are difficult to reach using Detroit’s inadequate public transportation system.
On one recent morning, Shajahan gave antibiotics to several patients. A man who’d had toes on both feet amputated needed his dry and cracking nubs treated to prevent infections. Shajahan spent about 20 minutes filing the calluses and dry skin, disinfecting his feet with an iodine wash and applying an antifungal cream and moisturizer.
Another patient came for a follow-up visit. Two days prior, he was wheezing and didn’t feel or look well so Shajahan gave him antibiotics and an inhaler. On the follow-up visit, he was upbeat and reported to Shajahan that he felt much better as she pressed a stethoscope to his back.
“You look awesome!” she told him.
“Well, let’s not get carried away,” he replied with a chuckle.
Fighting Misinformation And Anxiety
Beyond screening and treatment, the clinic is a chance for homeless residents to ask questions and learn about the virus. Many only know what they hear on the street, Shajahan said, and that’s often misinformation that can be dangerous and anxiety-inducing.
Throughout this morning, residents asked the doctor how the virus is contracted, how to guard against infection, how to wash their hands properly and how to identify symptoms. She said that the city’s homeless residents are “100% taking the virus seriously” and that having access to a medical professional goes a long way to putting their minds at ease while helping to prevent an outbreak among the community.
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“People’s lives have changed, and it’s the same if you’re homeless,” Shajahan said. “The things that you rely on in the past have closed, and you don’t have television, radio or newspapers for information — just the word on the street, and that can be scary.”
The increased stress and uncertainty during a pandemic can also trigger dormant mental illnesses. Shajahan said she’s seen several patients whose mental illnesses have flared up since the outbreak.
Those who visit the clinic appreciate what it does, Shajahan said. As she walked toward the Pope Francis Center on a recent morning, some people at the shelter started saluting and clapping.
“You can see the difference that you’re making and they’re so grateful,” she said. “It can just be something simple like an antibiotic that can turn someone around and prevent a hospitalization.”


huffpost--2020-03-30--When Will Life Return to Normal? The Answer From Europe Is Emerging

Across Europe , politicians and public health officials have begun to signal that the coronavirus epidemic there may soon reach its peak — suggesting that the dramatic lockdowns limiting travel , business activity and social life might be starting to halt the spread of the virus .
Yet , the restrictions placed on daily life will likely need to remain in place for weeks or months to come in order to keep the virus in check , officials said .
“ Speaking of reopening now seems frankly premature , ” Locatelli said .
“ If we opened now , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The political decision-makers will have to evaluate the choices to be made , but in a few weeks .
I repeat — and I have no hesitation in underlining it — it is now premature .
Let ’ s consolidate the data we ’ re recording right now.
” The question of when normal life might resume has been a key question , both in Europe and in the United States , where President Donald Trump had initially said he wanted American businesses “ opened up and just raring to go by Easter.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the country ’ s social distancing guidelines would be extended through the end of April and possibly to June , as public health officials warned that as many as 200,000 Americans could die from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
Enrico Bucci , a professor of biology at Temple University in Philadelphia who has been studying the spread of the coronavirus in Italy , said it ’ s “ impossible ” to come up with an accurate forecast of when the outbreak there will end .
“ We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , in individual outbreaks , the worst passed in about two months , ” he told HuffPost Italy .
“ In Italy , however , we have many outbreaks which , if not contained , will grow at different times , prolonging the crisis.
” “ We ’ re getting there , ” Fernando Simon , the head of Spain ’ s center for health emergencies , said at a press conference on Saturday , per The Guardian .
“ We don ’ t know exactly when we ’ ll get confirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the peak of the curve that we ’ re studying so anxiously .
In some parts of the country , they probably may even have passed it — but we need to be cautious with preliminary information.
” Spain recorded another 838 deaths from the coronavirus on Sunday — its highest daily increase in fatalities since the outbreak began .
On Monday , the death toll decreased slightly to 812 , bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 7,340 .
That same day , all nonessential workers in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next two weeks .
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the “ extraordinarily tough ” restrictions were necessary to control the virus .
In the United Kingdom , Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London , who has been advising the government on the outbreak , told the BBC on Monday that the spread of the virus may be slowing as a result of the social distancing measures implemented last week .
“ In the U.K. , we can see some early signs of slowing in some indicators — less so deaths because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from when measures come in force , ” Ferguson said .
“ But if we look at the numbers of new hospital admissions , that does appear to be slowing down a bit now .
It has not yet plateaued , so still the numbers can be increasing each day , but the rate of that increase has slowed.
” “ Three weeks for review , two or three months to see if we ’ ve really squashed it — but three to six months , ideally , but lots of uncertainty in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is plausible it could go further than that.
” She added that measures could be loosened or tightened in response to the rate of infections , but that it would be dangerous for the U.K. to “ suddenly revert to our normal way of living ” before the outbreak is over .
“ As a nation , we have to be really , really responsible and keep doing what we ’ re all doing until we ’ re sure we can gradually start lifting various interventions , which are likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our data — until we gradually come back to a normal way of living , ” she added .

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Across Europe, politicians and public health officials have begun to signal that the coronavirus epidemic there may soon reach its peak — suggesting that the dramatic lockdowns limiting travel, business activity and social life might be starting to halt the spread of the virus. Yet, the restrictions placed on daily life will likely need to remain in place for weeks or months to come in order to keep the virus in check, officials said.
“The lockdown is starting to work,” Pierpaolo Sileri, Italy’s deputy health minister, told BBC on Sunday. “I believe that in one week’s time, 10 days maximum, we will see a drop in positive cases.”
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On Sunday, the death rate in Italy slowed for the second straight day, and the number of new confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 5.6% to 3,815 — the lowest increase of the outbreak in the country so far.
Franco Locatelli, the head of Italy’s supreme health council, agreed that the restrictions were helping to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“We would not have been able to record these numbers if we had not put in place such stringent measures,” Locatelli told HuffPost Italy.
Even so, he said, the restrictions would need to be maintained for some time.
“Speaking of reopening now seems frankly premature,” Locatelli said. “If we opened now, we would nullify all the sacrifices made. The political decision-makers will have to evaluate the choices to be made, but in a few weeks. I repeat — and I have no hesitation in underlining it — it is now premature. Let’s consolidate the data we’re recording right now.”
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The question of when normal life might resume has been a key question, both in Europe and in the United States, where President Donald Trump had initially said he wanted American businesses “opened up and just raring to go by Easter.”
On Sunday, however, Trump said the country’s social distancing guidelines would be extended through the end of April and possibly to June, as public health officials warned that as many as 200,000 Americans could die from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Enrico Bucci, a professor of biology at Temple University in Philadelphia who has been studying the spread of the coronavirus in Italy, said it’s “impossible” to come up with an accurate forecast of when the outbreak there will end.
“We can only look at other countries and say that, in individual outbreaks, the worst passed in about two months,” he told HuffPost Italy. “In Italy, however, we have many outbreaks which, if not contained, will grow at different times, prolonging the crisis.”
Particularly because the number of infections in the country is likely much higher than what has officially been reported, Bucci said, creating forecasts based on the official figures is a flawed exercise.
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“One day, someone will have guessed it right and will be happy to tell the world,” he said. “Every lottery has a winner.”
The situation is similar in Spain, where health authorities announced over the weekend that the country’s epidemic appeared to be peaking as well.
“We’re getting there,” Fernando Simon, the head of Spain’s center for health emergencies, said at a press conference on Saturday, per The Guardian. “We don’t know exactly when we’ll get confirmation, but we’re getting close to the peak of the curve that we’re studying so anxiously. In some parts of the country, they probably may even have passed it — but we need to be cautious with preliminary information.”
Spain recorded another 838 deaths from the coronavirus on Sunday — its highest daily increase in fatalities since the outbreak began. On Monday, the death toll decreased slightly to 812, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 7,340. That same day, all nonessential workers in the country were ordered to stay home for the next two weeks. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the “extraordinarily tough” restrictions were necessary to control the virus.
“This measure will reduce people’s movement even further, but it will reduce the risk of contagion and allow us to unblock our intensive care units,” Sánchez said.
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In the United Kingdom, Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London, who has been advising the government on the outbreak, told the BBC on Monday that the spread of the virus may be slowing as a result of the social distancing measures implemented last week.
“In the U.K., we can see some early signs of slowing in some indicators — less so deaths because deaths are lagged by a long time from when measures come in force,” Ferguson said. “But if we look at the numbers of new hospital admissions, that does appear to be slowing down a bit now. It has not yet plateaued, so still the numbers can be increasing each day, but the rate of that increase has slowed.”
In order to get the outbreak fully under control, however, restrictions may need to remain in place for six months or longer, Dr. Jenny Harries, the U.K.’s deputy chief medical officer, said on Sunday.
“Three weeks for review, two or three months to see if we’ve really squashed it — but three to six months, ideally, but lots of uncertainty in that,” Harries said. “It is plausible it could go further than that.”
She added that measures could be loosened or tightened in response to the rate of infections, but that it would be dangerous for the U.K. to “suddenly revert to our normal way of living” before the outbreak is over.
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“If we stop, then all of our efforts will be wasted and we could potentially see a second peak,” Harries said.
“As a nation, we have to be really, really responsible and keep doing what we’re all doing until we’re sure we can gradually start lifting various interventions, which are likely to be spaced — based on the science and our data — until we gradually come back to a normal way of living,” she added.
In Italy, Locatelli said that while the decision to implement restrictions on daily life was “a painful act,” deciding when to allow normal life to resume would be even more challenging.
“No one underestimates the economic impact of the measures and the sacrifice required of millions of people,” he said. “But reopening will be a far-from-easy decision-making process.”
Lifting restrictions too quickly could allow the virus to surge back, Locatelli cautioned. Politicians and public health authorities need to be careful, he said, “not to frustrate what has been done.”
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huffpost--2020-03-30--Warehouse Workers' New Health Hazard: Frivolous Online Orders

The spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , has hit the retail industry particularly hard .
Grocery stores , hardware stores and big-box chains like Target have remained open , but retailers selling “ nonessential ” items , like Pier 1 , have had to close stores in states with stay-at-home orders .
Many chains , though not all , have gone ahead and shuttered them nationwide as a safety precaution .
But that does not mean business has stopped .
Some companies selling less-than-essential products are leaning on e-commerce to keep them afloat .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutal period of uncertainty , but they require warehouse employees to continue clocking in and working among others , while the rest of the workforce is telecommuting or out on leave .
Several workers at different companies have told HuffPost in recent days that they are disturbed by the crowds and lack of hygiene in their warehouses , and they wonder why their companies are open for business at all when public health experts recommend people maintain social distance .
A typical retail fulfillment center buzzes with anywhere from dozens to hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd in break rooms and at entrances on shift changes , and they share common equipment from one shift to the next , like forklifts , carts , bins and tape guns ― all with “ high-touch ” surfaces that could hold germs .
Workers also say they are dismayed by the frivolous nature of the customer orders that require them to keep showing up for work .
Amazon , for example , is considered “ essential ” because it sells food and other household staples that people need during a public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the retail giant ’ s online store remain available for purchase as well , although they may take longer to arrive ( the company has prioritized stocking household items in its warehouses ) .
By all indications , Amazon customers are shopping eagerly while in self-imposed quarantine : The company said it will hire 100,000 new workers to meet demand .
“ I would say probably 25 % of [ my colleagues ] have decided they ’ re going to use their vacation time and sick time and stay home .
The rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are we here ?
’ ” said one employee at a warehouse for Darice , the online arts-and-crafts wholesaler owned by Michaels .
Michaels has invited intense criticism from employees for keeping many of its retail stores open during the pandemic , even in states with stay-at-home orders .
The company did not respond to emailed requests for comment on Monday .
The Darice worker said most employees at the company ’ s warehouse in Strongsville , Ohio , are not wearing gloves , and there are so few cleaning supplies that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy more wipes for their scanners .
The worker had never given so much thought to what she touches inside the warehouse ― and the nonessential nature of most of the products .
“ Here ’ s your glitter , Karen .
Here are your fake flowers , ” she said , describing her thoughts as she prepares shipments during the pandemic .
“ None of this stuff ― and we ’ ve been comparing notes on what we ’ ve sent out ― literally none of what I put together today was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mass email sent to the store ’ s customers that said its Ohio distribution center would remain open “ on a strictly volunteer basis ” ― as in , employees would only work if they wanted to .
But working , she said , is a matter of economic necessity : Those who did not “ volunteer ” had to use whatever paid leave they had accumulated or forgo a paycheck .
Workers start out around $ 12 per hour in the facility , she said .
While many states have urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally continued shipping out their clothing , sporting goods and home furnishing products .
This is not the case everywhere .
The Outnet , an online retailer selling designer clothes for women , recently posted a note to its website saying it had temporarily closed its warehouses “ in line with new local government measures.
” Any orders would be shipped out when they reopened .
But at other warehouses , it is business as usual .
Many workers have been provided with letters by their employers to show police in the event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are out and about despite a shelter-in-place order .
Those letters tend to rely on the exemption from the stay-at-home rules for transportation workers .
California ’ s order , for instance , carves out “ employees of firms providing services that enable logistics operations , including cooling , storing , packaging , and distributing for wholesale or retail sale or use.
” Retailers may rely on logistics operations , but they are not providing those services for essential uses the way UPS and other carriers are .
Workers for the high-end home-furnishings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company ’ s call centers and at an Ohio distribution center , despite the fact that the retailer ’ s galleries and outlets have closed until at least April 3 .
The company has deemed them part of the “ critical infrastructure.
” A Restoration Hardware executive told HuffPost earlier this month that the chain would continue to move its home decor products so as not to back up the ports .
“ I understand that they have us wearing gloves all day , but that is still not going to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” one Restoration Hardware warehouse worker told HuffPost in an email .
“ Why can ’ t we be able to be shut down during this coronavirus ?
” Pier 1 employees in Ohio were given a letter claiming they are exempted from the state ’ s stay-at-home order for being part of a “ transportation and logistics provider.
” But a closer look at the Ohio order lays out particular types of businesses under that sector : “ airlines , taxies , transportation network providers ( such as Uber and Lyft ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marinas , docks and boat storage.
” Other logistics providers are exempted only if they are “ necessary for essential activities ” laid out in the order .

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Business should be very slow for Pier 1 Imports right now. The home furnishings retailer filed for bankruptcy in February, even before the coronavirus pandemic hit and forced the chain to temporarily close all its stores.
But the company’s warehouse outside Columbus, Ohio, is running full tilt right now. An employee there told HuffPost the facility is filling between 5,000 and 6,000 orders a day, compared to a more normal 1,000 to 1,500, and bringing on dozens of temporary workers to meet demand.
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The employee said many workers have been logging overtime since the coronavirus crisis began, leaving them to wonder how critical wind chimes, three-wick candles and artificial plants are during a full-blown pandemic.
“This is unnecessary,” said the worker, who, like others in this story, spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. “I don’t want to be the person who died for fragrant oils.”
The spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has hit the retail industry particularly hard. Grocery stores, hardware stores and big-box chains like Target have remained open, but retailers selling “nonessential” items, like Pier 1, have had to close stores in states with stay-at-home orders. Many chains, though not all, have gone ahead and shuttered them nationwide as a safety precaution.
But that does not mean business has stopped. Some companies selling less-than-essential products are leaning on e-commerce to keep them afloat. The online sales are helping companies weather a brutal period of uncertainty, but they require warehouse employees to continue clocking in and working among others, while the rest of the workforce is telecommuting or out on leave.
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A Pier 1 employee said the company's Ohio warehouse should be shut down during the coronavirus scare. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Several workers at different companies have told HuffPost in recent days that they are disturbed by the crowds and lack of hygiene in their warehouses, and they wonder why their companies are open for business at all when public health experts recommend people maintain social distance.
A typical retail fulfillment center buzzes with anywhere from dozens to hundreds of workers at a time. Employees often crowd in break rooms and at entrances on shift changes, and they share common equipment from one shift to the next, like forklifts, carts, bins and tape guns ― all with “high-touch” surfaces that could hold germs.
Workers also say they are dismayed by the frivolous nature of the customer orders that require them to keep showing up for work. Amazon, for example, is considered “essential” because it sells food and other household staples that people need during a public health crisis. But the nonessential items in the retail giant’s online store remain available for purchase as well, although they may take longer to arrive (the company has prioritized stocking household items in its warehouses). By all indications, Amazon customers are shopping eagerly while in self-imposed quarantine: The company said it will hire 100,000 new workers to meet demand.
“I would say probably 25% of [my colleagues] have decided they’re going to use their vacation time and sick time and stay home. The rest of us are like, ‘Why are we here?’” said one employee at a warehouse for Darice, the online arts-and-crafts wholesaler owned by Michaels. Michaels has invited intense criticism from employees for keeping many of its retail stores open during the pandemic, even in states with stay-at-home orders. The company did not respond to emailed requests for comment on Monday.
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“I don’t want to be the person who died for fragrant oils.” - Employee at a Pier 1 Imports warehouse
The Darice worker said most employees at the company’s warehouse in Strongsville, Ohio, are not wearing gloves, and there are so few cleaning supplies that a co-worker recently went to Dollar General to buy more wipes for their scanners. The worker had never given so much thought to what she touches inside the warehouse ― and the nonessential nature of most of the products.
“Here’s your glitter, Karen. Here are your fake flowers,” she said, describing her thoughts as she prepares shipments during the pandemic. “None of this stuff ― and we’ve been comparing notes on what we’ve sent out ― literally none of what I put together today was essential.”
‘It’s Either Keep Coming In Or Quit’
The Darice worker chafed at a mass email sent to the store’s customers that said its Ohio distribution center would remain open “on a strictly volunteer basis” ― as in, employees would only work if they wanted to. But working, she said, is a matter of economic necessity: Those who did not “volunteer” had to use whatever paid leave they had accumulated or forgo a paycheck. Workers start out around $12 per hour in the facility, she said.
While many states have urged nonessential retailers to close, companies have generally continued shipping out their clothing, sporting goods and home furnishing products. This is not the case everywhere. The Outnet, an online retailer selling designer clothes for women, recently posted a note to its website saying it had temporarily closed its warehouses “in line with new local government measures.” Any orders would be shipped out when they reopened.
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But at other warehouses, it is business as usual. Many workers have been provided with letters by their employers to show police in the event they are stopped and asked why they are out and about despite a shelter-in-place order.
Those letters tend to rely on the exemption from the stay-at-home rules for transportation workers. California’s order, for instance, carves out “employees of firms providing services that enable logistics operations, including cooling, storing, packaging, and distributing for wholesale or retail sale or use.” Retailers may rely on logistics operations, but they are not providing those services for essential uses the way UPS and other carriers are.
Darice, a subsidiary of Michaels Stores, has kept its Ohio warehouse running during the pandemic. RiverNorthPhotography via Getty Images
Workers for the high-end home-furnishings chain Restoration Hardware have continued working in the company’s call centers and at an Ohio distribution center, despite the fact that the retailer’s galleries and outlets have closed until at least April 3. The company has deemed them part of the “critical infrastructure.” A Restoration Hardware executive told HuffPost earlier this month that the chain would continue to move its home decor products so as not to back up the ports.
“I understand that they have us wearing gloves all day, but that is still not going to help with being close to each other,” one Restoration Hardware warehouse worker told HuffPost in an email. “Why can’t we be able to be shut down during this coronavirus?”
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Subcontracted workers at a Tracy, California, warehouse received a letter from their staffing firm saying they play “a critical role in the continuity of operation of essential businesses in California.” The workers ship out memory foam mattresses, box springs and sofas produced by the company Zinus.
“Doesn’t seem very essential,” said one worker. “No one is happy to be working during this time but it’s either keep coming in or quit.”
The worker said supervisors insist the facility is being regularly sanitized but “never have I seen anyone doing so.”
A Question Of What’s ‘Essential’
Pier 1 employees in Ohio were given a letter claiming they are exempted from the state’s stay-at-home order for being part of a “transportation and logistics provider.” But a closer look at the Ohio order lays out particular types of businesses under that sector: “airlines, taxies, transportation network providers (such as Uber and Lyft), vehicle rental services, paratransit, marinas, docks and boat storage.” Other logistics providers are exempted only if they are “necessary for essential activities” laid out in the order.
Workers at the Pier 1 facility meet at the start and end of each shift. Photographs provided to HuffPost showed workers seated in groups of three and four at small tables throughout the breakroom, many less than a foot apart. Pier 1 did not respond to questions sent over email on Monday.
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According to the employee, workers are not wearing gloves, and although supervisors have provided painters’ masks, there are not enough to go around.


huffpost--2020-03-30--How To Prepare For Giving Birth During The Coronavirus Pandemic

But as COVID-19 spreads in New York and elsewhere , similar policies might well pop up .
Hospitals in other states have informed patients it is a possibility .
And other policies also are changing .
Women who planned to labor with a doula may not be able to .
Prenatal visits are being canceled or moved online .
Things are quickly evolving , which can add significant stress for pregnant women and their partners .
Talk to your provider about the nitty-gritty of their policies — as they are right now .
Obviously , your care provider will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes around things like scheduled C-sections .
But you might want to ask about other aspects of birth that have changed specifically as a result of the pandemic .
Do they have any specific guidance around laboring at home before you head to the hospital — and how might that have changed ?
Have any of the policies around , say , laboring in a tub or shower changed ?
What about other forms of pain management ?
( Johnson-Grass said she has heard that some hospitals are relying on anesthesiologists to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and when they give epidurals , for example . )
So ask yourself : What devices will you use ?
Do you have some kind of stand , or could you get one ?
If not , where would you set up a laptop or tablet ?
Do you have chargers packed in your go-bag ?
Will you have WiFi , or how will you get online ?
Know you can always explore other options — but safety is paramount .
But switching care providers during pregnancy can be challenging , even under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have policies about accepting new patients — and those policies are in flux as COVID-19 disrupts many birth plans .
You ’ ll have to consider issues like insurance , transferring records , and more .
It is also essential to understand the potential risks associated with home birth .
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists considers hospitals and accredited birth centers the safest options .
Use these strategies to remind yourself that you ’ re not alone .
Labor and delivery aren ’ t the only things changing because of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women won ’ t have friends or family around to meet the baby soon after birth , or to lend an all-important helping hand during the postpartum period .
In addition to having a clear plan about how to connect via technology before , during , and after birth , it can help women stay calm and centered if they plan to surround themselves with comforting items .
If you do find yourself laboring alone — or sitting in a recovery room , wishing that your mom could be there with you , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think of the women who have done this before you .
Think of grandmothers and mothers you know who ’ ve delivered on their own , Goldstein said .
Maybe think of military spouses .
Draw some strength from them .

gorodenkoff via Getty Images
On Saturday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) overruled a new and controversial policy adopted by several New York City hospitals barring pregnant women from having a support person in the room with them during labor and delivery to protect against COVID-19.
“In no hospital in New York will a woman be forced to be alone when she gives birth,” Cuomo tweeted.
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But as COVID-19 spreads in New York and elsewhere, similar policies might well pop up. Hospitals in other states have informed patients it is a possibility. And other policies also are changing. Women who planned to labor with a doula may not be able to. Prenatal visits are being canceled or moved online. Things are quickly evolving, which can add significant stress for pregnant women and their partners.
Feeling unnerved by the uncertainty around having a baby? Here are some logistical and emotional coping strategies that may help during the coronavirus pandemic.
Talk to your provider about the nitty-gritty of their policies — as they are right now.
Again, birth policies are changing constantly, and can vary wildly even between neighboring institutions. Now is the time to have an in-depth conversation with your OB-GYN or midwife about what their policies are right now. That’s always a good idea, but right now it’s particularly important to be specific.
“When people understand what to expect, it helps take the fear away,” Amy Johnson-Grass, president of the American Association of Birth Centers, told HuffPost.
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“Ask, ‘Can you run through what it looks like when I come into the hospital or wherever you’re delivering?’” said Johnson-Grass. “What does the process look like. Will I stop at the front desk? Will I be assigned a room? Will I have one nurse?”
Obviously, your care provider will be talking to you about any big policy changes around things like scheduled C-sections. But you might want to ask about other aspects of birth that have changed specifically as a result of the pandemic. Do they have any specific guidance around laboring at home before you head to the hospital — and how might that have changed? Have any of the policies around, say, laboring in a tub or shower changed? What about other forms of pain management? (Johnson-Grass said she has heard that some hospitals are relying on anesthesiologists to help COVID-19 patients, which could affect how and when they give epidurals, for example.)
Johnson-Grass also urged pregnant women, and their partners, to look into birth education classes if you haven’t. Simply spending some time online reading a bit more about what happens to the body during labor and delivery can help you feel more prepared.
Create a very specific technology plan.
If you have a smartphone or a tablet or a laptop (or any combination thereof), now is the time to think about how they can help you before, during and after birth.
Many doulas, for example, have begun working with clients virtually rather than providing in-person support. So they can provide support while you’re in labor, even if they’re not physically in the room.
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Of course, technology becomes even more important if you find yourself delivering somewhere with a policy that doesn’t allow a support person.
“The best thing would be for them to have their support person on a video call, so they could at least hear their voice and reassuring words,” said Rachel Goldstein, owner of the New York City-based Astoria Doula Collective.
So ask yourself: What devices will you use? Do you have some kind of stand, or could you get one? If not, where would you set up a laptop or tablet? Do you have chargers packed in your go-bag? Will you have WiFi, or how will you get online?
Of course, many women simply do not have devices readily available to them, which means they’ll be totally reliant on their care providers to offer support. But if you do have the resources, having a technology plan could be really helpful.
Know you can always explore other options — but safety is paramount.
If you are concerned about your current childbirth plans, you could look into transferring to a new provider or practice. Johnson-Grass said requests for consults at her birth center in Minnesota have skyrocketed recently. And media reports have speculated for weeks that more women are looking into home birth, for example.
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But switching care providers during pregnancy can be challenging, even under less extraordinary circumstances. Many care providers have policies about accepting new patients — and those policies are in flux as COVID-19 disrupts many birth plans. You’ll have to consider issues like insurance, transferring records, and more. It is also essential to understand the potential risks associated with home birth. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists considers hospitals and accredited birth centers the safest options.
“Yes, many policies and procedures have changed,” Johnson-Grass said. “But safety is the number one most important factor to consider.”
Use these strategies to remind yourself that you’re not alone.
Labor and delivery aren’t the only things changing because of COVID-19. Social distancing now means that many women won’t have friends or family around to meet the baby soon after birth, or to lend an all-important helping hand during the postpartum period. In addition to having a clear plan about how to connect via technology before, during, and after birth, it can help women stay calm and centered if they plan to surround themselves with comforting items.
Goldstein suggested women might thinking about bringing a photo, visual cues, or some other tangible item with them when they head into labor.
“I once had a client who held her grandmother’s rosary through most of her labor and found great strength in that,” Goldstein said. “Someone else suggested bringing your partner’s favorite shirt or something like that to help them feel more present.”
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Personalized playlists with songs that really mean something to you can also help. Those touches aren’t silly or superfluous in these serious, frightening times; they can help anchor you, even momentarily.
If you do find yourself laboring alone — or sitting in a recovery room, wishing that your mom could be there with you, for example — it could help to think of the women who have done this before you. Think of grandmothers and mothers you know who’ve delivered on their own, Goldstein said. Maybe think of military spouses. Draw some strength from them.
Then remember that your care providers will do whatever they can to help you through this.


huffpost--2020-03-30--Backstreet Boys And Their Kids Belt Out Iconic Hit In 5-Way Video Concert

The iconic five-part boy band got together for a coronavirus benefit concert aired by iHeartRadio and Fox on Sunday , with all five members dialing in from their respective homes .
The “ Living Room Concert for America , ” hosted by Elton John , featured a star-studded lineup of singers who were all streaming performances from home to raise money for charities that support groups battling the pandemic .
Viewers of the commercial-free stream were asked to support two charitable organizations helping victims and first responders during the pandemic : Feeding America and First Responders Children ’ s Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all five members in five different places belting out their classic “ I Want It That Way ” hit , and even included special guest appearances from Kevin Richardson ’ s and Nick Carter ’ s kids .
Brian Littrell kicked off the show with the tune ’ s opening line from his home in Atlanta , before throwing to Carter in Las Vegas , Richardson and AJ McLean at their homes in Los Angeles , and Howie Dorough in Orlando , for a surreal coronavirus-era rendition of the ’ 90s classic .
@ @ @ @ @ @

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Meet the Backstreet Boys: social distancing edition.
The iconic five-part boy band got together for a coronavirus benefit concert aired by iHeartRadio and Fox on Sunday, with all five members dialing in from their respective homes.
The “Living Room Concert for America,” hosted by Elton John, featured a star-studded lineup of singers who were all streaming performances from home to raise money for charities that support groups battling the pandemic.
Advertisement
Viewers of the commercial-free stream were asked to support two charitable organizations helping victims and first responders during the pandemic: Feeding America and First Responders Children’s Foundation.
The Backstreet Boys’ performance featured all five members in five different places belting out their classic “I Want It That Way” hit, and even included special guest appearances from Kevin Richardson’s and Nick Carter’s kids.
Brian Littrell kicked off the show with the tune’s opening line from his home in Atlanta, before throwing to Carter in Las Vegas, Richardson and AJ McLean at their homes in Los Angeles, and Howie Dorough in Orlando, for a surreal coronavirus-era rendition of the ’90s classic.
Check out their performance below.


huffpost--2020-04-06--My Nephew Got Out Of Prison Due To COVID-19. But Where Is He Supposed To Go?

We live in New Orleans , which currently has one of the top coronavirus fatality rates per capita .
My nephew , like many people who have struggled with addiction , has an underlying respiratory illness .
While I am grateful he was released from incarceration , I am struggling with what to do now .
There has been an outbreak of coronavirus within the Louisiana carceral system .
More than likely , Jonathan has been exposed .
According to his social worker , he is one of over 1,500 individuals who have been released from incarceration in Louisiana since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support system in place .
My partner and I suffered through the unpredictability of loving an addict , and it took time and therapy for us to heal our relationship .
For a few years , it seemed that Jonathan was doing all right .
He was working , and had avoided overdosing and incarceration .
I was getting older and wanted to start a family .
Because my partner wasn ’ t able to have children , we found another couple to co-parent with .
Unbelievably , I became pregnant after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son was born in the fall of 2013 .
Our 6-year-old son Wilder has one mother and three fathers .
He divides his time between our two households , which are less than a mile apart .
Since the initial information of coronavirus was publicized , we have all taken social distancing very seriously .
We were relieved when Wilder ’ s school was closed , as we had decided that we would keep him home anyway .
Jonathan arrived at my house in the later morning hours without his prescriptions or his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ forgotten ” to give him .
We had locked the gate on our porch to prevent him from touching the front door .
When I heard him call from the gate , I rushed to greet him .
I had to stop myself from hugging him .
Instead , I offered him my freshly sanitized cellphone so he could call his social worker , who ’ d been trying to find an open bed for him at any of the shelters in the city .
I could tell from the look on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our house that she had been unsuccessful .
He hung up the phone and we went over our options .
He admitted he should go into a treatment program if he was to stand any chance of not relapsing .
We looked at what centers might be able to take him , and saw many of them had suspended intake due to coronavirus concerns .
In the meantime , there were questions as to what to do with him right then .
With no beds available at any shelters , missions or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to stay with us in our home was emerging as the only solution .
To risk exposing my entire family is a huge fear of mine .
We have streamlined shopping into a once-every-two-weeks expedition , complete with several precautions and many Clorox sanitizer wipes .
We don ’ t interact with others except from a very safe distance .
We have tried to embrace virtual play dates and group chats .
Our son has watched more Netflix than any of us want to admit .
I conferred with all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was a quick decision that under the circumstances , we would have no choice but to either offer Jonathan a place to stay with us , or turn him out onto the streets .
All of us have an understanding of the nature of addiction , and we knew the second option was really a potential death sentence .
Addicts who have been clean for even short periods have a higher risk of overdosing , due a lowered tolerance .
With the state of the world at the moment , trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mechanisms ( that is , opioids ) would likely be even harder .
I thought about the empty bottles of wine in our trash can .
We all decided it was worth the risk .
My partner and I went to work fast , sectioning off an area of our house that was designated for Jonathan .
We placed clean sheets and blankets and a selection of snacks in his room .
We went over the house rules with him from a safe distance of 10 feet outside before letting him in .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : no leaving your area .
After spending the afternoon frantically searching for a treatment center , we found one that will hopefully take him within the next few days .
I have little faith in the efficacy of such centers , since too many fail to investigate the underlying causes of crime and addiction , many of which are rooted in trauma .
But I feel that something is better than absolutely nothing .
I wonder about all of the other incarcerated people who have been released due to the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her clients have nowhere to go .
They will be living on the streets .
What will happen to these individuals who don ’ t have access to continued care and support ?
Many of them will die .
Wilder was thrilled when he heard Jonathan was out of jail .
I carefully explained the situation , and he assured me he would keep a safe distance because of “ the virus.
” The evening wore on and the house was filled with the comfortable familiarity of preparing dinner .
Low music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filled the air , and if you listened closely , you could hear the voice of a 6-year-old yelling at a window from outside : “ Jonathan , is this better than jail ?
”

Queens House of Detention, New York. The author's nephew was recently released from Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans. Hans Neleman via Getty Images
“Hey Aunt Lori. They are releasing me now. I’m going to walk to your house. I love you.”
That was the message my 25-year-old nephew left me from Orleans Parish Prison in the morning while I was brushing my teeth. I called out to my partner, who was just rising from bed: “Well, I guess that Jonathan is coming home.” He was as shocked as I was.
I became the legal guardian of Jonathan after he overdosed for the first time at the age of 15. He has spent his life battling drug addiction, specifically opioids. After losing both parents to overdoses, he was shuffled through treatment centers and incarceration. Jonathan has become a casualty of the war on drugs.
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I have always tried to support him, knowing his addiction is ultimately rooted in trauma. Over the years, I have witnessed the repeated failures of our mental health care and criminal justice systems as they struggle to eradicate addiction with antiquated and unsuccessful protocols. His life has become a tragically predictable revolving door.
We live in New Orleans, which currently has one of the top coronavirus fatality rates per capita. My nephew, like many people who have struggled with addiction, has an underlying respiratory illness. While I am grateful he was released from incarceration, I am struggling with what to do now.
There has been an outbreak of coronavirus within the Louisiana carceral system. More than likely, Jonathan has been exposed. According to his social worker, he is one of over 1,500 individuals who have been released from incarceration in Louisiana since mid-March, many of them with no support system in place.
When my nephew was 18, legally an adult, he left my care. I had struggled with his addiction, and finding him unconscious and blue from another overdose was the final straw. He entered a treatment program, and once he was released, he went his own way.
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My partner and I suffered through the unpredictability of loving an addict, and it took time and therapy for us to heal our relationship. For a few years, it seemed that Jonathan was doing all right. He was working, and had avoided overdosing and incarceration. I was getting older and wanted to start a family. Because my partner wasn’t able to have children, we found another couple to co-parent with. Unbelievably, I became pregnant after the first round of artificial insemination and our son was born in the fall of 2013.
Our 6-year-old son Wilder has one mother and three fathers. He divides his time between our two households, which are less than a mile apart. Since the initial information of coronavirus was publicized, we have all taken social distancing very seriously. We were relieved when Wilder’s school was closed, as we had decided that we would keep him home anyway.
New Orleans has a very high number of people suffering from comorbid conditions. Social distancing is imperative to protect the weakest members of our community, including the elderly and those who have lacked access to standard medical care.
Jonathan arrived at my house in the later morning hours without his prescriptions or his release paperwork, which the facility had “forgotten” to give him. We had locked the gate on our porch to prevent him from touching the front door. When I heard him call from the gate, I rushed to greet him. I had to stop myself from hugging him. Instead, I offered him my freshly sanitized cellphone so he could call his social worker, who’d been trying to find an open bed for him at any of the shelters in the city. I could tell from the look on his face as he paced in front of our house that she had been unsuccessful.
He hung up the phone and we went over our options. He admitted he should go into a treatment program if he was to stand any chance of not relapsing. We looked at what centers might be able to take him, and saw many of them had suspended intake due to coronavirus concerns.
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In the meantime, there were questions as to what to do with him right then. With no beds available at any shelters, missions or group homes, the idea of allowing him to stay with us in our home was emerging as the only solution.
To risk exposing my entire family is a huge fear of mine. We have streamlined shopping into a once-every-two-weeks expedition, complete with several precautions and many Clorox sanitizer wipes. We don’t interact with others except from a very safe distance. We have tried to embrace virtual play dates and group chats. Our son has watched more Netflix than any of us want to admit.
But the peace of mind is worth it. Not only do I hope to prevent any of us from getting sick, I hope to prevent further spread in our community. Allowing Jonathan into our home presented a moral quandary.
I conferred with all of the fathers and asked what their thoughts were. It was a quick decision that under the circumstances, we would have no choice but to either offer Jonathan a place to stay with us, or turn him out onto the streets. All of us have an understanding of the nature of addiction, and we knew the second option was really a potential death sentence. Addicts who have been clean for even short periods have a higher risk of overdosing, due a lowered tolerance. With the state of the world at the moment, trying not to engage with known past coping mechanisms (that is, opioids) would likely be even harder. I thought about the empty bottles of wine in our trash can. We all decided it was worth the risk.
My partner and I went to work fast, sectioning off an area of our house that was designated for Jonathan. We placed clean sheets and blankets and a selection of snacks in his room. We went over the house rules with him from a safe distance of 10 feet outside before letting him in. Actually, there was only one rule: no leaving your area.
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I haven’t hugged my nephew in months, and it broke my heart not to be able to embrace him then.
After spending the afternoon frantically searching for a treatment center, we found one that will hopefully take him within the next few days. I have little faith in the efficacy of such centers, since too many fail to investigate the underlying causes of crime and addiction, many of which are rooted in trauma. But I feel that something is better than absolutely nothing.
I wonder about all of the other incarcerated people who have been released due to the coronavirus. Jonathan’s social worker said most of her clients have nowhere to go. They will be living on the streets. What will happen to these individuals who don’t have access to continued care and support? Many of them will die.
Wilder was thrilled when he heard Jonathan was out of jail. I carefully explained the situation, and he assured me he would keep a safe distance because of “the virus.” The evening wore on and the house was filled with the comfortable familiarity of preparing dinner. Low music played, the smell of roast chicken filled the air, and if you listened closely, you could hear the voice of a 6-year-old yelling at a window from outside: “Jonathan, is this better than jail?”


huffpost--2020-04-06--Anxiety And Confusion Plague Fulbright Scholars Called Back Home Due To Coronavirus

For the Jordan cohort , the worldwide coronavirus pandemic didn ’ t seem like much of a threat there at the time .
There had been one travel-related case , and after that individual recovered , the country had declared itself free of the virus .
But over the weekend the situation escalated quickly .
Jordan Fulbrighters gathered outside after the meeting , discussing their options .
While they were told to leave , flights were climbing upwards of $ 5,000 , they said .
Even with the promise of State Department reimbursement , some scholars felt that they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Thaer Husien , a 28-year-old another grantee in the English Teaching Assistant program .
“ To be inelegant about it , it was basically ‘ Are we screwed ’ with a question mark , or ‘ Are we screwed ’ with a period , ” he said .
A few hours after the meeting , Husien learned that Qatar Airways was opening up more commercial flights .
He packed up his things and was at the airport by noon the next day .
Based on the number of cases in Jordan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the United States .
But as Jordan went into full lockdown , she decided she wanted to be closer to her family during this stressful period .
When she received notice from Fulbright that the U.S. Embassy in Jordan was arranging a commercial flight on March 27 , she knew this was her best chance to go .
Grantees will also be paid their stipends through the end of June , according to an email to HuffPost from a State Department official .
But the amount of that stipend varies depending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of living is often much lower than in the U.S. , and many Fulbrighters had signed contracts that promised funding for additional months , with some extending as far as December .
“ The relocation costs were , for many of us , way larger than the last stipend they were going to give us , ” said Cory Gray , 31 , a grantee who recently returned to San Francisco from Brazil .
Gray was studying dance and identity in Brazil , and has little opportunity to earn income teaching dance as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is under a strict shelter-in-place order until at least May 3 .
Sean Hayward , a 28-year-old grantee studying Javanese music in Indonesia , was told in an email that if he left “ as is required ” he would continue to receive his grant payments through the end of June .
He interpreted that as meaning he might lose his stipend if he stayed in Indonesia , even though the State Department guaranteed funding continued through June 30 , regardless of whether grantees chose to remain in their host countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the end of October , when his grant was scheduled to end , and he had already completed coursework for his Ph.D. from California Institute of the Arts .
Hayward didn ’ t have plans to return to the U.S. , but it didn ’ t feel like Fulbright was giving him a choice .
It wasn ’ t until he was in the airport in Japan , already en route to his 14-day quarantine at an Airbnb in California , that Hayward learned that Indonesia ’ s Ministry of Research and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On April 2 , Hayward returned to Indonesia , out $ 3,000 for what he says was a pointless and hazardous trip to the United States .
Sunny Huang , who was on a grant in Taiwan , decided to stay there because of how effectively the country has handled the pandemic .
In Jordan , grantees with medical expertise met the instructions to travel home with skepticism during the March 15 meeting , according to people in attendance .
For them and many others , traveling felt more risky than sheltering in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said customs officials questioned them more thoroughly about their time spent in Jordan and the Middle East than about potential exposure to the virus .
One Jordan grantee , who asked not to be named , did have her temperature taken and received instructions to self-quarantine upon reentry to the U.S. in New York .
She got sick a few days after arrival and believes she likely picked up the virus in transit .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
When several dozen Fulbright grantees gathered in Amman, Jordan, for a meeting about their program’s status on March 15, some were still optimistic they could stay. They’d received the same email that most Fulbrighters worldwide had gotten the previous Friday, which suggested they should probably go home.
“It said ‘voluntary,’ but the language, it felt more like ‘volun-telling,’” said Hana Hobscheid, a 25-year-old Fulbright grantee who had been working as an English teaching assistant.
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All U.S. Fulbright programs worldwide — which provide grants for thousands of academics, students, artists and professionals to study or teach at global universities — were suspended on March 19.
For the Jordan cohort, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic didn’t seem like much of a threat there at the time. There had been one travel-related case, and after that individual recovered, the country had declared itself free of the virus. But over the weekend the situation escalated quickly.
By the time they gathered in Amman that Sunday, the Jordanian prime minister had shut down schools, mosques, churches, restaurants, and ― crucially ― airports, Hobscheid said. The message from the local Fulbright officials was more straightforward than the global directive: Airports are closing in 36 hours. Leave now.
Jordan Fulbrighters gathered outside after the meeting, discussing their options. While they were told to leave, flights were climbing upwards of $5,000, they said. Even with the promise of State Department reimbursement, some scholars felt that they were being asked to do the impossible, according to Thaer Husien, a 28-year-old another grantee in the English Teaching Assistant program.
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“To be inelegant about it, it was basically ‘Are we screwed’ with a question mark, or ‘Are we screwed’ with a period,” he said. A few hours after the meeting, Husien learned that Qatar Airways was opening up more commercial flights. He packed up his things and was at the airport by noon the next day.
Hobscheid initially decided to stay. Jordan seemed to be taking aggressive measures to handle the situation, and she wanted to see how the crisis might resolve itself by the end of her grant term in June.
“Naively, I was thinking, ’Maybe I can still travel afterwards,’” she said.
Based on the number of cases in Jordan, it felt less risky than returning to the United States. But as Jordan went into full lockdown, she decided she wanted to be closer to her family during this stressful period. When she received notice from Fulbright that the U.S. Embassy in Jordan was arranging a commercial flight on March 27, she knew this was her best chance to go.
In a “mad rush,” she packed up her things, unable to really say goodbye to anyone in Jordan, where the government was going as far as incarcerating people who violated the quarantine, Hobscheid said.
Fulbright offered to reimburse plane tickets back to the U.S. ― which were expensive in many cases, since they were booked last minute as airports and borders closed and demand surged.
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Grantees will also be paid their stipends through the end of June, according to an email to HuffPost from a State Department official. But the amount of that stipend varies depending on the host country, where the cost of living is often much lower than in the U.S., and many Fulbrighters had signed contracts that promised funding for additional months, with some extending as far as December.
The State Department official also told HuffPost that for Fulbrighters who are unable to travel home due to restrictions, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is committed to supporting them while they shelter in place.
Now, many Fulbrighters are returning — unemployed and uninsured — to an economy and health care system ravaged by a deadly virus. There was no reimbursement offered to grantees who needed to pay for lodging to quarantine away from vulnerable family members, for example.
“The relocation costs were, for many of us, way larger than the last stipend they were going to give us,” said Cory Gray, 31, a grantee who recently returned to San Francisco from Brazil. Gray was studying dance and identity in Brazil, and has little opportunity to earn income teaching dance as she once did in the Bay Area, which is under a strict shelter-in-place order until at least May 3.
Confusion And Mixed Messages
As the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs encouraged Fulbright grantees worldwide to return to the U.S., Fulbright commission or embassy officials in host countries interpreted those communications differently.
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Sean Hayward, a 28-year-old grantee studying Javanese music in Indonesia, was told in an email that if he left “as is required” he would continue to receive his grant payments through the end of June. He interpreted that as meaning he might lose his stipend if he stayed in Indonesia, even though the State Department guaranteed funding continued through June 30, regardless of whether grantees chose to remain in their host countries.
His rent in Indonesia was paid through the end of October, when his grant was scheduled to end, and he had already completed coursework for his Ph.D. from California Institute of the Arts. Hayward didn’t have plans to return to the U.S., but it didn’t feel like Fulbright was giving him a choice.
Hayward asked for clarification, but the Indonesian commission had little information from the State Department regarding the security of his visa and stipend.
The commission’s executive director, Alan Feinstein, told Hayward in a March 20 email that he would inquire about some of his specific questions, “but the bottom line here really is we want you to leave for your own health and safety.”
ozgurdonmaz via Getty Images
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Hayward said he does not blame the commission but feels that communications from the State Department to individual embassies and commissions were unclear.
It wasn’t until he was in the airport in Japan, already en route to his 14-day quarantine at an Airbnb in California, that Hayward learned that Indonesia’s Ministry of Research and Technology would support Fulbrighters’ visas. On April 2, Hayward returned to Indonesia, out $3,000 for what he says was a pointless and hazardous trip to the United States.
Fulbrighters in Brazil and Paraguay, who began their programs in February, told HuffPost that they felt frustrated that they are only getting a few months of support despite signing contracts for nine months.
“They were willing to accommodate you if you were stuck, but once you get back to the U.S., it felt kind of like, ‘We’re washing our hands of this situation,’” said Mitchell Collins, a 23-year-old teaching assistant in Paraguay.
Was Coming Home The Safest Option?
While the State Department brought Fulbright grantees home ostensibly to keep them safe from a global pandemic, grantees arriving home were not confident that was the safest decision.
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Sunny Huang, who was on a grant in Taiwan, decided to stay there because of how effectively the country has handled the pandemic. In Jordan, grantees with medical expertise met the instructions to travel home with skepticism during the March 15 meeting, according to people in attendance. For them and many others, traveling felt more risky than sheltering in place.
Many of the grantees returning home said that U.S. airport screenings just involved a brief questionnaire about symptoms and often neglected to take their temperature, despite long travel and layovers in several different countries.
“In Malta, they took my temperature to go into a grocery store,” said Emma Alquist, 24, a grantee who had been working in secondary schools and volunteering with asylum seekers on the island. Coming back to the U.S., she said, “was weird. I was anticipating a bit more caution.”
Husien and another Jordan grantee said customs officials questioned them more thoroughly about their time spent in Jordan and the Middle East than about potential exposure to the virus. One Jordan grantee, who asked not to be named, did have her temperature taken and received instructions to self-quarantine upon reentry to the U.S. in New York. She got sick a few days after arrival and believes she likely picked up the virus in transit.
As much as they understand the difficult decision the State Department made, many Fulbrighters are frustrated with the vagueness of how those decisions were reached and communicated to them.
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Some, like Hayward, felt misled. Others felt abandoned.
“I fully support the purpose of the Fulbright program,” said Collins, who had just begun his program in February. “I love the fact that I even got to do the little that I did.”