huffpost--2020-03-02--How To Get Your Kids To Stop Touching Their Faces

As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world continues to rise , people are taking whatever steps they can to prevent contracting COVID-19 .
For now , the main expert is advice is to wash your hands and avoid touching your face .
While there are ways to cut down on the number of times you touch your face each day , breaking the habit is definitely a challenge for most people .
Given the difficulty adults have , it seems like an utterly fruitless endeavor to get antsy kids to stop touching their faces .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cognitive scientist Denise Cummins when HuffPost asked if she had any advice for parents who want to encourage their children to kick the habit .
“ Trying to control children ’ s restless energy is often a fool ’ s errand.
” Still , there are small things parents can try .
Below , find tips from Cummins and a couple of other experts on getting kids to stop touching their faces and how else they can stay healthy right now .
“ Parents have to praise the child when they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important than stopping them from doing it .
‘ Great job keeping your hands away from your face ’ actually goes a longer way than telling them to stop doing it , ” said Paul DePompo , a clinical psychologist and founder of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Southern California .
“ By saying , ‘ I like where your hands are ’ when by their sides , or ‘ I like that you ’ re not touching your face right now , ’ ” they ’ re aware of what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanam Hafeez , a psychologist in New York .
Point Out When They ’ re Doing It “ It is going to be very difficult to get children to stop touching their faces altogether , but the same exercises that work for adults can work for children .
The first being mindfulness , ” Hafeez said .
“ If you would remind a child every single time you see them touching their face , eventually it becomes a conditioned response where they will find themselves removing their hands from their faces , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their kids more aware of the goal to cut down on the habit by modeling it in their own behavior .
They can talk about the ways they ’ re trying to touch their own faces less and how they reward themselves when they achieve incremental goals to that end .
Give Them Something Else To Touch “ I would just suggest giving them things to hold or fiddle with because holding and fiddling are incompatible with touching one ’ s face , ” Cummins said .
“ It is always better to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another behavior rather than asking children to NOT do something .
Inhibiting actions is something that requires a fully functioning prefrontal cortex , and that is not fully developed until about age 25.
” Another recommendation for adults that can work for kids is to make face-touching uncomfortable .
You can do this by putting their hands in fingerless gloves that don ’ t feel great against their skin or painting their nails with child-safe polishes that don ’ t taste good .
But this may be more effort than it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 3 , you can start explaining the concept of germs and how they spread by touching your face , just like you explain to them the importance of sneezing into their elbows , ” Hafeez said .
Indeed , there are many age-appropriate ways to educate kids about germs , including games and fun activities .
Explaining the reasoning behind your request that they stop touching their faces involves them more in the process and gives them a vested interest in the goal .

Emma Kim via Getty Images There are small ways parents can encourage their kids to touch their faces less frequently.
As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world continues to rise, people are taking whatever steps they can to prevent contracting COVID-19. For now, the main expert is advice is to wash your hands and avoid touching your face.
While there are ways to cut down on the number of times you touch your face each day, breaking the habit is definitely a challenge for most people. Given the difficulty adults have, it seems like an utterly fruitless endeavor to get antsy kids to stop touching their faces.
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While I am worrying about not touching my face, I am watching my kid and every other kid touch just about every surface on this Earth without a care in the world. — Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) February 29, 2020
CDC: Dont touch your face
Me to my kid every 20 minutes: pic.twitter.com/Yv8NT2ZlcH — Liz Riley (@lizindublin) February 29, 2020
“That is a tough one,” said cognitive scientist Denise Cummins when HuffPost asked if she had any advice for parents who want to encourage their children to kick the habit. “Trying to control children’s restless energy is often a fool’s errand.”
Still, there are small things parents can try. Below, find tips from Cummins and a couple of other experts on getting kids to stop touching their faces and how else they can stay healthy right now.
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Use Positive Reinforcement
Kids tend to respond better to positive reinforcement than criticism or correction.
“Parents have to praise the child when they’re not doing it, which is more important than stopping them from doing it. ‘Great job keeping your hands away from your face’ actually goes a longer way than telling them to stop doing it,” said Paul DePompo, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Southern California.
Parents can set up little incentives like stickers, toys, treats or even extra screen time to reward non-face-touching.
As DePompo noted, verbal affirmations also help reinforce good behaviors.
“By saying, ‘I like where your hands are’ when by their sides, or ‘I like that you’re not touching your face right now,’” they’re aware of what they should not be doing,” said Sanam Hafeez, a psychologist in New York.
Point Out When They’re Doing It
While positive reinforcement is key, parents can also help their kids become more aware of their face touching by simply pointing it out.
“It is going to be very difficult to get children to stop touching their faces altogether, but the same exercises that work for adults can work for children. The first being mindfulness,” Hafeez said.
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anadorado via Getty Images When it comes to cutting down on harmful behaviors, kids tend to respond better to positive reinforcement.
“If you would remind a child every single time you see them touching their face, eventually it becomes a conditioned response where they will find themselves removing their hands from their faces,” she added.
Parents can also make their kids more aware of the goal to cut down on the habit by modeling it in their own behavior. They can talk about the ways they’re trying to touch their own faces less and how they reward themselves when they achieve incremental goals to that end.
Give Them Something Else To Touch
As is the case with adults, kids who have their hands free may find themselves more tempted to touch their faces.
“I would just suggest giving them things to hold or fiddle with because holding and fiddling are incompatible with touching one’s face,” Cummins said. “It is always better to try to replace a problematic behavior with another behavior rather than asking children to NOT do something. Inhibiting actions is something that requires a fully functioning prefrontal cortex, and that is not fully developed until about age 25.”
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Another recommendation for adults that can work for kids is to make face-touching uncomfortable. You can do this by putting their hands in fingerless gloves that don’t feel great against their skin or painting their nails with child-safe polishes that don’t taste good. But this may be more effort than it’s worth.
Explain The Concept Of Germs
“If a child is at least 3, you can start explaining the concept of germs and how they spread by touching your face, just like you explain to them the importance of sneezing into their elbows,” Hafeez said.
Indeed, there are many age-appropriate ways to educate kids about germs, including games and fun activities. Explaining the reasoning behind your request that they stop touching their faces involves them more in the process and gives them a vested interest in the goal.
GeorgeManga via Getty Images Parents can talk to their kids about what germs are and how they spread.
Focus On Hand-Washing
Ultimately, remember that kids will be kids (i.e., germy, touchy little monsters), so don’t stress if they can’t miraculously start keeping their hands to themselves at all times.
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“Little children touch things. Putting hands in mouths is what they do,” Mark Reinecke, clinical director and senior clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, told HuffPost.
Because it’s so difficult to curtail kids’ face-touching, it’s important to focus on healthy habits that are easier to control.
“What we probably should be doing is just encouraging young children to wash their hands regularly,” Reinecke explained. “Maybe get some disinfectant lotion or sanitizer and regularly put it on their hands. Hand them a Kleenex when they sneeze or have a runny nose.”
Teaching kids to wash their hands is a good practice that parents should be doing anyway, regardless of the news of an epidemic. Parents can also promote their children’s health by feeding them nutritious meals, giving them vitamins if it’s advised by their doctor, and encouraging physical activity and healthy amounts of sleep.
“Right now, there’s no need to be alarmist and say we need to vary significantly from normal and customary child-rearing practices,” Reinecke said.


huffpost--2020-03-02--Super Tuesday Is Do-Or-Die For Warren And Bloomberg

But the pair find themselves in shockingly similar political positions heading into the single most important day on the Democratic presidential primary calendar , a date both campaigns have long pointed to as the real start to a long march to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee this summer .
Strong performances from a triumphant Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and a resurgent former Vice President Joe Biden in early states have significantly weakened their political hands and left them with dreams of a contested convention as their most likely paths to the nomination .
Both campaigns may find it difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without surprisingly robust performances on Tuesday night , when roughly one-third of the delegates to the convention will be handed out .
And Warren ’ s and Bloomberg ’ s campaigns are even using eerily parallel messaging to show why they would be better presidents than their ideological rivals , pointing to a potential coronavirus pandemic as the type of crisis they could better handle than Sanders or Biden .
Both are also counting on a surge of television and digital advertising to keep their vote counts high in crucial states like Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of delegates .
Warren has faced less explicit pressure , but polling indicates she could win at most just one of the first 18 states to vote ― her home state of Massachusetts .
Some progressives are growing increasingly antsy about her presence in the race and fear she could limit Sanders ’ delegate advantage .
One previously neutral left-leaning group , Democracy For America , endorsed Sanders on Monday .
And other groups could seek to push Warren out of the race after Tuesday .
“ If you haven ’ t heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of money for nothing.
” Bloomberg is , if nothing else , right about how much money he ’ s spent .
His campaign has spent more than $ 64 million on television ads in Texas alone .
By comparison , Biden has spent just over $ 217,000 ; Warren and a super PAC backing her have spent just under $ 950,000 ; and Sanders has spent $ 4.5 million , according to a Democrat tracking ad buys in the state .
Bloomberg has a whopping 19 field offices in the state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign claims to have the only presence in the heavily Latino areas along the U.S.-Mexico border , and is hosting more than 30 events a week .
On the day of the New Hampshire primary , halfway through a rough run in the early states , Warren ’ s campaign pointed to Super Tuesday as the day everything would get better .
“ Warren is poised to finish in the top two in over half of Super Tuesday states ( eight of 14 ) , in the top three in all of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up at-large statewide delegates in all but one , ” campaign manager Roger Lau wrote at the time .
Not mentioned in the memo : the threat to Warren in her home state of Massachusetts , where Sanders campaigned on Friday and Saturday .
Polls indicate Sanders has a slight edge in a tight race there , which could lead to an embarrassing loss .
Some Warren allies questioned Sanders ’ tactics , noting he could likely net more delegates by keeping her under the 15 % viability threshold in Texas and California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win in the Bay State .
In her speech in Houston , Warren ― who long refused to air virtually any criticism of her opponents ― laid into her rivals for the nomination , including Sanders .
She said his “ 30-year track record shows he consistently calls for things he fails to get done.
” Biden was “ so eager to cut deals with Mitch McConnell and the Republicans that he ’ ll trade good ideas for bad ones.
” Bloomberg was nothing more than a billionaire play-acting “ whose track record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect himself and his rich friends over everyone else .
”

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HOUSTON ― Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg are political rivals of the first order. The progressive senator who seeks to limit the influence of the wealthy on policymaking and the multibillionaire media mogul who is determined to use his fortune to advance centrist policies have exchanged fiery and exasperated barbs at the last two Democratic presidential debates, and Warren has aired hundreds of thousands of dollars in attack ads against him.
But the pair find themselves in shockingly similar political positions heading into the single most important day on the Democratic presidential primary calendar, a date both campaigns have long pointed to as the real start to a long march to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee this summer. Strong performances from a triumphant Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and a resurgent former Vice President Joe Biden in early states have significantly weakened their political hands and left them with dreams of a contested convention as their most likely paths to the nomination. Both campaigns may find it difficult to justify their continued existence to allies without surprisingly robust performances on Tuesday night, when roughly one-third of the delegates to the convention will be handed out.
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And Warren’s and Bloomberg’s campaigns are even using eerily parallel messaging to show why they would be better presidents than their ideological rivals, pointing to a potential coronavirus pandemic as the type of crisis they could better handle than Sanders or Biden. Both are also counting on a surge of television and digital advertising to keep their vote counts high in crucial states like Texas and California that will award huge numbers of delegates.
The pressure is likely greater on Bloomberg, who has fewer long-standing ties to the Democratic Party, and based his very entrance into the race on the idea that Biden would limp into Super Tuesday ― a possibility the former vice president’s nearly 30-point win in South Carolina erased. Two of the most senior strategists in the Democratic Party suggested on Saturday night that Bloomberg should exit the race.
“The reality is Bloomberg needed Biden to lose South Carolina to have any chance,” David Plouffe, who managed former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, said on MSNBC. A few channels over on CNN, top Obama strategist David Axelrod had similar musings: “As long as Biden is competitive in this race, where’s the path for Bloomberg?”
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Democratic presidential candidate former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks during a campaign rally on March 1, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Warren has faced less explicit pressure, but polling indicates she could win at most just one of the first 18 states to vote ― her home state of Massachusetts. Some progressives are growing increasingly antsy about her presence in the race and fear she could limit Sanders’ delegate advantage. One previously neutral left-leaning group, Democracy For America, endorsed Sanders on Monday. And other groups could seek to push Warren out of the race after Tuesday.
“If you get to a point where the difference between Biden and Bernie is down to five points, and Warren is that five points, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on her to drop out,” a Democratic strategist said, requesting anonymity to avoid alienating Warren and her campaign.
Both Warren and Bloomberg received a boost on Sunday night, when former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the contest, potentially making it easier for them to hit the 15% viability threshold necessary to receive delegates in states and districts across the Super Tuesday map.
“If you haven’t heard it, then we spent a lot of money for nothing.”
At a Bloomberg event in Houston on Thursday morning, an older-leaning but diverse crowd munched on a plentiful spread of breakfast tacos and picked up free T-shirts from the campaign, listening to Bloomberg deliver an brief stump speech and take no questions before jetting off to a campaign stop in Oklahoma, another Super Tuesday state.
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“You’ve all heard our slogan, ‘Mike will get it done,’” Bloomberg said, in the midst of a speech that portrayed him as uniquely positioned to use his combination of money and management experience to pass gun control and climate change legislation. “If you haven’t heard it, then we spent a lot of money for nothing.”
Bloomberg is, if nothing else, right about how much money he’s spent. His campaign has spent more than $64 million on television ads in Texas alone. By comparison, Biden has spent just over $217,000; Warren and a super PAC backing her have spent just under $950,000; and Sanders has spent $4.5 million, according to a Democrat tracking ad buys in the state. Bloomberg has a whopping 19 field offices in the state, and has visited six times. The campaign claims to have the only presence in the heavily Latino areas along the U.S.-Mexico border, and is hosting more than 30 events a week.
He’s repeated this type of heavy investment across the Super Tuesday map, hiring more staffers, spending more on ads and opening more offices in any other candidates. But at least in the largest states ― Texas and California ― his investments place him in third and fourth place, according to polling averages.
Bloomberg’s relatively low rate of return has Biden allies in a tizzy, arguing the billionaire is effectively boosting Sanders by stealing ideological moderates and Black voters from the former vice president. On Sunday, a super PAC supporting Biden, Unite The Country, suggested Bloomberg should drop out of the contest.
“Bloomberg’s $500 million in advertising is basically serving as the Bernie Sanders super PAC, dividing the large share of Democratic voters who do not identify in the super-liberal lane of the party,” the group’s leaders wrote. “Mayor Bloomberg should decide soon if he wants to be the reason why Bernie Sanders is the nominee of the party.”
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The Bloomberg campaign has rejected that argument, arguing the first four states are electorally insignificant. “Mike Bloomberg has not been on the ballot yet,” Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheeky said not long after the South Carolina results rolled in. (The campaign has a point: Ten times as many delegates will be awarded on Tuesday as in the first four states combined.)
The Biden campaign, full of energy after South Carolina, has been eagerly suggesting voters could switch en masse from Bloomberg to the former vice president. “I know y’all dated, flirted, dabbled with Mike Bloomberg a little bit,” said Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a Biden endorser, at a rally in Virginia on Sunday. “All is forgiven, it’s time to come home.”
But interviews with Bloomberg voters in Houston indicated there may be more resistance to Biden than otherwise thought. Many of them viewed Sanders as an equally existential threat as Trump, and were deeply disappointed in the rest of the Democratic field.
“This election is huge. American Democracy is under threat from the left and the right,” said David Hoyer, a physician who said Bloomberg would “end the lying, the nonsense and the craziness.”
He quickly ticked through the flaws of the rest of the field: “Sanders is gonna lose, Warren is a nutcase. The Republicans will roll over Buttigieg. Biden is too old.”
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Getting Bloomberg out of the race may prove to be easier said than done. While he has no television ad time reserved after Tuesday, a multibillionaire can snap his fingers and restart the ad blitz. Asked on CBS’s “60 Minutes” on Sunday night if he would stop running if he wasn’t in the top three after Super Tuesday, Bloomberg responded quickly: “No, of course not.”
‘Milwaukee is the final play.’
Warren’s first words after arriving onstage at her rally in front of 2,000 people in Houston on Saturday night were blunt: “I want to be the first to say the outcome of the first four contests haven’t gone exactly as I hoped.”
Earlier in the day, Warren had finished fifth in the South Carolina primary, following up back-to-back fourth-place finishes in New Hampshire and Nevada and a third-place finish in Iowa. But Warren, more than any other non-billionaire candidate in the race, invested early and often in the Super Tuesday states. Her campaign has 60 organizers on the ground in Texas, and started knocking doors and calling voters back in August.
Presidential hopeful Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks during a town hall in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 29, 2020. MARK FELIX via Getty Images
On the day of the New Hampshire primary, halfway through a rough run in the early states, Warren’s campaign pointed to Super Tuesday as the day everything would get better. “Warren is poised to finish in the top two in over half of Super Tuesday states (eight of 14), in the top three in all of them, and is on pace to pick up at-large statewide delegates in all but one,” campaign manager Roger Lau wrote at the time.
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In a memo released Sunday morning, Lau sounded a bit like a door-to-door salesman whose next big payday was always right around the corner. His optimism about Super Tuesday was turned down, though he still insisted Warren would earn delegates “in nearly every state in play on Super Tuesday.”
Instead, Lau said, the campaign ― reinforced by a $29 million fundraising haul in February powered by her filleting of Bloomberg at a debate in Las Vegas, and a pop-up super PAC that has spent more than $12 million supporting her ― was looking to a contested convention as a route to victory.
“In the road to the nomination, the Wisconsin primary is halftime, and the convention in Milwaukee is the final play,” Lau wrote, noting the campaign has already put $4.1 milllion into paid media into states that vote later in March, and up to the Wisconsin primary on April 7. “Our grassroots campaign is built to compete in every state and territory and ultimately prevail at the national convention in Milwaukee.”
Not mentioned in the memo: the threat to Warren in her home state of Massachusetts, where Sanders campaigned on Friday and Saturday. Polls indicate Sanders has a slight edge in a tight race there, which could lead to an embarrassing loss. Some Warren allies questioned Sanders’ tactics, noting he could likely net more delegates by keeping her under the 15% viability threshold in Texas and California instead of by squeaking out a narrow win in the Bay State.
In her speech in Houston, Warren ― who long refused to air virtually any criticism of her opponents ― laid into her rivals for the nomination, including Sanders. She said his “30-year track record shows he consistently calls for things he fails to get done.” Biden was “so eager to cut deals with Mitch McConnell and the Republicans that he’ll trade good ideas for bad ones.” Bloomberg was nothing more than a billionaire play-acting “whose track record as mayor shows he’ll govern to protect himself and his rich friends over everyone else.”
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But even more of her speech was dedicated to how she would respond to the spread of coronavirus in the United States, laying out a plan on how she would combat the virus’s spread and its economic impacts: Testing and a theoretical vaccine should be free to all, she said, and the government should ready a fiscal stimulus to help businesses hurt by supply chain disruptions.
“This crisis is a reminder that this primary isn’t a game. We are picking a president ― and we need someone whose core values can be trusted, who has a plan for how to govern, and who can actually get it done,” she said. (Bloomberg, who placed a national three-minute network television ad buy on Sunday to lay out his plan to respond to the crisis, is making a similar argument.)
In recent days, the Warren campaign has tried to turn back the clock by releasing more of her detailed policy plans, a throwback to when her ideas dominated the primary conversation and earned her significant amounts of media attention. She released a marijuana legalization plan before a town hall in Denver, a plan for border communities before one in San Antonio and a plan for farmworkers before an event on Monday night in Los Angeles. But it seems unlikely another white paper will lead to a delegate boost.
Randi Weingarten, the American Federation of Teachers president who endorsed Warren in her personal capacity on Saturday night, remained optimistic ― perhaps stubbornly so.
“People would have said the same thing about Joe Biden before tonight,” she said when asked if there was still time for Warren to reemerge as a top-tier candidate. “And there was a decisive victory that Joe Biden had tonight and it changed the dynamics of the race.”
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The change in dynamics needs to come soon. Shortly before Warren walked onstage on Saturday night, a small group of supporters started a “here to stay” chant, echoing the candidates’ words at a rally last weekend in Seattle.


huffpost--2020-03-02--New York State Announces First Confirmed Coronavirus Case

The state of New York on Sunday confirmed its first positive case of COVID-19 , the novel coronavirus that ’ s infected almost 90,000 people across the globe .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) said in a statement that the patient — a woman in her 30s — had contracted the disease while traveling abroad in Iran .
Citing a state official , The New York Times said the woman is in Manhattan .
“ The patient has respiratory symptoms , but is not in serious condition and has been in a controlled situation since arriving ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor urged New Yorkers to remain calm , saying there was “ no reason for undue anxiety ” and that the risk posed by the virus “ remains low ” in the state .
We have learned of the 1st positive case of COVID-19 in NY .
The patient contracted the virus while in Iran & is isolated There is no reason for undue anxiety—the general risk remains low in NY .
We are diligently managing this situation & will provide info as it becomes available .
pic.twitter.com/rLnObvrg3R — Andrew Cuomo ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 76 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the U.S. to date .
Two people in Washington state have died of the disease , including a man in his 70s who had underlying health conditions , state officials said Sunday .
Also on Sunday , Rhode Island announced its first likely case of the illness .
The patient ― a man in his 40s ― had traveled to Italy , France and Spain in mid-February , officials said .

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The state of New York on Sunday confirmed its first positive case of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that’s infected almost 90,000 people across the globe.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said in a statement that the patient — a woman in her 30s — had contracted the disease while traveling abroad in Iran. Citing a state official, The New York Times said the woman is in Manhattan.
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“The patient has respiratory symptoms, but is not in serious condition and has been in a controlled situation since arriving” in New York, Cuomo said.
The governor urged New Yorkers to remain calm, saying there was “no reason for undue anxiety” and that the risk posed by the virus “remains low” in the state.
We have learned of the 1st positive case of COVID-19 in NY. The patient contracted the virus while in Iran & is isolated
There is no reason for undue anxiety—the general risk remains low in NY. We are diligently managing this situation &will provide info as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/rLnObvrg3R — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 2, 2020
At least 76 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the U.S. to date. Two people in Washington state have died of the disease, including a man in his 70s who had underlying health conditions, state officials said Sunday.
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huffpost--2020-03-02--What Will It Be Like To Work During A Coronavirus Outbreak?

In the event of a coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. , here ’ s what could happen : Work-from-home policies become the norm .
People who are coughing or short of breath get separated from healthy employees and sent home immediately .
More workers stop showing up to work as they care for ill family members .
Business travel restrictions and bans go into effect , and employees become cross-trained so that even if essential staff are absent , work goes on .
Cleaning doorknobs , keyboards , remote controls and desks becomes routine after each use .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of if this will happen anymore , but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness , ” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier , director of the CDC ’ s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , at a Wednesday briefing .
If the virus spreads into the community , she said , the response should include “ social distancing ” tactics like having employees work from home and replacing in-person meetings with video calls .
Expect more social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has no protection plan yet , ask for one .
For workers who can ’ t telecommute , like those in the supply chain , Kayyem said “ the advice is more what are they demanding of their employers ... either ‘ What are alternatives to those services for some period of time ?
’ ― which I think we are inevitably going to come to at some stage ― or ‘ What sort of personal protective equipment will be made available to them ?
’ Treat them like first responders.
” Prepare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommends planning for “ 72 on you ” — that is , how many hours you should be prepared to use only your own supplies .
This might be necessary if officials advise people to limit contact to those already in their homes .
It means having at least three days ’ worth of supplies , including medications , nonperishable pantry staples and one gallon of water per person per day .
That ’ s what Kayyem has prepared for her family .
When working from home is not an option , be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I am checking CDC ’ s website daily for what they are recommending , ” Sorrell said of her own preparations for a possible outbreak .
“ I am constantly washing my hands and I ’ m always trying to think about being aware of my surroundings .
So if I ’ m on the bus and there is someone who might be coughing or sneezing , I would not sit right next to them .
I would definitely do that , regardless of the coronavirus outbreak.
” Should you wear a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Instead , face masks are important for those who are already sick , and Sorrell said that the supply for face masks should be prioritized for health care workers and those who are immunocompromised .
“ The idea is that that face mask protects your cough and sneeze from going out and traveling as effectively as possible .
It ’ s a barrier , a shield for those who are already infected , ” she said .
If you ’ re at home sick and living with others who are healthy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a face mask might also be wanted .
In a best-case scenario , flexible paid leave would be available for all during outbreak .
But it ’ s not .
Kayyem said the nation ’ s labor laws are not prepared to handle a coronavirus outbreak with no definite end .
In a hurricane , she said , there is a shared understanding of what you are responding to , and communities are focused on recovering .
But with a COVID-19 outbreak , it is “ different .
It ’ s biological .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks like , we don ’ t know how long we are going to be out for .
I don ’ t think we have the doctrine for something like this right now .
”

All Royalty-Free licenses include global use rights. via Getty Images Employees should expect more "social distancing" to occur during a COVID-19 outbreak.
In the event of a coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., here’s what could happen: Work-from-home policies become the norm. People who are coughing or short of breath get separated from healthy employees and sent home immediately. More workers stop showing up to work as they care for ill family members. Business travel restrictions and bans go into effect, and employees become cross-trained so that even if essential staff are absent, work goes on. Cleaning doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls and desks becomes routine after each use.
These are just some of the scenarios that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines in its interim guidance for businesses and employers responding to a coronavirus outbreak. And they are becoming more of a reality as the spread of COVID-19 (short for coronavirus disease 2019) appears inevitable in the U.S.
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“It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness,” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, at a Wednesday briefing. If the virus spreads into the community, she said, the response should include “social distancing” tactics like having employees work from home and replacing in-person meetings with video calls.
Now is the time to prepare for how your work life would change.
“The more that you prepare for the particulars of your job, or whatever field you’re in, the less you’ll panic when that moment comes. You will have thought through the continuity of operations,” said Juliette Kayyem, the faculty chair of the global health and security project at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
“The best-case scenario is that people don’t go from zero to panic immediately,” Kayyem said.
Here’s how your work day could change during a coronavirus outbreak, and how you should prepare now.
Expect more social distancing to happen. And if your workplace has no protection plan yet, ask for one.
Not everything is known yet about all the ways this coronavirus spreads, but it is transmissible person-to-person and has made its way out of China, where it is believed to have originated. Two California women have been confirmed to have the virus without being exposed to a known patient and without having relevant travel history.
Currently, there’s no vaccine and no medications to treat COVID-19. As the outbreak spreads across Europe, businesses with European operations like Nestlé, L’Oreal and Unilever are restricting or banning business travel.
In the U.S., companies are already nixing mass gatherings in an attempt to fend off an outbreak. On Thursday, Facebook said it was canceling its global developer’s conference in May in San Jose, California, “to prioritize the health and safety” of its participants.
Kayyem said if social distancing becomes the norm in an outbreak, employees should think about what they need to do their job remotely, or demand to know about the alternatives if working remotely is not an option.
For workers who can’t telecommute, like those in the supply chain, Kayyem said “the advice is more what are they demanding of their employers ... either ‘What are alternatives to those services for some period of time?’ ― which I think we are inevitably going to come to at some stage ― or ‘What sort of personal protective equipment will be made available to them?’ Treat them like first responders.”
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For example, Kayyem said, delivery workers could be released from having to wait for signatures so that person-to-person contact is all but eliminated from a delivery.
Prepare for your working-from-home scenarios now.
Kayyem recommends planning for “72 on you” — that is, how many hours you should be prepared to use only your own supplies. This might be necessary if officials advise people to limit contact to those already in their homes. It means having at least three days’ worth of supplies, including medications, nonperishable pantry staples and one gallon of water per person per day. That’s what Kayyem has prepared for her family.
In these stuck-at-home scenarios, consider how you will work and handle childcare if schools are closed, Kayyem said. (On Thursday, Japan’s prime minister called for shutting down all of the nation’s schools for a month in response to the country’s COVID-19 cases.)
“Communication is absolutely key right now with family members, employers, kids, to prepare them that there might be some disruption to life,” Kayyem said.
When working from home is not an option, be strategic about interactions in shared spaces.
During an outbreak, if you have to interact with the public or colleagues or commute on mass transit for your job, be strategic — as you already should be — about avoiding germ transmission in shared spaces.
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Erin Sorrell, an assistant research professor in Georgetown University’s department of microbiology and immunology, said the same methods for avoiding general infection apply here: “Trying not to touch your face while you are commuting, and if you are able to have hand sanitizer or some type of detergent on you that you can carry and use during your transportation, that’s even better.
“I am checking CDC’s website daily for what they are recommending,” Sorrell said of her own preparations for a possible outbreak. “I am constantly washing my hands and I’m always trying to think about being aware of my surroundings. So if I’m on the bus and there is someone who might be coughing or sneezing, I would not sit right next to them. I would definitely do that, regardless of the coronavirus outbreak.”
Anywhere large groups of coworkers are working together, Sorrell recommends there be more access to hand sanitizers and routine environmental cleaning with soap-based and alcohol-based cleaners. “The virus is sensitive to detergents,” she said. “Just having a routine cleaning of shared surfaces, desktop spaces, meeting rooms, etc. ... That would be important.”
“A disaster hits a community as it is, not what you wanted it to be.”
Should you wear a face mask at work during an outbreak?
Sorrell said that from a public health perspective, “There is really no debate on the efficacy of a face mask” for preventing COVID-19.
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“A typical surgical mask that you see a lot of people wearing out in the public, those are not going to prevent you from being infected,” she said. “When people wear them and they’re healthy, it’s giving almost a false sense of security that they’re preventing any type of exposure.”
Instead, face masks are important for those who are already sick, and Sorrell said that the supply for face masks should be prioritized for health care workers and those who are immunocompromised. “The idea is that that face mask protects your cough and sneeze from going out and traveling as effectively as possible. It’s a barrier, a shield for those who are already infected,” she said. If you’re at home sick and living with others who are healthy, that’s a scenario in which a face mask might also be wanted.
In a best-case scenario, flexible paid leave would be available for all during outbreak. But it’s not.
On Wednesday, the Society For Human Resource Management issued a recommendation for employers: “First, send symptomatic employees home until they produce documentation from a medical professional that they are able to return to work.”
This advice goes against what the CDC recommends, which is to not require employees to get a health care provider’s note because doing so can overload doctors and nurses who are going to be busy enough during an outbreak.
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The CDC also says employers should maintain flexible leave policies for employees in the event of a coronavirus outbreak. But for employees without paid sick leave, going home means not earning income.
The United States currently has no federal law mandating paid sick leave for all workers, so access to this benefit is unequally distributed. While 87 percent of private-sector employees with the highest wages have access to paid sick leave, lower-paid workers who are the least able to absorb the financial hit of not working do not, according to an Economy Policy Institute analysis.
The group that is least likely to earn sick leave is also more likely to get sick in the event of a disease outbreak. Workers with high-frequency interaction with the public, like food service and delivery workers, have a higher chance of exposure to a pandemic than office workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a 2014 report.
“A disaster hits a community as it is, not what you wanted it to be,” Kayyem said. “All of the gaps we have today in terms of health care and leave policy will not get solved because of a pandemic, they will be exacerbated for the reasons we know, because people often don’t have alternatives.”
Kayyem said the nation’s labor laws are not prepared to handle a coronavirus outbreak with no definite end. In a hurricane, she said, there is a shared understanding of what you are responding to, and communities are focused on recovering. But with a COVID-19 outbreak, it is “different. It’s biological. We don’t know what recovery looks like, we don’t know how long we are going to be out for. I don’t think we have the doctrine for something like this right now.”


huffpost--2020-03-02--Virus Kills Member Of Council Advising Iran's Supreme Leader

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) — A member of a council that advises Iran ’ s supreme leader died Monday after falling sick from the new coronavirus , state radio reported , becoming the first top official to succumb to the illness that is affecting members of the Islamic Republic ’ s leadership .
His death comes as other top officials have contracted the virus in Iran , which has the highest death toll in the world after China , the epicenter of the outbreak .
Those sick included include Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar , better known as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the students who seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and sparked the 444-day hostage crisis , state media reported .
Also sick is Iraj Harirchi , the head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who tried to downplay the virus before falling ill. Iran has reported 978 confirmed cases of the new virus with 54 deaths from the illness it causes , called COVID-19 .
Across the wider Mideast , there are over 1,150 cases of the new coronavirus , the majority of which are linked back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s percentage of deaths to infections , around 5.5 % , is much higher than other countries , suggesting the number of infections in Iran may be much higher than current figures show .
Iran and the U.S. have seen some of the worst tensions since its 1979 Islamic Revolution in recent months , culminating in the American drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad and a subsequent Iranian ballistic missile counterattack against U.S. forces .
“ We neither count on such help nor are we ready to accept verbal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added Iran has always been “ suspicious ” about America ’ s intentions and accused the U.S. government of trying to weaken Iranians ’ spirits over the outbreak .
“ Essential staff needed to continue critical work will remain , ” the British Foreign Office said .
“ In the event that the situation deteriorates further , the ability of the British Embassy to provide assistance to British nationals from within Iran may be limited.
” While Iran has closed schools and universities to stop the spread of the virus , major Shiite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling for them to be closed .
The holy cities of Mashhad and Qom in particular , both home to shrines , have been hard-hit by the virus .
Shiites often touch and kiss shrines as a sign of their faith .
Authorities have been cleaning the shrines with disinfectants .
Police have arrested one man who posted a video showing himself licking the metal enclosing the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad , the most-important Shiite saint buried in the country , according to reports by semiofficial news agencies .
In the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metal to “ allow others to visit the shrine with peace of mind.
” A prominent columnist at Dubai ’ s government-owned Al-Bayan newspaper on Twitter falsely described the virus as being a plot by Qatar to hurt the upcoming Expo 2020 world ’ s fair in Dubai and Saudi Arabia .
Noura al-Moteari later described the tweet as “ satire ” to The Associated Press after it gained widespread attention .
“ Noura is a freelance writer and is not an employee of Al-Bayan nor does she represent the publication ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ That being said , this has no relevance to any social media policy being practiced by the publication nor the state .
”

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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A member of a council that advises Iran’s supreme leader died Monday after falling sick from the new coronavirus, state radio reported, becoming the first top official to succumb to the illness that is affecting members of the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
Expediency Council member Mohammad Mirmohammadi died at a Tehran hospital of the virus, state radio said. He was 71.
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The council advises Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as settles disputes between the supreme leader and parliament.
His death comes as other top officials have contracted the virus in Iran, which has the highest death toll in the world after China, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Those sick included include Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar, better known as “Sister Mary,” the English-speaking spokeswoman for the students who seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and sparked the 444-day hostage crisis, state media reported. Also sick is Iraj Harirchi, the head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who tried to downplay the virus before falling ill.
Iran has reported 978 confirmed cases of the new virus with 54 deaths from the illness it causes, called COVID-19. Across the wider Mideast, there are over 1,150 cases of the new coronavirus, the majority of which are linked back to Iran.
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Experts worry Iran’s percentage of deaths to infections, around 5.5%, is much higher than other countries, suggesting the number of infections in Iran may be much higher than current figures show.
Trying to stem the outbreak of the new coronavirus, Iran on Monday held an online-only briefing by its Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi opened the online news conference addressing the outbreak, dismissing an offer of help for Iran by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Iran and the U.S. have seen some of the worst tensions since its 1979 Islamic Revolution in recent months, culminating in the American drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad and a subsequent Iranian ballistic missile counterattack against U.S. forces.
“We neither count on such help nor are we ready to accept verbal help,” Mousavi said. He added Iran has always been “suspicious” about America’s intentions and accused the U.S. government of trying to weaken Iranians’ spirits over the outbreak.
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The British Embassy meanwhile has begun evacuations over the virus.
“Essential staff needed to continue critical work will remain,” the British Foreign Office said. “In the event that the situation deteriorates further, the ability of the British Embassy to provide assistance to British nationals from within Iran may be limited.”
While Iran has closed schools and universities to stop the spread of the virus, major Shiite shrines have remained open despite civilian authorities calling for them to be closed. The holy cities of Mashhad and Qom in particular, both home to shrines, have been hard-hit by the virus. Shiites often touch and kiss shrines as a sign of their faith. Authorities have been cleaning the shrines with disinfectants.
Police have arrested one man who posted a video showing himself licking the metal enclosing the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, the most-important Shiite saint buried in the country, according to reports by semiofficial news agencies. In the video, the man said he licked the metal to “allow others to visit the shrine with peace of mind.”
Meanwhile Monday, the virus outbreak saw itself dragged into the yearslong boycott of Qatar by four Arab nations over a political dispute.
A prominent columnist at Dubai’s government-owned Al-Bayan newspaper on Twitter falsely described the virus as being a plot by Qatar to hurt the upcoming Expo 2020 world’s fair in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Noura al-Moteari later described the tweet as “satire” to The Associated Press after it gained widespread attention.
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The Dubai Media Office similarly described the tweet as being written in a “cynical style” while distancing the Arabic-language daily from al-Moteari.
“Noura is a freelance writer and is not an employee of Al-Bayan nor does she represent the publication’s views,” it told the AP. “That being said, this has no relevance to any social media policy being practiced by the publication nor the state.”
The tweet comes after Qatar expressed disappointment Sunday that nearly all of its Gulf neighbors snubbed invitations to attend the weekend peace signing ceremony between the U.S. and the Taliban.
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huffpost--2020-03-02--U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Climbs To 6, All In Washington State

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) — The death toll from the coronavirus in the U.S. climbed to six Monday and the disease spread to ever more countries and world capitals , even as new cases in China dropped to their lowest level in six weeks .
A shift in the crisis appeared to be taking shape , as hundreds of patients were released from hospitals at the epicenter of the outbreak in China and the World Health Organization reported that nine times more cases were reported outside the country than inside it over the past 24 hours .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ popped up for the first time in New York , Moscow and Berlin , and clusters of the disease surged around the world .
In the U.S. , health officials announced four more people died , bringing the total to six , all in Washington state , where researchers said the virus may have been circulating undetected for weeks .
Dr. Mike Ryan , the WHO ’ s chief of emergencies , pointed out that even regions that have taken less aggressive measures than the extraordinary lockdowns implemented by China have managed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that because COVID-19 is not as easily transmitted as the flu , “ it offers us a glimmer ... that this virus can be suppressed and contained.
” Around the world , the virus reshaped people ’ s routines , both at home and at work , from the millions of Japanese schoolchildren facing four weeks without class to special voting booths for Israelis under quarantine .
Mobile hospitals were planned in Iran , and the “ Mona Lisa ” hung in a vacant room of the shuttered Louvre in Paris .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ care worker who had returned from Iran was in quarantine at home , according to New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
He said the city is ramping up preparations and cautioned against panic .
The virus has reached at least 10 states , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Four Americans who were quarantined in Nebraska after being exposed on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan were released .
“ My only question is , will my friends shun me after this ?
” said one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as alarms grew louder in much of the world , positive signs emerged from China , where the outbreak started two months ago .
China reported 202 new cases , its lowest daily count since Jan. 21 , and the city at the heart of the crisis , Wuhan , said 2,570 patients were released .
South Korea , with the worst outbreak outside of China , said it recorded 599 new cases Monday , bringing the total to 4,335 .
The death toll rose to 26 .
To cope , the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with serious symptoms or preexisting conditions , with mild cases now routed to other designated facilities .
In the Middle East , a worsening situation in Iran was accompanied by concern for its top leaders after a member of the council that advises the Islamic Republic ’ s supreme leader died of COVID-19 .
Iran has confirmed 1,501 cases and 66 deaths , but many believe the true number is larger .
Its caseload surged more than 250 % in just 24 hours .
Major Shiite shrines in Iran remain open despite civilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The holy cities of Mashad and Qom , where Shiites often touch and kiss shrines in a show of faith , have had high numbers of infections .
The Revolutionary Guard said it will install some mobile hospitals in response , and authorities have been cleaning the shrines and spraying down streets with disinfectant .
Contributing to this report were Dake Kang in Beijing ; Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi ; Kim Tong-Hyung in Seoul , South Korea ; Nasser Karimi in Tehran , Iran ; Jon Gambrell in Dubai , United Arab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Paris ; Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo ; Nicole Winfield in Rome ; Colleen Barry in Milan ; and Aron Heller in Jerusalem .

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The death toll from the coronavirus in the U.S. climbed to six Monday and the disease spread to ever more countries and world capitals, even as new cases in China dropped to their lowest level in six weeks.
A shift in the crisis appeared to be taking shape, as hundreds of patients were released from hospitals at the epicenter of the outbreak in China and the World Health Organization reported that nine times more cases were reported outside the country than inside it over the past 24 hours.
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At the same time, the virus popped up for the first time in New York, Moscow and Berlin, and clusters of the disease surged around the world. In the U.S., health officials announced four more people died, bringing the total to six, all in Washington state, where researchers said the virus may have been circulating undetected for weeks.
The global death toll pushed past 3,000, and the number of people infected topped 89,000, with fast-expanding outbreaks in South Korea, Italy and Iran.
Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO’s chief of emergencies, pointed out that even regions that have taken less aggressive measures than the extraordinary lockdowns implemented by China have managed to keep the virus in check. Ryan said that because COVID-19 is not as easily transmitted as the flu, “it offers us a glimmer ... that this virus can be suppressed and contained.”
Around the world, the virus reshaped people’s routines, both at home and at work, from the millions of Japanese schoolchildren facing four weeks without class to special voting booths for Israelis under quarantine. Mobile hospitals were planned in Iran, and the “Mona Lisa” hung in a vacant room of the shuttered Louvre in Paris.
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The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development warned that the world economy could contract this quarter for the first time since the international financial crisis more than a decade ago.
“Global economic prospects remain subdued and very uncertain,” the agency said.
Wall Street nonetheless opened higher after the worst week for stocks since the 2008 crisis.
In New York City, a health care worker who had returned from Iran was in quarantine at home, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He said the city is ramping up preparations and cautioned against panic. The virus has reached at least 10 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The fear, in my opinion, is outpacing reason at this point,” Cuomo told “CBS This Morning.”
Four Americans who were quarantined in Nebraska after being exposed on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan were released. “My only question is, will my friends shun me after this?” said one of the, Joanne Kirkland.
Malaysia, Tunisia, Senegal, Jordan and Portugal were among the newest places to detect the virus. More than 60 countries, including nine of the 10 most populous, have reported infections.
Even as alarms grew louder in much of the world, positive signs emerged from China, where the outbreak started two months ago. China reported 202 new cases, its lowest daily count since Jan. 21, and the city at the heart of the crisis, Wuhan, said 2,570 patients were released.
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At the largest of 16 temporary hospitals that were rapidly built in Wuhan in response to the outbreak, worries over the availability of supplies and protective gear eased, along with the pressure on the medical staff.
Dr. Zhang Junjian, who leads a temporary hospital in Wuhan with a staff of 1,260, said optimism is high that the facility will no longer be needed in the coming weeks.
“If nothing special happens, I expect the operation of our makeshift hospital ... could complete its historical mission by the end of March,” Zhang said.
Healthcare workers transport a patient on a stretcher into an ambulance at Life Care Center of Kirkland on February 29, 2020 in Kirkland, Washington. David Ryder via Getty Images
But in other places, problems continued to multiply.
“Just about everywhere, the cases are rising quite quickly in a number of countries,” said Ian Mackey, who studies viruses at the University of Queensland in Australia.
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South Korea, with the worst outbreak outside of China, said it recorded 599 new cases Monday, bringing the total to 4,335. The death toll rose to 26. To cope, the country said hospitals will be reserved for patients with serious symptoms or preexisting conditions, with mild cases now routed to other designated facilities.
“If we continue to hospitalize mild patients amid the continued surge in infections, we would be risking overworking medical professionals and putting them at greater risk of infections,” said the country’s vice health minister, Kim Gang-lip.
South Korea extended the shutdown of its schools two more weeks to March 23. And the leader of a church that has blamed for being the source of the country’s largest cluster of infections bowed in apology.
“We also did our best but weren’t able to contain it fully,” said Lee Man-hee, the 88-year-old leader of the Shincheonji church, which some mainstream Christian groups reject as a cult.
In the Middle East, a worsening situation in Iran was accompanied by concern for its top leaders after a member of the council that advises the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader died of COVID-19. Iran has confirmed 1,501 cases and 66 deaths, but many believe the true number is larger. Its caseload surged more than 250% in just 24 hours.
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Major Shiite shrines in Iran remain open despite civilian authorities’ calls to close them. The holy cities of Mashad and Qom, where Shiites often touch and kiss shrines in a show of faith, have had high numbers of infections. The Revolutionary Guard said it will install some mobile hospitals in response, and authorities have been cleaning the shrines and spraying down streets with disinfectant.
“We will have two difficult weeks ahead,” said Ali Raibiei, a spokesman for the Iranian government.
In Europe, leaders braced for worsening caseloads after the count surged in France, Italy and to a lesser degree Spain over the weekend. Italy’s infections ballooned 50% in 24 hours to 1,694. Health officials in northern Italy sought to bring doctors out of retirement and accelerate nursing students’ graduations to help an overwhelmed public health system.
The Louvre, the world’s most popular museum, remained closed as its 2,300 workers expressed fears of contracting the virus from visitors arriving from all over the world. At Fashion Week in Paris, attendees greeted each other with elbow touches instead of kisses. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s outstretched hand was rebuffed by her interior minister at a meeting.
Japan closed schools for most of the country’s 12.7 million children until the end of the month, creating difficulties for some families.
Mika Nakajima, a museum employee and single mother with a 15-year-old autistic son, said she has already used up her paid vacation days to take care of her aging parents and her son and fears losing her job.
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“It’s a difficult time for families with ordinary children, but it’s much harder for those who have children with disabilities or who need attention and care,” Nakajima said. “Some other forms of support are needed.”
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Contributing to this report were Dake Kang in Beijing; Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi; Kim Tong-Hyung in Seoul, South Korea; Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran; Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Thomas Adamson and Lori Hinnant in Paris; Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo; Nicole Winfield in Rome; Colleen Barry in Milan; and Aron Heller in Jerusalem.
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huffpost--2020-03-02--Washington State Officials Announce 2nd Coronavirus Death in U.S.

Authorities in the Seattle area reported four new cases Sunday night , including the man who died .
Two health care workers in California were also diagnosed .
Of the new Washington state cases , two were women , one in her 80s and another in her 90s .
Both were in critical condition .
A man in his 70s was also in critical condition .
All three were from the LifeCare nursing facility in Kirkland , Washington , where health officials said 50 people are sick and being tested for the virus .
The health care workers are both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , California , and had exposure to a patient treated there before being transferred to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento , the statement said .
That patient was the first person in the U.S. discovered to have contracted the coronavirus with no known overseas travel .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday that it was retesting someone in San Antonio , Texas , who had been released from isolation Saturday but later returned after a lab test was “ weakly positive.
” The patient had been treated a local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Wuhan , China .
The agency said the patient had met the criteria for release and was asymptomatic .
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff told the San Antonio Express-News that the patient was a woman who had come into contact with around a dozen people at a hotel .
Both Wolff and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg expressed concerns over the patient ’ s initial release in a statement .
As the fallout continued , Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar sought to reassure the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make sure state and local authorities are able to test for the virus .
Both said during a round of TV talk show appearances Sunday that thousands more testing kits had been distributed to state and local officials , with thousands more to come .
As the cases ticked up , some Americans stocked up on basic supplies — particularly in areas with diagnosed cases — and began to take note of the impact on daily life .
Stores such as Costco sold out of toilet paper , bottled water and hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a case was announced Friday .
Sports games and practices were canceled into the coming school week .
Some churches said they would not offer communion because of fears of viral spread .
As Americans prepared , researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington on Sunday said they had evidence the virus may have been circulating in the state for up to six weeks undetected — a finding that , if true , could mean hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the area .
They posted their research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a scientific journal or reviewed by other scientists .
Trevor Bedford , an associate professor who announced the preliminary findings on the virus in Washington state , said on Twitter late Saturday that genetic similarities between the state ’ s first case on Jan. 20 and a case announced Friday indicated the newer case may have descended from the earlier one .
The Jan. 20 case was the first known case in the U.S. “ We think that this has a pretty high rate of mild symptoms and can be asymptomatic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ criteria has been pretty strict , so those combinations of factors means that it easily could have been circulating for a bit without us knowing , ” said Justin Lessler , an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health .

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SEATTLE (AP) — Health officials in Washington state said Sunday night that a second person had died from the coronavirus — a man in his 70s from a nursing facility near Seattle where dozens of people were sick and had been tested for the virus.
Researchers said earlier the virus may have been circulating for weeks undetected in Washington state.
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In a statement, Public Health—Seattle & King County said the man died Saturday. On Friday, health officials said a man in his 50s died of coronavirus, the first death from the virus in the U.S.. Both had underlying health conditions, and both were being treated at a hospital in Kirkland, Washington, east of Seattle.
Washington state now has 12 confirmed cases.
State and local authorities stepped up testing for the illness as the number of new cases grew nationwide, with new infections announced in California, Florida, Illinois, Rhode Island, New York and Washington state.
Authorities in the Seattle area reported four new cases Sunday night, including the man who died. Two health care workers in California were also diagnosed. Of the new Washington state cases, two were women, one in her 80s and another in her 90s. Both were in critical condition. A man in his 70s was also in critical condition. All three were from the LifeCare nursing facility in Kirkland, Washington, where health officials said 50 people are sick and being tested for the virus.
On Sunday night, the International Association of Fire Fighters said 25 members who responded to calls for help at the nursing facility are being quarantined.
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The first U.S. case was a Washington state man who had visited China, where the virus first emerged, but several recent cases in the U.S. have had no known connection to travelers.
In California, two health care workers in the San Francisco Bay area who cared for an earlier coronavirus patient were diagnosed with the virus on Sunday, the Alameda and Solano counties said in a joint statement.
The health care workers are both employed at NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville, California, and had exposure to a patient treated there before being transferred to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, the statement said. That patient was the first person in the U.S. discovered to have contracted the coronavirus with no known overseas travel.
Alameda County declared a state of emergency on Sunday following the news.
In Oregon, the state Health Authority said Sunday that a second person in the state tested positive for the virus. The person is an adult in household contact with the first Oregonian to test positive and does not need medical attention, the authority said.
Elsewhere, authorities announced Sunday a third case in Illinois, a second in Rhode Island and a first case in New York as worried Americans swarmed stores to stock up on basic goods such as bottled water, canned foods and toilet paper.
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The patients in Rhode Island were on a school trip to Italy together in February. A third person from the trip is being tested, and the school is shutting down for the week.
In New York, officials confirmed Sunday that a woman in her late 30s contracted the virus while traveling in Iran. She has been quarantined to her home in Manhattan.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday that it was retesting someone in San Antonio, Texas, who had been released from isolation Saturday but later returned after a lab test was “weakly positive.” The patient had been treated a local medical facility for several weeks after returning from Wuhan, China. The agency said the patient had met the criteria for release and was asymptomatic. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff told the San Antonio Express-News that the patient was a woman who had come into contact with around a dozen people at a hotel. Both Wolff and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg expressed concerns over the patient’s initial release in a statement.
As the fallout continued, Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar sought to reassure the American public that the federal government is working to make sure state and local authorities are able to test for the virus. Both said during a round of TV talk show appearances Sunday that thousands more testing kits had been distributed to state and local officials, with thousands more to come.
“They should know we have the best public health system in the world looking out for them,” Azar said, adding that additional cases will be reported and the overall risk to Americans is low.
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As the cases ticked up, some Americans stocked up on basic supplies — particularly in areas with diagnosed cases — and began to take note of the impact on daily life. Stores such as Costco sold out of toilet paper, bottled water and hand sanitizer outside Portland, Oregon, where a case was announced Friday. Sports games and practices were canceled into the coming school week. Some churches said they would not offer communion because of fears of viral spread.
As Americans prepared, researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington on Sunday said they had evidence the virus may have been circulating in the state for up to six weeks undetected — a finding that, if true, could mean hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the area. They posted their research online, but it was not published in a scientific journal or reviewed by other scientists.
Trevor Bedford, an associate professor who announced the preliminary findings on the virus in Washington state, said on Twitter late Saturday that genetic similarities between the state’s first case on Jan. 20 and a case announced Friday indicated the newer case may have descended from the earlier one. The Jan. 20 case was the first known case in the U.S.
“I believe we’re facing an already substantial outbreak in Washington State that was not detected until now due to narrow case definition requiring direct travel to China,” he said on Twitter.
Bedford did not immediately reply to an e-mail requesting an interview Sunday.
Scientists not affiliated with the research said the results did not necessarily surprise them and pointed out that for many people — especially younger, healthier ones — the symptoms are not much worse than a flu or bad cold.
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“We think that this has a pretty high rate of mild symptoms and can be asymptomatic. The symptoms are pretty non-specific and testing criteria has been pretty strict, so those combinations of factors means that it easily could have been circulating for a bit without us knowing,” said Justin Lessler, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Dr. Adam Lauring of University of Michigan called the findings “high quality work” from scientists who’ve done similar work with the flu virus for years.
“They show their data and they show their work,” Lauring said. “It’s more than a series of tweets” because the researchers back up what they found with data that they’ve shared online. “If there’s something wrong, someone will find it.”
Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University School of Medicine said the findings are from respected researchers in genomic sequencing and they make sense because of the geographic proximity of the two cases.
“This is a good time to reinforce the things we all should be doing to stop the spread of flu. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. If you have a cold, stay home ... It’s a good time to remind ourselves of that,” he said.
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Pence, named by the president to be the point-person overseeing the government’s response, said more than 15,000 virus testing kits had been released over the weekend. And, the administration is working with a commercial provider to distribute 50,000 more, he said.
The vice president said testing was among the first issues raised by governors he’s spoken with so far. Several states have begun their own testing, including Washington state, Oregon and Illinois.
“We’re leaning into it,” Pence said.
Azar said more than 3,600 people already have been tested for coronavirus and the capability exists to test 75,000 people. He forecast a “radical expansion of that” in the coming weeks.
Pence and Azar spoke a day after President Donald Trump approved new restrictions on international travel to prevent the spread within the U.S. of the new virus, which originated in China. There are now more than 80,000 cases worldwide and about 3,000 deaths.
The number of known coronavirus cases in the U.S. had reached at least 80 as of Sunday, counting people evacuated from a cruise ship and Wuhan.
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Trump said Saturday at a White House news conference that he was thinking about closing the southern border with Mexico as a precaution. Azar said Sunday that Mexico has few coronavirus cases and that it would take a dramatic change in the circumstances there to prompt serious consideration of a border shutdown.
The president, Azar said, “was trying to say everything’s on the table.”
“We will take whatever measures are appropriate and necessary to protect the American people, but we don’t forecast doing that any time soon,” he said of closing the border.
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This story has been corrected to reflect that the hospitalized patient in Rhode Island is a man, not a woman, who traveled to Italy in February.
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huffpost--2020-03-02--Taking Care Of Yourself Right Now Is A Public Service

The healthier you are , the less likely you put people who might be more at risk for the disease in danger .
( Like those with weakened immune systems . )
Here are some expert tips on what you can personally do to both keep yourself healthy and to help in the efforts against the spread of any illness : Be smart about where you travel .
You should also limit touching your face .
If you haven ’ t yet received your flu vaccine , Glatt said it ’ s a good idea to do so now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy as possible , it limits the number of people who need to be checked out by a doctor .
This will help lower traffic in physicians ’ offices and emergency rooms , which will then help them focus on people who may need treatment in the event of a serious coronavirus outbreak .
Eat well and get your vitamins ( but don ’ t go overboard with it ) .
Hold off on the masks unless you ’ re already sick .
And Glatt said in some cases , a mask could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be counterintuitive because what do these people do with their masks ?
If it ’ s been breathed upon , coughed upon , sneezed upon , they put it in their pocket and they ’ re contaminating potentially everything else in their pocketbook , maybe using it again later on and then they contaminate their hands with the masks , ” he added .
Stock up if you feel it ’ s necessary .
Stay home if you aren ’ t feeling well .
For millions of workers in jobs that don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies , this might not be an easy solution ( although some experts say your job may be protected thanks to certain regulations if you ’ re quarantined ) .
That ’ s all the more reason for people with more flexible work situations who are sick to stay home .

EschCollection via Getty Images Experts say healthy habits can help control the spread of illnesses, which benefits more than just you.
You can’t turn on the news or scroll through social media lately without being hit with the hysteria about the coronavirus. And while we shouldn’t be panicking, Elizabeth Wang, an infectious disease physician with the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center said everyone needs to make an effort to help containing the spread should it happen.
“Though the immediate risk right now in the United States is low, the threat is real, and we should be alert, cautious and prepared,” she explained.
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How exactly is that accomplished? It may seem like you can’t make a difference, but it’s simpler than you think. In the face of an outbreak or a possible pandemic, doctors note that the most selfless thing you can do is to take care of yourself.
The healthier you are, the less likely you put people who might be more at risk for the disease in danger. (Like those with weakened immune systems.) Here are some expert tips on what you can personally do to both keep yourself healthy and to help in the efforts against the spread of any illness:
Be smart about where you travel.
Diy13 via Getty Images
You don’t need to overreact and hide away until further notice, just be cautious or smart about the places you go. “Probably the number one thing you can do is, wherever the virus is, avoid it,” said Larry Burchett, a California-based emergency room physician.
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Experts recommend keeping up to date on the spread and refraining from traveling to heavily contaminated places.
“And if a bigger outbreak happens in the United States, there will be places like hospitals with quarantines and all that. So staying away from those areas will be key,” he added.
Burchett said the virus disperses via respiratory droplets at a distance of around six feet. “So try to keep at least that distance away from infected individuals,” he suggested.
Practice good hygiene...
Protecting yourself against germs is your best line of defense, said Aaron Eli Glatt, chair of medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau and a spokesperson for the Infectious Disease Society of America.
“If something looks dirty, it probably is dirty. Clean it, wipe it before you touch it,” he explained.
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This includes common surfaces you might not normally think twice about. (PSA: Disinfectant wipes do work, as long as you use them properly.)
“The virus lives on surfaces for several hours after exposure … so using wipes to clean surfaces you touch ― airline seats, airline tray tables, the handles of grocery carts and other surfaces ― is a good idea,” said Terry Simpson, a California-based doctor who studied molecular virology at the University of Chicago.
And exercise common sense when it comes to cleanliness. “You’re coming out of the bathroom, wash your hands. These are all the types of things that people probably intuitively know and just don’t always bother to do,” Glatt added.
...Which includes using proper hand-washing techniques.
Steven Reisman, a cardiologist with the the New York Cardiac Diagnostic Center, said that it’s important to wash your hands with soap and water ― perhaps for longer than you realize.
“Wet your hands with clean running water, remove them from running water or temporarily turn it off, and lather your hands with soap by rubbing them together including your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails,” he said. “Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Next rinse your hands well under clean running water. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.”
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Simpson said you can sing “Happy Birthday” twice in a row and that should suffice in terms of timing.
And do it frequently. As a rule of thumb, Wang recommended lathering up as often as possible – “every time after using the bathroom or changing your child’s diaper, before eating food, after returning from the outside, after shaking people’s hands, after touching public surfaces, such as the elevator rail, doorknobs, etc.”
You should also limit touching your face.
Luis Alvarez via Getty Images
The virus typically enters through the nose or the mouth, Simpson said. Therefore you should try to reduce how often you touch these areas unless it’s immediately after you washed your hands.
“Most of us unconsciously touch our nose and mouth multiple times in a day. It is difficult not to, but it is important,” Simpson said.
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One trick that Kelly Cawcutt, associate director of infection control at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, suggested is to have a friend or family member let you know if you are touching your face to make you more aware of it.
“Nail biters can try the nail polish with bitter flavor to minimize this risk also,” she said.
And Simpson advised using hand lotion, especially if it has a fragrance. “That sets a cue to remind you not to have it near your face and hands.” Plus, frequent washing will dry out hands, which will cue you to put on more lotion and remind you of your mission to break the habit, Simpson added.
Get the flu shot.
If you haven’t yet received your flu vaccine, Glatt said it’s a good idea to do so now. Not only will it keep you as healthy as possible, it limits the number of people who need to be checked out by a doctor. This will help lower traffic in physicians’ offices and emergency rooms, which will then help them focus on people who may need treatment in the event of a serious coronavirus outbreak.
Step up your self-care.
“A lot of us live by pushing it to the max, working too much, not sleeping enough, staying out too late, drinking too much, overdoing the exercise,” Burchett said. But things like getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated can help to boost your immunity.
Also, do your best to keep your stress down during this time. “When we’re stressed, the body releases adrenaline and cortisol, actually oppressing individual parts of the immune system, altering the new white blood cells, and so literally your defenses are down,” Burchett added.
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Toni Brayer, an internist with The Sutton Health Institute for Health and Healing, added that you should cut back on smoking and alcohol consumption, both of which “can make us more susceptible to infection.”
Eat well and get your vitamins (but don’t go overboard with it).
Westend61 via Getty Images
Chelsea Gloeckner, a registered dietitian in Milwaukee, said a healthy diet could help keep your immune system strong and advocated for fueling your body with nutrient-rich foods.
She recommended giving your gut health a boost by taking a probiotic or snacking on some Greek yogurt, Kiefer, sauerkraut, or kimchi. “You can also try limiting foods with added processed sugars, refined grains, fried food and highly-processed snacks,” she explained.
Gloeckner also recommended eating foods rich in vitamin D (fortified milk, fatty fish, eggs), zinc (beans, nuts, and tofu), beta-carotene (sweet potatoes, spinach), vitamin E (almond butter and peanuts), as well as foods with adequate amounts of protein.
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Just keep in mind that while eating well can help keep you healthy generally, don’t expect it to be a cure all. And don’t fall for scams. “I’ve seen supplements and garbage being sold and marketed already as being able to prevent or treat coronavirus, which is absolutely not true,” Burchett said.
Hold off on the masks unless you’re already sick.
To quote the surgeon general, “Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS!”
Raj Dasgupta, a Los Angeles-based pulmonologist, highlighted that The World Health Organization has stated there is no need for healthy people to wear face masks ― only those who are already sick should be wearing them so germs don’t spread.
“If you insist upon wearing a face mask, only a well fitted N95 mask is worth trying,” he said, noting that most over-the-counter masks are not going to be able to prevent airborne particles from getting to you.
And Glatt said in some cases, a mask could make situations worse. “It might be counterintuitive because what do these people do with their masks? If it’s been breathed upon, coughed upon, sneezed upon, they put it in their pocket and they’re contaminating potentially everything else in their pocketbook, maybe using it again later on and then they contaminate their hands with the masks,” he added.
Stock up if you feel it’s necessary.
This includes items that you’d carry with you and products you might need at home down the line.
Kristopher Richardson, a physician assistant and member of the National Commission of Certified Physicians, said that “carrying alcohol containing hand sanitizer is helpful if you will not have access to a clean sink for proper hand washing.”
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Wang suggested refilling all the necessary prescription medications you’re taking, as well as picking up items like water bottles and canned goods on your next grocery run if you deem it vital.
Stay home if you aren’t feeling well.
RuslanDashinsky via Getty Images
“If you are feeling ill or have fever, cough or shortness of breath, seek medical advice and stay home from work and from contact with others,” said Christopher Tex, an associate epidemiology professor at Chamberlain University. This is the best way to keep yourself from infecting others.
Tex said “the current understanding of the appearance of symptoms is from two days to 14 days, once a person becomes infected.”
“Consult your supervisor regarding possible alternatives for working from home or what should or could be done in case of illness,” he added.
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For millions of workers in jobs that don’t have sick days or good leave policies, this might not be an easy solution (although some experts say your job may be protected thanks to certain regulations if you’re quarantined). That’s all the more reason for people with more flexible work situations who are sick to stay home.


huffpost--2020-03-02--'He Just F**ked Right Off!' John Oliver Torches Trump's Coronavirus Disaster

“ This is a bad time to have a president who can not speak clearly , ” Oliver said .
“ Because there ’ s already enough bad information flying around.
” The “ Last Week Tonight ” host noted that some of the worst info about the new strain of coronavirus was coming from Trump ’ s favorite channel , Fox News , which had “ repeatedly amplified false claims.
” But Oliver saved some of his harshest words for Trump himself , who contradicted his own health officials ― claiming the number of infected would fall to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , it was rising ― and held a truly confusing news conference where he put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the administration ’ s response to the outbreak .
Yet during the same news conference , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said he was in charge .
That led to questions from reporters over who specifically was tackling the issue , at which point Trump just walked out of the room while Azar was still speaking .
“ This was a press conference meant to calm the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of who would be running things seemingly up in the air , he just fucked right off , ” Oliver said .
“ I know we ’ re used to only seeing businessman Trump , but it is nice to occasionally get a glimpse of the absentee father in him , too .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
John Oliver tore into President Donald Trump’s confusing response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis on Sunday night.
“This is a bad time to have a president who cannot speak clearly,” Oliver said. “Because there’s already enough bad information flying around.”
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The “Last Week Tonight” host noted that some of the worst info about the new strain of coronavirus was coming from Trump’s favorite channel, Fox News, which had “repeatedly amplified false claims.”
But Oliver saved some of his harshest words for Trump himself, who contradicted his own health officials ― claiming the number of infected would fall to “close to zero” when, in fact, it was rising ― and held a truly confusing news conference where he put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the administration’s response to the outbreak.
Yet during the same news conference, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said he was in charge. That led to questions from reporters over who specifically was tackling the issue, at which point Trump just walked out of the room while Azar was still speaking.
“This was a press conference meant to calm the nation, and with the most basic question of who would be running things seemingly up in the air, he just fucked right off,” Oliver said. “I know we’re used to only seeing businessman Trump, but it is nice to occasionally get a glimpse of the absentee father in him, too.”
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huffpost--2020-03-02--CDC Testing Limits May Have Delayed Coronavirus Response In Washington State

Genetic sequencing of two cases of the novel coronavirus in Washington state suggests the disease had been circulating in the state for six weeks — but went undetected because of strict testing restrictions set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , according to a scientist who compared the genetic fingerprints .
The study of the coronavirus contracted by a high school student in Snohomish County north of Seattle links the illness to the very first COVID-19 case in the nation , a man who tested positive Jan. 19 after returning to his home in Snohomish County from China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the illness was passed on , undetected , via community transmission for “ the past six weeks , ” noted Trevor Bedford , an associate professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington .
Bedford attributed the lack of earlier detection of an “ already substantial outbreak ” to the CDC ’ s “ narrow case definition requiring direct travel to China ” ( or contact with someone known to be ill with coronavirus ) before people could be tested .
Dr. Mike Famulare , a scientist at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who conducted the genetic analysis , estimated that as many as 1,500 people could have contracted the disease by now , though the likely range is actually 300 to 500 people , he told The New York Times .
These people “ have either been infected and recovered , or currently are infected now , ” he said .
Testing has become a serious bottleneck in the fight against the disease , according to officials and experts .
However , the CDC and federal Food and Drug Administration are now taking steps to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on when it could be used , the test created by the CDC in early February initially only worked predictably in a handful of labs .
Early detection is critical so that people can begin treatment and be isolated before passing on the virus to someone else .
As of Friday , fewer than 500 people had been tested in the U.S. , according to the CDC , compared with countries like South Korea , where 65,000 have been tested .
“ Testing capacity is so limited , ” Duchin said at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lab only began testing for COVID-19 on Friday , but officials hope soon to be able to also rely on commercial and university labs .
“ We really know we can ’ t stop ” the spread of the illness , “ but we can reduce our risk , ” Duchin said .
He encouraged frequent hand washing , not touching the face , avoiding contact with ill people and staying home when sick .
To ease the testing logjam , the Food and Drug Administration announced Saturday that labs and hospitals across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct the test for COVID-19 and won ’ t have to wait for results from the CDC .
Dozens of state , university and private company labs have already applied for emergency approval for their own tests .
Once they have submitted evidence that those tests work , they will be able to use them immediately , the Times reported .
“ Testing for coronavirus is not available yet in New York City , ” city Department of Health spokeswoman Stephanie Buhle said in an email to ProPublica last week .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to us have demonstrated performance issues and can not be relied upon to provide an accurate result.
” President Donald Trump announced measures to block visitors to the U.S. from countries hit hard by the virus , and encouraged Americans not to travel to those nations .
Neither he nor Vice President Mike Pence , who is now in charge of the U.S. coronavirus effort , have addressed the testing issue .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Genetic sequencing of two cases of the novel coronavirus in Washington state suggests the disease had been circulating in the state for six weeks — but went undetected because of strict testing restrictions set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a scientist who compared the genetic fingerprints.
The study of the coronavirus contracted by a high school student in Snohomish County north of Seattle links the illness to the very first COVID-19 case in the nation, a man who tested positive Jan. 19 after returning to his home in Snohomish County from China. He has since recovered, but the illness was passed on, undetected, via community transmission for “the past six weeks,” noted Trevor Bedford, an associate professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington.
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Bedford attributed the lack of earlier detection of an “already substantial outbreak” to the CDC’s “narrow case definition requiring direct travel to China” (or contact with someone known to be ill with coronavirus) before people could be tested.
This case, WA2, is on a branch in the evolutionary tree that descends directly from WA1, the first reported case in the USA sampled Jan 19, also from Snohomish County, viewable here: https://t.co/gxyo0PsJ7x 2/9 pic.twitter.com/LBH26A0AFC — Trevor Bedford (@trvrb) March 1, 2020
This strongly suggests that there has been cryptic transmission in Washington State for the past 6 weeks. 3/9 — Trevor Bedford (@trvrb) March 1, 2020
I believe we're facing an already substantial outbreak in Washington State that was not detected until now due to narrow case definition requiring direct travel to China. 6/9 — Trevor Bedford (@trvrb) March 1, 2020
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Dr. Mike Famulare, a scientist at the Institute for Disease Modeling in Bellevue who conducted the genetic analysis, estimated that as many as 1,500 people could have contracted the disease by now, though the likely range is actually 300 to 500 people, he told The New York Times. These people “have either been infected and recovered, or currently are infected now,” he said.
Testing has become a serious bottleneck in the fight against the disease, according to officials and experts. However, the CDC and federal Food and Drug Administration are now taking steps to expand testing.
Besides restrictions until recently on when it could be used, the test created by the CDC in early February initially only worked predictably in a handful of labs.
Early detection is critical so that people can begin treatment and be isolated before passing on the virus to someone else. As of Friday, fewer than 500 people had been tested in the U.S., according to the CDC, compared with countries like South Korea, where 65,000 have been tested.
Dr. Jeff Duchin, public health officer for Seattle and King County, complained about the testing system Saturday when addressing the first U.S. coronavirus death in Kirkland, Washington.
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“Testing capacity is so limited,” Duchin said at a news conference. The state public health lab only began testing for COVID-19 on Friday, but officials hope soon to be able to also rely on commercial and university labs.
“If we had the ability to test earlier, I’m sure we would have identified patients earlier,” said Duchin.
“We really know we can’t stop” the spread of the illness, “but we can reduce our risk,” Duchin said. He encouraged frequent hand washing, not touching the face, avoiding contact with ill people and staying home when sick.
To ease the testing logjam, the Food and Drug Administration announced Saturday that labs and hospitals across the nation will now be able to conduct the test for COVID-19 and won’t have to wait for results from the CDC. Dozens of state, university and private company labs have already applied for emergency approval for their own tests. Once they have submitted evidence that those tests work, they will be able to use them immediately, the Times reported.
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New York City and the state obtained permission days ago from the CDC and FDA to develop their own tests in an effort to streamline the process. New York officials are also concerned about the reliability of the CDC test results.